Ball identifying device

• US 20040048686A1
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Topgolf Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Thirkettle, John S., Jolliffe, David V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/08 by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes

Abstract

A device (80) for reading a coded golf ball (40) comprises a helical track (82) on the inside or outside of a cylindrical housing (81), the track serving to change the orientation of the ball relative to an antenna coil (85) to ensure that the code is read. The track may be arranged horizontally and rotated by a motor; a flap (30) may be provided to avoid balls following each other too closely onto the helical track. Alternatively the track may be arranged vertically and the balls may fall under gravity.

Claims

1. A device for recording the code of a coded spherical object (41, 61) as it is moving comprising a sensing member (85) and a path (17, 63, 82, 92) for conveying objects through or past the member, characterised in that the means defining the path includes a helical track along which the objects are constrained to move.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the code is stored in an r.f. identification tag contained within the object and the sensing member (85) is an antenna having coils passing around and/or along the helical track.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the helical track is part of a driven member operated by a motor.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the driven member extends horizontally.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the inlet of the helical track is configured to admit only one object (41) at a time.

6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a spring-biased member (30) is provided to restrict a following object (42) from entering the track.

7. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the axis of the helical track is arranged vertically.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the helical track (82, 92) is arranged on the inside of a cylindrical (81) or frusto-conical (91) member.

9. A method of ensuring that the code of a coded spherical object (40) can be read by a sensing member (85) comprising moving the object along a helical track and at the same time through or past the sensing member.