System for detecting missing golf clubs

• US 6,366,205 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linwood Clark
• Original Assignee: Club Keeper International, Inc.
• Inventors: Sutphen, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/649,460
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.6, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/686, 340/687
• US Class Current: 340/568.6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2055/402 Warning devices for indicating missing golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A device is provided for determining if one or more golf clubs are missing from a group of golf clubs. The device includes a transmitter or transceiver, that is, operative to direct a signal towards a group of golf clubs where each golf club is provided with a sensor tag. The signal from the transmitter registers with the respective sensor tags and in response thereto each sensor tag emits a response signal that is uniquely associated with the sensor tag and the golf club associated with the sensor tag. This response signal is directed back to the transceiver and the transceiver is in return coupled to a controller that receives information or data from the transceiver that identifies the detected golf clubs of the group. Based on the golf clubs detected, the controller can determine if one or more golf clubs are missing from the group.

Claims

1. A system for detecting one or more missing golf clubs from a group of golf clubs comprising:

a) a sensor associated with each golf club of the group of golf clubs;

b) an interrogator having a limited operating range and operative to direct signals throughout the limited range, wherein the sensors within the limited range respond to said signals by transmitting a unique identifier, and wherein a golf club is deemed to be missing when the golf club lies outside the limited range and thus its associated sensor fails to respond to said signals;

c) a memory operative to store one or more identifiers transmitted by one or more said sensors, and

d) a controller operative to perform an initial inventory of said group of golf clubs, store said initial inventory in said memory, periodically perform subsequent inventories of said group of golf clubs, and to compare said subsequent inventories to said initial inventory, for the purpose of uniquely identifying the golf clubs missing from said group.

2. The system of claim 1 including a series of sensor with each sensor being adapted to be secured to one of the golf clubs of the group of golf clubs;

and wherein the interrogator includes a transceiver for transmitting a series of signals with each signal being uniquely coded to register with one sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the registering of a signal with a sensor results in a responsive signal being produced that is transmitted back to the transceiver.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the interrogator includes a transceiver for transmitting at least one signal that is operative to register with each sensor and upon registration each sensor generates a response signal that uniquely identifies the golf club associated therewith.

5. A method of detecting and identifying one or more missing golf clubs from a group of golf clubs comprising:

directing at least one signal towards the group of golf clubs wherein the signal is adapted to detect and identify at least one golf club of the group;

forming an inventory of detected and identified golf clubs; and

determining if one or more of the golf clubs of the group is undetected by the at least one signal by comparing the detected and identified golf clubs to a previously determined inventory of golf clubs defining said group.

6. The method of claim 5 including directing a series of signals towards the group of golf clubs wherein each signal is adapted to detect at least one golf club of the group.

7. The method of claim 6 further including placing a sensor on each golf club of the group and wherein respective signals are uniquely coded to register with one sensor, and wherein the failure of a particular signal to register with a sensor indicates a missing golf club.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the signals are directed from a transceiver and wherein the registering of a signal with a sensor results in a response signal emanating from the sensor back to the transceiver, and wherein the transceiver is operatively coupled to a controller that includes logic that determines whether one or more of the golf clubs of the group are missing based on the response signals from the sensors.

9. The method of claim 8 including actuating an alarm in response to a determination that one or more clubs of the group are missing.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the alarm is a visual alarm.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said visual alarm includes an indicia that uniquely identifies the missing club to the user.

13. The method of claim 5 including the step of inventorying the golf clubs of the group to establish the number and identity of golf clubs in the group and thereafter checking the inventory for missing clubs by seeking to detect and identify each golf club of the group.

14. A system for detecting one or more missing golf clubs from a group of golf clubs comprising:

a) a series of sensor tags with each sensor tag being secured to one golf club of the group;

b) a transceiver for emitting at least one signal that is operative to actuate at least one sensor resulting in a response signal being produced that detects and identifies the golf club associated with that sensor tag; and

c) a controller operatively connected to the transceiver and operative to inventory a group of golf clubs and to subsequently determine if all of the golf clubs of the group are present based on the response signals produced by the sensor tags.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the sensor tags include a series of RFID tags and wherein the signal emitted by the transceiver is an RF signal that actuates at least one RFID tag resulting in the RFID tag producing a response signal that is operative to identify the golf club associated with the RFID tag.

16. The system of claim 14 further including a controller operatively connected to the transceiver and wherein the controller is operative to receive date from the transceiver and to account for golf clubs of the group based on the response signal.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is operative to inventory a group of golf clubs and to effectively count the number of golf clubs constituting the group and then to determine if all of the golf clubs of the group are present based on the response signals produced by the sensor tags.

18. A method for detecting one or more missing golf clubs from a group of golf clubs comprising:

a) initially inventorying the golf clubs in the group via a radio frequency transmission, whereby each golf club responsively transmits a unique identifier;

b) storing the unique identifier received from each golf club in a memory;

c) periodically re-inventorying the group of golf clubs via radio frequency transmission;

d) comparing the unique identity received from each golf club during the re-inventory to the identities previously stored in memory, to determine if any golf clubs from the group are missing; and

e) outputting an alert if one or more golf clubs are missing from the group.