Racquet hit notification

• US 10,058,734 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thurman, Robert T., Severa, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W
• Application Number:
  US15/432,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20170151464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/00 Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis strings therefor A63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/08 with special construction of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

An apparatus including a sensor carried by a racquet and an indicator in communication with the sensor. The sensor outputs a notification based on (a) the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor and (b) at least one of an elapsed time since a last stringing of the racquet and an input skill level of a person using the racquet. Additionally, an apparatus including a racquet, a sensor carried by the racquet, and an indicator in communication with the sensor. The sensor can be a strain gauge, a load cell, an acoustic sensor and a vibro-acoustic sensor. The sensor outputs a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor to be carried by a racquet; and

an indicator in communication with the sensor to output a notification based on (a) the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor and (b) at least one of an elapsed time since a last stringing of the racquet and an input skill level of a person using the racquet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

sensor signal analyzing electronics to be carried by the racquet; and

a notification output to be carried by the racquet to provide the notification.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the notification provided by the notification output is a visible notification.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible notification comprises an estimated number of hits by the racquet.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible notification comprises a recommendation for restringing the racquet.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible notification is on a handle butt of the racquet.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the notification provided by the notification output is an audible notification.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the sensor comprises a vibroacoustic sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a counter to be carried by the racquet and in communication with the sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indicator further comprises a memory to be carried by the racquet to store a counted number of hits by the counter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

sensor signal analyzing electronics to be carried by the racquet to produce data based on signals from the sensor;

a transmitter to be carried by the racquet to output the data to electronics remote from the racquet.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indicator further comprises a notification output remote from the racquet to output the notification based on the data.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

a transmitter to be carried by the racquet to output signals from the sensor; and

a portable electronic device remote from the racquet, the portable electronic device comprising;

a transceiver to receive the signals from the transmitter;

signal analyzing electronics to analyze signals to produce data; and

a notification output to output the notification based on the data.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an input;

signal analyzer electronics to receive at least one input racquet characteristic via the input and selected from a group of characteristics consisting of;

initial string tension;

manufacturer'"'"'s recommended tension or range of tensions;

strain gauge, string density, material or type of stringing, head size, and tennis racket hoop material, wherein the signal analyzing electronics is to identify hits by the racquet additionally based upon the at least one input racquet characteristic.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a racquet;

a sensor carried by the racquet, the sensor selected from a group of sensors consisting of;

a strain gauge, a load cell, an acoustic sensor and a vibro-acoustic sensor; and

an indicator in communication with the sensor to output a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the indicator comprises:

sensor signal analyzing electronics carried by the racquet; and

a notification output carried by the racquet to provide the notification.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

an input;

signal analyzer electronics to receive at least one input racquet characteristic via the input and selected from a group of characteristics consisting of;

initial string tension;

manufacturer'"'"'s recommended tension or range of tensions;

strain gauge, string density, material or type of stringing, head size, and tennis racket hoop material, wherein the signal analyzing electronics is to identify hits by the racquet additionally based upon the at least one input racquet characteristic.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an input for entry of an identification of a string of the racquet, wherein the indicator is to output the notification additionally based on the entered identification of the string of the racquet.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a battery carried by the racquet; and

an energy harvesting module incorporated into the racquet to maintain or recharge the battery.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising

an input by which a string characteristic may be entered;

and

logic to adjust a threshold at which the indicator outputs the notification based upon the entered string characteristic.