Gold club speed indicator

• US 7,235,020 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Christensen
• Original Assignee: Robert Christensen
• Inventors: Christensen, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/673,244
• Time in Patent Office: 137 Days
• Field of Search: 473219-256, 473/516, 473/524, 473/553, 473/457, 473/459, 473/451, 73/650.3, 734/88, 734/91, 734/92, 734/93, 434/252
• US Class Current: 473/226
• 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

Abstract

An indicator mechanism or gauge is located in a golf club and provides an indication that the “sweet spot” on a golf club head has been hit and the speed of the club head. The indicator mechanism includes a sensor mounted on the head of a golf club and an indicator positioned on top of the shaft of the club. The sensor detects the impact of the golf ball and hydraulically transmits this information to the indicator mechanism. A visual indicator protrudes from the top of the golf club shaft and provides an indication of the speed of the golf club.

Claims

1. A golf club, for measuring the force of a golf swing and the speed at which a golf ball would travel after being hit by the golf club, comprising:

a golf club including a proximal end having a handle portion, a distal end having a club head and an elongated shaft extending between said handle portion and said club head;

a sensor positioned in said club head and being constructed and arranged to measure the speed of said club head;

a non electronic speed indication mechanism located in said handle portion of said golf club, said non electronic speed indication mechanism providing an indication of the speed of said club head during a golf swing;

said non electronic speed indication mechanism responsive to a force generated by said sensor; and

said non electronic speed indication mechanism including a visual indicator, indicating the speed of said club head during a golf swing.

2. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein said golf club further includes a transfer mechanism for transferring said force generated by said sensor to said non electronic speed indicating mechanism;

said non electronic speed indicator mechanism further includes a fluid reservoir connected to said transfer mechanism, a bellows connected to said fluid reservoir and an actuator, operated by said bellows, constructed and arranged for actuating said visual indicator.

3. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein said visual indicator comprises a linearly movable element including a scale thereon;

said actuator moving said linearly movable element in response to said force generated by said sensor;

said linearly movable element indicating the speed of said club head.

4. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is positioned in said golf club head and oriented to sense an impact on the face of said golf club in an area which produces a maximum velocity of a golf ball when struck by said golf club;

said sensor comprising a fluid container attached to a rear side of the face of said golf club.

5. The golf club according to claim 3, wherein said sensor, said transfer mechanism and said reservoir are fluidly connected to each other.

6. The golf club according to claim 5, wherein said sensor, said transfer mechanism and said fluid reservoir contain hydraulic fluid, whereby when said sensor strikes a golf ball the force of the impact is transferred from said sensor through said transfer mechanism and into said fluid reservoir by said hydraulic fluid.

7. The golf club according to claim 5, wherein said transfer mechanism comprises a tube connected to said sensor at one end and said fluid reservoir at the other end.

8. The golf club according to claim 3, wherein said non electronic speed indicator mechanism further includes a housing;

said fluid reservoir positioned at one end of said housing;

said visual indicator positioned at an opposite end of said housing; and

said actuator positioned in between said fluid reservoir and said visual indicator.

9. The golf club according to claim 8, wherein said housing is positioned at said proximal end of said golf club;

said visual indicator is constructed and arranged to proportionally extend from said housing and said proximal end of said golf club based on the speed of the golf club head.

10. The golf club according to claim 3, wherein said actuator comprises a ball.

11. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein said non electronic speed indication mechanism indicates the speed of said club head during a golf swing at the moment of impact of a golf ball and the area of the face of the golf club head which produces a maximum velocity of the golf ball.