Missing golf club reminder and wireless golf bag alarm system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automatically counting golf clubs removed from a conventional golf club bag and automatically alerting the user that the number of removed golf clubs have not been returned to the conventional golf club bag, said apparatus comprising:
- a detector disposed around the opening of the conventional golf club bag for generating a signal when the item is moved through the opening of the bag;
a tag coupled to each of the golf clubs that is detected by said detector when any of the golf clubs is moved through the opening of the bag;
a controller, coupled to said detector, that is activated by receipt of said signal, said controller processing said signal and controlling a display indicating the number of golf clubs removed from the bag; and
a motion sensor coupled to said controller for detecting sustained motion of the bag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A missing golf club warning system that automatically counts and displays the number of golf clubs removed, and not restored, to a golf club bag and further alerts the golfer as he/she is in motion and leaving the area where at least one golf club was removed from the bag and left behind. In addition, this warning system includes a wireless golf bag alarm system which automatically and remotely notifies the golf club/bag owner, and even golf grounds personnel, who at the time may be some distance from and out of visual contact with the bag, as to the non-authorized removal of a club, or of the movement or transport of the golf bag.
157 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automatically counting golf clubs removed from a conventional golf club bag and automatically alerting the user that the number of removed golf clubs have not been returned to the conventional golf club bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a detector disposed around the opening of the conventional golf club bag for generating a signal when the item is moved through the opening of the bag; a tag coupled to each of the golf clubs that is detected by said detector when any of the golf clubs is moved through the opening of the bag; a controller, coupled to said detector, that is activated by receipt of said signal, said controller processing said signal and controlling a display indicating the number of golf clubs removed from the bag; and a motion sensor coupled to said controller for detecting sustained motion of the bag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for automatically counting golf clubs removed from a conventional golf club bag and automatically alerting the user that the number of removed golf clubs have not been returned to the conventional golf club bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a detector disposed around the opening of the conventional golf club bag for generating a signal when the item is moved through the opening of the bag, said detector comprising a first coil disposed around the opening of the conventional golf club bag and a second coil disposed around the opening of the bag, said first and second coils being separated from each other by a predetermined distance; a tag coupled to each of the golf clubs that is detected by said detector when any of the golf clubs is moved through the opening of the bag, said tag comprising a magnet that induces a voltage signal in said first and second coils when moved through the opening of the bag; a controller, coupled to said detector, that is activated by receipt of said signal, said controller processing said signal and controlling a display indicating the number of golf clubs removed from the bag; wherein said detector detects the induced voltage signal regardless of the north/south pole orientation of said magnet on the removed golf club; and wherein said voltage induced in each of said coils comprises a bipolar pulse signal having a first portion above a DC reference voltage and a second portion below said DC reference, and wherein each of said coils comprises a respective comparator stage that compares the amplitude of said first and second portions against respective DC threshold voltages. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An apparatus for automatically counting golf clubs removed from a conventional golf club bag and automatically alerting the user that the number of removed golf clubs have not been returned to the conventional golf club bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a detector disposed around the opening of the conventional golf club bag for generating a signal when the item is moved through the opening of the bag, said detector comprising a first coil disposed around the opening of the conventional golf club bag and a second coil disposed around the opening of the bag, said first and second coils being separated from each other by a predetermined distance; a tag coupled to each of the golf clubs that is detected by said detector when any of the golf clubs is moved through the opening of the bag, said tag comprising a magnet that induces a voltage signal in said first and second coils when moved through the opening of the bag; a controller, coupled to said detector, that is activated by receipt of said signal, said controller processing said signal and controlling a display indicating the number of golf clubs removed from the bag; wherein said detector detects the induced voltage signal regardless of the north/south pole orientation of said magnet on the removed golf club; and wherein each of said coils comprises a respective signal detection path, each signal detection path comprising a low pass filter for filtering out high frequency signals.
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15. An apparatus for providing an indication as to the unauthorized contact or movement of a golf club bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a motion detector coupled to the bag for emitting motion detector signals whenever the bag is experiencing motion; a first transmitter, coupled to said motion detector, for emitting a wireless signal whenever said motion detector emits said motion detector signals; a first receiver associated with a person who has authorized control of the bag, said receiver having an indicator and wherein said indicator is activated whenever said first receiver receives said wireless signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for providing an indication as to the unauthorized contact or movement of at least one golf bag from a plurality of golf club bags positioned on golf course grounds that include a structure having a video camera or audio alarm equipment, said system comprising:
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a respective motion detector coupled to each one of the plurality of bags for emitting respective motion detector signals whenever each one of the plurality of bags is experiencing motion; a respective transmitter, coupled to each one of said respective motion detectors, for emitting respective wireless signals whenever said respective motion detector emits said respective motion detector signals; a receiver secured to the structure, said receiver being coupled to said video camera or audio alarm equipment and activating said video camera or audio alarm equipment whenever said receiver receives at least one wireless signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for automatically detecting the removal of a golf club from a conventional golf club bag and automatically providing a count of the golf clubs that have not been restored to the bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a tag to each golf club in the conventional golf club bag; disposing a detector around the opening of the bag which generates a signal each time a golf club, including a tag, is moved through the opening; coupling a motion sensor to the bag and producing a motion sensor signal and electrically coupling said motion sensor to a controller for detecting sustained motion of the bag; activating said controller by said signal which then processes said signal and said motion sensor signal; and controlling a display, by said controller, to indicate the number of golf clubs removed from the bag. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for automatically detecting the removal of a golf club from a conventional golf club bag and automatically providing a count of the golf clubs that have not been restored to the bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a tag to each golf club in the conventional golf club bag; disposing a detector around the opening of the bag which generates a signal each time a golf club, including a tag, is moved through the opening; activating a controller by said signal which then processes said signal; and controlling a display, by said controller, to indicate the number of golf clubs removed from the bag; and permitting the user to reset said display.
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38. A method for automatically detecting the removal of a golf club from a conventional golf club bag and automatically providing a count of the golf clubs that have not been restored to the bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a tag to each golf club in the conventional golf club bag; disposing a detector around the opening of the bag which generates a signal each time a golf club, including a tag, is moved through the opening; activating a controller by said signal which then processes said signal;
controlling a display, by said controller, to indicate the number of golf clubs removed from the bag; andemitting a wireless signal whenever said sustained motion occurs and said detector has detected that at least one golf club has not been returned to the bag.
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39. A method for providing an indication as to the unauthorized contact or movement of a golf club bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a motion detector coupled to the bag for emitting motion detector signals whenever the bag is experiencing motion; emitting a wireless signal whenever said motion detector emits said motion detector signals; activating a remotely-located indicator associated with a person who has authorized control of the bag whenever said wireless signal is received by a remotely-located receiver coupled to said remotely-located indicator. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for providing an indication as to the unauthorized contact or movement of at least one golf bag from a plurality of golf club bags positioned on golf course grounds that include a structure having a video camera or audio alarm equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a respective motion detector to each one of the plurality of bags for emitting respective motion detector signals whenever each one of the plurality of bags is experiencing motion; emitting respective wireless signals whenever said respective motion detector emits said respective motion detector signals; activating said video camera or audio alarm equipment whenever a receiver, coupled to said video camera or audio alarm, receives at least one wireless signal. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification