Split detecting and scoring system

Claim 2

In an apparatus for scoring a bowling game in which pinfall results from the rolling of a ball against a pin setup of a plurality of pins, including means for indicating the standing or fallen condition of each pin of the setup following rolling of the ball, the improvement comprising means for receiving pin condition indications from said indicating means and detecting any of the standing pin combinations illustrated in FIG. 9 where the head pin is one of the downed pins and in which at least two pins are standing, separate means for detecting all pin combinations where the head pin is among said standing pins or where less than two pins remain standing, and means controlled by both of said detecting means for generating a signal indicative of a split in the absence of detection of any of the FIG. 9 combinations and in the absence of detection of the head pin or less than two pins.

Claim 3

A split detector apparatus for determining nonsplit combinations from pins fallen at each pin position of a bowling pin setup on a bowling lane, comprising: a. a frame, b. a plurality of separate members, one for each pin position, c. means mounting each member on said frame for movement in two directions between a normal position and a detect position, the normal and detect positions for each member being spaced one unit of distance from each other, d. stop means on said frame for stopping movement of each member in detect position, e. releasable latch means, one for each pin position, for latching the respective members in their normal position, f. means urging each of said members toward detect position, g. first means carried by each member in normal position identifying nonsplit pin combinations including the pin of the corresponding pin position as a standing pin, h. second means carried by each member in detect position identifying nonsplit pin combinations excluding the pin of the corresponding pin position as a standing pin, and i. means for comparing said first carried means of members in normal position with said second carried means of members in detect position for determining nonsplit nature of standing pins in pin position corresponding to unreleased ones of said latch means.

Claim 4

A split detector apparatus for determining nonsplit combinations from pins fallen at each pin position of a bowling pin setup on a bowling lane, comprising: a. a frame, b. a plurality of separate members, one for each pin position, c. means mounting each member on said frame for movement in two directions between a normal position and a detect position, the normal and detect positions for each member being spaced one unit of distance from each other, d. stop means on said frame for stopping movement of each member in detect position, e. releasable latch means, one for each pin position, for latching the respective members in their normal position, f. means urging each of said members toward detect position, g. first means carried by each member in normal position identifying nonsplit pin combinations including the pin of the corresponding pin position as a standing pin, h. second means carried by each member in detect position identifying nonsplit pin combinations excluding the pin of the corresponding pin position as a standing pin, and i. means for comparing said first carried means of members in normal position with said second carried means of members in detect position for determining nonsplit nature of standing pins in pin position corresponding to unreleased ones of said latch means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, including: reset means for returning all of said members to normal position against said urging means.

Claim 8

For use in connection with a bowling game utilizing 10 pins respectively on pin spots arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern on a support surface, wherein a base of the triangular pattern is located transverse to the bowling lane at the rear end thereof, wherein the pin nearest the bowler is designated the head pin and the pins are numbered 1-10 in rows from front to rear and left to right in each row, and wherein the pins standing following the rolling of a first ball in a frame of the game are characterized as a split if the head pin is down and (a) at least one pin is down between two or more pins which remain standing in any line transverse to or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lane, except when the 2,4,5,7 and 9 are the only pins standing or the 3,5,6,8 and 10 are the only pins standing, or (b) at least one pin is down ahead of two or more pins in a transverse line in combination, except when the 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 pins are standing or the 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 pins are standing, split determining means, comprising, signaling means corresponding respectively to the pin spots and adapted to be actuated to produce signals indicative of the standing pins following the rolling of a first ball of a frame in the game, means providing a source of electrical power, means providing an electrical output indicative of a split, and an electric circuit connecting the source and the output including means responsive to said signaling means and arranged to transmit power from said source to said output upon the actuation of the signaling means in any combination indicating a split as defined above.

