Method of maintaining a bowling lane

• US 8,051,528 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kegel, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kegel, LLC
• Inventors: Davis, Mark E., Davis, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daniel; Jamal
• Application Number:
  US11/424,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 153/403
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 5/10 Apparatus for cleaning balls, pins, or alleys

Abstract

A bowling lane maintenance machine has its operating functions designed and controlled in such a manner that the machine may be battery-operated without loss of performance. Included in the operation are special movements of the machine at the pin deck to flick moisture off blades of the squeegee assembly and limited activation of the vacuum motor to reduce battery drain.

Claims

1. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane using a maintenance machine, the steps of:

applying a liquid cleaner to the lane as the machine travels in a forward direction from the foul line toward the pin deck;

drawing liquid cleaner off the lane using a vacuum motor during at least a portion of the travel of the machine in the forward direction from the foul line to the pin deck;

maintaining the vacuum motor turned off during at least most of the travel of the machine in a reverse direction from the pin deck to the foul line;

using a squeegee assembly in engagement with the lane to help remove cleaning liquid from the lane as the machine travels in the forward direction;

stopping movement of the machine in the forward direction when the squeegee assembly passes beyond and overhangs the edge of the pin deck,

the method further comprising moving the squeegee assembly to a raised position after the machine has stopped in its position overhanging the edge of the pin deck of the lane, then maintaining the squeegee assembly raised as the machine moves in the reverse direction for a predetermined distance, then moving the squeegee assembly to a lowered position in engagement with the lane, then maintaining the squeegee lowered as the machine moves in the forward direction, and then stopping the machine when the squeegee assembly passes beyond and overhangs the edge of the pin deck of the lane for a second time.

2. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane as claimed in claim 1,

further comprising supplying electrical operating power to the machine from an electrical storage battery on board the machine.

3. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane machine as claimed in claim 1,

further comprising maintaining said vacuum motor turned off when the machine is at the foul line before commencing travel in the forward direction,

said vacuum motor being turned on only after the machine has traveled a predetermined distance in the forward direction.

4. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane as claimed in claim 1, further comprising moving the squeegee assembly to its raised position after the machine overhangs the edge of the pin deck of the lane for a second time and maintaining the squeegee assembly raised and the vacuum motor turned off for at least most of the travel of the machine to the foul line in the reverse direction.

5. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane as claimed in claim 4,

further comprising maintaining said vacuum motor turned off when the machine is at the foul line before commencing travel in the forward direction,

said vacuum motor being turned on only after the machine has traveled a predetermined distance in the forward direction.

6. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane using a maintenance machine, the steps of:

applying a liquid cleaner to the lane as the machine travels in a forward direction from the foul line toward the pin deck;

using a squeegee assembly in engagement with the lane to help remove cleaning liquid from the lane as the machine travels in the forward direction; and

stopping movement of the machine in the forward direction when the squeegee assembly passes beyond and overhangs the edge of the pin deck,

further comprising moving the squeegee assembly to a raised position after the machine has stopped in its position overhanging the edge of the pin deck of the lane, then maintaining the squeegee assembly raised as the machine moves in the reverse direction for a predetermined distance, then moving the squeegee assembly to a lowered position in engagement with the lane, then maintaining the squeegee lowered as the machine moves in the forward direction, and then stopping the machine when the squeegee assembly passes beyond and overhangs the edge of the pin deck of the lane for a second time.

7. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane as claimed in claim 6, further comprising moving the squeegee assembly to its raised position after the machine overhangs the edge of the pin deck of the lane for a second time and maintaining the squeegee assembly raised and the vacuum motor turned off for at least most of the travel of the machine to the foul line in the reverse direction.

8. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane a claimed in claim 6,

further comprising drawing liquid cleaner off the lane using a vacuum motor during at least a portion of the travel of the machine in the forward direction from the foul line to the pin deck;

and

maintaining the vacuum motor turned off during at least most of the travel of the machine in a reverse direction from the pin deck to the foul line.

9. In a method of maintaining a bowling lane as claimed in claim 6,

further comprising supplying electrical operating power to the machine from an electrical storage battery on board the machine.