Electronic device for signaling wrist position during a golfer's swing

• US 5,607,361 A
• Filed: 11/18/1994
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Back Swing Management Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Back Swing Management Incorporated
• Inventors: Curtis, Donald R., Mastandrea, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Application Number:
  US08/341,766
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 273/35 R, 273/26 C, 273/29 A, 273/186.1, 273/186.2, 273/187.2, 273/187.1, 73/505, 73/516 LM, 73/517 A, 73/865.4, 128/774, 128/782, 343/718, 340/574, 473/55, 473/59, 473/207, 473/212, 473/266, 473/276, 473/213
• US Class Current: 473/207
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence

Abstract

A device for positioning on the back of a golfer'"'"'s hand to provide the golfer with an audible signal when the golfer'"'"'s wrist has a selected angular orientation during critical portions of the swing of a golf club. The device includes a pair of multicontact orientation sensitive switches, with separate or joint connection provided, such that internal electrical connections are made only when the desired angular orientation of the wrist is achieved. When such connection is made, the circuit of the device provides an audible signal that is heard by the golfer. This proper wrist orientation, and the electrical connection, must be maintained during the golf swing in order to continue the audible signal. A change in the signal indicates that the preferred orientation is not maintained. The orientation switches are disk mercury switch units having twelve internal contacts positioned at thirty degree intervals. These switches are positioned within a housing with an orientation such that the electrical contacts are made when proper wrist orientation and club swing are achieved.

Claims

1. A device adapted to be attached to and used on the back of a golfer'"'"'s hand for use by a golfer to signal a selected angular wrist roll and wrist bend during the swing of a golf club, said device comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface and defining in internal cavity;

a strap connected to said housing adapted for fastening said housing on a back of a hand of the golfer proximate a wrist whereby when worn by the golfer said housing moves according to movement of the wrist, said strap having a longitudinal axis adapted for extending around the golfer'"'"'s hand;

a first disk mercury switch mounted within said cavity at a center of said cavity and in a plane parallel to said bottom surface of said housing, said first disk mercury switch responsive to angular movement of the wrist;

a second disk mercury switch mounted within said cavity in a plane perpendicular to said bottom surface of said housing, said second mercury switch so as to be responsive to angular movement of said housing in a direction perpendicular to movement for actuating said first disk mercury switch whereby wrist roll and wrist bend during the swing provides movement of said first and second disk mercury switches;

each said first and second disk mercury switch having a disk cavity with a circular perimeter, a plurality of equally-spaced internal peripheral electrical contacts extending into said disk cavity, and a mercury pool within said disk cavity movable around said circular perimeter for contacting at least two adjacent of said electrical contacts during a rotation of said disk mercury switches around a center of said disk mercury switches;

an electrical power source within said cavity connectable to said first and second disk mercury switches;

a selector switch within said housing for selectively connecting and disconnecting said electrical power source to at least one of said first and second disk mercury switches, said selector switch operable by the golfer from exterior said housing; and

an audible signal producing means within said cavity connected in series with said electrical power source and at least one of said disk mercury switches whereby, when said at least one disk mercury switch is closed, said audible signal producing means is actuated to provide an audible signal to the golfer that the selected wrist orientation is achieved during the swing of the golf club.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first mercury switch has twelve internal peripheral electrical contacts equally spaced within, with said mercury pool contacting four adjacent electrical contacts when said first mercury switch is rotated about its center point.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said second mercury switch has twelve internal peripheral electrical contacts equally spaced within, with said mercury pool contacting four adjacent electrical contacts when said second mercury switch is rotated about its center point.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said first mercury switch has an alignment pin and is positioned within said cavity at an orientation whereby said first mercury switch is closed when said longitudinal axis of said strap is at an angle of about sixty-two degrees with respect to a golf playing surface and said alignment pin is oriented seventy-five degrees with respect to a line perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said strap, said perpendicular line being an alignment of a golfer'"'"'s arm and hand when the golf club is properly gripped whereby said first mercury switch is closed when the golfers wrist is correctly oriented as the golf club strikes a golf ball.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said first orientation sensitive switch has a plurality of combinations of internal contacts connected to said switch whereby movement of said mercury pool therein causes said first orientation sensitive switch to be closed during portions of the swing of the golf club when movement of the club is at a uniform velocity such that wrist position is monitored during the entire swing of the golf club.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said audible signal producing means is a piezoelectric element activated by an electrical driver, and said cavity is provided with an opening to form a horn for generating said audible signal.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said electrical power source is a battery source.

