System for locating a golf ball

• US 20020098913A1
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cheryl Goldman
• Original Assignee: Cheryl Goldman
• Inventors: Goldman, Cheryl
• Granted Patent: US 6,524,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/207 Golf ball position marker holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/353 Golf ball position markers

Abstract

A system for locating a golf ball on a golf course by a golfer using a golf cart. The system includes a signal generator, a microchip, and an amplifier. The signal generator is connected to a portable computer on the golf cart and generates a first signal. The microchip is disposed in the golf ball and receives the first signal and generates a second signal in response thereto that is received by a base computer which triangulates the location of the golf ball off the locations of fixed objects on the golf course and generates a third signal in response thereto that is received by the portable computer which displays the location of the golf ball relative to the location of the golf cart already displayed. The amplifier is operatively connected to the portable computer and receives and amplifies the second signal that is to be received by the base computer.

Claims

1. A system for locating a golf ball on a golf course by a golfer using a golf cart, wherein the golf course has fixed objects with locations and a base computer that reads and triangulates the locations of the fixed objects via a GPS, and wherein the golf cart has a location and a portable computer that is linked by radio communication to the base computer, is in communication with the GPS, and has a display that displays the locations of the fixed objects from the base computer, so as to allow the base computer to determine the location of the golf cart relative to the locations of the fixed objects already determined and relay the location of the golf cart back to the portable computer that displays to the golfer on the display the location of the golf cart relative to the fixed objects already displayed thereon, said system comprising:

a) a signal generator for operatively connecting to the portable computer, and generating a first signal when activated; and

b) a microchip disposed in the golf ball and receiving said first signal from said signal generator and generating a second signal in response thereto for receiving by the base computer which triangulates the location of the golf ball off the locations of the fixed objects and generates a third signal in response thereto for receiving by the portable computer which displays on the display thereof the location of the golf ball relative to the location of the golf cart already displayed on the display thereof so as to allow the golfer to locate the golf ball.

2. The system as defined in claim 1;

further comprising an amplifier for operatively connecting to the portable computer, and receiving and amplifying said second signal from said microchip for receiving by the base computer.

3. An improved sealed golf ball of the type having a shock absorber contained in the golf ball, a coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna contained in the golf ball and receiving a first signal, a miniature wireless receiver contained in the golf ball, being in electrical communication with, and receiving the first signal from, the coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna, and generating a second signal in response thereto, an audible acoustic generator contained in the golf ball, being in electrical communication with the miniature wireless receiver, receiving the second signal from the miniature wireless receiver, and generating a series of audible beeps through the golf ball and out into the ambient for hearing by a person seeking the golf ball, a rechargeable micro-battery contained in the golf ball and being in electrical communication with, and powering, the miniature wireless receiver and the audible acoustic generator, a transmitter housing for carrying by the person seeking to locate the golf ball, a wireless transmitter contained in the transmitter housing and selectively generating the first signal, a transmitter antenna disposed on the transmitter housing, being in electrical communication with the wireless transmitter, and transmitting the first signal, and a switch disposed on the transmitter housing and being in electrical communication with the wireless transmitter, and when activated, causing the wireless transmitter to generate the first signal, which causes the transmitter antenna to transmit the first signal which is received by the coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna, which sends the first signal to the miniature wireless receiver, which sends the second signal to the audible acoustic generator, which generates the series of audible beeps, which provides an audible trail to the golf ball to be located, said improvement comprising the transmitter housing, the wireless transmitter, and the transmitter antenna being a conventional cellular telephone.

4. The improved sealed golf ball as defined in claim 3, wherein said improvement further comprises a microchip for being powered by the rechargeable micro-battery, for disposing in the golf ball, and for activating the audible acoustic generator when said conventional cellular telephone is activated and a preset code is entered therein.