Lighted shuttlecock

• US 6,780,130 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Monochello
• Original Assignee: Michael Monochello
• Inventors: Monochello, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US10/388,993
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/578, 473/579, 273/DIG.24
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/187 Shuttlecocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/197 with special functions, e.g. light emission or sound generation

Abstract

A lighted shuttlecock for allowing a game a badminton to be played in low light conditions. The lighted shuttlecock includes a body member comprising a feather crown portion and a tip portion. The tip portion is selectively coupled to the feather crown portion. The tip portion of the body member is designed for being struck by a racket to propel the body member through the air. The feather crown portion is designed for stabilizing the body member when the body member is flying through the air. A light assembly is positioned in the tip portion of the body member. The light assembly is designed for emitting light when the tip portion of the body member is struck by the racket whereby the light assembly is designed for facilitating locating the body member at night.

Claims

1. A lighted shuttlecock for use during a game of badminton, the lighted shuttlecock comprising:

a body member comprising a feather crown portion and a tip portion, said tip portion being selectively coupled to said feather crown portion, said tip portion of said body member being adapted for being struck by a racket to propel said body member through the air, said feather crown portion being adapted for stabilizing said body member when said body member is flying through the air;

a light assembly being positioned in said tip portion of said body member, said light assembly being adapted for emitting light when said tip portion of said body member is struck by the racket such that said light assembly is adapted for facilitating locating said body member at night;

said light assembly comprising a light emitting member and a power source, said power source being operationally coupled to said light emitting member such that said power source supplies power to said light emitting member, said light emitting member being adapted for emitting light when said power source is supplying power to said light emitting member; and

said light assembly comprising an impact sensor, said impact sensor being operationally coupled between said power source and said light emitting member, said impact sensor being adapted for sensing an impact of said tip portion of said body member with the racket such that said impact sensor controls the flow of power from said power source to said light emitting member to emit light when said tip portion of said body member is struck by the racket.

2. The lighted shuttlecock as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said light emitting member comprising a light emitting diode, said light emitting diode being adapted for emitting light when said power source supplies power to said light emitting diode, said light emitting diode being adapted for resisting being damaged when said tip portion of said body member is struck by the racket.

3. The lighted shuttlecock as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said light emitting member being positioned in a center of said tip portion of said body member such that said tip portion of said body member is adapted for absorbing the impact of the racket with said tip portion to inhibit damage of said light emitting member.

4. The lighted shuttlecock as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said impact sensor being positioned proximate an apex of said tip portion of said body member such that said impact sensor is adapted for being positioned to receive the force of the impact of the racket with said tip portion to sense the impact to supply power to the light emitting member to emit light.

5. The lighted shuttlecock as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said light assembly comprising a timer assembly, said timer assembly being operationally coupled between said impact sensor and said light emitting member, said timer assembly being for controlling the amount of time power flows to said light emitting member to emit light when said impact sensor sense the impact of said tip portion with the racket.

6. The lighted shuttlecock as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said tip portion of said body member comprising a semi-transparent material, said semi-transparent material being adapted for letting light emitted from said light assembly to be viewed by the user.

7. A lighted shuttlecock for use during a game of badminton, the lighted shuttlecock comprising:

a body member comprising a feather crown portion and a tip portion, said tip portion being selectively coupled to said feather crown portion, said tip portion of said body member being adapted for being struck by a racket to propel said body member through the air, said feather crown portion being adapted for stabilizing said body member when said body member is flying through the air;

a light assembly being positioned in said tip portion of said body member, said light assembly being adapted for emitting light when said tip portion of said body member is struck by the racket such that said light assembly is adapted for facilitating locating said body member at night;

said light assembly comprising a light emitting member and a power source, said power source being operationally coupled to said light emitting member such that said power source supplies power to said light emitting member, said light emitting member being adapted for emitting light when said power source is supplying power to said light emitting member;

said light emitting member comprising a light emitting diode, said light emitting diode being adapted for emitting light when said power source supplies power to said light emitting diode, said light emitting diode being adapted for resisting being damaged when said tip portion of said body member is struck by the racket;

said light emitting member being positioned in a center of said tip portion of said body member such that said tip portion of said body member is adapted for absorbing the impact of the racket with said tip portion to inhibit damage of said light emitting member;

said light assembly comprising an impact sensor, said impact sensor being operationally coupled between said power source and said light emitting member, said impact sensor being adapted for sensing an impact of said tip portion of said body member with the racket such that said impact sensor controls the flow of power from said power source to said light emitting member to emit light when said tip portion of said body member is struck by the racket;

said impact sensor being positioned proximate an apex of said tip portion of said body member such that said impact sensor is adapted for being positioned to receive the force of the impact of the racket with said tip portion to sense the impact to supply power to the light emitting member to emit light;

said light assembly comprising a timer assembly, said timer assembly being operationally coupled between said impact sensor and said light emitting member, said timer assembly being for controlling the amount of time power flows to said light emitting member to emit light when said impact sensor sense the impact of said tip portion with the racket; and

said tip portion of said body member comprising a semi-transparent material, said semi-transparent material being adapted for letting light emitted from said light assembly to be viewed by the user.