Golf ball containing photoluminescent material and a light source

• US 20080108454A1
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Gentile
• Original Assignee: Ann T. Gill
• Inventors: Kohnen, Michael P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,785,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball comprises a substantially solid core with an outer shell, both formed of a light transmissive material. Photoluminescent particles are distributed within the light transmissive material. A light-emitting circuit assembly embedded within the core includes at least one battery, a control circuit coupled to the at least one battery, a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the control circuit, and an impact switch electrically connected between the battery and the control circuit. The control circuit actuates the light-emitting diodes for a predetermined time period in response to an impact of the golf ball by a golf club. Actuation of the light-emitting diodes by an impact on the golf ball excites the photoluminescent particles, causing the particles to glow in excess of the predetermined time period of actuation of the light-emitting diodes.

Claims

1. A photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball comprising;

a substantially solid core formed of a light transmissive material;

an outer shell formed of a light transmissive material surrounding the substantially solid core;

photoluminescent particles distributed within the light transmissive material; and

a light-emitting circuit assembly embedded within the core, the light-emitting circuit assembly including at least one battery, a control circuit coupled to the at least one battery, a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the control circuit, and an impact switch electrically connected between the at least one battery and the control circuit to actuate the light-emitting diodes for a predetermined time period responsive to an impact of the golf ball by a golf club;

whereby actuation of the light-emitting diodes by an impact on the golf ball excites the photoluminescent particles distributed within the light transmissive material, causing the particles to glow in excess of the predetermined time period of actuation of the light-emitting diodes.

2. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent particles are distributed only in the transmissive material of the outer shell.

3. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting circuit assembly includes a plurality of batteries.

4. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 1, wherein the impact switch including a metal casing connected to a terminal of the control circuit, and a metal spring suspended in the metal casing and electrically connected to one terminal of the at least one battery, the metal spring being adapted to vibrate sufficiently to contact the metal casing responsive to the golf ball being struck by a golf club.

5. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive material includes polyurethane resins.

6. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 2, wherein the ratio of photoluminescent particles to light transmissive material in the outer shell is between about 1:

3 and 1;

1.

7. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent particles have the formula:

MO.(n−

x){aAl₂O₃^α

+(1−

a)Al₂O₃^γ

}.xB₂O₃;

R, wherein M is any alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ca and Ba; and

R is a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Mn and Bi.

8. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 7, wherein the photoluminescent particles contain strontium aluminate borate.

9. A photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball comprising;

a substantially solid core formed of a light transmissive material;

an outer shell formed of a light transmissive material surrounding the substantially solid core;

photoluminescent particles distributed within the light transmissive material of the outer shell; and

a light-emitting circuit assembly embedded within the core, the light-emitting circuit assembly including at least one battery, a control circuit coupled to the at least one battery, a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the control circuit, and an impact switch electrically connected between the at least one battery and the control circuit to actuate the light-emitting diodes for a predetermined time period responsive to an impact of the golf ball by a golf club;

whereby actuation of the light-emitting diodes by an impact on the golf ball excites the photoluminescent particles distributed within the light transmissive material, causing the particles to glow in excess of the predetermined time period of actuation of the light-emitting diodes.

10. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 9, wherein the light-emitting circuit assembly includes a plurality of batteries.

11. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 9, wherein the impact switch including a metal casing connected to a terminal of the control circuit, and a metal spring suspended in the metal casing and electrically connected to one terminal of the at least one battery, the metal spring being adapted to vibrate sufficiently to contact the metal casing responsive to the golf ball being struck by a golf club.

12. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 9, wherein the light transmissive material includes polyurethane resins.

13. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 9, wherein the ratio of photoluminescent particles to light transmissive material in the outer shell is between about 1:

3 and 1;

1.

14. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 9, wherein the photoluminescent particles have the formula:

MO.(n−

x){aAl₂O₃^α

+(1−

a)Al₂O₃^γ

}.xB₂O₃;

R, wherein M is any alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ca and Ba; and

R is a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Mn and Bi.

15. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 14, wherein the photoluminescent particles contain strontium aluminate borate.

16. A photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball comprising;

a substantially solid core formed of a light transmissive material;

an outer shell formed of a light transmissive material surrounding the substantially solid core;

photoluminescent particles distributed within the light transmissive material of the outer shell; and

a light-emitting circuit assembly embedded within the core, the light-emitting circuit assembly including a plurality of batteries, a control circuit coupled to the plurality of batteries, a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the control circuit, and an impact switch electrically connected between the plurality of batteries and the control circuit to actuate the light-emitting diodes for a predetermined time period responsive to an impact of the golf ball by a golf club, the impact switch including a metal casing connected to a terminal of the control circuit, and a metal spring suspended in the metal casing and electrically connected to one terminal of the plurality of batteries, the metal spring being adapted to vibrate sufficiently to contact the metal casing responsive to the golf ball being struck by a golf club;

whereby actuation of the light-emitting diodes by an impact on the golf ball excites the photoluminescent particles distributed within the light transmissive material, causing the particles to glow in excess of the predetermined time period of actuation of the light-emitting diodes.

17. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 16, wherein the light transmissive material includes polyurethane resins.

18. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 16, wherein the ratio of photoluminescent particles to light transmissive material in the outer shell is between about 1:

3 and 1;

1.

19. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 16, wherein the photoluminescent particles have the formula:

MO.(n−

x){aAl₂O₃^α

+(1−

a)Al₂O₃^γ

}.xB₂O₃;

R, wherein M is any alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ca and Ba; and

R is a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Mn and Bi.

20. The photoluminescent, light-emitting golf ball of claim 19, wherein the photoluminescent particles contain strontium aluminate borate.