Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a golf ball heater comprising a rectangular container, the interior of which is outfitted with at least one heating element and rails for holding golf balls. One end of the container includes a sliding door for retrieving a heated golf ball. On one side of the container, a control box is outfitted with circuitry to cooperatively work with sensors in the container for purposes of selectively activating the heating element(s) according to whether or not the sliding door is open or shut and whether or not the temperature inside the container is within the optimal temperature range.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   None 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention set forth herein relates to a device for heating golf balls for purposes of increasing the distance the ball will travel when struck with a golf club. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is generally understood that a golf ball will travel significantly further when heated to at least 80° F. Accordingly, devices capable of heating and maintaining golf balls at such temperatures have significant practical utility for golfers in colder regions, where temperatures rarely, if ever, reach or exceed 80° F. Likewise, such devices are useful for all golfers during colder months of the year. 
   Several prior art devices have been proposed to enable golfers to take advantage of the aforementioned performance benefits associated with heated golf balls. These devices come in a wide array of shapes, sizes and configurations and employ a variety of means for heating golf balls disposed therein, including: chemical (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,545,362, 5,915,373 and 5,998,771), heated air (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,683,155, 4,420,681, 4,967,062 and 5,057,670), heated water (U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,949), conduction (U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,411), solar power (U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,415) and radiation (U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,002). 
   Despite the physical differences between existing golf ball heaters, however, virtually all of the devices disclosed in the above cited patents are deficient in at least one significant respect. None of these devices are equipped to portably, effectively and reliably heat and maintain golf balls within a desired temperature range, particularly over extended periods of play. For example, the heaters disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,049,949, 4,155,002, 4,967,062 and 5,057,670 require access to a standard electrical outlet in order for balls to become heated to the desired temperature range. During play, the respective heat sources are disabled and insulation is relied upon to keep the balls heated. Thus, while these devices are equipped to heat golf balls to a desired temperature, it cannot be said that they are capable of portably and effectively maintaining a desired temperature range over an extended period of time. 
   Prior art heaters employing other means for heating golf balls are similarly ill-equipped and insufficient for heating balls to a specific temperature and portably, effectively and reliably maintaining balls within an a specific temperature range. U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,411 discloses a golf ball heater relying on conductance to heat golf balls to the desired temperature. In addition, this device employs elements facilitating portable heating of golf balls, temperature monitoring and automatic application of heat where the temperature falls under the desired range. Power to the heating means is automatically shut off where the temperature exceeds the desired range. The problem, however, is that the operation of the heating means is independent from the retrieval of a heated ball. That is, where the user opens the device to retrieve a ball and leaves the heater open or fails to fully close the device, the heating means will continue to operate without effectively heating and maintaining the remaining balls within the desired range. Further, the exposed heating means poses a substantial safety risk. 
   Therefore, it is desirable that a device exist that reliably heats golf balls to a desired temperature, monitors and maintains that temperature, yet avoids the problems and hazards associated with existing golf ball heating devices. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed at a golf ball heating device that portably, effectively and reliably heats and maintains balls within a desired temperature range. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a golf ball heater comprising a rectangular container, the interior of which is outfitted with at least one heating element and rails for holding golf balls. One end of the container includes a sliding door for retrieving a heated golf ball. On one side of the container, a control box is outfitted with circuitry to cooperatively work with sensors in the container for purposes of selectively activating the heating element(s) according to whether or not the sliding door is open or shut and whether or not the temperature inside the container is within the optimal temperature range. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an external view of the preferred embodiment of the heating container component of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the heating container component of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2   a  shows the connectivity between the heating container component of the present invention and a golf cart. 
       FIG. 2   b  shows the connectivity between the heating container component of the invention and a remote control battery pack. 
       FIG. 3  is an internal view of the preferred embodiment of the heating element disposed within the heating container component of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of the electrical connections employed in the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment includes a heating box  3 , which facilitates heating and storage of any desired number of golf balls practicable. The heating box  3  is preferably, but not necessarily, rectangular in shape. Nevertheless, it should be understood that the heating box  3  can function in accordance with the present invention while taking on a multitude of shapes and/or dimensions. A sliding door  4  is located at one end of the heating box  3 . Next, a control box  2  is affixed to one surface of heating box  3 , preferably the top. The control box  2  houses control circuitry  12  and voltage regulator circuitry  11 . (See  FIG. 4 ). 
   The heating box  3  also includes a push button lock  5 . Though not pictured, the lock  5  is equipped with any suitable means for interconnecting the lock  5  with the power supply for the thermal resistor(s)  8  supplying heat inside the box  3 . The locking mechanism of the push button lock  5  can also be electrically connected to a door open sensor  13  (see  FIG. 4 ) in order to control the flow of electricity to the resistor(s)  8 . The flow is shut off when the push button lock  5  is depressed to open the sliding door. As such, where the sliding door is left open, the thermal resistors  8  are prevented from continuing to generate heat. This feature is a valuable safety feature as well. 
