Light-emitting golf ball

• US 7,156,754 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Golf Art Innovation NV
• Original Assignee: Golf Art Innovation NV
• Inventors: Dijkgraaf, Ruud, Moot, Ger
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIMIEW, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US10/414,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351, 473/354, 473/353
• US Class Current: 473/354
• 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 the partition element is a capsule of frangible design,the inside of said capsule defining one of the compartments being filled with one of said chemiluminescent components, and the space between the outside of said capsule and said cavity defining the other compartment which is at least partially filled with said other chemiluminescent component.

14. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 13, in which said capsule is positioned between support ribs projecting inwardly from the wall around said cavity.

15. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 14, in which strengthening ribs projecting inwardly from the wall of the cavity are provided between said support ribs.

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

a spherical body comprising a fully closed outer casing, the outer casing being made of a transparent material;

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

wherein the outer casing is provided with a cavity having a wall, wherein 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;

said partition element being of frangible design, wherein when an impact load exerted on said outer casing causes said partition element to break, after which said chemiluminescent components can mix with one another.

17. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 16, in which said capsule is positioned between support ribs projecting inwardly from the wall around said cavity.

18. Light-emitting golf ball according to claim 16, in which strengthening ribs projecting inwardly from the wall of the cavity are provided between said support ribs.

19. An illuminated golf ball comprising:

a spherical body made from a transparent material;

the spherical 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.