Patent ID: 7052404

Claim:
A rail positioning device for use with a retractable bumper assembly that includes an elongated rail movable between a retracted position and an elevated position supported by a plurality of rail support members to prevent bowling balls from entering a bowling lane gutter adjacent said retractable bump assembly when the elongated rail is in said elevated position, said rail positioning device comprises a rail positioning assembly disposed in operational relationship relative to a rail positioning actuator, said rail positioning assembly and said rail positioning actuator each movable between a retracted position and an extended position such that when said rail positioning assembly is moved from said retracted to said extended position by said rail positioning actuator moving from said retracted position to said extended position said rail positioning assembly engages said elongated rail to move said elongated rail from said retracted position to said elevated position to prevent a bowling balls from entering said adjacent gutter, said rail positioning assembly comprises a rail positioning member longitudinally movable between a retracted position and an extended position and a rail positioning element including a substantially flat side surface rotatably movable between a retracted position and an extended position disposed to engage the elongated rail, said rail positioning actuator comprises an actuator element longitudinally movable between a retracted and an extended position to move said rail positioning member from said retractable and said extended position to move said rail positioning element from said retracted position and said extended position as said actuator element moves from said retracted position to said extended position to move the elongated rail from said retracted position to said elevated position, said rail positioning member includes an arcuate camming surface disposed to initially engage said substantially flat side surface of said rail positioning element to selectively rotate said rail positioning member from said retracted position to said extended position and an inclined surface disposed to engage said substantially flat side surface of said rail positioning element when said rail positioning member and said rail positioning element are each in said extended position to maintain said elongated rail in said elevated position.