Patent Publication Number: US-7594859-B2

Title: Illuminated golf cup

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for use on a golf course or in similar settings. In particular, the present invention is direct to an internally illuminated golf cup for use on golf greens or practice greens. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are a number of prior art devices that allow for illumination of a golf course or parts thereof, i.e., tee boxes, hazards, greens, driving ranges, putting greens, etc. Examples of such devices are described in publications such as the following:
         WO/2007/038711—Illuminated Golf Flagpole—Richard J. Willett   U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,373—Night Golf System—Randy Franks   U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,842—Putting and Chipping Training Kit—David Tidwell       

     However, each of the devices disclosed in these publications suffer from a significant drawback. The golf cup or hole is either not directly illuminated or such illumination comes from above, usually by lights suspended above the green. Such illumination or lack thereof results in shadows cast over and around the hole, making it difficult for most golfers to clearly see the hole in low light. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a device that provides better illumination of a golf cup on low light situations. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages through the utilization of hydrodynamic cavitation and the chemical and physical reactions and process involved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is direct to an illuminated golf cup. The inventive golf cup comprises a light source disposed within the golf cup for illuminating the golf cup from within. The golf cup may consist of an outer cylinder and a cup insert. The light source is disposed within the outer cylinder and below the cup insert. 
     The cup insert is preferably tapered to a central depression which acts as a flag pole support integral with the cup insert. The cup insert is designed to catch golf balls which go into the cup and keep the balls spaced a distance from the light source. 
     The light source is preferably sealed against moisture and other environmental hazards. The light source may be powered by an internal battery or an external power source. Where it is powered by an external power source, the light source will be electrically connected to that power source by electrical lead wires running under ground, i.e., golf green or putting green. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illuminated golf cup embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an illuminated golf cup embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded lateral view of an illuminated golf cup embodying the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illuminated golf cup embodying the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to an internally illuminated golf cup. In  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the illuminated golf cup is generally referred to by reference numeral  10 . In one preferred embodiment, the golf cup  10  generally consists of an outer cylinder  12 , a tapered cup insert  14  and a light source  16 . 
     The outer cylinder  12  forms a wall of the cup  10  and keeps a hole in the ground (not shown) from collapsing or otherwise releasing dirt or grass into the golf cup  10 . Preferably, the outer cylinder  12  is manufactured from a polymer plastic, metal or other similar material used in golf cups. One may use any material for the outer cylinder  12  as long as it can reasonably withstand ordinary wear and tear associated with use on a golf course, as well as heat generated by the light source  16 . 
     The cup insert  14  should be made out of the same or similar material as the outer cylinder  12 . The same concerns about reasonably withstanding ordinary wear and tear associated with use on a golf course as well as heat generated by the light source  16  apply. The cup insert  14  is preferably constructed with an inward taper which results in a central depression  18 . This central depression  18  includes a central opening or flag pole support  20 . 
     The cup insert  14  is generally cylindrical in shape to match the shape of the outer cylinder  12  and fit within the same. A number of channels and grooves  22  around the perimeter provide a way of securing the cup insert  14  within the outer cylinder  12 . These channels and grooves  22  engage protrusions (not shown) within the outer cylinder  12  and lock in place when twisted. 
     The cup insert  14  also includes a number of vented openings  24  around the central opening  20 . These vented openings  24  provide a number of advantages. The vented openings  24  simulate the appearance of a standard golf cup insert which allows the inventive golf cup  10  to achieve the same or similar “drop sound” heard with prior art golf cups. The vented openings  24  also permit light and heat generated by the light source  16  to pass there through rather than be blocked or build-up within the golf cup  10 . 
     The central opening  20  is also intended to support a flag  26 . The flag  26  preferably includes a flag pole  28 , a pole base  30  and a pole cap  32 . The base  30  may be configured as a flattened conical member (as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) to mirror the depression  18  of the insert  14  with a base plug  34  that fits snugly into the central opening  20 . This embodiment would be useful on putting greens. Alternatively, the base  30  may be configured as a base plug without the flattened conical member (not shown). This embodiment would be useful on regular golf course greens. 
     The light source  16  preferably consists of a cylindrical metal base  36  which includes a holder  38  for a light bulb  40 . With the holder  28  and light bulb  40  inserted into the base  36 , an o-ring gasket  42  and a lens  44  cover the opening in the base  36 . A sealing ring  46  is attached to the base  36 . The sealing ring  46  is attached by screws or other commonly used method. The pressure exerted by the sealing ring  46  compresses the lens  44  against the o-ring  42  thereby sealing the light source  16  against moisture and other environmental hazards. 
     The light source  16  is preferably low voltage and may be powered either by an internal battery  48  ( FIG. 2 ) or an external power source  50  ( FIG. 3 ). In the first instance, the battery  48  would need to be replaced when its charge ran out. In the second instance, the external power source  50  would need to be connected to the light source  16  by electrical wires  52 . The electrical wires  52  would need to be run under ground and enter the golf cup  10  from below so as not to interfere with the appearance of the green for golf cup  10 . 
     A connection ring  54  is used to secure the light source  16  to the underside of the cup insert  14  by screws or other commonly used securing means. The light source  16  is positioned such that the light it casts is directed upward through the cup insert  14  and out of the cylinder  12 . The cup insert  14  is secured to the outer cylinder  12  by channels and grooves  22  and the light source  16  is secured to the cup insert  14 . The light source  16  is thereby suspended in the bottom of the outer cylinder  12  below the cup insert  14  and thereby illuminates the golf cup  10  from within. 
     Although several embodiments have been described in some detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.