JP2003501228A - Bowling lane system with light emitting elements - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A bowling lane with a pin deck, a luminous body incorporated in the lane part and positioned to provide a plurality of visible guide marks to the bowler to assist bowlers in pitching, and exciting the luminous body Bowling lane system consisting of energy sources. This bowling lane system supports bowlers in dim or dark bowling facilities.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to bowling lane systems that include a positioned luminescent material or element incorporated into a lane to provide a visible guide mark to the bowler to assist the bowler in pitching.

2. Description of the Related Art It is conventionally known to provide light emitting marks on the surface of a game machine. As one example, in U.S. Pat.No. 3,301,558, there is a selective actuation type optimum throw path indicator in which an ultraviolet fluorescent material emits light so that the bowler automatically and selectively displays the optimum throw path for defeating the set pin. It is disclosed. Also, U.S. Pat.
No. 1,560 discloses providing a fluorescent tape on the outer edge of a table tennis table, the center line on the flat surface thereof, and the net.

US Pat. Nos. 5,489,241, 5,529,541, and 5,888,142 disclose providing UV-sensitive dyes or pigments in the entire lane between the left and right gutters.
In these patents, the bowler is made aware of the light source by illuminating the bowling lane by emitting fluorescent light when the UV-sensitive dye or pigment is excited by the UV source.

US Pat. No. 5,846,138 also discloses making the bowling lane fluorescent, while making other gaming accessories, such as pins, balls, and bowler outfits fluorescent. There is. In this patent, a foul line and a target are mentioned as a part of the bowling lane surface that emits fluorescence.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION (Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention aims to provide an improved bowling lane system. When doing bowling, the bowler must be
He uses various techniques for his attitude. In accordance with the present invention, the bowler can see different parts of the lane and approach in a dim or dark bowling facility, thus providing visual cues in different bowling environments. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be described in the following description, but some of them will be apparent from the description below, and will be known by carrying out the present invention. The objectives and advantages of the present invention will be achieved and obtained by the components and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

(Solution) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention described in the present specification, a bowling lane system according to the present invention includes a bowling lane having a pin deck, and a bowling lane having the pin deck. It consists of a light emitter positioned to provide a plurality of visible guide marks to assist the throwing bowler, and an energy source to excite the light emitter.

The guide mark is preferably a plurality of parallel lines over at least half of the entire length of the lane. Between these parallel lines, there may be an arrow mark which is V-shaped as a whole on the lane. Each line may be a continuous line or a broken line, and the corresponding parts are arranged in the same line (colin
ear) It may be a line forming a group of marks. In some embodiments, the lines are aligned with the pins on the pin deck. However, in other embodiments, the lines are adapted to each of the pins on the pin deck to form a sublane section. In another embodiment, guide marks are provided on the approach spats or in the vicinity thereof so that marks of some repeating sets are formed at intervals on the approach area and the lane.

In one embodiment, the visible light emitting illuminant may be a dye or pigment that fluoresces at a visible wavelength when exposed to ultraviolet light or other light sources. In another embodiment, the dye or pigment may be a photoluminescent or phosphorescent material that emits light when exposed to high intensity white light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light. In yet another embodiment, a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED), LED material, liquid crystal display, gas plasma device, light guide cable, or other light emitting device is incorporated into the bowling lane to connect to an energy source. ing.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an optical transmission device such as an optical cable or a light guiding cable is embedded in a bowling lane and an approach area so that the transmitted light can be seen by a bowler. I am trying to do it.

In any of the above-described embodiments, these light-emitting elements are arranged so that when the bowler throws, a visual reference guide is provided to assist the bowler. These light-emitting elements may be connected to a power source such as a computer to control the excitation of the light-emitting elements, and the excitation timing may be controlled according to changes in conditions over the game time and the bowler's ability.

According to the present invention, the bowler is provided with a group of visual guide indicators, so that the bowler can sense, adjust, and train how to throw under various conditions. , Therefore, you can give flexibility to the pitch or polish your arm. In addition to providing visual indicators, the luminescent material can also be placed in the shape of a logo to promote bowling equipment or facilities. The luminescent material or element may be provided in bowling facility equipment such as masking elements, pin deck elements, pin spots, pin sweeps, gutter elements, ball return systems, seats, score tables and the like.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following description are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used for the same parts. The bowling lane system according to the present invention is incorporated into an approach area, a bowling lane with a pin deck, a lane and an approach area, and is positioned to provide a plurality of visible guide marks for assisting the bowler to throw. It consists of a luminous body. The system also includes an energy source to excite the light emitter.

