Method and apparatus for an assistive energy type golf club

• US 8,033,928 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald R. Cage
• Original Assignee: Donald R. Cage
• Inventors: Cage, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US12/175,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 473221-224, 473/234, 473/324, 473/333, 434 1- 10, 434/252, 463/3, 463/5
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00181 comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/00 Bags for golf clubs; Stands for golf clubs for use on the course; Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/10 : Golf tees
• 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 69/3614 : using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 : for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to method and apparatus adapted for use with an assistive energy type golf club which is safe to use, inconspicuous, and able to release sufficient assistive energy at the optimum time during a golf swing to add prescribed incremental velocity to a golf ball.

Claims

1. Apparatus configured to be coupled to a golf club to impart incremental velocity to a golf ball, comprising:

a power source configured to supply power to said golf club;

a sensor that determines a proximity of said golf ball relative to a golf club head of said golf club;

a controller that is responsive to said proximity and generates a firing command prior to impact of said golf club head with said golf ball; and

a velocity generating apparatus responsive to said firing command and effective to convert power from said power source into incremental velocity of said golf ball.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where said controller generates said firing command during a swing of said golf club.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where said generation of said firing command is based on said proximity, and on an approach velocity of said golf club head relative to said golf ball.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 where said generation of said firing command is further based on a time to impact between said golf ball and said golf club head, and on a selected golf shot distance, and on a response time characteristic of said golf club.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further including apparatus to determine the orientation of said golf club during said swing, said controller being further responsive to a proper said orientation to generate said firing command.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 where said controller generates said firing command while said golf club is stationary and said sensor determines a proper said proximity.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including apparatus to determine the orientation of said golf club, said controller being further responsive to a proper said orientation to generate said firing command.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 where said velocity generating apparatus includes a least one compressible spring, said spring being operable to receive said energy from said power source, and deliver said energy to said golf ball.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a motor and a force amplifier which are jointly operable to compress said spring to said receive said energy.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a sear and linkage associated with said spring to retain said spring in a cocked position, and to release said spring in association with said firing command thereby converting said power into said incremental velocity of said golf ball.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 where said velocity generating apparatus includes one or more spinning flywheels, said flywheels being operable to receive said energy from said power source, and deliver said energy to said golf ball.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including a motor operable to spin said flywheels to a prescribed spin rate to said receive said energy.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including a striker associated with said flywheels operable to receive power from said flywheels and operable to accelerate and strike said golf ball thereby converting said power into said incremental velocity of said golf ball.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 where said velocity generating apparatus includes one or more magnetic field and coil pairs, said pairs being operable to receive said energy from said power source, and deliver said energy to said golf ball.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further including a capacitor operable to store electrical charge from said power source, and further operable to deliver electrical current to said coil in association with said firing command.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further including a striker associated with said coil operable to receive power from said pairs and operable to accelerate and strike said golf ball thereby converting said power into said incremental velocity of said golf ball.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 where said power source comprises one or more battery or capacitor type electrical charge storage elements.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 where said power source comprises a connection to an auxiliary power source located apart from said golf club.

19. Apparatus of claim 1 where said sensor that determines a proximity is a type chosen from the group consisting;

laser type, ultrasonic type, radar type, accelerometer type, contact type, and magnetic type.

20. A method utilizing a golf club to impart incremental velocity to a golf ball, said method comprising;

supplying power to said golf club;

sensing the proximity of said golf ball relative to a golf club head of said golf club;

generating a firing command responsive to said proximity prior to impact of said golf club head with said golf ball; and

responding to said firing command by converting power from said power source into incremental velocity of said golf ball.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said firing command is given during a swing of said golf club.

22. The method of claim 21 further including determining a trigger time to generate said firing command during said swing to achieve a prescribed golf shot distance.

23. The method of claim 21 further including determining the orientation of said golf club during said swing, and giving said firing command based on a proper said swing.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said converting of said power from said power source into said incremental velocity of said golf ball comprises using a magnetic field and a coil to convert electrical energy into a force to impart incremental velocity to said golf ball.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said converting of said power from said power source into said incremental velocity of said golf ball comprises using a spring and a force amplifier to compress said spring, and to release said spring to impart incremental velocity to said golf ball.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein said converting of said power from said power source into said incremental velocity of said golf ball comprises using spinning flywheel inertia to accelerate a striker to impart incremental velocity to said golf ball.

27. The method of claim 20 further including sensing the orientation of said golf club, said generating a firing command being responsive to a determination of a proper said orientation.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein said firing command is generated when said golf club is stationary.

29. An apparatus configured to be couple to a golf club to impart incremental velocity to a golf ball, comprising:

a power source configured to supply power to said golf club;

a controller that generates a firing command prior to impact of a head of said golf club with said golf ball;

a velocity generating apparatus responsive to said firing command and effective to convert power from said power source into incremental velocity of said golf ball;

said velocity generating apparatus including at least one compressible spring, said spring being operable to receive said energy from said power source, and deliver said energy to said golf ball; and

said velocity generating apparatus further including a motor and a force amplifier which are jointly operable to compress said spring to receive said energy.

30. An apparatus configured to be coupled to a golf club to impart incremental velocity to a golf ball, comprising:

a power source configured to supply power to said golf club;

a controller that generates a firing command prior to impact of a head of said golf club with said golf ball

a velocity generating apparatus responsive to said firing command and effective to convert power from said power source into incremental velocity of said golf ball; and

said velocity generating apparatus including one or more spinning flywheels, said flywheels being operable to receive said energy from said power source, and deliver said energy to said golf ball.

31. An apparatus configured to be coupled to a golf club to impart incremental velocity to a golf ball, comprising:

a power source configured to supply power to said golf club;

a controller that generates a firing command prior to impact of a head of said golf club with said golf ball;

a velocity generating apparatus responsive to said firing command and effective to convert power from said power source into incremental velocity of said golf ball;

said velocity generating apparatus including one or more magnetic field and coil pairs, said pairs being operable to receive said energy from said power source, and deliver said energy to said golf ball; and

said velocity generating apparatus further including a striker associated with said coil operable to receive power from said pairs, said striker having a striker face operable to accelerate outwardly from a face of said golf club head and strike said golf ball thereby converting said power into said incremental velocity of said golf ball.