METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULATED GOLF

• US 20120231894A1
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Full-Swing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Full-Swing, Inc.
• Inventors: Nicora, Daniel Antonio
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• 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 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

Described herein are methods and apparatuses for simulating golf. For example, described herein is a system for simulating a golf game. The system includes a simulator with a golf ball launch area and a display and an exercise device. The exercise device and simulator are connected to a computer.

Claims

1. A system for simulating a golf game comprising:

a simulator containing a golf ball launch area and a display, the golf ball launch area and the display being configured for launching physical golf balls toward the display;

an exercise device; and

a computer,

wherein the exercise device and simulator are connected to the computer.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the simulator comprises sensors configured to detect golf ball motion.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to generate a display of a golf ball trajectory in response to detected golf ball motion.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the simulator display image changes according to player movement during exercise.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device is a treadmill.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device is a motion monitor.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer is connected to a network.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer calculates a score based in part on the amount of time spent using the simulator and exercise device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer indicates a hill gradient for the distance.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer calculates a distance to travel on the exercise device.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the distance is based at least in part on a selected difficulty level.

12. A method of simulating a golf game comprising:

detecting golf ball motion as a golf ball travels toward a display; and

detecting player exercise activity following the detection of golf ball motion.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises scoring the golf game by calculating the number of times the ball is accelerated towards the screen and adding it to the amount of time spent on the game.

13. The method of claim 13, comprising updating the display in response to the detected golf ball motion.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising updating the display in response to the detected and monitored exercise activity.

16. A method for conducting a virtual golf tournament comprising:

receiving first data from a first physical golf simulator connected to a first exercise device;

receiving second data from a second physical golf simulator connected to a second exercise device;

calculating, based at least in part on the first data and the second data, information related to golf performance and/or relative ranking of a golf participant, wherein the information includes the time spent using the simulator and exercise device; and

making the information available to remote users via a computer network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second exercise devices comprise motion monitors.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second exercise devices comprise treadmills.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first physical golf simulator and the second physical golf simulator are in different cities.