Retractable bowling alley bumper system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6402629
  • Patent Number
    6,402,629
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 20, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 11, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Pierce; William M.
    Agents
    • Saliwanchik, Lloyd & Saliwanchik
Abstract
The bumper system of the subject invention prevents a bowling ball from entering the gutters, redirecting the ball into the lane. The bumper system comprises a longitudinal rail with a plurality of pivot arms affixed thereto. The bumper system is pivotally affixed it the lane bed such that when the bumper system is in a retracted position the horizontal surface of the longitudinal rails are in a substantially abutting relation to the side of the lane, and the adjacent gutters are adapted to receive any balls that are bowled towards either side of the lane, directing the balls to the end of the lane, missing the pin deck. In an extended position, the longitudinal rails prevent balls from entering the adjacent gutters, redirecting balls into the lane, such that the balls strike the pins in the pin deck.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a retractable bowling alley bumper system for preventing bowling balls from entering the gutters.




2. Description of the Related Art




In a conventional bowling alley, a bowling ball not directed down the center portion of the lane can fall into the gutter, resulting in a gutter ball and no pins knocked down. While the gutters provide boundaries with which skilled players can test the limits of their game, they can also be very discouraging to inexperienced, young, or handicapped bowlers who may throw frame after frame of gutter balls resulting in a low score or no score at all.




In an effort to open up the game to more people and to make it more enjoyable, bumper systems have been developed which prevent a bowling ball from entering the gutter. In such systems, an elongated longitudinal guard is placed along the length of the gutter. The longitudinal guard prevents a bowling ball from entering the gutter, keeping the ball in the lane.




However, early bumper systems were difficult to set-up and often resulted in the designation of a lane as a bumper bowling only lane. As such, this limited the availability of both conventional and bumper lanes, as well as limiting the prospects of a group of bowlers of varying degrees of skill and physical ability to play together.




Accordingly, retractable bumper systems have been developed which permit the longitudinal guard to be easily deployed or retracted, depending on the skill or physical ability of the player. A variety of such retractable bumper systems have been described, for example in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,024; U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,716; U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,422; U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,097; U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,476; U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,448; U.S. Pat. No. 45,405,295; U.S. Pat. No. 5,415.591; U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,616; U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,788; U.S. Pat. No. RE. 35,232; U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,986; U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,224; U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,274; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,918.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A conventional bowling alley typically comprises a longitudinally extending lane, disposed over a lane bed, defining a flat horizontal surface. A foul line extends across one end of the lane, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lane. The opposite end of the lane comprises a pin deck adapted to receive a plurality of bowling pins thereon. A pair of longitudinally extending gutters is disposed along and in a substantially abutting relation to the sides of the lane, with one gutter on each side of the lane. The gutters are adapted to receive any balls that are bowled towards either side of the lane, directing the balls to the end of the lane, missing the pin deck.




The bumper system of the subject invention prevents a ball from entering the gutter, instead redirecting the ball into the lane. The bumper system comprises a longitudinal rail with a plurality of pivot arms affixed thereto.




Each pivot arm comprises an upper end and a lower end, where the upper end is pivotally connected to the longitudinal rail with a pin, shaft, or other similar connection device. The lower end of the pivot arm comprises an integrated bushing, where the integrated bushing is disposed between the pivot arm and the lane.




The longitudinal rail comprises a u-shaped rail, comprising a pair of parallel vertical sides members connected to a horizontal top member, forming an open bottom end. The upper end of the pivot arm is inserted into and pivotally connected within the open end of the u-shaped rail.




The bumper system is affixed to the bowling alley by forming a vertical surface in the lane bed longitudinally along the sides of the lane. In existing lanes, that portion of the gutter abutting the side of the lane is removed, exposing the side of the lane bed, forming the vertical side surface. The bumper system is pivotally affixed to the vertical side surface of the lane bed by positioning the lower end of the pivot arm against the vertical side surface, where the integrated bushing is interposed between the pivot arm and the vertical side surface. The pivot arm is pivotally affixed to the vertical side surface of the lane bed by a pin, shaft, or other similar connection device so as to move in paired unison with the displacement of the longitudinal rail. In this manner, the longitudinal rails can be displaced between the retracted position for exposing the adjacent gutter and the fully extended position guarding the adjacent gutter.




