Chemiluminescent golf ball

• US 7,140,972 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Twilight Golf Balls LLC
• Original Assignee: Twilight Golf Balls LLC
• Inventors: Schoenfeld, Matthew, Redwine, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US09/927,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20030176240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 473/510, 273/DIG.24
• US Class Current: 473/280
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

An illuminated golf ball comprised of an outer translucent layer and cover, and a spherical inner core of translucent plastic, filled with chemiluminescent liquid, such as Cyalume.TM. The two components of the chemiluminescent liquid are held separate by a membrane or partition within the inner core. The chemiluminescent liquids are activated by being mixed with each other by the pulling of a cord, or the pulling or pushing of metal pin, or by impact from a golf club, which breaks or tears the membrane or partition. In a preferred form the golf ball will be made to comply with USGA guidelines. Thus, the golf ball will provide improved visibility in low light conditions and be of near equal weight distribution to provide performance and flight characteristics similar to standard, non-luminescent, golf balls.

Claims

1. A spherical, luminescent golf ball comprising:

a spherical outer layer of a translucent polymer material, allowing for transmission and diffusion of light, said spherical outer layer having a first spherical center;

a substantially inner chamber comprising a first hemisphere having a first liquid compound, a second hemisphere having a second liquid compound, and a planar circular portioning element configured to border said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere;

said planar circular partitioning element separating said first hemisphere and said second hemisphere, said planar circular partitioning element configured to rupture when sufficient external force is applied to said golf ball, thereby allowing said first liquid compound and said second liquid compound to mix and form a chemiluminescent liquid mixture that produces light energy;

a cord coupled to the planar circular partitioning element, said cord configured to provide said sufficient external force to said ball by mechanically displacing and rupturing said planar circular portioning element; and

said substantially inner chamber having a second spherical center that coincides with the first spherical center of the spherical outer layer, which is configured to provide substantially even weight distribution through said ball.