US20050261083A1

US20050261083A1 - Modified ball structure

Info

Publication number: US20050261083A1
Application number: US10/851,197
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Wei Liao
Original assignee: Foremost Sporting Goods Mfg Ltd
Current assignee: Foremost Sporting Goods Mfg Ltd
Priority date: 2004-05-24
Filing date: 2004-05-24
Publication date: 2005-11-24

Abstract

A modified ball structure has a base, a transparent hard inner body, a light emission control module, a transparent rubbery intermediate body and a spherical transparent outer body. An accommodation room is disposed on the base for installing the light emission control module thereon. More than two fixing components are annularly disposed outside the accommodation room. The transparent rubbery intermediate body is a soft rubber with resilience and shock-absorbing effect, and sheathes the surface of the transparent hard inner body. The spherical transparent outer body is a plastic body with a low flying resistance coefficient, and sheathes the surface of the transparent rubbery intermediate body. A better performance of the ball can be thus accomplished through the design of the three-layered structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modified ball structure and, more particularly, to a ball structure providing a golf ball with a better performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Because conventional golf balls can't emit light, they have the following disadvantages:

- (1) When playing golf at night, even if there is illumination, the light is still limited so that one can't determine flying direction and distance of a struck golf ball. A beginner can't thus perceive correctness when striking a ball. That is, a conventional golf ball can't help a golfer to examine where he or she makes errors.
- (2) When playing golf at night, if a golf ball lands in a place having poor illumination, the ball is difficult to find.
- (3) If a ball is struck into a bush or water, the ball is very difficult to find because the light is too dim to have a good line of vision.

Therefore, if one can design out a golf ball capable of emitting light, the above problems can be solved. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a golf ball capable of emitting light has been proposed, with an integrally formed and fixed light emission controller 65 disposed in a transparent inner body 60, and a rubbery transparent outer body 70 then integrally formed on the periphery of the transparent inner body 60. An integral structure of the transparent inner body 60, the light emission controller 65 and the transparent outer body 70 is thus formed.
A circuit board 66 is disposed in the above light emission controller 65. The circuit board 66 has a strike detection switch 67 thereon. The strike detection switch 67 is composed of a metallic shell and a metallic resilient component. The metallic resilient component will be flexed when subjected to a force with a certain strength, and won't be flexed when subjected to common motions or touches. When the golf ball is subjected to a larger knock, the metallic resilient component will be flexed to touch the metallic shell to conduct a current, thereby turning the light emission controller 65 on to emit light for a set period of time.
The above integral structure, however, doesn't take the performance of the ball into account. Moreover, there is no support component for the light emission controller 65 to fix it firmly in the transparent inner body 60. Therefore, the problem of a deviated circuit board may occur. Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a modified ball structure to solve the above problems in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a ball structure providing a golf ball with a better performance (e.g., an enhanced rotation rate or speed). Because the design of a three-layer structure is adopted and the material of each layer is changed to improve the performance of the golf ball, a better striking feel is provided to the user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a light emission mechanism. Through the inner structure of the golf ball and circuit control, night use can thus be accomplished.
Yet another object of the present invention is to allow a golf ball to be able to emit light when it is struck so that the golfer can clearly perceive the route and direction of the struck ball. The golfer can thus examine the correctness of his or her strike. Moreover, the struck ball is easily found.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention proposes a novel modified ball structure, comprising elements described as follows. The ball comprises a rubbery spherical transparent hard inner body. A base is disposed in the center of the transparent hard inner body and having an accommodation room. More than two fixing components are disposed outside the accommodation room. A light emission control module is disposed in the accommodation room. The light emission control module has a circuit board with a detection switch thereon. The detection switch has a housing with a metallic resilient component therein The metallic resilient component is connected with a pole of a battery. A conducting terminal capable of contacting the metallic resilient component when vibrated is disposed on the middle portion in the housing, the conducting terminal being connected with the other pole of the battery, more than one light emitting devices and a control chip disposed on the circuit board. The battery provides power for the control chip to output different waveforms to let the light emitting devices generate various dynamic bright and dark variations or output different frequencies to let the light emitting devices generate various color variations when the conducting terminal contacts the metallic resilient component A transparent rubbery intermediate body sheathes a surface of the transparent hard inner body, and a spherical transparent outer body sheathes a surface of the transparent rubbery intermediate body.
The above ball can be a golf ball.
The above fixing components are columnar.
The above metallic resilient component is a flexible resilient sheet.
The above transparent rubbery intermediate body is a soft rubber having resilient and shock-absorbing effects.
The above spherical transparent outer body is a plastic body with a low flying resistance coefficient.
The above detection switch can be replaced with a vibration switch with the same function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A is a diagram of a semi-finished product of a conventional golf ball capable of emitting light;
FIG. 1B is a diagram of a finished product of a conventional golf ball capable of emitting light;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagram of a light emission control module of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a detection switch of a light emission control module of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the detection switch of the present invention functions;
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the connection of a control chip and light emitting devices of the present invention; and
FIGS. 8A to 8C show various different output diagrams of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention proposes a modified ball structure. In the embodiment, the ball is a golf ball. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the modified ball structure comprises a transparent hard inner body 1, a light emission control module 2, a transparent rubbery intermediate body 3, a spherical transparent outer body 4 and a base 5.
The transparent hard inner body 1 is a rubbery spherical transparent inner body, which is formed by embedding an upper rubber and a lower rubber.
The base 5 is disposed at the center of the transparent hard inner body 1 having an accommodation room (not shown). More than two fixing components 51 are annularly disposed outside the accommodation room. The fixing components 51 are columnar. Because the base 5 is sheathed by the transparent hard inner body 1, the deviation of its subassemblies can be avoided.
The light emission control module 2 is disposed in the accommodation room, and has a circuit board 21 with a detection switch 23 thereon. The detection switch 23 has a housing 231 with a metallic resilient component (e.g., a resilient sheet) 232 therein. The metallic resilient component 232 is connected with a pole of a battery 24 via a conducting wire. A conducting terminal 234 capable of contacting the metallic resilient component 232 when vibrated is disposed on the middle portion in the housing 23. The conducting terminal 234 is connected with the other pole of the battery 24 via a conducting wire. More than one light emitting devices 25 and a programmable control chip 26 are disposed on the circuit board 21. The programmable control chip 26 controls the light emitting devices 25 to generate various glittering and color variations. As shown in FIG. 7, the battery 24 provides power for the programmable control chip 26 to output different waveforms as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C to let the light emitting devices 25 (e.g., three light emitting diodes capable of emitting lights of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) colors) generate various dynamic bright and dark variations or output different frequencies to let the light emitting devices 25 generate various color variations when the conducting terminal 234 contacts the metallic resilient component 232.
The above metallic resilient component 232 will be flexed when subjected to a force with a certain strength, and won't be flexed when subjected to common motions or touches. When the golf ball is subjected to a larger knock, the metallic resilient component 232 will be flexed to touch the conducting terminal 234, as shown in FIG. 6. The programmable control chip 26 will thus drive the light emitting devices 25 to generate various color variations or output different waveforms to let the light emitting devices 25 generate various glittering and dynamic bright and dark variations.
As shown in FIG. 8A, the output waveforms are triangular waves, which let light emitting devices of three different colors generate a gradual-bright and-gradual-dark visual effect.
As shown in FIG. 8B, the output waveforms are sawtooth waves having a longer on time and a shorter off time, which let light emitting devices of three different colors generate a slower-bright-and-faster-dark visual effect.
As shown in FIG. 8C, the output waveforms are stepped waves having a stepped on time and a shorter off time, which let light emitting devices of three different colors generate a stepped-bright-and-faster-dark visual effect. Through control of the programmable control chip 26, the light emitting devices can generate various glittering and dynamic bright and dark variations according to different on/off time and orders.
The transparent rubbery intermediate body 2 is a soft rubber having resilient and shock-absorbing effects, and sheathes the surface of the transparent hard inner body 1.
The spherical transparent outer body 3 is a plastic body with a low flying resistance coefficient, and sheathes the surface of the transparent rubbery intermediate body 2. The surface of the transparent outer body 3 is dimpled like a common golf ball.
When the golf ball is struck by a golf club, the metallic resilient component 232 will sway to contact the conducting terminal 234 to let the battery 24 and the control chip 26 form a conduction loop, thereby letting the light emitting devices 25 generate various glittering and bright and dark variations according to the output frequency of the programmable control chip 26. The light emitting devices 25 will generate different glittering frequencies for different striking forces, to let the golf ball generate different color variations; or the control chip 26 will output different waveforms to let the light emitting devices 25 generate various glittering and dynamic bright and dark variations.
Moreover, the ball can also be a clash ball, a spring ball or another ball having the same effect. The detection switch 23 can also be a vibration switch having the same function.
To sum up, through the structure and circuit control of the present invention, a ball can be used at night. Moreover, the golfer can perceive the flying height, direction, angle and distance of the struck ball for examining the correctness of his or her strike. The ball is also easily found in places with bad line of vision or poor lighting.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A modified ball structure, comprising:

