Table-mounted bowling scoring unit

• US 7,093,810 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corporation (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Atwood, Barry L., Recknagel, Troy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wujciak, A. Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/639,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 248/200, 248/918, 248/346.03, 248/346.06, 248/205.1, 248/220.22, 248/222.51, 248/224.7, 248/125.7, 248/276.1, 248/118, 248/298.1, 248/917, 248/920, 248/825, 248/831
• US Class Current: 248/200
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0085 Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/00 Tables adapted for other particular purposes glass cutting tables C03B33/03
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 2005/048 Score sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 5/00 Accessories for bowling-alleys or table alleys
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 5/04 Indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A generally L-shaped mounting arm has one end for coupling to a bowling scoring unit and an opposite end for extending under a table top and including a mounting flange for securing the opposite end of the arm to the undersurface of the table. In one embodiment, an adapter bracket is provided and is coupled to the pedestal mount of a table itself with an extension to receive the opposite end of the mounting arm. Preferably, the scoring unit is mounted to the one end of the arm to allow its rotation for viewing at different angles and convenient access by players sitting adjacent the edge of the table from which the scoring unit extends.

Claims

1. A bowling scorer adapted for mounting on a table of the type having a top with an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer marginal edge and a support pedestal with an upper mounting flange positioned adjacent the lower surface of the top, said scorer comprising:

a rigid mounting arm having a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration defining a horizontal portion with an outer end, and a vertical portion with an upper end;

a scorer supported on the vertical portion of said mounting arm adjacent the upper end thereof;

a mounting plate supported on the horizontal portion of said mounting arm adjacent the outer end thereof, and adapted for connection with the top at a position which locates said scorer at a predetermined position adjacent to the marginal edge of the top and above the upper surface thereof to facilitate viewing by a bowler;

said mounting plate including at least one vertically oriented fastener aperture therethrough positioned for vertical alignment with a mating fastener aperture in the upper mounting flange of the support pedestal; and

at least one fastener received through said fastener aperture in said mounting plate, whereby said fastener extends through the vertically aligned apertures in the upper mounting flange of the support pedestal and the mounting plate of said mounting arm, and is anchored in the top to positively capture said mounting plate between the top and the support pedestal, and thereby securely retain said scorer in said predetermined position;

said scorer is pivotally supported on the upper end of the vertical portion of said mounting arm for rotation about a generally vertical axis to facilitate viewing from opposite sides of the table;

said scorer includes a front wall oriented at a predetermined angle to said generally vertical axis;

said front wall includes a generally flat display screen;

said front wall further includes a speaker;

said front wall further includes a touch control portion;

said scorer includes a housing with a downwardly opening socket in which the upper end of the vertical portion of said mounting arm is received to pivotally support said scorer thereon.

2. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said mounting arm is hollow to receive wiring therethrough.

3. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said mounting plate includes a plurality of said vertically oriented fastener apertures therein arranged in a spaced apart relationship in vertical alignment with associated fastener apertures in the upper mounting flange of the support pedestal.

4. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 3, including:

a plurality of said fasteners received through the fastener apertures in said mounting plate.

5. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said mounting plate has a generally rectangular plan configuration.

6. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said horizontal portion of said mounting arm has a length that is greater than the length of the vertical portion of said mounting arm.

7. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said mounting arm has a generally circular lateral cross-sectional shape.

8. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

at least four of said fastener apertures are arranged in a generally square configuration on said mounting plate.

9. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said mounting plate includes an adaptive bracket portion to facilitate mounting said bowling scorer on differently sized tables.

10. A bowling scorer as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said adaptive bracket includes a mounting plate portion disposed above the upper mounting flange of the support pedestal, a flange portion extending laterally outwardly from said mounting plate portion, and a mounting flange portion connected both with the horizontal portion of said mounting arm and said flange portion.

11. A bowling scorer adapted for mounting on a table of the type having a top with an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer marginal edge and a support pedestal with an upper mounting flange positioned adjacent the lower surface of the top, said scorer comprising:

a rigid mounting arm having a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration defining a horizontal portion with an outer end, and a vertical portion with an upper end;

a scorer supported on the vertical portion of said mounting arm adjacent the upper end thereof;

a mounting plate supported on the horizontal portion of said mounting arm adjacent the outer end thereof, and adapted for connection with the top at a position which locates said scorer at a predetermined position adjacent to the marginal edge of the top and above the upper surface thereof to facilitate viewing by a bowler;

said mounting plate including at least one vertically oriented fastener aperture therethrough positioned for vertical alignment with a mating fastener aperture in the upper mounting flange of the support pedestal; and

at least one fastener received through said fastener aperture in said mounting plate, whereby said fastener extends through the vertically aligned apertures in the upper mounting flange of the support pedestal and the mounting plate of said mounting arm, and is anchored in the top to positively capture said mounting plate between the top and the support pedestal, and thereby securely retain said scorer in said predetermined position;

said scorer includes a housing with a downwardly opening socket in which the upper end of the vertical portion of said mounting arm is received to pivotally support said scorer thereon.

12. A table-mounted bowling scorer, comprising:

a table having a top with an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer marginal edge and a support pedestal with an upper mounting flange positioned adjacent the lower surface of said top;

a rigid mounting arm having a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration defining a horizontal portion with an outer end, and a vertical portion with an upper end;

a scorer supported on the vertical portion of said mounting arm adjacent the upper end thereof;

a mounting plate supported on the horizontal portion of said mounting arm adjacent the outer end thereof, and adapted for connection with said top at a position which locates said scorer at a predetermined position adjacent to the marginal edge of said top and above the upper surface thereof to facilitate viewing by a bowler;

said mounting plate including at least one vertically oriented fastener aperture therethrough positioned for vertical alignment with a mating fastener aperture in the upper mounting flange of said support pedestal; and

at least one fastener received through said fastener aperture in said mounting plate, whereby said fastener extends through the vertically aligned apertures in the upper mounting flange of said support pedestal and the mounting plate of said mounting arm, and is anchored in said top to positively capture said mounting plate between said top and said support pedestal, and thereby securely retain said scorer in said predetermined position;

said scorer includes a housing with a downwardly opening socket in which the upper end of the vertical portion of said mounting arm is received to pivotally support said scorer thereon.