Fluorescent bowling balls

Abstract

A novel element is added to a bowling game by incorporating an ultraviolet light-sensitive dye or pigment in a bowling surface ( 24 ), a gutter ( 25 ), a bowling ball ( 26 ), and/or a bowling pin ( 28 ). A bowling establishment ( 10 ) is provided with an ultraviolet light source ( 50 ), ( 52 ), which, when conventional lighting ( 42 ), ( 44 ), ( 46 ) is dimmed and/or turned off, will cause the ultraviolet light-sensitive dye or pigment to fluoresce, such that the components ( 24 ), ( 26 ), ( 30 ) fluoresce and glow to provide a pleasing effect attractive to bowlers.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bowling pin comprising a bowling pin-shaped structure having at least a portion thereof made in part of a light emitting material that emits visible light in response to electromagnetic radiation.  
     
     
         2 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said light emitting material fluoresces when irradiated with non-visible electromagnetic radiation.  
     
     
         3 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said light emitting material fluoresces when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, at least a portion of which being ultraviolet light.  
     
     
         4 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said bowling pin-shaped structure includes a core and a skin covering the exterior surface of said core, and wherein said light emitting material is provided in said skin.  
     
     
         5 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 4   , wherein said skin is formed of a mixture of said light emitting material and a polymeric material.  
     
     
         6 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said light emitting material is a fluorescent dye or pigment.  
     
     
         7 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said bowling pin-shaped structure includes a wooden core and a coating of said light emitting material provided on a portion of an exterior surface of said core.  
     
     
         8 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 7   , wherein said light emitting material includes a fluorescent dye or pigment mixed with polyurethane.  
     
     
         9 . A bowling pin comprising: 
 a bowling pin structure; and    means provided on a portion of said bowling pin structure for emitting visible light in response to exposure to electromagnetic radiation.    
     
     
         10 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 9   , wherein said means emits visible light when at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation is non-visible.  
     
     
         11 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 10   , wherein said means includes a finish including a fluorescent dye or pigment.  
     
     
         12 . The bowling pin as defined in    claim 9   , wherein said means emits visible light when irradiated with ultraviolet light.  
     
     
         13 . A bowling pin comprising a bowling pin-shaped structure including a wood core and polymer skin, said skin including a ground up dry light sensitive material mixed into the polymer skin, said light sensitive material emitting visible light in response to electromagnetic radiation.  
     
     
         14 . A bowling pin comprising: 
 a bowling pin-shaped wooden core; and    a coating provided on the exterior surface of said wooden core, said coating including a fluorescent dye or pigment mixed with polyurethane, said fluorescent dye or pigment visibly flouresces when exposed to ultraviolet light.