Golf ball heater

• US 7,138,613 B1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winterplay, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Winterplay, Inc.
• Inventors: Walsh, Scott Michael, White, George Matthew, Nichols, James Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Robin O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, VINOD D
• Application Number:
  US11/193,784
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 219/521, 219/385, 219/386, 219/392, 219/523, 219/528, 219/529
• US Class Current: 219/521
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/005 Ball heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/00 Ohmic-resistance heating

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a golf ball heater comprising a rectangular container, the interior of which is outfitted with at least one heating element and rails for holding golf balls. One end of the container includes a sliding door for retrieving a heated golf ball. On one side of the container, a control box is outfitted with circuitry to cooperatively work with sensors in the container for purposes of selectively activating the heating element(s) according to whether or not the sliding door is open or shut and whether or not the temperature inside the container is within the optimal temperature range.

Claims

1. A golf ball heating device comprising:

a container having an interior outfitted with rails for holding golf balls and at least one heating element;

a sliding door at one end of the container;

a temperature sensitive sensor located within the interior of the container;

a push button lock mechanism equipped to selectively preclude the at least one heating element from receiving power;

a door open sensor for detecting whether or not the sliding door is in an open or closed position; and

a control box affixed to the container and including;

voltage regulator circuitry electrically connected to the at least one heating element and equipped to receive power from an external power source; and

control circuitry in electrical communication with each of the voltage regulator circuitry, the temperature sensitive sensor and the door open sensor.

2. The golf ball heating device of claim 1 further comprising means for indicating that the temperature in the interior of the container is within a desired temperature range.

3. The golf ball heating device of claim 1 further comprising an LED temperature display for displaying the temperature inside the container.

4. A golf ball heating system comprising:

a golf cart having one or more batteries and a power outlet coupled to the one or more batteries;

a container having an interior outfitted with rails for holding golf balls and at least one heating element;

a sliding door at one end of the container;

a temperature sensitive sensor located within the interior of the container;

a push button lock mechanism equipped to selectively preclude the at least one heating element from receiving power;

a door open sensor for detecting whether or not the sliding door is in an open or closed position; and

a control box affixed to the container and including;

voltage regulator circuitry electrically connected to the at least one heating element and equipped to receive power from an external power source; and

control circuitry in electrical communication with each of the voltage regulator circuitry, the temperature sensitive sensor and the door open sensor.

5. The golf ball heating system of claim 4 further comprising means for indicating that the temperature in the interior of the container is within a desired temperature range.

6. The golf ball heating system of claim 4 further comprising an LED temperature display for displaying the temperature inside the container.

7. A golf ball heating system comprising:

a portable battery pack having one or more batteries and a power outlet coupled to the one or more batteries;

a container having an interior outfitted with rails for holding golf balls and at least one heating element;

a sliding door at one end of the container;

a temperature sensitive sensor located within the interior of the container;

a push button lock mechanism equipped to selectively preclude the at least one heating element from receiving power;

a door open sensor for detecting whether or not the sliding door is in an open or closed position; and

a control box affixed to the container and including;

voltage regulator circuitry electrically connected to the at least one heating element and equipped to receive power from an external power source; and

control circuitry in electrical communication with each of the voltage regulator circuitry, the temperature sensitive sensor and the door open sensor.

8. The golf ball heating system of claim 7 further comprising means for indicating that the temperature in the interior of the container is within a desired temperature range.

9. The golf ball heating system of claim 7 further comprising an LED temperature display for displaying the temperature inside the container.