Patent ID: 12194346

Embodiments of the invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, sporting equipment illumination may be provided by an illuminated sporting equipment assembly including a sporting equipment object such as a game ball and a light cap assembly configured to be secured to the game ball, where the light cap assembly includes a light cap assembly housing configured to secure an integrated circuit stack configured to generate light within the illumination cavity of the sporting equipment object.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that depending on the particular application at hand, many modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made in, and to, the materials, apparatus, configurations, and methods of use of the devices of the present disclosure, and the innovations herein are not limited to any of the particular embodiments that are illustrated and described herein. The description below is merely an explanation by way of some examples thereof that should be fully commensurate with that of the claims appended hereafter and their functional equivalents, and merely serves to inform one of ordinary skill in the art how to make and use the innovations disclosed herein. As used herein, securely coupling means coupling in a manner that prevents decoupling under kinetic forces, such as the type of which that are encountered under normal game play conditions.

Disclosed herein are apparatus and systems including an illuminated sporting equipment assembly, and in particular, an illuminated game ball for a ball game or system, such as a bocce ball. One or more embodiments may correspond to an assembly including a light cap assembly configured to securely couple an integrated circuit (IC) stack inside an illumination cavity of a sporting equipment or object, such as a game ball bore, as described more fully herein.

Accordingly, one or more embodiments described herein correspond to a system and apparatus for an illuminated game ball. An illuminated game ball system may include a game ball including a hollow interior portion or illumination cavity or game ball bore, a cylindrical light cap assembly comprising a button module, where the light cap assembly is configured to securely retain an IC stack within the game ball bore, and a cap wrench configured to engage and disengage the light cap assembly from the game ball. In some embodiments, the IC stack may be implemented as a light-emitting diode (LED) circuit including a printed circuit board (PCB), an LED, a power bus, a power supply, an actuator switch, and a support base, where the PCB (e.g., a first or second layer of the PCB) may be physically and/or electrically coupled to the support base via one or more vertical members (e.g., electronic components, wires, conductive ribbons, insulating support tabs), and where the light cap assembly is configured to securely couple the IC stack within the hollow interior portion or game ball bore.

In some embodiments, the light cap assembly includes a top surface conforming to a shape of the game ball. The light cap assembly may have a threaded cylindrical body including a plurality of flexible prongs, where each prong includes a tab configured to engage with the IC stack. The flexible prongs may be spaced apart in a manner that conforms to a shape and extent of the PCB and/or IC stack. For example, in embodiments where the IC stack includes a conductive ribbon implementing the power bus, a width of such power bus ribbon may correspond to a width between at least two of the flexible prongs. As shown and described herein, the spacing between the flexible prongs includes gaps that may be sized in a manner that compliments vertical members of the IC stack. The IC stack may include vertical members for fixing the PCB to the support base and also serves to counter any rotational forces caused by the kinetic energy of game play.

In various embodiments, the support base may be coupled to an actuator switch, and the light cap assembly may include a button module. When pressed, the button module activates the actuator switch. Activating the actuator switch generates an actuator signal, which triggers the IC stack to deliver power from the power supply to a light source (e.g., an LED) powered by the IC stack. The IC stack may be configured to require the actuator signal to be continuous for at least 2 seconds before the IC stack powers or lights the LED. Requiring a continuous signal of at least 2 seconds prevents unwanted actuation that may result from typical gameplay. The PCB may include a plurality of vertical members. The vertical members are fixedly coupled to the support base and extend from the support base to the IC stack. For example, a microstrip member that connects the support base to the PCB may be configured to engage with a predetermined gap between two of the four flexible prongs.

As described herein, the LED circuit may be implemented as an IC stack, which may include an actuator switch, a support base, one or more power sources (batteries) implementing the power supply, and a PCB. The PCB may include an LED module, a microcontroller, an operational amplifier, a (100-ohm) resistor, (two) capacitors, a latch, and a power bus, among other electronic components, as described herein. The actuator switch may be positioned on a bottom facing side of the support base of the IC stack; the support base can serve as a floor for one or more batteries (e.g., the power supply). In some embodiments, a first battery can be placed on a top side of the support base and a second battery may be stacked on top of the first battery. The PCB may be stacked on top of the second battery. A diameter of the PCB board may be selected such that the PCB board extends radially outward relative to the components underneath to form a slight overhang relative to the batteries/power supply positioned below.

