Golf ball with textual instructions positioned thereon

• US 6,852,039 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen H Pettigrew, Victoria I. Pettigrew
• Original Assignee: Stephen H Pettigrew, Victoria I. Pettigrew
• Inventors: Pettigrew, Victoria I., Pettigrew, Stephen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US09/808,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20010036870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 473/219, 473/266, 473/351, 473/280, 403/27
• US Class Current: 473/280
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3655 Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3688 Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor

Abstract

The present invention includes an instructional golf ball including a spherical body having an outer surface with a plurality of dimples formed therein. Situated on the outer surface of the body is instructional indicia. Such instructional indicia include text for providing guidance as to the manner in which a user should play the golf ball. During use, a user might read the instructional indicia while addressing the golf ball, and address and/or strike the golf ball in the manner indicated by the instructional indicia.

Claims

1. An instructional golf ball, comprising:

a spherical body having an outer surface with a plurality of dimples formed thereon;

instructional indicia situated on the outer surface of the body, the instructional indicia including the text to indicate that the putt target marking is the point on the golf ball to be struck when putting; and

positioning indicia situated on the outer surface of the body in specific relation to the instructional indicia for facilitating the placement of the body prior to being played such that the instructional indicia is easily read;

wherein the specific relation of the positioning of the instructional indicia and the positioning indicia ensures that the instructional indicia is capable of being read from left to right by a user addressing the golf ball when the positioning indicia is positioned at an apex of the golf ball and directed in a direction of a target, thereby providing an instructional reminder while the user addresses the golf ball;

wherein a pair of spaced bands flank an equator of the body of the golf ball, and a putt target marking is situated on the equator of the body between the bands, wherein the putt target marking is adapted for indicating a point on the golf ball to be struck when putting, and the bands indicate any spin associated with the golf ball when putting, wherein the text indicates that the putt target marking is the point on the golf ball to be struck when putting.

2. An instructional golf ball, comprising:

a spherical body having an outer surface with a plurality of dimples formed

thereon;

instructional indicia situated on the outer surface of the body, the instructional indicia including text for providing guidance as to the manner in which the golf ball should be played, and positioning indicia situated on the outer surface of the body in specific relation to the instructional indicia for facilitating the placement of the body prior to being played such that the instructional indicia is easily read;

wherein the specific relation of the positioning of the instructional indicia and the positioning indicia ensures that the instructional indicia is capable of being read from left to right by a user addressing the golf ball when the positioning indicia is positioned at an apex of the golf ball and directed in a direction of a target, thereby providing an instructional reminder while the user addresses the golf ball;

wherein a drive target marking is situated on the body of the golf ball, wherein the drive target marking is adapted for indicating a point on the golf ball to be struck when driving;

wherein a tee marking is situated on the body of the golf ball, wherein the tee marking is adapted for indicating a point on the golf ball to be positioned on a tee when driving, and wherein the text indicates that the drive target marking is the point on the golf ball to be struck.

3. A method of improving the manner in which a golf ball is played by a user during golf, comprising:

placing a golf ball on a ground surface, the golf ball including a spherical body having an outer surface with a plurality of dimples formed thereon;

reading instructional indicia situated on the outer surface of the body, wherein the instructional indicia includes text for providing guidance as to the manner in which the golf ball should be played by a user; and

playing the golf ball in the manner indicated by the instructional indicia, wherein positioning indicia is situated on the outer surface of the body in specific relation to the instructional indicia for facilitating the placement of the body prior to being played such that the instructional indicia is easily read by the user, the specific relation of the positioning of the instructional indicia and the positioning indicia ensuring that the instructional indicia is capable of being read from left to right by the user addressing the golf ball when the positioning indicia is positioned at an apex of the golf ball and directed in a direction of a target, thereby providing an instructional reminder while the user addresses the golf ball;

wherein a pair of spaced bands flank an equator of the body of the golf ball, and a putt target marking is situated on the equator of the body between the bands, and further comprising using the putting, and the using the bands to detect any spin associated with the golf ball when putting, and wherein the text indicates that the putt target marking is the point on the golf ball to be struck when putting.

4. A method of improving the manner in which a golf ball is played by a user during golf, comprising:

placing a golf ball on a ground surface, the golf ball including a spherical body having an outer surface with a plurality of dimples formed thereon;

reading instructional indicia situated on the outer surface of the body, wherein the instructional indicia includes text for providing guidance ms to the manner in which the golf ball should be played by a user; and

playing the golf ball in the manner indicated by the instructional indicia, wherein positioning indicia is situated on the outer surface of the body in specific relation to the instructional indicia for facilitating the placement of the body prior to being played such that the instructional indicia is easily read by the user, the specific relation of the positioning of the instructional indicia and the positioning indicia ensuring that the instructional indicia is capable of being read from left to right by the user addressing the golf ball when the positioning indicia is positioned at an apex of the golf ball and directed in a direction of a target, thereby providing an instructional reminder while the user addresses the golf ball;

wherein a drive target marking is situated on the body of the golf ball, and further comprising using the drive target marking to determine a point on the golf ball to be struck when driving;

wherein a tee marking is situated on the body of the golf ball, and further comprising using the tee marking to determine a point on the golf ball to be positioned on a tee when driving, and wherein the text indicates that the drive target marking is the point on the golf ball to be struck when driving.