Systems and methods for storing and analyzing golf data, including community and individual golf data collection and storage at a central hub

• US 10,486,022 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Niegowski, James A., Lafortune, Mario A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Application Number:
  US15/834,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20180099183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0027 Measuring instruments, e.g. watch, thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/001 Golf shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/16 Skating boots
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 : Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 : Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 : Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/83 : characterised by the position of the sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• 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 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• 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 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 : Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 : Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/00 : Bags for golf clubs; Stands for golf clubs for use on the course; Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3605 : Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• 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 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/146 : Golf gloves

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for providing coaching, training, or equipment specification information to individual golfers based on data generated during their individual golf swings. Additionally, data hubs are described that provide information and services to individuals based on data collected for a community of multiple golfers. Such community data hub systems and methods may provide one or more of the following: (a) storage of scoring data, swing data, ball flight data, and/or equipment data for multiple golfers; (b) at least some level of individual access to the stored data for the community; and/or (c) electronic interaction between golfers within the community.

Claims

1. A golf swing evaluation system comprising:

a sensor system configured to be worn by a user for detecting golf swing dynamics data,

wherein the sensor system transmits a set of data comprising swing data from the user;

a computing device that receives the set of data from the sensor system and stores a plurality of a user'"'"'s golf swing signatures,

wherein each of the plurality of the user'"'"'s golf swing signatures includes swing tempo data for an individual golf swing and data indicating a golf club used for the individual golf swing; and

a tempo providing device configured to provide a patterned audio signal to the user during a subsequent golf swing,

wherein the computing device transmits a signal to the tempo providing device to create the patterned audio signal for a swing tempo,

wherein the user inputs the patterned audio signal into the computing device that corresponds to the user'"'"'s golf swing signature for the golf club being used for the subsequent golf swing.

2. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 1, wherein the set of data is transmitted via a wireless connection.

3. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes an RFID sensor.

4. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system is provided in a golf glove.

5. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes an accelerometer and a gyrometer.

6. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 1,

wherein the set of data includes dynamic golf club position data generated during the individual golf swing,

golf club path information at ball contact,

golf club swing speed,

backswing time, and

downswing time.

7. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 1, further comprising a ball flight sensor.

8. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 7, wherein the ball flight sensor is a launch monitor system.

9. A golf swing evaluation system comprising:

a sensor system configured to be attached to a golf club,

wherein the sensor system transmits a set of data including swing data from a user;

a computing device that receives the set of data from the sensor system and stores a user'"'"'s golf swing signature for individual golf swings,

wherein the user'"'"'s golf swing signature includes data representing a user'"'"'s swing tempo; and

a tempo providing device configured to provide a patterned audio signal for a swing tempo to the user during a subsequent golf swing,

wherein the computing device transmits a signal to the tempo providing device to create the patterned audio signal for the swing tempo,

wherein the user inputs the patterned audio signal into the computing device,

wherein the patterned audio signal transmitted to the user for the subsequent golf swing is determined by comparing the user'"'"'s swing tempo to another player'"'"'s swing tempo and transmitting a signal representing said another player'"'"'s swing tempo to the tempo providing device for use by the user during the subsequent golf swing.

10. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 9,

wherein the set of data includes dynamic golf club position data generated during a golf swing,

golf club path information at ball contact,

golf club swing speed, backswing time, and

downswing time.

11. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 9, wherein the set of data is transmitted via a wireless connection.

12. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 9, wherein the sensor system includes an RFID sensor.

13. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 9, wherein the sensor system includes an accelerometer and a gyrometer.

14. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 9, wherein the computing device further outputs a recommendation for adjustment of the golf club being used.

15. A golf swing evaluation system, comprising:

a sensor system configured to be attached to a golf club,

wherein the sensor system transmits a set of data including swing data from a user and identification information about the golf club being used;

a computing device that receives the set of data from the sensor system and stores a plurality of a user'"'"'s golf swing signatures,

wherein each of the plurality of the user'"'"'s golf swing signatures includes swing tempo data for an individual golf swing and data indicating a golf club used for the individual golf swing; and

a tempo providing device configured to provide a patterned audio signal to the user during a subsequent golf swing,

wherein the computing device transmits a signal to the tempo providing device to create the patterned audio signal for a swing tempo,

wherein the user inputs the patterned audio signal into the computing device that corresponds to the user'"'"'s golf swing signature for the golf club being used for the subsequent golf swing.

16. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 15, wherein the set of data includes dynamic golf club position data generated during a golf swing, golf club path information at ball contact, golf club swing speed, backswing time, and downswing time.

17. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 15, wherein the set of data is transmitted via a wireless connection.

18. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 15, wherein the sensor system includes an RFID sensor.

19. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 15, wherein the sensor system includes an accelerometer and a gyrometer.

20. The golf swing evaluation system of claim 15, wherein the computing device further outputs a recommendation for adjustment of the golf club being used.