Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 9,433,845 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Stites, John T., Lafortune, Mario A., Hatton, Philip, Wallans, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/906,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 473222-226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• 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 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• 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 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• 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 69/36 : for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 : electrical or electronic
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

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 piece of sports equipment comprising:

an electronic monitoring device, comprising at least one of a gyroscope or magnetometer, wherein the monitoring device is configured to detect motion of the piece of sports equipment; and

a receiving section, comprising at least one protrusion disposed in a predefined arrangement, wherein the receiving section is configured to receive the electronic monitoring device;

wherein the at least one protrusion disposed in the predefined arrangement is configured to identify a type of sports equipment, and wherein different arrangements of protrusions specify different types of sporting apparatuses.

2. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the receiving section is detachable from a remainder of the piece of sports equipment.

3. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, wherein at least one of a number of protrusions and an arrangement of protrusions is configured to specify characteristics to be monitored by the electronic monitoring device.

4. The piece of sports equipment of claim 3, wherein the receiving portion includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, wherein a position of the first protrusion is configured to activate monitoring of a first characteristic and a position of the second protrusion is configured to activate monitoring of a second characteristic.

5. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises an electrical connection element configured to interface with an electrical connection element of the electronic monitoring device.

6. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, further comprising a shaft portion and wherein the receiving section is disposed within the shaft portion.

7. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the receiving section includes a plurality of protrusions and the predefined arrangement of the plurality of protrusions only allows engagement of the electronic monitoring device in a single orientation.

8. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion further specifies one or more sensors to use for detecting the motion of the piece of sports equipment.

9. The piece of sports equipment of claim 8, wherein the receiving portion comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion, wherein a position of the first protrusion specifies use of a first sensor for detecting the motion of the piece of sports equipment and a position of the second protrusion specifies use of a second sensor for detecting the motion of the piece of sports equipment.

10. The piece of sports equipment of claim 9, wherein the monitoring device comprises a third sensor and wherein the predefined arrangement of the first and second protrusions on the receiving portion does not specify use of the third sensor.

11. The piece of sports equipment of claim 8, wherein specifying the one or more sensors to use includes activating the one or more sensors.

12. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion is spring loaded.

13. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the piece of sports equipment is a golf club and wherein the receiving portion is disposed at an end of a shaft of the golf club, opposite a golf club head.

14. The piece of sports equipment of claim 13, wherein the shaft of the golf club includes a recess configured to receive insertion of the receiving portion.

15. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, further comprising the electronic monitoring device, wherein the electronic monitoring device includes a first sensor and a second sensor, the first and second sensors being individually selectable.

16. The piece of sports equipment of claim 15, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect motion with a first sensitivity and the second sensor is configured to detect motion with a second sensitivity.

17. The piece of sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the predefined arrangement is configured to engage with the electronic monitoring device in a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the piece of sports equipment is configured to:

determine that the piece of sports equipment is a left-handed piece of sports equipment when the electronic monitoring device is engaged in the first orientation; and

determine that the piece of sports equipment is a right-handed piece of sports equipment when the electronic monitoring device is engaged in the second orientation.

18. A golf club configured to determine aspects related to a golf swing, comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft; and

a monitoring device configured to be engaged with the golf club, comprising at least one of a gyroscope or magnetometer,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to determine orientation of the monitoring device based on data received from the at least one of the gyroscope or the magnetometer,

wherein the monitoring device is further configured to;

determine that the golf club is a left-handed golf club when the monitoring device receives data from the at least one of the gyroscope or the magnetometer that the monitoring device is positioned in a first orientation, and

determine that the golf club is a right-handed golf club when the monitoring device receives data from the at least one of the gyroscope or the magnetometer that the monitoring device is positioned in a second orientation.

19. The golf club of claim 18, wherein the monitoring device includes a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor including the at least one of the gyroscope or the magnetometer,

wherein the first sensor is configured to detect motion with a first sensitivity, and

wherein the second sensor is configured to detect motion with a second sensitivity.

20. The golf club of claim 19, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect at least one of:

angular velocity of the golf club during a golf swing, or acceleration of the golf club during a golf swing.

21. The golf club of claim 18, wherein the monitoring device is configured to:

manipulate the received data in a first manner if the golf club is left-handed, and

manipulate the received data in a second manner if the golf club is right-handed.

22. The golf club of claim 21, wherein manipulating the received data in the first manner includes applying a first transformation matrix to the received data, and

wherein manipulating the received data in the second manner includes applying a second transformation matrix to the received data.

23. The golf club of claim 18, further comprising a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device configured to provide information specifying whether the golf club is left-handed or right-handed.

24. The golf club of claim 23, wherein the monitoring device is configured to communicate with the RFID device to receive the information specifying whether the golf club is left-handed or right-handed.

25. The golf club of claim 24, wherein the monitoring device is configured to communicate with the RFID device through a wireless connection.

26. The golf club of claim 18, wherein the monitoring device is configured to be received in a removable cap portion of the golf club, and

wherein the removable cap portion, with the monitoring device engaged therewith, is configured to be engaged with an end of the shaft opposite the golf club head.

27. The golf club of claim 26, wherein an end of the removable cap portion covers the end of the shaft opposite the golf club head.

28. A golf club configured to determine aspects related to a golf swing, comprising:

a golf club head;

a shaft comprising a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, wherein the golf club head extends from the first longitudinal end and wherein the second longitudinal end includes a recess;

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

a receiving portion configured to receive engagement of the monitoring device, wherein the receiving portion includes a cap configured to cover the second longitudinal end of the shaft when inserted into the recess.

29. The golf club of claim 28, wherein the at least one component includes a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor is configured to measure the at least one characteristic with a first sensitivity and the second sensor is configured to measure the at least one characteristic with a second sensitivity.

30. The golf club of claim 28, wherein the receiving portion includes at least one protrusion and the monitoring device includes at least one opening configured to receive the at least one protrusion of the receiving portion.

31. The golf club of claim 30, wherein the receiving portion includes a plurality of protrusions and the monitoring device includes a plurality of openings, wherein an arrangement of the plurality of protrusions specifies a type of sporting apparatus corresponding to the golf club.

32. The golf club of claim 28, wherein the recess is configured as an elongated slot.

33. The golf club of claim 28, wherein the second longitudinal end includes another recess physically distinct from the recess, wherein the other recess is configured to receive a fastener of the receiving portion.

34. The golf club of claim 33, wherein the receiving portion includes the fastener and a clip member configured to receive the monitoring device, and

wherein the recess is configured to receive the clip member while the other recess receives the fastener.

35. The golf club of claim 34, wherein the fastener and the clip member extend from the cap in a same direction.

36. The golf club of claim 34, wherein the clip member includes a resilient finger extending therefrom, wherein the resilient finger is configured to engage with at least a portion of the monitoring device.