Claim 9

For use in connection with a bowling game utilizing 10 pins respectively on pin spots arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern on a support surface, wherein a base of the triangular pattern is located transverse to the bowling lane at the rear end thereof, wherein the pin nearest the bowler is designated the head pin and the pins are numbered 1-10 in rows from front to rear and left to right in each row, and wherein the pins standing following the rolling of a first ball in a frame of the game are characterized as a split if the head pin is down and (a) at least one pin is down between two or more pins which remain standing in any line transverse to or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lane, except when the 2,4,5,7 and 9 are the only pins standing or the 3,5,6,8 and 10 are the only pins standing, or (b) at least one pin is down ahead of two or more pins in a transverse line in combination, except when the 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 pins are standing or the 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 pins are standing, split determining means, comprising, signaling means corresponding respectively to the pin spots and adapted to be actuated to produce signals indicative of the standing pins following the rolling of a first ball of a frame in the game, means providing a source of electrical power, means providing an electrical output indicative of a split, and an electric circuit connecting the source and the output including means responsive to said signaling means and arranged to transmit power from said source to said output upon the actuation of the signaling means in any combination indicating a split as defined above.

Claim 10

In a bowling apparatus for detecting and indicating ''''splits'''' rolled during a bowling game wherein two balls are normally rolled by a bowler during a succession of scoring frames at a setup of ten pins arrayed in a triangular pattern on respective pin spots with the pin nearest the bowler being designated the ''''head pin'''' and the pins being numbered 1-10 in rows from front to rear and left to right in each row, the combination comprising: A. first means for detecting the pin condition at each pin spot and for providing an input signal for each pin spot designating whether the respective pin is downed or standing; B. second means for providing an input signal indicating whether a ball rolled is the first or second ball in a scoring frame; C. ''''split'''' determining means for receiving said input signals and responsive thereto for providing an output signal indicating the existence of a ''''split'''' whenever i. the head pin is downed; and ii. at least one pin is down a. between two or more standing pins, except when the 2,4,5,7 and 9 are the only pins standing or the 3,5,6,8 and 10 are the only pins standing, or b. immediately ahead of two or more pins which remain standing; except when the 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 pins are standing or the 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 pins are standing, and whenever said input signal from said second means indicates that the first balL in a scoring frame has been rolled; and D. means for receiving said output signal from said split determining means and responsive thereto to indicate to a bowler the existence of a ''''split.''''

Claim 11

In a bowling apparatus for detecting and indicating ''''splits'''' rolled during a bowling game wherein two balls are normally rolled by a bowler during a succession of scoring frames at a setup of ten pins arrayed in a triangular pattern on respective pin spots with the pin nearest the bowler being designated the ''''head pin'''' and the pins being numbered 1-10 in rows from front to rear and left to right in each row, the combination comprising: A. first means for detecting the pin condition at each pin spot and for providing an input signal for each pin spot designating whether the respective pin is downed or standing; B. second means for providing an input signal indicating whether a ball rolled is the first or second ball in a scoring frame; C. ''''split'''' determining means for receiving said input signals and responsive thereto for providing an output signal indicating the existence of a ''''split'''' whenever i. the head pin is downed; and ii. at least one pin is down a. between two or more standing pins, except when the 2,4,5,7 and 9 are the only pins standing or the 3,5,6,8 and 10 are the only pins standing, or b. immediately ahead of two or more pins which remain standing; except when the 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 pins are standing or the 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 pins are standing, and whenever said input signal from said second means indicates that the first balL in a scoring frame has been rolled; and D. means for receiving said output signal from said split determining means and responsive thereto to indicate to a bowler the existence of a ''''split.''''

Claim 12

The bowling apparatus of claim 6 further including means for providing an input signal designating the legality of a ball that has been rolled; said split determining means further being operative to receive said legality designating signal and responsive thereto to provide said output signal only when the ball has been legally rolled.

