US3317208A

US3317208A - Bowling lanes and means associated therewith for exercising and correcting bodily movements

Info

Publication number: US3317208A
Application number: US351345A
Authority: US
Inventors: George M Birkle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-12
Filing date: 1964-03-12
Publication date: 1967-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-02

Description

May 2, 1967 G. M. BIRKIC 3,317,208

BOWLING LANES AND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EXERCISING AND CORRECTING BODILY MOVEMENTS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l a a 2: 5 535W I N VEN TOR.

62026.6 M IVE/0C BY May 2, 1967 G. M. BIRKIC 3,317,208

BOWLING LANES AND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EXERCISING AND CORRECTING BODILY MOVEMENTS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 62-0255 M B/PK/C BY ATTORNEY,

y 2, 1967 G. M. BIRKIC 3,317,208

BOWLING LANES AND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EXERCISING AND CORRECTING BODILY MOVEMENTS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 550 65 M fl/Fk/C United States Patent 3 317 208 BOWLING LANES AND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EXERCISING AND COR- RECTING BODILY MOVEMENTS George M. Birkic, 24130 Euclid Ave., Apt. 4B, Euclid, Ohio 44117 Filed Mar. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 351,345 16 Claims. (Cl. 273--54) The present invention relates to bowling lanes and more particularly to apparatus or devices associated with a bowling lane or with portions thereof for enabling a bowler to diagnose himself and to correct improper bodily movements prior to and during delivery of a bowling ball. It also relates to apparatus in association with a bowling lane or portions thereof for exercising the muscles of the arms, such as are used in rowing, or the muscles of the leg, such as are used in pedaling.

When a bowler tries to make a good delivery of his ball, his desire to repeat sensory experiences that feel right acts as a stimulus to him to deliver the ball in a way that is associated with such experiences. The dominating influence of his desire to gain his end by the use of bodily movements which feel right but which are wrong for the purpose, explains why in spite of repeated experience of failure, he does not conform his bodily movements to those which are necessary in obtaining a good score. Bowlers who compete in tournaments and are intent on making a good score frequently consult professionals but the use of their bodies in conforming to instructions received for making a good delivery are acts contrary to habitual use and which because they are associated with sensory experiences which are unfamiliar, feel wrong. The bowler therefore usually resorts to his own sensory experiences which involve incorrect bodily movements and never attains a high degree of skill.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide improved apparatus which may be installed on a lane in a bowling alley for instructional purposes and which may be removed during league or tournament play or to apparatus installed in the basement or recreation room of a home including a portion of a lane where practice may be conducted by the bowler at his leisure and at low cost and in which the bowler may not only be informed with respect to the fundamental principles of correct bowling but may observe for himself the faults in his bodily movements.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus associated with a bowling lane or parts thereof by means of which a bowler may make a diagnosis of himself and correct improper bodily movements which have become habitual with him and which prevent him from attaining the coordination, rhythmical movement, poise, and balance, which are necessary in becoming a good bowler.

. Another object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus including a portion of a bowling lane which may be installed in the basement or recreation room of a home and which enables a bowler to make a self-diagnosis and to develop good bodily movement during his practice at low cost.

A further object of my invention is to provide in combination with a portion of a bowling alley lane apparatus for exercising the arms, legs, and body.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling lane with a portion of the runway leading to the foul line being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on a plane passing through the line 22 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with one of the lamp casings broken away to expose the lamp; 7

FIG. 3 is a detail elevational view of the lower portion of a vertical rod used in my improved apparatus with parts in section;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a bowling lane with the runway leading to the foul line broken away and a perspective view of apparatus associated with the lane for providing instructions and a mirror for showing an image of the bowler as he approaches the foul line and releases his ball;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view on a plane passing through the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view somewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 4 with parts broken away and showing additional apparatus for providing an exercise similar to that attained by rowing;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 6 in which the additional apparatus shown is for providing leg exercises, such as that afforded by pedaling a bicycle; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the path of the light beam to the foul line and a particular spot on the lane and the path of the ball from the spot on the lane to a particular pin or group of pins.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a standard 60 foot bowling lane 1 is shown having a foul line 2 to which the usual runway 10 extends, portions of which are shown broken away. The pins 3 are shown in place on the designated spots at the opposite end of the lane adjacent the usual well, not shown, into which the pins may fall. i

