Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 9,440,127 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2015
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boggs, Joshua M., Kammerer, Brian, Hadden, Jeffrey A., Kramer, Gregory S., Thornton, Douglas A., Jones, Sherry L., Lua, James H., Wisniewski, Daniel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/632,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20150306480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 473221-223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• 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 49/035 with easily dismountable parts, e.g. heads, shafts or grips
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/08 with special construction of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• 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 53/10 : Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 : Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/20 : having means, e.g. pockets, netting or adhesive type surfaces, for catching or holding a ball, e.g. for lacrosse or pelota
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 : Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/70 : with bent or angled lower parts for hitting a ball on the ground, on an ice-covered surface, or in the air, e.g. for hockey or hurling
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 : with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• 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 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. An assembly comprising:

an extension configured to be removably engaged with a grip or distal end of a sports implement, wherein the extension has a receptacle configured to receive an electronic module,

wherein the extension has a first portion having a connector configured to engage the grip or distal end of the sports implement to connect the extension to the grip or distal end of the sports implement and a second portion defining the receptacle,

wherein the first portion has a first maximum dimension measured perpendicular to an axis extending between a fixed end and the distal end of the sports implement, the second portion has a second maximum dimension measured perpendicular to the axis,

wherein the extension further comprises a step between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the step creates a change in dimension between the first maximum dimension and the second maximum dimension.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the extension and the second portion of the extension are integrally formed.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein an interior surface of the connector is configured to engage an outer surface of the grip or distal end of the sports implement.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the connector comprises a protrusion that extends from the second portion and is configured to fit within and extend into the grip or distal end of the sports implement.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the extension has an opening providing access to the receptacle.

6. The assembly of claim 5, further comprises a cap configured to cover the opening.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising the electronic module received within the receptacle.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the electronic module comprises a sensor configured for sensing a swing parameter of the ball striking device during use.

9. A grip assembly comprising:

a receptacle configured to receive an electronic module and a grip member connected to the receptacle to form the grip assembly as a single, integral piece, the grip member defining a central passage receiving the distal end of a sports implement to connect the grip assembly to the sports implement, wherein the grip assembly is configured to connect to the distal end of the sports implement;

wherein the grip member has a first maximum dimension measured perpendicular to an axis extending between a fixed end and the distal end of the sports implement, the receptacle has a second maximum dimension measured perpendicular to the axis;

wherein the grip assembly further comprises a step between the grip member and the receptacle, wherein the step creates a change in dimension between the first maximum dimension and the second maximum dimension.

10. The grip assembly of claim 9, further comprising an electronic module received within the receptacle.

11. The grip assembly of claim 10, wherein the electronic module comprises a sensor configured for sensing a swing parameter of the ball striking device during use.

12. An assembly comprising:

an extension configured to be removably engaged with a grip or distal end of a sports implement, the extension comprising a first portion having a receptacle configured to receive an electronic module, an opening for insertion and removal of the electronic module into and from the receptacle, and a retaining member configured to retain the electronic module within the receptacle, the extension further comprising a second portion having a connection member configured to removably connect the extension to the grip or distal end of the sports implement,

wherein the extension is configured such that the first portion extends distally beyond the grip or distal end of the sports implement,

wherein the first portion has a first maximum dimension measured perpendicular to an axis extending between a fixed end and the distal end of the sports implement, the second portion has a second maximum dimension measured perpendicular to the axis,

wherein the extension further comprises a step between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the step creates a change in dimension between the first maximum dimension and the second maximum dimension.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the grip or distal end of the sports implement is elongated along an axis, and wherein the first portion of the extension extends beyond the grip or distal end of the sports implement in a direction along the axis.