Claim 13

An apparatus for scoring a bowling game in which pinfall results from the rolling of a ball against the pin setup of a plurality of pins, and including the combination of claim 6, said apparatus further including totalizing means including a differential unit having at least one power input for each pin position, motor means for each pin position for actuating the respective power input responsive to the input signals from said first means, a common power output indicating pin count, and a separate power output for each pin position indicating pin condition; computation means for receiving pin count from said common power output computing bowling scores from pin count; said split determining means further including means for receiving pin condition indications from the separate power output and eliminating all nonsplit standing pin combinations in which the head pin is one of the downed pins and where at least two pins are standing, separate means for eliminating all pin combinations where the head pin is among said standing pins and where less than two pins remain standing, and means for generating said output signal responsive to said noneliminated standing pin conditions.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 6 further including a frame, a block and tackle including a separate pulley for each pin position mounted for movement of its axis within the block and tackle and a continuous tape disposed about said pulleys for moving said pulleys from an extended position with the block and tackle extended to a contraced position with the block and tackle contracted, a plurality of separate members, one for each pin position, mounted on said frame for movement and each associated with a separate pulley for movement therewith from a normal position to a detect position as the block and tackle is contracted, stop means on said frame for stopping movement of each member upon movement from normal to detect position a distance of one unit, latch means, one for each pin position, for latching the respective members in the normal position, separate motor means for unlatching the respective latch means, said split determining means including a plurality of split detection stations corresponding in number to a number of basic non-split pin conditions, first means carried by each member at each split detection station with the member in normal position, corresponding to a non-split combination in which the pin at the respective pin position is standing, second means carried by each member at each split detection system with the member in normal position corresponding to a non-split pin combination in which the pin of the respective pin position can be downed, means corresponding to each basic non-split combination at respective split detection stations for feeling and detecting a non-split combination from said carried means, first switch means for generating a signal responsive to a non-split combination detected by said feeling means, second switch means, and means for selectively operating said second switch means responsive to a condition with the head pin movable member in detect position and with at least two of said members in normal position.

Claim 15

For use in a bowling game having a multiplicity of frames in which pinfall occurs from the bowling of at least one ball against a plurality of standing pins in a pin setup, an apparatus according to claim 6 and further including means for receiving input signals from said first means oN a ball-by-ball basis and for totalizing pinfall.

Claim 16

A bowling apparatus according to claim 6 especially adapted for detecting and indicating splits rolled during a plurality of bowling games played substantially simultaneously on a plurality of lanes by a plurality of players, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of said first means, one for each lane, and said split determining means being a single apparatus for receiving input signals from any one of said first means, said split indicating means further including means for indicating to the bowler on the lane from which said split determining means received said input signals the existence of a split.

Claim 17

In a bowling apparatus for detecting and indicating ''''splits'''' rolled during a bowling game wherein two balls are normally rolled by a bowler during a succession of scoring frames at a setup of ten pins arrayed in a triangular pattern on respective pin spots with the pin nearest the bowler being designated the ''''head pin'''' and the pins being numbered 1-10 in rows from front to rear and left to right in each row, the combination comprising: A. means for identifying the pin condition at each pin spot after the first ball in a frame and indicating whether the respective pin is downed or standing; B. ''''split'''' determining means responsive to said identifying means for providing an output signal indicating the existence of a ''''split'''' whenever i. the head pin is downed; and ii. at least one pin is down a. between two or more standing pins, except when the 2,4,5,7 and 9 are the only pins standing or the 3,5,6,8 and 10 are the only pins standing, or b. immediately ahead of two or more pins which remain standing, except when the 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 pins are standing or the 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 pins are standing.

Claim 18

In a bowling apparatus for detecting and indicating ''''splits'''' rolled during a bowling game wherein two balls are normally rolled by a bowler during a succession of scoring frames at a setup of ten pins arrayed in a triangular pattern on respective pin spots with the pin nearest the bowler being designated the ''''head pin'''' and the pins being numbered 1-10 in rows from front to rear and left to right in each row, the combination comprising: A. means for identifying the pin condition at each pin spot after the first ball in a frame and indicating whether the respective pin is downed or standing; B. ''''split'''' determining means responsive to said identifying means for providing an output signal indicating the existence of a ''''split'''' whenever i. the head pin is downed; and ii. at least one pin is down a. between two or more standing pins, except when the 2,4,5,7 and 9 are the only pins standing or the 3,5,6,8 and 10 are the only pins standing, or b. immediately ahead of two or more pins which remain standing, except when the 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 pins are standing or the 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 pins are standing.