Method and apparatus for locating and recording the position of a golf ball during a golf game

• US 7,207,902 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas B. Hamlin
• Original Assignee: Thomas B. Hamlin
• Inventors: Hamlin, Thomas B
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kim
• Application Number:
  US11/005,432
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 473/200, 473/353, 473/407, 473/570, 473/571
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus for locating a golf ball during play of a golf game includes a golf ball having a passive transmitter and a mechanism for sensing environmental conditions positioned therein. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for determining and providing a location of the golf ball. A hand-held unit is further provided. The hand held unit includes a mechanism for enabling at least one of the passive transmitter and the environmental sensing mechanism contained within the golf ball. A receiver is contained within the hand-held unit for receiving a location signal from the determining and providing mechanisms. A mechanism positioned on the hand-held unit for indicating to a golfer the location of the golf ball. Upon the location being indicated, the environmental sensing mechanism is able to selectively determine conditions corresponding to the location and provide the conditions to the hand-held unit for further indication to golfer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for locating a golf ball during play of a golf game comprising:

a) a golf ball having a passive transmitter and means for sensing environmental conditions positioned therein;

b) means for determining and providing a location of said golf ball;

c) a hand-held unit comprising means for enabling at least one of the passive transmitter and the environmental sensing means contained within the golf ball;

d) a receiver contained within said hand-held unit for receiving a location signal from said determining and providing means; and

e) means positioned on said hand-held unit for indicating to a golfer said location of said golf ball, wherein upon said location being indicated, said environmental sensing means is able to selectively determine conditions corresponding to said location and provide said conditions to said hand-held unit for further indication to said golfer;

wherein said environmental sensing means selectively determines said conditions by sensing a pressure value exerted by a surface on said golf ball, and wherein said hand-held unit further comprises a processor for comparing the sensed pressure value with a known pressure value corresponding to a plurality of surfaces.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said surface is at least one of mud, dirt, wet sand, dry sand, dry grass, wet grass, water.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of surfaces is at least one of mud, dirt, wet sand, dry sand, dry grass, wet grass, water.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said environment sensing means is further able to sense a type of club used to strike said golf ball.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising means for compiling and providing information to at least one said golfer and a subsequent golfer that is not in an immediate proximity of said golfer.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said information compiled by said compiling and providing means includes at least one of a weather condition, said location, said conditions, and said type of golf club.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein upon said information being provided to said golfer by said compiling and providing means, said golfer is able to analyze prior actions taken while playing a respective hole on a golf course.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein upon said information being provided to said golfer by said compiling and providing means, said golfer is able to at least one of transmit and store said information for later analysis and use.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein upon said information being provided to said subsequent golfer by said compiling and providing means, said subsequent golfer is alerted to said conditions and is able to selectively adjust the play on said course.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for enabling the passive transmitter includes a transmitter for generating an electromagnetic wave for energizing said passive transmitter to emit a modulated frequency signal.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the indicating means includes a receiver for receiving the said modulated frequency signal.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said indicating means is a visual indicator that flashes upon said hand-held unit receiving said modulated frequency signal from said golf ball.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said visual indicator is caused to flash at a greater frequency upon a determination by said determining and providing means that a distance between said golfer and said golf ball is decreasing.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said indicating means is an audible indicator that emits a sound when said hand-held unit receives said modulated frequency signal from said golf ball.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein a volume of said sound increases upon a determination by said determining and providing means that a distance between said golfer and said golf ball is decreasing.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the hand-held unit has a switch for muting the audible indicator.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory unit for storing said location and said conditions therein.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said indicating means is a LCD display.