US 11,872,457 B2
Molded hockey puck with electronic signal transmitter core
Gerard J. Hall, Durham, NC (US); Kirk Brown, Hume, VA (US); Kent Mason, San Jose, CA (US); Richard H. Cavallaro, Mountain View, CA (US); and Jim Doeden, Pleasanton, CA (US)
Assigned to SPORTSMEDIA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Durham, NC (US)
Filed by SportsMEDIA Technology Corporation, Durham, NC (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/554,882.
Application 17/554,882 is a continuation of application No. 16/879,366, filed on May 20, 2020, granted, now 11,202,949.
Application 16/879,366 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/503,061, filed on Jul. 3, 2019, granted, now 11,344,778.
Application 16/503,061 is a continuation of application No. 16/027,594, filed on Jul. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,343,042, issued on Jul. 9, 2019.
Application 16/027,594 is a continuation of application No. 15/260,122, filed on Sep. 8, 2016, granted, now 10,016,669, issued on Jul. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0105404 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A63B 67/14 (2006.01); A63B 43/00 (2006.01); A63B 71/06 (2006.01); A63B 24/00 (2006.01); A63B 102/24 (2015.01)
CPC A63B 67/14 (2013.01) [A63B 24/0021 (2013.01); A63B 43/00 (2013.01); A63B 71/06 (2013.01); A63B 43/008 (2013.01); A63B 2102/24 (2015.10)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hockey puck, comprising:
a first subcomponent attached to a second subcomponent; and
a signal transmitter operable to generate and emit electromagnetic radiation, wherein the signal transmitter includes at least one power source and at least one diode;
wherein the electromagnetic radiation from the signal transmitter is configured to be received by a plurality of external sensors;
wherein the first subcomponent has a first interior surface with a first set of ridges and valleys, wherein the second subcomponent has a second interior surface with a second set of ridges and valleys, and wherein the first set of ridges and valleys and the second set of ridges and valleys are arranged concentrically on the first interior surface and the second interior surface, respectively;
wherein the valleys of the first set of ridges and valleys are constructed to receive the ridges of the second set of ridges and valleys;
wherein the valleys of the second set of ridges and valleys are constructed to receive the ridges of the first set of ridges and valleys;
wherein the first interior surface and the second interior surface form an interior void;
wherein the signal transmitter is enclosed by a capsule;
wherein the capsule is comprised of two identical sub-capsule halves;
wherein the two identical sub-capsule halves include a plurality of axially extending light pipes;
wherein the capsule is sized to fit within the interior void;
wherein the first interior surface includes at least one first curved notch extending from a first outer radius of the first interior surface to a first inner portion of the first subcomponent, and the second interior surface includes at least one second curved notch extending from a second outer radius of the second interior surface to a second inner portion of the second subcomponent;
wherein, when the first subcomponent and the second subcomponent are combined, the at least one first curved notch and the at least one second curved notch define channels for at least one light pipe extending from an outer radius of the puck to the interior void of the puck;
wherein a first set of openings for the plurality of axially extending light pipes positioned orthogonal to the first subcomponent integrally formed through a thickness of the first subcomponent and a second set of openings for the plurality of axially extending light pipes positioned orthogonal to the second subcomponent integrally formed through a thickness of the second subcomponent; and
wherein the puck is operable to provide an identification of a location of the puck on an ice rink via the electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of external sensors.