Handling Of Pin Or Pin Representation Patents (Class 473/64)
  • Patent number: 12134026
    Abstract: Systems and methods for masking pinsetters of a bowling center. The systems comprise a modular masking unit that comprises a first array of displays structurally supported by a support frame. The support frame is mounted to the ground so that the array of displays extends over a pair of bowling lanes and masks the p insetters for the pair of bowling lanes. The displays are arranged such that they can be independently controlled to provide a plurality of small displays or collectively controlled to provide a single large multi-panel display. The support frame is height adjustable such that a distance between the array of displays and the ground is adjustable (e.g., so that the masking unit can fit in between or in conjunction with all types of pinsetters, bowling scoring systems, and/or other masking units).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: DFX: SOUND VISION
    Inventor: Michael Bovino
  • Patent number: 11541300
    Abstract: A system for preventing ball return stops in automatic pinsetter machines includes a substantially wedge-shaped solid body mounted in a specific location along a transport band of an automatic pinsetter machine. The solid body is shaped, configured, and made of a material conducive to deflecting bowling pins away from a ball return door as bowling pins travel on a transport band towards a pin elevator. A method for preventing ball return stops in automatic pinsetter machines using an apparatus for preventing ball return stops in automatic pinsetter includes the steps of configuring the said apparatus for preventing ball return stops in automatic pinsetter machines, selecting an optimal location to mount the said apparatus for preventing ball return stops in automatic pinsetter machines, and mounting the said apparatus for preventing ball return stops in automatic pinsetter machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Edward Funke
  • Patent number: 10932587
    Abstract: Cylindrical foam body with a central cavity, whereby the foam body is formed by a curved flexible foam strip of which two opposite ends are fastened together, whereby the foam body has a height, whereby the strip 2 has a length, a height and a width, whereby after forming the foam body the longitudinal direction of the strip 2 is the height direction of the foam body, whereby the foam body has an outside and an inside. The foam body is provided on its outside with two or more grooves that extend over the height of the foam body and which only cut into the foam body over a part of the distance between the outside and the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: ROMERIKA NV
    Inventor: Willy Poppe
  • Patent number: 10618687
    Abstract: A shock and vibration isolation assembly for absorbing the energies generated from movement of a product carried thereon includes a pallet or a lower panel having an upper surface, an upper panel above the upper surface, the upper panel configured to support the product or a pallet thereon. The assembly further includes a plurality of flexible visco-elastic rings affixed to at least one of said upper surface of said pallet or lower panel and a facing surface of the upper panel. A frame member disposed between and affixed to the upper surface of the pallet or lower panel and the upper panel to seal the space therebetween. The frame member encircles the plurality of flexible rings and is formed of a resilient substantially liquid-impermeable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Paul J. Harber
  • Patent number: 9017180
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a distributed bowling center system includes two or more computing devices associated with respective bowling center peripherals. The bowling center peripherals are any electronic or mechanical device in a bowling center capable of detecting a bowling event or receiving input. Example bowling center peripherals include a pinsetter, a monitor, a bumper, a keypad, or a touchscreen. The bowling center peripherals are configured to perform at least one bowler center function. The computing devices are configured to execute at least one process related to a bowler center function of the associated peripheral. Each computing device is located physically closer to the peripheral than the other computer device. The computing devices are in communication via a network. The computing devices are configured to access a process map defining the communication, which is responsive to the at least one bowler center function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon J. Meigs, Gary A. Brouwers
  • Publication number: 20140004965
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pin-setting apparatus for bowling or skittle lanes (3?-6?) comprising a plurality of pins (3-6), wherein each pin is connected to an associated string (3?-6?). The apparatus comprises for each pin (3-6) a rotatable pulley (13-16) arranged to roll up and/or off the associated string (3?-6?) and detecting means arranged to detect a movement of the pin (3-6) when hit directly or indirectly by a bowling ball, and activating means arranged to rotate the pulley (13-16) so as to roll off the string (3?-6?) as soon as the pin (3-6) gets hit. This way, the pin (3-6) will not be obstructed by possible tension in the string (3?-6?) and will move as if it was not attached at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: BOWLING NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Cornelius De Lange
  • Publication number: 20130260908
    Abstract: A bowling ball elevating assembly for an automatic pinsetter includes an idler pulley assembly having an idler arm and a tension spring causing the idler arm to maintain tension on a ball wheel belt driving a ball elevating ring member. An adjustment arm and a tension arm are mounted to an idler pulley shaft enabling adjusting the amount of tension applied by the tension spring to the idler arm, and consequently the tensioning force applied by an idler pulley to the ball wheel belt, thereby permitting slippage of the ball wheel belt relative to the ball elevating ring member when bowling pins and a bowling ball become jammed in the pinsetter. An improved idler v-pulley wheel has a reduced frictional engagement with the ball wheel belt, and improved positioning of the ball lift drive belt pulley reduces stress on the ball wheel belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: KEGEL, LLC
    Inventor: Chuck Bashak
  • Patent number: 7686698
    Abstract: A bowling pin storage bin assembly for use as part of a bowling pin delivery system of a pinspotter apparatus, as well as a method of manufacturing such bin. The storage bin is molded as a one-piece article having a plurality of cavities or pockets for storing bowling pins in an essentially horizontal plane above a pin spotter and for delivering the pins to a plurality of pin cups or a pin spotter for spotting on a pin deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: QUBICAAMF Worldwide LLC
    Inventors: Samuel R. Namala, LeRoy T. Warren, Jr., Charles A. Lee, Paul Becker
  • Patent number: 7622306
