Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention is diracted generally to an
apparatus for quickly and easily refinishing a smooth
flat surface subject to wear and more particularly to an
apparatus for re~inishing a bowling lane by applying
lane finish in a dry state, as co~pared to a liquid
state as is now done.
Effective maintenance of ~odern bowling lanes
conventionally entails resanding of the wood lane
surface every other year together with applying a liquid
finish coat onto the resanded surface. In the off years
between sandings, additional liquid finish might be
applied to the lanes where needed.
This periodic re~inishing generally represents a
substantial expense for the bowling lane operator.
Because special equipment and material are required and
uniformity in the thickness of the applied top coating
is very important, such refini~hing is generally beyond
the capability of regular bowling lane attendants and
maintenance personnel. Independent professionals are
generally employed for this service.
In addition to tha expense, the conventianal
sanding and refinishing operations are time cansuming
and generally reguire the lane~ being worked on to be
taken out of service for at least a few days.
Another disadvantage of conventional bowling land
refinishing is the practical impossibility of applying a
perfectly uniform finish coat even if done by a
professional. Finally, the periodic resanding will
eventually cause the lane surface to be worn down to the
point where the nails securin~ the lane bed boards
together become exposed, at which point the lane is
generally rendered inoperative so as to require
replacement.
Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is
to provide an improved material for refinishing a flat
surface subject to wear.
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Another object of the invention is to provide an
improvPd bowling lane refinishiny material.
Another object is to provide a replacement finish
comprised of a transparent film applied with uniform
thickness onto a bowling lane.
Another object is to provide a bowling lane
refinishing apparatus wherein multiple finish coats may
be applied onto the lane.
Another object is to provide an improved bowling
lane refinishing apparatus wherein a thin top coat layer
may be simply rolled onto the exposed surface of the
bowling lane.
Another object is to provide an antislide fllm to
the pin deck to prevent pins from sliding and to protect
the pin deck.
Another object is to provide a finish to the pin
deck approach for a uniform sliding effect.
Finally, another object of the invention is to
provide a bowling lane refinishing material which is
inexpensive and efficient and which affords a rugged
uniform top surface.
Resurfacing or refinishing a bowling lane is
substantially simplified according to the present
invention wherein a film layer of material i9 applied
onto the bowling lane surface and securely adhered
thereto. The film is preferably an adhesive backed
material so that no separate step of applying the
adhesive is required. ~ikewi~e, the film is preferably
provided in a width corresponding to the width of the
bowling lane so that a single strip o~ the material
covers the lane and no trimming of the lateral edges is
required except on narrow lanes under 42 inches wide.
The applied layer of material may either be
transparent to expose the natural beauty of the wood
surface or be opaque with a printed pattern to cover old
worn surfaces.
This invention consists in the construction~
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arrangements and combination of the various parts of the
device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as
hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed
out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a foreshorten~d partial perspective
view of a bowling lane with a roll of an adhesive-backed
topcoat material being supported on~an applicator
apparatus and being applied to the lane surface;
Figure 2 is a foreshortened top plan view of a pair
of bowling lanes including the refinishing tape
applicator apparatus on one lane thereof;
Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
portion o~ a bowling lane, including a relatively thick
coat applied to the top surface thereof; and
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a bowling
lane showing a relatively thin coat applied to the top
sur~ace thereof.
Figure 1 illustrates a tape applicator apparatus 10
supported on a conventional wood bowling lane 12 that is
situated between a pair of parallel spaced apart gutters
14. The conventional bowling lane is 42" wide and has a
top surface formed by a plurality of interconnected wood
leveling strips 16. Each board has an oppositely facing
tongue 18 and a groove 20 ~or a precise nested fit with
adjacent boards. Nails 22 secur~ the lane boards
together.
Referring to Figure 2, the conventional bowling
lane furthermore includes an elongated approach area 24
that terminates at the ~oul line 26 which marks the one
end of the Iane. The first 16 feet extending from the
foul line is referred to as the ~Iheaders~ and includes
the lane markings designating various transverse
positions on the lane. At the opposite end of the lane,
pins are adapted to be set up on what is referred to as
the "pin deck" in a pattern as indicated by the markings
30. Whereas the headers 27 are generally formed of hard
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maple, the remainder of the lane may be formed of a
softer pine with the exception of the pin deck which is
co~monly made of maple.
