Sealed golf ball with remotely activated audible sound generator powered by an electromagnetically rechargeable battery

• US 6,011,466 A
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheryl Goldman
• Original Assignee: Cheryl Goldman
• Inventors: Goldman, Cheryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/160,277
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384.1, 340/384.7, 340/539, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 473/353
• US Class Current: 340/539.32
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements

Abstract

A sealed golf ball that includes a golf ball, a shock absorber, a coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna in the golf ball receives a first signal, a miniature wireless receiver in the golf ball receives the first signal and generates a second signal in response thereto, an audible acoustic generator in the golf ball receives the second signal and generates a series of audible beeps in response thereto, through the golf ball, and out into the ambient for hearing by a person seeking the golf ball, a rechargeable micro-battery in the golf ball powers the miniature wireless receiver and the audible acoustic generator, a wireless transmitter is carried by the person seeking to locate the golf ball, and selectively generates the first signal, a transmitter antenna transmits the first signal, and a switch when activated, causes the wireless transmitter to generate the first signal and the transmitter antenna to transmit the first signal, which is received by the coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna, which sends the first signal to the miniature wireless receiver, which sends the second signal to the audible acoustic generator, which generates the series of audible beeps, which provides an audible trail to the golf ball to be located.

Claims

1. A sealed golf ball with remotely activated audible sound generator powered by an electromagnetically rechargeable battery, said sealed golf ball comprising:

a) a golf ball;

b) a shock absorber contained in said golf ball;

c) a coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna contained in said golf ball, and receiving a first signal;

d) a miniature wireless receiver contained in said golf ball, being in electrical communication with, and receiving said first signal from, said coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna, and generating a second signal in response thereto;

e) an audible acoustic generator contained in said golf ball, being in electrical communication with said miniature wireless receiver, receiving said second signal from said miniature wireless receiver, and generating a series of audible beeps through said golf ball, and out into the ambient for hearing by a person seeking said golf ball;

f) a rechargeable micro-battery contained in said golf ball, and being in electrical communication with, and powering, said miniature wireless receiver and said audible acoustic generator;

g) a transmitter housing for carrying by said person seeking to locate said golf ball;

h) a wireless transmitter contained in said transmitter housing, and selectively generating said first signal;

i) a transmitter antenna disposed on said transmitter housing, being in electrical communication with said wireless transmitter, and transmitting said first signal; and

j) a switch disposed on said transmitter housing, and being in electrical communication with said wireless transmitter, and when activated, causing said wireless transmitter to generate said first signal and said transmitter antenna to transmit said first signal, which is received by said coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna, which sends said first signal to said miniature wireless receiver, which sends said second signal to said audible acoustic generator, which generates said series of audible beeps, which provides an audible trail to said golf ball to be located.

2. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said golf ball is spherically-shaped.

3. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said golf ball is defined by an outer wall.

4. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 3, wherein said outer wall of said golf ball is spherically-shaped.

5. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 3, wherein said golf ball has a cavity that is contained centrally in said golf ball.

6. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 5, wherein said cavity in said golf ball is spherically-shaped.

7. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 5, wherein said shock absorber defines said cavity in said golf ball.

8. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber is spherically-shaped.

9. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 5, wherein said shock absorber has small throughbores that extend radially from, and open into, said cavity in said golf ball, through said shock absorber, and through, and open into, said outer wall of said golf ball.

10. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 5, wherein said coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna is contained in said cavity of said golf ball.

11. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 5, wherein said miniature wireless receiver is contained in said cavity of said golf ball.

12. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 5, wherein said audible acoustic generator is contained in said cavity of said golf ball.

13. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said audible acoustic generator generates said series of audible beeps through said small throughbores in said golf ball.

14. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said audible acoustic generator comprises:

a) a miniature oscillator;

b) a miniature driver amplifier; and

c) a miniature transducer.

15. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 5, wherein said rechargeable micro-battery is contained in said cavity of said golf ball.

16. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said rechargeable micro-battery is in electrical communication with said coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna.

17. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter housing is hand-holdable.

18. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, further comprising a transmitter battery contained in said transmitter housing, and being in electrical communication with, and powering, said wireless transmitter.

19. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said switch is a button switch.

20. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 1, further comprising a battery charger housing being selectively engageable with said golf ball.

21. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 20, further comprising a battery charger contained in said battery charger housing.

22. The sealed golf ball as defined in claim 21, further comprising a recharging coil contained in said battery charger housing, being in electrical communication with said battery charger, and generating an electromagnetic charge, and when brought into proximity of said coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna, causes said electromagnetic charge to enter said coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna and charge said rechargeable micro-battery, and thereby allow said coil-shaped miniature receiver antenna to function both as an antenna and to assist in recharging said rechargeable micro-battery, which allows said golf ball to remain sealed and never opened for internal contamination.