Diagnostic golf club system

• US 7,837,575 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Lee, Nathan J., Lindsau, Aaron, Matthewson, Peter, Ansell, Ian, Simmons, Nigel, Houshar, Jan N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/848,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/198, 473201-202, 473/219, 473221-226, 473231-233, 473/407, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• 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 24/0003 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 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 Metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• 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 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 : using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf 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 71/0619 : 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

Abstract

A diagnostic golf club system having a diagnostic golf club, an interface means and a computing means is disclosed herein. The diagnostic golf club includes a plurality of sensors, an internal power supply, and a non-volatile memory for capturing data relating to a golf swing. The interface means is capable of transferring data from the diagnostic golf club to the computing means for processing the data and presenting the data in a useful and informative format. The data may be used to determine a shaft flex profile for a particular golfer.

Claims

1. A diagnostic golf club system comprising:

a diagnostic golf club comprising a plurality of strain gauges and an internal memory device, each of the plurality of strain gauges capable of measuring data related to the diagnostic golf club during a golf swing, the internal memory device including a non-volatile flash buffer memory capable of receiving and storing data from the strain gauges;

a computer located separate and spaced apart from the diagnostic golf club for processing the data stored in the internal memory device; and

an interface mechanism for providing communication between the diagnostic golf club and the computer, the interface mechanism including;

wherein the internal memory device is capable of storing data for multiple swings of the diagnostic golf club until the data is uploaded to the computer via the interface mechanism, and

wherein the computer uses the data related to the diagnostic golf club during a golf swing to calculate a plurality of independent forces and moments, the plurality of independent forces and moments comprising axial force, transverse shear forces, bending moments, and torsion.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the diagnostic golf club further comprises a circuit board, the circuit board comprising a power control circuit, a signal conditioning circuit for the plurality of sensors, and a serial communication circuit.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the golf club is selected from the group consisting of a driver, a fairway wood, an iron and a putter.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the interface mechanism comprises a connection plug and a serial interface device, the connection plug having a plurality of pins for connection to a plurality of receptors for electronically communicating data from the diagnostic golf club to the computer.

5. A system for determining the shaft flex profile of a golfer, the system comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft attached to the golf club head, the shaft having a wall defining a hollow interior, the wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the shaft having a tip end in proximity to the golf club head and a butt end opposite thereto, the shaft having an opening to the hollow interior at the butt end;

a first plurality of strain gauges for providing strain measurements during a golf swing, and a second plurality of strain gauges for providing strain measurements during a golf swing;

a circuit board comprising a memory circuit for storing the strain measurements, a power control circuit, a first signal conditioning circuit for the first plurality of strain gauges, a second signal conditioning circuit for the second plurality of strain gauges, and a serial communication circuit;

a power source for providing power to the circuit board, the first plurality of strain gauges and the second plurality of strain gauges;

a grip mounted on the butt end of the shaft;

a processor for processing the strain measurements from the first plurality of strain gauges and the second plurality of strain gauges to provide a shaft flex profile for a golfer; and

an interface mechanism for transferring the measurement data from the memory circuit to the processor.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the first plurality of strain gauges consists of six strain gauges and the second plurality of strain gauges consists of six strain gauges.

7. The system according to claim 5 wherein the golf club is selected from the group consisting of a driver, a fairway wood, an iron and a putter.

8. The system according to claim 5 wherein the golf club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of plies of pre-preg material, titanium, stainless steel, bi-metal material and persimmon.

9. The system according to claim 6 wherein the shaft is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of graphite, steel, titanium and a metal graphite composite.

10. A system for determining the shaft flex profile of the golfer, the system comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft attached to the golf club head;

means for measuring the axial force on a shaft during a golf swing, the axial force measuring means disposed on the shaft;

means for measuring the transverse shear forces on a shaft during a golf swing, the transverse shear force measuring means disposed on the shaft;

means for measuring the bending moments on a shaft during a golf swing, the bending moments measuring means disposed on the shaft;

means for measuring the torsion on a shaft during a golf swing, the torsion measuring means disposed on the shaft;

means for storing the measurements generated by the axial force measuring means, the transverse shear force measuring means, the bending moments measuring means, and the torsion measuring means;

means for generating a shaft flex profile for a golfer from the measurements; and

means for transferring the measurements to the generating means.