Illuminated birdie system

Abstract

A striking subassembly has lower and upper components. The lower component has a hemispherical lower section and a cylindrical upper section. A chamber within the lower component terminates above with an annular projection. The upper component has upper and lower disks. An annular recess is between the upper and lower disks offset from the annular projection. Feathers extend upwardly from the upper disk. An electrical assembly has a printed circuit board with a periphery. The periphery is secured within the chamber to the upper component. A light emitting diode extends downwardly from the printed circuit board. A battery powers the light emitting diode.

Claims

1. An illuminated birdie system comprising: a striking subsystem having a lower component and an upper component; the lower component having a hemispherical lower section and a cylindrical upper section, a chamber within the lower component terminating above with an annular projection extending radially inwardly; the upper component including an upper disk positioned above the annular projection, the upper component including a lower disk positioned below the annular projection, the upper component including an annular recess between the upper disk and the lower disk, the annular recess being positioned laterally offset from the annular projection, the upper component including a lower cavity extending upwardly from the chamber and terminating in a lateral surface within the lower disk, the lateral surface having spaced recesses extending upwardly into the upper disk, the upper component including an axial projection in a cylindrical configuration extending upwardly from the upper disk; an electrical assembly located within the chamber, the electrical assembly including a printed circuit board with a top and a bottom and a periphery, the periphery of the printed circuit board having spaced apertures, threaded fasteners extending through the spaced apertures and into the upper disk for securing the printed circuit board to the upper component, a plurality of light emitting diode extending downwardly from the bottom of the printed circuit board, a battery extending upwardly from the top of the printed circuit board to power the light emitting diode, a sensor for activating the light emitting diode upon the subsystem being struck by a paddle and for inactivating the light emitting diode after passage of a predetermined time; and a plurality of feathers having lower ends adhesively secured within the axial projection and extending upwardly from upper component.

2. The illuminated birdie system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower disk has a lower diameter and the upper disk has an upper diameter, the upper diameter being greater than the lower diameter.

3. The illuminated birdie system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper component is fabricated of a rigid plastic material.

4. The illuminated birdie system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower component is fabricated of a translucent elastomeric material.

5. An illuminated birdie system (10) for a paddle game to allow playing the paddle game at night while utilizing electrical control, the system comprising, in combination: a striking subsystem having a lower component (14) and an upper component (22), the upper component being fabricated of a rigid plastic material, the lower component being fabricated of a translucent elastomeric material, the upper component and the lower component being securely coupled to render the system water resistant and floatable; the lower component having a lower section (16) and an upper section (18), the lower component having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the exterior surface of the lower section having a hemispherical configuration with a first radius of curvature, the interior surface of the lower section having a hemispherical configuration with a second radius of curvature, the upper section having a cylindrical configuration with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the lower section and the upper section forming a chamber with a common central axis, the first radius of curvature being greater than the second radius of curvature whereby the lower section forms a lower wall with a continuously changing thickness having a greatest thickness at the central axis, the exterior surface of the upper section being a smooth continuation of the exterior surface of the lower section, the interior surface of the upper section terminating above with an annular projection (20) extending radially inwardly, the interior surface of the upper section being formed with an annular ledge (21) adjacent to the lower section; the upper component including an upper disk (24) positioned above and in contact with the annular projection, the upper component including a lower disk (26) positioned below and in contact with the annular projection, the upper component including an annular recess (28) between the upper disk and the lower disk positioned laterally offset from and in contact with the annular projection, the upper component including a lower cavity extending upwardly from the chamber and terminating in a lateral surface within the lower disk, the lateral surface having spaced recesses (47) extending upwardly into the upper disk, an axial projection (25) having a cylindrical configuration extending upwardly from the upper disk, the upper disk and the axial projection and the annular recess and the lower disk and the lower cavity having an axis co-extensive with the common central axis, the lower disk having a lower diameter, the upper disk having an upper diameter, the upper diameter being greater than the lower diameter; an electrical assembly (44) located within the chamber, the electrical assembly including a printed circuit board (46) with a top and a bottom and a periphery, the periphery of the printed circuit board having spaced apertures (48), threaded fasteners (50) extending through the spaced apertures and into the spaced recesses for securing the printed circuit board to the upper component, a plurality of light emitting diode (52) extending downwardly from the bottom of the printed circuit board, a battery (54) and a motion sensor (56) extending upwardly from the top of the printed circuit board to power the light emitting diode, the motion sensor adapted to turn on the light emitting diode when the system is struck, the light emitting diode remaining lit for predetermined period after being turned on, when the system is struck again the light emitting diode will again remain lit for an additional period of time, the turning on of the light emitting diode continues while play continues and the battery remains viable; and a feather subsystem having a plurality of feathers (40), each of the feathers having a lower end adhesively secured within the axial projection, each of the feathers having an upper end extending upwardly from the upper component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an illuminated birdie system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the system shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective illustration of the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded cross sectional view of the upper component, lower component, and electrical assembly taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the upper component.

