Golfer's head rotation indicating means and method

• US 5,251,902 A
• Filed: 03/16/1992
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James E. Obenauf, John Federowicz, Thomas W. Mccurnin
• Original Assignee: James E. Obenauf, John Federowicz, Thomas W. Mccurnin
• Inventors: McCurnin, Thomas W., Federowicz, John, Obenauf, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/853,413
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 273/183 B, 273/187.2, 273/190 R, 273/190 A, 273/190 B, 434/252
• US Class Current: 473/209
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a device for indicating rotation of the head of a golfer during the process of hitting a golfball, which includes: a housing; a sensor including a pendulum switch disposed in the housing to sense the beginning of rotation of the head from an initial position, generally about the axis of the spine of the golfer, and to produce an output signal thereupon; a sound producing device activatable in response to the output signal to provide an audible signal to the golfer; an adjustment device to adjust the sensor so that the sensor will not produce the output signal when the head is in a desired position, but will produce the output signal when the head begins to rotate in the direction the golfball will be hit; and a manually initiated timing device to which the sensor is responsive to permit the sensor to produce the output signal only during a selected period of time after manual initiation of the timing device.

Claims

1. A device for indicating rotation of the head of a golfer during the process of hitting a golfball, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) sensor means disposed in said housing to sense the beginning of angular unidirectional rotation of said head from an initial position, generally about the axis of the spine of said golfer, and to produce an output signal thereupon;

(c) sound producing means activatable in response to said output signal to provide an audible signal to said golfer;

(d) adjusting means to adjust said sensor means so that said sensor means will not produce said output singal when said head is in a desired position, but will produce said output signal when said head begins to rotate in the direction said golfball will be hit;

(e) manual switch means to activate energizing means to which said sensor means is responsive to permit said sensor means to produce said output signal only during a selected period of time only after each closing of aid manual switch means; and

(f) said sensor means including a pendulum switch to close upon said angular unidirectional rotation of said head of said golfer.

2. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is adapted to be supported by the ear of said golfer.

3. A device, as defined in claim 2, wherein said manually initiated energizing means can be manually initiated while said housing is supported by said ear.

4. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes:

(a) an electrically conductive base member disposed in said housing;

(b) an elongate, relatively rigid, conductive member loosely disposed through said base member;

(c) means to maintain said base member and said elongate member in relative constant vertical relationship;

(d) a weight fixedly attached to the lower portion of said elongate member below said base member to maintain said elongate member in vertical position relative to the earth;

(e) an electrical contact adjustably fixedly disposed within said housing and closely disposed near the upper portion of said elongate member, such that rotational movement of said housing in one direction with respect to said elongate member will cause said electrical contact and said upper portion to engage;

(f) first and second electrical leads attached to said base member and to said electrical contact; and

(g) electrical circuitry attached to said electrical leads to detect when said electrical contact and said upper portion engage and to provide said output signal in response thereto.

5. A device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said housing is adapted to be removably supported by the ear of said golfer.

6. A device, as defined in claim 5, further comprising said adjusting means is operatively connected to said base member and extends through said housing such that said golfer can adjust the orientation of said base member while said housing is supported by said ear.

7. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said audible signal is a "beep".

8. A method for indicating rotation of the head of a golfer during the process of hitting a golfball, comprising:

(a) sensing the beginning of angular unidirectional rotation of said head from an initial position, generally about the axis of the spine of said golfer, and producing an output signal thereupon;

(c) producing a sound n response to said output signal to provide an audible signal to said golfer;

(d) providing adjusting means to adjust said sensor means so that said sensor means will to produce said output signal when id head is in a desired position, but will produce said output signal when said head beings to rotate in the direction said golfball will be hit;

(e) closing manual switch means to activate energizing means to which said sensor means is responsive to permit said sensor means to produce said output signal only during a selected period of time only after each closing of said manual switch means; and

(f) said sensor means including a pendulum switch to close upon said angular unidirectional rotation of said head of said golfer.