    Abstract: The present invention demonstrates that the diagnosis and prediction of clinical behavior in patients with hematologic malignancies, such as leukemia, can be accomplished by analysis of proteins present in a plasma sample. Thus, in particular embodiments the present invention uses plasma to create a diagnostic or prognostic protein profile of a hematologic malignancy comprising collecting plasma samples from a population of patients with hematologic malignancies; generating protein spectra from the plasma samples with or without fractionation; comparing the protein spectra with clinical data; and identifying protein markers in the plasma samples that correlate with the clinical data. Protein markers identified by this approach can then be used to create a protein profile that can be used to diagnose the hematologic malignancy or determine the prognosis of the hematologic malignancy. Potentially these specific proteins can be identified and targeted in the therapy of these malignancies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Maher Albitar, Elihu H. Estey, Hagop M. Kantarjian, Francis J. Giles, Michael J. Keating
  • Patent number: 7582022
    Abstract: Bowling game apparatus allowing even children of little strength to obtain high score by strikes and spares. The bowling game apparatus comprising an approach as an area where players roll a ball, a lane extending from the approach and on which the ball the players bowl rolls, a plurality of pins arranged and placed on the end of the lane and trough-like gutters is further provided with pin toppling means (20) for overturning several pins individually, bowling ball detectors (35) for detecting a ball rolling down the lane, controllers (41), (45) for timing the actuation of pin toppling means (20) to the collision of the ball with the pins on the basis of a detection signal from bowling ball detector (35) to overturn previous selection from the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: BLD Oriental, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ochi
  • Publication number: 20030220147
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for a billiard bowling game. The apparatus includes a bowling pin distributing section and a bowling ball returning section. The bowling pin distributing section is constructed such that, while bowling pin distributing means is driven by driving means, respective bowling pins transferred from bowling pin collecting means are sequentially set in bowling pin setting holes defined in a bowling pin setting plate. The bowling ball returning section is constructed such that the bowling ball rolling on a sloped plate which is fastened to a fixed plate of a base section is raised between a curved inner edge of a bowling ball-guiding curved plate and a bowling ball-driving wheel fitted around a driving shaft and between inner surfaces of a pair of side plates, so as to be placed at an entrance to bowling ball returning rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: Jeong Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 6017278
    Abstract: A new bowling game has as its objective, to knock down sets of predetermined pin fall objectives. Each pin fall objective may comprise first and second pin fall counts. Score grids may be used to keep track of game objectives and results. Computer control and coordination may be used to achieve higher efficiencies and degrees of automation. The family of bowling games provided by this invention are games of skill that are fun and exciting to play, provide frequent winners, allow less experienced bowlers to win even when they play against more experienced bowlers, and provide strategic decisions and interest. The games are compatible with bowling lane equipment operating based on standard bowling 2-ball frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: John Benko
  • Patent number: 5876290
    Abstract: A pin table for a bowling pin spotting/respotting device is fabricated from stamped sheet metal and has lips around the periphery of the sheet metal pin table, as well as around each of a plurality of pin openings through the pin table. The sheet metal pin table is generally planar in configuration and has a plurality of pin openings. The lips extend upwardly around the periphery of the pin table and around the periphery of each of the openings. The lips provide sufficient rigidity to the pin table to enable its manufacture from stamped sheet metal rather than a more expensive aluminum casting. A respot actuating assembly for use with the aforementioned table includes a respot cam link mechanism, a pair of crank arms and an adjustable stop mechanism for limiting rotation of the crank arms. Linkage connects the crank arms to the respot cam link mechanism and to multiple pairs of gripper rods for gripping and releasing a plurality of bowling pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: AMF Bowling, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald P. Hermanson, Ernest B. Pryor, Jr., Winston T. Sanders, Matthew E. Stubbs
  • Patent number: 5679079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid state bowling pin counter which is designed to replace existing mechanical pin counters. The solid state pin counter uses infrared technology and electro-optics to reliably detect the presence of a bowling pin as the pin travels towards the bowling pin table via the distributor assembly. The solid state pin counter can detect all colors of bowling pins and it works reliably in all ambient light conditions including flashing lights. If power is turned off during the time bowling pins are being fed into the bowling pin table, the memory in the pin counter remembers the pin counter's condition no matter where the bowling pin is on the distributor belt. Thus, when power is turned back on, the bowling pin table is filled with bowling pins as if the power was never turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventors: Kennith D. Crosby, William J. Tuten
  • Patent number: 5439418
    Abstract: A bowling pin storage device includes a one piece three dimensional molded magazine or bin having a plurality of elongated pockets for storing bowling pins in an essentially horizontal plane above a pin spotter. Each of the elongated cavities define a bowling pin shaped opening in the bottom thereof and include a shoulder portion for supporting the head of a bowling pin. The device also includes a plurality of movable wing like support elements for supporting the base or lower portion of bowling pins. The support elements hold or retain the pins within the storage bin when in a first position and when in a second position release the pins to fall downwardly to a pin spotting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: AMF Bowling, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Stephens
  • Patent number: 5413533
    Abstract: An aiming apparatus for a bowling alley comprising an elongated member, means for supporting the elongated member in a substantially horizontal position above and across the bowling alley, the elongated member being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bowling alley, and a plurality of independently hanging target panels rotatably attached to the elongated member in a manner such that the target panels are uniformly spaced across the full width of the bowling alley, each of said target panels indicating a corresponding travel path of a bowling ball, said elongated member being positioned above the bowling alley in a manner such that the bowling ball contacts and deflects the bottom portion of an individual one of the targets so as to mark the path of the bowling ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventors: Edward Bolus, Anthony Bergamino