Games With Component Elements Having Luminescent Surfaces Enabling Play in the Dark

Abstract

A plurality of games having luminescent components are provided so that the games can be played in low-light environments. All or selected surface areas of parts are made sufficiently visible by the luminescence so that a player is able to recognize that parts and correlate movement between the parts required to play the game in low-light environments.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A game to be played in the dark or under a source of essentially invisible electromagnetic energy or controlled or limited light comprising, a playing surface comprising luminescent markings to identify boundaries of areas of play;
 a plurality of game pieces comprising luminescence so that the game pieces can be identified in a low-light environment, wherein the pieces comprise a plurality of pieces having a first luminescent color and a plurality of pieces having a second luminescent color that is different from the first color.   
     
     
         2 . The game of  claim 1  wherein difference areas of play are identified with differently colored luminescent markings. 
     
     
         3 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the game pieces comprise a variety of shapes and the game pieces are formed of luminescent material so that the shape of the game pieces can be identified in low-light environments to distinguish one of a player's game pieces from a different one of the player's game pieces. 
     
     
         4 . A luminescent game, comprising:
 a court having a surface upon which a person can stand to play a game, wherein the court has a portion that is in-bounds and a portion that is out-of-bounds;   a plurality of phosphorescent boundary lines on the surface of the court defining which area of the surface is in-bounds and which area of the surface is out-of-bounds;   a projectile having an external surface on which phosphorescent material is applied;   a target adjacent the court and elevated above the court surface, configured to receive the projectile, wherein phosphorescent material is applied to a surface of the target;
 wherein the phosphorescent boundary lines, the phosphorescent material applied to the target and the phosphorescent material on the projectile provide illuminated surfaces without an external source of electricity when the game is played in the absence of ambient lighting. 
   
     
     
         5 . The luminescent game of  claim 4  wherein the target includes a perimeter and phosphorescent material is applied to at least a portion of the perimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The luminescent game of  claim 4  comprising phosphorescent secondary marking lines on the portion of the court that is in-bounds, wherein the phosphorescent secondary marking lines designate one or more separate playing areas within the in-bounds area. 
     
     
         7 . A luminescent game, comprising:
 a court having a surface configured for a person to stand upon to play a game, wherein the court has a portion that is in-bounds and a portion that is out-of-bounds;   a plurality of phosphorescent boundary lines on the surface of the court defining which area of the surface is in-bounds and which area of the surface is out-of-bounds;   a game piece having an external surface on which phosphorescent material is applied;   a goal spaced apart from the surface of the court having an opening for receiving the game piece, wherein phosphorescent material is applied to a surface of the goal;   a line on the court spaced apart a pre-defined distance from the goal vertically and horizontally, wherein the line demarks a location for shooting the game piece toward the goal;   wherein the phosphorescent boundary lines, the phosphorescent material applied to the target and the phosphorescent material on the game piece provides illuminated surfaces without an external source of electricity when the game is played in the absence of ambient lighting.   
     
     
         8 . The luminescent game of  claim 7  wherein phosphorescent material is applied to at least a portion of the goal. 
     
     
         9 . The luminescent game of  claim 7  comprising a vertical support extending vertically between the goal and the ground and separate from the goal, wherein phosphorescent material is applied to a least a portion of vertical support. 
     
     
         10 . The luminescent game of  claim 9  wherein the portion of the vertical support to which phosphorescent material is applied is vertically spaced below the goal. 
     
     
         11 . The luminescent game of  claim 10  wherein the portion of the vertical support to which the phosphorescent material is applied is vertically spaced above the ground. 
     
     
         12 . The luminescent game of  claim 10  wherein the portion of the vertical support to which phosphorescent material is applied is vertically spaced below the goal. 
     
     
         13 . The luminescent game of  claim 11  wherein the portion of the vertical support to which the phosphorescent material is applied is vertically spaced above the ground. 
     
     
         14 . The luminescent game of  claim 8  comprising a vertical support extending vertically between the goal and the ground and separate from the target, wherein phosphorescent material is applied to a least a portion of vertical support. 
     
     
         15 . The luminescent game of  claim 14  wherein the portion of the vertical support to which phosphorescent material is applied is vertically spaced below the game structure relating to scoring. 
     
     
         16 . The luminescent game of  claim 15  wherein the portion of the vertical support to which the phosphorescent material is applied is vertically spaced above the ground.