Light emitting golf ball

• US 6,712,487 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Wang
• Original Assignee: Andrew Yang
• Inventors: Liou, Hsueh-Yen
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/128,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20030202362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 362/253, 362/555, 362/276, 362/545, 362/800, 362/295, 473/570, 446/485
• US Class Current: 362/253
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A light emitting golf ball is constructed to include a plastic outer shell that admits light, a plastic core embedded in the outer shell, the plastic core admitting light, and a light emitting circuit assembly embedded in the core, the light emitting circuit assembly including a battery, a plurality of LEDs, and an impact switch electrically connected between the battery and the LEDs and adapted to turn on the LEDs upon an impact.

Claims

1. A light emitting golf ball comprising a substantially solid plastic core formed of a light transmissive material, a plastic outer shell that transmits light surrounding said plastic core, and a light emitting circuit assembly embedded within said core, said light emitting circuit assembly including a battery, a control circuit coupled to said battery, a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled to said control circuit, and an impact switch electrically connected between said battery and said control circuit to turn on said light emitting diodes for a predetermined time period responsive to an impact of said golf ball by a golf club, said impact switch including a metal casing connected to a terminal of said control circuit, and a metal spring suspended in said metal casing and electrically connected to one terminal of said battery, said metal spring being adapted to vibrate sufficiently to contact said metal casing responsive to said golf ball being struck by a golf club.