As described in more detail below, the light emitter may be a dye or pigment that emits light when illuminated. The light emitter may be a photoelectric element that emits light when irradiated with energy, or may be an optical transmission element.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-10, the illuminator is provided with a plurality of lines 61 extending in parallel over at least half the length of the lane between the foul line 200 and the pin deck 210. They are arranged in guide marks in the shape of ~ 70. On each plate surface between these parallel lines, arrow marks 81 to 87, which are V-shaped as a whole on the lane, may be included. The illuminant may be arranged on or around the approach marker on the approach side of the foul line. A plurality of light emitting marks similar to these approach markers may be repeatedly arranged at a considerable distance in a portion corresponding to a certain pin on the lane and the approach area as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. A preferred mark in the form of a dot is shown in FIG. These marks may be used with other parallel lines or arrows as shown in FIG.

The parallel lines preferably extend straight toward the corresponding pins on the pin deck. The bowling lane has a width of 39 plate surfaces, and the line may be provided at a boundary of a part of the plate surfaces of the bowling lane. Also, these lines may be arranged so as to connect to the pins on the pin deck and form a small lane section in line with the corresponding pin. 1 to 10 show a continuous line, a broken line, and a combination of a line and a logo forming a group of marks in which corresponding portions are aligned in the same line as forming a line which is assumed by the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the bowling facility has a plurality of light emitting indicators arranged in a pattern of parallel lines extending along the length of the bowling lane from the approach area to the pin deck. It has a bowling lane. In this embodiment, the line starts at the foul line and ends just before the pin deck. The line pattern includes arrow-shaped targets arranged in a V shape across the width of the lane. The arrow-shaped targets are centered between adjacent lines to form sublane sections.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the light emitter comprises seven lane targets in a V-shaped array,
It is arranged so as to form ten lines extending on the lane from the foul line to the pin deck. The line preferably has a width of about 1/4 inch (6.4 mm). In this embodiment, the target is positioned in the bowling lane in a V-shape that is generally mirror image of the position of the pins on the pin deck.

The line is arranged so that it can assist the bowler. More specifically, the line 61 is positioned on the boundary between the plate surfaces 21 and 22 adjacent to each other, and the line 62 is positioned on the boundary between the plate surfaces 22 and 23 adjacent to each other. These two lines are adjacent to the gutter. The target 81 is provided on the plate surface 25 and occupies the left end of the V-shape. The line 63 is positioned on the boundary between the plate surfaces 27 and 28 adjacent to each other. The target 82 is provided on the plate surface 30. Lines 64, 6
5, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 are also plate surfaces 32-33, 37-3 adjacent to each other.
8, 42-43, 52-53, 57-58, 58-59, respectively. Targets 84, 85, 86, 87 are plate surfaces 40, 45, 50, 5
5 are provided respectively. The target 84 is V aligned with the head pin 71.
It occupies the apex point of the glyph.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the line and the target are arranged in this way, seven small lane sections are obtained, and the target is provided at the center of each small lane section. Each sublane section is preferably positioned so that its central axis is aligned with the corresponding pin on the pin deck. Similarly, the target should also be in line with the corresponding pin and face it. In addition, two lines separated by the width of the board are drawn in the lane portion adjacent to each gutter. The small lane compartment with target 81 is aligned with pin 77. The small lane compartment with the target 82 is aligned with the pin 74. The small lane section with the target 83 is pins 72, 78
Are aligned with. The small lane compartment with target 84 is aligned with pins 71, 7560. The small lane compartment with the target 85 is aligned with the pins 73,79. The small lane compartment with the target 86 is aligned with the pin 76. Sublane section 87 with target 87 is aligned with pin 80.

As described above, arranging the guide illuminators to form a line helps the bowler to show which part of the lane is connected to which part of the lane. This gives the bowler a clue as to which pin to drop and where to throw it.

FIGS. 3 to 6 respectively show modifications of the preferred embodiment in which a logo is provided in addition to the line and the target at each position of the lane and the approach area. In FIG. 3, the lane has an AMF logo design. In FIG. 4, an AMF logo design is provided in the center of the lane in the width direction over the length thereof. In FIG. 5, the AMF logo design is provided in both the lane and the approach area. In FIG. 6, the AMF logo design is provided only in the approach area.

