GB2375311A

GB2375311A - Golf ball and location device

Info

Publication number: GB2375311A
Application number: GB0109367A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter O'sullivan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-12
Filing date: 2001-04-12
Publication date: 2002-11-13
Also published as: GB0109367D0

Abstract

A golf ball location system which comprises a ball which emits a radio signal and a hand held receiver, preferably including a liquid crystal display, which may indicate the location and distance of the ball.

Description

Description GOLFBALL LOCATOR The aim of the game of Golf is to complete a round taking as few golf shots as possible. Frequently balls are hit into the rough and cannot be located resulting in a new ball being put in play and a penalty shot added to the players score. This has the effect of increasing the players score. In addition time spent looking for balls slows the game up for following players.

The purpose of this invention is to help the player find his ball efficiently and quickly thereby possibly improving player scores and quickening up the game. A secondary benefit is a saving on the cost of replacement balls. The concept rests on modification of the Golf ball to include a tiny transmitting device which would be embedded within the ball. The size and weight of the embedded signal device would be such that it would not affect the flight characteristics of the ball yet would withstand the impact of the club.

The ball would transmit a unique signal with sufficient strength to be detected some distance away. An accompanying hand held receiver about the size of a portable cassette tape player would pick up the signal sent out by the ball. A liquid crystal display screen on the receiving device would indicate the direction of the ball by presenting an arrow that would point towards the balls location as well as a read out that would give the distance between the receiver and the ball. The display would be reset when the two units are within 10 meters of each other to give the golfer a more detailed indication of the ball's location. When the receiver is positioned directly above the device the arrow would change to a single dot. Alternatively the unit could emit a beeping sound to indicate the ball is below. The signal transmitted by the ball would be unique between ball and receiver thereby avoiding the possibility of mixed signals if two such devices were used in close proximity of each other.

An alternative display on the LCD screen would be a grid showing the unit at the centre with the ball appearing as a dot in one of the other boxes. The outer boxes would indicate a further distance from the unit. See figure 1 The handheld unit would be capable of being configured to pick up different signals so that it could be set to pick up the signal being emitted by a particular set of balls.

This would allow new balls to be purchased and the unit configured to read their signal by changing a code within the unit to match that emitted by the balls.

Figure 2 shows both the handheld golf ball locator and the modified golf ball.

This invention makes use of continuing improving technology and this includes transmitters and power sources getting smaller and lighter until such time as their affect on ball performance will be negligible.

Claims

The Claim Golfball Locator A handheld device for finding a lost golf ball by way of picking up a signal emitted from a transmitter embedded within the ball. A liquid display screen on the device would present an arrow pointing in the direction of the ball and would also give the approximate distance.