Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 9,433,844 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Stites, John T., Lafortune, Mario A., Hatton, Philip, Wallans, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/906,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 473/213, 473/223, 473/224, 473/233, 473/234
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• 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 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 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• 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 69/36 : for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 : electrical or electronic
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

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 configured to determine aspects related to a golf swing, comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft; and

a monitoring device configured to be engaged with the golf club, comprising;

a power supply; and

one or more components which are configured to receive power from the power supply,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to;

enter a hibernation state when the monitoring device determines that there has been no movement of the golf club for a predetermined amount of time, wherein, during the hibernation state, at least one of the one or more of the components receive less power from the power supply as compared with a use state which includes the monitoring device collecting data related to at least one characteristic of a golf swing; and

exit the hibernation state when the monitoring device detects a specified amount of movement of the golf club.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the one or more components include a first sensor configured to determine data related to the at least one characteristic of a golf swing.

3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein the one or more components include at least a second sensor configured to determine data related to the at least one characteristic of a golf swing,

wherein the monitoring device is further configured to selectively use, in the use state, the first sensor instead of the second sensor to determine data related to the at least one characteristic of a golf swing when a predefined condition is satisfied or receive data from both the first sensor and the second sensor and selectively use data from the first sensor instead of the second sensor to determine data related to the at least one characteristic of a golf swing when a predefined condition is satisfied.

4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the first sensor is configured to measure the at least one characteristic with a first sensitivity and the second sensor is configured to measure the at least one characteristic with a second sensitivity, which is different than the first sensitivity.

5. The golf club of claim 2, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of:

angular velocity of the golf club during a golf swing, or acceleration of a golf club during a golf swing.

6. The golf club of claim 2, wherein the one or more components further include a second sensor, wherein, during the hibernation state, the first sensor receives less power than the second sensor such that the second sensor is configured to detect the specified amount of movement of the golf club during the hibernation state.

7. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the specified amount of movement of the golf club corresponds to a threshold angular velocity or a threshold acceleration.

8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the specified amount of movement includes a predefined motion signature.

9. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the golf club includes a sensor configured to detect motion and wherein the monitoring device is configured to detect the specified amount of movement of the golf club by comparing motion data detected by the sensor to the predefined motion signature.

10. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the golf club is further configured to exit the hibernation state upon receiving a command from a remote device.

11. The golf club of claim 10, wherein the remote device includes a mobile communication device.

12. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising:

a removable section configured to receive the monitoring device, wherein the removable section includes one or more protrusions configured to engage with the monitoring device.

13. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the one or more components of the monitoring device includes at least one of:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope.

14. A golf club configured to determine aspects related to a golf swing, comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft; and

a monitoring device configured to be engaged with the golf club, comprising;

at least a first sensor configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a golf swing; and

at least a second sensor configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a golf swing;

wherein the monitoring device is configured to;

selectively use the first sensor instead of the second sensor to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a golf swing when a predefined condition is satisfied,

distinguish between different types of swings of the golf club based on detecting, by the monitoring device, predefined movement of the golf club, and

associate data received from at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor with a corresponding one of the different types of swings.

15. The golf club of claim 14, wherein the monitoring device determines that the predefined movement of the golf club corresponds to a first type of swing when the data received from at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor is within a predetermined range or matches a predetermined value.

16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein the predetermined range or the predetermined value relates to a predetermined angular velocity associated with a predefined typical practice swing of the golf club.

17. The golf club of claim 16, wherein the predetermined range or the predetermined value includes a particular graphical range of the data received from at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor and associated with the typical practice swing of the golf club when the data is plotted.

18. The golf club of claim 17, wherein the monitoring device is configured to end associating data received from at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor with a particular swing after a predetermined time has elapsed from recognition of the typical practice swing of the golf club by the monitoring device.

19. The golf club of claim 15, wherein the monitoring device is further configured to:

record and store data from a prior swing corresponding to the first type of swing, and

determine the predetermined range or predetermined value for the first type of swing based on the stored data for the prior swing.

20. The golf club of claim 15, wherein each of the types of swings are associated with a corresponding predetermined value or predetermined range.

21. The golf club of claim 14, wherein the first sensor has a first sensitivity and the second sensor has a second sensitivity different from the first sensitivity.

22. The golf club of claim 14, wherein the different types of swings includes a pre-shot movement of the golf club, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to associate detected data with a golf shot only after detecting an end of the pre-shot movement.

23. The golf club of claim 22, wherein the monitoring device is configured to associate detected data with a golf shot only after a predefined amount of time has elapsed after detecting the end of the pre-shot movement.

24. The golf club of claim 22, wherein the end of the pre-shot movement is detected based on user input.

25. The golf club of claim 22, wherein the end of the pre-shot movement is detected based on matching the data received from the at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor to a predefined pre-shot movement signature.

