US20090042658A1 - Light Up Billiard Ball - Google Patents
Light Up Billiard Ball Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090042658A1 US20090042658A1 US11/837,366 US83736607A US2009042658A1 US 20090042658 A1 US20090042658 A1 US 20090042658A1 US 83736607 A US83736607 A US 83736607A US 2009042658 A1 US2009042658 A1 US 2009042658A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light emitting
- emitting diode
- ball
- switch
- spherical housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
- A63B43/06—Balls with special arrangements with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2243/00—Specific ball sports not provided for in A63B2102/00 - A63B2102/38
- A63B2243/002—Billiards
Definitions
- the present invention relates to balls and more particularly to a ball which lights up upon impact.
- the object of billiards is to strike a ball with a stick (known as a cue stick) to place a ball at a particular location which may include a pocket.
- a stick known as a cue stick
- billiard players While only a single billiard cue or pool stick is necessary to play billiards, billiard players are predisposed to their own favorite cues for a variety of reasons. Increasingly, these cues have fancy and elaborate finishes and include coatings and inlays of precious and rare materials.
- the billiard cue has evolved from a simple wooden stick into a precision-machined cue that is typically detachable into two or three parts. This facilitates portability of the cue, which otherwise may extend to over five feet in length.
- U.S. Pat. No. 970,172 issued to Bloom et al. in 1910, is an early two-piece cue stick which allows the cue to be separated into butt and shaft sections when not in use.
- the joint illustrated in the '172 patent has come to be known as the main joint.
- a billiard player In using a billiard cue, a billiard player ordinarily (1) grasps the butt of the cue with one hand, (2) supports the cue shaft in the crotch between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand used as a guide (this hand being positioned on the surface of the billiard table), and (3) then moves the cue longitudinally relative to the guide hand with a short jab or thrusting motion.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,011 discloses a bouncing ball within which is incorporated an activatable light in the form of a flashtube which flashes when the ball incurs a physical jolting force such as when it is being bounced. There may also be incorporated within the ball a sound annunciator which produces a sound simultaneously with the flashing of the light.
- Typical cue balls or billiard balls may be formed from ivory or plastic and includes various indicia which may be used in the game to identify and attach significance to a particular ball. In one game, it is desired to not sink a particular ball until all the other balls have been sunk. Consequently, the indicia found on the ball can be of great help when playing billiards.
- the present invention is directed to a ball which lights upon impact.
- the ball may include many lights which may be formed at various angles in order to provide an entertaining display while the ball is turning.
- the lights may be activated by a vibration switch to turn on and off the lights.
- the lights may be activated by a pair of vibration switches which are positioned at angle in order to detect all impacts of the ball which avoids an impact along the centerline of one vibration switch which could result in the failure of the vibration switch to detect the impact.
- the present invention includes a lighted ball including a spherical housing having a transparent portion, a circuit board mounted in the spherical housing, a on-off switch to detect an impact of the spherical housing and a lamp to flash in response to the impact of the spherical housing.
- the on off switch may include a first vibration switch and a second vibration switch which is positioned at an angle with respect to the first vibration switch, and the lamp includes a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode which is positioned at an acute angle with respect to the first light emitting diode.
- the angle may be approximately 90°.
- the spherical housing includes a battery to power the circuit board, and the controller controls the frequency of the flashing of the lamp.
- the lighted ball may be a billiard ball.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the light up billiard ball of the present invention
- FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the light up billiard ball of the present invention
- FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the lighted billiard ball 100 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 illustrates the spherical housing 102 for mounting the circuit board 104 .
- the on/off switch 106 is mounted on the circuit board 104 and turns on and off the lamp 108 which is mounted on the circuit board 104 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit diagram of the light up billiard ball 100 of the present invention.
- the on off switch 106 includes a first vibration switch 308 and a second vibration switch 309 .
- the first vibration switch 308 is mounted at an angle, for example 90°, from the second vibration switch 309 . Other angles such as 30 or 60° are within the scope of the present invention. If there is an impact along the centerline of the first vibration switch 308 , the first vibration switch 308 may not detect the impact. However, because the second vibration switch 309 is at an angle with respect to the first vibration switch 308 , the impact would be detected by the second vibration switch 309 .
- first light emitting diode 402 the second light emitting diode 404 and the third light emitting diode 406 having an angled relationship that will provide entertainment as the billiard ball 100 rotates.
- the first light emitting diode 402 , the second light emitting diode 404 and the third light emitting diode 406 may be the same color or different colors.
- the frequency of the flashing of the light emitting diodes 402 , 404 , 406 is controlled by the controller 306 .
