Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Patent
1995-12-26
1999-08-10
Harrison, Jessica J.
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
A63B 6936
Patent
active
059350148
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to equipment for diagnosing departure from a preferred path or orientation, or other characteristics, of a object operated by a user in an attempt to follow that path correctly and in a desired orientation. In particular, it relates to an improvement in such equipment as described in our copending application WO 92/22358 for detecting, measuring and/or displaying differences for the desired ideal performance characteristics of a golf swing, and for convenience will be described herein in that context.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In that earlier invention a golf club is provided with at least one permanent magnet typically held in a bore at a non-impact surface. Various configurations are possible, but a generally useful configuration is to provide two magnets held in bores at the back of the club, near the sole and equally spaced to either side of the central plane of intended movement of the club head, i.e. as "heel" and "toe" magnets, with their axes "horizontal" and parallel to that plane.
This club is used in conjunction with one or more loops of electrically conductive material, and in use in passed over a length of such loop to give an electrical signal. Using such a linear pickup gives better sensitivity than the use of point magnetic sensors for the club head metal, as known in earlier prior art. As each magnet crosses the linear pickup a characteristic "zero-cross" signal is produced, with a number of measurable characteristics. The moment of cross-over relates to the zero value of this function. The symmetry of the zero-cross function is affected by tilt of the magnets, i.e. tilt of the club face in one or other direction. The shape of the zero-cross function is related to minimum distance of magnet from pickup, as it crosses, being thus a measure of height or (as difference of height between two magnets) a measure of rake of the shaft.
Use of a number of inductive loops of different shape and placements in relation to a designed ball position (such loops being for example fabricated into a suitable mat) can thus give a multiplicity of signals, of varying shapes, symmetries and delays, from which a processing unit can derive numerical values for angles (of loft, slice, hook or rake) speed, and displacements from an ideal path.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The equipment of the prior invention, and of the present invention, can be used for two main and related purposes.
One is to provide, for a person desirous of improving his technique, a detailed analysis of all aspects of his club movement so that remedial action can be taken. In this mode the equipment will find utility in golf driving ranges, clubs, leisure centres, hotels and like establishments, being readily embodied in a coin-feed version if so desired.
The other purpose is concerned with providing clubs for use by experienced golfers. Each such golfer has individual characteristics which dictate the optimum choice of club, for example physical height and reach, stance, speed of swing and general playing technique. This equipment can be used to quantify the dynamic elements of these characteristics and thus to indicate clubs suited for that particular golfer. In practice, it is envisaged to supply at point of sale a range of clubs and to select from that range, after a plurality of shots using a known, magnetically-modified, club over the detecting loops of the present equipment, the optimum club to match personal characteristics. Equipment used for this latter purpose may be a simplified version of the fully diagnostic equipment, and can even be of a much simplified nature usable only to test, e.g. speed, dynamic lie (rake) and/or dynamic loft. Alternatively, the standard diagnostic equipment can be provided, but with some circuits switched off or disenabled.
Additionally to the above main uses, the equipment can itself be used in a game or competition mode, either for a complete set of holes, or e.g. in a driving or putting competi
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Harrison Jessica J.
Kleinke Bernard L.
Sager Mark A.
Zevo Golf Co., Inc.
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