US3002447A - Bowling ball lettering machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 3, 1961 J. L. HAUGH BOWLING BALL LETTERING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1959 INVENTOR. c/A/V/ES A. H/fi/GH,

AT7OE/VEYS- l l m J w b Q FIG. I

Oct. 3, 1961 J. L. HAUGH 3,

BOWLING BALL LETTERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 72 /2 M FIG. 3.

J I /20 32 M4 INVENTOR.

M44456 4. heave/7;

4770NEYJ nitecl States This invention relates to an improved machine for stamping bowling balls and the like, with selected indented markings.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a more efiicient, practical, and versatile device of the kind indicated which enables quickly, easily, and accurately indenting the surface of such as a bowling ball, to form therein data, such as the manufacturers or owners name or team afiiliation, patented grip instructions, or any other desired information.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above which enables pressurestamping, of such as a bowling ball, in a single stroke, to provide a single marking or a plurality of markings, by the use in the device of a single or a plurality of marking dies or slugs, the dies or slugs being readily removable and replaceable, and being capable of different selected positions in the device to obtain special effects, such as slanted letters and symbols instead of erect letter and symbols.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rugged, durable, and mechanically superior device of the character indicated above, which actuated by hydraulic pressure, and which, while being herein disclosed as being manually operated, is capable of being automatically operated.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a device of the invention, disposed for marking a bowling ball engaged therein;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing the device in marking position in full lines and in retracted position in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the device;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical trans verse section taken on the line 6--6 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated device comprises a flat horizontal base plate 10, preferably of rectangular shape, having a front edge 12, a rear edge14, and left and right-hand end edges 16 and 18, respectively. Suitably fixed upon the base plate 10, preferably oflf-center toward the left-hand end edge 16, close to the front edge 12, and spaced from the rear edge 14, is a low-profile, erect, hollow cylindrical'seat 20, havinga side wall 22, and an internally bevelled upper edge 24, in which is seatable the lower part of a spherical object, such as a bowling ball B, to be marked by means of thedevice.

The device further comprises a horizontal longitudinal tnmnion rod 26 which extends diametrically across the lower part of the seat 20, and is journaled in openings 28 provided in the seat side wall 22, beyond which end portions 30 of the rod 26 extend. An inverted U-shaped iiiiiiii? Patented Get. 3, i951 ice 2 yoke 32 has an arcuate bight portion 34, having an arcuate lower edge 36, which is slightly larger in diameter than a ball B to be marked, and legs 38, which are suitably fixed to the end portions 30 of the rod, with inward edges 40 of the legs 38 disposed to bear against related outside areas of the seat side Wall, as seen in FIGURE 5. The yoke 32 is preferably in the form of a single heavy flat plate.

Formed in the front side of the yoke bight portion 34 is a relatively wide marking die or slug accommodating slot 42, which can be an indentation in the bight portion 34, backed by a horizontal, circumferential reinforcing block 44 on the rear side of and conforming in shape to the bight portion 34, and extending beyond the sides of the slot 42. j

Fixed, as indicated at 46, at their forward ends, to the outward edges of the legs 38 of the yoke 32 are horizontal, rearwardly converging struts or brace bars 48, which, at their rear ends are suitably fixed to an erect, inverted L-shaped standard 50, at the rear edge 52 thereof. The standard 50 is preferably a heavy fiat plate having a vertically elongated upright portion 54, having a forwardly extending foot portion 56 on its upper end. Related forward edge portions of the upright and foot portions are arcuate, as indicated at 58, to spacedly conform to the curvature of a ball B on the seat 20. The standard 50 is disposed transversely of the base plate 10, and at right angles to the yoke 32, and the forward end of its foot portion 56 is suitably fixed to the rear side of the block 44.

The rear edge 52 of the standard 50 is normally perpendicular and its upper edge 62 extends at right angles to the rear edge 60, the upper edge 62 being substantially on a level with the upper edge of the yoke bight portion 34. On the rear edge 52, at its lower end, is a fixed, rearwardly extending bracket arm 64. A clevis 66 is fixed, as indicated at 68, to the foot portion 56 of the standard, and rises thereabove, and carries a fulcrum pivot pin 70, across its arms 72, the pivot pin 76 being spaced rearwardly from the yoke 32 and thereabove.

