Device for monitoring performance characteristics associated with user activities involving swinging instruments

• US 9,412,979 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arccos Golf, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arccos Golf, LLC
• Inventors: Yarmis, Benjamin B., Jalbert, Adrienne Murphy, Sabin, Paul Chandler
• Primary Examiner(s): ARORA, AJAY
• Application Number:
  US14/273,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20150327386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 438/300
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/04 Mounting of components , e.g. of leadless components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to devices for attachment to a swinging instrument that generally include a cover, a base, a chassis, and positive and negative electrical contacts. The base includes a fastening portion and a support portion. The chassis supports a printed circuit board. The devices include a cap configured and dimensioned to mate relative to the support portion of the base. The support portion can support the chassis, the printed circuit board, the positive and negative electrical contacts, and the cap. The cover can be configured and dimensioned to detachably interlock relative to the base. In the mated configuration, the cap and the base can form a battery opening configured and dimensioned to receive therethrough a battery. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to methods of device assembly.

Claims

1. A device for attachment to a swinging instrument, comprising:

a cover,

a base including a fastening portion and a support portion,

a chassis for supporting a printed circuit board,

positive and negative electrical contacts, and

a cap configured and dimensioned to mate relative to the support portion of the base,

wherein the support portion supports the chassis, the printed circuit board, the positive and negative electrical contacts, and the cap,

wherein the cover is configured and dimensioned detachably interlock relative to the base to cover the chassis, the printed circuit board, the positive and negative electrical contacts, and the cap,

wherein in the mated configuration, the cap and the base form a battery opening configured and dimensioned to receive therethrough a battery, and

wherein the positive electrical contact comprises a body, first and second walls extending from the body, and extensions extending from the first and second walls, the first wall being asymmetrical relative to the second wall.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an inner circumferential flange configured and dimensioned to snap over an edge of a bottom surface of the base to detachably interlock the cover to the base.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover and the base comprise complementary undulating features for detachably interlocking the cover to the base.

4. The device according to claim 1, comprising a retaining ring positioned within a circumferential groove in an inner surface of the cover to detachably interlock the cover and the base.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a depressible button on a top surface for actuating an actuator of the printed circuit board.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the depressible button translates a protrusion on an interior surface of the cover through an opening in the cap to actuate the actuator of the printed circuit board.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening portion comprises a shaft including an external thread.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion of the base comprises a first side opening and a second side opening, at least a portion of the first side opening forming the battery opening.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the mated configuration, the cap and the base form an opening configured and dimensioned to receive an instrument therethrough to eject the battery.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion of the base comprises two or more slots and the cap comprises two or more complementary protrusions extending therefrom, the two or more slots and the two or more complementary protrusions being configured and dimensioned to mate relative to each other.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises two electrical slots for receiving extensions of the negative electrical contact therethrough.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the chassis comprises a recessed portion on a bottom surface for receiving a body portion of the negative electrical contact.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of side openings or slots for receiving extensions of the positive electrical contact therethrough.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the negative electrical contact comprises a body, first and second walls extending from the body, and an extension extending from the first wall, the first wall being asymmetrical relative to the second wall.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover defines an off-center configuration.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the battery opening is a side opening.

17. A device for attachment to a swinging instrument, comprising:

a cover,

a base including a fastening portion and a support portion,

a chassis for supporting a printed circuit board,

positive and negative electrical contacts, and

a cap configured and dimensioned to mate relative to the support portion of the base,

wherein the support portion supports the chassis, the printed circuit board, the positive and negative electrical contacts, and the cap,

wherein the cover is configured and dimensioned detachably interlock relative to the base to cover the chassis, the printed circuit board, the positive and negative electrical contacts, and the cap,

wherein in the mated configuration, the cap and the base form a battery opening configured and dimensioned to receive therethrough a battery, and

wherein the negative electrical contact comprises a body, first and second walls extending from the body, and an extension extending from the first wall, the first wall being asymmetrical relative to the second wall.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the cover comprises an inner circumferential flange configured and dimensioned to snap over an edge of a bottom surface of the base to detachably interlock the cover to the base.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the cover and the base comprise complementary undulating features for detachably interlocking the cover to the base.

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein the cover comprises a depressible button on a top surface for actuating an actuator of the printed circuit board.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the depressible button translates a protrusion on an interior surface of the cover through an opening in the cap to actuate the actuator of the printed circuit board.

22. The device according to claim 17, wherein the fastening portion comprises a shaft including an external thread.

23. The device according to claim 17, wherein the support portion of the base comprises a first side opening and a second side opening, at least a portion of the first side opening forming the battery opening.

24. The device according to claim 17, wherein the support portion of the base comprises two or more slots and the cap comprises two or more complementary protrusions extending therefrom, the two or more slots and the two or more complementary protrusions being configured and dimensioned to mate relative to each other.

25. The device according to claim 17, wherein the chassis comprises two electrical slots for receiving the extension of the negative electrical contact therethrough.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the chassis comprises a recessed portion on a bottom surface for receiving a body portion of the negative electrical contact.

27. The device according to claim 17, wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of side openings or slots for receiving extensions of the positive electrical contact therethrough.

28. The device according to claim 17, wherein the cover defines an off-center configuration.

29. The device according to claim 17, wherein the battery opening is a side opening.