Abstract
The lighted ball includes a spherical housing having a transparent portion, a circuit board mounted in the spherical housing, a on-off switch to detect an impact of the spherical housing and a lamp to flash in response to the impact of the spherical housing. The on off switch includes a first vibration switch and a second vibration switch which is positioned an angle with respect to the first vibration switch, and the lamp includes a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode which is positioned at an acute angle with respect to the first light emitting diode. The angle may be approximately 90°. The first light emitting diode may be a different color than the second light emitting diode, and the spherical housing includes a controller to receive signals from the on-off switch.
Description
- The present invention relates to balls and more particularly to a ball which lights up upon impact.
- The game of billiards dates back to ancient times and traditionally employs a generally rectangular snooker or billiard table with or without ball pockets at the corners and midpoints, although other table configurations have been devised. Among others, there are circular, elliptical and eight-sided table configurations wherein the ball pockets are either formed in an intermediate portion of the playing surface away from the cushion or evenly spaced around the cushioned edge of the playing surface. Representative patents are C. F. A. Reesch U.S. Pat. No. 208,539, P. L. Hayes U.S. Pat. No. 606,546, C. W. Fuller, U.S. Pat. No. 675,273, J. C. Gillespie U.S. Pat. No. 2,219,675, V. J. Fontaine, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 2,361,471, A. Tretow U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,489, K. Wiggins U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,618, J. R. McGovern U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,345, J. J. Pearsons Des. No. 39,173 and F. E. Held Des. No. 7,165.
- The game of billiards in its various modern forms—English billiards (played with 3 balls and 6 pockets), French billiards (played with 3 balls and no pockets, also known as carom), pocket billiards (pool), and snooker (played with 21 balls, a cue ball and 6 small pockets)—has been known since the 19th century.
- The object of billiards is to strike a ball with a stick (known as a cue stick) to place a ball at a particular location which may include a pocket.
- While only a single billiard cue or pool stick is necessary to play billiards, billiard players are predisposed to their own favorite cues for a variety of reasons. Increasingly, these cues have fancy and elaborate finishes and include coatings and inlays of precious and rare materials.
- The billiard cue has evolved from a simple wooden stick into a precision-machined cue that is typically detachable into two or three parts. This facilitates portability of the cue, which otherwise may extend to over five feet in length. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 970,172, issued to Bloom et al. in 1910, is an early two-piece cue stick which allows the cue to be separated into butt and shaft sections when not in use. The joint illustrated in the '172 patent has come to be known as the main joint.
- In using a billiard cue, a billiard player ordinarily (1) grasps the butt of the cue with one hand, (2) supports the cue shaft in the crotch between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand used as a guide (this hand being positioned on the surface of the billiard table), and (3) then moves the cue longitudinally relative to the guide hand with a short jab or thrusting motion.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,011 discloses a bouncing ball within which is incorporated an activatable light in the form of a flashtube which flashes when the ball incurs a physical jolting force such as when it is being bounced. There may also be incorporated within the ball a sound annunciator which produces a sound simultaneously with the flashing of the light.
- Typical cue balls or billiard balls may be formed from ivory or plastic and includes various indicia which may be used in the game to identify and attach significance to a particular ball. In one game, it is desired to not sink a particular ball until all the other balls have been sunk. Consequently, the indicia found on the ball can be of great help when playing billiards.
- The present invention is directed to a ball which lights upon impact. The ball may include many lights which may be formed at various angles in order to provide an entertaining display while the ball is turning. In addition, the lights may be activated by a vibration switch to turn on and off the lights. Furthermore, the lights may be activated by a pair of vibration switches which are positioned at angle in order to detect all impacts of the ball which avoids an impact along the centerline of one vibration switch which could result in the failure of the vibration switch to detect the impact.
- The present invention includes a lighted ball including a spherical housing having a transparent portion, a circuit board mounted in the spherical housing, a on-off switch to detect an impact of the spherical housing and a lamp to flash in response to the impact of the spherical housing.
- The on off switch may include a first vibration switch and a second vibration switch which is positioned at an angle with respect to the first vibration switch, and the lamp includes a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode which is positioned at an acute angle with respect to the first light emitting diode. The angle may be approximately 90°.
- The first light emitting diode may be a different color than the second light emitting diode, and the spherical housing includes a controller to receive signals from the on-off switch.
- The spherical housing includes a battery to power the circuit board, and the controller controls the frequency of the flashing of the lamp.
- The lighted ball may be a billiard ball.
