GOLF BALL WITH RFID INLAY IN A MOLDED IMPRESSION

• US 20120256731A1
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edge Technologies, Inc
• Original Assignee: Edge Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert Jr., White, Warren, Grieshaber, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,370,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/52 modulated by measured values
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/182 completely
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/18 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. compression moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C43/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/546 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A compressible core with an RFID tag is described. The compressible core includes an RFID integrated circuit, a carrier material, a molded compressible core, and a fill material. The RFID integrated circuit includes a memory that stores at least one unique identifier. The carrier material includes an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit. The molded compressible core has a center and a spherical surface. Additionally, the molded compressible core includes a molded impression that receives the carrier material with the antenna and RFID integrated circuit. The fill material fills the molded impression occupied by the inlay.

Claims

1. An RFID golf ball system comprising:

an RFID golf ball including,

an RFID integrated circuit that includes a memory configured to store at least one unique identifier;

an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit;

a molded compressible core having a center and a spherical surface, wherein the molded compressible core includes a molded impression that is configured to receive the antenna and the RFID integrated circuit,

a molded shell that encapsulates the molded compressible core generating an RFID golf ball, and;

an RFID reader antenna disposed near a tee area, wherein the RFID reader antenna is configured to read the unique identifier associated with the RFID golf ball.

2. The RFID golf ball system of claim 1 further comprising a conductive ink disposed on the surface of the compressible core, wherein the conductive ink is electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit.

3. The RFID golf ball system of claim 1 further comprising a carrier material coupled to the RFID integrated circuit and the RFID antenna, wherein the molded impression is configured to receive the carrier material.

4. The RFID golf ball system of claim 3 further comprising a fill material that fills the molded impression occupied by the carrier material.

5. The RFID golf ball system of claim 3 wherein the molded impression comprises a planar slot disposed in the center of the molded compressible core, the planar slot configured to receive a planar carrier material.

6. The RFID golf ball system of claim 3 wherein the molded impression comprises a curved slot disposed in the center of the molded compressible core, the curved slot configured to receive a curved carrier material.

7. The RFID golf ball system of claim 4 wherein the molded impression comprises a cylindrical slot disposed in the center of the molded compressible core, the cylindrical slot configured to receive a curved carrier material and the fill material configured to fill the cylindrical slot.

8. A method for reading an RFID golf ball comprising:

dispensing an RFID golf ball within a driving range, wherein the RFID golf ball includes,

an RFID integrated circuit that includes a memory configured to store at least one unique identifier,

an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit,

a molded compressible core having a center and a spherical surface, wherein the molded compressible core includes a molded impression that is configured to receive the RFID antenna and the RFID integrated circuit,

a molded shell that encapsulates the molded compressible core; and

reading the RFID golf ball within a driving bay with at least one RFID reader.

9. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader includes an RFID reader antenna that is disposed above ground along a vertical plane.

10. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader includes an RFID reader antenna that is disposed along a horizontal plane.

11. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 wherein each RFID reader is communicatively coupled to a plurality of antennas, in which each antenna corresponds to a particular golf driving bay.

12. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of RFID readers that are networked and communicate RFID data to a central database.

13. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 wherein the molded impression comprises a slot disposed in the center of the molded compressible core, the slot configured to receive a carrier material that includes the RFID integrated circuit and the RFID antenna.

14. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 further comprising a conductive ink disposed on the surface of the compressible core, wherein the conductive ink is electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit.

15. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 wherein the RFID antenna is electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit with a non-conductive adhesive.

16. A method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible core, the method comprising:

placing a compressible compound in a mold, wherein the mold includes a projection configured to leave a molded impression;

heating the compressible compound in the mold;

removing the mold;

generating a molded compressible core having a center and a spherical surface, wherein the molded compressible core includes the molded impression left by the mold projection;

placing a carrier material in the molded impression, the carrier material includes an RFID antenna electrically coupled to an RFID integrated circuit that includes a memory configured to store at least one unique identifier; and

applying a fill material that fills the molded impression occupied by the carrier material.

17. The method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible core of claim 16 further comprising encapsulating the molded compressible core with a molded shell.

18. The method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible core of claim 16 wherein the molded impression left by the projection comprises a planar slot disposed in the center of the molded compressible core, the slot configured to receive a planar carrier material.

19. The method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible core of claim 16 wherein the molded impression left by the projection comprises a curved slot disposed in the center of the molded compressible core, the slot configured to receive a curved carrier material.

20. The method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible core of claim 16 wherein the molded impression left by the projection comprises a cylindrical slot disposed in the center of the molded compressible core, the slot configured to receive a curved carrier material.