Short game training device for use with golf club

• US 8,303,428 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lewis C. Knapp, Thomas A. Wagen
• Original Assignee: Lewis C. Knapp, Thomas A. Wagen
• Inventors: Wagen, Thomas A., Knapp, Lewis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US12/032,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 473/219, 473/221, 473/223, 473/224, 473/226, 473/227, 473/257
• US Class Current: 473/224
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A short game training device 10 for use with a golf club comprises an two-axis linear accelerometer 12, a fastener 50 for removably attaching the accelerometer to the golf club head H so that the X and Y axes of the accelerometer 12 are disposed approximately parallel with the club face and oriented at approximately a forty-five degree angle with respect to a substantially vertical plane V containing the aim line A established when addressing the golf ball G with the club face aligned perpendicularly to the aim line A, a detectable alarm 18, and a microprocessor 14 for calculating differences in forces measured by the X and Y axes during a timed interval subsequent to positioning the club and for activating the alarm 18 when the differences exceed a selected threshold.

Claims

1. A short game training device for use with a golf club, the golf club having a club face for striking a golf ball, the short game training device comprising:

an accelerometer having at least two axes including an X-axis and a Y-axis orthogonal to said X-axis, each of said X and Y axes capable of measuring linear forces experienced along their respective axes, and each of said X and Y axes having a polarity such that forces experienced in one direction along each one of said axes are registered as a positive value and forces experienced in the opposite direction along said axes are registered as a negative value,

a fastener for removably attaching said accelerometer to a golf club so that said X and Y axes are each approximately in parallel alignment with the club face, and so that said X and Y axes are each disposed at approximately a 45°

angle with respect to a substantially vertical plane when positioning the golf club to address the golf ball with the club face aligned perpendicularly to a selected aim line, said vertical plane parallel to said aim line, the polarity of both of said X and Y axes pointed either upward or downward such that horizontal movement lateral to said aim line will register as a positive measurement on one of said X and Y axes and as a negative measurement on the other of said X and Y axes

a detectable alarm, and

a microprocessor for calculating differences in the values of the forces measured by said X and Y axes during a timed interval after the golf ball has been addressed by the golf club, said timed interval commencing with the beginning of a stroke of the golf club, and for activating said alarm during said timed interval when said differences indicate lateral movement relative to said aim line.

2. The short game training device of claim 1 wherein:

said at least two axes includes a Z-axis orthogonal to said X and Y axes.

3. The short game training device of claim 2 wherein:

said accelerometer is capable of measuring acceleration of said club face in said Z-axis.

4. The short game training device of claim 3 wherein:

said microprocessor is capable of beginning said timed interval when movement of said club face is indicated by detection of acceleration in said Z-axis.

5. The short game training device of claim 2 wherein:

said microprocessor is capable of beginning said timed interval a selected time period after changes in linear forces in said X, Y, and Z axes have substantially ceased.

6. The short game training device of claim 1 wherein:

said fastener comprises a magnet.

7. The short game training device of claim 1 wherein:

said alarm is selected from the group consisting of audible, visual, and vibratory alarms.

8. The short game training device of claim 1 wherein:

when said lateral movement in a first direction is indicated, said microprocessor directs said alarm to sound a first tonal sequence if said differences exceed said selected threshold, and when said lateral movement in a second direction is indicated, said second direction opposite to said first direction, said microprocessor directs said alarm to sound a second tonal sequence if said differences exceed said selected threshold.

9. The short game training device of claim 8 wherein:

said first tonal sequence having a “

low-high”

tonal sequence including a low tone and a high tone sounding subsequently to said low tone, said high tone having a higher frequency than said low tone, and

said second tonal sequence having a “

high-low”

tonal sequence including said high tone and said low tone, said low tone sounding subsequently to said high tone.

10. The short game training device of claim 9 wherein:

when said lateral movement in said first and second directions does not exceed said selected threshold during said timed interval, said microprocessor directs said alarm to sound a middle tone, said middle tone having a frequency between said high and low tones.

