HANDLE INTEGRATED MOTION CAPTURE ELEMENT MOUNT

• US 20120120573A1
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newlight Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Motion Incorporated
• Inventors: BENTLEY, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,613,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/00 Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis strings therefor A63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• 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

Abstract

Handle integrated motion capture element mount that enables coupling or retrofitting a golf club with active motion capture electronics that are battery powered, passive or active shot count components, for example a passive RFID, and/or a visual marker on the cap for use with visual motion capture cameras. Does not require modifying the golf club. Electronics package and battery can be easily removed and replaced, for example without any tools. May utilize a weight that is removed when inserting the electronic package in the mount, wherein the weight element may have the same weight as an electronics package, for no net change or minimal change in club weight. May be implemented with a handle without electronics for future upgrading. May utilize non-permanently and/or friction coupling between the mount and equipment.

Claims

1. A handle integrated motion capture element mount apparatus comprising:

an elongated handle portion having a distal portion and a proximal portion;

a first area located within said distal portion of said handle portion wherein said first area is configured to couple with an elongated shaft of a piece of equipment; and

,

a second area located in said proximal portion of said handle portion wherein said second area is configured to house a motion capture element and at least one battery.

2. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said second area configured to couple with a cap to enclose said second area.

3. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising a cap and wherein said second area configured to couple with said cap to enclose said second area.

4. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising a cap and further comprising a high impact electrical contact coupled with said cap.

5. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising further comprising a cap and wherein said second area configured to couple with said cap to enclose said second area wherein said second area and said cap are rotationally coupled and configured to power said motion capture element through rotation of said cap with respect to said second area.

6. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said elongated handle portion is configured to couple with a grip.

7. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising a grip wherein said elongated handle portion is configured to couple with said grip.

8. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising a cap and a visual marker coupled with said cap.

9. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said motion capture element comprises at least one position, orientation, velocity or acceleration sensor or any combination thereof and an antenna.

10. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said motion capture element is removable to comply with sporting regulations.

11. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

a weight element; and

,

wherein said second area is further configured to internally hold said weight element when said motion capture element is removed and wherein said weight element is configured to weigh an amount that minimizes a difference in weight between said motion capture element and at least one battery and said weight element.

12. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said equipment is a piece of sporting, exercise or medical rehabilitation equipment, golf club, tennis racquet, weight training bar.

13. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said motion capture element associated with a golf club number.

14. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said motion capture element associated with a golf club number wherein said identifier is passive and is configured to operate without contact with a battery or wherein said identifier is active and is configured to couple with said at least one battery.

15. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

a display area coupled with said cap and configured to display a golf club number.

16. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

a ledge that separates said first area from said second area.

17. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said first area and said second area comprise cylinders of different diameters and wherein said elongated handle portion comprises a conical shape wherein said distal end has a smaller diameter than said proximal end.

18. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said at least one battery comprises two batteries and further comprising an electrical connector coupled with said two batteries wherein said electrical connector is configured to electrically couple said batteries in parallel that are situated in a series physical configuration.

19. A handle integrated motion capture element mount apparatus comprising:

an elongated handle portion having a distal portion and a proximal portion;

a first area located within said distal portion of said handle portion wherein said first area is configured to couple with an elongated shaft of a piece of equipment;

a second area located in said proximal portion of said handle portion wherein said second area is configured to house a motion capture element and at least one battery;

wherein said first area and said second area comprise cylinders of different diameters and wherein said elongated handle portion comprises a conical shape wherein said distal end has a smaller diameter than said proximal end; and

,a cap;

wherein said second area configured to couple with said cap to enclose said second area wherein said second area and said cap are rotationally coupled and configured to power said motion capture element through rotation of said cap with respect to said second area.

20. The apparatus claim 19 further comprising:

a weight element; and

,

wherein said second area is further configured to internally hold said weight element when said motion capture element is removed and wherein said weight element is configured to weigh an amount that minimizes a difference in weight between said motion capture element and at least one battery and said weight element.