Golf club grip with user notification and tracking capability

• US 9,452,330 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tag Golf LLC
• Original Assignee: Tag Golf LLC
• Inventors: Savarese, Chris, McGill, Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako
• Application Number:
  US14/152,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20140197951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• 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 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses related to golf club grips with attached or embedded RFID tags are described. In an embodiment, a RFID tag is attached to or embedded into a golf club grip and a RFID reader incorporated into a personal computing device may read or capture information associated with the RFID tag. The device may be configured to provide notifications to the golfer based on the captured information.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions, which when executed cause a RFID-enabled device to perform a method comprising:

detecting, by a RFID-enabled device, presence of a RFID tag coupled with a golf grip;

receiving an input specifying a regrip condition, wherein the input is a user input;

prompting the user to provide the user input in response to detecting an initial presence of the RFID tag, wherein the user input specifies a duration; and

providing, in response to the regrip condition being met, a notification indicating the golf grip is due for replacement.

2. The medium of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag includes a near field communication (NFC) tag, and wherein detecting presence of the NFC tag includes contacting the RFID-enabled device to the golf grip.

3. The medium of claim 1, wherein the user input includes a user selection, and wherein the duration is selected from at least one of a specified amount of time, a specified number of uses of the golf grip, or a specified number of golf rounds.

4. The medium of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a unique identifier (UID) associated with the RFID tag;

detecting presence of a different RFID tag coupled with a replacement grip, wherein the different RFID tag is associated with a different UID; and

associating the replacement grip having the different UID with the received UID.

5. The medium of claim 4 further comprising:

capturing information associated with a golf club coupled with the golf grip, wherein associating the replacement grip with the received UID includes associating the different UID with the captured information.

6. The medium of claim 5, wherein the captured information includes usage information or club-specific information.

7. A machine implemented method, comprising:

storing a unique identifier (UID) associated with a RFID tag, the RFID tag coupled with a golf grip;

receiving identification information associated with a candidate golf grip, wherein the identification information includes a candidate UID;

comparing the candidate UID with the stored UID to determine whether the candidate golf grip is the golf grip; and

providing, in response to determining the candidate golf grip is the golf grip, a notification, wherein the notification includes a message associated with the stored UID and wherein the message prompts a user to provide an input specifying a regrip condition.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

storing, in response to determining the candidate golf grip is the golf grip, usage information associated with a golf club coupled with the candidate golf grip; and

receiving a request for the stored information associated with the golf club; and

providing, based on access rights included in the request, the requested information associated with the golf club.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the stored information associated with the golf club includes at least one of club-specific information or usage information.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining, based on the usage information, behavior of a user of the golf club.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining behavior of the user includes determining at least one of how often the user plays golf, where the user plays golf, what type of golf equipment the user plays golf with, or how often the user changes golf equipment.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the message authenticates a golf club coupled with the golf grip.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the message provides an advertisement about a golf club coupled with the golf grip.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the message includes a message written by a user to a website associated with the RFID tag.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the message includes club-specific information, and wherein the club-specific information includes a type of a golf club coupled with the golf grip.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing, in response to determining the candidate golf grip is not the golf grip, a notification, wherein the notification includes a guide to associating the candidate golf grip with the stored UID.