The present invention relates to string bowling pins and specifically to a bushing that may be used at the top of the pin where the string comes out of the pin. Additionally, the opening at the top of the pin where the string comes out of the pin is radiused to improve string wear during use.

Background

String pinspotter bowling systems are in wide use as an alternative to free-falling pin bowling systems. In these string pinspotter systems, each pin has a string connected at the top of its head to a bowling pinspotter housing and mechanism. The pins are reset each time during use by drawing the pins back into a housing rack after a bowler delivers a ball down the alley and knocks over one or more of the pins. The pins are then lowered back into their positions to be ready for the next bowl. Inevitably, these pins and specifically their strings can become tangled during use. There are known system routines of raising and lowering the pins that can usually untangle the strings to keep play moving. However, occasionally, there can be and are tangles that can require human intervention to untangle the involved strings and pins.

In some string pinspotter bowling systems, in order to reduce the number of potential string tangles, bushings have been fixed to the top of the head of the pin and are rigidly attached to the pin. The string is anchored inside the pin and then extends out of the pin and through the bushing at the top of the pin. During play, however, these bushings that are rigidly attached to the pin can knock over adjacent pins that would have been otherwise unaffected by the bowling pin action in a free-fall system. There can also be wear issues with the fixed bushing and the string extending out of the fixed bushing. The location on the string that just exits the bushing can become frayed and over time break at that point. Finally, the aesthetics of a bowling pin can also be negatively affected by having a bushing rigidly mounted in and extending out of the top of the bowling pin.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art string bowling pin. The bowling pin 10 has a base 12, a body 14 that forms the wide middle portion of the pin, and a head 16. The head 16 of the pin 10 has a top 18 with an opening 20 in the top. Set into the opening 20 in the top 18 of the pin 10 is a plug 22 that is rigidly fixed therein. The plug 22 rigidly holds a bushing 24 that extends straight upwardly out of the top 18 of the pin 10. A string 26 is secured to the pin 10 and passes out of the top opening 20 and through the rigid bushing 24 upwardly to a string pinspotter system. A door 21 covers a cavity in the head 16 that allows access to where the string 26 is secured inside the pin 10. The essential aspect of this bowling pin 10 is the rigid attachment of the bushing 24 to the pin.

Summary

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing challenges in existing string bowling systems. The use of a floating bushing around the string at the top of the pin improves detangling and wear challenges with respect to the pin and string. Additionally, a radiused edge around the circumference of the opening at the top of the pin reduces wear of the string.

In one example, a string bowling pin and bushing combination comprises a bowling pin with a hole inside the pin that includes an opening at the top of the head of the pin, wherein the opening has a first diameter at the top of the pin, and a string attached to the bowling pin inside the hole and extending outwardly through the hole and out of the opening from the top of the pin. A bushing comprises a hollow tube having a base portion and a collar portion, wherein the bushing is mounted around the string and is slidable along and rotatable around the length of the string, and the bushing is not fixed to the pin. The base portion may have a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the opening at the top of the pin. A clip may further be fixed to the string above the bushing whereby longitudinal movement of the bushing is restrained. The hole opening diameter defines an edge, and the edge has a vertical cross-section along an axis of the height of the pin, and the edge may be radiused in the vertical cross-section. The radiused edge may have a circular curve in the vertical cross-section, or alternatively, the edge may have a chamfered slope in the vertical cross-section. The string bowling pin may further comprise a cannulated plug adapted to fit into the hole, wherein the plug has a channel therethrough adapted to receive the string and allow the string to pass through, and a top of the plug that defines the hole opening from which the string extends out of the pin. The plug may be formed of metal, or alternatively be formed of plastic. The base portion of the bushing may be circular.

Alternatively, the base portion of the bushing comprises fins, and the fins define a diameter greater than the first diameter of the opening. In another example, a string bowling pin comprises a bowling pin with a hole inside the pin that includes an opening at the top of the pin, wherein the opening has a first diameter at the top of the pin, and a string attached to the bowling pin in the hole and extending outwardly through the hole and out the opening from the top of the pin. The opening diameter defines an edge, and the edge has a vertical cross-section along an axis of the height of the pin, and the edge is radiused in cross-section. The radiused edge may have a circular curve in the vertical cross- section, or alternatively, the radiused edge may have a chamfered slope in the vertical cross- section. The string bowling pin may further comprise a cannulated plug adapted to fit into the hole, wherein the plug has a channel therethrough adapted to receive the string and allow the string to pass through it, and a top of the plug that defines the hole opening from which the string extends. The plug may be formed of metal, or alternatively, the plug may be formed of plastic.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art string bowling pin.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pin as described herein.

