BAT CUSTOMIZATION SYSTEM

• US 20140343898A1
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thurman, Robert T., Goodwin, Ty B., Stenzler, Joshua S., Fritzke, Mark A., Gaff, Bradley L., Flood, Jeffrey A., Epling, Sean S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,387,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/189
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0045 specially adapted for games played with rackets or bats A63B60/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

A bat customization system for use with a processing unit of an electronic device. The system includes a first sensing bat, at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals from the sensors. The at least one sensor is configured to detect characteristics of at least one test swing of the first sensing bat. The signals represent the detected characteristics. A non-transient computer readable medium containing computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to identify a recommended bat based on the characteristics detected by the at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat. The programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate data relating to the at least one test swing.

Claims

1. A bat customization system for use with a processing unit of an electronic device, the system comprising:

a first sensing bat;

at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat, the at least one sensor configured to detect characteristics of at least one test swing of the first sensing bat;

a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals from the sensors, the signals representing the detected characteristics; and

a non-transient computer readable medium containing computer readable programming configured to direct the processing unit to identify a recommended bat based on the characteristics detected by the at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat, the programming configured to direct the processing unit to processing unit to generate data relating to the at least one test swing.

2. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the recommended bat comprises a bat component assembly, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate signals causing a representation of the individual bat components of the bat component assembly to be visibly identified in a display of the electronic device.

3. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the first sensing bat has adjustable bat characteristics and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate a representation of a first customized bat assembly based upon detected characteristics of the at least one test bat swing with the first sensing bat.

4. The bat customization system of claim 3, wherein the adjustable sensing bat characteristics comprise predefined settings corresponding to different combinations of components available for forming the first customized bat assembly.

5. The bat customization system of claim 3, wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to output recommendations for adjusting the sensing bat characteristics based on the at least one test swing of the first sensing bat.

6. The bat customization system of claim 3, wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate at least a first animation of the at least one test swing.

7. The bat customization system of claim 6, wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate at least first and second animations of at least two of the test swings.

8. The bat customization system of claim 7, wherein the first animation and the second animation are concurrently presented.

9. The bat customization system of claim 8, wherein the first animation and the second animation are overlaid at least partially upon one another.

10. The bat customization system of claim 3, wherein the first sensing bat comprises interchangeable components to adjust sensing bat characteristics of the first sensing bat.

11. The bat customization system of claim 10, wherein the interchangeable components for the first sensing bat are interchangeable with corresponding components of the customized bat assembly.

12. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to identify at least one combination of selectable bat components that approximate the recommended bat.

13. The bat customization system of claim 12, wherein the computer readable programming is further configured to direct the processing unit to generate a display of at least two different combinations of selectable bat components for selection by a person to form the recommended bat.

14. The bat customization system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor to detect physical characteristics of a batter, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based at least in part upon the detected physical characteristics of the batter.

15. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which data regarding characteristics of a batter are entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the customized bat assembly based at least in part upon the entered data regarding characteristics of the batter.

16. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which data regarding characteristics of the test bat swing are entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based at least in part upon the entered data regarding characteristics of the at least one test bat swing.

17. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which an identification of a type of the test bat swing just completed is entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based upon the identification of the type of the at least one test bat swing.

18. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which a selection of a desired type of the test bat swing is entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the recommended bat based upon the entered selection of the desired type of the test bat swing

19. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which a skill level is entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate the customized bat assembly based upon the entered selection of the skill level.

20. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which a hitting objective is entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to identify the recommended bat based upon the entered hitting objective.

21. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an input by which characteristics of a current bat of a batter are entered, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to indicate differences between the recommended bat and the current bat.

22. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the customized bat assembly comprises types of components selected from a group of component types consisting of:

a bat frame;

a handle portion;

a barrel portion;

an end cap;

a knob;

an insert;

an intermediate tapered element; and

combinations thereof.

23. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are removably attached to the first sensing bat.

24. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the recommended bat comprises at least one of:

a particular bat model, a bat size/length combination, a length, a weight, a handle flex, a weight distribution, a moment of inertia, an end cap weighting, a one piece end cap, a two piece end cap, a knob weighting, a one piece knob, a two piece knob, a handle/grip diameter, a one-piece intermediate member, a multi-piece intermediate member, a dampening characteristic, and combinations thereof.

25. The bat customization system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a display and an input, wherein one or more graphical and/or alphanumeric indicia is entered for application to the recommended bat using the input, and wherein the computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to display the recommended bat with the one or more selected graphical and/or alphanumeric indicia.