Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 9,186,546 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Stites, John T., Lafortune, Mario A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/250,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 473/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 : Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 : Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 : Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 : Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.

Claims

1. A golf club, comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head, including a grip engaged with the shaft; and

wherein the golf club is configured to receive a monitoring device, comprising;

at least one sensor configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer;

wherein the golf club further comprises;

a top portion;

wherein the top portion is nondestructively removably engaged with the golf club and wherein the monitoring device is nondestructively removably engaged with the top portion;

wherein the shaft is configured to nondestructively removably engage and secure the top portion;

wherein the top portion is configured to removably engage the monitoring device with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners; and

wherein the shaft is configured to removably engage the monitoring device with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the shaft is configured to receive and secure the top portion at the grip of the shaft.

3. The golf club of claim 2, further comprising a recess in the top portion which is configured to secure the monitoring device.

4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the recess is configured to secure the monitoring device and the monitoring device is rectangular with rounded ends and has a length in the range of 1.0-1.5 inches, a width of 0.4-1.0 inches and thickness of 0.2-0.45 inches.

5. The golf club of claim 2, further comprising:

a removable section configured to nondestructively removably engage the monitoring device, wherein the top portion is configured to nondestructively removably engage the removable section;

wherein the removable section is configured to removably engage the monitoring device with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners; and

wherein the top portion is configured to removably engage the removable section with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners.

6. The golf club of claim 5, wherein the removable section includes:

a circular portion which is configured to form the top of the shaft when the cartridge is engaged with the top portion; and

an elongated portion which extends from the circular portion and is configured to house the monitoring device.

7. The golf club of claim 6, wherein the elongated portion of the removable section is configured to secure the monitoring device by directly engaging the exterior of the monitoring device and holding the monitoring device with at least one of:

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners.

8. The golf club of claim 7, wherein the elongate portion includes a first arched end configured to engage a first rounded end of the monitoring device, a second arched end configured to engage a second rounded end of the monitoring device, wherein the second arched end is opposite the first arched end.

9. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the elongate portion includes a back portion which extends between the first arched portion and the second arched portion and is configured to engage a side of the monitoring device.

10. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the elongate portion is configured to secure the monitoring device which is rectangular with the first and second rounded end and has a length in the range of 1.0-1.5 inches, a width of 0.4-1.0 inches and thickness of 0.2-0.45 inches.

11. A golf club, comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head, including a grip engaged with the shaft; and

wherein the golf club is configured to receive a monitoring device, comprising;

at least one sensor configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer;

wherein the golf club head is configured to receive and secure the monitoring device;

wherein the golf club head is a wood golf club head;

wherein a sole of the golf club head includes a recess configured to receive the monitoring device; and

wherein the recess is configured to retain the monitoring device in an orientation wherein a longitudinal axis of the monitoring device is arranged in ball striking face to rear direction.

12. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the monitoring device is exposed when the monitoring device is engaged with the golf club head.

13. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the recess is configured to secure the monitoring device by directly engaging the exterior of the monitoring device and holding the monitoring device via a friction fit.

14. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the recess is configured to secure the monitoring device and the monitoring device is rectangular with rounded ends and has a length in the range of 1.0-1.5 inches, a width of 0.4-1.0 inches and thickness of 0.2-0.45 inches.

15. The golf club of claim 11, further comprising:

a removable section configured to engage with a sole of the wood golf club head and, also, configured to secure the monitoring device in the golf club head when the removable section is engaged with the golf club head.

16. The golf club of claim 14, wherein removable section includes an opening which exposes the monitoring device.

17. A golf club, comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head, including a grip engaged with the shaft; and

wherein the golf club is configured to receive a monitoring device, comprising;

at least one sensor configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer;

wherein the golf club head is configured to receive and secure the monitoring device;

wherein the golf club head is an iron golf club head;

wherein a rear portion of the iron golf club head includes a recess configured to receive the monitoring device;

wherein the recess is configured to retain the monitoring device in an orientation wherein a longitudinal axis of the monitoring device is arranged in a heel to toe direction;

wherein the recess is configured to secure the monitoring device by directly engaging the exterior of the monitoring device and holding the monitoring device via a friction fit;

wherein the golf club further comprises a removable section configured to engage with the rear portion of the iron golf club head and, also, configured to secure the monitoring device in the golf club head when the removable section is engaged with the golf club head.

18. The golf club of claim 17, wherein the recess is configured to secure the monitoring device and the monitoring device is rectangular with rounded ends and has a length in the range of 1.0-1.5 inches, a width of 0.4-1.0 inches and thickness of 0.2-0.45 inches.

19. The golf club of claim 17, wherein removable section includes an opening which exposes the monitoring device.

20. A golf club, comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head, including a grip engaged with the shaft; and

wherein the golf club is configured to receive a monitoring device, comprising;

at least one sensor configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer;

wherein the golf club head is configured to receive and secure the monitoring device;

wherein the golf club head is a putter golf club head;

wherein a rear portion of the putter golf club head includes a first recess configured to receive the monitoring device and a second recess configured to receive a second monitoring device.

21. The golf club of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second recesses is configured to retain the monitoring device in an orientation wherein a longitudinal axis of the monitoring device is arranged in a heel to toe direction.

22. The golf club of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second recesses is configured to secure the monitoring device by directly engaging the exterior of the monitoring device and holding the monitoring device via a friction fit.

23. The golf club of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second recesses is configured to secure the monitoring device and the monitoring device is rectangular with rounded ends and has a length in the range of 1.0-1.5 inches, a width of 0.4-1.0 inches and thickness of 0.2-0.45 inches.

24. The golf club of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second recesses is centered relative to the heel toe direction of the putter golf club head.

25. The golf club of claim 20, wherein at least one of the recesses is positioned directly behind a ball striking face of the putter golf club head.

26. The golf club of claim 20, wherein the first recess is positioned in a heel end of the putter golf club head and the second recess is positioned in a toe end of the putter golf club head.