Figure 3A-D are side, cross-sectional views of a bowling pin as described herein showing examples of pin and bushing spacing,

Figure 4 is a side, cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a bowling pin as described herein.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are side, cross-sectional views of alternative bowling pins displaying alternative edge geometries as described herein.

Figures 8A-D are side views of alternative geometries of a floating bushing as described herein.

Detailed Description

The string bowling pin described herein incorporates one or more improvements that extend the time between maintenance and repair events that might otherwise be required at the place where the string leads from the top of the pin. A free-floating bushing at the top of the pin improves the longevity of the string and pin connection. Additionally, a radiused opening at the top of the pin improves the longevity of the string and pin connection. Or, the combination of a free-floating bushing and a radiused opening improves the longevity of the string and pin connection. The improved bushing and radiused opening at the top of the pin, each separately and also together, also make the pin less likely to tangle with other strings and pins during use. The features of the new string pin are discussed in more detail in the following.

A conventional free- falling bowling pin has a familiar fat middle body section and a head section that are supported by a round and flat base that sits on the pin deck section of the bowling alley. The head is the top of the pin and includes a relatively thin neck and small bulbous portion at the top as compared with the fat, larger middle portion of the pin. In a string bowling system, the top of the head of a pin has a hole in it with an opening at the top of the head. The string is fed through the hole and fixed to the head inside the hole. The string leads out of the opening and is attached to a string pinspotter system for use.

During a string pinspotter use, the pins are knocked over by a bowling ball launched by a player. All of the pins are then drawn by their strings back into the table portion of the string pinspotter machine for replacement during each cycle of player use. The strings are therefore subject to considerable stress and abuse during play. To reduce tangles with other pins and strings, it was previously discovered that a fixed bushing attached to the top of the pin and around the string was reasonably effective in reducing the number of tangles during use. The bushing was rigidly connected to the top by a friction fit or a plug or some similar mechanical means. While these fixed bushings reduced tangles some, there was also an issue of wear at the point where the string came out of the bushing. Just like in the example of no bushing and a narrow opening at the top of the pin. The string could fray or break.

In one example of a string pin described herein, a free-floating bushing is placed around the string and is able to move in a linear way up and down the string. The free-floating bushing is also able to rotate or spin freely around the string. The base of the bushing may have, but is not limited to, a diameter that is larger than the circular diameter defined by opening of the hole in the top of the head of the pin. By gravity, the bushing may slide up and down along the line of the string or rotate around the string and will typically rest on the top of the pin without being attached to the pin. The remainder of the bushing may taper or otherwise may be relatively more thin than the base portion of the bushing in this example of the larger diameter base. The design geometry of a free-floating bushing may vary. In one example, the base portion of the bushing has a diameter greater than the opening. This diameter may be the result of a circular ring base portion. The base portion may be a round collar and thin tubular remaining portion of the bushing. The bushing may be conical in shape with the larger round base and a gradual thinning of the bushing to a thin top. Alternatively, the base portion may have a fin geometry where one or more fins have a larger diameter than the opening, while the main tubular portion of the bushing is relatively thin. In another example, the diameter of the base of the bushing can be the same as or less than the diameter of the pin top opening. In either example, the bushing is not fixed to the pin, but rather it is free-floating on the string.

Aesthetically, the bushing is usually desired to be thin and unobtrusive visually so that string bowling looks to a user similar to regular free- fall bowling. The bushing may be a darker color or lighter color or clear or translucent. This color may depend on alley lighting that makes the bushing relatively invisible to a lane player. Alternatively, the bushing color may be highlighted to create a desired visual display.

