Abstract:
An insulated bag uses heating elements to heat golf balls contained in an insulated compartment. Another compartment contains a small battery pack to power the heating elements.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present utility patent application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/916,735, filed May 8, 2007. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to golf ball preparation for play and in particular to a device for heating golf balls to a desired temperature for play using heating elements powered by a battery pack in an insulated bag containing the golf balls to warm the balls, so that the golfer can hit the heated golf balls much further than hitting cold golf balls. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0007]    Outside temperatures have an effect on golf balls. Golf balls with high compression lose this advantage when the temperature is cold and when hit by a golfer can feel like hitting a rock because of its density mixed with the cold weather. Testing results show that golf balls heated to an internal temperature of between 100° to 120° will provide much longer driving distances compared with balls measured at lower temperatures. 
         [0008]    The prior art fails to provide a convenient easy to use and easy to carry means for heating a number of golf balls while transporting the golf balls and using the golf balls on the course. 
         [0009]    What is needed is a convenient easy to use and easy to transport insulated baf having heating coils powered by a battery for heating a number of golf balls while transporting the golf balls for using the heated golf balls on the course. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The objective of the present invention is to provide an insulated case that is easy to use and easy to transport and that heats golf balls using a rechargeable battery pack. Preferably four golf balls are placed in the heated and insulated bag and are numbered so that they can be rotated. Therefore, the warmest ball is removed first. This allows the cooler golf balls time to be heated inside the bag. 
         [0011]    In brief, the present invention is an insulated bag with two compartments; one inside compartment that holds and warms preferably four golf balls, and one outside compartment that is not insulated and holds a battery pack. The inside compartment is insulated and has heating elements in the walls which are connected to the battery pack that is located in the outside compartment. This battery pack is removable and rechargeable and provides power to the heating elements for approximately 5 hours while maintaining a desired temperature so that the golf balls stay warm even when the outside temperature is cold. After the battery pack heats golf balls for up to five hours, it is then recharged using the charger in a standard outlet. 
         [0012]    The golf ball warmer of the present invention heats golf balls so they can travel further than unheated cold golf balls when struck with a golf club. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the golf ball carrying and warming container of the present invention showing the contained golf balls, battery and heating elements in dashed lines; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the golf ball carrying and warming container of  FIG. 1  with the two compartments open showing the golf balls in the heated compartment and the battery pack in an outer compartment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken through a vertical transverse centerline of the golf ball carrying and warming container of  FIG. 1  showing the golf balls, battery, heating elements, and insulation; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the components of the golf ball carrying and warming device of  FIG. 1  showing the battery pack removed from the outer compartment and showing a plug for connecting the battery pack to the heater elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    In  FIGS. 1-4 , an insulated heated container device  10  for warming golf balls  60  and  60 A- 60 D comprises a carrying case  20  or bag comprising an insulated heated golf ball carrying compartment  21  and an outer compartment  23  housing a battery  30  for powering heating coils  40 , the outer compartment  23  located in proximity to the inner compartment  21 . A flap having a mating hook and loop fastener opens and closes the outer compartment  23  so that the battery pack is secured. The battery pack  30  powers the heating elements  40 . An electrical plug  41  and wires transfer the power from the battery pack to the heating elements. 
         [0019]    In  FIGS. 1-3 , the inner first compartment  21  is sufficiently large for containing a plurality of golf balls  60 A  60 D therein and comprises thermally insulated walls with thermal insulation  25  and heating elements  40  therein, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first compartment  21  forms an enclosure for the plurality of golf balls  60  (preferably at least four golf balls  60 A- 60 D) contained therein insulating the golf balls from outside temperature and heating the golf balls to a desired temperature for obtaining maximum distance of travel of each of the golf balls upon striking each of the golf balls with a golf club. At least one opening  26  having a zipper  22  admits golf balls  60  into the first compartment and allows heated golf balls  60  to be removed from the first compartment  21 . 
         [0020]    A second compartment  23  comprises a pocket on the outside of and in proximity to the first compartment  21 . At least one battery pack  30  is housed in the second compartment for powering the heating elements  40 . 
         [0021]    The insulated heated container device  10  for warming golf balls  60  preferably comprises a padded bag having the first compartment  21  formed by two padded insulated front and back walls containing heating elements  40 . A third wall attached to the outside of the first compartment to form the second compartment  23  between the third wall and the front wall of the first compartment. 
         [0022]    A zipper  22  in the top insulated wall and at least partially down the insulated side walls is preferably used for opening and closing the closeable opening  29  in the first compartment. 
         [0023]    The device further comprising a closable flap  24  over the second compartment  23 , which preferably utilizes mating hook and loop fastener components  27  and  28  for removably interconnecting the closable flap  24  to the outside of the second compartment  23 . 
         [0024]    An electrical plug  41  from the heating coils  40  plugs into a battery plug receptacle  31  to form an electrical connection between the battery  30  and the heating elements  40  for powering the heating elements to warm the plurality of golf balls  60  to the desired temperature, thereby providing an insulated heated container device  10  for warming golf balls  60 . 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 2 , the first compartment  21  houses at least four golf balls  60 A- 60 D therein which are removable and replaceable within the compartment in an organized array so that the warmest golf ball  60 A may be removed to be used first from a first position in the array while the remaining cooler golf balls are heated. By numbering the positions and rotating the golf balls in the present invention, the warmest golf ball  60 A is used first and the second warmest golf ball  60 D is used second. After a golf ball  60 A is used, it is placed in the ball warmer bag in the  60 B position and is eventually rotated back to the  60 A position so it has the longest time to be heated before being reused again. 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 4 , the battery pack  30  is removably attached to the heating elements by plug receptacle  31  so that the battery  30  is removable from the second compartment  23  for replacement of the battery or remote charging of the battery  30  by using a battery charger transformer plug  50  plugged into a wall outlet with a charging plug  51  plugged into the battery plug receptacle  31 . 
         [0027]    The present invention can heat the golf balls to the desired temperature even when external temperatures are as low as between 36° Fahrenheit for at least 5 hours. 
         [0028]    The golf ball carrying and heating bag size of the present invention is preferably about 5″×3.5″×2.5″ wide and has a VELCRO® closable flap  24  to cover the outside compartment  23 . 
         [0029]    In use, the battery  30  or batteries use heating elements  40  which are insulated by insulation layers  25  to warm the golf balls  60 , thus making it easier for the golfer to hit the balls much further than hitting cold golf balls. Testing results show that golf balls heated to an internal temperature of between 100° to 120° will provide much longer driving distances compared with balls measured at lower temperatures. The golf ball warmer of the present invention will provide extra distance, increase confidence and improve scores. The big difference is that it is easier to score when the drives are approximately 15% closer to the green. Instead of hitting a longer iron for an approach shot, a golfer will be hitting a shorter iron to the green, thus playing and scoring better. 
         [0030]    It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.