Luminous bowling ball

• US 6,280,344 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ebonite International
• Original Assignee: Ebonite International
• Inventors: Robb, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Application Number:
  US09/425,766
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/54, 473/125
• US Class Current: 473/125
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0001 Balls with finger holes, e.g. for bowling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

An impact illuminated bowling ball including a light transmitting core, a pair of LEDs embedded in the core, a piezoelectric transducer embedded in the core and electrically connected to the LEDs. A shock amplifying mechanism in the form of a steel ball is located in operative engagement with the piezoelectric transducer. A rechargeable electric battery in the core is electrically connected to a solar electric collector for recharging. An integrated timing circuit is used to continue illumination during start or stop times when the transducer is actuated by an impact of the bowling ball.

Claims

1. An impact illuminated bowling ball comprising:

a light transmitting core,

at least one light embedded in said light transmitting core,

at least one piezoelectric transducer embedded in said core and electrically connected to said at least one light, and

a steel ball shock amplifying mechanism operatively connected to said piezoelectric transducer.

2. The impact illuminated bowling ball of claim 1 in which said light is a LED.

3. The impact illuminated bowling ball of claim 1 in which said piezoelectric transducer is positioned against a side of said electric battery and said shock amplifying mechanism is positioned against an opposite side of said battery.