In accordance with my invention spots 4 are arranged approximately at twelve feet from the foul line and supported by posts 5 on the upper wall of the ball-return race is a frame designated generally by the numeral 6 which may be secured to the posts by any suitable means, such as glue or cement. The frame may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal or wood, and consists of a rear wall 7 and angularly-shaped side wall pieces, each having a forwardly extending flange 8 and a rear flange 8a cemented or otherwise secured to the rear wall. In the event the frame and posts are formed of metal, the post and the rear flange of the side portions may be welded or brazed to the rear Wall.

The lower portion of the frame has a plurality of spaced marks 9 thereon, each of which is arranged above one of the spots 4 0n the bowling lane and to enable the bowler to view his form during and particularly at the end of his stroke, a mirror 10 is glued or otherwise adherent affixed to the rear wall of the frame and the forwardly extending side walls 8 are each provided with aligned slots 11 to receive a longitudinally extending rod or bar 12 which may therefore be adjusted vertically so that when the bowler releases the ball, the image of his shoulders in the mirror will appear directly beneath the longitudinally extending rod. The longitudinally extending rod may of course be adjusted to the proper height depending upon the height of the bowler. The mirror is of the transparent type which reflects the image of the bowler but which enables him to see the pins at the opposite end of the lane through the mirror.

During bowling, the arm that propels the ball acts as a pendulum and in accordance with approved practice is maintained straight throughout the entire delivery of the ball and to enable the bowler to ascertain whether the arm utilized in delivering the ball is straight at the time of delivery, a second rod 13 is provided which eX- tends vertically to rod 12 and while the rod 13 may be supported in any desired manner, as shown, the stern of 3 a hook 14 is embedded in the upper end of the vertical rod and the hooked portion extends over the horizontal rod 12. In the event the bowler is left-handed, rod 13 maybe arranged adjacent the left hand side of the mirror as viewed from the foul line.

In accordance with my invention, means are provided to place before the bowler instructions with respect to the proper form to be observed by him prior to and during delivery of the ball. The form to be followed would be that approved either by professionals or those well versed in thesport. For this purpose, the upper portion of the frame has a cover 15 extending forwardly therefrom, the front wall 16 of which is inclined downwardly to form a housing 17, to the opposite ends of which cross pieces 18 are secured by suitable means, such as by welding or by cement or nails and each cross piece is provided with forwardly extending lugs 19 at its opposite ends having apertures or recesses therein for receiving the opposite ends of a curtain rod 20 to which a curtain 21 is secured in the usual manner. As shown, each of the curtains may be pulled downwardly over a portion of the mirror and upon each of the curtains is printed a fundamental principle of proper bowling. For instance, the following may be printed on one of the curtains:

ADDRESS, FIRST STEP, SECOND STEP, THIRD STEP, FOURTH STEP, SLIDE AND STOP, RE- LEASE BALL AND LIFT ARM After the bowler has mastered the proper approach to the foul line, the first curtain may be raised and another curtainmay be lowered on which is printed the position of the bowling arm as the bowler approaches the foul line. For instance, the second curtain may contain the following instructions:

KEEP BOWLING ARM STRAIGHT AND SHOUL- DERS AT LEVEL WITH THE BAR AS THEY AP- PEAR IN THE IMAGE IN THE MIRROR AS THE BALL IS RELEASED Upon a third curtain may be printed additional instructions, such as:

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPOT AND NOT ON THE PINS If. desired additional curtains may be provided upon which is printed other desirable instructions or information.