The pivot arm is positioned along the vertical side surface of the lane bed such that when the bumper system is in a retracted position the horizontal surface of the longitudinal rails are in a substantially abutting relation to the side of the lane, such that the adjacent gutters are adapted to receive any balls that are bowled towards either side of the lane, directing the balls to the end of the lane, missing the pin deck. In an extended position, the longitudinal rails prevent balls from entering the adjacent gutters, redirecting balls into the lane, such that the balls strike the pins in the pin deck.




The bumper system is extended by manually displacing the longitudinal rails, which rotates the attached pivot arms. The longitudinal rails are displaced until the pivot arms engage the stop mechanism. The stop mechanism comprises a shaft inserted into the vertical side surface of the lane bed, thereby limiting the rotation of the pivot arms to that of slightly greater than ninety degrees.




These and other features of the present invention will be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING





FIG. 1

depicts a perspective view of a conventional bowling alley.





FIG. 2

depicts a perspective view of the bumper system of the subject invention.





FIG. 3

depicts a side view of the bumper system of the subject invention in an erect position.





FIG. 4

depicts a side view of the bumper system of the subject invention in a retracted position.





FIG. 5

depicts a front view of the bumper system of the subject invention in an erect position.





FIG. 6

depicts a side view of a pivot arm.





FIG. 7

depicts a front view of an L-shaped longitudinal rail.





FIG. 8

depicts a side view of a pair of connected longitudinal rails.





FIG. 9

depicts a perspective view of a connector plug.





FIG. 10

depicts a perspective view of the bumper system installed on a lane in an erect position.





FIG. 11

depicts a perspective view of the bumper system installed on a lane in a retracted position.





FIG. 12

depicts a front view of the bumper system install on a lane in an erect position.





FIG. 13

depicts a front view of the bumper system install on a lane in an retracted position.











DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION




As shown in

FIG. 1

, a conventional bowling alley


19


typically comprises a longitudinally extending lane


20


, disposed over a lane bed


21


, defining a flat horizontal surface. A foul line


23


extends across one end of the lane


20


, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lane


20


. The opposite end of the lane


20


comprises a pin deck


25


adapted to receive a plurality of bowling pins thereon. A pair of longitudinally extending gutters


22


is disposed along and in a substantially abutting relation to the side of the lane


20


, with one gutter


22


on each side of the lane


20


. The gutters


22


are adapted to receive any balls that are bowled towards either side of the lane


20


, directing the balls to the end of the lane


20


, missing the pin deck


25


.




The bumper system


10


of the subject invention prevents a ball from entering the gutter


22


, redirecting the ball into the lane


20


. As shown in

FIGS. 2-6

, the bumper system


10


comprises a longitudinal rail


12


with a plurality of pivot arms


14


affixed thereto.




The pivot arm


14


, as shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, comprises an upper end


15


and a lower end


16


, where the upper end


15


is pivotally connected to the longitudinal rail


12


with a pin, shaft or other similar connection device. The lower end


16


of the pivot arm


14


comprises an integrated bushing


18


, where the integrated bushing


18


is disposed between the pivot arm


14


and the lane


20


.




In one embodiment, the pivot arms


14


are made from a resilient semi-rigid material. When a bowling ball strikes a longitudinal rail


12


the resilient pivots


14


will display an elastic deformation, deflecting from and returning to and an equilibrium position.




In an embodiment, the pivot arms


14


are made from a plastic, anodized rubber, carbon composite, or other similar semi-rigid material.




In an alternative embodiment, the pivot arms


14


are impregnated with a luminescent, phosphorescent, or other light emitting material.




In an embodiment as shown in

FIG. 5

, the longitudinal rail


12


comprises a u-shaped rail comprising a pair of parallel vertical sides members


11


connected to a horizontal top member


13


, forming an open bottom end


17


. The upper ends


15


of the pivot arms


14


are inserted into and pivotally connected within the open end


17


of the u-shaped rail


12


.




In an alternative embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 7

, the longitudinal rail


12


comprises an L-shaped rail


30


, comprising a vertical side member


32


and horizontal top member


34


. The upper ends


15


of the pivot arms


14


are pivotally connected to the vertical side member


32


of the L-shaped rail


34


such that vertical side member


32


is directed into the lane


20


.




In an embodiment, the longitudinal rail


12


is made from aluminum, plastic, carbon composite, or other similar materials which provide rigidity and durability.




In an alternative embodiment, the longitudinal rail


12


is impregnated, coated, or otherwise comprises luminescent, phosphorescent, or other light emitting material.




In an embodiment, the bumper system


10


comprises a single longitudinal rail


12


with a plurality of pivot arms


14


thereto, wherein the longitudinal rail


12


has a length substantially equal to the longitudinal length of tie lane


20


.




In an alternative embodiment, the bumper system


10


comprises a plurality of longitudinal rails


12


connected in series, where the sum of the lengths of the connected longitudinal rails


12


is substantially equal to the longitudinal length of the lane


20


.




In an embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 8 and 9

, tie longitudinal rails


12


are connect by affixing a connecting plug


27


into the ends of the longitudinal rails, where a first end


28


of the connecting plug


27


is affixed into the end of a first longitudinal rail


12


, and a second end


29


of the connecting plug


27


is affixed into die end of the adjacent longitudinal rail


12


. The connection plug


27


is secured to the longitudinal rails


12


by a screw or other similar securing devices.




In a particular embodiment wherein a plurality of longitudinal rails


12


are connected by connecting plugs


27


, such as that depicted in

FIGS. 8 and 9

, the longitudinal rail


12


has a length of about one hundred sixteen inches.




As shown in

FIGS. 10-12

, the bumper system


10


affixed to the bowling alley


19


by forming a vertical side surface


24


in the lane bed


21


along the sides of the longitudinal lane


20


.




In an embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 12

, the portion of the gutter


22


abutting the side of the lane


20


is removed, exposing the side of the lane bed


21


, forming the vertical side surface


24


, where the top of the gutter


22


is below the lane bed


21


. The bumper system


10


is pivotally affixed to the vertical side surface


24


of the lane bed


21


by positioning the lower ends


16


of the pivot arms


14


against the vertical side surface


24


, where the integrated bushings


18


are interposed between the pivot arms


14


and the vertical side surface


24


. The pivot arms


14


are pivotally affixed to the vertical side surface


24


of the lane bed


21


by a pin, shaft, or other similar connection device so as to move in paired unison with the displacement of the longitudinal rail


12


. In this manner, the longitudinal rails


12


can be displaced between the retracted position for exposing the adjacent gutter


22


and the fully extended position guarding the adjacent gutter


22


.




In an alternative embodiment, the bumper system


10


is affixed to the bowling alley


19


by initially removing the entire gutter


22


. An alternative gutter


22


is installed which leaves exposed the side of the lane bed


21


, forming a vertical side surface


24


. The bumper system


10


is pivotally affixed to the vertical side surface


24


of the lane bed


21


by positioning the lower ends


16


of the pivot arms


14


against the vertical side surface


24


, where the integrated bushings


18


are interposed between die pivot arms


14


and the vertical side surface


24


. The pivot arms


14


are pivotally affixed to the vertical side surface


24


of die lane bed


21


by a pin, shaft, or other similar connection device so as to move in paired unison with the displacement of the longitudinal rail


12


. In this manner, the longitudinal rails


12


can be displaced between the retracted position for exposing the adjacent gutter


22


and die fully extended position guarding the adjacent gutter


22


.




As shown in

FIGS. 11 and 13

, the pivot arms


14


are positioned along the vertical side surface


24


of the lane bed


21


such that when the bumper system


10


is in a retracted position the horizontal surface


13


of the longitudinal rails


12


are in a substantially abutting relation to the side of the lane


20


and the top of the adjacent gutters


22


, such that the adjacent gutters


22


are adapted to receive any balls that are bowled towards either side of the lane


20


, directing die balls to the end of die lane


20


, missing the pin deck


25


. As shown in

FIGS. 10 and 12

, in an extended position the longitudinal rails


12


prevents the balls from entering the adjacent gutters


22


, redirecting balls into the lane


20


, such that the balls strike the pins in the pin deck


25


.




In an embodiment, die bumper system


10


is deployed by manually displacing the longitudinal rails


12


, which rotates die attached pivot arms


14


. The longitudinal rails


12


are displaced until the pivot arms


14


engage die stop mechanism


26


. The stop mechanism


26


comprises a shaft inserted into the vertical side surface


24


of the lane bed


21


, thereby limiting the rotation of the pivot arms


14


to that of greater than ninety degrees.




In alternative embodiment longitudinal rail


12


can be displaced by mechanical, electrical, or pneumatic displacement systems, a will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.




All patents, patent applications and publications referred to or cited herein, or from which a claim for benefit of priority has been made, are incorporated by reference in their entirety to die extent they arc not inconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification, including: U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,024; U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,716; U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,422; U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,097; U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,476; U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,448; U.S. Pat. No. 45,405,295; U.S. Pat. No. 5,415.591; U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,616; U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,788; U.S. Pat. No. RE. 35,232; U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,986; U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,224; U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,274; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,918.




It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and the scope of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A bowling alley comprising:a) a longitudinally extending lane disposed over a lane bed, wherein said longitudinally extending lane defines a flat horizontal bowling surface comprising a pin deck at one end; b) a pair of vertical side surfaces longitudinally extending along the sides of said lane bed, perpendicular to said flat horizontal surface, wherein a first vertical side surface extends along a first side of said lane bed and a second vertical side surface extends parallel to said first vertical side surface along an opposite side of said lane bed; c) a pair of longitudinally extending gutters disposed along said vertical side surfaces, wherein a first longitudinally extending gutter is disposed along a bottom edge of said first vertical side surface and a second longitudinally extending gutter is disposed along a bottom edge of said second vertical side surface; d) a bumper system comprising a pair of retractable bumpers, each of said retractable bumpers comprising at least one longitudinal rail and a plurality of pivot arms, each of said pivot arms comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein said top end is pivotally affixed to said longitudinal rail and said bottom end comprising an integrated bushing, wherein a first retractable bumper is pivotally affixed to said first vertical side surface and a second retractable bumper is pivotally affixed to said second vertical side surface, such that said integrated bushings are disposed between said pivot arms and the associated vertical side surface; and e) at least one stop mechanism affixed to each of said first and said second vertical side surface, such that said stop mechanisms limits the rotation of said pivot arms.
  • 2. A bowling alley according to claim 1, further comprising a means for extending and retracting said retractable bumpers.
  • 3. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein said retractable bumpers comprise one longitudinal rail having a length substantially equal to the length of said longitudinally extending lane.
  • 4. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein each of said retractable bumpers comprises a plurality of longitudinal rails, wherein said longitudinal rails are affixed together in series, such that the combined length of said longitudinal rails is substantially equal to the length of said longitudinally extending lane.
  • 5. A bowling alley according to claim 4, wherein each of said longitudinal rails has a length of about one hundred sixteen inches.
  • 6. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal rails are u-shaped comprising a pair of vertical side members affixed to a horizontal top member, such that said vertical side member form an open bottom, wherein said top end of said pivot arm is pivotally affixed to said vertical side members within said open end of said u-shaped longitudinal rails.
  • 7. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal rails are L-shaped comprising a vertical side member affixed to a top horizontal member, wherein said top end of said pivot arm is pivotally affixed to said vertical side member such that said vertical side member is directed into said longitudinal extending lane.
  • 8. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal rails are made from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, plastic, and carbon composite.
  • 9. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal rails comprise a light emitting material, wherein said light emitting material is a luminescent or phosphorescent material.
  • 10. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein said pivot arms are made from a resilient material.
  • 11. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein said pivot arms are made from a material selected from the group consisting of resilient plastic, anodized rubber, and carbon composite.
  • 12. A bowling alley according to claim 1, wherein said pivot arms comprise a light emitting material, wherein said light emitting material is a luminescent or phosphorescent material.
