US3781009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for aiding blind bowlers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-11
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-12-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for aiding blind bowlers including a hand held unit incorporating position locating means utilizing a pair of first optical sensors adapted to sense and actuate distinguishable nonvisual signals in response to narrow beams of light directed along the imaginary center line and the foul line of the bowling alley, and pin indicating means in the form of spring biased solenoid operated markers corresponding to the bowling pins and adapted to project from the face of the unit when second optical sensors mounted above the pins respond to light beams directed so as to be reflected into them by the standing pins.
Inventors
- 👤 L Gagnon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:33
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/0009; A63B2071/0027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for aiding blind bowlers comprising a hand held device incorporating position locating means and pin indicating means, whereby the bowler can determine his position with respect to the alley and which pins remain standing after each ball is bowled, said position locating means including sensor means adapted to sense beams of light generated in connection with the alley to represent lines of reference thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for aiding blind bowlers comprising a hand held device incorporating position locating means and pin indicating means, whereby the bowler can determine his position with respect to the alley and which pins remain standing after each ball is bowled, said position locating means including sensor means adapted to sense beams of light generated in connection with the alley to represent lines of reference thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 whereby the foul line and an imaginary center line are defined as lines of reference by narrow beams of light projected in vertical planes above the two lines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the sensor means are optical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the foul line is defined by a light beam source adjacent one side of the alley, the imaginary center line is defined by a light beam source positioned adjacent the bowling pins, and the sensors are located in the hand held device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which each of the sensors is operatively connected to a signal source producing a characteristic non-visual signal, which is recognizable by the sightless bowler.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the pin indicating means includes a plurality of markers positioned to correspond to the respective pins and adapted to indicate which pins are standing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the markers are upper portions of central cores of a first series of solenoids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the markers are urged axially in one direction by resilient means and in the opposite dirEction by said solenoids when the latter are energized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the markers are thrust outwardly of the device by expansion springs within their respective solenoids and energizing a solenoid causes its corresponding marker to retract into said device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the markers are provided with releasable restraining means to retain them in a desired position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the restraining means incude a recess in the side of each marker and engaging means adapted to enter and engage said recess.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the engaging means comprises a second series of solenoids corresponding to said first series of solenoids and positioned generally perpendicular thereto, each solenoid of the second series being provided with a central core having an end portion adapted to engage the recess in its corresponding marker.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 in which each central core of said second series of solenoids is urged axially in one direction by resilient means within its corresponding solenoid and in the opposite direction by said solenoid when the solenoid is energized.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 which includes a plurality of sensor means adapted to sense beams of light generated in conjunction with the bowling pins and reflected by the standing pins.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including a plurality of light beam sources positioned above the bowling pins and adapted to direct beams of light to be reflected by their corresponding standing pins into their respective sensor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the sensor means include optical sensors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for sightless bowlers including a hand held device incorporating position locating means utilizing a pair of first optical sensors adapted to sense narrow beams of light directed along the foul line and the imaginary center line of a bowling alley and pin indicating means having solenoid operated markers adapted to project from the device in correspondence with bowling pins standing after each ball is bowled in response to light beams reflected by the standing pins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for sightless bowlers including a hand held device incorporating position locating means utilizing a pair of first optical sensors adapted to sense narrow beams of light directed along the foul line and the imaginary center line of a bowling alley and pin indicating means having solenoid operated markers adapted to project from the device in correspondence with bowling pins standing after each ball is bowled in response to light beams reflected by the standing pins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |