Patent Publication Number: US-6712713-B1

Title: Fascia and shoe molding for a bowling center and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority based on a provisional application, and has the same inventive entity as this application. The Provisional Application has a filing date of Feb. 16, 2002, and an Application Number of No. 60/357,495, which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     This invention relates to a bowling industry; and more particularly to a fascia and shoe molding for the bowling industry in general, and a bowling center in particular and a method for installing the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As a way of drawing bowlers into a bowling establishment, many proprietors provide various decorations and make efforts to keep the establishment in a condition to have positive aesthetic effect on the clientele. Some decorations are practical. Others are provided solely for the attractive features. 
     A fascia is used at a bowling center to protect the edge of the approach to the lane. Not only does a fascia offer some protection, it may also add a decorative function to a particular bowling center. With the prospect or use of fascia or shoe molding for the edge of the approach, each bowling lane at the bowling center is looking for both durability and an appropriate aesthetic appearance. 
     Many problems exist with the conventional, wooden fascia. With a wooden fascia, the wood cracks and wears down, especially on the top edge, over a period of time. Such fascia needs to be refinished, and clear-coated or painted, at least once during the year. Such refinishing is both time consuming and costly. Yet, at the current time, it is necessary, if not mandatory. 
     Customarily, conventional fascia has the same color as the wood of the approach to each lane. This color similarity conceals the edge of the approach, which may lead to a prospective bowler tripping, or otherwise making a misstep. Yet, with the required refinishing process, a change in the color is difficult to achieve in an effective and efficient fashion. 
     It is always desirable to minimize the possibility of such an accident. A typical manner of minimizing the chance of a misstep is by a change in color in the area where a misstep might be made. At a bowling center, especially on the approaches to each lane, it is very difficult to make an appropriate color change, while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of each lane in particular and the entire bowling in general. 
     If a suitable method and composition can be developed or use as molding or fascia, greater advantages can be obtained. This product can last longer and provide greater safety. Also, costs of maintaining a bowling center might be reduced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a fascia or shoe molding composition for the bowling industry at the edge of the approach. 
     A further objective of this invention is the provision of a durable fascia or shoe composition. 
     A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a fascia for a bowling center, with reduced wear. 
     Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a fascia for a bowling center, with reduced cracking. 
     Also, an objective of this invention is the provision of a fascia for a bowling center, with a desired color. 
     Another objective of this invention is the provision of a fascia for a bowling center, with a durable finish. 
     Yet, another objective of this invention is the provision of a fascia for a bowling center, with reduced accident danger. 
     Still another object is the provision of a fascia and shoe molding for the bowling industry that is a permanent replacement for the old wood. 
     A further object is to provide a fascia and shoe molding for the bowling industry that requires no maintenance to the bowling center for many years. 
     These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a cover for the edge of an approach at a bowling center with a fascia or shoe molding composition in the form of a synthetic polymer, preferably black in color, suitable for use in a bowling center, and into which, may be placed a glow rod or a glow dowel may be set in the synthetic polymer, in order to permit bowling under a black light system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a bowling center  110  showing a plurality of lanes  112  using the wood fascia  114  of the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a bowling center  110  showing a plurality of lanes  112  using molded fascia  100  of this invention. 
     FIG. 3 depicts a side, cross-sectioned view of a single lane  112  using molded fascia  100  of this invention, based on FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a bowling center  110  showing a plurality of lanes  112  using molded fascia  100  of this invention, with a glow rod  136 . 
     FIG. 5 depicts a side, cross-sectioned view of a approach  116  using molded fascia  100  of this invention, with a glow rod  140 , based on FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts a top plan view of approach  116  using molded fascia  100  of this invention. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a side, cross-sectioned view of a single lane  112  using molded fascia  100  of this invention, with a glow dowel  160 . 
     FIG. 8 depicts a side, cross-sectioned view of a single lane  112  using molded fascia  100  of this invention, with a glow rod  140 , based on FIG. 3, with the further addition of glow dowel  160 . 
     FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of a bowling center  110  showing a plurality of lanes  112  using molded fascia  100  of this invention, with a glow rod  136  and glow dowel  160  being used. 
    
    
     Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With a molded polyethylene or other polymer, the fascia and molding on the approach to a bowling center may be greatly improved. This structure is the entity approach to substantiate that a nice finish, which appears new for a substantial period of time, is provided with the additional advantage of minimal maintenance. 
     The two main components of this product are the piece fascia and the shoe molding. Another alternate version of the fascia, is that a portion of the fascia may become glowable and have a glow-in-the-dark feature, especially under black lights or black lighting system. Bowling under these lighting conditions is or is becoming very popular. 
     Such a structure provides a nice accent to the edge of the approach, not only for its aesthetic effect, but also for safety. The different colored molding by itself or with the black lights provides a more clear indication of where the approach begins, and minimizes the chance tripping or falling by a bowler in that area. 
     No operation function is required for the fascia and shoe molding. Once it is installed, maintenance of that area is greatly reduced. The main function is to finish off the approach area, and highlight an area where otherwise someone might trip or suffer an injury. 
     In a preferred form, the fascia and shoe molding is formed from a high impact polymer, preferably a homopolymer. However, high impact colored copolymers are also useful. An especially preferred polymer is black, high impact polyethylene. 
     Each piece of homopolymer is about two to three centimeters thick, about 20 to 40 centimeters wide and about three to four meters long. The preferred polymer is black high impact polyethylene, because of its availability, cost, durability, flexibility and ease of use. The black, high impact polyethylene is preferably the material used. This structure permits an efficient use of material and construction time. 
     With the high impact capabilities of this material, the increase in time for an appropriate and acceptable appearance fascia and molding on the bowling approach is greatly improved. In other words, for the material of this invention, the severity of treatment resulting from use in a bowling center still provides both a durable pleasing appearance and protection. Protection comes for both the bowling center and the approach, and the bowler. 
     A preferred material for this application as to fascia board is polyethylene plastic, which material is available in sheets about 1.5 meters by about three meters by two centimeters (five feet by ten feet by 0.75 inch). The height is cut as needed, as shown in FIG. 2, or face board  120 . This material or face board  120  is fastened to the edge of existing approach  116 , with countersunk laminate screws  132  as shown in FIG.  6 . The top edge of the fascia is then trimmed with a laminate trimmer router, even with the existing approach. The last step is to put a radius with molding strip  130  on face board  120  or on the edge of the fascia. The material that is preferred is black, but a wide variety of colors is available in certain colors in order to match a decoration scheme in a particular bowling center. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a bowling center  110  of the prior art has lanes  112  with wood fascia  114  on the approach  116 . Completely lacking is a distinction between the approach  116  and waiting area  118 . Such a structure conceals the approach and can lead to substantial problems. 
     With the consideration of FIG. 2, molded fascia  100  overcomes those problems. Molded fascia  100  has a face board  120  on the approach  116 . Adjacent to the face board  120  is a molding strip  130 . Molding strip  130  adds trim with a neat appearance for the approach  116 . 
     With the consideration of FIG. 3, laminate screws  132  secure molding strip  130  to those face board  120  and approach  116 . Additionally, other laminate screws  132  secure face board  120  to approach  116 . 
     Turning now to FIG.  4  and FIG. 5, a glow rod  136  is inserted into face board  120  at routed groove  138 . Routed groove  138  may be formed in face board  120  by any standard router (not shown) with an appropriate lane therein. Glow rod  136  is also a shaped polymer having reflective material  140  area. Thus, when it is desired to use black light or other unconventional lighting, thanks to glow rod  136 , approach  116  can still be visible. 
     Glow rod  136 , under the black light assembly, provides an elongated light. In other words, the length of glow rod  136  provides a band of light, which is long and narrow. However, is band of light matches the structure of glow rod  136 . 
