US20240100400A1

US20240100400A1 - Golf balls with kinetic projectiles

Info

Publication number: US20240100400A1
Application number: US18/533,320
Authority: US
Inventors: Dan Esslinger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-10-22
Filing date: 2023-12-08
Publication date: 2024-03-28

Abstract

Golf balls are disclosed that include a centerline axis; an aperture located within the centerline axis; and a kinetic projectile located within the aperture. The kinetic projectile may consist of a hammer actuated .22 caliber single shot load or .27 caliber single shot load. The aperture may, optionally, further include an amount of black powder disposed therein. The golf balls are configured to launch farther and/or produce a striking sound greater than conventional golf balls—when the balls are struck on the backside of the kinetic projectile disposed within the aperture of the golf balls.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/831,706, filed on Jun. 3, 2022, which claims priority to, and incorporates by reference, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/270,597 filed on Oct. 22, 2021.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention relates generally to novelty golf balls and, more particularly, to golf balls fortified with kinetic projectiles that are configured to launch farther (and/or produce a louder sound upon impact) than conventional golf balls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well-known that golfers strive to achieve maximum distance with most golf swings, whether using a driver on a tee box or an approach shot from a fairway. Indeed, driving distance is a key metric that all golfers are keen to improve. While the appetite for increased driving and launch distance have been continuously addressed over the years through improved golf club and golf ball technology, less attention has been devoted to so-called novelty golf balls that recreational players may enjoy using, e.g., modified golf balls that are fun to use among friends and provide substantially enhanced driving distance and/or louder impact sounds, albeit not appropriate for U.S.G.A. regulated play.
As the following will demonstrate, the modified golf balls described herein address such needs (and others) in the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to certain aspects of the invention, modified golf balls are provided that comprise a kinetic projectile. More particularly, golf balls are provided that include a centerline axis; an aperture located within the centerline axis; and a kinetic projectile located within the aperture. The kinetic projectile may consist of, for example, a hammer actuated .22 caliber single shot load (or, in other embodiments, a .27 caliber single shot load). The aperture may, optionally, further include an amount of black powder disposed therein. The golf balls are configured to launch farther, and/or produce a striking sound greater, than conventional golf balls—when the balls are struck on the backside of the kinetic projectiles, while disposed within the apertures of the golf balls.
The above-mentioned and additional features of the present invention are further illustrated in the Detailed Description contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a golf ball, showing the center line axis thereof, and a kinetic projectile.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a golf ball, showing the location of an aperture drilled into the center line axis thereof, along with a diagram of a kinetic projectile

