Illuminated game projectile with external switch access

• US 8,727,919 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Gentile
• Original Assignee: Robert Gentile
• Inventors: Gentile, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US13/550,591
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/571, 473/593, 473/594
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/00 Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/70 with bent or angled lower parts for hitting a ball on the ground, on an ice-covered surface, or in the air, e.g. for hockey or hurling

Abstract

An illuminated game projectile with external switch access with a casing, a light source structure within the casing, and an actuating rod or other mechanism for actuating an actuation mechanism of the light source structure from external to the casing. The game projectile casing can be spherical, and the actuation switch can be a depression switch. The actuating rod can have a first end adjacent to the exterior surface of the casing and a second end adjacent to the switch. The casing can alternatively be disk shaped as with a hockey puck or football shaped with first and second ends and a bulbous mid portion. With a puck shape, actuation can be effected by pressing on a face of the puck to press the switch. With a football shape, actuation can be effected by pressing on an end of the football to press the switch.

Claims

1. An illuminated game projectile with external switch access, the game projectile comprising:

a game projectile casing with an exterior surface wherein the game projectile casing comprises a spherical casing;

a light source structure disposed within the game projectile casing, the light source structure comprising a light source, a power source, and an actuation mechanism; and

means for actuating the actuation mechanism from external to the game projectile casing wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a depression switch that can be actuated between on and off actuating conditions by a selective depressing of the switch;

wherein the light source structure is centrally disposed within the game projectile casing;

wherein the means for actuating the actuation mechanism from external to the game projectile casing comprises a substantially rigid actuating rod with a body portion, a first end adjacent to the exterior surface of the game projectile casing, and a second end adjacent to the depression switch;

wherein the game projectile casing has a radial access conduit that receives the actuating rod;

a plurality of peripheral surface deviations spaced along the body portion of the actuating rod to engage positively and grip the access conduit;

wherein the game projectile casing has a substantially solid core with a light source reception cavity disposed therewithin that retains the light source structure wherein the actuating rod and the surface deviations spaced along the body portion of the actuating rod are in direct contact with the substantially solid core of the game projectile casing over at least a portion of the radial access conduit.

2. The game projectile of claim 1 wherein the light source structure is substantially concentrically retained within the game projectile casing.

5. The game projectile of claim 1 wherein the peripheral surface deviations spaced along the body portion of the actuating rod comprise serrations spaced along the body portion of the actuating rod.

6. The game projectile of claim 5 wherein the serrations spaced along the body portion of the actuating rod comprise threads along the body portion of the actuating rod.

3. An illuminated game projectile with external switch access, the game projectile comprising:

a game projectile casing with an exterior surface wherein the game projectile casing comprises a spherical casing;

a light source structure disposed within the game projectile casing, the light source structure comprising a light source, a power source, and an actuation mechanism; and

means for actuating the actuation mechanism from external to the game projectile casing wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a depression switch that can be actuated between on and off actuating conditions by a selective depressing of the switch;

wherein the light source structure is centrally disposed within the game projectile casing;

wherein the means for actuating the actuation mechanism from external to the game projectile casing comprises a substantially rigid actuating rod with a body portion, a first end adjacent to the exterior surface of the game projectile casing, and a second end adjacent to the depression switch;

wherein the game projectile casing has a radial access conduit that receives the actuating rod;

a plurality of peripheral surface deviations spaced along the body portion of the actuating rod to engage positively and grip the access conduit;

wherein the game projectile casing has a substantially solid core with a light source reception cavity disposed therewithin that retains the light source structure;

wherein the light source structure has a main body portion wherein the light source projects substantially concentrically from a first side of the main body portion and wherein the depression switch is substantially concentrically disposed to a second, opposite side of the main body and

wherein the light source reception cavity has a main cavity that retains the main body portion of the light source structure and a substantially concentric light source reception cavity that receives the light source wherein the light source reception cavity has a base portion that acts as an annular shoulder for supporting the main body portion of the light source structure.

4. The game projectile of claim 3 further comprising an end cap disposed over the first end of the actuating rod wherein the end cap has a base wall contiguous with the exterior surface of the game projectile casing and wherein the end cap has a convex end cap that substantially matches the exterior surface of the game projectile casing in shape.