IP Library › Patent Application 13358281
Patent Application
App. No. 13/358,281

Bowling Lane Conditioning Machine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/358,281
Abstract

The invention relates generally to the conditioning of bowling lanes, and, more particularly to an apparatus and method for automatically applying a predetermined pattern of dressing fluid along the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of a bowling lane.

Claims (34)

1 . A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a housing;

a lane dressing fluid application system carried by the housing; and

a drive system carried by the housing and operative to move the bowling lane conditioning system along a bowling lane, wherein the drive system comprises:

a fixed rear axle;

at least two non-swiveling rear wheels; and

at least one front pivotable wheel.

2 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least two non-swiveling rear wheels comprise larger diameters than the at least one front pivotable wheel.

3 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least two non-swiveling rear wheels are about eight inches in diameter.

4 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one front pivotable wheel comprises a castor-type wheel.

5 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 further comprising a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system carried by the housing.

6 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 , wherein the lane dressing fluid application system comprises at least one injector comprising at least one opening and a valve.

7 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 1 , wherein the lane dressing fluid application system comprises a buffer brush comprising bristles flagged on an end that contacts the bowling lane to balance an ability of the buffer brush to spread lane dressing evenly across a width of the bowling lane with minimal storage capacity to move the lane dressing along a length of the bowling lane.

8 . A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a housing; and

a lane dressing fluid application system carried by the housing, wherein the lane dressing fluid application system comprises:

a lane dressing fluid tank; and

an injector rail in communication with the lane dressing fluid tank, the injector rail comprising:

a lane dressing fluid heater; and

at least one injector comprising at least one opening and a valve.

9 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 8 , wherein the at least one injector is in a fixed position with respect to the housing as the bowling lane conditioning machine moves along a bowling lane.

10 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 8 , wherein the lane dressing fluid application system further comprises a buffer carried by the housing.

11 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 10 , wherein the lane dressing fluid application system further comprises a dispersion roller carried by the housing and disposed in contact with the buffer.

12 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 8 further comprising a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system carried by the housing.

13 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 8 , wherein the lane dressing fluid application system comprises a buffer brush comprising bristles flagged on an end that contacts a bowling lane to balance an ability of the buffer brush to spread lane dressing evenly across a width of the bowling lane with minimal storage capacity to move the lane dressing along a length of the bowling lane.

14 . A bowling lane conditioning machine comprising:

a housing;

a lane dressing fluid application system carried by the housing; and

a modular electrical enclosure carried by the housing and comprising a control system for the bowling lane conditioning machine.

15 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 14 , wherein the modular electrical enclosure is carried by a center frame section of the housing.

16 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 14 , wherein the modular electrical enclosure comprises wire connectors operative to provide quick disconnection and labeling to provide correct reconnection.

17 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 14 , wherein the lane dressing fluid application system comprises at least one injector comprising at least one opening and a valve.

18 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 14 further comprising a cleaning fluid delivery and removal system carried by the housing.

19 . The bowling lane conditioning machine of claim 14 , wherein the lane dressing fluid application system comprises a buffer brush comprising bristles flagged on an end that contacts a bowling lane to balance an ability of the buffer brush to spread lane dressing evenly across a width of the bowling lane with minimal storage capacity to move the lane dressing along a length of the bowling lane.