Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to findable golf balls

• US 8,425,350 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Topgolf International Inc. (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: RF Corporation
• Inventors: Savarese, Chris, Cadorniga, Lauro C., Fulton, Forrest F., Marshall, Noel H. C., Glissman, John, Gilliland, Kenneth P., Vickers, Marvin L., Latus, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr., William H
• Application Number:
  US13/230,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20110316192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351, 473/353, 473151-156, 473/372, 473/377, 473/409, 473/406, 473198-200, 473/367, 156145-146
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0088 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements

Abstract

Golf balls and a system for finding golf balls and methods for making golf balls and methods for using such balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shell and a tag which is disposed within the core material and which has at least one perforation. The tag includes a diode and an antenna which are coupled together. Another exemplary golf ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased within the shell and a tag which is within the core material and which includes an electrical element which is coupled to an antenna; the tag is detectable over a range of at least 20 feet from a handheld device, and the golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with the golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

Claims

1. A method of making a golf ball, said method comprising:

forming a core precursor member having a first portion and a second portion;

placing a tag between said first portion and said second portion thereby creating a combined member, said tag having at least one perforation;

placing said combined member into a mold structure;

molding said combined member in the mold structure, said molding causing material from one of said first portion and said second portion to flow into said at least one perforation to contact the other of said first portion and said second portion;

enclosing a core member, obtained through said molding, in a shell, wherein said tag is a substantially planar structure which is substantially symmetrical about an axis which coincides with a diametric axis of said golf ball, and

wherein said tag comprises an antenna, said antenna comprising a first wing and a second wing which are symmetrically disposed about said diametric axis, and wherein at least a portion of said at least one perforation separates at least a portion of each of said first wing and said second wing.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said forming comprises splitting said core precursor member to create said first portion and said second portion.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said tag is completely enclosed within said first portion and said second portion.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said forming comprises molding said first portion and said second portion separately.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said molding comprises exposing said combined member to a molding temperature and a molding pressure for a predetermined period of time.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said molding temperature is in a range from about 200°

F. to about 350°

F. and said molding pressure is in a range from about 1,000 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 5,000 psi and said predetermined period of time is in a range from about 1 minute to about 15 minutes.

7. A method as in claim 6 further comprising:

cooling said core member prior to said enclosing.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein said core member is cleaned prior to said enclosing.

9. A method as in claim 6, wherein said molding cures a core material in said first and said second portions.

10. A method as in claim 6 wherein said tag comprises a diode coupled to said antenna, wherein each of said first wing and said second wing has at least a portion of an outer perimeter which substantially conforms to an outer diameter of said core member.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said tag further comprises a transmission line which is coupled to said antenna and to said diode.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said transmission line has a shaped portion which is substantially bisected by said diametric axis.