The bushing is formed of a plastic or metal or composite material. The bushing may be a coated material, or it may be a coextruded plastic. In general, the bushing material will be a generally rigid material, but in one example, it is soft enough that it does not scratch the adjacent pins as they are knocked over in use. In one example, the material is a polyethylene plastic material. Also, the material is preferably smooth enough on its tubular inside diameter that it will slide easily up and down and rotate around a string.

The dimensions of a bushing desired herein may vary. Its vertical height may be from about 1 - 10 cm, or in another example about 5 - 8 cm. These size ranges are for bushings used in the popular ten pin bowling games. The bushings may be smaller if smaller pins are used, for instance in duck pin bowling. The height of the bushings may be varied depending on the size of the pin in a given game. The bushing is a tubular piece having a hollow central channel that the string passes through. The inside diameter of the bushing that defines the hollow channel will be larger than the string outside diameter. Typical string bowling strings have an outside diameter of about 3 to 6 mm, or alternatively about 4 to 5 mm. The inside diameter of a bushing will vary depending on the size of the string used, but will be at least about one mm greater than the string.

In conventional string pins, the hole at the top of the pin is drilled substantially in a vertical line in the top of the pin. Therefore, the edge at the opening at the top of a conventional hole is essentially a 90 degree or perpendicular edge. The constant rub and twist of the string against this hole edge can lead to fraying and potential breakage of the string.

The pin described in one alternative herein employs an opening diameter edge that is radiused in cross section to soften the edge and reduce wear and fraying, The string is allowed to move more smoothly and wear less during play. For the purposes of the present invention, a radiused cross section edge means a curved edge or a sloped and straight edge and any combination of curve and straight that is a diverging direction from an otherwise straight hole perpendicular edge. If curved, the cross-sectional geometry may be circular, parabolic or just any non-straight curve. If chamfered, the straight slope of the cross section of the edge can be about 10 to 75 degrees from vertical, or about 15 to 45 degrees.

The free-floating bushing described herein may be favorably deployed with the radiused opening. For example, the opening diameter of a prior art, 90-degree edge cross section may be about 6-7 mm when using a string of about 3-6 mm in diameter. With a radiused edge, the diameter of the edge opening when using a 3-6 mm string can be about 10 - 20 mm in diameter. This widening of the opening enables the smooth movement of the string over the edge.

Turning now to the drawings, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a string bowling pin 30 having a base 32 and a relatively fat middle or body portion 34. The head 36 of the pin 30 has a top 38 with an opening 40 therein. A floating bushing 44 has a channel 48 through its longitudinal length. A string 46 passes through the bushing 44 into the head 36 of the pin 30. A cavity 42 in the side of the head 36 allows for access inside the head to attach the string 46 inside the head. In this example, the base 45 of the bushing 44 has a greater outside diameter than the opening 40 at the top 38 of the pin 30 so that the bushing will not slide down into the opening and be inadvertently rigidly held there. Instead, the base 45 of the bushing 44 merely rests on the top 38 of the head 36 of the pin 30 because it does not fit into the opening 40. Therefore, the bushing 44 is allowed to freely float or slide up and down (arrows 68) the length of or rotate around (arrows 67) the string 46. There is also shown a clip 49 fixed around the string 46 above the bushing to restrict the longitudinal movement of the bushing 44 up the string. The clip 49 has a width greater than the width of the channel 48 so that the clip restrains movement of the bushing along the string 46. This clip 49 is an optional feature that is not required.

Figure 3A is a side, cross-sectional view of the head 50 of a string bowling pin. The top 52 of the head 50 has an opening 54 therein. The opening 54 is the upper portion of a hole 53 that extends into the head 50 in a substantially perpendicular direction from the opening 54 at the top 52 down to a cavity 56. A bushing 58 is positioned around a string 62 that passes through the channel 60 inside the bushing. The channel 60 is a small amount larger in diameter than the string 62 so that the bushing 58 can freely move up and down the longitudinal direction of the string. The base 59 of the bushing 58 is wider than the opening 54 so that the bushing 58 merely rests on the top 52 of the head 50. The head 50 also shows a radiused edge 66 around the opening 54. The curve of the radiused edge 66 generally circular in cross-section as shown.

