Golf overswing alerting mechanism and golf club with overswing alerting mechanism

• US 6,413,167 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Burke
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Burke
• Inventors: Burke, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARMA, SNEH K
• Application Number:
  US09/436,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 473/202, 473/221, 473/219, 473/223, 473/224, 473/231-234
• US Class Current: 473/224
• 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 69/3635 with sound-emitting source

Abstract

A golf overswing alerting mechanism is provided which produces a visual and/or audible indicator for the purpose of alerting a golfer to an improper swinging movement of a golf club. The overswing alerting mechanism is housed entirely within the hollow opening of the golf club shaft or is accommodated in a housing that is detachably affixed to the golf club. In a preferred configuration, the alerting mechanism includes a sound generation assembly for generating an audible sound upon occurrence of the overswing condition; an energy generation member to provide electrical energy to the sound generation assembly, and a circuit closing member or accelerometer(s) detecting the occurrence of an overswing condition. The preferred mechanism further includes an LCD readout provided in the grip butt of the golf club grip which indicates to the golfer the speed of the golf club shaft.

Claims

1. A golf club with an overswing alerting mechanism comprising:

a golf club shaft having a head end and a grip butt end;

a golf club head supported on said head end of said golf club shaft with said golf club head having a striking face for hitting a golf ball; and

means for alerting the user as to an overswing condition of the golf club head with said overswing alerting means being accommodated within a housing which is detachably affixed to a grip butt fixed to said grip butt end of said shaft; and

means for numerically indicating the swing speed of the golf club shaft;

whereby said housing is detachably affixed to said grip butt by inserting a rigid elongated member through said grip butt such that said member is substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft.

2. The golf club of claim 1 wherein the overswing alerting means includes sound generation means for generating a sound upon occurrence of the overswing condition.

3. The golf club of claim 2 wherein said sound generation means includes a horn.

4. The golf club of claim 2 wherein said overswing alerting means includes energy means for providing electrical energy to said sound generation means.

5. The golf club of claim 4 wherein said energy means is a pair of 1½

volt batteries.

6. The golf club of claim 4 wherein said overswing alerting means includes circuit closing means for electrically connecting said energy means with said sound generating means.

7. The golf club of claim 6 wherein said circuit closing means includes a weight member which upon the occurrence of the overswing condition closes a contact member impinges upon a contact adjustment screw/switch which completes an electrical circuit between said energy means and said sound generation means to thereby generate a sound from said sound generation means.

8. The golf club of claim 6, wherein said circuit closing means includes an electronic transducer which upon sensing an overswing condition completes an electrical circuit between said energy means and said sound generation means to thereby generate a sound from said sound generation means.

9. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising an on-off switch attached to said housing for activating and deactivating said overswing alerting means when desired.

10. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said swing speed indicating means is in the form of an LCD readout provided in a recess of said housing.

11. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said means for indicating the swing speed comprises:

at least one accelerometer; and

a processing unit.