- The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the light up billiard ball of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the light up billiard ball of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit diagram of the light up billiard ball of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram of the lights of the light up billiard ball of the present invention. -
FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the light upbilliard ball 100 which includes aspherical housing 102 which includes a transparent housing for supporting acircuit board 104 which includes electrical devices to operate the light upbilliard ball 100.FIG. 1 additionally illustrates a on offswitch 106 to turn on and off thelamp 108 of theball 100; the on-off switch 106 may be mounted on thecircuit board 104.FIG. 1 additionally illustrates abattery 110 to supply power to thelamp 108 and the remaining electrical devices mounted on thecircuit board 104. Furthermore,FIG. 1 illustrates alamp 108 which may be a light emitting diode (LED). -
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the lightedbilliard ball 100 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.FIG. 2 illustrates thespherical housing 102 for mounting thecircuit board 104. The on/offswitch 106 is mounted on thecircuit board 104 and turns on and off thelamp 108 which is mounted on thecircuit board 104. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit diagram of the light upbilliard ball 100 of the present invention. The on offswitch 106 includes afirst vibration switch 308 and asecond vibration switch 309. Thefirst vibration switch 308 is mounted at an angle, for example 90°, from thesecond vibration switch 309. Other angles such as 30 or 60° are within the scope of the present invention. If there is an impact along the centerline of thefirst vibration switch 308, thefirst vibration switch 308 may not detect the impact. However, because thesecond vibration switch 309 is at an angle with respect to thefirst vibration switch 308, the impact would be detected by thesecond vibration switch 309. When thebilliard ball 100 detects an impact from the cue stick, the billiard ball table or anotherbilliard ball 100, either or both thefirst vibration switch 308 and thesecond vibration switch 309 detect the impact and send a message to thecontroller 306. Thecontroller 306 activates thelamp 108. More particularly, thecontroller 306 will activate one or several of thelight emitting diodes 304 to flash for a predetermined time. After the predetermined time, thecontroller 306 will deactivate the lighted emittingdiodes 304.FIG. 3 additionally illustrates avoltage source 312 which may bebattery 110 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 .FIG. 3 illustrates that theresistors 302 may be connected between thevoltage source 312 and thelamp 108.FIG. 3 additionally illustrates aresistor 303 and capacitor 318 connected to thecontroller 306. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a firstlight emitting diode 402 at a first angle for example 60° with respect to a secondlight emitting diode 404, and a thirdlight emitting diode 406 at a second angle, for example 40° with respect to the second light emitting direct 404. Thecontroller 306 can light the firstlight emitting diode 402, the secondlight emitting diode 404 and the third light emitting of 406 simultaneously or the controller may light the firstlight emitting diode 402, the secondlight emitting diode 404 and the thirdlight emitting diode 406 in a sequence to provide a pleasing light experience for the user of the lightedbilliard ball 100. Furthermore, by virtue of the firstlight emitting diode 402, the secondlight emitting diode 404 and the thirdlight emitting diode 406 having an angled relationship that will provide entertainment as thebilliard ball 100 rotates. The firstlight emitting diode 402, the secondlight emitting diode 404 and the thirdlight emitting diode 406 may be the same color or different colors. The frequency of the flashing of thelight emitting diodes controller 306. - While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
Claims (9)
1) A lighted ball, comprising:
a spherical housing having a transparent portion;
a circuit board mounted in the spherical housing;
a on-off switch to detect an impact of the spherical housing;
a lamp to flash in response to the impact of the spherical housing.
2) A lighted ball as in claim 1 , wherein the on off switch includes a first vibration switch and a second vibration switch which is positioned at an angle with respect to the first vibration switch.
3) A lighted ball as in claim 1 , wherein the lamp includes a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode which is positioned at an acute angle with respect to the first light emitting diode.
4) A lighted ball as in claim 2 , wherein the angle is approximately 90°.
5) A lighted ball as in claim 3 , wherein the first light emitting diode is a different color than the second light emitting diode.
6) A lighted ball as in claim 3 , wherein the spherical housing includes a controller to receive signals from the on-off switch.
7) A lighted ball as in claim 1 , wherein the spherical housing includes a battery to power the circuit board.
8) A lighted ball as in claim 6 , wherein the controller controls the frequency of the flashing of the lamp.
