Patent ID: 7104896

Claim:
An adapter device ( 18 ) for a hollow motor mount shaft ( 19 ) of an automatic pinsetter bowling machine having a bowling ball retrieving device ( 1 ) mounted on a rotating ball return wheel ( 6 ), comprising: a base ( 20 ) having a longitudinal axis; a first arm ( 31 ) having first and second sides ( 41 , 42 ), wherein the first and second sides are opposite each other, further wherein the base adjoins the first side and is rigidly connected to the first arm; a second arm ( 32 ), wherein the base is rigidly connected to the second arm, further wherein the first arm and the second arm extend perpendicularly from the base in the same direction; and a shaft ( 21 ) having a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is rigidly connected to the second side; wherein the longitudinal axis of the base is offset from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; further wherein the base, the first arm and the second arm form an offset opening which allows for unobstructed passage of the bowling ball retrieving device as the ball return wheel rotates; further wherein the shaft has an outside diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of a hollow motor mount shaft.