     Adding FIG. 6 to the consideration, laminate screws  132  are shown in a proper position to hold face board  120  and molding strip  130  where desired on approach  116 . In this fashion, molded fascia  100  is properly secured thereto. 
     In an alternate version as shown in FIG. 7, a single lane  112  uses molded fascia  100  of this invention, with a glow dowel  160 . Glow dowel  160  is positioned in top edge  122  of face board  120 . Glow dowel  160  may have any suitable color and indicate the edge  122  of face board  120 . Glow dowel  160  is preferably a short cylindrical piece of material capable of being inserted into top edge  122  by virtue of aperture  124 . Glow dowel  160  is held in position by friction, or glue if desired. 
     Glow dowel  160  provides little areas of light under the black light system based usually on the cross-sectional area of the glow dowel  160 . As many of glow dowel  160  as desired may be used. 
     Clearly from FIG.  8  and FIG. 9, molded fascia  100  may have both a glow rod  136 , and glow dowel  160  or a plurality thereof, used in combination. Such a structure greatly adds to the aesthetic appearance of bowling center  110 , if not the safety features thereof. 
     The following examples are intended to illustrate without unduly limiting the scope of this invention. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     A piece of plastic fascia and a plastic shoe molding is obtained. The fascia is black polyethylene homopolymer plastic, about 1.9 centimeters or 0.75 inch thick. The height of the fascia varies from 1 inch to 9 inches. This product is usually obtained in lengths of about three meters or 10 feet. 
     The shoe molding is also black polyethylene homopolymer plastic, about 1.9 centimeters or 0.75 inch thick. 
     The fascia board is the finishing touch to the approach edge of a bowling lane. From the first years, bowling lanes were installed, until right now, polyethylene replaces wood which is now used for the approach edge of a bowling lane. Such polyethylene is available in a sheet of about 1.5 meters by about three meters in surface area and about 1.9 centimeters thick (about 5 feet by about 10 feet surface area and about 0.75 inch thick). From the sheet, is cut the height as needed for the face board  120 , as shown in FIG.  2 . This material is fastened to the edge of the existing approach  116  as shown in FIG. 6, with laminate screws  132 . 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     The procedure of Example 1 is repeated with modifications. In FIG. 5, glow rod  136  is inserted into routed groove  138 . Routed groove  138  is formed in face board  120  by a router (not shown). A piece of glow rod  136  is secured in routed groove  138  by glue, nails or other appropriate fastening device. More particularly glow rod  136  is preferably round diameter rod having a diameter of about 0.85 centimeter (0.375 inch). With glow rod  136 , reflective material  140  shows or glows in the dark, and provides some direction and orientation under a standard black light assembly. This glows-in-the-dark system is a form of fun bowling, where the lights are turned off and black lights are activated. This bowling under black provides an attractive and effective manner of bowling, where the lanes glow, the bowling balls glow, and the pins glow. With the standard lights turned out, it is hard to see the step up on the approach, This fascia  100  makes it easy to see this step up for approach  116 , because it glows in the dark. 
     The shoe molding or molding strip  130  is also black polyethylene homopolymer plastic about 1.9 centimeters thick (about 0.75 inch thick). The height is about 2.54 centimeters (one inch) and is sold in lengths of about three meters (10 feet. The shoe molding or molding strip  130  puts the finishing touch on the area where the approach  116  and face board  120  meet. This material is also polyethylene plastic and may also be cut from the above-described sheets. Then a radius is put on the shoe molding or molding strip  130 , with a router (not shown). Dimensions can be clearly adjusted. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     The procedure of Example 1 is repeated with apertures  124  been formed in top edge  122  days board  120 . Into each aperture  124 , a glow dowel  160  is inserted. The friction positions glow dowel  160  in the aperture  124 . 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     The procedures of Example 2 and Example 3 are combined so that both a number of glow dowels  160  are used in combination with glow rod  136 . The combination of glow dowels  160  and glow rod  136  provide a very safe and an acceptable appearance for the bowling center  110 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
     This application; taken as a whole with the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings; provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
     Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and apparatus can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.