APPARATUSES AND METHODS RELATING TO FINDABLE BALLS

• US 20090314423A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Topgolf International Inc. (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Chris Savarese, Forrest F. Fulton, Gerald Latus, Lauro C. Cadorniga, Mark A. Shea, Molly Latus, Noel H.C. Marshall, Susan Mcgill
• Inventors: Latus, Molly, Savarese, Chris, Shea, Mark A., McGill, Susan, Fulton, Forrest F., Cadorniga, Lauro C., Latus, Gerald, Marshall, Noel H.C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/276
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/092 Dispersed materials, e.g. conductive pastes or inks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10098 Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

Golf balls for use with a system for finding golf balls and methods for making such golf balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell, a core material and a tag having a diode which is coupled to an antenna which has at least a portion formed from an elastic conductive material, such as an elastic conductive ink. The core material may include a void for receiving at least part of the diode. Other golf balls are described and methods for making balls are also described.

Claims

1. A method of making a golf ball, said method comprising:

forming a first member having an outer surface, said first member forming a part of said golf ball;

depositing a liquid material which when dried forms at least one antenna which is electrically conductive;

forming a second member which surrounds said at least one antenna.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

curing said liquid material;

coupling an electronic component to said at least one antenna.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said at least one antenna is an elastic conductive material and wherein said liquid material is deposited onto said outer surface.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein said depositing comprises at least one of (a) painting said liquid material;

(b) printing said liquid material;

(c) jetting said liquid material through a nozzle; and

(d) spraying said liquid material.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein said first member is a core material of said golf ball, said core material having a substantially spherical shape, and said second member is a layer of material which has a circular cross-sectional shape and which encases said first member and said at least one antenna.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein said second member is an outermost shell of said golf ball.

7. A method as in claim 5 wherein said second member is an inner shell.

8. A method as in claim 3 wherein said elastic conductive material is a conductive ink.

9. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

forming a template on said outer surface, said template defining at least a portion of a pattern of said at least one antenna.

10. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

forming a void in said outer surface;

depositing at least a portion of an electronic component in said void;

coupling said electronic component to said at least one antenna.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein said at least one antenna is patterned as a radial transmission line.

12. A method as in claim 1 wherein said at least one antenna has at least one perforation which extends from a first surface of said at least one antenna to a second surface of said at least one antenna.

13. A method as in claim 1 wherein said at least one antenna comprises an inductive element.

14. A method as in claim 1 wherein said liquid material comprises a solvent, a polymer and metal particles dispersed in said polymer.

15. A method as in claim 1 wherein said at least one antenna is part of a radio frequency tag which can be used to find said golf ball and wherein said golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

33. A method as in claim 2 wherein said electronic component comprises at least one of a RFID circuitry, an integrated circuit and a diode.

34. A method as in claim 10 wherein said electronic component comprises at least one of a RFID circuitry, an integrated circuit and a diode.

16. A method of making a golf ball, said method comprising:

forming a first member having an outer surface;

forming a void in said outer surface, said outer surface forming at least a portion of a sphere'"'"'s surface;

depositing an electronic component into at least a portion of said void;

coupling said electronic component to an antenna formed on said outer surface;

forming a second member which surrounds said antenna.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein said electronic component comprises two conductive connectors which face away from said first member.

18. A method as in claim 16 wherein said electronic component is coupled to said antenna through an elastic conductive member.

19. A method as in claim 16 wherein said antenna is formed from a liquid material which is dried.

35. A method as in claim 16 wherein said electronic component comprises at least one of a RFID circuitry, an integrated circuit and a diode.

20. A method for making a golf ball, said method comprising:

forming a first member having an outer surface;

depositing onto said outer surface an elastic conductive material which forms an elastic antenna;

coupling an electronic component to said elastic antenna;

forming a second member which surrounds said elastic antenna.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein said elastic antenna is elastic in substantially all directions.

22. A method as in claim 20 wherein said electronic component is coupled to said elastic antenna by elastic conductive elements.

23. A method as in claim 20 wherein said elastic conductive material is deposited in a liquid form by at least one of (a) painting said liquid form;

(b) plating said liquid form; and

(c) jetting said liquid form through a nozzle.

24. A method as in claim 20 wherein said first member is a core material of said golf ball, said core material having a substantially spherical shape, and said second member is a layer of material which has a circular cross-sectional shape and which encases said first member and said elastic antenna.

25. A method as in claim 24 wherein said electronic component and elastic antenna form a tag which can be used to find said golf ball and wherein said golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein said second member is an outermost shell of said golf ball.

27. A method as in claim 25 wherein said second member is an inner shell.

28. A method as in claim 20 further comprising:

forming a template on said outer surface, said template defining at least a portion of a pattern of said elastic antenna.

29. A method as in claim 20 further comprising:

forming a void in said outer surface;

depositing at least a portion of said electronic component into said void.

30. A method as in claim 20 where said elastic antenna is patterned as a radial transmission line.

31. A method as in claim 20 wherein said elastic antenna comprises an inductive element.

32. A method as in claim 23 wherein said liquid form comprises a solvent, a polymer and metal particles dispersed in said polymer.

36. A method as in claim 20 wherein said electronic component comprises at least one of a RFID circuitry, an integrated circuit and a diode.

37. A method of making a golf ball, comprising:

forming a first member with an outer surface;

forming a void in the outer surface of the first member;

depositing at least a portion of a semiconductor in the void;

forming an antenna in the outer surface of the first member;

connecting a portion of the semiconductor to the antenna using an elastic conductive ink;

forming a second member which surrounds the antenna, the semiconductor and the first member.

38. A method as in claim 37 wherein the first member is a spherically shaped core material of the golf ball and the second member is a layer of material that has a circular cross-sectional shape and encases the first member, the antenna, and the semiconductor, wherein the portion of the semiconductor is a conductive pad.

39. A method as in claim 37 wherein the semiconductor comprises at least one of a diode, an RFID circuitry and an integrated circuit.