Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-20
2001-05-15
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231453
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates generally to an accelerometer device for measuring the swing imparted to a golf club, and more particularly to an improved golf swing indicator especially adapted for attachment to a golf club shank with improved resetting of the device after measuring the swing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A basic type of indicating gauge responsive to circular or angular velocity for attachment to sports equipment is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,780,098. There an elongated housing contains a rotatable shaft with ratchet teeth and a slidable indicator with a pawl engaging the ratchet teeth to hold the indicator against the biasing force of a compression spring. A separate weight is slidable along the shaft and restrained from movement toward the indicator by a tension spring. The housing is attached to a piece of sports equipment, such as a tennis racket . Centrifugal force of the swing causes the weight to slide along the shaft and displace the indicator which, in turn, is retained by the pawl and ratchet teeth, while the weight returns to its former position. A push button release with pin and cam slot cause the shaft to rotate and return the indicator.
A later disclosed golf swing indicator is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,753 in which the slidable indicator and slidable weight are combined into a single member rather than separate members. The release mechanism employed a torsion spring to resist the turning of the shaft by an external knob, so as to release the pawl from the ratchet teeth and allow the combined weight and indicator member to return to its zero position. C-clamps with thumb screws were attached to the housing for enabling attachment to the shank of a golf club.
A still later golf swing indicator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,133, in which a detent structure acting between the shaft and the housing was substituted for the torsion spring of U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,753. This requires using an external knob to first rotate the shaft in one direction to release the indicator and then in the other direction to reset the pawl on the ratchet teeth. While this eliminates a torsion spring, it results in a cumbersome resetting procedure. The C-clamps with thumb screws also represent an attachment method which has the possibility of damaging the golf club shank by over-tightening the thumb screws.
It would be desirable to have an improved release mechanism assembly suitable for a golf swing indicator of the type described.
It would also be desirable to have an improved push button release mechanism for a golf swing indicator of the type described, which automatically releases and resets the indicator after each use with one push.
It would also be desirable to have an improved structure for attaching the indicator housing to the shank of a golf club.
It would also be desirable to have an improved slidable indicator weight and spring pawl attachment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated the invention comprises improvements in a golf swing indicator for attachment to a golf club shank, the golf swing indicator being of a known type having an elongated housing, an elongated shaft rotatable within the housing, the shaft having a row of teeth and a smooth section alongside the row of teeth, a combined indicator and centrifugal weight (indicator weight) slidable along the shaft, a spring pawl mounted on the indicator weight and adapted to engage the teeth when the shaft is rotated to a first position and to slide on the smooth section of the shaft when the shaft is rotated to a second position, a first spring biasing the indicator weight toward a first end of the shaft.
An improved release mechanism for the above known golf swing indicator comprises a cylindrical bushing mounted on the first end of the elongated shaft, the bushing having a radial cam pin integral therewith, a release button having a cylindrical bore arranged to slidably and rotatably receive the bushing, and having a cam slot receiving the cam pin, a release button housing mounted in the main housing arranged to slidably receive the release button and having means preventing rotation of the release button, the cam slot being arranged to rotate the cam pin and shaft from the first shaft position to the second shaft position when the release button is pushed by an operator, and a release return spring (second spring) adapted to return the release button when it is no longer being pushed, so as to cause the cam slot to rotate the cam pin and shaft from the second position back to the first position.
An improved attachment for the golf club swing indicator comprises a pair of resilient C-clamp members attached to the housing and adapted to receive a golf club shank, the C-clamps being oriented in opposite lateral directions so that the golf club shank is engaged by twisting the swing indicator housing. The C-clamps include retaining buttons holding the shank against cushion pads mounted in the main housing.
An improved spring pawl and indicator weight attachment structure comprises a slot in the spring pawl and a projection on the indicator weight which extends through the slot to fix the location of the pawl, as well as to serve as a visible indicator mark to match against indicia on the main housing indicating the effectiveness of the golf swing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1895417 (1933-01-01), Lard
patent: 2018723 (1935-10-01), Hutchison
patent: 2543722 (1951-02-01), Hetzel
patent: 2780098 (1957-02-01), Maroth
patent: 2986937 (1961-06-01), Chapman
patent: 3733077 (1973-05-01), Fennell
patent: 4270753 (1981-06-01), Maroth et al.
patent: 4363488 (1982-12-01), Maroth et al.
patent: 4684133 (1987-08-01), Maroth
Crutcher William C.
Wong Steven
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