ATHLETIC SWING MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

• US 3,717,857 A
• Filed: 11/27/1970
• Issued: 02/20/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James W. Evans
• Original Assignee: James W. Evans
• Inventors: Evans, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/093,200
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 340/177R,182,183,188,203,27R,209,279,323 325/111,113,118 73/432R,379G,38A,381G 273/186R,183R,183B 128/2.1A
• US Class Current: 340/870.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6869 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/52 modulated by measured values
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• 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 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An athletic swing measurement method and apparatus for measuring characteristics of the swing of an athlete'"'"''"'"'s arm, bat or club. An accelerometer is provided for measuring acceleration or velocity and strain gages for measuring flex and twist of a plate placed on an athlete'"'"''"'"'s arm or within a bat or club, such as a golf club. Electrical signals analagous to the measurements of each gage are transmitted by a single transmitter to a receiver where they are converted for display, storage and comparison.

Claims

1. An athletic measurement system comprising in combination:

a. attaching member for removably attaching to a predetermined portion on an individual;

b. measurement means including at least one accelerometer for measuring a plurality of conditions and converting said measurements into electrical signals, said measurement means being attached to said attaching member for measuring conditions of said attaching member;

c. multiplexing means for multiplexing said electrical signals;

d. transmitting means for transmitting said electrical signals over a single transmission path;

e. receiving means for receiving signals from said transmitting means;

f. analog to digital converter means for converting said received signals to digitized data indicative of said measurements; and

g. output means for displaying the data from at least one said measureMent means measured condition.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 but including decoding and memory means following said analog to digital means for separating said multiplexed signals into continuous streams of data for each said measurement means measured condition.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said means includes a cathode ray tube.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, in which said output means includes an oscillograph.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said measuring means includes a pair of strain gages adapted to measure twist and flex.

6. An apparatus for measuring an athletic swing comprising in combination:

a. a plate adapted to be attached against the limb of an individual;

b. attachment means for removably attaching said plate to said limb;

c. measuring means for measuring changes in said plate during movement of said individual'"'"''"'"'s limb; and

d. transmitting means for transmitting said measurements of changes in said plate and receiving means for receiving and displaying said measurements.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 in which said measuring means includes a strain gage to measure flex in said plate.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 in which said measuring means includes a second strain gage to measure twist in said plate.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 in which an accelerometer is attached to said plate for measuring acceleration of said plate.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 but including a battery power supply for providing power to said transmitting means and to each said strain gage.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 in which said transmitting means includes multiplexing means for multiplexing signals generated by said strain gages and said accelerometer for transmission over a single transmission path.