Claims
- 1. A method for constructing a bowling lane having a joint between an approach panel and a lane panel, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an approach panel having a top surface, a bottom surface and an edge extending in a substantially straight line from one side of the approach panel to the other;
- forming a notch in the approach panel along its edge, so that its edge forms a tab between the top and bottom surfaces of the approach panel;
- providing a lane panel having a top surface, a bottom surface and an edge extending in a substantially straight line from one side of the lane panel to the other;
- forming a notch in the lane panel along its edge, so that its edge forms a tab between the top and bottom surfaces of the lane panel; and
- inserting a joint coupler between the edges and juxtapositioning the panels so that the tab of one mates with the notch of the second panel and the tab of the second panel mates with the notch of the first panel, with the joint coupler therebetween.
- 2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching a clear layer onto the top surfaces of the approach and lane panels and over the joint between the panels.
- 3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the joint coupler comprises an elongated bottom portion and a riser portion extending generally normal to the bottom portion, the joint coupler inserting step comprising the step of fastening the bottom of the joint coupler to the tab of the approach lane with the riser extending along the notch of the approach lane.
- 4. The method recited in claim 3 wherein the joint coupler further comprises a top portion extending normal to the riser portion and generally parallel to the bottom portion, further comprising the step of extending a part of one of the lanes under the top portion of the joint coupler.
- 5. The method recited in claim 4, wherein the top and bottom portions define a joint opening between them, and further comprising the step of inserting the tab of the lane panel into the joint opening.
- 6. The method recited in claim 3 further comprising the step of depositing protective layer means over at least the top surface of the lane panel.
- 7. The method recited in claim 6 further comprising the step of depositing the protective layer means with an outer surface lying co-planar with the top surface of the approach panel and the top of the joint coupler.
- 8. The method recited in claim 6 further comprising the steps of dimensioning the approach panel, the lane panel and the joint coupler with all of their top surfaces lying co-planar, and depositing the protective layer means over all of the co-planar top surfaces.
- 9. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting at least one of horizontal shim between the joint coupler and one of the lanes.
- 10. The method recited in claim 9 further comprising the steps of removing the one shim and lowering the joint coupler.
- 11. The method recited in claim 3 further comprising the steps of:
- inserting a plurality of elongated shims under the bottom portion of the joint coupler; and thereafter
- successively removing one or more shims at spaced time intervals as needed to lower the joint coupler and conform its vertical dimension to that of the adjacent panels.
- 12. The method recited in claim Il further comprising the steps of:
- inserting a corresponding plurality of shims under the edge of the lane panel; and
- successively removing one or more of the lane panel shims at the spaced time intervals to conform the top surface of the lane panel with that of the joint coupler and the approach panel.
- 13. The method recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of removing a portion of the approach panel at the top surface at each of the successive time intervals.
- 14. The method recited in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:
- forming countersinks in the lane panel;
- placing a compressible gasket in each countersink;
- extending a fastener into each countersink which is dimensioned to mate therewith and driving each fastener through the lane panel and into engagement with a substructure under the lane panel while compressing the corresponding gasket until the head of the fastener lies flush with the top surface of the lane panel; and thereafter
- attaching the clear layer over the top surface of the lane panel.
- 15. A method for constructing a synthetic bowling lane, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a bowling lane substructure;
- providing a synthetic bowling lane panel with a top surface and having a plurality of apertures penetrating partially into the panel from the surface;
- attaching the synthetic panel to the substructure with screws inserted into the apertures;
- inserting a dowel having a flat head into each aperture over the corresponding screw so that each dowel is flush with the top surface;
- providing a clear flexible sheet having a uniform thickness and a layer of contact adhesive secured to one side of the sheet;
- placing the flexible sheet with the adhesive side down over the panel and the dowels; and
- pressing the flexible sheet against the floor to securely adhere the sheet to the dowels and the top surface of the panel.
- 16. The method recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of coating the flexible sheet with a finish material and curing the finish material to form a hardened surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/681,052 filed Apr. 5, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,262.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
681052 |
Apr 1991 |
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