Abstract: A finger insert having a wear indicator and adapted for installation along the wear surface in a finger hole of a bowling ball. The insert is a composite structure formed of a polymeric material and has a primary layer of a first color and a secondary layer of a contrasting second color. When installed in the finger hole, the primary layer is disposed adjacent the bowler's finger. As the primary layer wears away as a result of repeated bowls, the contrasting second color of the secondary layer becomes visible to indicate that the finger insert has served its useful life and should be changed.

Abstract: A bowling ball comprises a core surrounded by a cover stock. The core comprises a body with its center positioned substantially coincident with the bowling ball's geometric center and a weight block positioned as close to the outer surface of the bowling ball as possible. The weight block functions as a top weight to offset the mass lost in the bowling ball due to the drilling of gripping holes and balance holes. Furthermore, the weight block provides the three ounce out of balance maximum between the top and bottom of the bowling ball to produce a gyroscopic steering effect which creates a sharp break in the path of the bowling ball at the back end of the bowling lane. The body of the core lowers the moment inertia of the bowling ball to produce a ball with stable rolling characteristics.

Abstract: A bowling ball having hard and inflexible flake materials arranged in a substantially interlocking relationship and located at or just below the outer surface of the bowling ball to form a substantially continuous interlocking armored layer about the bowling ball which causes it to have an appreciably greater resistance to penetration by a Shore D Hardness test needle than a bowling ball of identical composition but without the flake type materials. Sufficient resistance to penetration by the Shore D Hardness test needle gives a durometer hardness of at least seventy-two. The flake materials have an average size of from -100 mesh to 40/100 mesh and comprise between one to ten percent by volume of the bowling ball's outer shell admixture.

Abstract: A bowling ball having an inner core and at least one thermosetting resin shell which contains sufficient lightweight particles, such as unicellular borsilicate glass spheres, having a diameter within the range of from about 10 to 100 microns and evenly dispersed therethrough to reduce the weight by volume of the shell by at least five percent below that of a similar volume of said thermosetting resin without said lightweight particles. The lightweight particles appearing on the outer surface of the shell will create a finely pitted texture.

Abstract: A bowling ball having a thin viscous film deposited upon its surface from within the ball for increasing the coefficient of friction between the ball and the bowling lane. The film comprises a saturated plasticizer incorporated into the ball at the time of manufacture that slowly exudes from the outer shell over an extended period. The method comprises preparing a resin blend capable of being cured into a tough, durable material and mixing the resin blend with a plasticizer which is miscible with the liquid phase resin blend, but incompatible with the solid phase. Catalysts are admixed and heat is applied to the mixture to cure the resin blend into a tough and durable outer shell.

Abstract: A bowling ball having a thin viscous film deposited upon its surface from within the ball for increasing the coefficient of friction between the ball and the bowling lane. The film comprises a saturated plasticizer incorporated into the ball at the time of manufacture that slowly exudes from the outer shell over an extended period. The method comprises preparing a resin blend capable of being cured into a tough, durable material and mixing the resin blend with a plasticizer which is miscible with the liquid phase resin blend, but incompatible with the solid phase. Catalysts are admixed and heat is applied to the mixture to cure the resin blend into a tough and durable outer shell having a 72 Shore D hardness.

Abstract: Method of making a hollow bowling pin comprising a base, body and cap wherein at least said body is composed of a thermoset composition, and said base and cap are composed of a thermoset or thermoplastic composition. The body of said pin may be composed of two or more sections of different hardness.