Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Ball
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-07
2001-07-10
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Ball
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257995
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to an illuminated golf ball, more particularly, the invention pertains to an illuminatable golf ball having an impact-resistant lighting device therein and a translucent cover for providing visible indication of the golf ball location.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Golf has become a tremendously popular game, not just in the United States, but worldwide. The game has become so popular that it is often difficult to secure “tee” times at sufficiently reasonable hours to be able to play through nine or eighteen holes while still playing in daylight.
Because golf courses often have holes that average 300 to 400 yards in length and cover large areas, it is difficult, if not impossible, to illuminate an entire course to permit play at night. As such, golf is a particularly limited daytime game. Some “pitch and putt” courses may be sufficiently illuminated to permit play in the evening, however, most individuals that play the game of golf would, of course, prefer to play a standard length course.
Attempts have been made to provide golf balls that are sufficiently visible in the dark to permit evening play. However, such golf balls are typically coated with luminous paints, or include chemiluminescent lighting devices, and do not provide a sufficiently long period of bright or strong luminescence to permit play of an entire round of evening golf. One known device includes a chemiluminescent light stick that is inserted into an opening in the ball. When the light stick is activated, it emits a low luminescent light that is visible for a limited period of time. Such chemiluminescent golf balls may include a translucent outer skin or coating to permit a wider range of view of light emitted from the ball. However, those who have had occasion to use a chemiluminescent light sticks will recognize that such sticks often lose their ability to emit a relatively bright light in a short period of time. Moreover, such liquid chemiluminescent light stick inserts can affect the weight and balance of the ball, and thus the flight of the ball.
Another glow-in-the-dark golf ball includes a phosphorescent or luminescent glowing element that is molded within the center of the ball. The ball includes a translucent or transparent outer cover that permits the internal luminescent element to be viewed through the outer covering of the ball. However, these golf balls suffer from the same drawbacks as those that include chemiluminescent light sticks.
Game balls having lights installed therein are known in the art. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art and by those that play the game of golf, golf balls are subject to tremendously high impact forces during play. As such, while attempts have been made to create golf balls that will provide a sufficient amount of light such that they can be seen along a fairway in the evening, such attempts have fallen short of creating a golf ball that can withstand the tremendous impact forces and still retain the lighting device or lighting element in condition to emit light.
Accordingly, there continues to be a need for an illuminated golf ball that emits sufficient light to permit locating the ball along a fairway at night, which ball withstands the severe impact forces and other environmental conditions to which the ball may be subjected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An illuminatable golf ball includes an outer translucent shell and an inner core portion surrounded by the outer shell. The inner core portion supports a self-contained lighting device. In one embodiment, the inner core portion has a bore therein that is in alignment with an opening in the outer shell.
The lighting device is formed within the inner core portion. The lighting device includes an energy source, such as a battery, and at least one and preferably two lighting elements. In an externally actuatable embodiment, the lighting device includes connectors, at least one of which is flexible, extending between the energy source and the lighting elements. The energy source lighting elements and connectors define an electrical circuit having a deenergized state and an energized state for providing electrical energy from the energy source to the lighting devices.
The flexible connector is separable from the energy source such that the electrical circuit is switchable between the energized state to illuminate the lighting devices and the deenergized state to open the circuit and thus deenergize the lighting devices.
In one embodiment of the externally actuatable embodiment, the ball includes a plunger that is at least in part non-conductive. The plunger is insertable into the ball through the opening in the outer shell and through the bore in the inner core portion. When inserted into the ball, the plunger interrupts the circuit by separating the at least one flexible connector from the battery terminal, thereby opening the circuit and consequently deenergizing the lighting elements.
In a preferred embodiment the energy source is a battery, and most preferably a button-type battery. In a present embodiment, the ball includes two lighting elements that are light emitting diodes (LEDs) connected in the electrical circuit in parallel. Thus, if one of the lighting elements fails, the other lighting element will light.
Preferably, the inner core portion is formed of polyurethane and surrounds essentially the entirety of the lighting device except for the light emitting portions of the LEDs. In a most preferred embodiment, the outer shell portion is formed of a cut-resistant, non-abrasive polyurethane material. Preferably, the polyurethane outer shell is formed with dimples therein such that the ball resembles a traditional golf ball.
An alternate embodiment of the externally actuatable golf ball includes a plunger that is at least in part electrically conductive, that, when inserted into the golf ball completes the electrical circuit to energize the lighting elements. In this embodiment, one of the flexible connectors is positioned in spaced relation to the battery thus establishing an open circuit, and inserting the plunger into the ball completes or closes the circuit.
Still another embodiment of the illuminated golf ball includes a lighting device that is actuatable by includes a switch that is actuatable by a force applied to the switch. Preferably, the lighting device includes a timer that deenergizes the lighting element after a predetermined time of actuation. In this embodiment the ball is fully sealed.
Advantageously, the present illuminatable golf ball withstands the severe impact of a golf club head from, for example, a drive shot, while providing the “look-and-feel” of a traditional golf ball. In addition, the present golf ball is sufficiently impact resistant and environment resistive so that it will maintain its ability to light even when the ball is subjected to water such as from a water hazard.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
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Musial Thomas
Schrimmer Michael L.
Chemical Light Inc.
Gorden Raeann
Graham Mark S.
Weinstein Mitchell J.
Welsh & Katz Ltd.
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