Automatic club setting and ball flight optimization

• US 9,427,639 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Rauchholz, William F., Niegowski, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US14/163,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20140141902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• 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 2220/806 Video cameras
• 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 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/023 adjustable angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/22 Adjustable handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/26 with adjustable stiffness
• 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 67/02 : Special golf games, e.g. miniature golf or golf putting games played on putting tracks; putting practice apparatus having an elongated platform as a putting track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 : electrical or electronic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 : for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take 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 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer readable media for changing and controlling settings for adjustable golf clubs are described. Such setting adjustment systems may alter one or more of: lie angle, loft angle, face angle, shaft stiffness, shaft kickpoint location, weighting, weight positioning, face flexibility, maximum face flex location, etc. These systems and methods may use various types of information to determine the appropriate settings, such as: ball launch monitor data, swing path data, weather input data, course condition input data for a location of play, course design input data for a location of play, daily course layout input data for a location and a time of play, golfer past performance data (e.g., recent past performance, past performances at the location of play, past performance during an ongoing round of golf (i.e., on earlier played holes), etc.), current adjustable club setting information, and information indicating specific holes to be played.

Claims

1. An adjustable golf club system, comprising:

a golf club including a golf club head having an adjustable golf club parameter;

a golf club setting adjustment system having at least a portion thereof engaged with the golf club;

an input system engaged with the golf club for wirelessly receiving adjustable golf club setting information, wherein the input system is in electronic communication with the golf club setting adjustment system, and wherein the golf club setting adjustment system alters the adjustable golf club parameter based on the adjustable golf club setting information received via the input system; and

a cellular telephone in wireless electronic communication with the input system to provide the adjustable golf club setting information or data from which the adjustable golf club setting information is derived.

2. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable golf club parameter is weight positioning, and wherein the adjustable golf club setting information includes information regarding positioning of a weight provided with the golf club head.

3. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable golf club parameter is weight positioning, and wherein the adjustable golf club setting information includes information regarding positioning of one or more weights provided with the golf club head.

4. An adjustable golf club system, comprising:

a golf club including a golf club head having a movable or removable weight engaged with the golf club head;

a golf club setting adjustment system having at least a portion thereof engaged with the golf club; and

an input system engaged with the golf club for wirelessly receiving input data including weight positioning information, wherein the input system is in electronic communication with the golf club setting adjustment system, and wherein the golf club setting adjustment system alters positioning of the movable or removable weight with respect to the golf club head based on the adjustable weight positioning information received via the input system.

5. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a cellular telephone in wireless electronic communication with the input system to provide the adjustable weight positioning information or data from which the adjustable weight positioning information is derived.

6. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a computer system in wireless electronic communication with the input system to provide the adjustable weight positioning information or data from which the adjustable weight positioning information is derived.

7. An adjustable golf club system, comprising:

a golf club including a golf club head;

a golf club setting adjustment system engaged with or temporarily engagable with the golf club;

an input system for receiving adjustable golf club setting data, wherein the input system is included as a portion of a cellular telephone; and

a transmission system for transmitting adjustable golf club setting information to the golf club setting adjustment system, wherein the transmission system is included as a portion of the cellular telephone, wherein the adjustable golf club setting information is the adjustable golf club setting data received via the input system or data derived from the adjustable golf club setting data received via the input system, and wherein the golf club setting adjustment system alters one or more adjustable settings of the golf club based on the adjustable golf club setting information.

8. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 7, wherein the adjustable golf club setting information includes information regarding positioning of a weight provided with the golf club head.

9. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 7, wherein the golf club includes a weight engaged with it, and wherein positioning of the weight is controllable using the adjustable golf club setting information transmitted by the transmission system.

10. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 7, wherein the golf club head includes a weight engaged with it, and wherein positioning of the weight is controllable using the adjustable golf club setting information transmitted by the transmission system.

11. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 7, wherein the golf club further includes a minor club setting adjustment system.

12. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 11, wherein the golf club includes a shaft engaged with the golf club head, and wherein the minor club setting adjustment system produces a minor change in at least one club setting of the golf club without removing the golf club head from the shaft.

13. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 11, wherein the minor club setting adjustment system produces a minor change in at least one club setting of the golf club without removing a weight from the golf club head.

14. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 11, wherein the minor club setting adjustment system includes a lever, switch, or button that, when activated, changes a first club setting of the golf club from a first value to a second value.

15. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 11, wherein the minor club setting adjustment system includes a lever, switch, or button that, when repeatedly activated, toggles a first club setting of the golf club between a first value and a second value.

16. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 11, wherein the minor club setting adjustment system changes at least one of a lie angle, a loft angle, and a face angle of the club head by an amount of 1°

or less.

17. An adjustable golf club system, comprising:

a golf club including a golf club head and a weight engaged with the golf club head;

a golf club setting adjustment system engaged with or temporarily engagable with the golf club;

an input system for receiving adjustable weight positioning data; and

a wireless transmission system for wirelessly transmitting adjustable weight positioning information to the golf club setting adjustment system, wherein the adjustable weight positioning information is the adjustable weight positioning data received via the input system or data derived from the adjustable weight positioning data received via the input system, and wherein the golf club setting adjustment system alters a weight position of the weight with respect to the golf club head based on the adjustable weight positioning information.

18. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 17, wherein the input system is included as a portion of a cellular telephone.

19. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 17, wherein the wireless transmission system is included as a portion of a cellular telephone.

20. An adjustable golf club system according to claim 17, wherein the input system and the wireless transmission system are included as portions of a cellular telephone.