Light-emitting golf ball

• US 20030236136A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Golf Art Innovation NV
• Original Assignee: Golf Art Innovation NV
• Inventors: Dijkgraaf, Ruud, Moot, Ger
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0097 Layers interlocking by means of protrusions or inserts, lattices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A light-emitting golf ball for use in the dark, comprises a spherical body made from a transparent material with an outer casing, and light-emitting means containing chemiluminescent components made from a chemiluminescent material, which components emit light once they have been mixed with one another. The spherical body is provided with a cavity in which there are compartments which are separated from one another by a partition element. One of the chemiluminescent components is accommodated in each compartment. The partition element is of frangible design, in such a manner that an impact load exerted on the outer casing causes the partition element to break, after which the chemiluminescent components can mix with one another.

Claims

1. Light-emitting golf ball for use in the dark, comprising:

a spherical body made from a transparent material with an outer casing, the outer casing being fully closed; and

a light-emitting means containing chemiluminescent components made from a chemiluminescent material, which components emit light once they have been mixed with one another;

wherein said spherical body is provided with a cavity in which there are compartments which are separated from one another by a partition element,

one of said chemiluminescent components being accommodated in each compartment, and

said partition element being of frangible design,

in such a manner that an impact load exerted on said outer casing causes said partition element to break, after which said chemiluminescent components can mix with one another.

2. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which the impact load required to break said partition element is greater than 1000 N.

3. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which said partition element bears against at least one location of said spherical body, in such a manner that deformation of said spherical body caused by an impact load exerted on said outer casing breaks said partition element.

4. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 3, in which said partition element is in the form of a disc and bears in a sealed manner against the wall of the cavity all the way around.

5. Light-emitting golf ball according of claim 1, in which said partition element surrounds at least one of said compartments.

6. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 5, in which said partition element in said cavity is supported on support points which project inwards from the wall of said cavity, and wherein the support points act to break the partition element when the impact load is exerted on the outer casing.

7. Light emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which said partition element is made from a brittle frangible material.

8. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which said cavity is formed and positioned around the mass centre of the golf ball that the principle axes of inertia substantially remain the same.

9. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which said partition element is provided with at least one weakened section.

10. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which said spherical body comprises two shell halves which are connected to one another.

11. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 10, in which said shell halves are symmetrical.

12. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which the wall of said cavity is provided with a chemically resistant coating.

13. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which said spherical body comprises a flexible core body and a relatively hard outer shell.

17. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which a capsule of frangible design is placed in said cavity, said capsule being filled with one of said chemiluminescent components, said cavity around said capsule being at least partially filled with said other chemiluminescent component.

18. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 17, in which said capsule is positioned between support ribs projecting inwardly from the wall around said cavity.

19. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 18, in which strengthening ribs are provided between said support ribs.

20. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1, in which a capsule of frangible design is placed in said cavity, said capsule comprising two compartments separated by a partition element, each compartment being filled with one of said chemiluminescent components.

21. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 20, in which said capsule is positioned between support ribs projecting inwardly from the wall around said cavity.

22. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 20, in which strengthening ribs are provided between said support ribs.

14. Method for activating a light-emitting golf ball for use in the dark, the golf ball comprising:

a spherical body made from a transparent material with an outer casing; and

light emitting means containing chemiluminescent components made from a chemiluminescent material, which components emit light once they have been mixed with one another;

wherein said spherical body is provided with a cavity in which there are compartments which are separated from one another by a partition element, one of said chemiluminescent components being accommodated in each said compartment, and

said partition element being of frangible design, in which activation is achieved by exerting an impact load on said outer casing, causing said partition element to break, after which said chemiluminescent components can mix with one another.

15. Method according to claim 14, in which the impact load is derived from the ball being hit with a golf club.

16. Light-emitting golf ball for use in the dark, comprising:

a spherical body made from a transparent material with an outer casing; and

a light-emitting means containing chemiluminescent components made from a chemiluminescent material, which components emit light once they have been mixed with one another;

wherein said spherical body is provided with a cavity in which there are compartments which are separated from one another by a partition element, and in which said cavity is formed and positioned around the mass center of the golf ball such that the principle axes of inertia substantially remain the same,

one of said chemiluminescent components being accommodated in each compartment, and

said partition element being of frangible design,

in such a manner that an impact load exerted on said outer casing causes said partition element to break, after which said chemiluminescent components can mix with one another.

