Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corporation

Roy A Burkholder

Troy A Recknagel

Patrick J Mitchell

Jan Hansen

Raymond R Fineran, Jr

Richard A Davis

Steven J Gonring

Shawn R Gibson

Mark H Meade

Robert J Prinz

William C Sias

Matthew E Mead

Damir Ibrahimovic

John R Edwards

George W Buckley

Jason D Bernard

Joel Graham Van Faasen

Ted E Brim

Gordon J Stannis

Anthony J Gretzky

Brent Perrier

Ted A Brim

Michael T Nousain

The invention relates generally to the conditioning of bowling lanes, and, more particularly to an apparatus and method for automatically applying a predetermined pattern of dressing fluid along the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of a bowling lane.

Bowling lane conditioning machine

Apparatus and method for conditioning a bowling lane using precision delivery injectors

A display and method for bowling centers and the like includes at least one bowling lane having a base member with an approach area, pin deck area and lane area extending therebetween. A generally transparent synthetic sheet member is positioned over at least a portion the base member, and has a leading edge attached to the base member to retain the sheet member in an overlying relationship with the base member, leaving at least a portion of the sheet member unattached to define an insert area. At least one display card with in a generally thin profile is inserted between the sheet member and the base member at the insert area, such that the indicia are visible through and protected by the sheet, with the weight of the sheet member retaining the display card in place to facilitate easy insertion and removal of the display card to provide varied displays.

Bowling center display and method

A glow-in-the-dark bowling game includes an enclosure with ambient lighting normally illuminating the same, and at least one bowling lane. A UV sensitive dye or pigment is incorporated into at least a portion of the upper surface of the bowling lane. A UV light source is positioned generally above the bowling lane, and is selectively operable for directing UV light onto the upper surface of the bowling lane. To play the glow-in-the-dark bowling game, the ambient lighting is dimmed or turned off, and the UV light source is turned on, causing the UV sensitive dye or pigment to emit visible light.

Glow-in-the-dark film for bowling lanes

A bowling lane having a substantially flat top surface including a foul line end and a pin deck end, the improvement comprising a method and assembly of a polymer sheet of polycarbonate having a thickness between about 0.63 and 2.50 mm, overlaid onto the top surface between the foul line end and pin deck rear end and having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, a strip of double-sided adhesive tape beneath the leading edge portion for securing to the foul line end, and double-sided tape beneath the trailing edge portion for securing it at the pin deck end. Any other mechanical fastening system may also be used to adhere the sheet to the lane. The polymer sheet may be 100% polycarbonate, but may also include a first layer that optionally comprises a lubricious polymeric material such as Teflon&reg; in combination with polycarbonate. The polymer sheet undersurface is free of adhesive. A similar sheet, preferably of slightly greater thickness, is preferably applied to the approach and adhered at the front and rear edge portions by strips of double-sided tape across the width of the approach. A similar sheet may also be applied to the pin deck area.

Bowling lane restoration and shielding sheet and method of assembly

Time consuming analyzing of the dressing levels on bowling lanes is eliminated through the use of an apparatus that includes a path of travel (48) for a sample strip, a light source (50) on one side of the path (48) and a photosensitive sensor (46) on the other side of the path. A feed roller (60) is journaled adjacent the path and is driven by a stepper motor (58) in predetermined increments. An analog to digital converter (40) is connected to the sensor (36) for receiving analog signals therefrom and converting the same to digital signals. A random access memory (38) is connected to the converter (40) for receiving signals therefrom and for storing data represented by the signals. A central processing unit (34) is provided for operating the motor (58), the sensor (46) and the random access memory (38). Also included is a program storage (38) for storing control algorithms for the central processing unit (34) along with a port (66) connected to the central processing unit (34) for receipt of exteriorally generated commands and for outputting stored or otherwise acquired data.

Lane monitor for monitoring dressing on the surface of bowling lanes

Lane monitor for monitoring dressing on the surface of a bowling lane

An automatic pin setter includes a pinsetting deck structure movable toward and away from a pin supporting surface on a bowling lane for controlling setting of bowling pins on the lane supporting surface. A rake sweeps pins from the lanes. A rake up switch senses if the rake is in a raised position. A drive system is operatively coupled to the deck structure and rake and includes a cycle solenoid, the drive system for controlling an automatic pin setter cycle in response to energization of the solenoid. The pinsetter cycle controls movement of the deck structure and the rake to selectively remove or set pins on the lane. A pit cushion is positioned at a rear end of the lane and is linked to the rake to lower the rake from the raised position when a thrown ball strikes the pit cushion. A control comprises a ball sensor mounted on the lane before the pit cushion for sensing presence of a ball on the lane and developing an electrical trigger signal in response thereto. A ball selector selects if a thrown ball is a first or second ball thrown in a bowling frame. A pin setter trigger control is electrically connected to the rake up switch, the ball sensor, the ball selector and the cycle solenoid. The trigger control includes a trigger mode for automatically energizing the cycle solenoid to initiate a pinsetter cycle after either the rake up switch senses that the rake is not in the raised position or the ball sensor has sensed presence of a ball on the lane. A time delay delays operation of the trigger mode if the ball is the first ball thrown.

Automatic pinsetter trigger and control system

An improved guide finger 18 is provided to simplify the installation of guide fingers in pinsetters 10 used in bowling centers, having a mounting plate 24 and a guide plate 26, with the mounting plate having a plurality of mounting apertures 30 equipped with hexagonal sockets 32 for receiving the head of a machine bolt, the mounting aperture 30 is provided with a metal insert 38 and the guide finger 18 is preferably made of nylon.

Guide finger for a pinsetter

A molded rubber pin chute for mounting on the pin deck of an automatic bowling pinsetter. The pin chute comprises an upper conical section which is canted with respect to the pin deck, a cylindrical lower body portion which extends into a pin receiving aperture in the pin deck, and a flange around the cylindrical body. A plurality of bolt holes selectively positioned in the flange permit the chute to be secured in at least six different radial positions upon the pin deck and thereby enhance its performance in guiding the bowling pins into apertures in the pin deck for receiving the same.

Multi-position rubber pinsetter deck chute

Growing community of inventors

Whitehall, MI, United States of America

Roy A Burkholder