Apparatus for fitting a golf club to a player

• US 5,469,627 A
• Filed: 12/12/1994
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Golfsmith Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Plop Golf Comany
• Inventors: Denny, Bradley J., Hannon, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wirthlin, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US08/353,725
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 33/508, 33/784, 33/706, 33/806, 273/183.1, 273/187 R, 273/32, 273/80.1, 273/80 D
• US Class Current: 33/508
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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: G01B 7/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques

Abstract

An apparatus for fitting golf club length and head-to-shaft angle to an individual person. The fitting club shaft is in two telescoping portions. A conventional grip is provided at the end of the first portion and the end of the second portion is pivotally connected to a conventional club head. A generally "L"shaped electrically insulating panel has one leg extending into the second shaft portion and the other leg extending into a cavity in the head. A first series of longitudinally spaced electrical contacts on the first end are adapted to be contacted by a connection contact on the movable first shaft portion to send an electrical signal indicating club length. A second series of spaced electrical contacts are radially arranged on the second leg about the shaft pivot point. The second series of contacts is adapted to be contacted by a second connection contact to send an electrical signal indicating head-to-shaft angle. A person grasps the fitting club grip and assumes a normal golf stance. A digital display provides a visible readout on an adjacent tower of the club length and head-to-shaft angle selected by the person. A rack attached to the tower carries a number of normal clubs having different lengths and angles, so that the person can select a club having dimensions corresponding to the display.

Claims

1. Apparatus for fitting the length of a golf club and the club head-to-shaft angle to an individual person, which comprises:

a fitting club having the overall configuration of a standard golf club with a shaft, grip and head;

said shaft including a first portion carrying said grip and a second portion connected to said head;

said first and second shaft portions relatively telescoping to vary the shaft length from grip to head;

said head mounted for pivoting about a pivot point at the connection of said shaft and head to vary the head-to-shaft angle;

means for determining the shaft length when said grip is held with the shaft telescoped to a selected length which comprises;

a generally "L" shaped electrically insulating panel;

a first leg of said panel extending into said second shaft portion and pivotable therewith;

a first series of spaced electrical contact areas along said first leg each representing a specific shaft length;

a first continuous electrical contact means along said first leg adjacent to said first series of spaced contacts;

a first movable connection contact secured to said second shaft portion for movement along said first series of contacts and said first continuous contact to connect therebetween;

electrical circuit means for generating a digital display corresponding to the one of said first spaced contacts engaged by said first movable connection contact to indicate the overall shaft length;

means for determining the head-to-shaft angle when said grip is held with said shaft at a selected angle to said head;

first display means for displaying indicia indicating the shaft length when said grip is held at a selected length and angular position;

second display means for displaying indicia indicating the head-to-shaft angle when said grip is held at a selected length and angular position;

whereby a person may hold the grip and assume a normal golf stance and said display means will display the actual shaft length and head-to-shaft angle so that the person can select a corresponding normal club.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first series of spaced electrical contacts and said first continuous electrical contact is electrically insulated from said shaft and head.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a longitudinal slot in said first shaft portion and a cooperating pin mounted on said second shaft portion extending into said slot whereby relative rotation of said shaft portions is prevented and relative telescoping of said shaft portions is limited.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said head is secured to a base and further including a tower mounted on said base with digital display means providing shaft length and head-to-shaft readout at a position visible to a person grasping said grip.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including at least one rack attached to a base for holding a plurality of clubs having different lengths and head-to-shaft angles so that a person can immediately select a club corresponding to the readout resulting from that person using said fitting club.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fitting club has the overall configuration of a commercially available putter.