The present invention is directed to a novel
coating for the bowling lane, which coating is provided
as a roll 32 of flexible material or, more precisely, a
plastic filmO "Flexible" is here used to describe the
bendability of the tape but is not intended to imply any
degree of stretchability. It is preferred that the
material be as stretch resistant as possible and that it
be resistant to both impact and wear.
The plastic film 34 ls preferably provided a3 a
roll of adheslve-backed transparent ~llm. The ~ilm may
be supported on apparatus 10 on a cross shaft 36 carried
by a pair of support arms 38 which converge upwardly
from a frame side member 40 which extends between front
and rear rollers 42 and 44. A raised handle structure
46 facilitate~ movement of the apparatus 10 along the
bowling lane 12.
In operation, a roll 32 of the transparent coating
material is rotatably supported on apparatus 10 and the
apparatu~ is positioned ad;acent to one end of the
bowling lane 12. The ~ilm is pulled downwardly,
transversely aliqned with the lane 1~ and pressed
against the lane. Thereafter, it i5 only necessary to
advance the apparatus 12 along the length of the lane
whereby the transparent film or flexible material 34 is
unrolled with the adhesive side 48 facing downwardly so
that it can be pressed against the lane's surface by a
rear roller 44.
Whereas the film applicator apparatus 10 is
believed to greatly facilitate the application of the
plastic film, the film could simply be manually unrolled
onto the lane's surface withouk any apparatus.
Alternatively, the plastic film 34 could be provided in
flat sheets with a removable backing sheet to cover the
adhesive side. The film may be applied on a ~reshly
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sanded wooden lane or onto the e~isting finish on such a
lane or onto a synthetic lane.
The film i5 preferably of a width to exactly
conform to the width of the bowling lane so that it
covers the entire lane without any need for trimming any
excess. ~he film may be applied along the ~ull extent
of the lane in a single strip, or headers may be covered
with a different type of film than that which is
extended from the headers to the pin deck For exampls,
it may be desirable to provide the headers with film
having mean~ for facilitating sliding movement of a
bowling ball on the flexible layer 3~. This can be
accomplished either by a very light oil finish or by
forming the film of a material impregnated with silicone
or the like. Likewise, a separate film may be applied
to the pin deck for the antislide ~eature.
Furthermore, the film 34 may be applied as a
relatively thin top coat, as ~hown in Figure 4, having a
thickness on the order of 3-10 mils or as a
substantially thicker protective coat having a thickness
on the order of 10-20 mils, preferably for the pin deck,
as illustrated in Figure 3. Whereas, a transparent tape
is desirable for exposing the natural beauty of the wood
lane, it may be desirable to cover a damaged or repaired
lane surface with a film 34 which is opaque and exhibits
a photographic top surface resembling a natural wood
pattern and possibly including all of the conventional
bowling lane markings.
Suitable materials ~or the film include plastic
such as polyurethane, polyethylene, vinyl, polyester and
; *TEFLON materials and such nonpl~stic~ as fiberglass and
other materials.
Whereas the adhesive-backed ilm is pre~erred for
ease of application, it is contemplated that the
adhesive could be independently applied to the film or
to the lane's surface prior to applying a plain film
thereto. An adhesive dispenser and roller applicator
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could be mounted on the apparatus 10 for uniformly
applying the adhesive to the underside of ~he film or
directly to the lane in response to advancing movements
of the apparatus.
When it is desired to replace the top coat film 34,
the previous coat can preferably be stripped from the
lane easily by simply raising a corner, then one end and
then pulling the entire strip off the lane.
It will be appreciated that the apparatus disclosed
herein will find application on other surfaces than
bowling lanes. The tapelike top coat of the invention
would he a natural for finishing a shu~fleboard surface.
This type of surface treatment would also be ideal for
high traf~ic areas such as in airports and commercial
building hallways.
The tapelike top coat of the invention currently
simplifies the maintenance of surfaces subject to wear
and assures a finished top coat of a uniform thickness
and material characteristics. Thus, there has been
shown and descri~ed a bowling lane refinishing apparatus
which acc~mplishes at least all of the stated objects.
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