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Returned bowling ball lifting apparatus

  • US 4,509,752 A
  • Filed: 09/08/1983
  • Issued: 04/09/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. Return bowling ball lifting apparatus, for combination with a bowling ball return race or track (2) in which bowling balls (3) are moved towards a playing position (100),said apparatus includinga support frame (4)a ball lift mechanism (6) havingan elongated frame (18, 20, 21),a pair of rollers (7, 8) positioned on the frame adjacent the end positions thereof,belt means (9) engageable with a bowling ball (3) to be lifted from the race (2) to an elevated position (100), looped about the rollers (7, 8),a latch lever (22) and a movable latch (32),and comprising,feeler means (30, 62, 130) extending into the path of the bowling ball (3) on the race (20 and sensing presence of the ball (3) at a predetermined unusual position on the race;

  • means (38;

    132, 132a) for coupling the latch (32) to the feeler means (30, 62,

         130) for unlatching movement of the latch lever upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined, unusual position;

    means (12, 13, 24, 22, 32, 38;

    66, 68, 70-98,

         38) for permitting moving the entire ball lift mechanism from a first, or normal position in which the lowermost point of the lower roller (7) of the pair (7,

         8) is clear of a ball passing therebeneath, to a second or lower position,said moving means being coupled to and controlled by the feeler means and operative to effect said movement upon sensing of a ball at said predetermined position on the race and thereby engage the ball and lift the ball,said moving means includinglink means (10, 12,

         13) pivotably and linkably retaining the ball lift mechanism frame (18, 20,

         21) on the support frame for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis (23);

    a support arm (28) attached to the moving means for the ball lift frame (18);

    an adjustable fixed abutment (26) secured to the support frame (4), the support arm being engageable with the fixed abutment (26) and forming a fulcrum point for pivoting movement of the ball lift mechanism frame (18, 20,

         21) upon movement of the ball lift mechanism (6) from the second position to said first, or normal position;

    the elongated frame, and the ball race, in a rising portion (19) of the ball race narrowing in an upward direction, a ball between the frame and the race pivoting the elongated lift mechanism frame about said fulcrum point and moving the ball lift mechanism frame into the normal position for retention thereof by said latch upon engagement with the latch lever (22);

    and reset means (26,

         28) coupled to the ball lift mechanism (6) to return the ball lift mechanism to said first or normal position upon lifting of the ball beyond a predetermined level.

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