a transparent hard inner body;

a base disposed in said transparent hard inner body and having an accommodation room, more than two fixing components being disposed outside said accommodation room;

a light emission control module disposed in said accommodation room, said light emission control module having a circuit board with a detection switch thereon, said detection switch having a housing with a metallic resilient component therein, said metallic resilient component being connected with a pole of a battery, a conducting terminal capable of contacting said metallic resilient component when vibrated being disposed on a middle portion in said housing, said conducting terminal being connected with another pole of said battery, more than one light emitting devices and a control chip being disposed on said circuit board, and said battery providing power for said control chip to output different waveforms to let said light emitting devices generate various dynamic bright and dark variations or output different frequencies to allow said light emitting devices generate various color variations when said conducting terminal contacts said metallic resilient component;

a transparent rubbery intermediate body sheathing a surface of said transparent hard inner body; and

a spherical transparent outer body sheathing a surface of said transparent rubbery intermediate body.

2. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transparent hard inner body is formed by embedding an upper rubber and a lower rubber.

3. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing components are columnar.

4. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metallic resilient component is a flexible resilient sheet.

5. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metallic resilient component is connected with one pole of said battery via a conducting wire.

6. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conducting terminal is connected with the other pole of said battery via a conducting wire.

7. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transparent rubbery intermediate body is a soft rubber with resiliency and shock-absorbing effect.

8. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spherical transparent outer body is a plastic body with a low flying resistance coefficient.

9. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball can be a golf ball, a clash ball or a spring ball.

10. A modified ball structure comprising:

a transparent hard inner body;

a light emission control module disposed in said accommodation room, said light emission control module having a circuit board with a vibration switch thereon, said vibration switch being connected with a battery, more than one light emitting devices and a control chip being disposed on said circuit board, said battery providing power for said control chip to output different waveforms to allow said light emitting devices generate various dynamic bright and dark variations or output different frequencies to allow said light emitting devices generate various color variations when said vibration switch functions;

11. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said transparent hard inner body is formed by embedding an upper rubber and a lower rubber.

12. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said fixing components are columnar.

13. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said transparent rubbery intermediate body is a soft rubber with resiliency and shock-absorbing effect.

14. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said spherical transparent outer body is a plastic body with a low flying resistance coefficient.

15. The modified ball structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ball can be a golf ball, a clash ball or a spring ball.