Bamboo bowling equipment

Abstract

A variety of bowling equipment is provided incorporating the use of a non-orthotropic cellulosic material, and more particularly an aborescent grass such as bamboo. In particular, a bowling pin and a bowling lane assembly including a pin deck, approach area and lane portion disposed therebetween is provided, each of which has a body with at least a portion of the body formed from a non-orthotropic cellulosic material.

1 . A bowling pin, comprising: 
 a body having a bowling pin shape wherein at least a portion of said body is comprised of a non-orthotropic cellulosic material.    
   
   
       2 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said non-orthotropic cellulosic material is an aborescent grass.  
   
   
       3 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said non-orthotropic cellulosic material is bamboo.  
   
   
       4 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said body has a post and cheek type construction.  
   
   
       5 . A bowling pin as described in  claim 4  wherein said body includes: 
 a post;    a first cheek coupled to a first side of said post;    a second cheek coupled to a second side of said post wherein said second side is opposite and transverse to said first side;    a third cheek coupled to a third side of said post wherein said third side is disposed between said first and second sides; and    a fourth cheek coupled to a fourth side of said post wherein said fourth side is disposed between said first and second sides and is opposite and transverse to said third side.    
   
   
       6 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of said post is comprised of a bamboo laminate.  
   
   
       7 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said bamboo laminate comprises at least one layer of horizontally-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       8 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said bamboo laminate comprises at least one layer of vertically plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       9 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said bamboo laminate comprises at least one layer of angularly-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       10 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of at least one of said first and second cheeks is comprised of a bamboo laminate.  
   
   
       11 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said bamboo laminate is comprised of at least one layer of vertically-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       12 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said bamboo laminate is comprised of at least one layer of horizontally-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       13 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said bamboo laminate is comprised of at least one layer of angularly-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       14 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of at least one of said third and fourth cheeks are comprised of a bamboo laminate.  
   
   
       15 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said bamboo laminate is comprised of at least one layer of vertically-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       16 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said bamboo laminate is comprised of at least one layer of horizontally-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       17 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said bamboo laminate is comprised of at least one layer of angularly-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       18 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said body includes a coating of a polymeric material.  
   
   
       19 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said non-orthotropic material comprises a bamboo laminate.  
   
   
       20 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of horizontally-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       21 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of vertically-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       22 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of angularly-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       23 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a first portion of said body is comprised of a non-orthotropic cellulosic material and a second portion of said body is comprised of an orthotropic cellulosic material.  
   
   
       24  A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said orthotropic cellulosic material comprises maple wood and said non-orthotropic material comprises bamboo.  
   
   
       25 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said body has a post and cheek construction.  
   
   
       26 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said body includes at least one sound chamber therein.  
   
   
       27 . A bowling pin in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a base ring positioned around the base of said body.  
   
   
       28 . A pin deck for a bowling lane assembly, comprising: 
 a body wherein at least a portion of said body is comprised of a non-orthotropic cellulosic material.    
   
   
       29 . A pin deck in accordance with  claim 28  wherein said non-orthotropic cellulosic material comprises an aborescent grass.  
   
   
       30 . A pin deck in accordance with  claim 28  wherein said non-orthotropic cellulosic material comprises bamboo.  
   
   
       31 . A pin deck in accordance with  claim 28  wherein said at least a portion of said body comprises a laminate formed of bamboo.  
   
   
       32 . A pin deck in accordance with  claim 31  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of vertically-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       33 . A pin deck in accordance with  claim 31  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of horizontally-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       34 . A pin deck in accordance with  claim 31  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of angularly-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       35 . A pin deck in accordance with  claim 28  wherein a first portion of said body is comprised of non-orthotropic material and a second portion of said body is comprised of an orthotropic material.  
   
   
       36 . An approach area for a bowling lane assembly, comprising: 
 a body wherein at least a portion of said body is comprised of a non-orthotropic cellulosic material.    
   
   
       37 . An approach area in accordance with  claim 36  wherein said non-orthotropic cellulosic material comprises an aborescent grass.  
   
   
       38 . An approach area in accordance with  claim 36  wherein said non-orthotropic cellulosic material comprises bamboo.  
   
   
       39 . An approach area in accordance with  claim 36  wherein said at least a portion of said body comprises a laminate formed of bamboo.  
   
   
       40 . An approach area in accordance with  claim 39  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of vertically-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       41 . An approach area in accordance with  claim 39  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of horizontally-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       42 . An approach area in accordance with  claim 39  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of angularly-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       43 . An approach area in accordance with  claim 36  wherein a first portion of said body is comprised of non-orthotropic material and a second portion of said body is comprised of an orthotropic material.  
   
   
       44 . A lane portion for a bowling lane assembly, comprising: 
 a body wherein at least a portion of said body is comprised of a non-orthotropic cellulosic material.    
   
   
       45 . A lane portion in accordance with  claim 44  wherein said non-orthotropic cellulosic material comprises an aborescent grass.  
   
   
       46 . A lane portion in accordance with  claim 44  wherein said non-orthotropic cellulosic material comprises bamboo.  
   
   
       47 . A lane portion in accordance with  claim 44  wherein said at least a portion of said body comprises a laminate formed of bamboo.  
   
   
       48 . A lane portion in accordance with  claim 47  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of vertically-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       49 . A lane portion in accordance with  claim 47  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of horizontally-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       50 . A lane portion in accordance with  claim 47  wherein said laminate is comprised of at least one layer of angularly-plied bamboo strips.  
   
   
       51 . A lane portion in accordance with  claim 44  wherein a first portion of said body is comprised of non-orthotropic material and a second portion of said body is comprised of an orthotropic material.