Enhanced Golf Ball and Method for Its Construction

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new, improved, technologically enhanced golf ball and a method for its construction. The new technologically enhanced golf ball will be an improvement over existing golf balls and will be used in conjunction with other enhanced golf equipment to capture, analyze, score (i.e. using USGA rules), save, archive, track and communicate (e.g. verbal, sound, tactile and/or visual) real-time relevant golf data specific to individual golfers: 1) during practice/lessons; or 2) for every shot on every hole of an entire recreational round of golf. The present invention will be particularly useful in helping to provide an information support structure for the recreational golfer similar to what is routinely available to the tour professional golfer through his caddy, spotters, volunteer laser range finders and other support.

1 . An enhanced golf ball and method for its construction that works as part of a system; said system further comprising:
 a. a plurality of enhanced components that work in concert as an automated system to capture, analyze, score, save, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant golf data specific to individual golfers; said enhanced components to include a PDA and at least one golf ball, said enhanced components further comprising:
 i. means for inter-component communications; 
 ii. means for mapped golf course access; 
 iii. means for data processing access; 
 iv. means for virtual caddy access; 
 v. means for virtual trainer access; 
   
       whereby enabling the communication of information captured by the enhanced components to the golfer during a round of golf, training or practice via the virtual caddy/virtual trainer application software, in the same way routine information such as the ending location of the golf ball once struck, is made available to the tour golfer by his support structure; for example spotters, live caddy or trainer. 
     
     
         2 . An enhanced golf ball as recited in  claim 1 , said enhanced golf ball comprising computing intelligence:
 a. said computing intelligence encased in said enhanced golf ball comprising:
 i. at least one microchip; said microchip(s) comprising communications, one or more impact sensor(s), unique identifier, pressure sensor(s), power source(s), antenna circuit(s) and other common computer circuitry as an integral part of the enhanced golf ball; 
   b. a packaged microchip buffer; said packaged microchip buffer comprising said computing intelligence embedded in a protective buffer layer; whereby the computing intelligence is protected during the enhanced golf ball manufacturing process;   c. a compression prevention package; said compression prevention package comprising said packaged microchip buffer embedded in a compression prevention layer; whereby the outer layers of the enhanced golf ball are prevented from collapsing on the packaged microchip buffer during ball compression caused by the impact of the golf club; thereby protecting the computing intelligence;   d. a core; said core comprising said compression prevention package embedded in a compression layer comprising a highly elastic material; whereby the elastic nature of the core together with the design characteristics of the layers including the a ball cover determine the performance characteristics of the enhanced golf ball;   e. at least one antenna.   
     
     
         3 . An enhanced golf ball as recited in  claim 2 , said antenna(s) is located in a mantle layer(s); said mantle layer(s) comprising:
 a. material with elastic properties selected from the members of the group with elastic properties greater than, equal to and less than the elastic properties of said core; whereby the characteristics of the numerous combinations of core(s), mantle(s) and ball cover(s) could be adjusted to build various models of the enhanced golf ball to target high, mid and low handicap golfers;   b. said ball cover with cover properties selected from members of the group plastic, rubber and blend of both.   
     
     
         4 . An enhanced golf ball as recited in  claim 2 , said antenna(s) is located just inside the outer core.