Golf disc

Abstract

A golf disc assembly includes a disc configured for flying upon being cast into the air and a sonic finding unit which is attached to the disc and which emits a sonic locating signal after the sonic finding unit conducts a delay of a predetermined amount of time.

1 . A golf disc assembly, comprising:
 a disc configured for flying upon being cast into the air; and   a sonic finding unit which is attached to said disc and which emits a sonic locating signal after said sonic finding unit conducts a delay of a predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         2 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a printed circuit board, a first switch, a battery holder, a battery attached to said battery holder, and a programmable sonic beacon and timer device, said first switch, said battery holder, and said sonic beacon and timer device being mounted to said printed circuit board. 
     
     
         3 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said first switch is configured for selectively activating and deactivating said sonic finding unit and thereby for selectively activating and deactivating said sonic beacon and timer device, said sonic finding unit configured for emitting at least one initial signal when said first switch is activated and thereby for indicating a power level of said battery, said sonic beacon and timer device configured for initiating said delay one of when said first switch is activated and when a second switch of said sonic finding unit is selectively activated following said first switch being activated, said sonic beacon and timer device emitting said sonic locating signal after said sonic beacon and timer device conducts said delay and until said first switch is deactivated. 
     
     
         4 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of:
 (a) said sonic beacon and timer device is configured for emitting at least one sonic signal as at least one said initial signal, and   (b) said sonic finding unit includes a light element which is mounted to said printed circuit board and is configured for emitting a light signal as at least one said initial signal.   
     
     
         5 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said disc includes a first wall and a second wall, said first wall including an underside and a rim, said second wall depending from said underside, said first and second walls together at least partly forming a retaining cup, said retaining cup defining an interior space and including a retention feature which retains said sonic finding unit entirely within said interior space, said rim defining a substantially horizontal plane which is positioned entirely below said second wall when said disc is in an upright position. 
     
     
         6 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 5 , further including a shock-absorbing element positioned within said interior space between said sonic finding unit and said first wall. 
     
     
         7 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said second wall includes an inside surface, said retention feature of said retaining cup including a ramped projection projecting inwardly from said inside surface into said interior space and retaining said sonic finding unit within said interior space. 
     
     
         8 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said retention feature of said retaining cup includes a projection projecting inwardly from said underside of said first wall into said interior space, said printed circuit board defining a through-hole which receives said projection and thereby attaches said sonic finding unit to said disc. 
     
     
         9 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a waterproof case which encloses said printed circuit board, said first switch, said battery holder, said battery, and said sonic beacon and timer device. 
     
     
         10 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said sonic finding unit is attached to said disc not by way of a retaining cup but by way of one of (a) a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners, (b) a friction tape, and (c) an adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said disc includes a circumferential portion, said sonic finding unit including a first switch, a battery holder, a battery attached to said battery holder, and a programmable sonic beacon and timer device, said first switch, said battery holder, and said sonic beacon and timer device being distributed about and attached to said circumferential portion, said first switch, said battery, and said sonic beacon and timer device being electrically coupled with one another, said first switch configured for selectively activating and deactivating said sonic finding unit and thereby for selectively activating and deactivating said sonic beacon and timer device, said sonic beacon and timer device configured for emitting at least one initial sonic signal when said first switch is activated and thereby for indicating a power level of said battery, said sonic beacon and timer device emitting said sonic locating signal immediately after said sonic beacon and timer device conducts said delay and until said first switch is deactivated. 
     
     
         12 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a light element which emits a light signal when said sonic locating signal is actuated, said light signal being one of a repeating light and a continuous light. 
     
     
         13 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a device configured for selectively setting said predetermined amount of time and thereby for selectively setting said delay. 
     
     
         14 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a device configured for selectively setting a type of sound of said sonic locating signal. 
     
     
         15 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a device configured for selectively setting a rate of sounding of said sonic locating signal. 
     
     
         16 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a device configured for selectively setting a volume of said sonic locating signal one of to a constant level and to a level which increases over time. 
     
     
         17 . The golf disc assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a display configured for displaying at least one of a volume level of said sonic locating signal, a delay time countdown, and a battery power strength. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a golf disc assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a disc with a sonic finding unit attached thereto;   flying said disc upon casting said disc into the air;   conducting a delay of a predetermined amount of time by said sonic finding unit; and   emitting, by said sonic finding unit, a sonic locating signal after said sonic finding unit conducts said delay.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said sonic finding unit includes a printed circuit board, a first switch, a battery holder, a battery attached to said battery holder, and a programmable sonic beacon and timer device, said first switch, said battery holder, and said sonic beacon and timer device being mounted to said printed circuit board. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further including (a) selectively activating and deactivating, using said first switch, said sonic finding unit and thereby selectively activating and deactivating said sonic beacon and timer device, (b) emitting, by said sonic finding unit, at least one initial signal when said first switch is activated and thereby indicating a power level of said battery, and (c) initiating said delay using said sonic beacon and timer device one of when said first switch is activated and when a second switch of said sonic finding unit is selectively activated following said first switch being activated, and (d) emitting, by said sonic beacon and timer device, said sonic locating signal after said sonic beacon and timer device conducts said delay and until said switch is deactivated.