In accordance with my invention, means are also provided for directing a beam of light from a spot 22 on the foul line to one of the spots 4 spaced down the lane from the foul line, a series of which are arranged upon the laneat approximately twelve feet from the foul line, and while any suitable means may be provided for this purpose, such as by providing a light suspended from a wall or ceiling in the bowling alley on the front of which is arranged an opaque wall having spaced rectangularlyshaped slots therein and upper and lower grooves to pro vide a guide-way for an opaque slide which also has a rectangular slot therein which may be selectively brought into alignment with any one of the slots in the opaque wall, as shown in the drawings, four lamps are provided which may be selectively illuminated by conductors 23 extending to the respective lamps from terminals on a panel 24 which conductors may be energized by being brought into electrical contact with terminals on a switch to which conductors from a suitable source of electrical energy are connected in the usual manner. Each lamp is supported by an

opaque casing

25, 26, 27, and 28, respectively, which is rotatably mounted in the front wall 16 of the housing and is provided with a rectangular slot 29 so that when a casing is properly adjusted in the front wall and the lamp within the particular casing is illuminated, a beam of light is directed from a spot 22 on the foul line to a spot 4 on the lane which as previously stated is located approximately twelve feet from the foul line. After the bowler becomes familiar with throwing the ball over a particular beam, the intensity of the beam between the spot on the foul line and the spot on the lane may be dimmed. For this purpose, a rheostat 23a may be inserted in the conductor 23 leading to each lamp.

As shown in the drawings, see particularly FIGS. 2 and 8, the lamp within the casing 26 may be illuminated first and a beam of light passing through the rectangular slot in casing 26 extends from the spot 22a on the foul line to the spot 4a on the lane. When the ball is thrown along this beam 30, it will pass over spot 4a on the lane and will normally follow the path 30a into the pocket between the l and 3 pins which usually results in a strike. If the ball, however, varies in its course and the pin 5 remains standing, another ball thrown from spot 22a on the foul line over spot 4a on the lane will normally follow the path 30a and will knock down the 5 pin. In the

event pins

2, 4, 7 and 8 remain standing after the first ball is delivered, a beam of light from lamp 27 directed between the spot 22a on the foul line and the spot 4b on the lane will normally follow the path 30b which will knock down these pins. In the event pins 3, 6, 9 and 10 or pin 10 alone remains standing after the first ball is delivered, a beam of light from lamp 26 may be directed between spot 22b on the foul line to spot 4a on the lane and this beam will normally follow the path 300 and will not only knock down pins 3, 6, 9 and 10 if those pins remain standing, or will knock down pin 10 if that is the only pin that remains standing.

It will of course be understood that the particular spot on the foul line and the particular spot on the lane between which the beam of light is cast is merely illustrative and will depend upon the individual and the arm he uses in delivering the ball. For instance, if the bowler uses his left arm or in the event he naturally or automatically curves his ball during delivery, proper correction may be made and for this purpose additional spots are provided on the foul line and on the lane in which case the beam of light may be directed between any desired spot on the foul line and any desired spot on the lane, or if desired, additional casings may be provided in housing 17, each having a lamp therein, by means of which additional beams of light may be directed from a spot on the foul line to a spot on the lane. Instead of providing beams of light, narrow strips may be formed across the slots to provide a series of spaced spots and the lamps from which each beam or series of spaced spots emanates may be of a color different from that of the color of each of the other lamps.

When the ball is thrown over a particular beam of light, such as from a spot 22a on the foul line to a spot 4a on the lane, the vertical rod is arranged over the spot on the lane so that as the bowler releases the ball, his image in the mirror will show him that his bowling arm is straight and to assure the bowler that the central portion of the ball passes over the spot on the lane, rod 13 may be provided with a resilient extension which is engaged by the ball passing over the spot. The extension may be formed in any suitable manner. As shown, an internally threaded recess is formed in the bottom of the rod 13 into which a plug 31 is threaded and spring 32 may be secured to the plug in any suitable manner, such as by soldering or welding if the plug is formed of metal, or if desired, the spring may be formed integral with the plug. For example, if the lower portion of spring 32 terminates eight and onefourth inches above the spot and if the bowling ball is eight and one-half inches in diameter and strikes the spring, it will make a resonant noise. However, if the central portion of the ball does not pass over the spot, the ball will not strike the spring and no sound will occur which will indicate to the bowler that the ball did not pass over the spot. To prevent the spring from scratching or otherwise marring the bowling ball, the lower portion of the spring may be covered with a layer of felt 33.