8. A device adapted for attachment and use on a back surface of a golfer'"'"'s hand for use by a golfer to signal a selected angular wrist roll and wrist bend throughout the swing of a golf club, said device comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface and defining an internal cavity;

an elastic strap connected to said housing adapted for fastening said housing on a back of a hand of the golfer proximate a wrist whereby when worn by the golfer said housing moves according to movement of the wrist, said strap having a longitudinal axis adapted for extending around the hand;

a first disk mercury switch mounted within said cavity at a center of said cavity in a plane parallel with said bottom surface of said housing, said first disk mercury switch responsive to angular movement of said housing due to angular movement of the wrist, said first disk mercury switch having a disk cavity with a circular perimeter, a plurality of equally spaced internal peripheral contacts extending into said disk cavity, and a mercury pool within said disk cavity movable around said disk cavity perimeter contacting selected adjacent of said internal contacts;

a second disk mercury switch mounted within said cavity in a plane perpendicular to said bottom surface of said housing, said second disk mercury switch responsive to angular movement of said housing in a direction perpendicular to movement for actuating said first disk mercury switch whereby wrist roll and wrist bend during the swing provides movement of said first and second disk mercury switches, said second disk mercury switch having a disk cavity with a circular perimeter, a plurality of equally spaced internal peripheral contacts extending into said disk cavity, and a mercury pool within said disk cavity movable around said circular perimeter contacting selected adjacent of said internal contacts;

a battery power source within said cavity connectable to said first and second disk mercury switches;

a selector switch within said housing for selectively connecting and disconnecting said battery power source to at least one of said first and second disk mercury switches, said selector switch operable by the golfer from exterior said housing; and

an audible signal producing means within said cavity connected in series with said battery power source and at least one of said disk mercury switches whereby, when said at least one disk mercury switch is closed, said audible signal producing means is actuated to provide an audible signal to the golfer that the selected wrist orientation is achieved during the swing of the golf club.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said first mercury switch has twelve internal peripheral electrical contacts equally spaced within, with said mercury pool contacting four adjacent electrical contacts when said first orientation sensitive switch is rotated about its center point to a selected orientation of the golfer'"'"'s hand.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said first mercury switch has an alignment pin and is positioned within said cavity at an orientation whereby said first mercury switch is closed when said longitudinal axis of said strap is at an angle of about sixty-two degrees with respect to a golf playing surface and said alignment pin is oriented seventy-five degrees with respect to a line perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said strap, said perpendicular line being an alignment of a golfer'"'"'s arm and hand when the golf club is properly gripped whereby said first mercury switch is closed when the golfers wrist is correctly oriented as the golf club strikes a golf ball.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said second mercury switch has twelve internal peripheral electrical contacts equally spaced within, with said mercury pool contacting four adjacent contacts when said second mercury switch is rotated about its center point to a selected orientation of the golfer'"'"'s hand.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein said first mercury switch has a plurality of internal electrical contacts connected to said selector switch whereby movement of said mercury pool therein causes said first mercury switch to be closed during portions of the swing of the golf club such that wrist position is monitored during the entire swing of the golf club.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein said audible signal producing means is a piezoelectric element activated by an electrical driver, and said cavity is provided with an opening to form a horn for generating said audible signal.

14. A device adapted to be attached to and used on a back of a hand of a golfer for use by a golfer to signal a selected angular wrist roll and wrist bend during the swing of a golf club, said device comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity, said housing having a rear surface to contact a wrist of the golfer, and a front surface;

an elastic strap connected to said housing adapted for fastening said housing on a back of a hand of the golfer proximate a wrist whereby when worn by the golfer said housing moves according to movement of the wrist, said elastic strap having a longitudinal axis;

a first disk mercury switch defining a disk cavity having a circular perimeter and having twelve equally spaced internal peripheral contacts extending into said disk cavity, and a mercury pool within said disk cavity movable around said circular perimeter to make contact with selected four adjacent of said internal contacts, said first disk mercury switch mounted within said cavity at substantially a center of said housing with a plane of said first disk mercury switch parallel to said bottom surface of said housing, said first disk mercury switch responsive to angular movement of said housing due to angular movement of the wrist;

a second disk mercury switch defining a disk cavity with a circular perimeter and having twelve equally spaced internal peripheral contacts extending into said disk cavity, and a mercury pool within said disk cavity movable around said circular perimeter to make contact with selected four adjacent of said internal contacts, said second disk mercury switch mounted within said cavity at a periphery of said cavity in a plane perpendicular to a plane of said first disk mercury switch, said second disk mercury switch thereby responsive to angular movement of said housing in a direction perpendicular to movement for actuating said first disk mercury switch whereby wrist roll and wrist bend during the swing provides movement of said first and second disk mercury switches;

a battery power source within said cavity connectable to said first and second disk mercury switches;

a selector switch within said housing for selectively connecting and disconnecting said power source to at least one of said first and second disk mercury switches, said selector switch operable by the golfer from exterior said top surface of said housing; and

an audible signal producing means within said cavity connected in series with said power source and at least one of said disk mercury switches whereby, when said at least one said disk mercury switch is closed, said audible signal producing means providing an audible signal to the golfer that the selected wrist orientation is achieved during the swing of the golf club.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said first mercury switch has an alignment pin and is positioned within said cavity at an orientation whereby said first mercury switch is closed when said longitudinal axis of said strap is at an angle of about sixty-two degrees with respect to a golf playing surface and said alignment pin is oriented seventy-five degrees with respect to a line perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said strap, said perpendicular line being an alignment of a golfer'"'"'s arm and hand when the golf club is properly gripped whereby said first mercury switch is closed when the golfers wrist is correctly oriented as the golf club strikes a golf ball.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said first mercury switch has a plurality of internal contacts connected to said selector switch whereby movement of said mercury pool therein causes said first mercury switch to be closed during portions of the swing of the golf club such that wrist position is monitored during the entire swing of the golf club.