Appeal No. 2002-1024
Application 09/156,060
access to the lanes” (specification, page 1). Representative
claim 1 reads as follows:
1. In a bowling center having a bowling lane section, an
approach section and a sitting/scoring section, said bowling lane
section including pairs of lanes having front ends that divide
the approach section from the bowling lane section, a ball return
track disposed between the lanes of a pair of lanes and running
the entire length of the lanes to a ball return rack in the
approach section between a pair of lanes, said approach section
including an open area on each side of the ball return rack
allowing a bowler to run up to a lane and release a bowling ball
down the lane, said sitting/scoring section being adjacent to and
on the side of the approach section opposite from the bowling
lane section, and a sitting/scoring table located in the
sitting/scoring section, the improvement being in the
sitting/scoring table,
said table being substantially triangular in shape and
including a tabletop defined by a base edge and two substantially
equal length side edges, means for supporting said tabletop at an
elevation for accommodating a plurality of patrons, said base
edge extending substantially parallel to said ends of said lanes,
said side edges extending from the base edge and to a point
disposed behind the ball return rack, wherein said table is sized
to allow for at least six patrons to sit at said table and eat
food and drink beverages from said tabletop, and said side edges
being disposed to define open areas on each said side of said
table and between said table and said ball return rack to allow
for said patrons to walk toward said ball return rack and said
approach section.
THE EVIDENCE
The item relied on by the examiner as evidence of
obviousness is:
Stirling et al., (Stirling) WO96/21915 July 18, 1996
International Application
2
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