   The preferred embodiment also includes a light emitting diode (“LED”) temperature display  1 , which displays the temperature inside the heating box  3  and allows the user to easily determine when the golf balls disposed therein are at an appropriate temperature. It should be understood, however, that any practicable means for providing an audio or visual indication of the interior temperature of the box  3  would work equally as well. Alternatively, the temperature indicator  1  can be omitted, as it is not essential to the proper use and/or function of the invention. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the top view of the preferred embodiment reveals that the LED display  1  is preferably, though not necessarily, disposed on top of the control box  2 . As seen in  FIG. 2   a , power connector  6  is a male connector, designed to mate with a female connector  20  permanently mounted on a golf cart  21  and hardwired to the golf cart battery  10 . 
   Alternatively, as seen in  FIG. 2   b , remote control battery connector  14  is also provided and is likewise a male connector suitable for interconnection with a female connector  22  on any remote control (“RC”) battery pack  23 . In this way, the heater is optionally portable for use by golfers riding suitably equipped golf carts or for use by a walking golfer using an RC battery. Nevertheless, other types of power connectors and adaptors used in any suitable configuration would also be acceptable. 
   Next,  FIG. 3  is a side view cut away of the internal components of heating box  3 . While any practicable method of supporting golf balls in the heating box  3  would be acceptable, the preferred embodiment employs aluminum rails  7  attached in any effective manner to the interior walls of the heating box  3 . The rails are positioned with a downward slope (preferably a 2% slope) to allow golf balls to roll and be easily collected by the user. A temperature sensitive sensor  9  controls the flow of electricity to the thermal resistor(s)  8  and thereby enables the heating box  3  to maintain a consistent temperature range. The thermal resistor(s)  8  will preferably have at least a −32 degrees to 200 degrees Fahrenheit operating range and be resistant to water. 
   In operation, the temperature sensitive sensor  9  activates the flow of electricity to the thermal resistor(s)  8  when the ambient temperature inside heating box  3  falls below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Likewise, the sensor  9  causes electricity to the thermal resistors  8  to be shut off when the ambient temperature inside heating box  3  reaches 85 degrees Fahrenheit. In this way, an optimal temperature range is maintained inside the heating box  3 . The circuitry  11  and  12  enabling the temperature sensitive sensor  9  to control the flow of electricity to the thermal resistor(s)  8  can be constructed from any commercially available circuitry components, and will typically be low voltage control signal wiring, typically 0V–5V. 
     FIG. 4  is a diagram of the electrical connections used in the preferred embodiment of the invention. Here, a golf cart battery  10  or a RC Battery  14  provides electricity of any appropriate voltage (e.g., 12V, 24V, 36V or 48V) to the voltage regulator circuitry  11 . The voltage regulator circuitry  11  is housed in the control box  2 , and, in turn, provides power to both the control circuitry  12  (also in the control box  2 ) and to the thermal resistor(s)  8  located inside the heater  3 . The control circuitry  12  monitors signals from both the temperature sensor  9  and a door open sensor  13 . Upon receiving an open door signal from door open sensor  13 , the control circuitry  12  causes the voltage regulator circuitry  11  to stop providing power to the thermal resistor(s)  8 . 
   Likewise, an over-temperature signal from the temperature sensor  9  causes the control circuitry  12  to turn off the thermal resistor  8  power being supplied by the voltage regulator circuitry  11 . Conversely, an under-temperature signal from the temperature sensor  9  will cause the control circuitry  12  to turn on voltage regulator circuitry  11  power to the thermal resistor(s)  8 . In the preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor  9  sends an electrical control signal to the control circuitry  12  when the ambient temperature inside the heating box  3  falls below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In that case, the control circuitry  12  causes power to be supplied to the thermal resistor(s) from the voltage regulator circuitry  11 . When the temperature sensitive switch  9  detects an ambient temperature of at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit inside the heating box, the temperature sensitive sensor  9  sends an electrical control signal to the control circuitry  12  that causes the control circuitry  12  to turn off voltage regulator circuitry  11  power to the thermal resistor(s)  8 . 
   Finally, the door open sensor  13  sends an electrical control signal to the control circuitry  12  when the sliding door of the heating box  3  is opened. This causes the control circuitry  12  to turn off voltage regulator circuitry  11  power to the thermal resistor(s)  8 . The door open sensor  13  also detects whether or not the sliding door is in a closed position. Where the door is closed, the door open sensor  13  sends an electrical control signal to control circuitry  12 , which causes the control circuitry  12  to turn on voltage regulator circuitry  11  power to the thermal resistor  8 . 
   While the foregoing sections describe the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that there are other ways that a device can be created to meet the objectives of the invention. The description of the preferred embodiment is therefore not in any way intended to limit the scope of the invention. Likewise, characteristics of the preferred embodiment described herein are not in any way intended to limit the claims unless the characteristic is explicitly described within the body of the claim itself. The wording of the claims of the invention and that alone defines the scope of the invention, and it is the inventor&#39;s intention to use words in the claims to express their plain and ordinary meaning from the perspective of one or ordinary skill in the art of the invention, contemplating expressly that said meaning is broader than the characteristics of the preferred embodiment described herein.