Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads

• US 20130267339A1
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Stites, John T., Lafortune, Mario A., Hatton, Philip, Wallans, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,375,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 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 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• 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 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• 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 69/362 : electrical or electronic
• 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: A63B 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/16 : by matching signal segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 : Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head having a body with a striking face configured for striking a ball;

a shaft connected to the head and extending from the head; and

a port located in the head or the shaft, the port configured to receive a monitoring device for measuring at least one characteristic of a golf swing, wherein the port has an engagement mechanism configured to engage the monitoring device in an engagement configuration that is configured to cause the monitoring device to operate in a selected manner.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism is configured to releasably engage the monitoring device to permit the monitoring device to be inserted or removed.

3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein the engagement mechanism further comprises a removable section configured to be received in the head or the shaft, wherein the removable section is configured to engage the monitoring device in the engagement configuration.

4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the removable section comprises a plurality of protrusions forming the engagement configuration, wherein the protrusions are configured to be received in openings in the monitoring device to cause the monitoring device to operate in the selected manner.

5. The golf club of claim 4, wherein the removable section comprises holder members configured to engage the monitoring device and a surface between the holder members configured to confront the monitoring device when engaged by the holder members, and wherein the protrusions are located on the surface between the holder members.

6. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the port is located in an end of the shaft distal from the head, and wherein the removable section is received within the end of the shaft.

7. The golf club of claim 6, wherein the removable section comprises an end cap positioned at the end of the shaft.

8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes multiple ports, including at least a first port located in the head and a second port located in an end of the shaft distal from the head.

9. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the first port and the second port each include engagement mechanisms configured to engage the monitoring device in the engagement configuration that is configured to cause the monitoring device to operate in the selected manner.

10. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising the monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device comprises a plurality of sensors, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to utilize input from at least a first sensor when engaged by the engagement mechanism in the engagement configuration.

11. A set of golf clubs comprising:

a first golf club comprising;

a first golf club head having a body with a striking face configured for striking a ball,

a first shaft connected to the first head and extending from the first head, and

a first port located in the first head or the first shaft, the first port configured to receive a monitoring device for measuring at least one characteristic of a golf swing, wherein the first port has a first engagement mechanism configured to engage the monitoring device in a first engagement configuration that is configured to cause the monitoring device to operate in a first selected manner; and

a second golf club comprising;

a second golf club head having a body with a striking face configured for striking the ball,

a second shaft connected to the second head and extending from the second head, and

a second port located in the second head or the second shaft, the second port configured to receive the monitoring device, wherein the second port has a second engagement mechanism configured to engage the monitoring device in a second engagement configuration that is different from the first engagement configuration, and wherein the second engagement configuration is configured to cause the monitoring device to operate in a second selected manner that is different from the first selected manner.

12. The set of claim 11, wherein the first and second engagement mechanisms are configured to releasably engage the monitoring device to permit the monitoring device to be inserted or removed.

13. The set of claim 12, wherein the first engagement mechanism further comprises a first removable section configured to be received in the first head or the first shaft, wherein the first removable section is configured to engage the monitoring device in the first engagement configuration, and wherein the second engagement mechanism further comprises a second removable section configured to be received in the second head or the second shaft, wherein the second removable section is configured to engage the monitoring device in the second engagement configuration.

14. The set of claim 13, wherein the first removable section comprises a first plurality of protrusions arranged to form the first engagement configuration, wherein the first protrusions are configured to be received in first openings in the monitoring device to cause the monitoring device to operate in the first selected manner, and wherein the second removable section comprises a second plurality of protrusions arranged to form the second engagement configuration, wherein the second protrusions are arranged differently from the first protrusions, and wherein the second protrusions are configured to be received in second openings in the monitoring device, including at least one different opening from the first openings, to cause the monitoring device to operate in the second selected manner.

15. The set of claim 13, wherein the first port is located in an end of the first shaft distal from the first head, and wherein the first removable section is received within the end of the first shaft.

16. The set of claim 15, wherein the first removable section comprises a first end cap positioned at the end of the first shaft.

