Bowling score computer including programming means

Claim 2

In a team bowling score computing system: computing means associated with each of a pair of alleys and each of a pair of teams for computing the score of a bowling game in response to pinfall information resulting from the rolling of balls by each of a plurality of players on each team during successive scoring frames, successive scoring frames for the players of each team being completed in alternate alleys, a main programming means associated with each of said computing means and serving to program the entry of information therein whereby pinfall information for each player of a team is entered into the correct computing means at the correct frame position irrespective of from which alley the pinfall information originates, and auxiliary programming means adapted to be associated with either of said computing means and serving to program the entry of information into the same computing means when a team is bowling in both alleys.

Claim 3

A team bowling score computing system as in claim 1 wherein each of said computing means additionally includes means for successively entering information into a plurality of registers each corresponding to a player, and memory means for remembering the next player register in normal player sequence.

Claim 4

providing for bowling by players on one team on one lane for one frame while players on the other team bowl the same frame on the other lane, following which the players of said one team bowl the next frame on said other lane and the players of said other team bowl the next frame on said one lane;

Claim 5

providing for bowling by players on one team on one lane for one frame while players on the other team bowl the same frame on the other lane, following which the players of said one team bowl the next frame on said other lane and the players of said other team bowl the next frame on said one lane;

Claim 6

providing for bowling by players on one team on one lane for one frame while players on the other team bowl the same frame on the other lane, following which the players of said one team bowl the next frame on said other lane and the players of said other team bowl the next frame on said one lane;

Claim 7

providing for bowling by players on one team on one lane for one frame while players on the other team bowl the same frame on the other lane, following which the players of said one team bowl the next frame on said other lane and the players of said other team bowl the next frame on said one lane;

Claim 8

including means controlling the pinfall detection means and computing means for supplying pinfall values from the two lanes to the storage means of players of one team; and

Claim 9

including means controlling the pinfall detection means and computing means for supplying pinfall values from the two lanes to the storage means of players of one team; and

Claim 10

A team bowling score computing system as in claim 1 in which said main and auxiliary programming means include means for providing an indication of the player and alley sequence for the players of each team.

Claim 11

including means controlling the pinfall detecting means and both said computing means for supplying the pinfall values from the two lanes substantially simultaneously to either one of said computer means and thus to the associated storage means for the players of one team; and

Claim 12

including means controlling the pinfall detecting means and both said computing means for supplying the pinfall values from the two lanes substantially simultaneously to either one of said computer means and thus to the associated storage means for the players of one team; and

Claim 13

A team scoring computing system as in claim 1 including additionally means settable to bypass a bowler, and manually operable means for entering a bypassed bowler''s frame score in the correct frame position when the bowler returns.

Claim 14

enabling the players of one team to start a succeeding frame on the other lane when players of the same team are still completing a previous frame on one lane where players of the other team have completed the previous frame on the other lane, said apparatus further including means associated respectively with each lane for receiving pinfall values from the detection means for the corresponding lane and storing the pinfall values after loss of pinfall information by the detection means and before use of the information in computing, both said computing means being adapted to receive said pinfall signals from either of said receiving and storing means, said programming means controlling each of said receiving and storing means to cause each of said receiving and storing means to selectively supply pinfall values to both said computing means.

Claim 15

enabling the players of one team to start a succeeding frame on the other lane when players of the same team are still completing a previous frame on one lane where players of the other team have completed the previous frame on the other lane, said apparatus further including means associated respectively with each lane for receiving pinfall values from the detection means for the corresponding lane and storing the pinfall values after loss of pinfall information by the detection means and before use of the information in computing, both said computing means being adapted to receive said pinfall signals from either of said receiving and storing means, said programming means controlling each of said receiving and storing means to cause each of said receiving and storing means to selectively supply pinfall values to both said computing means.

Claim 16

enabling the players of one team to start a succeeding frame on the other lane when players of the same team are still completing a previous frame on one lane where players of the other team have completed the previous frame on the other lane, said programming means including first means for directing the pinfall values for one lane from the pinfall detection means associated with that lane to the computing means, second means for overriding said first directing means and for directing the pinfall values for the other lane from the pinfall detection means associated with that lane to the computing means, said second directing means being alternatingly activated after each alternate scoring frame and deactivated after each other scoring frame.

Claim 17

enabling the players of one team to start a succeeding frame on the other lane when players of the same team are still completing a previous frame on one lane where players of the other team have completed the previous frame on the other lane, said programming means including first means for directing the pinfall values for one lane from the pinfall detection means associated with that lane to the computing means, second means for overriding said first directing means and for directing the pinfall values for the other lane from the pinfall detection means associated with that lane to the computing means, said second directing means being alternatingly activated after each alternate scoring frame and deactivated after each other scoring frame.

Claim 18

A team score computing system as in claim 4 wherein said last named means includes means for indicating the correct frame and alley.

