Portable golf club swing speed indicator with downward angled collimated light sensors

• US 5,634,855 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bryan Thomas Mccormick
• Original Assignee: King, James A.
• Inventors: King, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/476,341
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 473/219-225, 473/150, 473/409, 473/151, 364/410, 273/25, 273/26 R, 356/28, 356/28.5, 324/175, 324/160
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/70 Coin-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/02 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/68 using optical means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light G01P3/80 takes precedence ; by reflection of waves G01S17/58

Abstract

A meter which detects, determines and displays the highest speed obtained in a golf club swing, being coin-operated, highly portable and battery powered. The meter includes a stabilizing base platform supporting a vertical post holding an electronic control box having a LCD, indicator lights and coin receiver. The base sits on a ground surface unattached, and supports a rubber golf tee secured relative to a pair of light sensors and light emitters. The sensors are mounted on the pedestal, and register an interruption in light directed into the sensors from the lights. The lights are mounted on the base and secured in the proper alignment with the sensors so that the entire unit can be easily moved such as for mowing around without misalignment occurring. The light sensors and the lights are on oppositely disposed sides of the tee so that a swinging golf club will interrupt the lights and cause the sensors to signal counters to begin or stop counting. Two sensors are used in spaced relationship to one another, one sensor straight across from each of the two fixed lights. The sensors are contained within collimator tubes which are aimed downward at an angle toward the lower positioned lights, thus assisting in eliminating false readings and the user from having to make electronic adjustments to compensate for ambient light conditions.

Claims

1. A golf club swing speed meter for detecting and outputing data regarding golf club swing speed, comprising;

base means for supporting post means attached to said base means and extending vertically upward from said base means;

electronic means within housing means attached to said post means, said electronic means including golf club swing speed calculating and data output means for functioning in cooperation with light emitting means attached to said base means for directing a first light beam and a second light beam into light sensor means for receiving the first and second light beams and signalling representations of intensity of received light beams to said electronic means;

said electronic means including sensor amplifier means for establishing a reference signal representing received light intensity signalling from said light sensor means and for utilizing said reference signal as means to gauge a decrease in received light intensity by said light sensor means wherein said decrease occurs within a preset time duration prior to said electronic means interpreting a golf club swing as occurring;

golf ball holding means attached for holding a golf ball in position for hitting with a golf club, said golf ball holding means attached between said light emitting means and said light sensor means so that a golf club swing at a golf ball held by said golf ball holding means will move through and interrupt said first light beam first and said second light beam secondly to trigger signalling changes between said light sensor means and said electronic means wherein said electronic means calculates and outputs data indicating speed of the golf club swing as calculated relative to interruptions of both the first and second light beams;

light collimator means in combination with said light sensor means for restricting ambient light from having full access to said light sensor means;

said light collimator means including a downwardly sloped axis aimed at said light emitter means for further restricting ambient light from having full access to said light sensor means.

2. A portable golf club swing speed meter for detecting and outputing data regarding golf club swing speed, comprising;

stabilizing base means for resting unattached on a surface and supporting post means attached to said base means and extending vertically upward therefrom;

electronic means within housing means, said housing means attached by lockable and unlockable latch means at an upper end of said post means, said housing means removable from said post means by way of unlocking said latch means;

said electronic means including golf club swing speed calculating and data output means for functioning in cooperation with light emitting means attached to said base means for directing a first light beam and a second light beam into light sensor means attached to said post means for receiving the first and second light beams and signalling representations of intensity of received light beams to said electronic means;

said electronic means including sensor amplifier means for establishing a reference signal representing received light intensity signalling from said light sensor means and for utilizing said reference signal as means to gauge a decrease in received light intensity by said light sensor means wherein said decrease occurs within a preset time duration prior to said electronic means interpreting a golf club swing as occurring;

golf ball holding means attached to said base means for holding a golf ball in position for hitting with a golf club, said golf ball holding means attached between said light emitting means and said light sensor means so that a golf club swing at a golf ball held by said golf ball holding means will move through and interrupt said first light beam first and said second light beam secondly to trigger signalling changes between said light sensor means and said electronic means representing received light intensity changes wherein said electronic means calculates and outputs data indicating speed of the golf club as calculated relative to interruptions of both the first and second light beams;

light collimator means in combination with said light sensor means for restricting ambient light from having full access to said light sensor means;

said light collimator means including a downwardly sloped axis aimed at said light emitter means for further restricting ambient light from having full access to said light sensor means;

battery power means within said housing means for providing electrical power to said electronic means;

electrical conductors including disconnectable and reconnectable conductor means extending between said housing means, said light sensor means and said light emitter means for providing electrical power from said battery power means to said light sensor means and said light emitter means, and for carrying the signals representing received light intensity from said light sensor means to said electronic means within said housing means.