In embodiments where the illuminated sporting equipment system corresponds to a bocce ball game, such system may include eight illuminated bocce balls (e.g., 2 red, 2 green, 2 blue, 2 yellow), one illuminated pallino ball (e.g., a white jack), a distance marker, a carrying case, and/or an opening tool. Bocce ball game rules may include free play rules. With free play bocce, the rules and setup can be much easier when there is no court to play on. Games can be played on any soft surface (grass, turf, sand, clay etc.). 2-4 players can participate, with each player getting 2 balls of the same color. A coin flip can decide which player throws the pallino first. The game objective is to throw bocce balls closer to the pallino than an opponent throws their bocce balls. The first player/team to reach 12 points wins the game (e.g., in some games, a win must be by 2 points). A match typically consists of 3 rounds. The pallino is the first ball put into play after a coin toss. It should be tossed underhand within a reasonable distance. Once the pallino is in play, it can be knocked anywhere on the desired playing field.

All balls are thrown underhand. Players alternate throwing their bocce balls in order until all balls are thrown. Once all bocce balls have been thrown at the pallino, calculate the scoring for that frame. The player with the ball closest to the pallino gets 1 point. If the second closest ball is also theirs, they get 2 points. Only 1 player scores per frame. If a bocce ball is touching the pallino, it's often known as a “baci” or “kiss” and is awarded 2 points if they remain touching at the end of the frame. The winning player is the first to reach 12 points and players must win by 2.

Bocce balls typically are heavy projectiles, and so an outdoor court and throwing area should be clear of people, pets, or obstacles prior to each throw, and player should never stand in an area where the balls might land, particularly when playing at night. Illuminated bocce balls will wear over time, but scuff marks are only superficial and will not affect game play. Embodiments of the illuminated bocce balls described herein are water resistant, so a little water from playing on a wet lawn will do no harm, and players should ensure all illuminated balls are turned off before storage to avoid drained batteries (e.g., which can be replaced).

Each LED bocce ball may be configured to use two CR2032 ‘coin’ batteries as the power supply. In various embodiments, only 3-volt CR2032 lithium cell batteries should be used. To replace the batteries and/or service the bocce balls, a user should unscrew the bocce ball light cap assembly using a cap wrench and pull out the LED circuit/IC stack. The cap wrench may be attached to a tote bag drawstring. In various embodiments, to activate a bocce ball illumination, a user presses and holds down firmly the ball's button module for 2 seconds (repeat to deactivate). The 2 second delay is designed so the illumination doesn't accidentally turn off or on during play. 2 new CR2032 batteries may be inserted to replace the depleted batteries, with “+” sides matching the orientations shown herein. Push the LED circuit/IC stack back into the bocce ball light cap assembly by aligning the black tabs on the LED circuit/IC stack with two openings on the light cap assembly as shown. Then screw the light cap assembly back onto the bocce ball and tighten it firmly with the cap wrench. A pencil or other pointed object may be used to push old batteries out of the IC stack.

Embodiments of the light cap assembly and/or IC stack described herein may be used in a variety of sporting equipment assemblies and/or systems. For example, the light cap assembly and IC stack may be used in field or inflatable cones configured to provide illuminated cones for sport play. The light cap assembly and IC stack may be utilized in any type of visible-light transparent or translucent sporting equipment object or assembly that includes or may be manufactured with an internal space or cavity. For example, such sporting equipment may include footballs, baseballs, volleyballs, softballs, golf balls, foam balls, decorative figures, and any other type of sporting equipment or object that is at least partially opaque or partially transparent with an internal cavity or void such that light generated by an internal LED is visible and shines at least partially through the partially transparent or partially opaque material of the sporting equipment or object.

In certain aspects, the reference to the singular form of a word may also refer to the plural, and a reference to the plural form of a word may refer to the singular thereof. While some of the advantages of the multiple attachment point clay target hanger disclosed herein are provided, the advantages are not limited to those described herein, as one of ordinary skill in the art will apricate more advantages and embodiments than those explicated listed or described herein.

FIG.1illustrates an illuminated sporting equipment assembly100. In particular, assembly100may implement one of a plurality of assemblies incorporated into a system for an illuminated ball game, as described herein. InFIG.1, assembly100includes ball body102, threads104of ball body102leading to an illumination cavity106(shown inFIG.2), light cap assembly housing110configured to securely couple to ball body102via threads104, and button module130configured to be inserted into light cap assembly housing110to form (e.g., with an IC stack840shown inFIG.8) a light cap assembly (e.g., light cap assembly510,610, or710shown inFIGS.5-7). As shown inFIG.1, light cap assembly housing110includes top surface112confirming to a shape of ball body102, flexible threaded prongs116configured to secure an IC stack within light cap assembly housing110, and wrench notches113configured to receive corresponding wrench nodes913of cap wrench900shown inFIG.9. In some embodiments, light cap assembly housing110may include button orifice128configured to receive and secure button module130, such as via threads and/or a permanent or semi-permanent snap assembly notches and conforming rings formed in light cap assembly housing110and/or button module130. Assembly100is shown assembled as illuminated sporting equipment assembly/illuminated bocce ball110a.