Also, the string 62 has a knot 64 in the cavity 56 to prevent the string from falling out of the pin 50. Figures 3B - 3D illustrate different examples of how the bushing 58 can slide up and down and rotate around the string 62 during play. The bushing 58 can be twisted and turned relative to the pin head 50 as the pin is knocked over.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3A in that it shows a head 70 of a string bowling pin. The top 72 of the head 70 has an opening 74. The opening 74 is the upper portion of a hole 73 that extends substantially perpendicularly into the head 70 down to a cavity 76. A free floating bushing 78 is positioned around a string 82 through the channel 80 inside the bushing. The base 79 of the bushing 78, in this example, has a greater width or diameter than the opening 74 at the top 72 of the pin 70 so that the bushing may float freely on the string 82. The bushing 78 is slidable in the longitudinal direction (arrows 87) and rotatable around the string (arrows 88).

The string 82 has a knot 84 in the cavity 76 to attach and secure the string to the pin. The difference between this figure and Figure 3A is the geometry of the opening 74 at the top 72 of the head 70. The edge 86 around the opening is similar to prior art pins in that the edge is essentially a perpendicular edge. There is essentially no curve or chamfer or any other radiused shape of the edge.

Figures 5 - 7 illustrate alternative geometries for an edge around the opening of a string bowling pin. Figure 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of a head 90 of a string bowling pin. The head 90 has a cavity 96 and a hole 93 that extends from its opening 94 down to the cavity. The top 92 of the head 90 has the opening 94 with a radiused edge 98 around it. The radiused edge 98 has a generally circular curve. The diameter D1 of the hole 93 is less than the diameter D2 of the opening 94, which is indicative of the flaring of the opening because of the radiused edge 98. Figure 6 shows a side cross-sectional view of a head 100 of a string bowling pin. The head 100 has a cavity 106 and a hole 103 that extends from its opening 104 down to the cavity. The top 102 of the head 100 has the opening 104 with a radiused edge 108 around it. The radiused edge 108 has a chamfered slope at approximately a 45 degree angle. The diameter D3 of the hole 103 is less than the diameter D4 of the opening 104, which is indicative of the flaring of the opening because of the radiused edge 108.

Figure 7 shows a side cross-sectional view of a head 110 of a string bowling pin. The head 110 has a cavity 116 and a hole 113 that extends from its opening 114 down to the cavity. The top 112 of the head 110 has the opening 114 with a radiused edge 118 around it. The radiused edge 118 has a generally circular slope to it. In this example, the head 110 has a drilled out counter sink portion 120 into which a plug 122 is secured. It is the plug 122 that defined the radiused edge 118 of the opening 114.

Figures 8A - 8D illustrate examples of alternative geometries of the floating bushing. Of course a bushing could be other geometries as well. Also, the size dimensions including heights HI, H2, H3 and H4 of bushings 130, 140, 150 and 160 respectively are shown qualitatively as being generally similar. But, the heights may vary according to application. Also, the diameters of the bushings may vary. Figures 8 A and 8D have bottom diameters D131 and D164 that are larger than top width diameters D132 and D166 respectively. In other examples as seen in Figures 8B and 8C, the width diameters D141 and D151 are the same at the top and bottom of the bushings 140 and 150 respectively. In Figure 8C, however, the width changes along the vertical height of the bushing. As noted earlier, the width of a bushing may be greater than the width of an opening on the top of a pin. Or, the width may be the same as or less than the width of the top of an opening in other examples.

Figure 8D is noted specifically, because the bushing 160 has fins 162 that flare off of the central cylinder 163. It is possible that the fins 162 are increasing in size from the top to bottom as shown. In another example, fins can be of uniform width along the height or length of the bushing.

There are at least three different examples of the pin and bushing described herein. First, a string pin will benefit from a radiused edge alone at the opening at the top of a pin. The radiused opening will allow the string to mb more smoothly and easily over the edge to reduce string fraying and breakage. Next, as shown in Figure 4, a free floating bushing like bushing 78 may be effectively used with existing, prior art string pins without a radiused edge of the opening at the top of a pin. And third, the combination of a radiused edge and floating bushing as shown in one example in Figure 3 A will likewise receive the benefit of both the bushing and radiused edge as described.

Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification. It is intended that the specification and figures be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the claims.