Hardboard-bonded melamine overlaid surface for bowling lane

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1.
A bowling lane having a surface characterized by a falling ball impact resistance of at least 60 inches, a coefficient of friction of at least 0.
16 and a Taber abrasion resistance of at least about 400 cycles, said bowling lane comprised of a melamine resin impregnated decorative fibrous printed sheet, not more than about 3 phenolic resin impregnated fibrous sheets underlaying said printed sheet, and a cellulosic board of at least 60 pounds density consisting of hardboard bonded to said underlay sheets and said print sheet under heat and pressures from about 1000 psi to about 1500 psi.
2.
A bowling lane as defined in claim 1 further including at least one overlying resin containing protective layer of said decorative fibrous print sheet.




Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.
Field of Invention This invention relates to new and improved panels for bowling lane structures.
More particularly, it relates to new and improved panels which provide bowling lane surfaces.
2.
Description of the Prior Art Standard bowling lanes are often constructed of suitably finished hardwood blocks or planking.
In such a lane bed, usually about 41 to 42 inches wide, the construction typically consists of from about 39 to 42 maple planks or boards about one inch thick laid edgewide in line with the longitudinal axis of the lane.
The surface of the lane is made flat and coated with varnish or lacquer which is then treated as with mineral oil to reduce wear and adjust the coefficient of friction or slippage of the surface in order to produce uniform action and control of the bowling ball.
The surface finish consists typically of a nitrocellulose or polyurethane lacquer which can be treated with plasticizers and other additives to provide with the oil treatment the desired wear and slippage or friction characteristic.
While wooden lanes have been in use for many years, they are subject to a number of deficiencies