FIG.2illustrates a cross section of ball body102for illuminated sporting equipment assembly100. InFIG.2, ball body102includes illumination cavity106, threaded portion216of illumination cavity106, and transparent and/or translucent body material107. A illumination cavity orifice diameter228may be configured to match a diameter of light cap assembly housing110, for example, and a depth of threaded portion216may be selected to include 3 or more threads so as to provide a reliable securing mechanism coupling ball body102to light cap assembly housing110. A cavity diameter204of illumination cavity106may be different from illumination cavity orifice diameter228, for example, such as larger than illumination cavity orifice diameter228. Body diameter/shape202may be any diameter or shape suited for a particular sporting equipment assembly or sport, as described herein.

FIG.3illustrates a system300for an illuminated ball game, as described herein. In particular, system300may illustrate an embodiment of a pallino ball for bocce. As can be seen inFIG.3, each of light cap assembly housing110, button module130, and other elements similar to those shown for assembly110inFIG.1may be implemented similarly for system300. Ball body302may be significantly smaller than ball body102(e.g., as shown by diameter302aof assembled system300a), for example, and top surface312may be selected to conform with such differently sized and/or shaped body, as shown. Moreover, illumination cavity306may be shaped differently than illumination cavity106, and threaded portion316may be different from threaded portion116, and body material307may be different from body material107, so as to accommodate the different shape and/or size of ball body102, as shown in cross section300b.

FIG.4illustrates a variety of sizes and shapes for illumination cavities406for assembly100and/or system300for an illuminated ball game. For example, such illumination cavity may be flat bottomed, spherically bottomed, mushroom bottomed, egg bottomed, shorter or longer than a radius of the sporting equipment assembly, approximately equal to a radius of the sporting equipment assembly, and/or shaped substantially concentrically relative to an outer shape of sporting equipment assembly, such that a thickness of the body of the sporting equipment assembly is substantially uniform outside a threaded portion configured to receive a light cap assembly housing410.

FIGS.5-7illustrate light cap assemblies510,610,710for illuminated sporting equipment assemblies. InFIG.5, light cap assembly510includes four flexible members120spaced from each other by gaps122and each including tabs124configured to secure an IC stack within light cap assembly510, all formed by a unitary light cap assembly housing110(e.g., one continuous piece of material). Light cap assembly510may include button module130to engage an actuator switch, as shown inFIG.8. Light cap assembly510is shown without an IC stack.

InFIG.6, light cap assembly610includes PCB140secured within light cap assembly610by flexible members120and tabs124, and microcontroller142, LED module144, and various electronic components146(resistors, capacitors, regulators, amplifiers, transistors) soldered to PCB140. Also shown are vertical members148disposed within gaps122and securing PCB140to a support base150shown inFIG.7(e.g., via solder joints149). Vertical members148may be coated so as to be electrically insulated from batteries placed within a battery cavity152formed between support base150and PCB140. Also shown is conductive ribbon154electrically coupling support base150to electrical components on PCB140.FIG.7illustrates a different embodiment light cap assembly710with different electronic components and a different LED module, andFIG.7shows support base150and battery cavity152of light cap assembly710.

FIG.8illustrates an IC stack840for illuminated sporting equipment assemblies. InFIG.8, IC stack840includes LED module144, electronic components846on PCB140, vertical members148securing PCV140to base150, and actuator switch158secured to support base150opposite a battery cavity152housing batteries156, as shown. Actuator switch158may be configured to be actuated by button module130inFIG.1, for example.FIG.9illustrates a cap wrench900for illuminated sporting equipment assemblies. InFIG.9, cap wrench900includes wrench nodes913, lanyard hole904, and grip902.

FIG.10illustrates an illuminated sporting equipment assembly1000, such as an illuminated and/or floating cone. InFIG.10, assembly1000includes pyramid shaped cone body1002, threads1004of body1002leading to an illumination cavity1006, light cap assembly housing110configured to securely couple to body1002via threads1004, and button module130configured to be inserted into light cap assembly housing110to form (e.g., with an IC stack840shown inFIG.8) a light cap assembly1030(e.g., similar to light cap assembly510,610, or710shown inFIGS.5-7), which when assembled is illustrated by assembly1000a, as shown.

Where applicable, the various components set forth herein can be combined into composite components and/or separated into sub-components without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Embodiments described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It should also be understood that numerous modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.