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a golf ball with a kinetic projectile positioned within an aperture that has been drilled into the center line axis of the golf ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following will describe, in detail, several preferred embodiments of the present invention. These embodiments are provided by way of explanation only, and thus, should not unduly restrict the scope of the invention. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that the invention teaches many variations and modifications, and that numerous variations of the invention may be employed, used, and made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 , according to certain preferred embodiments, the present invention includes modified golf balls that comprise a kinetic projectile. More particularly, golf balls are provided that include a centerline axis 10—which is a linear area of a circumference of a golf ball located between two rows of dimples (FIG. 1 ). The modified golf balls further include an aperture 12 located within the centerline axis 10 and a kinetic projectile 14 located within the aperture 12.
As mentioned above, as used herein, the term “centerline axis” 10 refers to a contiguous and somewhat linear area of the exterior (cover) of the golf ball that does not include any dimples (i.e., it exists between two rows of dimples)—an area that also represents a circumference of the golf ball (FIG. 1 ). In certain embodiments, the circular aperture 12 is preferably drilled to be centered over the centerline axis 10. The invention provides that the circular aperture 12 will extend beyond both sides of the centerline axis 10; however, in such embodiments, the middle or center of the circular aperture 12 will preferably be centered over the centerline axis 10. This way, the golf ball will remain symmetrical and balanced. In other alternative embodiments, the circular aperture 12 may be drilled to be adjacent to (or offset from) the centerline axis 10, such as directly next to a side of the centerline axis 10 (or offset from the centerline axis 10 by 0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, or more from the centerline axis 10). In such alternative embodiments, the slightly offset circular aperture 12 will encourage a different spin, and ball flight trajectory, compared to balls having the circular aperture 12 drilled into and centered over the centerline axis 10.
In certain preferred embodiments, the invention provides that the aperture 12 may be drilled to have a depth of about 0.800 inches to 1.650 inches. The invention provides that the aperture 12 may be drilled to have a diameter of about 0.203 to 0.220 inches (to accommodate 22 caliber kinetic projectiles). In other embodiments, the invention provides that the aperture 12 may be drilled to have a diameter of about 0.250 to 0.265 inches (to accommodate 27 caliber kinetic projectiles). The invention provides that the dimensions of the aperture 12 will preferably be configured to receive, and fittingly hold without adhesives, the kinetic projectile 14 described herein. In other embodiments, adhesives can be added to the aperture 12 to assist in retaining the kinetic projectile 14 therein.
The invention provides that the kinetic projectile 14 may consist of a hammer actuated single shot load, such as the hammer actuated single shot loads commonly used in single nail shot hand tools/guns, e.g., the single shot loads commonly used with Red Head style nail guns. In certain non-limiting examples, the invention provides that the kinetic projectile 14 may consist of, for example, a hammer actuated .22 caliber single shot load or 27 caliber single shot load. The invention provides that a front end 16 of the kinetic projectile 14 is inserted into the aperture 12, with the kinetic projectile 14 then being pressed into the aperture 12 until the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14 is flush, or substantially flush, with the exterior surface of the golf ball. Once the kinetic projectile 14 is inserted into the aperture 12, with the kinetic projectile 14 being pressed into the aperture 12 until the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14 is flush with the exterior surface of the golf ball, the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14 is still exposed (i.e., the back end 18 is not covered by any surface material of the ball)—and, importantly, is positioned to make direct contact with a driver, fairway wood, or hybrid golf club during a golfer's swing. The invention provides that the diameter of the aperture 12 will be tailored and configured to fittingly hold the kinetic projectile 14 (i.e., the diameter of the aperture 12 drilled into the golf ball will take into account the diameter of the kinetic projectile 14).
The invention provides that the aperture 12 may, optionally, further include an amount of black powder disposed therein (with such black powder being deposited within the aperture 12 before the kinetic projectile 14 is disposed therein). As used herein, the term “black powder” refers to traditional gunpowder, which generally consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon, and potassium nitrate—or such black powder is also generally known to include fuel (charcoal), an oxidizer (saltpeter or niter), and a stabilizer (sulfur).
During use, the golf balls of the present invention should be placed on a conventional golf tee and oriented such that the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14 is positioned to make direct contact with a driver, fairway wood, or hybrid golf club during a golfer's swing. As used herein, “direct contact” (and similar phrases) means that the face of the driver, fairway wood, or hybrid golf club is capable of making direct contact with the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14, with nothing between such face of the golf club and the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14 at the time of contact. The invention provides that when a driver, fairway wood, or hybrid golf club strikes the golf ball, and thereby directly strikes the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14, the golf ball will launch farther than conventional golf balls—and/or it will produce a striking sound that is much greater and different than traditional golf balls, e.g., a loud gunshot type of sound is produced. For example, if the sound of a golf club striking a conventional/traditional golf ball is measured (e.g., measured in decibels), and if the sound of the same golf club striking a ball of the present invention at the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14 is also measured, the invention provides that striking the ball of the present invention will produce at least a 10% louder (more intense) sound or, in some cases, at least a 20% louder (more intense) sound, or in some cases, at least a 40% louder (more intense) sound. This provides a type of entertainment among golfers that is not achievable with traditional golf balls (i.e., a traditional golf ball being a golf ball without a kinetic projectile 14 as described herein). In addition, the invention provides that a direct strike to the back end 18 of the kinetic projectile 14 causes the kinetic projectile 14 to detonate, such that the kinetic projectile 14 and the associated golf ball are no longer usable as described herein (i.e., such detonation expires the kinetic projectile 14 and renders the surrounding golf ball no longer usable for golfing purposes). The invention provides that rendering the golf ball no longer usable will be acceptable to users, insofar as the golf ball of the present invention is intended to be a novelty golf ball used strictly for entertainment purposes.
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to those described, and that various other changes or modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf ball that comprises:

(a) a centerline axis;

(b) an aperture that is centered over, adjacent to, or offset from the centerline axis, wherein the aperture has a depth of 0.800 inches to 1.650 inches and (i) a diameter of 0.203 to 0.220 inches or (ii) a diameter of 0.250 to 0.27 inches; and

(c) a kinetic projectile located within the aperture, wherein the kinetic projectile is a .22 caliber single shot load when the diameter of the aperture is 0.203 to 0.220 inches or a .27 caliber single shot load when the diameter of the aperture is 0.250 to 0.27 inches, wherein a back end of the kinetic projectile is exposed and is flush with an exterior surface of the golf ball, wherein the back end of the kinetic projectile is positioned to make direct contact with a face of a driver, fairway wood, or hybrid golf club, wherein such direct contact between the face of the driver, fairway wood, or hybrid golf club and the back end of the kinetic projectile (i) detonates the kinetic projectile and (ii) produces a sound that is significantly louder and more intense than a sound that is produced when the driver, fairway wood, or hybrid golf club strikes a traditional golf ball.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, which further comprises black powder within the aperture.