Swing speed device

• US 5,841,029 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynamis Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dynamis Incorporated
• Inventors: Luking, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oen, William L.
• Application Number:
  US08/771,043
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 73/514.31, 73/514.39, 73/493, 473/231, 473/232, 473/233, 473/234, 473/457, 473/422, 473/524, 473/560
• US Class Current: 73/514.31
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/02 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/10 for indicating predetermined speeds
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/036 for indicating predetermined acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/44 for measuring angular speed G01P3/56 takes precedence

Abstract

A force indicating device for monitoring acceleration forces developed during the motion an object. The device, when attached to a swinging or rotated sports implement, can be used to improve the speed and consistency with which the implement is swung.

The device comprises a housing having a housing bore thereinto, the housing having a magnet at a first end of the housing bore, the magnet having a magnetic field, the housing bore has a first threaded portion therein; a cylinder, the cylinder having a cylinder bore thereinto, the cylinder bore having a magnet end and a second end, the cylinder bore having a movable material therein, the movable material being attractable by the magnet, the cylinder having a second threaded portion external thereto, the cylinder being received at least partways into the housing bore with the magnet end being toward the magnet, the first threaded portion receiving the second threaded portion, the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion permitting the magnet end to be spaced a desired distance from the magnet; and, a strap attached to the housing, the strap permitting the device to be attached to the implement; where the movable material is at the magnet end and retained there by the magnetic field until a user using the implement creates a force which overcomes the magnetic field thereby causing the movable material to move from the magnet end to the second end of the cylinder bore.

Claims

1. A swing speed device for external attachment to an implement, comprising:

a. a housing, said housing having a housing bore thereinto, said housing having a magnet at a first end of said housing bore, said magnet having a magnetic field;

b. a cylinder, said cylinder having a cylinder bore thereinto, said cylinder bore having a magnet end and a second end, said cylinder bore having a movable material therein, said movable material being attractable by said magnet, said cylinder being received at least partways into said housing bore, said magnet end being toward said magnet;

c. means for adjusting said cylinder within said housing bore so said magnet end is a desired distance from said magnet; and

,

d. means for attaching said housing to the implement;

e. where said movable material is at said magnet end and retained there by said magnetic field until a user using the implement creates a force which overcomes said magnetic field thereby causing said movable material to move from said magnet end to said second end of said cylinder bore.

2. The swing speed device of claim 1, where said movable material is a steel ball.

3. The swing speed device of claim 1, further comprising means for notifying said user when said movable material has moved to said second end of said cylinder bore.

4. The swing speed device of claim 3, where said notifying means comprises a spring steel resonating plate retained at said second end of said cylinder bore, said movable material striking said plate thereby creating an audible sound.

5. The swing speed device of claim 4, where said movable material is a steel ball.

6. The swing speed device of claim 1, where said adjusting means comprises a first threaded portion internal to said housing bore and a second threaded portion external to said cylinder, said first threaded portion receiving said second threaded portion, thereby allowing said cylinder to be threaded within said housing bore.

7. The swing speed device of claim 6, further comprising means for identifying how far said magnet end of said cylinder is from said magnet.

8. The swing speed device of claim 7, where said identifying means comprises a plurality of calibration increments on said cylinder and a corresponding notch on said housing.

9. The swing speed device of claim 7, further comprising means for notifying said user when said movable material has moved to said second end of said cylinder bore.

10. The swing speed device of claim 9, where said notifying means comprises a spring steel resonating plate retained at said second end of said cylinder bore, said movable material striking said plate thereby creating an audible sound.

11. The swing speed device of claim 10, where said movable material is a steel ball.

12. The swing speed device of claim 1, where said attaching means comprises a strap attached to said housing, said strap having hook and loop connectors thereon;

where, when said device is attached to the implement, said hook and loop connectors are mated to retain said device on the implement at a desired location.

13. A swing speed device for attachment to an implement, comprising:

a. a housing, said housing having a housing bore thereinto, said housing having a magnet at a first end of said housing bore, said magnet having a magnetic field, said housing bore has a first threaded portion therein;

b. a cylinder, said cylinder having a cylinder bore thereinto, said cylinder bore having a magnet end and a second end, said cylinder bore having a movable material therein, said movable material being attractable by said magnet, said cylinder having a second threaded portion external thereto, said cylinder being received at least partways into said housing bore with said magnet end being toward said magnet, said first threaded portion receiving said second threaded portion, said first threaded portion and said second threaded portion permitting said magnet end to be spaced a desired distance from said magnet; and

,

d. a strap attached to said housing, said strap permitting said device to be attached to the implement;

e. where said movable material is at said magnet end and retained there by said magnetic field until a user using the implement creates a force which overcomes said magnetic field thereby causing said movable material to move from said magnet end to said second end of said cylinder bore.

14. The swing speed device of claim 13, where said movable material is a steel ball.

15. The swing speed device of claim 14, further comprising a spring steel resonating plate retained at said second end of said cylinder bore, said resonating place creating an audible sound when said steel ball engages said resonating plate.

16. The swing speed device of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of calibration increments on said cylinder and a corresponding notch on said housing, where said calibration increments and said notch identify how far said magnet end of said cylinder is from said magnet.

17. A swing speed device for external attachment to an implement, comprising:

a. a housing, said housing having a housing bore thereinto, said housing having a magnet at a first end of said housing bore, said magnet having a magnetic field;

b. a member, said member having a member bore thereinto, said member bore having a magnet end and a second end, said member bore having a movable material therein, said movable material being attractable by said magnet, said member being received at least partways into said housing bore, said magnet end being toward said magnet;

c. means for adjusting said member within said housing bore so said magnet end is a desired distance from said magnet; and

,

d. means for attaching said housing to the implement;

e. where said movable material is at said magnet end and retained there by said magnetic field until a user using the implement creates a force which overcomes said magnetic field thereby causing said movable material to move from said magnet end.

18. The swing speed device of claim 17, where said movable material is a steel ball.

19. The swing speed device of claim 17, further comprising a spring steel resonating plate retained at said second end of said member bore.

20. The swing speed device of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of calibration increments on said member and a corresponding notch on said housing, where said calibration increments and said notch identify how far said magnet end of said member is from said magnet.