Golf ball locating system

• US 9,927,525 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Zimmerman
• Original Assignee: Scott Zimmerman
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US14/444,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20150094167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

Disclosed is a golf ball locating system that includes a golf ball having a control circuit therein. The control circuit includes a global positioning system (GPS) chip, a radio frequency transmitter, one or more antennas, and a rechargeable battery. The golf ball is capable of transmitting a signal to a smartphone or similar mobile electronic device having a related software application thereon. The software application indicates the position of the golf ball relative to the user. The software application preferably displays a map of the golf course, and indicates the position of the ball on the course. As the user approaches the golf ball, the mobile electronic device will produce an audible alert, such as a tone, with increasing frequency as the golfer nears his or her golf ball. In this way, a user can easily locate his or her golf ball while golfing.

Claims

1. A golf ball locating system, comprising:

a golf ball comprising a control circuit having a GPS chip, a wireless signal transmitter, and a rechargeable battery;

wherein said GPS chip is adapted to determine a location of said golf ball;

wherein said wireless signal transmitter is adapted to send a signal to a mobile electronic device and is further adapted to communicate said location of said golf ball to said mobile electronic device;

wherein said mobile electronic device is adapted to display a map of a golf course and display said location of said golf ball thereon;

a position of said mobile electronic device displayed on said map of said golf course;

a software application installed on the mobile electronic device configured to perform the steps comprising;

utilizing said golf ball comprising said control circuit;

determining said location of said golf ball by means of said GPS chip;

transmitting said location of said golf ball to said mobile electronic device by means of said wireless signal transmitter;

displaying said map of a golf course on said mobile electronic device;

displaying said location of said golf ball on said map of said golf course;

displaying a location of a pin of a golf hole on said map of said golf course;

determining a distance between said location of said golf ball and said location of said pin;

suggesting a golf club for a user to use based on said distance between said location of said golf ball and said location of said pin.

2. The golf ball locating system of claim 1, wherein said rechargeable battery is adapted to be charged inductively on an inductive charging device.

3. The golf ball locating system of claim 1, wherein said wireless signal transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

4. The golf ball locating system of claim 1, wherein said golf ball comprises an outer shell defining an interior volume, wherein said interior volume comprises an interior layer.

5. The golf ball locating system of claim 1, wherein said control circuit further comprises one or more antennas.

6. A method of locating a golf ball, comprising the steps of:

utilizing a golf ball comprising a control circuit having a GPS chip, a wireless signal transmitter, and a rechargeable battery therein;

determining a location of said golf ball by means of said GPS chip;

transmitting said location of said golf ball to a mobile electronic device by means of said wireless signal transmitter;

displaying a map of a golf course on said mobile electronic device;

displaying said location of said golf ball on said map of said golf course;

displaying a location of a pin of a golf hole on said map of said golf course;

determining a distance between said location of said golf ball and said location of said pin;

suggesting a golf club for a user to use based on said distance between said location of said golf ball and said location of said pin.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

displaying a location of said mobile electronic device on said map of said golf course.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

producing an audible tone by means of said mobile electronic device that increases in frequency as said mobile electronic device is moved towards said location of said golf ball.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said control circuit further comprises one or more antennas.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

receiving a direction and strength of wind conditions as a variable when suggesting a golf club.