Various light emitting materials can be used to form the guide marks and patterns of the present invention. For example, a dye or pigment that emits visible light can be used. These dyes and pigments may emit white light or colored light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays or other light. Preferably, the luminescent material is substantially colorless and transparent when the bowling lane and other areas are illuminated by normal daylight, and is not noticeable under conventional lighting conditions. desirable.

The dye or pigment may be a photoluminescent material or a phosphorescent material that emits light when exposed to high-intensity white light, infrared rays, or ultraviolet rays. Such a luminescent material may be devised so as to emit yellow-green light, for example. Even in this case, it is desirable that the light emitting material is substantially colorless and transparent so that it cannot be noticed under the conventional lighting condition.

In order to generate a guide mark by exciting a dye or a pigment, the bowling lane system of the present invention includes a light fixture including a light source of, for example, ultraviolet light, infrared light, white light, or high intensity illumination light. Is included. The light fixture should be installed so that the dye or pigment emits sufficient visible light when the light source is turned on.

If dyes and pigments are utilized, it is desirable to incorporate them into the bowling lane during manufacture. In a preferred embodiment, it is desirable to construct the approach area, the pin deck, and the flat surface of the bowling lane at the time of manufacture by separately manufactured panels, which are joined together during installation. The bowling lane, which does not include a pin deck, will consist of 5 panels, each 12 feet long. Together, these panels create a 60-foot bowling lane. Each panel is composed of a core of a flat plate material such as a particle board, and a laminate layer is attached to the upper surface and the lower surface of the core material. FIG. 2A shows a plan view of the lane composed of the laminate material and the core material as viewed from above. FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of a lane configured by attaching a laminate material to this core material.

As the laminate material, a chemically treated paper material or other thin layers are preferably laminated and bonded by pressure bonding. The luminescent material is preferably placed on one or more of the paper layers. In one preferred embodiment, the pattern devised to give the sensation that the lane is referred to herein as the board surface and is made up of natural wood strips is a pattern of paper layers of the upper laminate in the desired area. It is desirable that at least one of them is marked. The luminescent dye or pigment is preferably printed on the desired area of the paper layer or another paper layer by silk printing. The last few layers of paper are also dipped in the melamine bath and laid on top of the paper layer printed with luminescent material.
The layer is then placed in a hot press to apply heat and pressure to harden it and finish it into a smooth, translucent surfaced laminate.

In another preferred embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED), an LED material, a liquid crystal display, a gas plasma element, a light emitting element such as a light guide cable, and other light emitting elements are embedded in the bowling lane, and It is connected to a remote energy source.
These elements are arranged so that a visual reference guide according to the invention is obtained. In another preferred embodiment, optical transmission elements, such as optical cables and light guide cables, are incorporated or embedded in the bowling lane and approach area so that the transmitted light appears to the bowler and the bowler utilizes the transmitted light. I am trying to do it. The light transmission elements are connected to a light source so that they are excited by the light source. Preferably, the optical transmission elements are arranged in the same or similar pattern as shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, respectively.

When the light emitting device and the light transmitting device are used to produce the guide mark according to the present invention, the light emitting device and the light transmitting device may be used separately from other patterns formed by dyes or pigments or may be used in combination with them. You may use it. In such an embodiment, some of the guide marks (those produced by the dye pigment) are fixed, and other guide marks are
The (excited by electronically excited material) may be turned on and off respectfully. Such a combination provides the flexibility of being separately controlled by a remote control source such as a computer. With this control source, the light emitting elements are designed to represent a certain bowling strategy, display different patterns or logos, or change the light emitting pattern in response to input from the operator or user of the bowling facility. Can be controlled.

The electrical components may be connected to and controlled by a computer system so that other aspects of the lane such as the pinsetter and score recording system can also be controlled. Preferably, the light emitting elements and the light transmitting elements are placed on the panel during construction so that when they are excited they emit visible light through the top layer of the laminate. In this embodiment, the upper surface side of the particle boat is not a single laminated layer but two layers. Therefore, the light emitting element and the optical transmission element are embedded in the first laminated layer and the second laminated layer is used. It is covered with a laminate layer. Electric wires for enabling these elements are led out from a side surface or a bottom surface of the panel and connected to an external power source after the panel is installed.