In addition to providing apparatus that may be installed on the lane of a bowling alley for instructional purposes, I also provide apparatus that may be installed in the basement or recreation room of a home upon which a bowler may practice to attain the desired form. This modification of my invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and because many of the parts in FIG. 4 are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, they have been designated by the same reference numerals. As in the structure shown in FIG. 1, the mirror is of the transparent type and over the rear of the mirror is a three dimension transparent plastic picture of the bowling pins 3 which appear to be at the same distance from the frame as the pins on a real bowling alley lane.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lane 1 is provided with a runway 1a leading to the foul line 2 and the spots 9 are shown on the frame below the mirror. The distance from the foul line 2 to the spots 9 is twelve feet so that this portion of the lane is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The frame, mirror, and horizontal and vertical rods are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and have accordingly been designated by the same reference numerals.

Because the portion of the lane shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is comparatively short, means are provided to break the advance of the ball which is of standard size and is thrown in the usual manner from the foul line. Any suitable means may be provided for this purpose, such as rectangularly-shaped bags filled with sand and faced with a resilient material, such as rubber, or masonite faced with rubber or nylon. As shown, a plate 34 formed of a heavy metal, such as steel, and faced with a layer 35 of rubber is pivotally supported in any suitable manner. For this purpose, a frame 36 is provided consisting of spaced side walls 37 secured to rails 38 on the opposite sides of the lane. The side walls of the frame are connected together by a rear Wall 39 and by spaced rods 40 which brace the frame and form a support for the bowling ball when it is not in use. As shown in FIG. 5, for pivotally mounting plate 34, a metal rod 41 secured to plate 34 protrudes at its opposite ends beyond the end of plate 34 and is pivotally mounted in recesses formed in the upper forward portions of the side walls of the frame and to provide proper instructions for the bowler during practice, a plurality of curtains may also be provided within the housing 17 projecting from the frame which may be pulled down and the mirror which reflects the image of the horizontal and vertical rods associated with the frame indicates to the bowler whose image is shown in the mirror whether his bodily movements are correct as he approaches the foul line and delivers his ball.

Because a comparatively heavy plate is necessary to break the advance of the ball, means associated with the plate may be provided for exercising the muscle-s of the arms as shown in FIG. 6, or the muscles ofthe legs as shown in FIG. 7. For exercising the muscles of the arms, a bracket 42 provided with a slot or a plurality of apertures is .adjustably secured to the upper portion of plate 34 by suitable means, such as a screw to vary its resistance as shown more particularly in FIG. 5 and has flanges 43 with apertures therein to receive a pin extending through the arm of second bracket 44 having rotatable means mounted therein. While the rotatable means may be of any suitable type, such as a pulley, as shown a sprocket 45 having a central aperture is provided. To hold the sprocket in place, the bracket 44 has oppositely disposed faces, each provided with a central aperture and the sprocket is rotatably held in place by a pintle 46 extending through the apertures in the faces of the bracket and the aperture in the sprocket, and means are provided to rock the plate 34 and its facing 35 by movement of the arms in an exercise similar to that produced by rowing.

To provide such a structure, rotatable means, such as a chain 53 is trained around the sprocket, a rod 4 8 is provided having spaced

rings

49 and 50 thereon, and a pair of

oars

51 and 52 are provided, the butt end of oar 51 being received within a recess at the junction of one of the side rails 38 and the lane and the butt end of the other oar being received in a recess at the junction of the other side rail and the lane and means are provided to connect the oars to the opposite ends of chain 53 which is trained around sprocket 45. For this purpose, a ring is connected to each oar in proximity to its butt end and

ropes

54 and 55 are provided, ropes 54 having a hook 56 connected to one end of chain 53 from which it passes through the ring 49 on rod 48 and is provided with a hook at its opposite end which is connected to the ring on oar 51 and in a like manner, one end of rope 55 has a hook 57 thereon which is connected to the opposite end of chain 53 from which it extends through ring 50 on rod 48 and its opposite end is provided with a hook which is connected to the ring on oar 52.