Positioned between the clevis arms 72 and journaled on the pin 70, at a forwardly offset point, is a generally horizontal rock lever 74, which has a rear end portion 76 which reaches rearwardly beyond the rear edge 52 of the standard 50. A vertical hydraulic jack 78 comprises a cylinder 79 which is supportably engaged, at its lower end, as indicated at 80, on the bracket arm 64 and an upstanding piston rod 82 having a head 84 on its upper end which has therein a slot 86 which loosely receives and supportably engages the lower edge 88 rear end portion 76 of the lever 74. A helical contractile spring 90 is stretched between the rear end portion of the lever 74 and the bracket arm, and is secured thereto, at related ends, as indicated at 92 and 94, respectively. The spring 90 serves to collapse or contract the jack 76 and to elevate the lever 74 from depressed jack-operated position.

The standard 50 is shorter than the yoke 32 and the lower end 96 of the upright portion 54 of the standard is spaced upwardly from the lower end of the yoke and from the base plate 10, as is clear from FIGURES 3 and 4, and is supported in its forwardly tilted, normal erect position, by a removable Wedge pin 98 which normally rests in notches 100 provided in the upper edges of the spaced walls 162, of a rest 104, which are fixed to and rise from the base plate, at a location immediately behind and radial with respect to the slot 20. The standard upright portion 54 is disposed to subside between and guidingly engage the rest walls 102, in the rearwardly tilted position of the assembly 106 which is composed of the yoke 32, the standard 50, the lever 74, and the jack, as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, when the pin 98 i is removed from the rest 104. In this rearwardly tilted position of the assembly 106, a ball B resting in the seat can be freely removed and replaced, and rotated in the seat 28.

Projecting forwardly from the upright portion 54 of the standard 58, at the lower end 96 thereof is a stop finger 107 which extends forwardly through a closed vertical slot 109 provided in the rear of the seat side wall 22. In the elevated position of the standard 50, locked in place on the rest 104, by means of the pin 98, the finger 107 engages the closed upper end 111 of the slot 189 so as to preclude rearwardly tilting of the assembly 106, out of erect position.

When a ball B has been engaged in the seat for marking thereof, the assembly 106 is elevated by hand and tilted forwardly, so that the pin 98 can be reengaged in the rest notches 100, and through a notch 108 provided in the lower end 96 of the standard 50. The pin 98 is provided on its upper side with a longitudinal wedge surface 118, and is dimensioned in cross section so that forced endwise movement of the pin wedges the standard 58 upwardly, so as to retain the assembly 106 in its erect ballmarking position, as shown in full lines in FIGURES 2 and 3, wherein the slug or die-accommodating slot 42 in the yoke bight portion 34, is normal or radial with respect to the ball B, on a perpendicular diameter thereof.

Vertically slidable in the yoke slot 42 is a die or slugcarrying block 112 which is formed in its lower edge 114, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, with a single or with a desired plurality of spaced sockets 116, which are preferably hexagonal in cross section, to receive upwardly and removably therein the reduced upstanding hexagonal shanks 118 on dies or slugs 120. These hexagonal formations enable putting the shanks 118 in the sockets 116 in any of six different rotated positions, so that the latter or symbol-forming faces 122 of the slugs or dies can be selectively positioned to mark erect, inverted, or canted letters or symbols on a ball B. For holding the shanks 118 releasably in the sockets 116, spring-pressed ball detents 124 are provided on the shanks. The letter or symbol-forming faces 122 are preferably projections which indent the surface of a ball B when pressed thereon. The lever 74 is operatively connected to the die or slug block 112, at its forward end, by means of a cross pin 126 which extends therethrough and through upstanding clevis arms 128 fixed on the upper end of the block 112.

A ball B being in place in the seat 20 and the assembly 106 being in its erect ball-marking position, the hydraulic jack 78 is extended, either by manual operation of a handpump, or by any other suitable source of hydraulic pressure, so that the lever 74 is depressed forwardly and the block 112 thereby forced downwardly in the yoke slot 42, so as to drive the die or slug faces 122 against and into the surface of the ball B immediately therebeneath. As indicated in FIGURE 5, the lower end 114 of the block 112, and accordingly, the disposition of the dies or slugs 120 thereof, is preferably arcuate and of the same curvature as the surface of the ball B, so that a plurality of letters or symbols can be uniformly marked, in a relatively long line, on the ball.

