US20030224872A1

US20030224872A1 - Amusement device

Info

Publication number: US20030224872A1
Application number: US10/445,763
Authority: US
Inventors: Robin Boundy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-29
Filing date: 2003-05-27
Publication date: 2003-12-04
Also published as: GB2389539A; GB0312305D0; AUPS264702A0

Abstract

An amusement device, in the form of a ball, having associated therewith a sound mechanism adapted to be initiated upon impact of the ball. The amusement device may also have provided a biassed weight which enables the device to travel along an unexpected trajectory.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to the area of amusement devices and in particular, to a trick golf ball, providing a means of amusement for onlookers who are in the near vicinity of the player.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The concept of utilising trick balls as an amusement device for golfers is one which has been previously proposed in the prior art. These devices have generally provided a deal of amusement to onlookers who are close to a player when the ball is struck, although not necessarily to the player.

In particular, there are two varieties of trick golf balls which are well known as amusement devices. The first is the “exploding” golf ball which, when hit by a player, shatters into a large number of pieces and provides a cloud of dust leaving the player baffled as to what has occurred.

The second variety relates to trick golf balls which are erratic in their movement, and when hit by a player, particularly using a slower more precise action such as putting, will travel in an unpredictable and erratic path to frustrate and confuse the player.

The player's reaction effectuated by the trick golf ball provides amusement to both the person(s) who instigated the incident and to any onlookers in the near vicinity of the player.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement device which extends the range of amusement which can be obtained from such a device and in particular, from a golf ball.

The invention provides an amusement device, in the form of a ball, having associated therewith a sound mechanism adapted to be initiated upon impact on the ball.

It is preferred the sound mechanism be a noise making device located within the ball adapted to be initiated when the ball is struck by the player.

It is preferred that the external appearance and weight of the amusement device be substantially equivalent to that of a conventional golf ball.

It is further preferred that the weight of the amusement device be biassed such that when the ball is struck by the player, it does not travel along an expected trajectory.