(8) The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved illuminated birdie system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

(10) The present invention, the illuminated birdie system is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a striking subsystem with an upper component and a lower component, an electrical assembly, and feathers. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objectives.

(11) From a specific perspective, the invention of the present application is an illuminated birdie system 10 to allow playing the paddle game at night while utilizing electrical control in a safe, convenient, entertaining, and economical manner.

(12) The system includes a striking subassembly having a lower component 14 and an upper component 22. The upper component is fabricated of a rigid plastic material and the lower component is fabricated of a translucent elastomeric material. The upper and lower components are securely coupled to render the system water resistant and floatable.

(13) The lower component has a lower section 16 and an upper section 18. The lower component has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the lower section has a hemispherical configuration with a first radius of curvature. The interior surface of the lower section has a hemispherical configuration with a second radius of curvature. The upper section has a cylindrical configuration with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The lower section and the upper section form a chamber with a common central axis. The first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature whereby the lower section forms a lower wall with a continuously changing thickness having a greatest thickness at the central axis. The exterior surface of the upper section is a smooth continuation of the exterior surface of the lower section. The interior surface of the upper section terminates above with an annular projection 20 extending radially inwardly. The interior surface of the upper section is formed with an annular ledge 21 adjacent to the forward section.

(14) The upper component includes an upper disk 24 positioned above and in contact with the annular projection of the lower component. The upper component includes a lower disk 26 positioned below and in contact with the annular projection of the lower component. The upper component includes an annular recess 28 between the upper disk and the lower disk positioned laterally offset from and in contact with the annular projection of the lower component. The lower disk has a lower cavity extending upwardly from the chamber and terminating in a lateral surface adjacent to the upper disk. The lateral surface has spaced recesses 47 extending upwardly into the upper disk. An axial projection 25 extends upwardly from the upper disk. The upper disk and the axial projection and the annular recess and the lower disk and the lower cavity have an axis co-extensive with the common central axis. The lower disk has a lower diameter and the upper disk has an upper diameter. The upper diameter is greater than the lower diameter.

(15) Next provided is an electrical assembly 44. The electrical assembly is located within the chamber. The electrical assembly includes a printed circuit board 46 with a top, a bottom, and a periphery. The periphery of the printed circuit board has spaced apertures 48. Threaded fasteners 50 extend through the spaced apertures and into the spaced recesses to secure the printed circuit board to the upper component. A light emitting diode 52 extends downwardly from the bottom of the printed circuit board. A battery 54 and a motion sensor 56 extend upwardly from the top of the printed circuit board to power the light emitting diode. The motion sensor is adapted to turn on the light emitting diode when the system is hit or shaken. The light emitting diode remain lit for a predetermined period, such as 15 seconds, after being turned on or until the system is hit or shaken again. When the system is struck, hit or shaken again, the light emitting diode will again remain lit for an additional predetermined period, such as 15 seconds. This sequence is repeated while play continues and while the battery remains viable. The battery life in the preferred embodiment is 24 hours. Peripheral finger notches 58 are formed in the upper disk to facilitate separating the upper component and the lower component to change the battery and to turn the light emitting diode on and off.

(16) Lastly, a plurality of feathers 40 are provided. Each of the feathers has a lower end adhesively secured in the axial projection. Each of the feathers has an upper end extending upwardly from the upper component. The preferred feathers are goose feathers, but a variety of different types of feathers, natural and synthetic, may be substituted therefor.

(17) As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

(18) With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(19) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.