Method And Apparatus For Smoke Emitting Golf Ball

• US 20120264540A1
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Chen-Tai, Hung, Chun-Te, Liao, Cheng-Hao
• Granted Patent: US 8,556,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0602 Non-electronic means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0056 Hollow; Gas-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/007 Characteristics of the ball as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for causing smoke to emit from a golf ball. In one embodiment, when a partition is removed and a threshold pressure has been met, a chemical reaction may occur between solid compositions. In another embodiment, when a threshold pressure is met to allow a liquid composition to be released from a check valve, a reaction may occur between the liquid composition and a separate solid or liquid composition. In either case, the chemical reaction may result in smoke being emitted from the golf ball, thereby helping a golfer find the ball. The golf ball may be capable of multiple emissions of smoke intermittently.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the visibility of a golf ball, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a golf ball configured to emit smoke produced by the reaction of a chemical composition contained within the golf ball, wherein the smoke is emitted after each of several club strikes;

directing a user to cause a reaction with a first portion of the chemical composition to produce the smoke for a first strike; and

directing a user to cause a reaction with a second portion of the chemical composition to produce the smoke for a second strike.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of directing the user to cause a reaction includes directing the user to remove a removable partition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of directing the user to cause a reaction includes directing the user to hit the golf ball with a force sufficient to create an internal pressure in the golf ball, wherein the internal pressure exceeds a threshold pressure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of directing the user to cause a reaction includes directing the user to mix two or more chemical compositions in solid form.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of directing the user to cause a reaction includes directing the user to mix two or more chemical compositions in liquid form.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of directing the user to cause a reaction includes directing the user to mix two or more chemical compositions, wherein at least one of the chemical compositions is in liquid form and at least one of the chemical compositions is in solid form.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of directing the user to cause a reaction includes directing the user to release the first portion through a check valve.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of directing the user to cause a reaction includes directing the user to shake the golf ball.

9. A golf ball capable of emitting smoke, the golf ball comprising:

a cover;

a core;

a chamber, wherein a first portion of the chamber comprises a first composition and a second portion of the chamber comprises a second composition;

one or more check valves, wherein the one or more check valves may release a portion of the first composition from the first portion of the chamber into an area where the portion of the first composition is combined with at least a portion of the second composition;

wherein the combination of the first composition and the second composition causes an emission of smoke;

wherein the golf ball is configured to emit smoke after each of multiple strikes.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the area comprises the second portion of the chamber.

11. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the second composition comprises a liquid composition.

12. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the second composition comprises a solid composition.

13. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the at least one check valve does not open unless an internal golf ball pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure.

14. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the area comprises a mixing chamber.

15. A golf ball comprising:

a cover;

a core;

a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a plurality of solid compositions;

one or more removable partitions elements;

one or more other partition elements;

wherein a striking of the golf ball causes a chemical reaction that generates smoke;

wherein at least one of the removable partition elements is configured to be removed prior to striking the golf ball to cause the chemical reaction;

wherein the golf ball is capable of emitting smoke after multiple strikes.

16. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the chemical reaction removes one or more of the other partition elements.

17. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the chemical reaction occurs when the striking of the golf ball causes a predetermined threshold pressure to be met.

18. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the removable partition element is configured to be removed by being dissolved in a solution.

19. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the removable partition element may be removed by a user manually.

20. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the removable partition element is configured to be removed by being pulled out of the ball or by using a tool.