Electronics module support system for use with sports objects

Abstract

A method and apparatus for suspending core electronics in a sports object is disclosed. The suspension is accomplished in such a manner as to protect the electronics from impact during normal play of the sports object. In one embodiment, a web like membrane is used to suspend the electronics in the sports object. Other embodiments include use of an impact absorbing memory foam, an air inflated inner core, or a flexible membrane in any combination with or without the web-like design, or individually used, suspend and support the core electronics while providing protection to the core electronics.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to embedding electronics in a sports object, and specifically relates to a method and composition used to embed a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver and associated Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter components in a sports object to allow tracking and sending of information from the sports object without damage to the electronics during normal use of the sports object in a sporting or training event.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Sporting events and sports training activities of today see more use of electronics for training purposes and spectator enjoyment. For example, sports objects such as, but not limited to, baseballs, golf balls, footballs, basketballs, hockey pucks, soccer balls, lacrosse balls, racquet balls, tennis balls, jai alai balls, polo balls, billiard pool balls, and the like, may now contain electronics that provide object positional and flight path information of the sports object. This in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention, provides for an apparatus and method of containing electronics in a sports object and providing protection to the electronics from impact and other forces associated with the normal play of the sports object. The present invention also provides an apparatus and method of placing electronics in a sports object that have the ability to track the distance, location and flight path attributes of one or more sports objects, associate the sports objects with individual (or groups of) players, map each sports object location and flight path to a field of play or an arena, and allow each player or authorized user to access the location and flight path attributes of their sports object.

[0009]An additional object of the present invention is to embed the replacement core of electronics and protective materials to be perfectly weighted and balanced to eliminate wobble or off-center spin behavior in the sports object. Additionally, the core's response to impact and acceleration will be constructed to be identical to that of the original sports object. A further object of the invention is to fully account for the well known mechanics of deformation, compression and shape restitution in a particular sports object, and to design the embedded electronics and suspension package in such a way so as to protect it from the effects of the deformation and compression envelope.

Problems solved by technology

In sport objects that do not contain a solid core, there are several challenges associated with placing electronics with the sports object.

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