11. The short game training device of claim 1 wherein:

when said lateral movement in a first direction is indicated, said microprocessor directs said alarm to sound a continuous first modulated tone if said differences exceed said selected threshold, said first modulated tone proceeding from a middle tone to a high tone in proportion to the force differences measured, and

when said lateral movement in a second direction is indicated, said second direction opposite to said first direction, said microprocessor directs said alarm to sound a continuous second modulated tone if said differences exceed said selected threshold, said second modulated tone proceeding from a middle tone to a low tone in proportion to the force differences measured.

12. The short game training device of claim 1 further comprising:

said microprocessor being capable of activating said alarm at the beginning of said timed interval.

13. The short game training device of claim 12 wherein:

said alarm is an LED.

14. The short game training device of claim 12 wherein:

said microprocessor is capable of alternating between an idle state and said timed interval, said alarm being inactive during said idle state.

15. The short game training device for use with a golf club of claim 1 wherein:

said alarm is activated when said differences exceed a selected threshold.

16. The short game training device of claim 15 wherein:

said threshold is adjustable to a plurality of settings.

17. A short game training device for use with a golf club, the golf club having a club face for striking a golf ball, the short game training device comprising:

an accelerometer having at least two axes, said accelerometer capable of measuring linear forces in each of said axes, said axes including an X-axis and a Y-axis, said Y-axis orthogonal to said X-axis,

a fastener for removably attaching said accelerometer to a golf club so that said X and Y axes are each approximately in parallel alignment with the club face, and so that said X and Y axes are each disposed at approximately a 45°

angle with respect to a substantially vertical plane when positioning the golf club to address the golf ball with the club face aligned perpendicularly to a selected aim line, said vertical plane parallel to said aim line,

a detectable alarm, and a microprocessor that calculates differences in forces measured by said X and Y axes during a timed interval subsequent to said positioning, and that activates said alarm when said differences exceed a selected threshold,

wherein, upon said positioning of the golf club, said microprocessor detects a deviation in disposition of said X and Y axes from said 45°

angle and biasing biases values derived from measurements of the forces by said X and Y axes during said timed interval to compensate for said deviation.

18. A short game training device for use with a golf club, the golf club having a club face for striking a golf ball and having a cylindrical shaft having a diameter, the short game training device comprising:

an accelerometer having at least two axes, said accelerometer capable of measuring linear forces in each of said axes, said axes including an X-axis and a Y-axis, said Y-axis orthogonal to said X-axis,

a fastener including a housing and a clip, said housing rotatably affixed to said clip about a pivot axis, said accelerometer disposed in said housing with said X and Y axes in orthogonal relation to said pivot axis,

said clip having a base portion and two flexible arms extending from said base portion, said base portion having a longitudinal dimension perpendicular to said pivot axis, each said arm defining a partial cylindrical aperture for receiving the golf club shaft, said apertures aligned along a common axis parallel to said longitudinal dimension, each said arm defining a mouth slightly smaller than the diameter of the golf club shaft, said mouths opening in opposite directions, said arms spaced from each other along said longitudinal dimension by at least the diameter of the golf club shaft, such that with the golf club shaft interposed between said arms rotation of said clip will cause the golf club shaft to move through said mouths to be captured by said arms in said apertures for removable attachment of said golf club shaft to said housing,

said fastener for removably attaching said accelerometer to a golf club so that said X and Y axes are each approximately in parallel alignment with the club face, and so that said X and Y axes are each disposed at approximately a 45 angle with respect to a substantially vertical plane when positioning the golf club to address the golf ball with the club face aligned perpendicularly to a selected aim line, said vertical plane parallel to said aim line,

a detectable alarm, and

a microprocessor for calculating differences in forces measured by said X and Y axes during a timed interval subsequent to said positioning, and for activating said alarm when said differences exceed a selected threshold.

19. The short game training device of claim 18 the golf club shaft having an outer surface, wherein:

each said clip has an arcuate inner surface substantially conforming to the outer surface of the golf club shaft.

20. The short game training device of claim 19 wherein:

said arcuate inner surface has a distal portion generally opposing said base portion, said distal portion having an apex coincident with a plane longitudinally bisecting said base portion, said distal portion extending on both sides of said apex.

21. The short game training device of claim 18 wherein:

said base portion having a rear face, said rear face having a longitudinally extending arcuate surface substantially conforming to the outer surface of the golf club shaft.

