Sports swing training apparatus

• US 6,736,735 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dale Kempf, Michael J. Galanis, William C. Hughes
• Original Assignee: Dale Kempf, Michael J. Galanis, William C. Hughes
• Inventors: Kempf, Dale, Hughes, William C., Galanis, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/997,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20030104874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 473/220, 473/221, 473/222, 473/219, 473/234
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/02 with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 electrical or electronic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention concerns a club for impacting an object. The club may have a club head having a club face. At least one microprocessor in communication with a plurality of infrared sources is also provided. There are also a plurality of infrared sensors, and indicators configurable in a configuration indicating proper club face alignment and a configuration indicating club face misalignment. The infrared sources are periodically pulsed by a microprocessor between an activated and deactivated state. The sensors are configured on the club head to receive infrared from the infrared sources and to generate a signal in response to the infrared received. The microprocessor is programmed to receive signals from the sensors when the infrared sources are activated. The microprocessor is programmed to activate the indicators in an aligned or misaligned configuration.

Claims

1. A golf club for impacting a golf ball comprising:

a club head having a club face with a plurality of infrared sources, a plurality of infrared sensors, and indicators configurable to indicate club face alignment wherein said infrared sources are pulsed at a rate of 2-6 kilohertz;

said sensors configured on said club head to receive infrared signals from said infrared sources and to transmit signals in response to said infrared signals received;

a filter means for blocking direct current signals transmitted by said infrared sensors; and

processing means for receiving the filtered signals from said infrared sensors, for determining the club face alignment based upon the filtered signals received;

and for activating said indicators to indicate said club face alignment.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said sporting apparatus is a golf club comprising a putter, wood, driver or iron.

3. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said processing means is a microprocessor.

4. The golf club of claim 1 further including an impact sensor for generating a signal received by said microprocessor indicating club head impact.

5. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said filter means is a capacitor.

6. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said infrared sources are pulsed at a rate of 4 kilohertz.

7. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said infrared sources are supplied additional power by a capacitor in communication with said infrared sources.

8. A golf club for impacting a golf ball comprising:

a club head having a club face with a plurality of infrared sources, a plurality of infrared sensors, and indicators to indicate club face alignment;

said infrared sources pulsed at a rate of 4 kilohertz;

said sensors configured on said club head to receive pulsed infrared signals from said infrared sources and to transmit signals in response to said pulsed infrared signals received;

filter means for blocking direct current signals transmitted by said infrared sensors;

processing means for receiving the filtered signals transmitted from said infrared sensors, for determining club face alignment and for activating said indicators to indicate said club face alignment.

9. The golf club of claim 8 wherein said filter means is a capacitor.

10. The golf club of claim 8 wherein said processing means is a microprocessor.

11. A golf club for impacting a golf ball comprising:

a club head having a club face with a plurality of infrared sources, a plurality of infrared sensors, and indicators configurable to indicate club face alignment;

said infrared sources pulsed at a rate of between 2-6 kilohertz;

said sensors configured on said club head to receive pulsed infrared signals from said infrared sources and to transmit signals in response to said pulsed infrared signals received;

filter means for blocking direct current signals transmitted by said infrared sensors;

processing means for receiving the filtered signals transmitted from said infrared sensors, for determining club face alignment, and for activating said indicators to indicate said club face alignment.

12. The golf club of claim 11 wherein said filter means is a capacitor.

13. The golf club of claim 11 wherein said processing means is a microprocessor.