Golf ball with piezoelectric material

• US 8,747,241 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Molinari, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Tramar
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH-VO V
• Application Number:
  US12/722,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 473/200, 473/199, 473/131, 463/3
• US Class Current: 473/131
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/10 Golf tees

Abstract

A golf ball including a piezoelectric material allows the characteristics of the golf ball to be changed by application of an electric current. An electric current may be applied to the piezoelectric material prior to impact of the golf ball by the golf club using a golf tee with a power source. An electric current may be applied to the piezoelectric material after impact of the golf ball by the golf club and during flight of the golf ball. By selectively applying or removing electric current prior to, during, or after impact with the golf club, the characteristics of the golf ball may be changed and the flight path characteristics of the golf ball may be altered.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a golf ball including a piezoelectric material layer;

a golf tee including;

an upper surface configured to support the golf ball;

a first contact member and a second contact member, each being respectively disposed on the upper surface;

a power source coupled to each of the first contact member and second contact member;

wherein the power source selectively applies an electric current to the piezoelectric material layer via the first contact member and the second contact member; and

wherein the piezoelectric material layer either radially contracts or radially expands in response to the applied electric current.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material layer comprises polyvinylidene fluoride material.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material layer comprises a cover of the golf ball.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the golf ball further comprises:

a processor;

an energy storage device; and

wherein the processor is adapted to subject the piezoelectric material layer to an electric current for a predetermined period of time.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one of a battery and a capacitor.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor for detecting a swinging motion of a golf club;

a processor in communication with the sensor and the golf tee;

and wherein the processor controls the power source to subject the piezoelectric material layer to the electric current in response to receiving a signal from the sensor detecting the swinging motion of the golf club.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a cover of the golf ball comprises a conductive material.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material layer radially contracts in response to the applied electric current;

and

wherein the radial contraction increases a hardness of the golf ball.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the increase in the hardness of the golf ball alters an impact characteristic of the golf ball when struck by a golf club;

and

wherein the impact characteristic includes at least one of an amount of deformation of the golf ball, a resultant ball speed, and an amount of ball spin.