The illustrated hand pump 130 can be of a conventional type, comprising a barrel 132 secured end-wise along the right-hand end edge 18 of the base plate 10, and a vertically swingable handle 134 mounted upon the barrel, the barrel having connected to its rear end a hose 136 which is connected to the jack 78. Extending the jack 78 is merely a matter of operating the handle 134.

When the jack is extended, in a ball-marking operation, the spring 98 is stretched and put under tension, which is maintained until the jack 78 is contracted, as by opening a suitable valve (not shown) on the hand pump 130, whereupon the spring 90 contracts and elevates the lever 74 and raises the die block 112 away from the ball B. In this elevated position of the block 112, the dies or slugs 120 can be readily removed and replaced, and the ball B rotated in the seat 20, to provide for desired markings of different areas of the surface of the ball B.

It will be evident that, although the above described device is designed primarily for indented marking or stamping of such as a bowling ball, the device can also be used for non-indenting marking or stamping, by replacing the indenting slugs or dies with non-indenting dies or slugs, to be inked or coated with other marking materials.

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A ball stamping machine comprising a horizontal base plate, a circular ball seat fixed on the base plate, a yoke pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base on an axis extending crosswise of said seat, said yoke having a bight portion spaced above the seat and legs disposed at opposite sides of said seat, to embrace a ball in the seat, a vertically movable die block slidably mounted on said bight portion, ball-stamping die means on the lower end of said block, a rock lever having a first end pivoted to said block, means rockably supporting said lever on the base plate at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, said lever having a second end, and vertically extensible and contractible jack means mounted at its lower end of the base plate and engaged at its upper end with the second end of the rock lever, said jack means being extensible to force the die block downwardly to apply the die means against a ball resting in said seat, said yoke normally occupying an erect position, and being tiltable out of erect position to free a ball for removal from the seat, and means for releasably locking the yoke in its erect position.

2. A ball stamping machine comprising a horizontal base plate, a circular ball seat fixed on the base plate, a yoke pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base on an axis extending crosswise of said seat, said yoke having a bight portion spaced above the seat and legs disposed at opposite sides of said seat, to embrace a ball in the seat, a vertically movable die block slidably mounted on said bight portion, ball-stamping die means on the lower end of said block, a rock lever having a first end pivoted to said block, means rockably supporting said lever on the base plate at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, said lever having a second end, and vertically extensible and contractile jack means mounted at its lower end of the base plate and engaged at its upper end with the second end of the rock lever, said jack means being extensible to force the die block downwardly to apply the die means against a ball resting in said seat, said yoke normally occupying an erect position, and being tiltable out of erect position to free a ball for removal from the seat, and means for releasably locking the yoke in its erect position, said jack means comprising a hydraulic jack, and a hand pump mounted on said base plate and connected in communication with the jack.

3. A ball stamping machine comprising a horizontal base plate, a circular ball seat fixed on the base plate, a yoke pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base on an axis extending crosswise of said seat, said yoke having a bight portion spaced above the seat and legs disposed at opposite sides of said seat, to embrace a ball in the seat, a vertically movable die block slidably mounted on said bight portion, a ball stamping die means on the lower end of said block, a rock lever having a first end pivoted to said block, means rockably supporting said lever on the base plate at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, said lever having a second end, and vertically extensible and contractible jack means mounted at its lower end of the base plate and engaged at its upper end with the second end of the rock lever, said jack means being extensible ,to force the die block downwardly to apply the die means against a ball resting in said seat, said yoke normally occupying an erect position, and being tiltable out of erect position to free a ball for removal from the seat, and means for releasably locking the yoke in its erect position, yoke supporting means comprising a standard shorter than said yoke and having a lower end spaced upwardly from the lower end of the yoke, said'standard having an upright portion spaced laterally from the yoke and a foot portion extending to and fixed to the bight portion of the yoke, and an upstanding rest fixed on said base, said rest having a removable wedge pin extending therethrough upon which the lower end of the standard rests only in an erect position of an assembly composed of said yoke, said standard, and said lever, said standard being depressible and tiltable relative to said rest with the Wedge pin removed from the rest.

