Patent Abstract:
A bowling game table having a game lane surface with oppositely disposed ball return gutters, multiple ball engagement shoes are movably positioned transversely at one end thereof with a plurality of pins set up at the other end thereof. An independent playing cue selectively registerable through and aligned with said ball engagement shoes. Selective ball positioning on the game lane within said ball engagement shoes before launch towards the pins by engagement with said cue.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to table type miniature bowling games that provide for a bowling experience in a self-contained table apparatus. 
   (2) Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type have been directed to a variety of bowling simulation games in which miniature bowling lanes are used with appropriate scaled down balls and pins to re-create the bowling experience, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,857,562, 5,096,192, 5,655,768, 6,319,144 and Patent Publication US 2002/0163130 A1. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,562 a miniature bowling game apparatus is disclosed wherein a table top lane, pin setter and ball launcher are used to simulate regulation bowling. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,192 discloses a miniature bowling game having a game table with a lane, a pin setting device on one end and a ball guide and release device on the lane&#39;s remaining end. This device also includes a ball return extending below the lane surface. 
   A bowling toy is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,768 in which a unique ball launching and pin setting apparatus are disclosed. The ball is driven by a spinning engagement wheel. The pin setting apparatus is loaded with pins and then pivoted down into place on one end of the playing surface for pin placement. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,144 a billiard bowling game is disclosed using scale down bowling lanes, balls and pins. It is directed to an automated pin setting device that cleans the lane and resets the pins for the next player similar to that found in regulation bowling alleys. 
   Patent Publication 2002/0163130 A1 discloses a shell and chance game that utilizes a preset arrangement of receivers at one end within a ball and ball launcher to propel a ball towards the receivers for hopeful engagement there within. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention defines a self-contained scale down bowling experience utilizing miniature bowling balls and pins for use on a table lane configuration. An adjustable ball director and launcher allows handicapped individuals and the elderly to aim and roll the ball towards the pins using only arm and hand motion by gripping and pushing a drive cue. A ball containment shoe bracket within the lane area stabilizes and aligns the ball on the lane. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view with portions broken away of a bowling game of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial top plan view of a ball aiming and launching device of the invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view on lines  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a bowling game  10  of the invention can be seen having a main support table  11  defining a game lane  12  with upstanding elongated side rails  13  and  14 . Pairs of folding support legs  15  and  16  extend from the underside  17  of the table  11  as is typically known within the art. 
   The game lane  12  and table  11  has an end rail  18  which in combination with the side rails  13  and  14  define the length and width of the game lane  12 . A ball aiming and launching device  20  is removably positioned on one end  21  of the game lane  12  having a main body member  22 . A guide rail  23  extends transversely across the game lane  12  in spaced parallel relation to said end rail  18  which together form guide tracks  24  for the main body member  22 . A pair of guide channels  25  and  26  are formed on the undersides of the main body member  22  and are registerable with the hereinbefore described end and guide rails  18  and  23  respectively as shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 3  and solid lines in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. 
   The alignment and launching device  20  of the game has a pair of guide bores at  27  and  28  extending transversely therethrough which through which a slidably positioned corresponding ball cue  29  can be selectively positioned therein. Ball engagement shoes  30 A and  30 B are secured to a front surface  20 A of the launching device  20  extending into the game lane  12 . The ball shoes  30 A and  30 B are identical having a back plate  31  with spaced opposing side plates  32  extending at right angles therefrom. 
   The ball cue  29  is extended selectively through the guide bores  27  and  28  in the main body member  22  and define hand grip portion  33  thereon as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
   A pair of viewing slots S are formed in the top surface of the alignment and launching device  20  extending inwardly from the front surface  20 A and align with the respective guide bores  27  and  28  so as to allow for viewing the end of the cue  29  for striking a scaled down bowling ball  41 . 
   It will be evident from the above description that the alignment and launching device  20  of the game can be slidably repositioned transversely along the length of the respective end and guide rails  18  and  23  by an attached handle H which will allow for full lane positioning of one or more of the other ball shoes  30 A and  30 B and engageable ball cue  29  as described. 
   The game lane  12  is further defined by a pair of parallel spaced recessed gutter surfaces  34  and  35  which extend longitudinally the length of the game lane  12  spaced inwardly from the respective side rails  13  and  14  forming ball gutters  36  and  37  thereon emulating a real bowling alley (not shown). 
   A pin placement area  38  in the game lane  12  is an oppositely disposed longitudinal relation to said alignment and launching device  20  of the game adjacent the end of the game lane  12 . A plurality of scaled down bowling pin representations  39  are “set” thereon, again to simulate a real bowling experience. Each of the pins  39  have a multi-sided flat side surfaces  39 A with a reduced diameter base  39 B for lane engagement. This prevents the pins  39  from rolling excessively about the game lane  12  after they are struck during play. A pin repository and launching device storage case  40  is removably attached below the end  19  of the game lane surface  12  and acts as a pin repository during use which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
   In use, the scaled down bowling ball  41  of the game, shown in broken lines in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings, is positioned within either of the respective ball shoes  30 A or  30 B. Ball placement depends on where the alignment and launch device  20  of the game has been positioned by the player, (not shown) along the guide rails  18  and  23  to line up for the next “roll” of the bowling ball  41 . The hand grip portion  33  of the cue  29  is then grasped by the player to strike the bowling ball  41  positioned within the respective ball shoe as down the game lane  12  towards the pins  39  within the pin placement area  38  as hereinbefore described. 
   The ball gutters  36  and  37  on either side of the game lane  12  are used to retrieve the bowling ball  41  back to the alignment and launching device  20  of the game for reuse. Alternately, just as in real bowling an errant ball “roll” will deposit the bowling ball  41  into the respective gutters  36  and  37 , although by use of the alignment and launching device  20  of the game there is less likelihood of doing so. 
   The storage case  40  is divided up into multiple receiving areas  42 ,  43 , and  44  for the respective pins  39 , ball  41 , cues  29  and alignment and launching device  20 . 
   It will be evident that due to the relative height of the game table  11 , it allows individuals in wheelchairs to easily play the game. Also by directing the bowling ball  41  by use of the cue  29  and ball shoes  30 A and  30 B diminished physical ability will not prevent the participation by potential users in the game. 
   It will thus be seen that a new and novel bowling ball game has been illustrated and described and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0