26. A monitoring device configured to determine aspects related to a swing of a piece of sports equipment comprising:

a compartment configured to be engaged with the piece of sports equipment; and

at least a first sensor configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a swing,

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device engagable with the piece of sports equipment which is configured to transmit data which identifies the piece of sports equipment with which the RFID device is engaged,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to determine the piece of sports equipment with which the monitoring device is engaged when a predefined condition is satisfied and

wherein the monitoring device includes a processor configured to receive data from the RFID device, and the predefined condition includes receiving data from the RFID device that the piece of sports equipment with which the monitoring device is engaged is a particular piece of sports equipment or type of sports equipment.

27. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the monitoring device is configured to automatically configure itself to selectively collect particular data based on the determination of the monitoring device as to the piece of sports equipment with which the monitoring device is engaged.

28. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the piece of sports equipment includes one or more protrusions, wherein the monitoring device includes one or more openings configured to receive the one or more protrusions of the piece of sports equipment and the predefined condition includes the openings in the monitoring device receiving at least one of:

a predetermined number of the protrusions and a predetermined arrangement of the protrusions, into the openings.

29. The monitoring device of claim 26, further comprising:

a removable section configured to receive the monitoring device, wherein the removable section includes the one or more protrusions.

30. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the monitoring device includes a processor configured to receive data from at least the first sensor, and a memory configured to store at least one range of values related to the at least one characteristic of the swing,

wherein the predefined condition includes the processor determining from the received data from the first sensor whether the received data is within, or outside of, the at least one range of values.

31. The monitoring device of claim 30, wherein the at least one range of values relates to at least one of:

a swing path profile or the orientation of the monitoring device during the swing path.

32. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein a grip or handle of the piece of sports equipment is configured to receive and secure the monitoring device.

33. A monitoring device configured to determine aspects related to a swing of a piece of sports equipment comprising:

a compartment configured to be engaged with the piece of sports equipment; and

at least a first sensor configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a swing,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to determine the piece of sports equipment with which the monitoring device is engaged when a predefined condition is satisfied;

wherein the monitoring device includes a power supply and one or more components which are configured to receive power from the power supply,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to enter a hibernation state wherein at least some of components receive less or no power from the power supply as compared with a use state which includes the at least one sensor collecting data related to the at least one characteristic of a swing,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to enter the hibernation state when the monitoring device determines that there has been no movement of the sports equipment for a predetermined amount of time,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to exit the hibernation state when the monitoring device determines that there has been movement of the sports equipment.

34. The monitoring device of claim 33, wherein the monitoring device is configured to exit the hibernation state when the monitoring device determines that there has been a predefined movement of the sports equipment.

35. The monitoring device of claim 34, wherein the monitoring device determines that the predefined movement of the sports equipment has occurred when the data received from the at least one sensor relating to the at least one characteristic of the swing is within a predetermined range or matches a predetermined value.

36. The monitoring device of claim 35, wherein the predetermined range or the predetermined value relates to a predetermined angular velocity associated with a predefined typical swing of the sports equipment.

37. The monitoring device of claim 36, wherein the predetermined range or the predetermined value includes a particular graphical range of the plotted data received from at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor and associated with a predefined typical swing of the sports equipment.

38. A monitoring device configured to determine aspects related to a swing of a piece of sports equipment comprising:

a compartment configured to be engaged with the piece of sports equipment; and

at least a first sensor configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a swing,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to determine the piece of sports equipment with which the monitoring device is engaged when a predefined condition is satisfied;

wherein the monitoring device is configured to associate data received from the at least one sensor with a particular swing and distinguish between different individual swings based upon a determination by the monitoring device that there has been a predefined movement of the sports equipment.

39. The monitoring device of claim 38, wherein the monitoring device determines that the predefined movement of the sports equipment has occurred when the data received from the at least one sensor is within a predetermined range or matches a predetermined value.

40. The monitoring device of claim 39, wherein the predetermined range or the predetermined value relate to a predetermined angular velocity associated with a predefined typical practice swing of the sports equipment.

41. The monitoring device of claim 40, wherein the predetermined range or the predetermined value includes a particular graphical range of the plotted data received from the at least one sensor associated with the typical practice swing of the sports equipment.

42. The monitoring device of claim 41, the monitoring device is configured to end associating data received from the at least one sensor with a particular swing after a predetermined time has elapsed from the recognition of the typical practice swing of the sports equipment by the monitoring device.

43. The monitoring device of claim 38, wherein the monitoring device is configured to receive data from an impact sensor located in the sports equipment with which the monitoring device is engaged,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to end associating data received from the at least one sensor with a particular swing after a predetermined time has elapsed from the recognition of an impact by the monitoring device.

44. The monitoring device of claim 38, wherein the monitoring device is configured to receive instructions from a remote computer via a transceiver, wherein the monitoring device is configured to begin and end associating data received from the at least one sensor with a particular swing based on data received from the remote computer by the monitoring device.

45. The monitoring device of claim 38, wherein the monitoring device is configured to receive instructions from a remote computer via a transceiver, wherein the monitoring device determines whether the predetermined condition has been satisfied based on data received from the remote computer by the monitoring device.