LIGHT EMITTING GOLF BALL

• US 20090062033A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumica Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lumica Corporation
• Inventors: Harada, Shiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,833,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0056 Hollow; Gas-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0097 Layers interlocking by means of protrusions or inserts, lattices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A light-emitting golf ball is provided. The light-emitting golf ball is characterized in that hemispherical first hollow portions extend from the surface toward the center of a core, second hollow portions having a diameter less than that of the first hollow portions extend from bottom zones of the first hollow portions toward the center of the core, narrow holes extend through the core from the second hollow portions to portions of the core that are opposed to the second hollow portions, a ball body includes a transparent cover layer extending over the core surface, chemical light-emitting bodies include sealed vessels made of a flexible transparent material, the sealed vessels have cylindrical portions and round light-emitting portions having a diameter greater than that of the cylindrical portions, the cylindrical portions are tightly fit in the second hollow portions, and the light-emitting portions are fit in the first hollow portions. The light-emitting golf ball has a brightness greater than that of conventional light-emitting golf balls and therefore can be visually identified from a distance. The light-emitting golf ball can be used many times by replacing the chemical light-emitting bodies with other ones. The balance of the ball is well maintained and therefore the flying performance thereof is not deteriorated.

Claims

1. A light-emitting golf ball characterized in that first hollow portions extend from the surface toward the center of a core and are arranged at equal intervals, second hollow portions having a diameter less than that of the first hollow portions extend from bottom zones of the first hollow portions toward the center of the core, narrow holes extend through the core from the second hollow portions to portions of the core that are opposed to the second hollow portions, chemical light-emitting bodies include sealed vessels made of a flexible transparent material and sealed glass vessels accommodated in the sealed vessels and are detachable from the core, the sealed vessels have cylindrical portions and round light-emitting portions having a diameter greater than that of the cylindrical portions and contain a first chemical that exhibits chemiluminescence when being mixed with another chemical, the sealed glass vessels are filled with a second chemical, the cylindrical portions are tightly fit in the second hollow portions, and the light-emitting portions are fit in the first hollow portions.

3. The light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the walls of the first hollow portions are overlaid with light-reflecting layers.

4. The light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the core is molded from a white material or a whitish material.

5. The light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second chemical enclosed in the sealed glass vessels contains a solvent, an oxalic ester, and a phosphor;

one portion of the oxalic ester and the phosphor are dissolved in the solvent;

the other portion of the oxalic ester is present in a solid form such as a powder form or a crystalline form; and

the first chemical which is placed outside the glass vessels and which is contained in the vessels is an oxidizing liquid.

6. The light-emitting golf ball according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second chemical enclosed in the sealed glass vessels contains no solvent but an oxalic ester and a phosphor;

the oxalic ester and the phosphor are present in a solid form such as a powder form or a crystalline form; and

the first chemical which is placed outside the glass vessels and which is contained in the vessels is an oxidizing liquid.

2. A light-emitting golf ball characterized in that hemispherical first hollow portions extend from the surface toward the center of a core and are arranged at equal intervals, second hollow portions having a diameter less than that of the first hollow portions extend from bottom zones of the first hollow portions toward the center of the core, narrow holes extend through the core from the second hollow portions to portions of the core that are opposed to the second hollow portions, a ball body includes a transparent or translucent cover layer extending over the core surface and surfaces of the first hollow portions, chemical light-emitting bodies include sealed vessels made of a flexible transparent material and sealed glass vessels accommodated in the sealed vessels and are detachable from the core, the sealed vessels have cylindrical portions and round light-emitting portions having a diameter greater than that of the cylindrical portions and contain a first chemical that exhibits chemiluminescence when being mixed with another chemical, the sealed glass vessels are filled with a second chemical, the cylindrical portions are tightly fit in the second hollow portions, and the light-emitting portions are fit in the first hollow portions.