17. The set of claim 11, wherein the set further comprises:

a third golf club head having a body with a striking face configured for striking the ball,

a third shaft connected to the second head and extending from the second head, and

a third port located in the third head or the third shaft, the third port configured to receive the monitoring device, wherein the third port has a third engagement mechanism configured to engage the monitoring device in a third engagement configuration that is different from the first engagement configuration and the second engagement configuration, and wherein the third engagement configuration is configured to cause the monitoring device to operate in a third selected manner that is different from the first selected manner and the second selected manner.

18. The set of claim 11, further comprising the monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device comprises a plurality of sensors, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to utilize input from at least a first sensor when engaged by the first engagement mechanism in the first engagement configuration, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to utilize input from at least a second sensor when engaged by the second engagement mechanism in the second engagement configuration.

19. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head having a body with a striking face configured for striking a ball;

a shaft connected to the head and extending from the head; and

a removable section at least partially received in the head or the shaft, the removable section configured to receive a monitoring device for measuring at least one characteristic of a golf swing, wherein the removable section comprises one or more protrusions in an arrangement, the one or more protrusions configured to be received in one or more openings of the monitoring device, such that the arrangement of the one or more protrusions is configured to cause the monitoring device to operate in a selected manner.

20. The golf club of claim 19, wherein the removable section further comprises a plurality of protrusions spaced from each other on a flat surface.

21. The golf club of claim 19, wherein the removable section is configured to releasably engage the monitoring device to permit the monitoring device to be inserted or removed.

22. The golf club of claim 19, wherein the removable section is received within an end of the shaft distal from the head.

23. The golf club of claim 22, wherein the removable section comprises an end cap positioned at the end of the shaft.

24. The golf club of claim 19, further comprising the monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device comprises a plurality of sensors and has a plurality of openings therein, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to utilize input from at least a first sensor when the protrusions are received into the openings.

25. The golf club of claim 19, wherein the removable section comprises holder members configured to engage the monitoring device and a surface between the holder members configured to confront the monitoring device when engaged by the holder members, and wherein the protrusions are located on the surface between the holder members.

26. A set of golf clubs comprising:

a first golf club comprising;

a first golf club head having a body with a striking face configured for striking a ball,

a first shaft connected to the first head and extending from the first head, and

a first removable section at least partially received in the first head or the first shaft, the first removable section configured to receive a monitoring device for measuring at least one characteristic of a golf swing, wherein the first removable section comprises one or more first protrusions in a first arrangement, the one or more first protrusions configured to be received in one or more first openings of the monitoring device, such that the first arrangement of the one or more first protrusions is configured to cause the monitoring device to operate in a first selected manner; and

a second golf club comprising;

a second golf club head having a body with a striking face configured for striking the ball,

a second shaft connected to the second head and extending from the second head, and

a second removable section at least partially received in the second head or the second shaft, the second removable section configured to receive the monitoring device, wherein the second removable section comprises one or more second protrusions in a second arrangement that is different from the first arrangement, the one or more second protrusions configured to be received in one or more second openings of the monitoring device, including at least one different opening from the first openings, such that the second arrangement of the one or more second protrusions is configured to cause the monitoring device to operate in a second selected manner that is different from the first selected manner.

27. The set of claim 26, wherein the first and second removable sections are each configured to releasably engage the monitoring device to permit the monitoring device to be inserted or removed.

28. The set of claim 27, wherein the first removable section is received within the end of the first shaft.

29. The set of claim 28, wherein the first removable section comprises a first end cap positioned at the end of the first shaft.

30. The set of claim 26, wherein the first removable section further comprises a plurality of the first protrusions spaced from each other on a first flat surface, and wherein the second removable section further comprises a plurality of the second protrusions spaced from each other on a second flat surface, wherein the second protrusions include at least one protrusion arranged differently from the first protrusions.

31. The set of claim 26, further comprising the monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device comprises a plurality of sensors and has a plurality of openings therein, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to utilize input from at least a first sensor when the first protrusions are received into the openings, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to utilize input from at least a second sensor that is different from first sensor when the second protrusions are received into the openings.