ShotwatchTM

• US 20060199659A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theodore Weissenburger Caldwell
• Original Assignee: Theodore Weissenburger Caldwell
• Inventors: Caldwell, Theodore Weissenburger
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

A swing monitoring system in the form of a wrist mounted unit which includes multi-function instrumentation with extremely high degrees of precision that monitors a plurality of critical components of the swing of a golf club, tennis racquet, baseball bat hockey stick or the like. In particular, motion sensors that discriminate finite changes in the timing and speed of the swing are disposed in a housing mounted on a wrist bank analogous to a common wrist watch or timepiece. In addition, sensors are disposed in the wrist strap for detecting changes in grip pressure during the act of swinging any of the above mentioned equipment. The detected parameters are displayed on a LCD which is part of the instrumentation. Desired parameters can be saved in memory and the components of subsequent swing are compared to those saved, and if they are different, an audible alarm or signal is activated. The exactness of the subsequent trail swings relative to those saved in memory is a function of the handicap or other self designated indicator of skill level of the user.

Claims

1. A swing monitoring watch comprising, a strap adapted to be worn on the wrist or forearm of the user, accelerometer means mounted on said strap, at least one pressure sensor embedded said strap, each said sensor is a piezo electric sensor, an electronic monitoring circuit, said electronic monitoring circuit connected to each said pressure sensor and to said accelerometer means, said electronic monitoring circuit operative to measure the parameters of the pressure exerted on each said pressure sensor on said strap, the speed of said strap, and the elapsed time of movement of said strap during a swing of a golf club, racquet, bat, hockey stick or the like, display means connected to said electronic monitoring circuit to display the several parameters defined by movement of said strap and watch during a swinging motion, and

housing means mounted on said strap to encase said electronic monitoring circuit and said display means.

2. The device recited in claim 1 including, wiring embedded to said band to interconnect each said pressure sensor to said electronic monitoring circuit.

3. The device recited in claim 1 including,

converter means connected intermediate each said pressure sensor and said electronic monitoring circuit.

4. The device recited in claim 1 wherein,

said converter means comprises an analog to digital signal converter.

5. The device recited in claim 1 wherein,

said electronic monitoring circuit includes micro-processor means.

6. The device recited in claim 1 wherein, said display means comprises a liquid crystal display device.

7. The device recited in claim 1 including,

alarm means connected to said electronic monitoring circuit.

8. The device recited in claim 1 wherein,

said alarm means selectively provides an audible alarm signal.

9. The device recited in claim 1 wherein,

said alarm means selectively provides a visual alarm signal.

10. The device recited in claim 1 including,

switch means for selectively controlling the operation of said electronic monitoring circuit.

11. The device recited in claim 1 wherein,

said switch means includes reset switches connected to said electronic monitoring circuit and to said display means.

12. The device recited in claim 1 including, position marking means on the front of said watch to assist in the positioning of a golf club, racquet, bat etc., relative to said strap and watch during said swing.

13. A self contained swing monitoring device including, a watch adapted to be worn on the wrist of the user, accelerometer means mounted in said WATCH, means to measure the speed of said club, bat, racquet, etc., during said swing.