Bowling alley bumper system for producing visual effects
US5800274A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63D2005/003
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A bowling alley bumper system includes a pair of elongated bumpers extending along the length of an alley for guarding the gutters of a bowling alley when the bumpers are in an extended or guarding position. Each of the bumpers also includes a string of lights within a clear plastic rail which is disposed along an upper portion of the bumper. A controller is provided for pulsing the lights along each of the bumpers to produce a "chase" or other visual effect. For example, the controller may be used to illuminate the first, fourth, seventh, etc. lights in a string, followed by the illumination of the second, fifth, eighth, etc., lights, and then the third, sixth, ninth, etc., lights to give the appearance of moving down the alley. A controller may also be used to regulate the illumination of the lights across adjacent alleys.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.