Bowling alley bumper system

Abstract

A bowling alley bumper system which can be used for conventional bowling and for bumper bowling is disclosed. The bowling alley bumper system includes a pair of gutters having longitudinally extending portions and extending and retracting means for moving those portions into an extended position which allows bowling balls to fall into and roll along one of the gutters. In one embodiment, the portion is moved upwardly or downwardly along an arc in an xz plane with little or no lateral movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bumper bowling system comprising a series of cross supports and a bowling alley disposed on said series of cross supports, said bowling alley having two sides and a longitudinally extending lane having a major axis on an upper surface of said alley, said lane having a foul line at one end and a pin deck at the other end thereof, a pair of elongated concave gutters extending along and substantially abutting the sides of said lane between the ends thereof for receiving a bowling ball which falls off of said lane, each of said gutters having first and second separate longitudinally extending portions with each of said portions having a major axis parallel to the .Iadd.major .Iaddend.axis of said lane, each of said portions including . .means defining.!. an arc-shaped segment with a first downwardly extending projection which extends downwardly with respect to said alley .Iadd.from said longitudinally extending portion.Iaddend., a second downwardly extending . .portion.!. .Iadd.projection .Iaddend.which is parallel with said first downwardly extending projection, extending and retracting means for moving . .each.!. .Iadd.a first .Iaddend.of said portions of each of said gutters upwardly with respect to said alley into an extended position to thereby prevent a bowling ball from falling into one of said gutters and downwardly into a retracted position which allows bowling balls to roll into and along said one of said gutters and each of said extending and retracting means including a pair of swivel joints and an arm connecting said swivel joints and wherein a first of said swivel joints is operatively connected to said portion and the second of said swivel joints is operatively connected to one of said cross supports, said longitudinally extending portions lie on an x axis with a y axis laterally thereof and a z or vertical axis and wherein said extending and retracting means moves each of said portions including said downwardly extending projections an equal distance upwardly and downwardly along an are in the xz plane without any substantial lateral movement along the y axis. 
     
     
       2. A bumper bowling system in accordance with claim 1 in which said first downwardly extending portion defines a planer surface which is essentially coplaner with the adjacent side of said alley. 
     
     
       3. A bumper bowling system in accordance with claim 2 which includes means for locking said portions in an upwardly extending position. 
     
     
       4. A bumper bowling system in accordance with claim 2 in which resilient bumper means are disposed in an outer lower portion of said first downwardly projecting portion to thereby engage a bowling ball when the ball is rolled in the direction of the alley. 
     
     
       5. A bumper bowling system comprising a series of cross supports and a bowling alley disposed on said series of cross supports, said bowling alley having two sides and a longitudinally extending lane having a major axis on an upper surface of said alley, said lane having a foul line at one end and a pin deck at the other end thereof, a pair of elongated concave gutters extending along and substantially abutting the sides of said lane between the ends thereof for receiving a bowling ball which falls off of said lane, each of said gutters having first and second separate longitudinally extending portions with each of said portions having a major axis parallel to the axis of said lane, each of said portions including means defining first and second laterally-spaced longitudinally extending arc-shaped segments including a downwardly extending projection which extends downwardly with respect to said alley adjacent to a side of said alley and a second downwardly extending projection which extends downwardly with respect to said alley and which is parallel with said first downwardly extending projection, extending and retracting means for moving said first arc-shaped segment of each of said portion of each of said gutters upwardly with respect to said alley into an extended position to thereby prevent a bowling ball from falling into one of said gutters and downwardly into a retracted position which allows bowling balls to roll into and along said one of said gutters, said extending and retracting means including a pair of swivel joints and an arm connecting said swivel joints and wherein a first of said swivel joints is operatively connected to said first arc-shaped segments and the second of said swivel joints is operatively connected to one of said cross supports and each of said first arc-shaped segments lies on an x axis with a y axis laterally thereof and a z or vertical axis and wherein said extending and retracting means moves each of said first arc-shaped segments upwardly and downwardly along an arc in the xz plane without any substantial lateral movement along the y axis. .Iadd. 
     
     
       6.  A bumper bowling system comprising a series of cross supports and a bowling alley disposed on said series of cross supports, said bowling alley having two sides and a longitudinally extending lane having a major axis on an upper surface of said alley, said lane having a foul line at one end and a pin deck at the other end thereof, a pair of elongated concave gutters extending along and substantially abutting the sides of said lane between the ends thereof for receiving a bowling ball which falls off of said lane, each of said gutters having first and second separate longitudinally extending portions with each of said portions having a major axis parallel to the major axis of said lane, each of said portions including a segment with a first downwardly extending projection which extends downwardly with respect to said alley from said longitudinally extending portion, a second downwardly extending projection which is parallel with said first downwardly extending projection, extending and retracting means for moving a first of said portions of each of said gutters upwardly with respect to said alley into an extended position to thereby prevent a bowling ball from falling into one of said gutters and downwardly into a retracted position which allows bowling balls to roll into and along said one of said gutters and each of said extending and retracting means including a pair of swivel joints and an arm connecting said swivel joints and wherein a first of said swivel joints is operatively connected to said portion and the second of said swivel joints is operatively connected to one of said cross supports, said longitudinally extending portions lie on an x axis parallel with the major axis with a y axis laterally thereof and a z or vertical axis and characterized by said extending and retracting means moves each of said portions including said downwardly extending projections an equal distance upwardly and downwardly along an arc in the xz plane without any substantial lateral movement along the y axis.