23. An illuminated golf ball comprising:

a fully closed outer shell made from a transparent material;

a core body made from a transparent material, the core body comprising a first shell half and a second shell half;

the first shell half having a cavity recess having a diameter;

the second shell half having a cavity recess having a diameter;

a partition element having a diameter greater than that of the diameter of the first shell half cavity recess and the second shell half cavity recess;

the partition element being placed between the first shell half cavity recess and the second shell half cavity recess as to separate them;

wherein the first shell half recess contains a first chemiluminescent material and the second shell half contain a second chemiluminescent material; and

wherein the partition element is of a frangible design such that when a golf club strikes the outer shell of the golf ball, the partition element breaks, after which said first and second chemiluminescent materials can mix with one another.

24. The illuminated golf ball of claim 23 wherein:

the first shell half further comprises a first partition receiving shelf adjacent to the first shell half cavity recess;

the second shell half further comprises a second partition receiving shelf adjacent to the second shell half cavity recess; and

wherein the partition element is received by the first and second receiving shelves.

25. The illuminated golf ball of claim 24 wherein the partition element is a disc.

26. The illuminated golf ball of claim 23 wherein the first shell half further comprises a plurality of projections and projection recesses and the second shell half further comprises a plurality of projections and projection recesses, wherein the projections of the first shell half are received in the projection recesses of the second shell half, and the projections of the second shell half are received in the projection recesses first shell half.

27. An illuminated golf ball comprising:

a fully closed outer shell made from a transparent material;

a core body made from a transparent material, the core body comprising a first shell half and a second shell half;

the first shell half having a cavity recess and a plurality of inwardly projecting conical support points;

the second shell half having a cavity recess and a plurality of inwardly projecting conical support points;

a spherical partition element which rests on the conical support points of the first and second shell halves, the spherical partition element defining a first cavity within the spherical partition element, and a second cavity between the spherical partition element and the first and second cavity recesses;

wherein the first cavity contains a first chemiluminescent material and the second cavity contains a second chemiluminescent material; and

wherein the spherical partition element is of a frangible design such that when a golf club strikes the outer shell of the golf ball, the partition element breaks, after which said first and second chemiluminescent materials can mix with one another.

28. The illuminated golf ball of claim 27 wherein the first shell half further comprises a plurality of projections and projection recesses and the second shell half further comprises a plurality of projections and projection recesses, wherein the projections of the first shell half are received in the projection recesses of the second shell half, and the projections of the second shell half are received in the projection recesses first shell half.

29. An illuminated golf ball comprising:

a fully closed outer shell made from a transparent material;

a core body made from a transparent material, the core body comprising an outer shell, a first inner shell half, a second inner shell half, a first housing part and a second housing part;

the outer shell enclosing the first and second inner shell halves, the first inner shell half having a cavity recess;

the second inner shell half having a cavity recess;

the first housing part having a cavity recess and an inwardly projecting support ring;

the second housing part having a cavity recess and an inwardly projecting support ring;

a capsule received by the inwardly projecting support rings of the first and second housing parts;

the capsule defining a first cavity within the capsule, and a second cavity between the outside of the capsule and the cavity recesses of the first and second housings;

wherein the cavity recess of the first inner shell half receives the first housing part, and the cavity recess of the second inner shell half receives the second housing part;

wherein the first cavity contains a first chemiluminescent material and the second cavity contains a second chemiluminescent material; and

wherein the capsule is of a frangible design such that when a golf club strikes the outer shell of the golf ball, the capsule breaks, after which said first and second chemiluminescent materials can mix with one another.

30. The illuminated golf ball of claim 29 wherein the second inner shell half further comprises a connecting ring and the first inner shell half further comprises a receiving ring recess which receives the connecting ring of the second inner shell half.

31. An illuminated golf ball comprising:

a fully closed outer shell made from a transparent material;

a core body made from a transparent material, the core body comprising a first shell half and a second shell half;

the first shell half having a plurality of inwardly projecting support ribs and a plurality of inwardly projecting strengthening ribs which define a first support cavity and a first recess cavity;

the second shell half having a plurality of inwardly projecting support ribs and a plurality of inwardly projecting strengthening ribs which define a second support cavity and a second recess cavity;

a capsule received by the first and second support cavities;

wherein the capsule contains a first chemiluminescent material and the first and second recess cavities contain a second chemiluminescent material; and

wherein the capsule is of a frangible design such that when a golf club strikes the outer shell of the golf ball, the capsule breaks, after which said first and second chemiluminescent materials can mix with one another.