7. Apparatus for fitting the length of a golf club and the club head-to-shaft angle to an individual person, which comprises:

a fitting club having the overall configuration of a standard golf club with a shaft, grip and head;

said shaft including a first portion carrying said grip and a second portion connected to said head;

said first and second shaft portions relatively telescoping to vary the shaft length from grip to head;

said head mounted for pivoting about a pivot point at the connection of said said shaft and head to vary the head-to-shaft angle;

means for determining the shaft length when said grip is held with the shaft telescoped to a selected length which comprises;

a generally "L" shaped electrically insulating panel;

a first leg of said panel extending into said second shaft portion and pivotable therewith;

a first series of spaced electrical contact areas along said first leg each representing a specific shaft length;

a first continuous electrical contact means along said first leg adjacent to said first series of spaced contacts;

a first movable connection contact secured to said second shaft portion for movement along said first series of contacts and said first continuous contact to connect therebetween;

electrical circuit means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the one of said first spaced contacts engaged by said first movable connection contact to indicate the overall shaft length;

means for determining the head-to-shaft angle when said grip held is with said shaft at a selected angle to said head which comprises;

the second leg of said generally L-shaped panel extending into a cavity in said head;

a second series of spaced electrical contact areas arranged radially about the head pivot point;

a second continuous electrical contact means adjacent to said second series of contact areas;

a second connection contact secured to said head for connection between said second continuous contact and one of said second series of spaced contacts as said shaft is pivoted relative to said head; and

electrical circuit means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the one of said second spaced contacts engaged by said second movable connection contact to indicate head-to-shaft angle;

first display means for displaying indicia indicating the shaft length when said grip is held at a selected length and angular position;

second display means for displaying indicia indicating the head-to-shaft angle when said grip is held at said selected length and angular position;

whereby a person may hold the grip and assume a normal golf stance and said display means will display the actual shaft length and head-to-shaft angle so that the person can select a corresponding normal club.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first and second series of spaced electrical contacts and said first and second continuous electrical contacts are electrically insulated from said shaft and head and said second connection contact is a pin means mounted in said head, which is electrically conductive.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 further including a longitudinal slot in said first shaft portion and a cooperating pin mounted on said second shaft portion extending into said slot whereby relative rotation of said shaft portions is prevented and relative telescoping of said shaft portions is limited.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said head is secured to a base and further including a tower mounted on said base with digital display means providing shaft length and head-to-shaft angle readout at a position visible to a person grasping said grip.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 further including at least one rack attached to a base for holding a plurality of clubs having different lengths and head-to-shaft angles so that a person can immediately select a club corresponding to the readout resulting from that person using said fitting club.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said fitting club has the overall configuration of a commercially available putter.

13. Apparatus for fitting the length of a golf club and the club head-to-shaft angle to an individual person, which comprises:

a fitting club having the overall configuration of a standard golf club with a shaft, grip and head;

said shaft including a first portion carrying said grip and a second portion connected to said head;

said first and second shaft portions relatively telescoping to vary the shaft length from grip to head;

said head mounted for pivoting about a pivot point at the connection of said said shaft and head to vary the head-to-shaft angle;

means for determining the shaft length when said grip is held with the shalt telescoped to a selected length;

means for determining the head-to-shaft angle when said grip held is with said shaft at a selected angle to said head which comprises;

a generally "L" shaped electrically insulating panel;

a first leg of said panel extending into said second shaft portion and pivotable therewith;

a second leg of said panel extending into a cavity in said head;

a series of spaced electrical contact areas arranged radially about the head pivot point;

a continuous electrical contact means adjacent to said series of contact areas;

a connection contact secured to said head for connection between said continuous contact and one of said series of spaced contacts as said shaft is pivoted relative to said head;

electrical circuit means for generating a digital display corresponding to the one of said spaced contacts engaged by said connection contact to indicate head-to-shaft angle;

shaft length display means for displaying indicia indicating the shaft length when said grip is held at a selected position;

whereby a person may hold the grip and assume a normal golf stance and said display means will display the actual shaft length and head-to-shaft angle so that the person can select a corresponding normal club.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein series of spaced electrical contacts and said continuous electrical contact are electrically insulated from said shaft and head and said connection contact is a pin mounted in said head which is electrically conductive.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 further including a longitudinal slot in said first shaft portion and a cooperating pin mounted on said second shaft portion extending into said slot whereby relative rotation of said shaft portions is prevented and relative telescoping of said shaft portions is limited.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said head is secured to a base and further including a tower mounted on said base with digital display means providing shaft length and head-to-shaft readout at a position visible to a person grasping said grip.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 further including at least one rack attached to a base for holding a plurality of clubs having different lengths and head-to-shaft angles so that a person can immediately select a club corresponding to the readout resulting from that person using said fitting club.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said fitting club has the overall configuration of a commercially available putter.