Follow-through measuring device

• US 6,044,704 A
• Filed: 12/29/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Sacher
• Original Assignee: David Sacher
• Inventors: Sacher, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US08/999,464
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 73/379.04, 73/490, 73/862.041, 73/862.628, 473/223, 702/158
• US Class Current: 73/379.04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/14 Protection devices on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• 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: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

A follow-through measuring device for measuring and displaying the time duration of impact comprises a piezoelectric sensor for sensing the presence of force while the athletic implement is in contact with a ball. The sensor provides a signals with a time duration equal to the time of contact of the ball with the striking implement. The follow-through measuring device further comprises a display unit which houses a receiver, a timer circuit, and a clock display. The signal provided by the sensor is transmitted to the receiver in the display unit, via an rf signal. The timer circuit measures the duration of time which the signal exceed a predetermined trigger level. The display unit then displays the measured time on the clock display.

Claims

1. A follow-through measuring device for use with an athletic implement, for measuring time duration of contact between a ball and said athletic implement, comprising:

a) a compression force sensing means affixed to said implement for sensing a presence of force during the time period said implement is in contact with said ball and for producing output signals representing the compression force;

b) a transmitter connected to said compression force sensing means for transmitting said output signals;

c) a receiver remotely coupled to the transmitter for receiving the transmitted signal and producing a receiver output in response thereto;

d) a timer circuit means connected to the receiver for measuring the length of time the receiver output exceeds a predetermined trigger level and producing a measured time; and

e) a display means connected to the timer circuit for displaying said measured time from said timer circuit.

2. A follow-through measuring device for use with a tennis racquet having a frame, an upper surface, and strings, for measuring time duration of contact between a ball and said tennis racquet, comprising:

a) a compression force sensing means mounted on said frame of the tennis racquet for sensing a presence of force during the time period said tennis racquet is in contact with said ball and for producing output signals representing the compression force exerted by said string on the said compression force sensing means;

b) a transmitter connected to said compression force sensing means for transmitting said output signals;

c) a receiver remotely coupled to the transmitter for receiving the transmitted signal and producing a receiver output in response thereto;

d) a timer circuit means connected to the receiver for measuring the length of time the receiver output exceeds a predetermined trigger level and producing a measured time; and

e) a display means connected to the timer circuit for displaying said measured time from said timer circuit.

3. The follow-through measuring device of claim 2, wherein, the tennis racquet has a scratch guard, wherein the compression force sensing means is mounted between the upper surface of the tennis racquet and said scratch guard.

4. The follow-through measuring device of claim 3, wherein the compression force sensing means comprise a piezoelectric sensor responsive to a degree of pressure applied.