System for measuring golf swing parameter data on impact of a golf club face with a target surface

• US 9,261,445 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Garry Peters
• Original Assignee: Garry Peters
• Inventors: Peters, Garry, Klein, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALL, SHAUNA-KAY N
• Application Number:
  US14/300,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20150068274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0043 Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/024 with screws or pins in the earth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/14 with form or shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative 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 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/30 by applying a single impulsive force, e.g. by falling weight
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A system for measuring golf swing parameter data on impact of a club face of a user'"'"'s golf club with a target surface includes an absorber bag having a front facing surface with target image thereon for receiving an impact of the user'"'"'s club face therewith, an anchor frame to which the bag is attached thereto, and an electronics module removably attachable to the anchor frame. The system further includes a plurality of shock mounts positioned between the absorber bag and anchor frame, and at least one accelerometer in electrical communication with the electronics module and arranged on a rear surface of the bag that measures acceleration upon impact of the club face with the absorber bag, providing a signal that is converted by the electronics module into golf swing parameter data for display to the user.

Claims

1. A system for measuring golf swing parameter data on impact of a club face of a user'"'"'s golf club with a target surface, comprising:

an absorber bag having a front facing surface with target image thereon for receiving an impact of the user'"'"'s club face therewith,

an anchor frame to which the bag is fixedly and immovably attached thereto,

an electronics module removably attachable to the anchor frame,

a plurality of shock mounts positioned between the absorber bag and anchor frame to fix the absorber bag to the anchor frame, and

at least one accelerometer in electrical communication with the electronics module and arranged on a rear surface of the bag that measures acceleration upon impact of the club face with the absorber bag, providing a signal that is converted by the electronics module into golf swing parameter data for display to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the golf swing parameter data includes a hit strength value indicative of how hard the user hit the front facing surface of the absorber bag with the club face.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the golf swing parameter data includes a hit accuracy determination indicative of how close to a target image the club face landed on impact.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein

the absorber bag is configured in a generally cubic outer shape with an outer construction comprising a plurality of attached resilient panels forming sides, the front facing surface with target image thereon, a rear surface, a top surface and a bottom surface thereof, the cubic-shaped absorber bag anchored directly to a ground surface so as to be fixed in place, and so the front facing surface with target image thereon is impacted by the club face at a bottom of a downswing of the club by the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor frame is configured to be attached to a wall surface and a baseboard via a plurality of protective foam elements.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an accelerated frame part attached to a rear interior surface of the absorber bag so that the shock mounts are arranged between the accelerated frame part and anchor frame, the accelerated frame part supporting the absorber bag thereon and including the at least one accelerometer attached thereto.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor frame is staked to a ground surface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the absorber bag includes

an interior including:

a plurality of alternating layers of fabric and open-cell foam in adjacent stacked

relation arranged as a front section of the interior, and

a metal frame as a back section of the interior.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor board arranged on a rear interior surface of the bag with a plurality of accelerometers thereon sending acceleration signal data to the electronics module upon impact of the club face with the bag so as to determine a hit strength parameter and a hit accuracy parameter for review by the user.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a turn rate sensor arranged in an interior of the bag and centered on the rear surface of the bag directly in line with the target image, the turn rate sensor sending signal data to the electronics module upon impact of the club face with the target image on the bag so as to determine a hit strength parameter and a hit accuracy parameter for review by the user.

11. An absorber bag for measuring golf swing parameter data upon impact therewith with a club face of a user'"'"'s golf club, comprising:

an outer construction composed of a plurality of resilient panels arranged in a generally cubic shape with a front facing surface with a target image thereon for receiving the user'"'"'s club face thereto for impact therewith, the absorber bag fixedly attached to a ground surface in an immovable state,

an electronics module,

an interior including;

a plurality of alternating layers of fabric and open-cell foam in adjacent stacked relation arranged behind the front facing surface as a front section of the interior,

a frame as a rear section of the interior, and

one or more accelerometers in electrical communication with the electronics module and positioned on the frame,

the one or more accelerometers measuring acceleration upon impact of the club face with the bag, providing signals that are converted by the electronics module into golf swing parameter data for display to the user.

12. The absorber bag of claim 11, wherein the golf club swing data includes a hit strength value indicative of how hard the user hit the front facing surface of the absorber bag with the club face.

13. The absorber bag of claim 11, wherein the golf club swing data includes a hit accuracy determination indicative of how close to a target image the club face landed on impact.

14. The absorber bag of claim 11, wherein the cubic-shaped absorber bag is anchored directly to a ground surface so as to be fixed in place, and so the front facing surface with target image thereon is impacted by the club face at a bottom of a downswing of the club by the user.

15. A system for measuring golf swing parameter data on impact of a club face of a user'"'"'s golf club with a target surface, comprising:

an absorber bag having a front facing surface for receiving an impact thereon with the club face, the absorber bag anchored directly to a ground surface so as to be fixed in place and immovable, so the front facing surface of the fixed absorber bag is impacted by the club face at a bottom of a downswing of the club by the user,

at least one accelerometer that measures acceleration upon impact of the club face with the front facing surface, and

a processor connected to the accelerometer for receiving the acceleration data and determining golf swing parameter data related to the impact.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the determined golf swing parameter data includes a hit strength value indicative of how hard the user hit the front facing surface of the absorber bag with the club face.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the determined golf swing parameter data includes a hit accuracy determination indicative of how close to a target image on the front facing surface the club face landed on impact.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising

an anchor frame,

a pair of shock mounts attaching a lower part of the absorber bag to the anchor frame,

an accelerated frame part attached to a rear surface of the absorber bag so that the shock mounts are arranged between the accelerated frame part and anchor frame, the accelerated frame part supporting the absorber bag thereon and including the at least one accelerometer attached thereto.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the anchor frame includes:

a base with apertures therein for receiving stakes to secure it to an outdoor ground surface, and

foam protective elements for securing the anchor frame against a wall and baseboard indoors.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a sensor board arranged on a rear interior surface of the bag with a plurality of accelerometers thereon sending acceleration signal data to the processor upon impact of the club face with the bag so as to determine a hit strength parameter and a hit accuracy parameter for review by the user.