Bumper apparatus for bowling lanes

Abstract

A moveable gutter for a bowling lane is disclosed. The gutter includes a bumper surface that functions as a bumper when said inner edge is raised from a lower position to a fixed upper position higher than the adjacent lane surface. A portion of said bumper surface is approximately parallel with the surface of a bowling ball on the bowling lane when the upper surface is in the upper position.

1 . A moveable gutter for a bowling lane comprising: 
 a gutter having a concave upper gutter surface inner edge, said upper surface having an inner edge adjacent to the bowling lane and an outer edge distal from said adjacent gutter;    said inner edge of said gutter surface further comprising a bumper having an inner-facing bumper surface;    said outer edge being rotatably mounted to a support fixture of said bowling lane such that said bumper surface functions as a bumper when said inner edge is raised from a lower position to a fixed upper position higher than the adjacent lane surface; and    wherein a portion of said bumper surface is approximately parallel with the surface of a bowling ball on said bowling lane when said upper surface is in said upper position.    
   
   
       2 . The moveable gutter of  claim 1 , further comprising a back support surface coupled to said upper gutter surface through a plurality of cross members.  
   
   
       3 . The moveable gutter of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one illumination source disposed longitudinally about said upper surface.  
   
   
       4 . The moveable gutter of  claim 3 , wherein the upper surface of said at least one illumination source comprises rounded cross sectional shape extending slightly above the surface of the gutter, thereby forming longitudinal ridges along the length of the gutter.  
   
   
       5 . The moveable gutter of  claim 4 , wherein said bumper surface comprises at least one illumination source, such that said illumination source is viewable when said inner edge is in said upper position.  
   
   
       6 . The moveable gutter of  claim 5 , wherein the bowling balls rolling in the gutter contact only the rounded surface of said ridges when said gutter is in said lower position.  
   
   
       7 . The moveable gutter of  claim 6 , wherein said outer edge is rotatably attached to said support structure through a tongue-and-groove arrangement, whereby a tongue is formed in said outer edge, and a groove is formed in said support structure, said groove extending along the length of the lane, parallel with the lane surface.  
   
   
       8 . A moveable gutter for a bowling lane comprising: 
 moveable gutter means having a concave upper gutter surface inner edge, said upper surface having an inner edge adjacent to the bowling lane and an outer edge distal from said adjacent gutter;    said inner edge of said gutter surface further comprising bumper means having an inner-facing bumper surface;    said outer edge comprising means for rotating said moveable gutter means such that said bumper surface functions as a bumper when said inner edge is raised from a lower position to a fixed upper position higher than the adjacent lane surface; and    wherein a portion of said bumper surface is approximately parallel with the surface of a bowling ball on said bowling lane when said upper surface is in said upper position.    
   
   
       9 . The moveable gutter of  claim 8 , further comprising back support means coupled to said upper gutter surface.  
   
   
       10 . The moveable gutter of  claim 9 , further comprising illumination means disposed about said upper surface.  
   
   
       11 . The moveable gutter of  claim 10 , wherein the upper surface of said illumination means comprises a rounded cross sectional shape extending slightly above the surface of the gutter, thereby forming longitudinal ridges along the length of the gutter.  
   
   
       12 . The moveable gutter of  claim 11 , wherein said bumper surface comprises illumination means viewable when said inner edge is in said upper position.  
   
   
       13 . The moveable gutter of  claim 12 , wherein the bowling balls rolling in the gutter contact only the rounded surface of said ridges when said gutter is in said lower position.