Abstract:
An illuminatable ball includes a sealed outer translucent shell, an inner core portion surrounded by the outer shell and a self-contained lighting device contained at least in part within the inner core portion. The lighting device includes an energy source, at least one lighting element, and an electrical circuit including a wireless receiver. The receiver receives a signal from a transmitter and provides a signal to a control circuit to switch the at least one lighting element between a deenergized state and an energized state by providing electrical energy from the energy source to the at least one lighting element. A wireless remote transmitter provides the signal to the receiver.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/319,005, filed Mar. 30, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention pertains to an illuminated golf ball, more particularly, the invention pertains to an illuminatable golf ball having a remote controlled lighting device therein and a translucent cover for providing visible indication of the golf ball location. 
         [0003]    Golf is a truly global, incredibly and increasingly popular game. The game is so popular that it is often difficult to secure tee times at reasonable hours to be able to play through nine or eighteen holes while still playing in daylight. 
         [0004]    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 smaller 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. 
         [0005]    Attempts have been made to provide golf balls that are sufficiently visible in the dark to permit evening play. One such golf ball is coated with a luminous paint, while another includes a chemiluminescent lighting device (light stick), and which may not provide a sufficiently long period of bright or strong luminescence to permit playing an entire round of evening golf. Moreover, the unequal distribution of weight in such a ball can adversely effect the balance and flight of the ball. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    More recently, LED-based illuminated golf balls have been introduced into the market. Some of these balls have become widely accepted and are in widespread use. One example is that disclosed in Schrimmer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,487, which patent is commonly assigned with the present invention. The Schrimmer patent discloses two novel embodiments of illuminated golf balls. In one of the disclosed embodiments, a golf ball is self-contained, having a power source, one or more LEDs and circuitry for controlling the power to the LEDs. An impact or shaker switch completes the circuit to provide power to the LEDs when the ball is struck with sufficient force. In a second embodiment in the Schrimmer patent, a plunger is inserted into an opening in the ball to physically open a circuit (and prevent power flowing to the LEDs). Upon removal of the plunger, the LEDs illuminate (and thus the ball is illuminated) and the ball is ready for play. 
         [0008]    While such golf balls function well, they require either that the ball is struck to illuminate the LEDs (and the ball) or the plunger is removed to illuminate the ball. 
         [0009]    Game balls having lights installed therein are also 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. 
         [0010]    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 
       [0011]    An illuminatable ball includes a sealed outer translucent shell, an inner core portion surrounded by the outer shell and a self-contained lighting device contained at least in part within the inner core portion. The lighting device includes an energy source, at least one lighting element, and an electrical circuit including a wireless receiver. The receiver receives a signal from a transmitter and provides a signal to a control circuit to switch the at least one lighting element between a deenergized state and an energized state by providing electrical energy from the energy source to the at least one lighting element. A wireless remote transmitter provides the signal to the receiver. 
         [0012]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a partially broken away perspective view of an embodiment of a remote controlled illuminated golf ball in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the golf ball of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is front view of a remote control unit for the golf ball. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0017]    Referring now to the figures and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an embodiment of a remote controlled illuminated golf ball  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The ball  10  includes an electrical lighting device  12  therein. The lighting device  12  includes at least one, and preferably two lighting elements, such as the illustrated light emitting diodes (LEDs)  14 . The LEDs  14  are lighted or energized by an energy source, such as one or more batteries  16 , positioned in the ball  10 . As will be apparent from the drawings, the battery  16  can be of the common, button-type, used for watches and cameras, such as a 3-volt lithium cell battery. The battery  16  should be selected so as to provide sufficient voltage to illuminate the LEDs  14  for a prolonged period of time. 
         [0018]    The LEDs  14  are part of an electrical circuit, indicated generally at  18 , that includes the LEDs  14 , the energy source  16 , connectors  20  between a circuit board  22 , and other electrical connectors as may be required. Unlike known electrically illuminated golf balls, the present ball  10  includes a (wireless) receiver  24  internal to the ball  10  for receiving a signal from a remote control unit (transmitter)  26  to control the illumination of the LEDs  14 . That is, the transmitter  26  sends a signal to the receiver  24  to control a circuit that provides or terminates power to the LEDs  14  (from the power source, e.g., the battery or batteries  16 ). 
         [0019]    The signal (from the transmitter  26  to the receiver  24 ) can be of any known type. For example, it is anticipated that an infrared (IR) transmitter  26 /receiver  24  system can be used. In such a system, which is a line-of-sight system, although the golf ball  10  is formed from a translucent material  28  (to allow the light from the LEDs  14  to be visible through the ball  10 ), a more translucent or transparent window  30  may be formed in the ball  10  to better effect the receipt of the signal from the transmitter  26  by the receiver  24 . Such a window  30  would be positioned between the receiver  24  and the outer shell  32  of the ball  10 . 
         [0020]    Another transmitter  26 /receiver  24  system can be of the radio frequency (RF) type. The configuration and use of such a system will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0021]    In one construction, the LEDs  14 , power source  16 , circuitry and receiver  24  are mounted within an inner core portion  34  of the ball  10  (see  FIG. 2 ). The inner core portion  34  is formed so as to maintain all of the components therein in a generally fixed position relative to one another. Alternately (as seen in  FIG. 1 ), the LEDs  14  can be positioned outside of the inner core  34 , as can the receiver  24 . In either construction, the inner core portion  34  then has molded around it the outer shell  32  of the ball  10 . 
         [0022]    It will be appreciated that the outer shell portion  32  and, if the LEDs  14  are within the inner core portion  34 , then both the inner core portion  34  and outer shell  32  are formed from a translucent material to permit light from the LEDs  14  to radiate therethrough, so that the light from the LEDs  14  can be viewed from outside of the ball  10  when the circuit is closed and the lights  14  are energized. The translucent material can be, for example, a clear polyurethane material that is abrasive and cut-resistant. The material can be formed with dimples  36  so that the outer shell  32  resembles the outer covering of a traditional golf ball. The particular formulation of polyurethane can be selected so that the material is translucent, and has high impact and cut resistance, while at the same time maintaining other characteristics of a golf ball, e.g. the “look and feel” of a traditional golf ball. 
         [0023]    Manufacture or formation of the golf ball  10  is straightforward. The components of the electrical lighting device are first positioned relative to one another and the inner core portion  34  is then formed around the electrical lighting device. As set forth above, the LEDs  14  and receiver  24  can be positioned within the inner core  34  or outside of the core  34 . The inner core  34  is then held or otherwise positioned and the outer shell  32  is molded around the inner core portion  34 . The inner core  34  is positioned so that it is centered within the outer shell  32  to provide balance to the ball  10 . As discussed above, the outer shell  32  can be formed with dimples  36  so that the golf ball  10  has the “look-and-feel” of a traditional golf ball. 
         [0024]    As will be apparent from the drawings and the disclosure above, use of the golf ball  10  is straightforward. A present transmitter  26  has two buttons, an ON button or switch  38  and an OFF button or switch  40 . To illuminate the LEDs  14 , the transmitter ON button  38  is depressed and the LEDs  14  illuminate. To turn off the LEDs  14 , the transmitter OFF button  40  is depressed. Alternately, a single button (switch) can be used for both the power on and power off functions. 
         [0025]    It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the that circuitry can be configured with a timer circuit so that if the LEDs  14  are illuminated for a predetermined period of time, the LEDs  14  will automatically distinguish (be turned off). Such a circuit may be used to preserve the power of the power source (batteries  16 ). It will also be appreciated that various illuminating scenarios can be used. For example, the LEDs  14  may be made to flash or flicker, either full time or after a predetermined period of time. The design of such circuitry will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0026]    Advantageously, the present illuminated golf ball  10  provides a number of advantages over known illuminated golf balls. First, the present golf ball  10  can withstand severe and repeated impact and still maintain its ability to emit light. That is, after repeated impact by golf club heads as well as other impacts, the ability of the present golf ball  10  to emit light is not affected. Thus, it is anticipated that the useful, lighted life of the golf ball  10  will not be limited as a result of impact, but will more likely be limited by loss of the golf ball  10  or loss or power (battery/batteries  16  drained). Moreover, because the LEDs  14  can be deenergized or turned off merely by using the remote control (transmitter  26 ), or based on a timed circuit, the power from the battery/batteries  16  can be reserved for night time use of the ball  10 . 
         [0027]    The present golf ball  10  also withstands other environmental conditions to which a traditional golf ball may be subjected. For example, the present golf ball  10  can be hit into a sand trap or into a water hazard without adversely affecting the ability of the ball  10  to emit light. That is, immersing the ball  10  in water has not been shown to adversely affect the ability of the LEDs  14  to illuminate because the ball is sealed. 
         [0028]    In the event that the golf ball  10  is kept until such time as the battery  16  is drained and the LEDs  14  no longer illuminate, the ball  10  can be used as just “another” golf ball to be used during daytime play. Those who play the game of golf will recognize that it is certainly desirable, if not necessary, to maintain a fairly substantial quantity of golf balls on hand when playing a round of golf. This is particularly true when playing on a challenging golf course. 
         [0029]    Although the present disclosure is directed to an illuminated golf ball  10 , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the structure and function of the present ball  10  is readily applicable to other game balls and the like and that such other balls are within the scope and spirit of the present invention and disclosure. 
         [0030]    From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.