US2946590A - Bowling game device - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1960 vc. o. BRUNER BOWLING GAME DEVICE Filed June 11, 1958 Charles 0. Brune'r INVENTOR.

Wawy 5MM,

United States BOWLING GAME DEVICE Charles 0. Bruner, 520 W. La Habra Ave., La Habra, Calif.

Filed June 11, 1958, Ser. No. 741,266

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-37) vide a bowling game `device in the form of an elongated t .i

alley having a smooth top surface which may be supported somewhat in the nature of a table by depending supporting members with the flat top surface representing an alley and provided with gutters along each side thereof and provided with pin spots at each end thereof and provided with -a movable pit having a retractible' bumper or barrier for receiving the pins whichare knocked from the pin spots bythe bowlers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bowling game device incorporating in its construction a movable pit having a bumper mounted thereon with the bumper serving to stop the pins when they are struck and also providing a storage for the pin in the movable pit.

A further object of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of use, entertaining qualities, adaptation for playing an intended game and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the `details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a lperspective view of the bowling game device of the presen-t invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section. line 2 2 of Figure l illustrating the details of construction of the bowling game device; and

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substan-tially upon a plane passing along section line 3 3 of Figure l illustrating further structural details of the bowling game device.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the bowling game device of the present invention which includes an elongated table-like structure generally designated by the numeral 12 and including a flat and level play-ing surface representing a bowling alley which is designated by the numeral 14 and which has a substantially perfectly flat playing surface. Disposed in spaced relation to the playing surface 14 is a bottom member 16 which is maintained in spaced relation by side members 18 and transverse partition members 20. The bottom member 16 is supported from a -supporting surface by downwardly extending support blocks 22 which may be of any conventional construction and which may have levelling feet for purposes of levelling the playing surface 14.

i LCC 2. Adjacent each end of the playing surface 14 is a group of pin spots 24 which may be relatively dim for purposes of guiding the initial positioning of the pins 26. Along each side of the pl-aying surface 14 is a gutter and ball return designated by the numerals 2S and 30'. The gutters and ball returns 28 and 30 are inclined in opposite directions so that the balls may be returned to the players. As viewed in Figure l, the gutter and ball return 30 is inclined downwardly towards the remote end of the playing surface 14 so that when a ball is positioned therein it will roll towards the player at the remote end of the playing surface. The ball return and gutter 28 is inclined in the other direction, that is downwardly from the remote end to the adjacent end.

Slidable in each end of the table-like structure 12 is a drawer generally designated by the numeral 34 which includes a bottom 36, side walls 38, an inner end wall 40 and an outer endwall 42 thus leaving the drawer open on top. The outer end wall 42 is provided with a' generally U-shaped handle 44 attached thereto by suitable fasteners so tha-t the drawer 34 may be pulled outwardly or moved inwardly in underlying relation `to the playing surface 14; For guiding the sliding movenient of the drawer 34, the bottom 36 is provided with -a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending dovetailed grooves 46 slidably receiving a longitudinal-projection 48 onrthe bottom member 16 which is l also dovetailed in shape for engagement with the dovetailed grooves 46 thus supporting the drawer 34 and guiding the longitudinal movement thereof. A depending pin or any other suitable stop means which is indicated by t-he numeral -50 is provided on the undersurface of Ithe playing surface 14 for lengagement with the inner surface of the inner end wall 40 for 'limiting the outward movement of the drawer 34.

Hingedly connected to the front or outer end Wall 42 is an extension plate or bumper 52 with the hinge con- '.nection being designated by the numeral 54.

The inner surface of the inner end wall 42 and the inner surface of the bumper 52 is provided with a cushion of resilient material designated by the numeral 56 which forms la bumper when extended in the condition shown in Figure 2 for receiving the pins as they are forced rearwardly by contact with the ball and also for receiving and stopping the ball so that the ball and the pins all [will be received within the interior of the drawer.

While the drawings in this instance illustrate the extension plate or bumper 52 folding completely within the drawer, the same may engage the top surface of the side walls 38 or otherwise be supported by the top edge of the walls 38 so that the bumper 52 will form a partial closure for -the drawer. The drawer is sufficiently large to hold the pins 26 and also the balls to be used in connection therewith thus providing a storage area for this paraphernalia. Also, the bumper receives Ithe balls and absorbs the shock thereof and deposits the balls and the pins in the drawer or pit formed by the drawer. p

In order -to assure easy movement of the drawer, the drawer may be elongated with only approximately onethird of the same being used for the actual storage or pit area. The approximate dimensions of the drawer are 54 inches in length by 25 inches in width and l() inches deep. The playing surface of the bowling game device may be approximately 14 feet long or more and the players set up each others pins and when the pins are disposed in the pit or drawer, the drawer may be moved inwardly for enabling the player to throw his balls at the pins which have been set up at the opposite end of .the playing surface. Thus, the present invention incorporates a bowling game device in which the actual playing of the game takes place from both ends of the location when not in use.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to `the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bowling game device comprising an elongated planar playing surface having pin spots at each end and trough members along each side edge thereof, a bottom member disposed in spaced parallel relation to Ithe playing surface, said bottom being substantially equal in length to the playing surface and underlying said playing surface, a pair of side members interconnecting the side edges of the bottom member and playing surface thereby forming a hollow elongated housing, a drawer slidably received in each end of said housing, each drawer including a bottom provided with longitudinal grooves in the under surface thereof, said bottom member of the housing having longitudinal ribs thereon slidably received in the grooves for guiding the drawers, each drawer also including a pair of side walls, an inner end wall and an outer end wall rigid with the bottom and slidably received in the hollow housing, the external di- 4 face of said outer end wall for moving the drawer in a horizontal plane longitudinally from a concealed position substantially completely? underlying the pllaying surface to an extended position with the drawer forming a longitudinal extension of the housing, said drawer having a bottom substantially below the playing surface thereby forming a receptacle for receiving the pins and balls, stop means mounted on the underside of said playing surface in depending relation to limit the longitudinal sliding movement of the drawer, an extension plate pivotally mounted on the .upper edge of the outer end wall of the drawer for swinging movement from a retracted position alongside ythe inner surface of said outer end wall to an extended position in v ertical alignment with the outer end wall, said extension plate having vertical and horizontal dimensions generally equal to the inner surface of the outer end wall thereby extending substantially vertically above the playing surface when in extended position andforming a bumper for receiving impacts from the pins and balls.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the extension plate and the outer end wall are covered with cushioning material for absorbing impact.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,115 Longwell Sept. 22, 1908' 1,360,661 Malone Nov. 30, 1920 2,247,769 Constant July 1, 1941 2,525,906 Johnson Oct. 17, 1950

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