Golf training apparatus

• US 5,993,323 A
• Filed: 08/26/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Golf Tutor, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Golf Tutor, Inc.
• Inventors: Linenfelser, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US09/140,054
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 473/209, 473/211
• US Class Current: 473/209
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for detecting head movement of a golfer relative to an address position. The apparatus includes a movement switch positioned on the golfer'"'"'s head which provides a signal indicative of head movement from a first position to a second position. The position of the movement switch on the golfer defines the first position as approximately the address position prior to the golf swing. The apparatus also includes a transducer which detects the sound of a golf club striking a ball and provides a signal in response thereto. A microcontroller becomes active in response to the transducer signal and then generates an alarm signal in response to the movement switch signal. In response to the alarm signal, the transducer produces an audible alarm to inform the golfer of the head movement during the golf swing. The apparatus has a housing with a clip for securing it to a hat worn by the golfer. The clip is biased toward a closed position and moveable from the closed position to an open position for engaging the hat. When the clip is in its open position, the clip closes a power switch in the housing. The power switch is connected in series between the microcontroller and a battery so that the microcontroller is connected to the battery when the power switch is closed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for selectively detecting undesirable head movement relative to an address position, said golfer swinging a golf club from the address position to strike a ball, said apparatus comprising:

a movement switch adapted to be positioned on the golfer'"'"'s head, said movement switch providing an electrical movement signal indicative of movement of the golfer'"'"'s head from a first position to a second position, said movement switch when positioned on the golfer'"'"'s head defining the first position as approximately the address position of the golfer'"'"'s head prior to swinging the golf club;

a transducer for detecting the sound of the golf club striking the ball and providing an electrical activate signal in response thereto; and

a microcontroller having a sleep mode for conserving power, said microcontroller receiving and responsive to the activate signal from the transducer to become active from the sleep mode when the golf club strikes the ball, said active microcontroller receiving and responsive to the movement signal for generating an electrical alarm signal when the movement switch indicates movement of the golfer'"'"'s head from the first position to the second position, said transducer being energized by the alarm signal generated by the microcontroller for producing an audible alarm to inform the golfer of the undesirable head movement during the golf swing, said microcontroller being responsive to the alarm signal for returning to the sleep mode following the audible alarm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alarm signal is a series of electrical pulses provided to the transducer, said pulses energizing the transducer to emit a corresponding series of sound pulses.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the corresponding series of sound pulses comprise three intermittent tones.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric element for converting ultrasonic waves from the golf club striking the ball to the transducer signal and for converting the alarm signal to ultrasonic waves to produce the audible alarm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement switch is moveable from an open position to a closed position in response to movement of the golfer'"'"'s head from the first position to the second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the movement switch comprises a mercury switch, said mercury switch being positioned at an angle relative to the address position so that the mercury switch is in its open position when the golfer'"'"'s head is in the first position and in its closed position when the golfer'"'"'s head is in the second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing for enclosing the microcontroller, movement switch and transducer, said housing including a clip for securing the housing to a hat to be worn on the golfer'"'"'s head.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the clip is biased toward a closed position and moveable from the closed position to an open position for engaging the golfer'"'"'s hat and securing the housing thereto and further comprising a power switch connected in series between the microcontroller and a battery, said power switch being closed by the clip when the clip is in its open position to connect the microcontroller to the battery for supplying power to the microcontroller.

9. Apparatus for selectively detecting undesirable head movement of a golfer relative to an address position, said golfer swinging a golf club from the address position to strike a ball, said apparatus comprising:

a housing, said housing including a clip for securing the housing to a hat to be worn on the golfer'"'"'s head, said clip being biased toward a closed position and moveable from the closed position to an open position for engaging the golfer'"'"'s hat and securing the housing thereto;

a movement switch in the housing, said movement switch providing an electrical movement signal indicative of movement of the housing from a first position to a second position, said movement switch being positioned within the housing and said housing when secured to the hat on the golfer'"'"'s head defining the first position as approximately the address position of the golfer'"'"'s head prior to swinging the golf club;

a microcontroller receiving and responsive to the movement signal for generating an electrical alarm signal when the movement switch indicates movement of the golfer'"'"'s head from the first position to the second position;

a power switch in the housing connected in series between the microcontroller and a battery, said power switch being closed by the clip when the clip is in its open position to connect the microcontroller to the battery for supplying power to the microcontroller; and

a transducer being energized by the alarm signal generated by the microcontroller for producing an audible alarm to inform the golfer of the undesirable head movement during the golf swing.