Abstract: A pair of spaced uprights defining a ball return channel therebetween, a pair of gutters astraddle the uprights, each gutter having an outer edge portion on the adjacent uprights, a plurality of anchor plates extending over said ball return channel and interfitted with the gutter outer edge portions, the plates and gutter outer edge portions being secured to the uprights, a dress cover extending over the ball return channel and anchor plates, removably interconnected to the anchor plates, a pair of upwardly extending, laterally spaced, parallel anchor protrusions proximate the anchor plate edge portions and having oppositely oriented lateral detents, the dress cover having a width greater than the lateral spacing of the protrusions, a pair of parallel, laterally spaced fastener legs depending from the dress cover, and having lateral detents generally aligned with the protrusion detents, at least one of 1) the pair of protrusions and 2) the pairs of legs, being resiliently shiftable to enable locking interenga

Abstract: A billiard table corner construction and method of assembly comprising a table leg having an upper portion with first and second horizontal openings perpendicular to each other, a first sill subassembly including a second horizontal opening therethrough aligned with the table leg second opening, a second sill subassembly normal to the first sill subassembly including a second horizontal opening therethrough aligned with the table leg second opening, a first rod extending through the first horizontal opening in the first sill subassembly and the first opening in the upper portion of the leg sufficiently to intersect the second opening in the leg, the first rod having an inner end, an outer end, and a transverse threaded opening therein adjacent the inner end, a second elongated threaded fastener extending through the second sill subassembly and leg, and aligned with and engaging the threaded transverse opening of the first rod for threaded connection thereto such that the second sill is forced tightly against

Abstract: The lighting system of the present invention includes at least one light string having a plurality of independently controllable light modules, each emitting light in response to an activation signal uniquely associated with the light module. The lighting system preferably includes a controller coupled to the light strings for generating and transmitting activation signals to the light modules to independently control the lights of the light modules. Each of the light modules may include a multi-color lighting device for emitting light of different colors such that the controller may select colors of the light emitted from each one of the light modules.

Abstract: A bowling lane division capping assembly for attachment atop a division support, comprising an elongated lower member and an elongated upper cap member, the lower member comprising a bottom wall for attachment to the division support, a pair of side walls upstanding from said bottom wall, and the side walls having a pair of upper flanges protruding toward each other while defining a space of predetermined width therebetween allowing access to the bottom wall for insertion of fasteners, the upper cap member comprising an upper wall and a pair of spaced legs depending therefrom, the legs being spaced apart an amount about equal to the space width and having laterally outwardly offset detents spaced apart greater than the space width for engagement beneath the flanges to fasten the upper cap member to the lower member.

Abstract: A bowling lane surface comprising a top cover layer hving a pattern of a plurality of elongated simulated boards side-by-side across the width of the lane, the simulated boards across the lane being of alternate light and dark shades, having a symmetrical V pattern of spaced range finders on selected ones of the simulated boards, positioned uniformly across the lane, on the first longitudinal portion of the lane, selected simulated boards, preferably those having the range finders thereon, being outlined by dark lines simulating joints, a plurality of dark elongated markings arranged on selected simulated boards in the second longitudinal portion of the lane.

Abstract: A novel element is added to a bowling game by incorporating an intraviolet light sensitive dye or pigment in a bowling surface (24), a gutter (25), a bowling ball (26), and/or a bowling pin (28). A bowling establishment (10) is provided with an ultraviolet light source (50), (52), which, when conventional lighting, (42), (44), (46) is dimmed and/or turned off, will cause the ultraviolet light sensitive dye or pigment to fluoresce such that the components (24), (26), (30) fluoresce and glow to provide a pleasing effect attractive to bowlers.

Abstract: A bowling lane masking unit having an elevatable panel with first and second pulley wheels at the lower corners, a pair of stabilizing cables each anchored on both ends, passing around the pulley wheels and across the panel to retain the panel vertically aligned when shifted up and down, and a shiftable latch retaining the panel in elevated position.

Abstract: An instant replay system for a bowling scoring system is disclosed in which a video clip of a bowler's approach and deliver of a bowling ball and a video clip of the bowling ball subsequently entering a pin-fall area are filmed, compressed, and stored in a memory device, such as a hard drive. The instant replay system includes a controller for receiving user requests from a user input terminal of the bowling scoring system and for responding to such user requests by selecting a stored video clip and controlling playback of the selected video clip on a display monitor of the bowling scoring system. In this manner, a user may request that the replay video clip be played in at any selected rate, that the controller freeze the display on a specific video frame, and that the controller fast-forward or rewind the video clip. Further, the user may request the replay of any previously stored video clip by specifying the bowler, game, frame and ball of which the video clip is taken.

Abstract: A scoring system for a bowling center having a plurality of lanes includes scoring consoles equal in number to the number of lanes in the bowling center. Each scoring console includes a housing and an input system in the housing for receiving user input data related to the associated lane. The console includes a display device having a surface for displaying video images and a housing for the display device. The housing supports the display device and includes a flange surrounding an open area defining a quadrilateral opening in the housing for viewing the display surface. The display device attaches to the mounting portion. In this manner, the mounting assembly draws the flange toward the display surface to conform the flange to the three-dimensional surface configuration of the display surface.

Abstract: Time consuming analyzing of the dressing levels on bowling lanes is eliminated through the use of an apparatus that includes a path of travel (48) for a sample strip, a light source (50) on one side of the path (48) and a photosensitive sensor (46) on the other side of the path. A feed roller (60) is journaled adjacent the path and is driven by a stepper motor (58) in predetermined increments. An analog to digital converter (40) is connected to the sensor (36) for receiving analog signals therefrom and converting the same to digital signals. A random access memory (38) is connected to the converter (40) for receiving signals therefrom and for storing data represented by the signals. A central processing unit (34) is provided for operating the motor (58), the sensor (46) and the random access memory (38).

Abstract: A bowling ball drilling apparatus for drilling variable size holes includes a table having an upwardly opening ball supporting pocket. A boring apparatus is mounted below the table for reciprocation in a generally vertical direction in a path intersecting the pocket. A carriage moves the boring apparatus in the path. The boring apparatus has an output shaft rotatable about a vertical axis. An adjustable boring head is connected to the output shaft for rotation therewith, the boring head receiving a boring tool and being variable adjusted to offset the boring tool horizontally relative to the vertical axis so that the boring tool orbits about the vertical axis to produce a variable size hole in the bowling ball dependent on an amount of the offset.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pinsetting device for each lane, a pinsetter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pinsetter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane, which patterns may comprise any array of pins. The game control unit responsive to pin fall data received from the gamesetter generates scoring information which is displayed using video graphic displays on the overhead monitors. The game control program can be any one of a plurality of different game programs which may be downloaded to the memory from a memory associated with the manager's control terminal.