9) A lighted ball as in claim 1 , wherein the lighted ball is a billiard ball.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/837,366 US20090042658A1 (en) | 2007-08-10 | 2007-08-10 | Light Up Billiard Ball |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/837,366 US20090042658A1 (en) | 2007-08-10 | 2007-08-10 | Light Up Billiard Ball |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090042658A1 true US20090042658A1 (en) | 2009-02-12 |
Family
ID=40347060
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/837,366 Abandoned US20090042658A1 (en) | 2007-08-10 | 2007-08-10 | Light Up Billiard Ball |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090042658A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110214616A1 (en) * | 2010-03-08 | 2011-09-08 | Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. | Solar-powered ball |
US20130040767A1 (en) * | 2011-08-12 | 2013-02-14 | Christopher Gill | Illuminated game-playing apparatuses and games |
GB2487876B (en) * | 2009-10-16 | 2014-08-27 | Bronte Eckermann | System for indicating movement of an article from one position or orientation to another position or orientation |
USD881280S1 (en) * | 2019-01-30 | 2020-04-14 | Roxanne Jackson | Portable entertainment ball |
KR20210014532A (en) * | 2019-07-30 | 2021-02-09 | 김성훈 | Light emitting billiard ball |
Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2903820A (en) * | 1958-03-05 | 1959-09-15 | Bodell Cornell | Flashing ball |
US3580575A (en) * | 1967-08-28 | 1971-05-25 | Autotelic Ind Ltd | Game device including selectively impact operable lights |
US3917264A (en) * | 1974-08-28 | 1975-11-04 | Douglas B Davidson | Billard game apparatus |
US5066011A (en) * | 1991-04-05 | 1991-11-19 | Dykstra Douglas L | Flashing light ball |
US5316293A (en) * | 1993-04-26 | 1994-05-31 | Hamilton David H | Signal emitting ball |
US5388825A (en) * | 1994-01-24 | 1995-02-14 | Myers Innovation Group | Illuminable ball |
US5725445A (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 1998-03-10 | Kennedy; Melvin | Flashing light pneumatic playball |
US5779575A (en) * | 1996-06-18 | 1998-07-14 | Hsieh; Frank | Lumious games spherical body |
US6117031A (en) * | 1998-12-02 | 2000-09-12 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Kickball information delivery system |
US6945887B2 (en) * | 2001-12-11 | 2005-09-20 | Classic Sport Companies, Inc. | Game ball with clock |
US7093962B2 (en) * | 2004-04-20 | 2006-08-22 | Mahoney Michael J | Light emitting device and method of using same |
US7179181B2 (en) * | 2005-07-19 | 2007-02-20 | Li-Lin Ko | Illuminating ball |
US20080220888A1 (en) * | 2006-10-26 | 2008-09-11 | Tom Mating | Light up pool ball |
-
2007
- 2007-08-10 US US11/837,366 patent/US20090042658A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2903820A (en) * | 1958-03-05 | 1959-09-15 | Bodell Cornell | Flashing ball |
US3580575A (en) * | 1967-08-28 | 1971-05-25 | Autotelic Ind Ltd | Game device including selectively impact operable lights |
US3917264A (en) * | 1974-08-28 | 1975-11-04 | Douglas B Davidson | Billard game apparatus |
US5066011A (en) * | 1991-04-05 | 1991-11-19 | Dykstra Douglas L | Flashing light ball |
US5316293A (en) * | 1993-04-26 | 1994-05-31 | Hamilton David H | Signal emitting ball |
US5388825A (en) * | 1994-01-24 | 1995-02-14 | Myers Innovation Group | Illuminable ball |
US5779575A (en) * | 1996-06-18 | 1998-07-14 | Hsieh; Frank | Lumious games spherical body |
US5725445A (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 1998-03-10 | Kennedy; Melvin | Flashing light pneumatic playball |
US6117031A (en) * | 1998-12-02 | 2000-09-12 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Kickball information delivery system |
US6945887B2 (en) * | 2001-12-11 | 2005-09-20 | Classic Sport Companies, Inc. | Game ball with clock |
US7093962B2 (en) * | 2004-04-20 | 2006-08-22 | Mahoney Michael J | Light emitting device and method of using same |
US7179181B2 (en) * | 2005-07-19 | 2007-02-20 | Li-Lin Ko | Illuminating ball |
US20080220888A1 (en) * | 2006-10-26 | 2008-09-11 | Tom Mating | Light up pool ball |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2487876B (en) * | 2009-10-16 | 2014-08-27 | Bronte Eckermann | System for indicating movement of an article from one position or orientation to another position or orientation |
US20110214616A1 (en) * | 2010-03-08 | 2011-09-08 | Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. | Solar-powered ball |
US8196550B2 (en) | 2010-03-08 | 2012-06-12 | Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. | Solar-powered ball |
US20130040767A1 (en) * | 2011-08-12 | 2013-02-14 | Christopher Gill | Illuminated game-playing apparatuses and games |
US8764588B2 (en) * | 2011-08-12 | 2014-07-01 | Christopher Gill | Illuminated game-playing apparatuses and games |
US20140342857A1 (en) * | 2011-08-12 | 2014-11-20 | Christopher Gill | Illuminated game-playing apparatuses and games |
USD881280S1 (en) * | 2019-01-30 | 2020-04-14 | Roxanne Jackson | Portable entertainment ball |
KR20210014532A (en) * | 2019-07-30 | 2021-02-09 | 김성훈 | Light emitting billiard ball |
KR102254219B1 (en) * | 2019-07-30 | 2021-05-18 | 김성훈 | Light emitting billiard ball |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |