FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bowling alley bumper system and, more particularly, to a bowling alley bumper system wherein the gutter or portion thereof is elevated to prevent a bowling ball from falling into the gutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bowling alley bumper systems have been available since at least as early as 1965. Such systems were designed to be used by children and/or the physically handicapped as well as others who lack the physical coordination or strength to bowl, i.e., project a majority of the balls over the length of the alley without ending up in one of the gutters. Early systems require relatively difficult steps to set up a lane or lanes for so-called "bumper" bowling. For this reason, a number of bowling alley operating personnel were reluctant to promote "bumper" bowling or to encourage children or the handicapped to use the lanes.

One approach to overcome the aforementioned problem is disclosed in U.S. Patent Number 3,401,933 to Conklin et al. That patent discloses a convertible bowling lane having a gutter with a ball receiving surface on one side and a ball deflecting surface on the opposite side and means for moving the gutter between a ball receiving position and a ball deflecting position. As disclosed therein, the gutter is pivotally mounted on a support member which is disposed on the opposite side of the gutter from the bowling lane. The system does present the appearance of a normal bowling alley when in its recessed position, but is relatively complex and somewhat expensive to install.

More recently, a bowling alley bumper mechanism such as the one disclosed in U.S. Patent Number 4,900,024, overcame many of the earlier problems. In such systems, an elongated bumper is mounted alongside and parallel to each alley gutter. The systems also include movable supports that permit the extension of the bumpers to guard the gutters when guarding is desired and retraction of the bumpers to expose the gutters when normal alley operation is desired. The Chandler et al. system is less cosdy and less complex than the

Conklin et al. system, but extends upwardly above the level of the alley even in its recessed position. It also presents an obstacle to walking along the normal capping and may lead to individuals walking on the alley.

An improvement to the Chandler et al. system is disclosed in the copending application of C. Dennis Lord, Serial Number 07/758,003, filed on September 12, 1991, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. As shown therein, the Chandler et al. system may be constructed to present a more pleasing appearance, but still results in an elevated portion adjacent to the alley which may be objectionable to some bowlers and/or alley owners.

It is now believed that the availability of the Chandler et al. type systems, coupled with a change in demographics and business pressures, will encourage bowling alley operators to put more emphasis on bumper bowling to encourage children to learn to bowl, attract families and provide a challenging game for the physically handicapped. For this reason, it is presently believed that there is a demand for an improved bowling alley bumper system which provides a more normal appearance when not in use, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and remove, protects the mechanism from damage and, at the same time, provides ready access to the rear of the lanes without walking on the lanes.

It has now been found that an improved bowling alley bumper system in accordance with the present invention provides the aforementioned desirable features.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In essence, the present invention contemplates an improved bowling alley bumper system wherein the bowling alley can be used for conventional bowling and for bumper or carum bowling. The bowling alley has two sides and a longitudinally extending lane on an upper surface thereof. The alley also includes a foul line at one end thereof and a pin deck at its opposite end. A pair of elongated, concave gutters extend along each side of and in substantially abutting relationship to the alley between the ends thereof for receiving a bowling ball which is directed toward the edge of the alley, i.e., which falls off of the lane. The bumper system utilizes the gutters or a portion thereof to prevent a bowling ball from falling into gutter. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, each of the gutters define first and second separate longitudinally extending portions with each of the portions

having a major axis which is parallel with the major axis of the gutters. Extending and retracting means are provided for moving the gutters or one of the portions in each of the gutters upwardly into an extended position to thereby prevent a bowling ball from falling into one ofthe gutters and downwardly into a retracted position which allows bowling balls to fall into and roll along one of the gutters.

In a preferred embodiment, a first portion of each of the gutters, i.e., the portion adjacent to the alley, is moved upwardly or downwardly along an arc in an xz plane with little or no lateral movement, i.e., little or no movement along its y axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bowling alley bumper system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention wherein the bumper system is shown in a recessed position;

Figure 2 is an end view- of a portion of the bowling alley bumper system shown in Figure 1, but with the bumper system shown in its extended position by broken lines;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a-a in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of a bowling alley bumper system in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and : :

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a bowling alley gutter system and illustrating its arc-shaped movement within the xz plane.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like parts.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a bowling alley 10 typically includes a longitudinally extending lane 20 which defines a flat horizontal plane on a upper surface thereof and which is typically made up of a plurality of parallel abutting strips of wood 22, 24. The alley includes a foul line 26 which extends across the lane 20 and perpendicular to the longitudinal

axis of the lane. The foul line 26 indicates that area beyond which a bowler may not pass in releasing a bowling ball during a game of bowling. A pin deck 28 is disposed at the opposite end ofthe lane 20 and is adapted to receive a plurality of bowling pins 27 thereon. As shown in Figure 4, the bowling alley is set with the pins in a customary triangular pattern with one pin, the head pin in front, a second row of two pins, a third row with three pins and a final of four pins.