If no light-sensitive dye or pigment is used, it is not necessary to use ultraviolet light to illuminate the mark to excite such dye or pigment. Instead,
After the panel is installed, the light emitting element or the light transmitting element is connected to the remote control power source. When an optical cable is used, the cable may be made of a conventionally known material, and its diameter is such that it transmits light of sufficient intensity that the bowler can visually perceive. Light emission is sufficient. The light thus transmitted may be continuous light, intermittent light, or monochromatic light or polychromatic light of more than that.

According to the present invention, the bowler can distinguish and distinguish between some plate surfaces or plate surface groups in the bow, so that the bowling facility senses how to pitch even if it is dim or dark. You can do, adjust and train. In accordance with the present invention, the bowler is provided with a group of visual guide indicators so that the bowler can sense, adjust and train how to pitch under various variable conditions.
Therefore, in the past it was not possible to distinguish the lanes part by part, but the bowler does not only knock down the pin but also the ball along the pitch path across the selected emission areas and the pitch path along the area. It's like throwing a ball, or bringing a new ground to a bowling game.

The design, combinations, etc. of guide marks described and illustrated herein are not all exhaustive within the scope of the invention. A myriad of patterns such as guide marks, logos, colors, etc. are also included in the scope of the present invention. The accompanying drawings show only preferred embodiments.

Those skilled in the art can easily modify not only the arrangement, combination, and color of the guide marks, but also the way of excitation without departing from the scope and essence of the present invention.

Other preferred embodiments of the invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of, and practice of, the specification of the invention disclosed herein. Therefore, the description and examples disclosed herein are merely examples of the book, and the true scope and essence of the present invention should be determined in view of the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a bowling lane according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a plan view of the lane shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a lane according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a bowling lane according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a bowling lane according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a bowling lane according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a bowling lane according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an approach area of a bowling lane according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an approach area of a bowling lane according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an enlarged view of the dots in the bowling lane of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a bowling lane according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

      21-59 ... Plate surface 61-70 ... Line       71-80 ... Pins 81-87 ... Target       200 ... Foul line 210 ... Pin deck

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG , ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, C H, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ , EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, K G, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT , LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, S D, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR , TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A bowling lane having a flat upper surface extending from the approach area to the pin deck, and incorporated into the lane for at least half of the length of the lane between the foul line and the pin deck to assist the bowler in pitching. A bowling lane system comprising a light emitter positioned so as to produce a pattern of visible guide marks including a plurality of extending parallel lines when it is excited, and an energy source for exciting the light emitter. 2. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein the parallel lines extend substantially the entire length of the lane between the foul line and the pin deck. 3. The bowling lane system according to claim 2, wherein the field turn includes at least one pair of arrow-shaped marks arranged in a width direction of the lane. 4. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the parallel lines comprises a plurality of aligned marks. 5. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein the light emitter is positioned in the approach area near the approach spats. 6. The pattern according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is arranged at intervals in an approach area and a part of a lane plate surface aligned with an area of a pin deck on which the pins are mounted. A bowling lane system that includes multiple sets of marks. 7. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the parallel lines are continuous lines. 8. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the parallel lines are dashed lines. 9. The bowling lane system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the parallel lines is a dotted line. 10. The bowling lane system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the parallel lines is formed between adjacent plate surfaces forming a lane. 11. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the parallel lines are aligned with the area of the pin deck on which the pins rest. 12. The pattern of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises eight lines extending at least half the length of a lane between the foul line and the pin deck. The line is a bowling lane system consisting of seven small lane compartments, each aligned with the area of the pin deck on which the pins are placed. 13. The bowling lane system according to claim 12, wherein another line is provided near both gutters of the lane. 14. The bowling lane system according to claim 12, wherein an arrow is provided in each of the small lane sections. 15. The bowling lane system of claim 14, wherein the arrows are V-shaped. 16. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein the light emitter is fluorescent to a light source. 17. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein the light emitter is phosphorescent with respect to the light source. 18. The bowling lane system of claim 16, wherein the energy source is ultraviolet light. 19. The bowling lane system of claim 1, wherein the light emitter is electrically excited. 20. The bowling lane system according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter is an optical fiber. 21. The bowling lane system according to claim 1, wherein a part of the light emitter is selected from the group consisting of dyes and pigments, and the rest is elements electrically excited. 22. The bowling lane system of claim 21, wherein the electrically excited elements are controlled by computer control.