Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-14
2001-07-17
Martin-Wallace, Valencia (Department: 3713)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
C473S219000, C473S151000, C473S266000, C473S257000, C473S261000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261189
ABSTRACT:
REFERENCES CITED
U.S. PAT. DOCUMENTS
3,384,741
5/1968
Bice
273/186.3
3,820,781
6/1974
Kane
273/35 R X
3,863,933
2/1975
Tredway
273/186.3
4,456,257
6/1984
Perkins
2731186.3
4,971,328
11/1990
Hernberg
273/186.3
5,269,528
12/1993
McCardle
273/186.3
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Application
This invention relates to systems and methods of monitoring motion applied to human movement, sports and sporting goods generally, and is more specifically directed to a system and method for monitoring the golf club shaft during a golf swing and movement of a portion of a body for teaching golf.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The game of golf is an activity requiring coordinated neuromuscular responses in order to attain proper positioning of the body and its extremities. Integral to a good golf swing is adherence to well-defined clubhead movement and consistency throughout the golf swing.
Prior art equipment for monitoring the golf swing includes many systems which alert the golfer to improper clubhead or body positioning and systems which indicate undesirable technique after the swing is completed. These systems either allow the golfer to strike the golf ball even though improper positioning may have been used or that require the golfer to swing at an imaginary golf ball thereby establishing a learning scenario unlike the actual game for which the training device is designed.
What is needed is a golf swing monitoring system capable of accelerating the learning process by monitoring the entire golf swing and providing instantaneous positive or negative feedback to the golfer for use in improving his or her swing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved system for monitoring human movement.
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved system for teaching desired human movement.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a new and improved system for monitoring various golf clubs during their use in golf swings.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a new and improved system for monitoring a golfer during a golf swing.
It is yet still another object of this invention to provide a new and improved method for teaching the golf swing.
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved system for indicating undesirable golf club and body position.
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved system and method for monitoring golf club positioning and the body movement of portions of the body of a golfer; which system and method does not require the continued presence of an instructor to remind the person to use a desirable golf swing and appropriate body mechanics.
In accordance with these and other objects of the invention, a system is provided for monitoring and displaying golf swing parameters for either a right-handed golfer or a left-handed golfer swinging a golf club through a predefined golf tee area. Briefly, the present invention comprises, but is not limited to, six infrared (IR) transmitters, six IR receivers, controlling electrical switches, six status lights, an audible alarm, and a platform on which the golfer stands during the golf swing and which houses the tee manipulation mechanism. The six pairs of IR transmitters and receivers are used to produce IR beams of light at predetermined locations to define a preferred region in three-dimensional space in which the golf club and the golfer's body should remain at all times during the golf swing. Two converging IR beams are used to monitor golf club shaft position, first during the takeaway phase of the golf swing, and second during the downswing phase of the golf swing. These IR beams determine the boundaries of a channel of preferred space in which the golf club must remain in order to perform a good takeaway and a good downswing during the golf swing. Another IR beam monitors club position at the top of the golf swing. Yet another IR beam monitors club position during the early portion of the downswing phase of the golf swing. Still another IR beam is created by an IR transmitter placed at a height approximating the height of the hips of the golfer and is aimed at an IR receiver placed on the ground in front of the golfer. This beam monitors any tendency during the golf swing of the golfer to lean in the opposite direction of intended ball flight. The remaining IR beam is positioned at the height of the golfer's shoulders and is aimed at an IR receiver placed on the ground in front of the golfer. This beam monitors any tendency of the golfer to lean in the direction of intended ball flight during the golf swing.
If, during the golf swing, movement of the golf club shaft or of the body of the golfer is detected outside of the preferred space defined and monitored by the six IR beams, the corresponding IR beam is interrupted and the violation is detected simultaneously activating three methods of informing and teaching the golfer. An audible tone is immediately activated along with one of six sensor lights which correspond to each of the six IR beams. A latch relay causes any activated lights to remain illuminated until they are reset by the user. Simultaneously an electric servo and tee manipulation device housed within the platform on which the golfer stands causes the tee to move rapidly thereby removing the ball from the path of the swinging club resulting in the absence of a golf ball as the golfer swings through the position of the tee. Resetting the system turns off any illuminated status lights and raises the tee with the golf ball still appropriately positioned on top of the tee.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3384741 (1968-05-01), Bice
patent: 3820781 (1974-06-01), Kane
patent: 3863933 (1975-02-01), Tredway
patent: 3895366 (1975-07-01), Morris
patent: 4304406 (1981-12-01), Cromarty
patent: 4456257 (1984-06-01), Perkins
patent: 4971328 (1990-11-01), Hernberg
patent: 5087047 (1992-02-01), McConnell
patent: 5221088 (1993-06-01), McTeigue et al.
patent: 5249967 (1993-10-01), O'Leary et al.
patent: 5269528 (1993-12-01), McCardle, Jr.
patent: 5277428 (1994-01-01), Goodwin et al.
patent: 5672115 (1997-09-01), Sanchez et al.
patent: 5976022 (1999-11-01), Williams
Bleckley Delmar
Kelnhofer George
Saville Phillip Robert
Kasick Julie
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Martin-Wallace Valencia
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