Apparatus for providing swing technique feedback

• US 9,486,685 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jay Rambo
• Original Assignee: Jay Rambo
• Inventors: Rambo, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US14/631,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20160243420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473/437, 473/457, 473/519, 473/520, 473564-568
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/005 with a weight movable along the longitudinal axis of the club due to centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0602 Non-electronic means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

This disclosure describes an apparatus used to provide feedback of a proper swing technique. According to some embodiments, the disclosure describes an outer shaft having a ball bearing adjustably attached to a magnet recessed within an internal tube. According to some embodiments, the ball bearing may be released from the magnet when the apparatus is properly swung. According to some embodiments, haptic and/or auditory feedback may be provided to a user of the apparatus as the ball bearing contacts a stopper tube in the outer shaft.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing feedback of a swing technique, the apparatus comprising:

an outer shaft having a ball bearing located within;

a first tube disposed within the outer shaft and including a portion that is configured to receive the ball bearing;

a magnet disposed in the portion of the first tube;

a second tube disposed with the outer shaft at an end opposite the first tube, the second tube configured to stop the ball bearing as the ball bearing travels through the outer shaft and to provide at least one of haptic or auditory feedback; and

an adjustment mechanism disposed on the outer shaft, the adjustment mechanism comprises a housing unit attached to the outer shaft and a fastener configured to protrude though the housing unit into an inner portion of the outer shaft at a location where the magnet and the ball bearing interface, and wherein an amount of the fastener protruding into the inner portion alters a magnetic connection of the magnet and the ball bearing.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer shaft is about 24 inches in length and is about 1 inch in diameter.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first tube is about 8 inches in length and is about ⅝

inch in diameter.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnet has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the first tube;

and

wherein the magnet is recessed within the portion of the first tube.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second tube comprises:

an energy absorbing cylinder with a metallic fastener facing the first tube; and

a housing to encase the energy absorbing cylinder.

6. A method of assembling an apparatus comprising:

placing an adjustment mechanism at a location on a side of an outer shaft, the adjustment mechanism configured to protrude into an inner portion of the outer shaft, wherein an amount of the adjustment mechanism protruding into the inner portion of the outer shaft alters a magnetic connection between a magnet and a ball bearing;

attaching the magnet proximate to an end to an internal tube;

inserting the end of the internal tube into the inner portion of the outer shaft such that the magnet interfaces with a portion of the adjustment mechanism;

placing the ball bearing into an end of the outer shaft distal from the internal tube; and

attaching a stopper tube to the end of the outer shaft distal from the internal tube.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

attaching, with a first fastener, the internal tube to the inner portion of the outer shaft;

attaching a protective shield at a location of the adjustment mechanism on the outer shaft;

attaching, with the first fastener, a first cap to an end of the outer shaft proximate to the internal tube; and

attaching, with a second fastener, a second cap to the end of the outer shaft distal from the internal tube, wherein the second fastener is further configured to attach the stopper tube to the end of the outer shaft distal from the internal tube.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the location on the outer shaft for placement of the adjustment comprises a location about 8 inches from an end of the outer shaft proximate to the internal tube.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein attaching the magnet proximate to the end of the internal tube comprises attaching the magnet to a recessed portion within the end of the internal tube.

10. A device comprising:

a shaft configured to hold a tube in an inner portion at an end of the shaft, the tube having a magnet positioned distal to the end;

a disc to cover the magnet, the disc configured to absorb energy from a ball bearing as the ball bearing contacts the magnet; and

an adjustment mechanism disposed on the shaft and configured to adjust a magnetic connection of the ball bearing to the magnet when the ball bearing is positioned within a predetermined distance to the magnet.

11. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a housing and a fastener protruding into the inner portion of the shaft to adjust an amount of the ball bearing that attaches to the magnet.

12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the fastener is configured to be manipulated to increase or decrease an amount of the fastener protruding within the inner portion of the shaft.

13. The device as recited in claim 10, where the magnet is positioned at a recessed location in the tube and the tube includes a slot to enable the adjustment mechanism to interface with the magnet.

14. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the shaft comprises hollow steel tubing with diameter of 1 inch, the tube comprises hollow steel tubing with a diameter of ⅝

inch and the magnet comprises a neodymium magnet with at least a thickness of 1/32 inch and a diameter of ½

inch.

15. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the magnet is coated in plastic, rubber, silicone, or another elastic polymer.

16. The device as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a stopper tube attached the shaft at an end opposite the tube, the stopper tube configured to stop the ball bearing as the ball bearing travels through the shaft and to provide at least one of haptic or auditory feedback, the stopper tube comprising;

an energy absorbing cylinder with a metallic fastener facing the tube; and

a housing to encase the energy absorbing cylinder.

17. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism, ball bearing, and the magnet are configured to interface on the inner portion of the shaft at about 8 inches from the end of the shaft.

18. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the magnet is configured to:

attract the ball bearing based on a setting of the adjustment mechanism, and release the ball bearing when the device is swung in a predetermined manner.

19. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism is disposed on the shaft at a location proximate to a grip portion of the device.