Golf ball

• US 20050164808A1
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Hiroto
• Application Number:
  US11/037,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164808A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/008 Devices for measuring or verifying ball characteristics

Abstract

A golf ball (G) has incorporated therein an IC chip (3) which can input and/or output data relating to at least one item selected from among manufacture history, shot history and flight properties. The ball'"'"'s own possession of inherent information facilitates operations including ball quality control, ball recycling, and evaluation of flight performance.

Claims

1. A golf ball having incorporated therein an IC chip which can input and/or output data relating to at least one item selected from the group consisting of manufacture history, shot history and flight properties.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, having a surface wherein the IC chip is embedded at least 1 mm inside the ball surface.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the IC chip is embedded at the center of the ball.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein said golf ball has a solid core which is formed of a rubber base composition, and said IC chip is encapsulated with a protective layer of a special rubber member and embedded in said solid core.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, which is a practice golf ball.