In order that the invention be more readily understood we will describe by way of non limiting example a specific embodiment of the device, being in the form of a golf ball, and made in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through the golf ball showing the sound mechanism. [0012]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the golf ball showing the speaker. [0013]
FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 at right angles to these. [0014]
FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 at right angles to these. [0015]
FIG. 5 is an elevation of the ball showing the apertures for escape of noise from the ball [0016]
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention showing the sound mechanism supported by a bias weight.[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. [0018] 1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of the invention as it relates to a trick golf ball.
In this embodiment of the invention, the amusement device is a [0019] golf ball 1 which may be made in half sections having an upper hemispherical shell 2 and a lower hemispherical shell 4. The golf ball 1 is made of a relatively strong plastics material which may be a white material as with conventional golf balls, or may, after assembly, be dipped in white paint to provide the appearance of a conventional golf ball.
In addition, provided on the periphery of the [0020] golf ball 1 are dimples 3 adapted to provide the amusement device with the same external appearance as that of a conventional golf ball.
Both [0021] hemispherical shells 2, 4 may have provided an outwardly extending rim 5 whereby the rim 5 on the upper hemispherical shell 2 is located along the outer edge of the shell, and the rim 5 on the lower hemispherical shell 4 is located along the inner edge of the shell. The outwardly extending rim 5 is adapted to enable one of the hemispherical shells 2, 4 to receive the other shell thereover.
Provided on the surface of the outwardly extending [0022] rim 5 which will receive the other shell thereon, may be an annular band 6 of a material which is adapted secure the two hemispherical shells 2, 4 together.
Alternatively, the rim of two [0023] hemispherical shells 2, 4 may be substantially flat and adapted to be adhesively secure, fuse or welded together.
Whilst it may be preferred that the [0024] shells 2, 4 are each adhesively secured to the band alternatively, there could be a friction fit or even a screw thread fit arrangement provided by the rim 5 to secure the two hemispherical shells 2, 4 together.
Located in one of the [0025] hemispherical shells 2, 4 is a sound mechanism 10 comprising circuit board 7 having a power source 8 Which, in a preferred form is a battery and a programmable chip 9 capable of producing the required sound output.
In one particular form of the device, the sound output may be the sound of persons laughing. Alternatively, other embodiments of the invention may envisage the sound output being in the form of a satirical or other comment such as “good shot”. [0026]
Located within the other shell is a [0027] speaker 11 which is which is electrically connected to the circuit board 7 and is directed outwardly of the shell and, if required, a number of apertures 12 can be provided through the shell to permit ready transmission of the output from the speaker, as described before, the laughter or comment.
Should apertures be provided in order to improve the quality of the sound output, the portion of the shell adjacent the apertures could have provided printed material thereon so that the apertures are not readily visible, maintaining the authentic look of a conventional golf ball. The printed material could encompass printing by pad printing or in any other way, whereby the material may constitute a word or words or a pattern. [0028]
The [0029] circuit board 7 has a motion switch 12 which upon activation, initiates the operation of the sound mechanism 10. It is preferred that the motion switch 12 be activated upon impact whereby, the sufficient degree of impact necessary to achieve this impact would be that of somebody striking the ball 1 with a putter.
Associated with the [0030] motion switch 7 is a timer circuit 13 which maintains the circuit actuated for the time of the circuit after which it is deactivated.
In a first embodiment of the invention the [0031] sound mechanism 10 is connected to one hemispherical shell 2, 4, the speaker 11 to the other shell and the two shells are interconnected over the annular band 6 to form, what appears to be, a conventional golf ball.
In this form of the invention, if the [0032] golf ball 1 is placed in front of a player or is, say, placed with a number of balls which the player is using for putting practice for the player to choose from himself. When the ball of the invention is struck, the motion switch 12 will be activated instigating the laughing, speaking or other sound output to be omitted from the ball.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention having a [0033] bias weight 14 located within a hemispherical shell 2, 4. The biassed weight 14 may be an epoxy, silicone or other curable or settable material inserted into the hemispherical shell 2, 4 which is adapted to receive the sound mechanism 10.
Alternatively, the [0034] bias weight 14 may be a metal weight or disc placed within one of the hemispherical shells 2, 4.
The [0035] bias weight 14 acts to functionally serve two purposes. The first is to provide a biassed weight to the device, as will be described later, and the second is that it may be utilised to support and hold the circuit board.
The [0036] golf ball 1 of the second embodiment of the invention, when struck, not only produces a sound output, as was the case with the previous ball, but also travels in a biassed manner due to the additional bias weight 14 so that, the ball does not travel in the direction in which it was struck, but instead along an unexpected trajectory.
Whilst we have described the invention specifically in relation to a golf ball, it will be understood that it is envisaged that the amusement device may also be applicable to other applications. [0037]
For example, a ball to be thrown by children from relatively small balls the size of a tennis ball up to relatively large balls the size of a basketball can be provided with a circuit which effectively has the same operation as that discussed herein but the switch may operate differently as there may be no specific impact but may operate when the ball is thrown and accelerated. [0038]
Also with this type of ball we may or may not provide some form of bias on one part of the ball so that when it is thrown between two people it not only makes the required noise but can also move in the air in unpredictable ways. [0039]
It is to be understood that any and all such variations and modifications can be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. [0040]

Claims

We claim:

1. An amusement device, having at least two portions adapted be secured together, a sound mechanism and speaker adapted to produce a sound output upon activation of the sound mechanism.

2. The amusement device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sound mechanism is located within the device and is activated upon impact of the device.

3. The amusement device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sound mechanism may have a circuit board, power source and a programmable chip adapted to be capable of producing a sound output.

4. The amusement device as claimed in claim 1 wherein activation of the sound mechanism is achieved by a motion switch activated upon impact of the device.

5. The amusement device as claimed in claim 4 wherein associated with the motion switch, is a timer circuit which maintains the circuit actuated for the time of the circuit after the motion switch has been deactivated.

6. The amusement device as claimed in claim 1 wherein located within one portion is a speaker for transmission of the sound output.

7. The amusement device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the speaker is electrically connected to the circuit board of the sound mechanism.

8. The amusement device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two portions forming the said device are hemispherical shells adapted to be secured together.

9. The amusement device as claimed in claim 8 wherein each hemispherical shell has provided an outwardly extending rim positioned such that each shell is adapted to receive the other shell thereon.

10. The amusement device as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the rim of the shell has provided an annular band of an appropriate material adapted to secure the shells together.

11. The amusement device as claimed claim 1 wherein provided on the periphery of the shell adjacent to the speaker are apertures to permit ready transmission of the sound output.

12. The amusement device as claimed in claim 1 which further provides a bias weight which enables the ball to travel along an unexpected trajectory.

13. The amusement device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bias weight may be an epoxy, silicone, or other curable or settable material adapted to receive the sound mechanism.

14. The amusement device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bias weight may be a metal weight or disc located within the device.