Putter path detection and analysis

• US 8,616,993 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman Douglas Bittner
• Original Assignee: Norman Douglas Bittner
• Inventors: Bittner, Norman Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US13/901,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20130252751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 221 Days
• Field of Search: 473/202, 473/206, 473219-226, 473231-234, 473/252, 473/257, 473/261, 473/262, 473/266, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/265
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• 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 69/3621 Contacting or non-contacting mechanical means for guiding the swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3676 for putting A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

A putting stroke sensor assembly is cooperable with a putter head. The putting stroke sensor assembly includes a processor, a memory storing a preferred putting path, and an accelerometer configured to measure characteristics of a putting stroke. The processor is programmed to compare the characteristics of the putting stroke with the preferred putting path and to generate an output indicative of the comparison.

Claims

1. A putting stroke sensor assembly cooperable with a putter head, the putting stroke sensor assembly comprising:

a processor comprising means for determining a preferred putting path based on successful putts executed by a user, the preferred putting path being unique to the user;

a memory communicating with the processor and storing the preferred putting path; and

an accelerometer communicating with the processor, the accelerometer being configured to measure characteristics of a putting stroke,

wherein the processor is programmed to compare the characteristics of the putting stroke with the preferred putting path and to generate an output indicative of the comparison.

2. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a display communicating with the processor, the processor driving the display according to the output.

3. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the display is positioned on a handle attached to the putter head.

4. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the display is positioned on an upward facing surface of the putter head.

5. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the display comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged to convey information about the putting stroke.

6. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 5, wherein a clubface position section of the LEDs includes the LEDs arranged in an arc, and wherein the processor is programmed to cause center ones of the arc to illuminate if the putter face is square to a putting direction at impact, and to cause outer ones of the arc to illuminate if the putter face is rotated relative to the putting direction.

7. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 6, wherein a speed section of the LEDs includes the LEDs arranged in a line in alignment with the putting direction, and wherein the processor is programmed to illuminate different ones of the line depending on a speed of the putter head.

8. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the putting stroke include speed, acceleration, putter head position, putter head path, putter head rotation, and putter head tilt.

9. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 8, comprising a plurality of accelerometers.

10. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to operate in a learning mode in which the processor interactively communicates with the user to measure the preferred putting path.

11. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface in communication with the processor.

12. A method for analyzing a putting stroke using a stroke sensor assembly including a processor, a memory communicating with the processor, and an accelerometer, the method comprising:

determining a preferred putting path based on successful putts executed by a user, the preferred putting path being unique to the user, and storing the preferred putting path in the memory;

measuring characteristics of a putting stroke with the accelerometer;

comparing, with the processor, the characteristics of the putting stroke with the preferred putting path; and

generating an output indicative of the comparison.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the determining step is practiced by interactively communicating with the user to measure the preferred putting path.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising displaying an image that represents the output.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the image on a handle attached to the putter head.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the image on an upward facing surface of the putter head.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein the measuring step comprises measuring speed, acceleration, putter head position, putter head path, putter head rotation, and putter head tilt.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the measuring step is practiced for each putt during a round of golf, and wherein the comparing step comprises comparing each putting stroke in the round of golf with the preferred putting path.

19. A putting stroke sensor assembly cooperable with a putter head, the putting stroke sensor assembly comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicating with the processor; and

an accelerometer communicating with the processor, the accelerometer being configured to measure characteristics of a putting stroke,

wherein the processor is programmed to operate in a learning mode in which the processor interactively communicates with a user to measure a preferred putting path that is unique to the user based on successful putts executed by the user, the memory storing the preferred putting path, and wherein the processor is further programmed to compare the characteristics of the putting stroke with the preferred putting path and to generate an output indicative of the comparison.

20. A putting stroke sensor assembly according to claim 19, further comprising a display communicating with the processor, the processor driving the display according to the output, wherein the display is positioned on at least one of a handle attached to the putter head and on an upward facing surface of the putter head.