4. A ball stamping machine comprising a horizontal base plate, a circular ball seat fixed on the base plate, a yoke pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base on an axis extending crosswise of said seat, said yoke having a bight portion spaced above the seat and legs disposed at opposite sides of said seat, to embrace a ball in the seat, a vertically movable die block slidably mounted on said bight portion, ball stamping die means on the lower end of said block, a rock lever having a first end pivoted to said block, means rockably supporting said lever on the base plate at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, said lever having a second end, and vertically extensible and contractible jack means mounted at its lower end of the base plate and engaged at its upper end with the second end .of the rock lever, said jack means being extensible to force the die block downwardly to apply the die means against a ball resting in said seat, said yoke normally occupying an erect position, and being tiltable out of erect position to free a ball for removal from the seat, and means for releasably locking the yoke in its erect position, yoke supporting means comprising a standard shorter than said yoke and having a lower end spaced upwardly from the lower end of the yoke, said standard having an upright portion spaced laterally from the yoke and a foot portion extending to and fixed to the bight portion of the yoke, and an upstanding rest fixed on said base, said rest having a removable wedge pin extending therethrough upon which the lower end of the standard rests only in an erect position of an assembly composed of said yoke, said standard, and said lever, said standard being depressible and tiltable relative to said rest with the wedge pin removed from the rest, said wedge pin having an upper wedge surface to engage the lower end of the standard to wedge said assembly to its erect position.

5. A ball stamping machine comprising a horizontal base plate, a circular ball seat fixed on the base plate, a yoke pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base on an axis extending crosswise of said seat, said yoke having a bight portion spaced above the seat and legs disposed at opposite sides of said seat, to embrace a ball in the seat, a vertically movable die block slidably mounted on said bight portion, ball stamping die means on the lower end of said block, a rock lever having a first end pivoted to said block, means rockably supporting said lever on the base plate at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, said lever having a second end, and vertically extensible and contractible jack means mounted at its lower end of the base plate and engaged at its upper end with the second end of the rock lever, said jack means being extensible to force the die block downwardly to apply the die means against a ball resting in said seat, said yoke normally occupying an erect position, and being tiltable out of erect position to free a ball for removal from the seat, and means for releasably locking the yoke in its erect position, yoke supporting means comprising a standard shorter than said yoke and having a lower end spaced upwardly from the lower end of the yoke, said standard having an upright portion spaced laterally from the yoke and a foot portion extending to and fixed to the bight portion of the yoke, and an upstanding rest fixed on said base, said rest having a removable wedge pin extending therethrough upon which the lower end of the standard rests only in an erect position of an assembly composed of said yoke, said standard, and said lever, said standard being depressible and tiltable relative to said rest with the wedge pin removed from the rest, said Wedge pin having an upper wedge surface to engage the lower end of the standard to wedge said assembly in its elevated and erect position, said standard having a stop finger at its lower end and projecting toward the seat, the seat having a side wall provided with a Vertical slot having an upper end, said stop finger extending through the seat slot and being engaged with the upper end of the slot to prevent tilting of the assembly away from the seat in its erect position. a

6. A ball stamping machine comprising a horizontal base plate, a circular ball seat fixedron the base plate, a yoke pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base on an axis extending crosswise of said seat, a vertically movable die block mounted on said bight portion, ball stamping die means on the lower end of said block, a rock lever having a first end pivoted to said block, means rockably supporting said lever on the base plate at a point inter mediate the ends of the lever, said lever having a second end, and vertically extensible and contractible jack means mounted at its lower end of the base plate and engaged at its upper end with the second end of the rock lever, said jack means being extensible to force the die block downwardly to apply the die means against a ball resting in said seat, said supporting means comprising a standard shorter than said yoke and having a lower end spaced upwardiy from the lower end of the yoke, said standard having an upright portion spaced from the yoke and a foot portion extending to and fixed to the bight portion of the yoke, and an upstanding rest fixed on said base, said rest having a removable wedge pin extending therethrough upon which the lower end of the standard rests only in an elevated and erect position of an assembly composed of said yoke, said standard, and said lever, said standard being depressible and tiltable relative to said rest with the wedge pin removed from the rest, said wedge pin having an upper wedge surface to engage the lower end of the standard to Wedge said assembly in its elevated and erect position, said standard having a stop finger at its lower end and projecting toward the seat, the seat having a side wall provided with a vertical slot having an upper end, said stop finger extending through the seat slot and being engaged with the upper end of the slot to prevent tilting of the assembly away from the seat in the elevated and erect position, and contractile spring means acting between second end of the rock lever and said standard for elevating said rock lever and the die block relative to the yoke.

7. A ball stamping machine comprising a horizontal base plate, a circular ball seat fixed on the base plate, a yoke pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base on an axis extending crosswise of said seat, said yoke having a bight portion spaced above the seat and legs disposed at opposite sides of said seat, to embrace a ball in the seat, a vertically movable die block slidably mounted on said bight portion, ball stamping die means on the lower end of said block, a rock lever having a first end pivoted to said block, means rockably supporting said lever on the base plate at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, said lever having a second end, and vertically extensible and contractible jack means mounted at its lower end of the base plate and engaged at its upper end with the second end of the rock lever, said jack means being extensible to force the die block downwardly to apply the die means against a ball resting in said seat, said yoke normally occupying an erect position, and being tiltable out of erect position to free a ball for removal from the seat, and means for releasably locking the yoke in its erect position, said yoke being of inverted U-shape and having legs depending from said bight portion at opposite sides of the ball seat, a trunnion rod being journaled diametrically through the ball seat and having end portions at opposite sides of the seat to which the said legs are fixed at their lower ends.

8. A ball stamping machine comprising a horizontal base plate, a circular ball seat fixed on the base plate, a yoke pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base on an axis extending crosswise of said seat, said yoke having a bight portion spaced above the seat andlegs disposed at opposite sides of said seat, to embrace a ball in the seat, a vertically movable die block slidably mounted on said bight portion, ball stamping die means on the lower end of said block, a" rock lever having a first end pivoted to said block, means rockably supporting said lever on the base plate at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, said lever having a second end, and vertically extensible and contractible jack means mounted at its lower end of the base plate and engaged at its upper end with the second end of the rock lever, said jack means being extensible to force the die block downwardly to apply the die means against a ball resting in said seat, said yoke normally occupying an erect position, and being tiltable out of erect position to free a ball for removal from the seat, and means for releasably locking the yoke in its erect position, said yoke being of inverted U-shape and having legs depending from said bight portion at opposite sides of the ball seat, a trunnion rod being journaled diametrically through the ball seat and having end portions at opposite sides of the seat to which the said legs are fixed at their lower ends, said bight portion having a vertical slot in which said-die block is slidably confined.

9. A ball stamping machine comprising a base, an up- 8 standing circular ball seat fixed upon the base, an inverted U-shaped yoke having a bight portion spaced above the seat and depending legs disposed at opposite sides of the seat, means pivoting said legs at their lower ends to the base, a standard having an upright portion disposed at a side of the seat between the yoke legs, said standard having a foot portion extending from said upright portion to and fixed to the bight portion of the yoke, said upright portion having a lower end spaced upwardly from the base, a rest upstanding on said base, a removable pin extending crosswise of and supported on the rest for engagement by the lower end of the upright portion only in erect operative positions of the standard and the yoke, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the foot portion of the standard, said lever having first and second ends, a die block mounted on the yoke bight portion for vertical movement, said die block being pivoted to the second end of said lever, and a vertically extensible jack mounted on said upright portion of the standard and operatively engaged with the first end of the lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 103,919 Owen June 7, 1870 1,537,685 Ladd May 12, 1925 1,724,085 Hauer Aug. 13, 1929 1,834,011 Valiquette Dec. 1, 1931. 1,925,236 Doyle et a1. Sept. 5, 1933 1,999,647 Atti Apr. 30, 1935 2,002,847 Atti May 28, 1935 2,262,180 Hauer Nov. 11, 1941 2,541,358 Hirsch Feb. 13, 1951 2,561,947 Premo July 24, 1951 2,875,684 Teel Mar. 3, 1959

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