US2008182676A1PendingUtilityA1

Safety and interlock system for use with an automatic bowling pinsetter

48
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 26, 2007Filed: Jan 26, 2007Published: Jul 31, 2008
Est. expiryJan 26, 2027(~0.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Troy A. RecknagelDavid M. SellaMichael R. ResterhouseRobert J. Prinz
A63D 5/08
48
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

A safety and interlock system for use with an automatic bowling pinsetter is provided. In one embodiment, a safety interlock system is provided comprising a bowling pinsetter, a masking unit, a sensor configured to provide an indication after the masking unit is moved from a first position, and circuitry configured to disable the bowling pinsetter in response to the indication provided by the sensor. In another embodiment, a safety interlock system is provided comprising a bowling pinsetter defining a bowling pinsetter area, a sensor positioned to detect movement into the bowling pinsetter area, and circuitry configured to disable the bowling pinsetter in response to an indication provided by the sensor.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A safety interlock system for a bowling pinsetter, the safety interlock system comprising:
 a bowling pinsetter;   a masking unit disposed in a first position near the bowling pinsetter, wherein the masking unit is movable from the first position;   a sensor in communication with the masking unit, wherein the sensor is configured to provide an indication after the masking unit is moved from the first position; and   circuitry in communication with the sensor and configured to disable the bowling pinsetter in response to the indication provided by the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The safety interlock system of  claim 1 , wherein the bowling pinsetter comprises a controller, and wherein the circuitry is configured to disable the bowling pinsetter by disrupting a communications loop connected to the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The safety interlock system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry comprises a switch. 
     
     
         4 . The safety interlock system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry comprises a controller. 
     
     
         5 . The safety interlock system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an opto-electrical sensor comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The safety interlock system of  claim 5  further comprising a reflector disposed on the masking unit and positioned to receive a light beam generated by the transmitter when the masking unit is in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The safety interlock system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing a safety interlock system for a bowling pinsetter, the method comprising:
 positioning a sensor in communication with a masking unit when the masking unit is in a first position near a bowling pinsetter, wherein the masking unit is movable from the first position, and wherein the sensor is configured to provide an indication after the masking unit is moved from the first position; and   positioning circuitry in communication with the sensor and the bowling pinsetter, wherein the circuitry is configured to disable the bowling pinsetter in response to the indication provided by the sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the bowling pinsetter comprises a controller, and wherein the circuitry is configured to disable the bowling pinsetter by disrupting a communications loop connected to the controller. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the circuitry comprises a switch. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the circuitry comprises a controller. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises an opto-electrical sensor comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising positioning a reflector on the masking unit to receive a light beam generated by the transmitter when the masking unit is in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor. 
     
     
         15 . A safety interlock system for control of a bowling pinsetter, the safety interlock system comprising:
 a bowling pinsetter defining a bowling pinsetter area;   a sensor positioned to detect movement into the bowling pinsetter area, the sensor configured to communicate an indication representative of movement into the bowling pinsetter area; and   circuitry in communication with the sensor and configured to disable the bowling pinsetter in response to the indication provided by the sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The safety interlock system of  claim 15 , wherein the bowling pinsetter comprises a controller, and wherein the circuitry is configured to disable the bowling pinsetter by disrupting a communications loop connected to the controller. 
     
     
         17 . The safety interlock system of  claim 15 , wherein the circuitry comprises a switch. 
     
     
         18 . The safety interlock system of  claim 15 , wherein the circuitry comprises a controller. 
     
     
         19 . The safety interlock system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises an opto-electrical sensor comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver. 
     
     
         20 . The safety interlock system of  claim 19  further comprising a reflector disposed on the masking unit and positioned to receive a light beam generated by the transmitter when the masking unit is in the first position. 
     
     
         21 . The safety interlock system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor. 
     
     
         22 . A method for integrating a safety system into a bowling pinsetter, the method comprising:
 positioning a sensor to detect movement into a bowling pinsetter area of a bowling pinsetter, the sensor configured to provide an indication representative of movement into the bowling pinsetter area; and   positioning circuitry in communication with the sensor and the bowling pinsetter, wherein the circuitry is configured to disable the bowling pinsetter in response to the indication provided by the sensor.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the bowling pinsetter comprises a controller, and wherein the circuitry is configured to disable the bowling pinsetter by disrupting a communications loop connected to the controller. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the circuitry comprises a switch. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the circuitry comprises a controller. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sensor comprises an opto-electrical sensor comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising positioning a reflector on a masking unit to receive a light beam generated by the transmitter. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor.

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