Light emitting golf ball, kit and system

Abstract

A light emitting golf ball, light emitting golf ball kit, and a light emitting golf ball system. The light emitting golf ball includes a substantially spherical outer shell manufactured of a material that allows light to pass therethrough. A light assembly is disposed within said outer shell and adapted to produce light that passes through the outer shell. The light assembly includes a light source, a battery, and a magnetic switch that stops a flow of power to from the battery to the light source when in the presence of a magnetic field and allows power to flow from the battery to the light source when the ball is removed from the magnetic field. The kit includes the ball and a ball holder having a magnet attached thereto. The system includes a plurality of balls and a container having at least one magnet.

1 . A light emitting golf ball comprising:
 a substantially spherical outer shell, wherein said outer shell is manufactured of a material that allows light to pass therethrough; and   a light assembly is disposed within said outer shell and adapted to produce light that passes through said outer shell;
 wherein said light assembly comprises a light source, a battery in electrical communication with said light source, and a magnetic switch in electrical communication with said battery and said light source; and 
 wherein said magnetic switch is adapted to control a flow of power from said battery to said light source. 
   
   
   
       2 . The light emitting golf ball as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said light source of said light assembly comprises one light emitting diode; wherein said battery comprises one or two batteries, wherein said magnetic switch of said light assembly comprises a Hall effect sensor that stops a flow of power from said batteries to said light emitting diodes when disposed within a magnetic field and to allow power to flow from said batteries to said light emitting diodes when removed from said magnetic field; and wherein said light assembly further comprises a printed circuit board and wherein said light emitting diode and said Hall effect sensor are surface mounted upon said printed circuit board. 
   
   
       3 . The light emitting golf ball as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said light assembly is arranged and disposed within said outer shell such that a center of gravity of said light emitting ball is at a geometric center of said light emitting golf ball. 
   
   
       4 . The light emitting golf ball as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said light assembly is disposed within an inner shell; wherein said inner shell comprises at least two centering pins extending therefrom; and wherein said inner shell is filled with a core material that encapsulates said light assembly therein. 
   
   
       5 . The light emitting golf ball as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said inner shell is manufactured of a polycarbonate material and wherein said core material comprises a resilient epoxy material. 
   
   
       6 . The light emitting golf ball as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said light emitting golf ball is manufactured so as to have a specific gravity less than a specific gravity of water. 
   
   
       7 . The light emitting golf ball as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a photosensitive dye is dispersed within said outer shell of said light emitting golf ball. 
   
   
       8 . A light emitting golf ball kit comprising:
 a light emitting golf ball comprising:
 a substantially spherical outer shell, wherein said outer shell is manufactured of a material that allows light to pass therethrough; and 
 a light assembly is disposed within said outer shell and adapted to produce light that passes through said outer shell; 
 wherein said light assembly comprises a light source, a battery in electrical communication with said light source, and a magnetic switch in electrical communication with said battery and said light source; and
 wherein said magnetic switch is adapted to control a flow of power from said battery to said light source when disposed within a magnetic field and to allow power to flow from said battery to said light source when removed from said magnetic field; and 
 
   a ball holder dimensioned to accommodate at least one light emitting golf ball therein;   wherein said ball holder comprises at least one magnet; and   wherein said at least one magnet is disposed in proximity to said at least one light emitting golf ball stored within said ball holder so as to create a magnetic field of sufficient strength to activate said magnetic switch within said light emitting golf ball and stop a flow of power from said battery to said light source when said light emitting golf ball is disposed within said ball holder.   
   
   
       9 . The kit as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said ball holder comprises a sleeve dimensioned to accommodate at least one light emitting golf ball. 
   
   
       10 . The kit as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said ball holder comprises a separate magnet for each of said at least one light emitting golf ball. 
   
   
       11 . The kit as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said ball holder comprises a single magnet that exerts a magnetic field over each of said at least one light emitting golf ball. 
   
   
       12 . The kit as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said sleeve comprises a removable attachment dimensioned to allow said sleeve to be attached to an item of apparel. 
   
   
       13 . The kit as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said ball holder comprises a ball clip dimensioned to accommodate a single light emitting golf ball. 
   
   
       14 . The kit as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said ball clip comprises a cup portion dimensioned to accommodate said light emitting golf ball, a spring member designed and dimensioned to exert a downward force on said light emitting golf ball to capture said light emitting golf ball between said cup and said spring member, and a removable attachment dimensioned to allow said ball clip to be attached to an item of apparel. 
   
   
       15 . A light emitting golf ball system comprising:
 a plurality of light emitting golf balls, wherein each of said light emitting golf balls comprises:
 a substantially spherical outer shell, wherein said outer shell is manufactured of a material that allows light to pass therethrough; and 
 a light assembly is disposed within said outer shell and adapted to produce light that passes through said outer shell;
 wherein said light assembly comprises a light source, a battery in electrical communication with said light source, and a magnetic switch in electrical communication with said battery and said light source; and 
 wherein said magnetic switch is adapted to stop a flow of power from said battery to said light source when disposed within a magnetic field and to allow power to flow from said battery to said light source when removed from said magnetic field; and 
 
   a container for storing said plurality of light emitting golf balls when said light emitting golf balls are not in use;
 wherein said container comprises at least one magnet; and 
 wherein said at least one magnet is disposed in proximity to said plurality of light emitting golf balls stored within said container so as to create a magnetic field of sufficient strength to activate said magnetic switches within said plurality of light emitting golf balls when said plurality of light emitting golf balls are disposed within said container. 
   
   
   
       16 . The light emitting golf ball system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said container comprises a plurality of compartments, wherein each of said plurality of compartments is dimensioned to accommodate a single golf ball. 
   
   
       17 . The light emitting golf ball system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein container comprises a separate magnet for each of said plurality of compartments. 
   
   
       18 . The light emitting golf ball system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said container comprises at least one sheet of magnetic material in contact with at least a portion of said plurality of light emitting golf balls. 
   
   
       19 . The light emitting golf ball system as claimed in  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of sheets of magnetic material, a plurality of containers and a box within which said plurality of containers are disposed, wherein a plurality of said light emitting golf balls are disposed within each container, and wherein each of said sheets of magnetic material are disposed in communication with said plurality of light emitting golf balls disposed within at least one container. 
   
   
       20 . The light emitting golf ball system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said container comprises a substantially rectangular box having a magnetized bottom surface, a rectangular cover dimensioned to fit over a top of said box, and a handle for carrying said container;
 wherein said container is dimensioned to allow said plurality of light emitting golf balls to be placed in said container such they form a single layer in upon said magnetized a bottom thereof, allowing said magnetized bottom surface to de-energize said plurality of light emitting golf balls until they are removed therefrom.