Golf ball locating system

• US 5,820,484 A
• Filed: 03/28/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delmar Terry
• Original Assignee: Delmar Terry
• Inventors: Terry, Delmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/828,058
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351, 473/357, 473/553, 473/134, 473/162, 473/164
• US Class Current: 473/356
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• 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 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements

Abstract

A new Golf Ball Locating System for allowing golfers to easily find their golf balls. The inventive device includes a golf ball which includes a core that is surrounded by concave metal plates and a remote control device.

Claims

1. A golf ball locating system comprising:

a golf ball consisting of an inner core surrounded by an outer covering, said inner core comprising a cubic-shaped device that is surrounded by concave metal transmitting plates and wherein said cubic-shaped device forms a subsonic sound generating means for generating a subsonic sound; and

a subsonic sound receiving means for receiving the subsonic sounds emitted from said golf ball.

2. The golf ball locating system of claim 1 wherein the outer covering comprises a shock absorbing compressible material.

3. The golf ball locating system of claim 1 wherein the transmitting plates are embedded in the compressible material of the outer covering.

4. The golf ball locating system of claim 1 wherein the subsonic sound generating means include at least six transmitting plates, with each plate protruding from a side of the cubic-shaped device.

5. The golf ball locating system of claim 1 wherein said subsonic sound generating means comprises:

a subsonic transducer,

battery means for providing energy to said subsonic transducer, and

switching means for turning said subsonic transducer on and off.

6. The golf ball locating system of claim 5 wherein the switching means further comprises:

magnetometer means for sensing a magnetic field, and

electronic circuit means connecting said magnetometer means to said subsonic transducer so that said subsonic sound emitted by the golf ball can be turned on and off by passing a magnetic field close to said golf ball.

7. A golf ball locating system comprising:

a golf ball comprising an inner core surrounded by an outer covering formed of a shock absorbing compressible material, a subsonic sound generating means for generating a subsonic sound signal, said subsonic sound generating means being located in said inner core and including transmitting plates embedded in the outer covering of said golf ball; and

a detector unit including a subsonic sound detecting means for detecting a subsonic sound signal emitted from the subsonic sound generating means in said golf ball;

said subsonic sound generating means comprises at least six transmitting plates;

said subsonic sound generating means comprises;

a subsonic transducer,

battery means for providing energy to said subsonic transducer, and

switching means for selectively supplying power to said subsonic transducer;

said switching means of said sound generating means further comprises and

magnetometer means for sensing a magnetic field, and

electronic circuit means connecting said magnetometer means to said subsonic transducer so that the subsonic sound generating means in said golf ball can be selectively turned on and off by passing a magnetic field close to said golf ball.