22. The short game training device of claim 18 wherein:

said housing has a back plate having a generally planar back surface,

said base portion of said clip has a generally planar forward surface, said back surface in rotating abutment with said forward surface, and

a pivot mechanism is rotatably affixed to said back plate of said housing and to said base portion of said clip, said pivot mechanism defining said pivot axis, said pivot mechanism flexible along said pivot axis for biasing said back surface and said forward surface together.

23. The short game training device of claim 22 wherein:

said back surface and said forward surface each having cooperating rotationally resistant surfaces such that said housing may be retained in a selected angular relation to said clip.

24. The short game training device of claim 23 wherein:

said rotationally resistant surfaces include sets of striae extending radially from said pivot mechanism.

25. The short game training device of claim 23 wherein:

wherein said pivot mechanism comprises an elastic grommet.

26. The short game training device of claim 18 further comprising:

has housing having a first magnet,

said clip having a second magnet for abutting said first magnet for rotatably affixing said clip to said housing,

said first and second magnets forming said pivot axis.

27. A short game training device for use with a golf club, the golf club having a club face for striking a golf ball and a cylindrical shaft, the shaft having a diameter and an outer surface, the short game training device comprising:

an accelerometer having at least two axes, said accelerometer capable of measuring linear forces in each of said axes, said axes including an X-axis and a Y-axis, said Y-axis orthogonal to said X-axis,

a fastener including a housing, a clip, and an elastic pivot mechanism, said housing having a back plate having a generally planar back surface, said clip having a base portion having a generally planar forward surface, said elastic pivot mechanism rotatably affixed to said back plate and to said base portion for rotatably affixing said housing to said clip about a pivot axis defined by said pivot mechanism, said accelerometer disposed in said housing with said X and Y axes in orthogonal relation to said pivot axis,

said back surface and said forward surface each having cooperating sets of striae extending radially from said pivot mechanism, said pivot mechanism biasing said back surface and said forward surface together, such that said housing may be retained in a selected angular relation to said clip,

said clip having two flexible arms extending from said base portion, said base portion having a longitudinal dimension perpendicular to said pivot axis, each said arm defining a partial cylindrical aperture for receiving the golf club shaft, said apertures aligned along a common axis parallel to said longitudinal dimension, each said arm defining a mouth slightly smaller than the diameter of the golf club shaft, said mouths opening in opposite directions, said arms spaced from each other along said longitudinal dimension by at least the diameter of the golf club shaft, such that with the golf club shaft interposed between said arms rotation of said clip will cause the golf club shaft to move through said mouths to be captured by said arms in said apertures for removable attachment of said golf club shaft to said housing,

said fastener for removably attaching said accelerometer to a golf club so that said X and Y axes are each approximately in parallel alignment with the club face, and so that said X and Y axes are each disposed at approximately a 45 angle with respect to a substantially vertical plane when positioning the golf club to address the golf ball with the club face aligned perpendicularly to a selected aim line, said vertical plane parallel to said aim line,

a detectable alarm, and

a microprocessor for calculating differences in forces measured by said X and Y axes during a timed interval subsequent to said positioning, and for activating said alarm when said differences exceed a selected threshold.

28. A method for short game training using a golf club, the golf club having a club face, the method comprising:

attaching an accelerometer having at least orthogonally related X and Y axes to a golf club so that said X and Y axes are each in parallel alignment with the club face, each of said X and Y axes capable of measuring linear forces experienced along their respective axes,

addressing a golf ball with the golf club so that said X and Y axes are each disposed approximately at a 45 angle with respect to a vertical plane that is parallel to a selected aim line associated with the golf ball, each of said X and Y axes having a polarity such that forces experienced in one direction along each one of said axes are registered as a positive value and forces experienced in the opposite direction along said axes are registered as a negative value,

pointing said polarity of both said X and Y axes either downward or upward such that horizontal movement lateral to said aim line will register as a positive measurement on one of said X and Y axes and as a negative measurement on the other of said X and Y axes,

measuring the forces experienced by each of said X and Y axes during a timed interval commencing with movement of the golf club to begin a stroke,

calculating the amount of lateral horizontal deviation from the aim line during said timed interval based on the forces measured by said X and Y axes, and

activating a detectable alarm during said timed interval responsive to said deviation.