As shown in FIG. 7, means associated with the bowling lane and the pivotally mounted plate 34 is also provided for providing leg exercises, such as those produced by pedaling a bicycle. For this purpose, a pair of blocks 58 are provided having fiat lower faces resting on the bowling lane and arcuate-shaped upper faces which are inclined downwardly toward the facing 35 of the pivotally mounted plate 34 and each of which is provided with a ring 58a at its forward end and an aperture at its rear end through which apertures a rod 59 extends having its opposite ends journalled in apertures in the side rails of the frame. A rod also extends between blocks 58 upon which pedals 60 and 61 are pivotally mounted which pedals are spaced from each other and from the blocks by collars 62. Each of the pedals is provided at its forward end with a ring 63 and 63a, respectively, and a rope 64 having a hook at one end is connected to one pedal and its opposite end is connected to a ring at one end of chain 53 and the other rope has a hook at one end which is connected to the other pedal and its other end has a hook thereon which is connected to a ring on the other end of chain 53.

A back rest 65 is also provided having rings at itsopposite ends and a rope 66 has one end connected to the ring at one end of the back rest and a hook at its opposite end which is connected to the forward end of one of the pedals and a similar rope has a hook thereon connected to the ring at the opposite end of the back rest 65 and its opposite end connected to the ring 58a on the other pedal.

A person utilizing the apparatus may sit on the lane with his back against the rest 65 and his feet upon the pedals and when the pedals are selectively moved, the free end of the rubber faced plate 34 is rocked upwardly on its pivot but returns to its normally vertical position when the force upon each pedal is removed. During the movement of the oars or pedals as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, plate 34 and its face 35 are pivoted on rod 41 as an axis. There is also a rotary movement of the sprocket and means is provided to increase the friction between the faces of the second bracket and the sprocket to increase the force necessary to rotate the sprocket, and while any suitable means may be provided for this purpose, as shown, a spring 68 is interposed between a wing shaped nut 69 threaded on one end of the pintle and the adjacent face of the bracket and as nut 69 is threaded inwardly, spring 68 is compressed to force the adjacent face of the second bracket against the sprocket.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with at least part of a bowling lane, a frame arranged over said lane, a plate pivotally mounted on said frame for interrupting a bowling ball when the lane is utilized for practicing bowling, a bracket extending upwardly and forwardly from said plate, rotatable means mounted in said bracket, a rail extending upwardly from each side of said lane, manually movable means arranged on said lane, means associated with said rails and the manually movable means for holding the manually movable means in place, and means associated with said rotatable means and the manually movable means for pivoting said plate on its axis during movement of at least a portion of the manually movable means.

, 2. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane, a frame arranged over the lane, a plate pivotally mounted on said frame for interrupting a bowling ball when the lane is utilized to practice bowling, a rail arranged on each side of said lane and said lane having oppositely disposed recesses therein, one of which is arranged adjacent one rail and the other of which is arranged adjacent the other rail, a bracket mounted on said plate, a sprocket rotatably mounted in said bracket, a chain trained around said sprocket, a pair of oars, the butt end of one of which extends into one of said recesses and the butt end of the other of which extends into the other recess, and means connected to one of said oars and one end of said chain and to the other oar and the other end of said chain for rotating said sprocket and for applying pressure to said bracket to selectively pivot said plate on its axis during rearward movement of each of said oars, and said plate being movable to its normal vertical position when the force upon the oars is released.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 in which the bracket has oppositely disposed metal faces having aligned apertures therein, a pivot pin extending through the apertures in said faces, and means associated with said pivot pin and with the faces of the bracket to force the metal faces of the bracket toward each other to increase the friction on said sprocket to thereby increase the force necessary to rotate said sprocket.

4. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane, a frame arranged over the lane, a plate pivotally mounted on said frame for interrupting a bowling ball when the lane is utilized to practice bowling, a rail arranged upon each side of said lane, said rails having oppositely disposed apertures therein, a rod extending across said lane, means associated with said rod for pivotally mounting a pair of pedals in place, a bracket mounted on said plate, a sprocket rotatably mounted in said bracket, a chain trained around said sprocket, and means connected to one of said pedals and one end of said chain and to the other pedal and the opposite end of said chain for rotating said sprocket when said pedals are selectively activated by foot pressure for rotating said sprocket and for applying sufficient pressure to selectively pivot said plate on its axis during movement of each of said pedals and said plate being movable to its normal vertical position when the force upon said pedals is released.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 in which the bracket has oppositely disposed metal faces having aligned apertures therein, a pivot pin extending through said apertures and said sprocket, and means associated with said pivot pin and with the faces of said bracket to force the metal faces toward each other to increase the friction on said sprocket to thereby increase the force necessary to rotate said sprocket.

6. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foul line, a frame extending across and upwardly from the bowling lane at a predetermined distance from the foul line, said frame having a back wall and forwardly extending side flanges, each of which flanges has spaced notches therein which are aligned with the notches in the opposite flange, a horizontal rod supported in aligned notches in said flangesand a vertical rod extending downwardly from the horizontal rod and being adjustably supported thereon, a mirror adherently secured to the back wall, and a forwardly extending top wall which extends beyond the side flanges and which has a front portion forming an upper housing extending forwardly of said mirror, means for supporting said frame above the bowl-ing lane, a plurality of curtains, means within said housing for supporting the upper portions of said curtains, each of which curtains has thereon a fundamental principle of bowling and each of which may be selectively pulled down to a position over at least a portion of the mirror so that mat- 8 ter on the curtain can be read by a bowler at'the foul line after which the curtain may be released, and said bowlers image being reflected in said mirror as he approaches the foul line and delivers his ball to thereby indicate to him whether he has followed instructions on the curtain.

7. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foul line thereon and a runway leading to said foul line, a first frame extending upwardly from a substantially level portion of said lane at a short distance from the foul line, a mirror supported by said frame, a second frame arranged between the foul line and the first frame on a substantially level portion of said lane and having a stationary rear wall and side walls, and a comparatively heavy plate having an outer resilient facing pivotally supported on the forward ends of the side walls of the second frame for interrupting the advance of a bowling ball.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the mirror is of the transparent type and upon the rear, of which mirror is the transparent plastic picture of bowling pins which appear to be at the same distance from the frame as the pins on a real bowling lane.

9. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foul line, a runway leading to the foul line, said lane having a plurality of spots arranged linearly across the lane at the foul line and a plurality of spaced spots arranged linearly across the lane at approximately twelve feet down the lane from the foul line, a frame extending upwardly from said lane, a housing supported by said frame, a plurality of lamps arranged in said housing, each having illuminating means arrangedv therein, an opaque casing surrounding each lamp having a rectangualr slot therein of such size that a guiding line of light may be directed from a spot on the foul line to a spot on the bowling lane approximately twelve feet down the lane from the foul line.

10. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foul line, a runway leading to the foul line, said lane having a plurality of spots arranged linearly across the lane at the foul line and a plurality of spaced spots arranged linearly across the lane at at least twelve feet down the lane from the foul line, and means for directing a guiding line of light between a spot on the foul line and one of the spots spaced down the lane from the foul line including a housing, a plurality of lamps arranged in the housing, each having illuminating means therein, an opaque casing surrounding each lamp, each of which casings has a rectangular slot therein which is of such size that a guiding line of light may be directed from a spot on the foul line to one of the spots which is down the lane from the foul line.

11. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foul line, a runway leading to the foul line, said bowling lane having a plurality of spaced spots arranged linearly across the lane adjacent to the foul line and a plurality of spaced spots arranged linearly across the lane at a substantially spaced distance downwardly on the lane from the foul line, a source of light, opaque means associated with and being movable relative to said light source and having an opening therein which opening is of sufficient length when the opaque means is moved to a position in which said opening is in front of said light source to provide a beam of light from said light source which extends from one of the spots adjacent to the foul line to one of the linear spots on the lane which is spaced at a substantial distance downwardly on the lane from the foul lane.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11 including means for dimming the beam of light between the spot adjacent the foul line and the spot on said lane which is spaced a substantial distance downwardly on the lane from the foul line.

13. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane, a foul line, a runway leading to the foul line, said lane having a plurality of spots arranged linearly across the lane adjacent to the foul line and a plurality of spots arranged linearly across the lane at approximately twelve feet downwardly on the lane from the foul line, a frame extending upwardly from said lane, a housing supported by said frame having a front wall with a plurality of openings therein, illuminating means arranged in said housing, movable opaque means associated with each of said illuminating means and having a second opening therein which is of suflicient length when the opaque means is moved to a position in which the opening therein is in front of said illuminating means to provide a beam of light which extends from one of the linear spots adjacent to the foul line to one of the linear spots on the lane which is approximately twelve feet downwardly on the lane from the foul line.

14. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foul line, a frame extending across and upwardly from the bowling lane at a predetermined distance from the foul line, means for supporting the frame above the bowling lane, a mirror secured to the frame, a rod extending longitudinally across the entire width of the mirror, means associated with said frame for adjustably supporting said rod in front of the mirror at such height that the image of both shoulders of the bowler will appear in the mirror upon a plane substantially even with the image of said rod, a vertical rod, means for adjustably supporting the vertical rod from the horizontal rod to form a frame within which the image of both of the bowlers shoulders and the image of the bowlers arm which delivers the ball appear, and said vertical rod being of such length that it extends downwardly to at least the bottom of the mirror to indicate that the bowlers arm is straight at the time he delivers the ball.

15. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foul .line, a frame extending across said lane at a predetermined distance from the foul line, means for supporting the frame above the bowling lane, a mirror secured to said frame, means associated with said frame for adjustably supporting a longitudinally extending rod in front of said mirror at such height relative to the bowling lane that the bowlers shoulders will appear in the mirror upon a plane substantially even with the image of said rod in the mirror when the bowler delivers his ball, a plurality of spaced spots arranged linearly upon and across the bowling lane in proximity to said frame, a vertical rod extending downwardly from and being supported by the longitudinally extending rod, said vertically extending rod being arranged in such position relative to the longitudinally extending rod that it indicates to the bowler by his image within the mirror whether his arm was straight at the time the ball was delivered, and the lower portion of the vertical rod having a spring secured thereto which extends downwardly toward said lane and which is arranged over one of said spots at a distance slightly less than eight and one-half inches from the lane so that if a ball passes over the spot below the spring, the spring will make a resonant noise indicating to the bowler that the ball has passed over the spot below the spring.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which the lower portion of the spring is covered with a layer of felt to prevent the spring from scratching or marring the bowling ball.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,410,811 3/192'2 Lewis.

1,569,260 1/1926 Cahill 27337 2,494,000 1/ 1950 Robertson 3.529 2,967,055 l/1961 Sardella 27341 2,998,660 9/ 1961 Hickey 27354 3,009,268 11/1961 George.

3,052,992 9/ 1962 Besterda.

3,058,746 10/1962 Oder 27354 3,076,652 2/1963 Wolff 273-54 3,120,956 2/1964 Burgess 27354 3,171,216 3/1965 Douthit et al 3.5-17 3,210,079 10/ 1965 Tryon 27354 3,220,728 11/1965 Fechter 273-54 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

Claims

14. IN COMBINATION WITH AT LEAST PART OF A BOWLING LANE HAVING A FOUL LINE, A FRAME EXTENDING ACROSS AND UPWARDLY FROM THE BOWLING LANE AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE FOUL LINE, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE FRAME ABOVE THE BOWLING LANE, A MIRROR SECURED TO THE FRAME, A ROD EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE MIRROR, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FRAME FOR ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTING SAID ROD IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR AT SUCH HEIGHT THAT THE IMAGE OF BOTH SHOULDERS OF THE BOWLER WILL APPEAR IN THE MIRROR UPON A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY EVEN WITH THE IMAGE OF SAID ROD, A VERTICAL ROD, MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTING THE VERTICAL ROD FROM THE HORIZONTAL ROD TO FORM A FRAME WITHIN WHICH THE IMAGE OF BOTH OF THE BOWLER''S SHOULDERS AND THE IMAGE OF THE BOWLER''S ARM WHICH DELIVERS THE BALL APPEAR, AND SAID VERTICAL ROD BEING OF SUCH LENGTH THAT IT EXTENDS DOWNWARDLY TO AT LEAST THE BOTTOM OF THE MIRROR TO INDICATE THAT THE BOWLER''S ARM IS STRAIGHT AT THE TIME HE DELIVERS THE BALL.