Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 9,186,547 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Stites, John, Lafortune, Mario A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/250,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 473/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 : Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 : Handles
• 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 69/3632 : 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 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.

Claims

1. A system for determining aspects related to a golf swing, comprising:

a golf club comprising;

a golf club head;

a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head, including a grip engaged with the shaft;

a monitoring device configured to be engaged with the golf club and configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a golf swing, comprising;

an accelerometer,

a gyroscope,

a magnetometer, and

a GPS device;

a remote computer configured to receive the data; and

a removable section;

wherein the removable section is nondestructively removably engaged with the golf club and wherein the monitoring device is nondestructively removably engaged with the removable section;

wherein the shaft is configured to nondestructively removably engage and secure the removable section;

wherein the removable section is configured to removably engage the monitoring device with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners; and

wherein the shaft is configured to removably engage the removable section with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes a transmission module and the remote computer includes a transmission reception system, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to the transmission reception system of the remote computer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring device includes a microprocessor configured to calculate one or more golf metrics based on the data determined by the sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the golf metrics based on the data determined by the sensor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote computer includes a memory configured to store the golf metrics.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote computer includes an audio or video means configured to communicate the golf metrics to the user.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the golf metrics include a graphical representation of the swing path of the golf swing from which the data was determined.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmission reception system of the remote computer is configured to transmit the golf metrics.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring device includes a microprocessor configured to calculate kinematics based on the data determined by the sensor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the kinematics.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote computer is configured to process the kinematics received from the transmission module of the monitoring device and calculate one or more golf metrics based on the kinematics.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote computer includes a memory configured to store the golf metrics.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote computer includes an audio or video means configured to communicate the golf metrics to the user.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the kinematics includes computed acceleration data from the golf swing from which the data was determined.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the kinematics during a golf swing.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the monitoring device includes a memory configured to store the kinematics.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the kinematics after a golf swing.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the kinematics for more than one golf swing stored in the memory.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmission reception system of the remote computer is configured to transmit the golf metrics.

20. The system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring device includes a microprocessor configured to process electrical signals determined by the sensor.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the processed electrical signals.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the remote computer is configured to process the processed electrical signals received from the transmission module and calculate one or more golf metrics based on the processed electrical signals.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the remote computer includes a memory configured to store the golf metrics.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the remote computer includes an audio or video means configured to communicate the golf metrics to the user.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the processed electrical signals during a golf swing.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the monitoring device includes a memory configured to store the processed electrical signals.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the processed electrical signals after a golf swing.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the kinematics for more than one golf swing stored in the memory.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the transmission reception system of the remote computer is configured to transmit the golf metrics.

30. The system of claim 2, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit electrical signals which are determined by the sensor and contain the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the remote computer is configured to process the electrical signals received from the transmission module and calculate one or more golf metrics based on the processed electrical signals.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the remote computer includes a memory configured to store the golf metrics.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the remote computer includes an audio or video means configured to communicate the golf metrics to the user.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the transmission module is configured to wirelessly transmit the electrical signals during a golf swing.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the transmission reception system of the remote computer is configured to transmit the golf metrics.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the remote computer includes:

a transceiver configured to receive the electrical signals received from the transmission module;

a microprocessor configured to process the electrical signals and calculate one or more golf metrics based on the processed electrical signals;

a memory configured to store the golf metrics; and

at least one of an audio and a video means configured to communicate the golf metrics to the user,

wherein the golf metrics include a graphical representation of the swing path of the golf swing from which the data was determined.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the electrical signals from the transmission module from the during the golf swing.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the a microprocessor configured to recognize the electrical signals from the transmission module an coordinate the electrical signals with a particular golf club or set of golf clubs based on an identification code stored in the memory of the remote computer or received from the monitoring device.

39. A system for determining aspects related to a golf swing, comprising:

a golf club comprising;

a golf club head;

a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head, including a grip engaged with the shaft;

a monitoring device configured to be engaged with the golf club and configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a golf swing, comprising;

an accelerometer;

a gyroscope;

a magnetometer; and

a remote computer configured to receive the data;

a removable section nondestructively removably engaged with the monitoring, device;

a top portion;

wherein the top portion is nondestructively removably engaged with the golf club and wherein the removable section is nondestructively removably engaged with the top portion;

wherein the shaft is configured to nondestructively removably engage and secure the top portion;

wherein the removable section is configured to removably engage the monitoring device with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners;

wherein the top portion is configured to removably engage the removable section with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners; and

wherein the shaft is configured to removably engage the top portion with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners.

40. A system for determining aspects related to a golf swing, comprising:

a golf club comprising;

a golf club head;

a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head, including a grip engaged with the shaft; and

a monitoring device configured to be engaged with the golf club and configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a golf swing, comprising;

an accelerometer;

a gyroscope;

a magnetometer;

a GPS device; and

a remote computer configured to receive the data,

a removable section,

wherein removable section is nondestructively removably engaged with the golf club and wherein the monitoring device is nondestructively removably engaged with the removable section;

wherein both of the golf club head and the shaft are configured to nondestructively removably engage and secure the removable section;

wherein the removable section is configured to removably engage the monitoring device with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners; and

wherein both the head and the shaft are configured to removably engage the removable section with at least one of;

press fitting, snap fit mechanisms or mechanical fasteners.

41. The golf club of claim 40, further comprising:

a second monitoring device, comprising;

at least one sensor configured to determine data related to at least one characteristic of a golf swing;

wherein the remote computer is configured to receive the data from the second monitoring device.