  • 13. A bowling alley comprising:a) a longitudinally extending lane disposed over a lane bed, wherein said longitudinally extending lane defines a flat horizontal bowling surface comprising a pin deck at one end; b) a pair of vertical side surfaces longitudinally extending along the sides of said lane bed, perpendicular to said flat horizontal surface, wherein a first vertical side surface extends along a first side of said lane bed and a second vertical side surface extends parallel to said first vertical side surface along an opposite side of said lane bed; c) a pair of longitudinally extending gutters disposed along said vertical side surfaces, wherein a first longitudinally extending gutter is disposed along a bottom edge of said first vertical side surface and a second longitudinally extending gutter is disposed along a bottom edge of said second vertical side surface; d) a bumper system comprising a pair of retractable bumpers, each of said retractable bumpers comprising at least one longitudinal rail and a plurality of resilient pivot arms, each of said resilient pivot arms comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein said top end is pivotally affixed to said longitudinal rail and said bottom end comprising an integrated bushing, wherein a first retractable bumper is pivotally affixed to said first vertical side surface and a second retractable bumper is pivotally affixed to said second vertical side surface, such that said integrated bushings are disposed between said resilient pivot arms and the associated vertical side surface; e) at least one stop mechanism affixed to each of said first and said second vertical side surface, such that said stop mechanisms limit the rotation of said resilient pivot arms; and f) a means for extending and retracting said retractable bumpers.
  • 14. A bowling alley comprising:a) a longitudinally extending lane disposed over a lane bed, wherein said longitudinally extending lane defines a flat horizontal bowling surface comprising a pin deck at one end; b) a pair of vertical side surfaces longitudinally extending along the sides of said lane bed, perpendicular to said flat horizontal surface, wherein a first vertical side surface extends along a first side of said lane bed and a second vertical side surface extends parallel to said first vertical side surface along an opposite side of said lane bed; c) a pair of longitudinally extending gutters disposed along said vertical side surfaces, wherein a first longitudinally extending gutter is disposed along a bottom edge of said first vertical side surface and a second longitudinally extending gutter is disposed along a bottom edge of said second vertical side surface; d) a bumper system comprising a pair of retractable bumpers, each of said retractable bumpers comprising at least one u-shaped longitudinal rail and a plurality of resilient pivot arms, each of said u-shaped longitudinal rails comprising a pair of vertical side members affixed to a horizontal top member, wherein said vertical side members form an open bottom, and each of said resilient pivot arms comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein said top end is pivotally affixed to at least one vertical side member, within said open end of said u-shaped longitudinal rails, and said bottom end comprising an integrated bushing, wherein a first retractable bumper is pivotally affixed to said first vertical side surface and a second retractable bumper is pivotally affixed to said second vertical side surface, such that said integrated bushings are disposed between said resilient pivot arms and the associated vertical side surface; and e) at least one stop mechanism affixed to each of said first and said second vertical side surface, such that said stop mechanisms limits the rotation of said resilient pivot arms.
  • 15. A bumper system for a bowling alley, where the bowling alley has a longitudinally extending lane disposed over a lane bed, wherein the longitudinally extending lane defines a flat horizontal bowling surface, a pair of vertical side surfaces longitudinally extending along the sides of the lane bed, perpendicular to said the flat horizontal surface, wherein a first vertical side surface extends along a first side of the lane bed and a second vertical side surface extends parallel to the first vertical side surface along an opposite side of the lane bed, and a pair of longitudinally extending gutters disposed along the vertical side surfaces, wherein a first longitudinally extending gutter is disposed along a bottom edge of the first vertical side surface and a second longitudinally extending gutter is disposed along a bottom edge of the second vertical side surface; comprisinga) a pair of retractable bumpers, each of said retractable bumpers comprising at least one u-shaped longitudinal rail and a plurality of resilient pivot arms, each of said u-shaped longitudinal rails comprising a pair of vertical side members affixed to a horizontal top member, wherein said vertical side members form an open bottom, and each of said resilient pivot arms comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein said top end is pivotally affixed to at least one vertical side member, within said open end of said u-shaped longitudinal rails, and said bottom end comprising an integrated bushing, such that said integrated bushings are disposed between said resilient pivot arms and the associated vertical side surface; and b) at least one stop mechanism affixed to each of the first and said second vertical side surface, such that said stop mechanisms limits the rotation of said resilient pivot arms.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/212,537, filed Jun. 20, 2000.

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Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/212537 Jun 2000 US