Golf practice apparatus

• US 5,685,782 A
• Filed: 03/04/1994
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miacomet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sport Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Szczecinski, Stephen J., Lipps, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/206,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 273/35 R, 273/184 R, 273/185 R, 273/186.1, 273/186.3, 273/187.2, 273/194 R, 273/183.1, 273/DIG. 17, 473/451, 473/207, 473/208, 473/209, 473/211, 473/219, 473/220, 473/222, 473/225
• US Class Current: 473/209
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for the practicing of golf swings utilizing a motion sensor and a radiation source on the forehead of the user which projects a radiated signal when head motion is sensed. The signal is detected by a unit contemporaneously with the golfer'"'"'s swinging either-a golf club, if he is outside, or a simulated golf club provided with a beam of radiation emanating from one end thereof, if he is inside. In the case of the simulated unit which may be used indoors, details of club head registry, (open, closed, square, sweet spot, slightly toward the toe, slightly toward the heel, toe, heel, top and bottom) swing, follow through, club head speed, tempo, distance the ball travels and the path of the ball are displayed and recorded.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the practicing of golf swings comprising:

means to be worn on the head of the user for projecting a beam of radiation from the forehead of the user, means for activating said beam of radiation only by head movement of the user as the user swings a golf club,

a first detector means for detecting said beam of radiation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said beam of radiation is a light beam.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said beam of radiation is a radio frequency beam.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes a visual display which is lit when said beam of radiation is detected by said detector means at the time of the swing of a club or simulated club. as well as the speed and direction of the follow through of said golf club head and the resultant path of the ball.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising in addition thereto:

an elongate member to be swung by a user in simulation of the swinging of a golf club,

said elongate member comprising a simulated golf club and being shorter than a conventional golf club, but having approximately the same feel and response,

a source of modulated light contained within said elongate member,

a beam of modulated light extending from one end of said elongate member in an axial direction,

said modulated light beam displaying a projected image of the outline of a simulated golf club head,

a means for changing the size and shape of the said projected image from said elongate member so as to allow the user to adjust his stance to simulate the use of a variety of actual golf clubs.

a simulated golf ball,

a plurality of sensor means adjacent said simulated golf ball and responsive to said modulated light beam and disposed in a predetermined array for producing sensor signals in response to the passage of said conventional light beam over said array during the swinging of said elongate member,

said sensor signals lighting lights adjacent thereto so as to provide a visual representation of the position and skew of said simulated golf club head upon impact with said simulated golf ball, as well as the speed and direction of the follow through of said golf club head and the resultant path of the ball.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein distance traveled in the resultant path of the ball is determined by comparing standard reference information.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein means are included visually to display whether or not said first detector means is actuated immediately before said simulated golf club head engages said simulated golf ball.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 which includes a visual display which is lit when said beam of radiation is detected by said first detector means at the time of the swing of the club or simulated club.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said beam of radiation from the forehead of said user is selected from the group consisting of a light beam and radio frequency.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 comprising in addition thereto:

interface and connection for a modem,

interface and connection for a printer,

interface and connection for a computer system,

interface and connection for optical disk-based television graphics,

interface and connection for computer-based television graphics.

11. An apparatus for the practicing of golf swings comprising:

an elongate member to be swung by a user in simulation of the swinging of a golf club,

said elongate member comprising a simulated golf club and being shorter than a conventional golf club, but having approximately the same feel and response,

a source of modulated light contained within said elongate member, said source of modulated light being continuously activated during use of said elongate member,

a beam of modulated light extending from one end of said elongate member in an axial direction,

said modulated light beam displaying the outline of a simulated golf club head,

means for changing the size and shape of said projected image from said elongate member so as to allow the user to adjust his stance to simulate the use of a variety of actual golf clubs,

a base provided with guide stripes thereon for indicating placement of said projected image therebetween when said user is at the proper distance therefrom depending upon the type of selected simulated club.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein indicia are provided with which said user may compare the size and shape of said projected image so as to adjust his stance to simulate the proper stance for the particular projected image chosen.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising:

a simulated golf ball,

said base having a plurality of sensor means adjacent said simulated golf ball in response to said modulated light beam and disposed in a predetermined array for producing sensor signals in response to the passage of said modulated light beam over said array during the swinging of said elongate member,

said sensor signals fighting lights adjacent thereto so as to provide a visual representation of the position and skew of said simulated golf club upon impact with said simulated golf ball as well as the speed and direction of the follow-through of said golf dub head and the resultant path of the ball.