US 5,472,381 A · Method and arrangement for applying and securing edges of improved bowling lane surfaces

Abstract

An oiless surface for a bowling lane is formed from a high-density polyolefin and particularly a high-density polyethylene having a reduced friction surface with alternating high and low points. During bowling, a bowling ball passes over the high points without touching the low points, increasing the apparent lubricating of the surface to a point where no oil application to the surface is necessary and such surface can be referred to as "oiless". The oiless surface bowling lane is preferably provided in the form of a single continuous sheet forming such surface which may be transported to the lane site in a coiled condition and is also preferably retained tight against the lane base during actual bowling by a vacuum system which may also be used with other or non-oiless bowling surfaces.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A bowling lane surface eliminating discontinuities between separate synthetic plastic lane surface sheets comprising:

(a) a unitary synthetic plastic sheet having a width substantially equal to the full playing width of a bowling lane and a length substantially equal to the full playing length of the lane,
(b) such synthetic plastic sheet having a thickness of at least three-sixteenths of an inch, and an upper surface suitable for passage thereover of bowling balls
(c) overlap-type structural interengagement means disposed along both sides of the bowling lane contiguous with the lateral edges of the synthetic plastic sheet and interengaging with the edges of said synthetic sheet,
(d) said interengagement means being resiliently biased against the lateral sheet edges of said synthetic plastic sheet to allow for expansion and contraction of said sheet and having essentially the same thickness as said sheet, and
(e) the ends of said sheet being adapted for longitudinal movement along the lane proportional to expansion and contraction of the sheet longitudinally along the lane due to temperature changes of the sheet,
(f) said synthetic plastic sheet having a lower surface which will freely slide longitudinally over any underlying contacting structures without constriction.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and arrangement for applying and securing edges of improved bowling lane surfaces

Life of this patent

Method and arrangement for applying and securing edges of improved bowling lane surfaces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19