System for locating a sport object

• US 4,660,039 A
• Filed: 02/14/1985
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mary S. Barricks
• Original Assignee: Mary S. Barricks
• Inventors: Barricks, Mary S., Yereance, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US06/701,716
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 343/6.5 R, 343/6.5 SS, 343/6.8 R, 343/5 PD, 273/213, 342/27, 342/42, 342/43, 342/51
• US Class Current: 342/27
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

A locating system for sport objects where the user carries an r.f. transmitter, and the sport object has a conductive stripe thereon which increases the load on the transmitter as it moves closer to the sport object. The conductive stripe has an effective length of one-quarter wavelengths at the signal frequency to act as a tuned antenna.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing improved locating abilities for sports projectiles of the type to be propelled at great distances from the user, said apparatus comprising:

(a) signal generating means for providing a single frequency signal within a predetermined band of frequencies;

(b) antenna means coupled to said signal generating means for radiating said electrical signal;

(c) indicating means responsive to the signal generating means for indicating changes in magnitude of the generated signal;

(d) a sports projectile having an outer surface; and

(e) conductive strip means affixed to the outer surface of said sports projectile, said conductive strip means increasing the load on said generating means when encountered by the signal radiated from said antenna means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conductive strip means comprises at least one conductive stripe located on the outer surface of said sports projectile, said strip having an effective length that is N quarter wavelengths at a frequency within said band, where N is an integer.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said conductive strip means comprises at least three conductive strips located on said sports projectiles, said strips being angularly disposed thereon.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said conductive strip means comprises three conductive strips each having first and second ends with an effective length of one-quarter wavelength, said stripes being disposed at 120 degree angles on the surface of said sports projectile with said first and second ends of the three strips being interconnected.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said conductive strip means comprises three conductive strips encircling said sports projectile and disposed at right angles on the surface thereof.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said antenna means has a length that is N quarter wavelengths at a frequency within said band, where N is an integer, the electrical load on said antenna being increased by the proximity thereof to the sports projectile.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said sport projectile is spherical in shape with a diameter that is N Quarter wavelengths at a frequency within said band, where N is an integer.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further comprising frequency adjusting means coupled to the signal generator for varying the frequency of the signal within the predetermined band.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sports projectile is spherical having a diameter that is N quarter wavelengths at a frequency within said band where N is an integer.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said conductive strip means comprises at least one conductive strip located on the outer surface of said projectile and having an arc length of 180 degrees.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said conductive strip means comprises three conductive strips each having an arc length of 180 degrees and angularly disposed at 120 degrees on the surface of said projectile.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said conductive strip means comprises at least one circumferential conductive strip.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said conductive strip means comprises three mutually perpendicular circumferential conducting strips.

14. A sports projectile having apparatus affixed thereto for location by a source of electrical signals having a selected frequency, said projectile comprising:

(a) an outer surface bounding the peripheral region of said projectile; and

(b) at least one conducting strip formed on the outer surface of the sports projectile, said conducting strip having an effective length that is N quarter wavelengths at the selected frequency, where N is an integer, said conductive strip increasing the electrical load on the signal source when the distance therebetween is reduced.

15. The sports projectile of claim 14 wherein said outer surface is spherical with a diameter that is N quarter wavelengths at the selected frequency, where N is an integer, and said at least one conductive strip defines an arc of 180 degrees on the spherical surface.

16. The sports projectile of claim 15 further comprising three conducting strips formed on said spherical surface, and each defining an arc of 180 degrees on the spherical surface and being angularly disposed at 120 degrees in relation to each other.

17. The sports projectile of claim 15 further comprising three conductive strips each of which encircles the spherical surface and is mutually perpendicular with the other strips thereon.

18. The sports projectile of claim 14 wherein said outer surface is spherical with a diameter that is N quarter wavelengths at the selected frequency, where N is an integer, and said at least one conductive strip encircles the spherical surface.