Shield with lower strip brush

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a shield for use on a bowling lane and, more particularly, to a shield assembly with a lower strip brush and methods of use. The shield assembly includes: a frame having at least one frame member; a panel mounted to the at least one frame member; and a strip brush extending from the bottom of the panel and which comprises a material that allows a bowling ball to pass therethrough and which is returnable to its original position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A shield assembly comprising:
 a frame comprising at least one frame member;   a panel mounted to the at least one frame member; and   a strip brush extending from a bottom of the panel and which comprises a material that allows a bowling ball to pass therethrough and which is returnable to its original position.   
     
     
         2 . The shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one frame member includes a bracket which comprises a channel that receives the strip brush. 
     
     
         3 . The shield assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the strip brush is slidably removable from within the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shield assembly is positioned in at least two different positions. 
     
     
         5 . The shield assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the strip brush is not visible to a bowler in a raised position of the at least two different positions. 
     
     
         6 . The shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the strip brush comprises separate strips of material. 
     
     
         7 . The shield assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the separate strips of material of the strip brush comprise rubber, belting material, polyvinyl chloride and/or polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . The shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the strip brush comprises bristles. 
     
     
         9 . The shield assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the bristles comprise nylon material. 
     
     
         10 . The shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shield assembly is rotatable between at least two different angles and the strip brush comprises a material stiffness which prevents drooping in at least one raised position of the at least two different angles. 
     
     
         11 . The shield assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating member connecting the shield assembly to a moving element of a pinspotter assembly, the actuating member raising and lowering the shield assembly upon activation of a pinspotter assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the strip brush is structured and comprises a material that does not retain scuffs or scratches from a bowling ball passing therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . A shield assembly comprising:
 a frame comprising a brush holder and frame members;   a panel mounted to the frame members and with the brush holder being at a bottom portion of the panel; and   a strip brush comprising resilient and flexible material mounted to the brush holder.   
     
     
         14 . The shield assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the brush holder comprises a channel that receives the strip brush such that the strip brush is slidably removable from within the channel. 
     
     
         15 . The shield assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the shield assembly is positionable in at least two different positions. 
     
     
         16 . The shield assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the strip brush comprises bristles. 
     
     
         17 . The shield assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the strip brush comprises strips of material. 
     
     
         18 . The shield assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the strip brush comprises material with a stiffness that in a raised position, the strip brush is not visible to a bowler or does not interfere with lighting from a pinspotter assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The shield assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising an actuating member connecting the shield assembly to a moving element of a pinspotter assembly, the actuating member raising and lowering the shield assembly upon activation of a pinspotter assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A shield assembly comprising:
 a frame;   a holder mounted to the frame and which comprises a channel;   a panel mounted to the frame;   a strip brush mounted within the channel of the holder, the strip brush comprising bristles or separate strips of material that allow a bowling ball to pass therethrough; and   an actuator which is structured to raise and lower the shield assembly into different positions upon activation of a pinspotter mechanism.