Handle integrated motion capture element mount

• US 8,613,676 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newlight Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Motion Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentley, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US13/358,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20120120573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 473219-222, 473/316, 473/407
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/00 Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis strings therefor A63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• 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

Abstract

Handle integrated motion capture element mount that enables coupling or retrofitting a golf club with active motion capture electronics that are battery powered, passive or active shot count components, for example a passive RFID, and/or a visual marker on the cap for use with visual motion capture cameras. Does not require modifying the golf club. Electronics package and battery can be easily removed and replaced, for example without any tools. May utilize a weight that is removed when inserting the electronic package in the mount, wherein the weight element may have the same weight as an electronics package, for no net change or minimal change in club weight. May be implemented with a handle without electronics for future upgrading. May utilize non-permanently and/or friction coupling between the mount and equipment.

Claims

1. A handle integrated motion capture element mount apparatus comprising:

an elongated handle portion having a distal portion and a proximal portion;

a first area located within said distal portion of said handle portion wherein said first area is

configured to couple with an elongated shaft of a piece of equipment;

a second area located in said proximal portion of said handle portion housing a motion capture element and at least one battery;

a weight element; and

,

wherein said second area is further configured to internally hold said weight element when said

motion capture element is removed, wherein said weight element is substantially equal in weight to said motion capture element to minimize a difference in weight between said motion capture element that is removed, at least one battery and said weight element, to keep a total weight of said handle integrated motion capture element mount apparatus of equal value before said motion capture element is removed and after said motion capture element is removed and replaced by said weight element; and

,

a cap, wherein said second area is configured to couple with said cap to enclose said second area, wherein said second area and said cap are rotationally coupled and configured to power said motion capture element through rotation of said cap with respect to said second area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a high impact electrical contact coupled with said cap.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated handle portion is configured to couple with a grip.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a grip wherein said elongated handle portion is configured to couple with said grip.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a visual marker coupled with said cap.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said motion capture element comprises a background color on an outside surface of said motion capture element, and wherein said visual marker is located on said outside surface of said motion capture element which comprises a pattern of areas that differ in color from said background color of said outside surface of said cap and wherein said areas that differ in color are configured in a radial orientation with respect to a center of said outer surface that is unique through 360 degrees.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said motion capture element comprises at least one position, orientation, velocity or acceleration sensor or any combination thereof and an antenna.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said motion capture element is removable to comply with sporting regulations.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said equipment is a piece of sporting, exercise or medical rehabilitation equipment, golf club, tennis racquet, weight training bar.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said motion capture element associated with a golf club number.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said motion capture element associated with a golf club number wherein said identifier is passive and is configured to operate without contact with a battery or wherein said identifier is active and is configured to couple with said at least one battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a display area coupled with said cap and configured to display a golf club number.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a ledge that separates said first area from said second area.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first area and said second area comprise cylinders of different diameters and wherein said elongated handle portion comprises a conical shape wherein said distal end has a smaller diameter than said proximal end.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one battery comprises two batteries and further comprising an electrical connector coupled with said two batteries wherein said electrical connector is configured to electrically couple said batteries in parallel that are situated in a series physical configuration.

16. A handle integrated motion capture element mount apparatus comprising:

an elongated handle portion having a distal portion and a proximal portion;

a first area located within said distal portion of said handle portion wherein said first area is configured to couple with an elongated shaft of a piece of equipment;

a second area located in said proximal portion of said handle portion wherein said second area is configured to house a motion capture element and at least one battery;

wherein said first area and said second area comprise cylinders of different diameters and wherein said elongated handle portion comprises a conical shape wherein said distal end has a smaller diameter than said proximal end;

a cap;

wherein said second area configured to couple with said cap to enclose said second area wherein said second area and said cap are rotationally coupled and configured to power said motion capture element through rotation of said cap with respect to said second area;

a weight element; and

,

wherein said second area is further configured to internally hold said weight element when said motion capture element is removed, wherein said weight element is substantially equal in weight to said motion capture element to minimize a difference in weight between said motion capture element that is removed, at least one battery and said weight element, to keep a total weight of said handle integrated motion capture element mount apparatus of equal value before said motion capture element is removed and after said motion capture element is removed and replaced by said weight element.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a visual marker;

wherein said motion capture element comprises a background color on an outside surface of said motion capture element, and wherein said visual marker is located on said outside surface of said motion capture element which comprises a pattern of areas that differ in color from said background color of said outside surface of said cap and wherein said areas that differ in color are configured in a radial orientation with respect to a center of said outer surface that is unique through 360 degrees.