US 12,290,728 B2
Molded hockey puck with electronic signal transmitter core
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 May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/752,401.
Application 17/752,401 is a continuation 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 2022/0280852 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A63B 67/14 (2006.01); A63B 24/00 (2006.01); A63B 43/00 (2006.01); A63B 71/06 (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)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hockey puck, comprising:
a first subcomponent and a second subcomponent, wherein the first subcomponent and the second subcomponent are attached;
wherein the first subcomponent defines an exterior top surface of the hockey puck and the second subcomponent defines an exterior bottom surface of the hockey puck;
wherein the first subcomponent includes at least one opening and the second subcomponent includes at least one opening;
wherein the first subcomponent and the second subcomponent form an interior void;
wherein the first subcomponent and the second subcomponent include complementary features that fit together;
a capsule constructed and configured with a profile mated to contours of the interior void such that the capsule maintains an orientation within the interior void and does not move within the interior void;
a signal transmitter operable to generate and emit non-visible electromagnetic radiation operable to be received by a plurality of sensors around an ice rink regardless of an orientation of the hockey puck;
wherein the signal transmitter comprises at least one diode;
wherein the signal transmitter is sized and shaped to fit within a central void of the capsule wherein the signal transmitter is fixed within the central void of the capsule;
at least one light pipe extending outwardly from the capsule to at least one of the exterior top or bottom surfaces of the hockey puck in a direction substantially perpendicular to the exterior top or bottom surfaces of the hockey puck;
wherein the at least one light pipe is open to at least one of the exterior top or bottom surfaces of the hockey puck;
wherein the at least one light pipe does not extend beyond the exterior top surface or the exterior bottom surface of the hockey puck;
wherein the at least one light pipe is integrally formed with the capsule;
wherein the first subcomponent includes at least one raised key-point;
wherein the second subcomponent includes at least one raised key-point;
wherein the capsule includes a plurality of notches operable to receive the at least one raised key-point of the first subcomponent and the at least one raised key-point of the second subcomponent; and
wherein the at least one light pipe is operable to receive the at least one diode of the signal transmitter and communicate the non-visible electromagnetic radiation from the at least one diode to the at least one opening of the first subcomponent and/or the at least one opening of the second subcomponent; and
wherein the at least one opening of the first subcomponent and the at least one opening of the second subcomponent include detents corresponding to ridges on the at least one light pipe.