A pair of longitudinally-extending gutters 30, 32 are disposed along die. side of the lane 20 with one gutter on each side of lane 20 in a customary manner, i.e., adjacent to and in substantially abutting relationship with the lane. The gutters 30, 32 are adapted to receive any balls that are bowled toward one side of the lane and to direct any misdirected balls to the end of the alley. Also illustrated are capping members 34 which separate the adjacent alleys or lanes.

The mechanism for bumper bowling is illustrated more clearly in Figures 2 and 3. As illustrated therein, a bumper bowling system is incorporated in the bowling alley 10 which includes two sides 21, 21' and a longitudinally extending lane 20 on an upper surface thereof.

In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, each ofthe gutters 30, 32 define first and second concave, longitudinally extending portions 40, 42. The first portion 40 defines an arc-shaped concave surface 43 which forms a part of the gutter 32 and, in the preferred embodiment, forms about one-third of the gutter when viewed in cross section. The portion 40 also includes a pair of downwardly extending projections 44, 46 which are preferably parallel to one another. The projections 44, 46 support the portion 40 on a suitable-base such as a plurality of cross members 48. The first projection 44 is adjacent to and abuts side 21 and is constructed and arranged to slide upwardly therealong as will be described hereinafter. The projection 44 may also include a resilient bumper 44' recessed thereon for engaging a bowling ball which is directed toward the bumper.

The second longitudinally extending portion 42 also defines an arc-shaped concave surface 45 which, in the preferred embodiment, forms the outer two-thirds of gutter 32. The portion 45 also includes a pair of downwardly extending parallel projections 47, 49. The projections 47, 49 are fixed to Λe cross member 48 in a customary manner with a first ofthe projections 47 adjacent to and perhaps abutting projection 46. The second projection 49 is adjacent to and abutting capping member 34 which separates a pair of alleys.

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For conventional bowling, the longitudinally extending portions 40 are positioned in the lower or retracted position shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, where it is desired to convert die lane to bumper bowling as defined more clearly in the aforementioned patents of Conklin et al. and Chandler et al., each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, the portion 40 is raised upwardly along an arc as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5.

The portion 40 is moved upwardly by means of a crank arm 54 and a pair of swivel connecting elements 56 and 58 to the position shown by the broken lines in Figure 2. The swivel connecting elements 56 and 58 are operatively connected to the bottom of portion 40 in a conventional manner such as a bracket 55 and to the cross member 48 by means of a bracket 57. Locking means, such as projection 60 and detent 61 or other suitable mechanisms, may also be provided for maintaining the bumper in an elevated position.

In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the portion 40 is moved upwardly along a path that corresponds to the arc shown in Figures 3 and 5. This motion is in the xz plane so that there is little or no lateral motion, i.e., along the y axis as shown schematically in Figure 5.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the gutters 30, 32 may be divided into three segments, 32 abc and 34 abc along the length of the alley for ease of manufacture, shipping and installation. However, in such cases, the mechanism for raising and lowering a portion of the gutter will be interconnected in a conventional manner so that a bumper may be raised along the length of the alley from one end of the alley.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure IV wherein an entire gutter 32 including a pair of downwardly projecting elements 70, 72 is lifted upwardly along an arc in an xz plane by means of a pair of crank arm assemblies 60, 62. A single assembly of the type shown in Figures 2 and 3 and as described above could be used. In either case, the assemblies 60, 62 or single assembly would be constructed and arranged and operate in the same manner as described above. As shown in Figure IV, the gutter is lifted upwardly without tilting so that the top of the gutter, i.e., both sides thereof, remains in a common horizontal plane.

Also, in moving the portion 40 along an arc in the xz plane, it may be desirable to bevel the forward edge thereof to avoid any binding during the elevating step.

While the invention has been described in connection with one of its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.