Removable Bowling Lane Platform With Non-Marring Modular Supports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bowling alley facilities face challenges in converting their arrays of lanes into a continuous, flat, level platform for various activities without damaging the existing surfaces, as existing removable platforms cannot accommodate the height variations and require easy assembly, removal, and storage, while being economically feasible and using locally available materials.
Innovation Solution
A removable platform arrangement with base support members made from linear low-density polyethylene, featuring transversely extending grooves and pockets for cross and longitudinal support members, allowing the platform to be easily installed and removed without damaging the bowling lanes, and utilizing readily available materials for cost-effectiveness and convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a removable platform is installed over bowling lanes to enable alternative uses, then facility utilization and economic value are improved, but the bowling surface may be damaged during installation, removal, or use
Solution Approach 1:
The base support members are made from linear low-density polyethylene material specifically selected for its non-marring properties on the bowling surface. This local material property ensures that while the platform provides versatile coverage, the contact points with the bowling lanes remain harmless, resolving the contradiction between facility utilization and surface protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The base support members act as intermediary elements between the removable platform and the bowling surface. These members distribute the platform's weight and protect the bowling lanes from direct contact with harder platform components, enabling versatile facility use without damaging the bowling surface during installation, removal, or operation.
2Ease of operation
If the platform components are made modular for easy handling and storage, then ease of operation and storage are improved, but the structural stability and load-bearing capacity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into modular components including multiple base support members, cross support members, and longitudinal support members that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This segmentation improves handling and storage convenience while the interlocking design of these segments maintains structural integrity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple support members (base, cross, and longitudinal) are combined to form a unified platform structure that distributes loads across all components. This merging of modular elements creates a stable, load-bearing platform while retaining the individual modularity of each component for easy assembly and storage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the platform is designed to accommodate height variations of bowling lane components, then adaptability to the bowling alley array is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base support members are designed with specific local characteristics to accommodate the height variations of bowling lane components such as gutters, single division capping, and ball return capping. This localized adaptation allows the platform to fit the bowling alley array's irregular surface without requiring a completely complex redesign of the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform structure incorporates adjustable and adaptable elements that can respond to the varying heights of bowling lane components. This dynamic design allows the platform to accommodate irregular surfaces while maintaining relative simplicity in the overall structural design.
Data Source
AI summary
A removable platform for covering bowling alley lanes to provide a flat surface above the lanes suitable for a variety of other activities.