Claim 19

A team bowling score computing system as in claim 1 including means for controlling the main programming unit of said team to take over from the auxiliary programming unit when the team completes a frame.

Claim 20

In a team bowling score computing system, computing means associated with each team for computing the score of a bowling game in response to pinfall information resulting from the rolling of balls by each of a plurality of players on each team during successive scoring frames, successive scoring frames for each player of each team being bowled in alternate alleys, means for detecting the pinfall resulting from the rolling of balls and forming a signal representative of the pinfall, programming means associated with each alley serving to program the entry of pinfall information for each player of a team into his computing means for his respective frame irrespective of the alley of origin of the information, and an auxiliary programming means under the control of either one of said programming means to assume programmiNg when the players on one team are bowling in both alleys simultaneously to program the entry of pinfall information for each player into his computing means.

Claim 21

In a team bowling score computing system, computing means associated with each team for computing the score of a bowling game in response to pinfall information resulting from the rolling of balls by each of a plurality of players on each team during successive scoring frames, successive scoring frames for each player of each team being bowled in alternate alleys, means for detecting the pinfall resulting from the rolling of balls and forming a signal representative of the pinfall, programming means associated with each alley serving to program the entry of pinfall information for each player of a team into his computing means for his respective frame irrespective of the alley of origin of the information, and an auxiliary programming means under the control of either one of said programming means to assume programmiNg when the players on one team are bowling in both alleys simultaneously to program the entry of pinfall information for each player into his computing means.

Claim 22

A system as in claim 7 wherein said programming means and auxiliary programming means provide an indication of the correct bowling position for the bowlers.

Claim 23

A system as in claim 7 including means for transferring information from the auxiliary programming mans to the correct programming means when the team has completed bowling on one alley.

Claim 24

In an apparatus for keeping bowling scores for a plurality of bowlers on each of a pair of teams bowling on a pair of lanes in a game where the bowlers of one team normally bowl one frame on one lane while the bowlers of the other team bowl the same frame on the other lane and then the teams switch lanes, in combination: a. pinfall detecting means associated with each lane for detecting pinfall and supplying pinfall values following the rolling of each ball on each lane; b. a pair of means, one for each team, responsive to pinfall values supplied by the detecting means for computing successive frame-by-frame cumulative score values for each of the bowlers on the associated team including cumulative score value storage means corresponding respectively to each of the bowlers on the team, each of said computing means including computing elements operable during the computation of the score of a bowling game for each member of the team and common to each member of the team; and c. programming means:

Claim 25

In an apparatus for keeping bowling scores for a plurality of bowlers on each of a pair of teams bowling on a pair of lanes in a game where the bowlers of one team normally bowl one frame on one lane while the bowlers of the other team bowl the same frame on the other lane and then the teams switch lanes, in combination: a. pinfall detecting means associated with each lane for detecting pinfall and supplying pinfall values following the rolling of each ball on each lane; b. a pair of means, one for each team, responsive to pinfall values supplied by the detecting means for computing successive frame-by-frame cumulative score values for each of the bowlers on the associated team including cumulative score value storage means corresponding respectively to each of the bowlers on the team, each of said computing means including computing elements operable during the computation of the score of a bowling game for each member of the team and common to each member of the team; and c. programming means:

Claim 26

In an apparatus for keeping bowling scores for a plurality of bowlers on each of a pair of teams bowling on a pair of lanes in a game where the bowlers of one team normally bowl one frame on one lane while the bowlers of the other team bowl the same frame on the other lane and then the teams switch lanes, in combination: a. pinfall detection means associated with each lane for detecting pinfall and supplying pinfall values following the rolling of each ball on each lane; b. means responsive to pinfall values supplied by the detection means for computing successive frame-by-frame cumulative score values for each of the bowlers including cumulative score value storage means corresponding respectively to each of the bowlers; c. programming means:

Claim 27

In an apparatus for keeping bowling scores for a plurality of bowlers on each of a pair of teams bowling on a pair of lanes in a game where the bowlers of one team normally bowl one frame on one lane while the bowlers of the other team bowl the same frame on the other lane and then the teams switch lanes, in combination: a. pinfall detection means associated with each lane for detecting pinfall and supplying pinfall values following the rolling of each ball on each lane; b. means responsive to pinfall values supplied by the detection means for computing successive frame-by-frame cumulative score values for each of the bowlers including cumulative score value storage means corresponding respectively to each of the bowlers; c. programming means:

Claim 28

A team bowling scoring system according to claim 1 wherein each of said computing means includes elements operable during the computation of the score of a bowling game for each member of the team and common to each member of the team.

Claim 29

A team bowling scoring system according to claim 7 wherein each of said computing means includes elements operable during the computation of the score of a bowling game for each member of the team and common to each member of the team.