Appeal No. 97-4004
Application 08/459,417
As a broad proposition, each of the three references relied
on by the examiner is directed to a sporting apparatus and method
that utilizes fluorescent markings or elements in conjunction
with radiant energy (e.g., ultraviolet light) to provide visible
enhancement to the sport being played (i.e., bowling in the case
of Clapham, billiards in the case of Davidson and table tennis in
the case of Panosh). More specifically, Clapham teaches a
bowling apparatus and method wherein a selectively actuated ball
path indicator displays to a bowler the proper path along which
the ball should be rolled in order to knock down the maximum
number of pins. Although fluorescent lamps 26 provide a
preponderant proportion of the total ambient light falling on the
pin deck and on the bowling pins standing thereon (see column 2,
lines 61-63), Clapham teaches that fluorescent images 148 applied
directly to the pin deck may be selectively caused “to fluoresce
or luminesce as a result of being subjected to radiant energy
from the appropriate one of the projectors 35" (see column 6,
lines 22-24), thus providing a visible image which indicates the
proper path for the ball.
Davidson teaches a billiard apparatus wherein (1) the balls
21 (including the cue ball and the remaining balls which it
6
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