RACQUET HIT NOTIFICATION

• US 20150045153A1
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: THURMAN, ROBERT T., SEVERA, WILLIAM D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/553
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or 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 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• 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 49/00 Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis strings therefor A63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/08 with special construction of the handle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a sports racquet. The apparatus including a sensor to be carried by the racquet and an indicator in communication with the sensor to output a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a sports racquet, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor to be carried by the racquet; and

an indicator in communication with the sensor to output a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

sensor signal analyzing electronics to be carried by the racquet; and

a notification output to be carried by the racquet to provide the notification.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the notification provided by the notification output is a visible notification.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible notification comprises one of:

an estimated number of hits by the racquet;

a recommendation for restringing the racquet; and

a combination thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible notification is on a handle butt of the racquet.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the notification provided by the notification output is an audible notification.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the sensor comprises at least one of:

an accelerometer;

a vibro-acoustic sensor;

a strain gauge;

a load cell; and

combinations thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a counter to be carried by the racquet and in communication with the sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the indicator further comprises a memory to be carried by the racquet to store a counted number of hits by the counter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

sensor signal analyzing electronics to be carried by the racquet to produce data based on signals from the sensor; and

a transmitter to be carried by the racquet to output the data to electronics remote from the racquet.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transmitter comprises at least one of a wireless transmitter and a plug-in port.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a memory to be carried by the racquet to store the data, and wherein the indicator further comprises a notification output remote from the racquet to output the notification based on the data.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

a transmitter to be carried by the racquet;

a first notification output to be carried by the racquet;

a second notification output to be carried by a portable electronic device remote from the racquet; and

operational mode electronics to be carried by the racquet, the operational mode electronics operable in one or more of the following user selectable modes;

(1) a first mode in which the notification is output on the first notification output carried by the racquet; and

(2) a second mode in which the notification is output on the second notification output of the portable electronic device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the racquet.

13. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a portable electronic device comprising the notification output.

14. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the notification output comprises a display of the portable electronic device.

17. An apparatus for use with a sports racquet, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor to be carried by the racquet; and

an indicator in communication with the sensor to output a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor;

a transmitter to be carried by the racquet to output signals from the sensor; and

a portable electronic device remote from the racquet, the portable electronic device including;

a transceiver to receive the signals from the transmitter;

signal analyzing electronics to analyze signals to produce data; and

a notification output to output the notification based on the data.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the notification output comprises a display of the portable electronic device.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a racquet;

a sensor carried by the racquet; and

an indicator in communication with the sensor to output a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indicator comprises:

sensor signal analyzing electronics carried by the racquet; and

a notification output carried by the racquet to provide the notification.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of:

an accelerometer;

a vibro-acoustic sensor;

a strain gauge;

a load cell; and

combinations thereof.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the notification provided by the notification output is a visible notification comprises the visible notification comprises one of:

an estimated number of hits by the racquet;

a recommendation for restringing the racquet; and

a combination thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the visible notification is on a handle butt of the racquet.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the notification provided by the notification output is an audible notification.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indicator comprises a counter carried by the racquet and in communication with the sensor, and wherein the indicator further comprises a memory carried by the racquet to store a counted number of hits by the counter.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indicator comprises:

sensor signal analyzing electronics carried by the racquet to produce data based on signals from the sensor; and

a transmitter carried by the racquet to output the data to electronics remote from the racquet.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the transmitter comprises at least one of a wireless transmitter and a plug-in port.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indicator further comprises a notification output remote from the racquet to output the notification based on the data.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a portable electronic device comprising the notification output.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the notification output comprises a display of the portable electronic device.

31. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indicator comprises:

a transmitter carried by the racquet to output signals from the sensor; and

a portable electronic device remote from the racquet, the portable electronic device comprising;

a transceiver to receive the signals from the transmitter;

signal analyzing electronics to analyze signals to produce data; and

a notification output to output the notification based on the data.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the notification output comprises a display of the portable electronic device.

33. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indicator comprises:

a transmitter carried by the racquet;

a first notification output carried by the racquet;

a second notification output carried by a portable electronic device remote from the racquet; and

operational mode electronics carried by the racquet, the operational mode electronics operable in one or more of the following user selectable modes;

(1) a first mode in which the notification is output on the first notification output carried by the racquet; and

(2) a second mode in which the notification is output on the second notification output of the portable electronic device.