Golf balls with electronic communication components and methods for making them

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a golf ball. The method includes creating a core with a cavity therein and positioning electronics in the cavity. The method further includes filing the cavity with a fill material while the electronics are positioned in the cavity such that the core, the electronics, and the fill material together form a spherical body, and such that when the fill material is cured the spherical body is balanced about a center thereof. The method further includes curing the fill material and covering the spherical body with an exterior cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a golf ball, the method comprising:
 creating a core with a cavity therein;   positioning electronics in the cavity;   filing the cavity with a fill material while the electronics are positioned in the cavity such that the core, the electronics, and the fill material together form a spherical body, and such that when the fill material is cured the spherical body is balanced about a center thereof;   curing the fill material; and   covering the spherical body with an exterior cover.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein creating the core comprises machining the cavity into a solid base material. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein three axes intersect through a center of the golf ball, each of the three axes being perpendicular to the others, wherein the electronics are positioned in the cavity so as to be unbalanced about the center along one of the three axes, and wherein the cavity is filled with the fill material such that the golf ball is balanced about the center thereof along each of the three axes. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the core, the electronics, and the fill material each have a density, respectively, and wherein the fill material is selected such that the density of the core equals a sum of the densities of the electronics and the fill material. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fill material is selected as two materials having differing densities. 
     
     
         6 . A method for manufacturing a golf ball, the method comprising:
 providing a spherical core of a first material;   providing electronics configured to provide wireless communication;   machining a cavity in the spherical core, the cavity being machined to accommodate the electronics and a fill material;   filling the cavity with the fill material while the electronics are positioned in the cavity, the fill material being different than the first material of the spherical core;   curing the fill material, wherein the core, the electronics, and the fill material together form a spherical body; and   covering the spherical body with an exterior cover;   wherein the fill material is selected such that when cured, the spherical body is balanced about a center thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the spherical core is molded of melted rubber as the first material. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising cooling the spherical core before machining the cavity therein. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising curing the spherical core before machining the cavity therein. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising contouring the fill material once cured such that the core and the fill material together form the spherical body. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the spherical core, the electronics, and the fill material each have a density, respectively, and wherein the fill material is selected such that the density of the spherical core equals the sum of the densities of the electronics and the fill material. 
     
     
         12 . A golf ball comprising:
 a spherical core of a first material, the spherical core having a cavity therein;   electronics positioned in the cavity, the electronics comprising a transmitter for wireless communication;   a fill material positioned in the cavity such that the cavity is entirely filled with the electronics and the fill material, the fill material being different than the first material, and wherein the spherical core, the electronics, and the fill material together form a spherical body; and   an exterior cover covering the spherical body.   
     
     
         13 . The golf ball according to  claim 12 , wherein the first material is a thermoset. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball according to  claim 12 , wherein the fill material entirely surrounds the electronics within the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball according to  claim 12 , wherein the golf ball is spherical and balanced about a center thereof, wherein three axes intersect through the center, each of the three axes being perpendicular to the others, and wherein the electrics are unbalanced about the center along at least one of the three axes. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball according to  claim 15 , wherein the fill material and the electronics are together balanced about the center along the at least one of the three axes. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball according to  claim 12 , wherein the first material, the electronics, and the fill material each have a density, respectively, and wherein the density of the fill material is equal to a sum of the densities of the electronics and the fill material. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball according to  claim 12 , the electronics further comprising a sensor configured to detect an impact on the golf ball. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball according to  claim 18 , wherein the electronics are configured such that the transmitter starts communicating wirelessly when the sensor detects an impact on the golf ball. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball according to  claim 12 , the electronics further comprising a receiver configured for close-range communication with an external device, and wherein electronics are configured to activate the transmitter so as to be able communicate wirelessly when the receiver receives an activation signal from the external device.