Kinetically rechargeable sound-emitting golf ball

• US 20020173378A1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William J. Tinsman
• Original Assignee: William J. Tinsman
• Inventors: Tinsman, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,572,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements

Abstract

A sound-producing golf ball includes an outer shell with a shock-absorbent inner housing having a rechargeable micro-battery positioned therein. A micro-generator coupled to a rotatably mounted shaft is positioned in the housing. A pendulum depending from the shaft is urged downwardly by gravity for rotating the shaft as the golf ball rolls while in play, thus generating electricity for recharging the micro-battery. A sound chip having a memory for storing audible messages is positioned in the housing along with a sound generator for audibilizing the messages when energized. The housing may include a receiver for receiving a signal from a transmitter for selectively energizing operation of the sound chip and sound generator. The housing presents a geodesic configuration and includes a plurality of interconnected tetrahedral structures for absorbing impact forces.

Claims

1. A sound-emitting golf ball, comprising:

a shock absorbent housing defining an interior chamber;

a rechargeable micro-battery positioned in said chamber;

a sound generator positioned in said chamber and electrically connected to said micro-battery, said sound generator adapted to emit audible sounds into the ambient air for hearing by a person when energized by said micro-battery;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said chamber;

a mass depending from said shaft and adapted to cause said shaft to rotate as said mass is urged toward the ground by gravity upon rotation of said housing; and

a micro-generator positioned in said chamber and axially coupled to said shaft for producing electrical energy upon rotation of said shaft, said micro-generator being electrically connected to said micro-battery for recharging said micro-battery upon production of said electrical energy.

2. The golf ball as in claim 1 further comprising:

a miniature receiver positioned in said chamber for receiving a first signal, said receiver being electrically connected to said micro-battery and to said sound generator;

a transmitter housing adapted to be carried by a person;

a transmitter mounted in said housing and adapted to selectably generate and transmit said first signal, said receiver permitting current from said micro-battery to energize said sound generator upon receiving said first signal.

3. The golf ball as in claim 2 wherein said housing includes a geodesic configuration and includes a plurality of interconnected tetrahedral structures positioned in said chamber for absorbing an impact force imparted by a golf club head.

4. The golf ball as in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a geodesic configuration and includes a plurality of interconnected tetrahedral structures positioned in said chamber for absorbing an impact force imparted by a golf club head.

5. The golf ball as in claim 4 further comprising:

an outer shell having a generally spherical configuration and defining a plurality of dimples spaced apart about an outer surface thereof; and

a layer of rubber intermediate said housing and said outer shell, said rubber layer being wound about said housing for absorbing said impact force of a golf club.

6. The golf ball as in claim 1 further comprising:

an outer shell having a generally spherical configuration and defining a plurality of dimples spaced apart about an outer surface thereof; and

a layer of rubber intermediate said housing and said outer shell, said rubber layer being wound about said housing for absorbing an impact force of a golf club struck against said outer shell.

7. The golf ball as in claim 1 further comprising:

a digital sound chip having a memory for storing a plurality of audio messages, said digital sound chip being electrically connected to said receiver and to said sound generator for delivering one of said audio messages to said sound generator when said sound generator is energized;

a plurality of tubular sound pipes extending radially from said housing, each sound pipe being in communication with said chamber for outwardly communicating said audible sounds emitted from said sound generator.

8. The golf ball as in claim 7 wherein said digital sound chip includes a sequencer circuit for sequencing said plurality of audio messages, whereby a next sequential audio message is delivered from said sound chip to said sound generator each time said sound generator is energized.

9. The golf ball as in claim 7 wherein said sound generator is a piezoelectric transducer.

10. The golf ball as in claim 1 wherein said housing is constructed of titanium.

11. The golf ball as in claim 1 wherein said mass is pivotally coupled to said shaft such that said mass is capable of causing said shaft to rotate so long as said housing is rotating along a trajectory that is not completely parallel to said shaft.

13. The golf ball as in claim 12 wherein said micro-battery is rechargeable, said golf ball further comprising:

a shaft rotatably mounted in said chamber;

a pendulum depending from said shaft and adapted to cause said shaft to rotate as said pendulum is urged toward the ground by gravity upon rotation of said housing; and

a micro-generator positioned in said chamber and axially coupled to said shaft for producing electrical energy upon rotation of said shaft, said micro-generator being electrically connected to said micro-battery for recharging said micro-battery upon production of said electrical energy.

14. The golf ball as in claim 12 further comprising:

a miniature receiver positioned in said chamber for receiving a first signal, said receiver being electrically connected to said micro-battery and to said digital sound chip;

a transmitter housing adapted to be carried by a person; and

a transmitter mounted in said housing and adapted to selectably generate and transmit said first signal, said receiver permitting current from said micro-battery to energize said digital sound chip to deliver said respective audio message to said sound generator upon receiving said first signal.

15. The golf ball as in claim 12 further comprising a layer of rubber intermediate said housing and said outer shell, said rubber layer being wound about said housing for absorbing a portion of an impact force imparted against said outer shell by a golf club;

and

wherein said outer shell defines a plurality of dimples spaced apart about an outer surface thereof.

16. The golf ball as in claim 12 wherein said digital sound chip includes a sequencer circuit for sequencing the delivery of said plurality of audio messages to said sound generator, whereby a next sequential audio message is delivered from said digital sound chip to said sound generator each time said digital sound chip is energized.

17. The golf ball as in claim 12 wherein said pendulum is pivotally coupled to said shaft such that said pendulum is capable of causing said shaft to rotate so long as said housing is rotating along a trajectory that is not completely parallel to said shaft.

18. The golf ball as in claim 12 wherein said sound generator is a piezoelectric transducer.

19. The golf ball as in claim 12 further comprising a plurality of tubular sound pipes extending radially between said housing and said outer shell, each sound pipe being in communication with said chamber for outwardly carrying said audible sounds emitted by said sound generator.

12. A sound-emitting golf ball, comprising:

an outer shell having a generally spherical configuration;

a housing positioned in said outer shell having a geodesic configuration and defining an interior chamber;

a plurality of interconnected tetrahedral structures positioned in said chamber and adapted to absorb a portion of an impact force imparted upon said outer shell by a golf club head;

a micro-battery positioned in said chamber;

a digital sound chip positioned in said chamber and having a memory adapted to store a plurality of audio messages, said digital sound chip being electrically connected to said micro-battery;

a sound generator positioned in said chamber and electrically connected to said digital sound chip, said digital sound chip adapted to deliver a respective audio message to said sound generator and said sound generator adapted to audibilize said respective audio message into the ambient air for hearing by a person when said digital sound chip is energized by said micro-battery.