Device, system, and method for evaluation of a swing of a piece of athletic equipment

• US 8,840,483 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kinetek Sports
• Original Assignee: Kinetek Sports
• Inventors: Steusloff, Patrick M., Lupfer, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US13/244,141
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 473221-223
• US Class Current: 473/222
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• 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

This disclosure relates to an evaluation device and methods for evaluating the swing of a piece of athletic equipment. The evaluation device may include a microphone, an accelerometer, and a microcontroller configured to detect a stroke and ball strike and track the position of the athletic equipment in three-dimensional space. The evaluation device may also include a radio for wireless transmissions, a battery, and a sound tube connected to the microphone. The evaluation device can be used in conjunction with a host computer to store, and display data gathered by the evaluation device. In some methods, a stroke that is detected from a swing and a ball strike can be determined by comparing signals received from the accelerometer and the microphone to predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A device for measuring swing forces created by a piece of athletic equipment having an elongated shaft and a grip, the device comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted on an end of the grip, the housing comprising a base having a plurality of teeth configured to contact the grip;

a sensor configured to be mounted to the housing;

an accelerometer configured to measure the movement of the athletic equipment in three dimensional space;

a processor configured to compare the measured movement of the accelerometer to pre-determined values of a generic swing to determine a ball strike; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the data relating to the movement to a receiver.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is hollow.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer comprises a three-axis accelerometer configured to be mounted with an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is configured to measure accelerations over a +/−

8 g range.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to be mounted parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises instructions for entering a low-power mode.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the lower power mode is entered until signals are received from the accelerometer indicating that the athletic equipment is in a predetermined position.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is further configured to mate with the grip end of a golf club.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a processing module configured to detect a ball strike by the athletic equipment.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a wireless radio for communication with a host computer.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a microphone.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a projection that is wherein the first tooth is further configured to rotatably couple with the end of the grip.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of teeth are configured to assist with rotationally immobilizing the housing on the end of the grip.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the projection comprises a hollow screw and the housing is configured to be mounted to the end of the grip through the hollow screw.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a microphone and the hollow screw acts as a sound pipe for channeling sound to the microphone.

17. A system for tracking play along a golf course, comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted on an end of a golf club grip, the housing comprising a base having a plurality of teeth configured to contact the grip;

a sensor configured to be mounted to the housing and detect golf ball strikes;

an accelerometer configured to measure movement of the golf club in three dimensional space;

a processor configured to compare the measured movement of the accelerometer to pre-determined values of a generic swing to determine a ball strike; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit data relating to the ball strikes and the golf club movement to a mobile device.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a mobile device programmed to receive the data and display it on a display screen.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile device comprises a GPS receiver, and is configured to associate each ball strike with a GPS coordinate.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the mobile device is programmed to display a map of a golf course, and place detected positions of ball strikes on the map.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a projection that is configured to rotatably couple with the end of the grip, wherein the plurality of teeth comprises a first tooth and a second tooth.