Golf swing measurement and analysis system

• US 10,207,171 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Golf Impact, LLC
• Original Assignee: Golf Impact, LLC
• Inventors: Davenport, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weatherford, Syvila
• Application Number:
  US13/273,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20120100923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,686 Days
• Field of Search: 473347, 473349, 3405728
• 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 2220/00 Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• 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 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• 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 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An integrated golf club comprising standard golf club shaft and an integrated electronics system golf club head apparatus for directly measuring physical parameters of the golf club head motional acceleration swing forces and golf club head face and golf ball impact forces and further processing those measurements and transmitting the measurement data wirelessly to a user interface device. The integrated electronics system golf club head comprises several optimized assemblies that support electronic measurement, processing and wireless communication functions that are integrated with a customized golf club head shell and club face to provide a golf club head with physical properties that are substantially similar to that of a regulation play golf club head of same type. The user interface device that receives wirelessly transmitted data further processes the data and provides the golfer with useful golf swing and impact metrics in multiple different user selectable formats.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a shell having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a club face;

a plurality of ribs configured for structural support on said inner surface within the club head, wherein at least two ribs cross one another at a point on a top section of the inner surface; and

an antenna that transmits data from multiple sensors to an external receiver, the antenna defined by a portion of said outer surface coupled to a non-conducting object of a predetermined dielectric constant, the non-conducting object further being coupled to a conducting object other than the outer surface;

wherein the antenna includes one of a wire type conducting element, a patch type conducting element, and both a wire type conducting element and a patch type conducting element.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the non-conducting object is positioned between the portion and the electrically conductive element, the electrically conductive element being within the shell.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the inner surface forms a cavity that includes a top and a side, wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs is located at the top and at least another one of the plurality of ribs is located along the side.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the non-conducting object includes at least one port with a connection point to circuitry within the golf club head.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a first electrically insulated pass-through in the shell wall and a second electrically insulated pass-through in the non-conducting object.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the non-conducting object is at least partially defines a radiation pattern that emanates from the club head.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the antenna on the club head is covered by an aerodynamic enhancement structure.