Golf club/ball impact detection system

• US 5,709,610 A
• Filed: 11/29/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zivota Ognjanovic
• Original Assignee: Zivota Ognjanovic
• Inventors: Ognjanovic, Zivota
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/758,550
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 473/223, 473/224, 473/220, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 electrical or electronic

Abstract

A golf club/golf ball impact detection system contained entirely within a golf club head for immediate visual indication of specific club face and golf ball impact location comprising a plurality of push button members that can be depressed by a golf club/golf ball impact to impinge on an adjustable electrical conducting board, where an electrical circuit is completed to illuminate a plurality of push button associated LEDs, that remain illuminated until a reset switch is manually depressed or an internal integrated circuit provides timing means. The golf club/golf ball impact detecting system is used not only for practicing golf but also used under the pressure of actual play.

Claims

1. A golf club/ball impact detection system contained within a conventional golf club head for golf practice and playing comprising:

a plurality of push button members located on a golf club face, each having a head portion and a shaft portion, said head portion fitted with a partially relaxed coiled spring arranged to urge said push button member head portion slightly above said club face surface area, and said shaft portion, provided with a tightly adhering safety ring to prevent said push button member escape after depression release, said shaft portion having a proximal end tip, that, upon said push button member depression will impact on an adjustable electrical conducting board;

a plurality of apertures, arranged as coaxial counterbores, first sized to slidingly receive said push button member head portion and then narrowed to slidingly receive said push button member shaft portion;

said push button member head portion downward motion limited by a ledge defined by the first coaxial counterbore,

a partially relaxed coiled spring acting in cooperation with said push button member shaft portion distal end urging said push button member head portion slightly above said club surface;

an adjustable electrical conducting board spaced from a golf club head top wall by screw means, at a distance slightly below said push button member'"'"'s shaft portion end tip, said electrical conducting board sandwiched between screw associated coiled springs to allow conducting board flexibility and screw associated energy absorbing spacers that act to absorb excess golf club/ball impact force;

electrical conducting means arranged so that said push button member depression by a golf club/ball impact results in said shaft portion end tip impingement on said conducting board to complete an electrical circuit thereby illuminating associated light emitting diodes (LEDs) to signal golf club/ball impact position to a golfer; and

a plurality of said LEDs located within a plurality of circular openings in a golf club face front wall top ridge, facing and visible to a practicing and playing golfer.

2. The golf club/ball impact detection system of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit means comprises:

a power source means;

an electrical conducting means to illuminate said LED; and

reset switch means for manually turning LED illumination off.

3. The golf club/ball impact detection system of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit means comprises:

an instant response timer IC preset to illuminate associated LEDs for a predetermined period of time, as a steady light, and

an external resistor and capacitor network to provide an electrical circuit for said timer IC operation.

4. The golf club/ball impact detection system of claim 1 wherein said push button member head portion is circular and an associated aperture is fitted to receive said circular head.

5. The golf club/ball impact detection system of claim 1 wherein said push button member head portion is square and an associated aperture is fitted to receive said square head.

6. The golf club/ball impact detection system of claim 1 wherein said push button member head portion is diamond shaped and an associated aperture is fitted to receive said diamond shaped head.

7. A method for detection of golf club/golf ball impact location which comprises:

depressing push button members through golf club/golf ball impact;

impacting said push button members distal portion tips on an adjustable electrical conducting board;

completing an electrical circuit;

illuminating LEDs; and

observing said illumination in order to interpret golf club/golf ball impact location as high, low, left, right, center or off center.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said golf club/golf ball impact results in more than one push button member simultaneous depression and more than one associated LED simultaneous illumination.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said golf club/golf ball impact results in time delayed push button members depression and illumination of LEDs in order of impact time.