A MULTIPLE SMART SPORTS EQUIPMENT CHARGING SYSTEM

Abstract

Electronic training and feedback devices have been developed to provide accurate and impartial data or feedback to athletes of club, bat or racket based sports. However, the due to the requirements for these devices to be small and lightweight, their integral power sources typically have a small capacity and therefore require charging often. To charge these devices, the athlete must typically connect the device or their sports equipment to a mains power source after they have finished playing or practicing. However, the athlete may forget to charge their device, and the device may not hold enough charge to last the athlete's next session. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a charging system capable of simply and conveniently charging smart sports equipment. The present invention provides a smart sports equipment charging system (100) including a storage vessel (105) for storage of sports equipment (110), and at least two charging portions (130) within the storage vessel (105), such that sports equipment (110) including a rechargeable power source stored within the storage vessel (105) is chargeable with the respective charging portion (130).

Claims

1. A smart sports equipment charging system comprising: a storage vessel for storage of sports equipment, the storage vessel comprising: an aperture configured to receive sports equipment therethrough for storage of the sports equipment within the storage vessel; a closed end opposite the aperture; and a separator configured to separate an internal volume of the storage vessel between the aperture and the closed end into at least two sections; a charging area arranged at the closed end of the storage vessel, the charging area including at least two charging portions, wherein each of the at least two charging portions are aligned with a respective section of the storage vessel such that sports equipment including a rechargeable power source stored within a section of the storage vessel is chargeable with the respective charging portion; and a power storage device configured to supply power to the charging area.

2. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, wherein the sports equipment is a smart golf club and the storage vessel is a golf bag configured to store and charge the smart golf club therein.

3. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging portions each comprise a wireless charging coil configured to wirelessly charge sports equipment including a corresponding coil.

4. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, wherein each charging area comprises an alignment device configured to align sports equipment with the respective charging portion.

5. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 4, wherein each alignment device comprises a magnetic alignment device.

6. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging portions each comprise a conductive charging contact configured to charge sports equipment including a corresponding contact.

7. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, wherein the separator is configured to separate the internal volume of the storage vessel into 14 sections, and the charging area includes 14 charging portions.

8. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, wherein each charging portion includes a controller configured to modulate an amount of power delivered to the respective charging portion.

9. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, further comprising a processor operably connected to the charging area, wherein the processor is configured to: detect sports equipment within charging range of a charging portion; determine a status of the sports equipment; and control operation of the charging area according to the status of the sports equipment.

10. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 9, wherein the status of the sports equipment includes a charge level of a rechargeable power source of the sports equipment.

11. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 10, wherein controlling operation of the charging area includes suppling power to the charging portion adjacent to the sports equipment if a status of the sports equipment includes a charge level below full capacity.

12. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, further comprising a mains power connector configured to be connectable to a mains power supply and charge the power storage device.

13. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, wherein the power storage device comprises a battery.

14. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 1, wherein the power storage device is arranged within the storage vessel.

15. The smart sports equipment charging system of claim 14, wherein the power storage device is removable from the storage vessel for charging, replacement or maintenance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a golf bag including a smart golf club charging system;

[0027] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the bottom of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the bottom of the interior of the golf bag shown in FIGS. 1; and

[0029] FIG. 4 is a partial circuit diagram for the circuitry and components of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a golf bag 100 including a smart golf club charging system. The golf bag 100 includes a substantially cylindrical storage portion 105 for the storage of golf 110 clubs therein. The golf bag 100 includes an internal divider 115 positioned inside the storage portion 105. The internal divider 115 separates the internal volume of the storage portion 105 into several storage portions. A single or several golf clubs 110 may be stored in each storage portion. The golf bag 100 also includes charging circuitry and components 120 to be discussed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The charging circuitry and components 120 are positioned in a separate compartment 125 such that the charging circuitry and components 120 are protected from the environment and other damage.

[0031] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the bottom of the golf bag 100 shown in FIG. 1. The charging circuitry and components includes a wireless charging coil 130 positioned in each of the sections of the internal volume of the storage vessel 105, as defined by the internal divider 115, on a bottom surface of the golf bag 100. The butt end of each golf club 110 includes a corresponding charging coil 135 configured to convert an electromagnetic field created by the wireless charging coil 130 into electricity to charge electronics in or on the golf club 110. The internal divider 115 acts as a guide to align the golf clubs 110 with the wireless charging coils 130 such that efficient energy transfer is achieved.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the bottom of the interior of the golf bag 100 shown in FIG. 1. The internal divider 115 separates the interior volume of the golf bag into 14 portions. Accordingly, a standard set of 14 golf clubs may be stored in the bag, with one club in each interior portion. Due to the sizing of the golf bag 100 and the internal divider 115, each golf club is held substantially centrally within each interior portion such that the corresponding coil on the butt end of the golf club aligns with the respective wireless charging coil 130 for efficient charging. Furthermore, each golf club stored in the bag 100 has a dedicated wireless charging coil 130 and associated control circuitry such that each golf club may be addressed and charged individually.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a partial circuit diagram for the circuitry and components 120 of the golf bag 100 shown in FIG. 1. Only three wireless charging coils 130 are shown for clarity. Each wireless charging coil 130 has a dedicated control device 140 configured to control operation of the respective wireless charging coil 130. The circuitry and components 120 also includes a rechargeable battery 145. Each control device 140 is connects the respective wireless charging coil 130 to the battery 145 and controls the power supplied by the battery 145 to the wireless charging coil 130.

[0034] The battery 145 is rechargeable and the circuitry and components 120 therefore includes a battery charging circuit 150, a wall plug adapter 155 and a wall plug 160. The wall plug 160 is configured to connect the battery 145, via the battery charging circuit 150 and the wall plug adapter 155, to a mains power source to recharge the battery 145. The battery charging circuit 150 and wall plug adapter 155 are configured to control the charging of the battery 145 with the mains power source, including stepping up or down a voltage such that it is suitable for charging the battery 145.

[0035] Although the Figures show a golf bag and a smart golf club charging system, it is to be understood that the present invention may be applicable to other sports equipment and associated storage vessels, such as tennis rackets or hockey sticks, as described herein. Furthermore, although the storage portion is described as substantially cylindrical, it is to be understood that any other shape may be suitable.

[0036] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal divider is shown to extend the entire length of the storage portion. However, it is to be understood that the internal divider may not extend the entire length of the storage portion, and may only separate a section of the storage portion.

[0037] The list of charging circuitry and components given herein is not an exhaustive list and other, or fewer, components may be provided. Although wireless charging coils are shown, alternative charging arrangements may be provided such as conductive contacts as described herein. Furthermore, although the charging circuitry and components are shown to be positioned in a separate compartment, it is to be understood that they may not be provided in a separate compartment and may instead be provided within the storage portion.

[0038] The internal divider is shown to separate the interior volume of the golf bag into 14 portions, with 14 wireless charging coils provided, one in each portion. However, an alternative number of wireless charging coils, or other charging arrangements, may be provided. Furthermore, more than one coil, or other arrangement, may be provided in each portion. In addition, although a rechargeable battery is shown, any other electrical storage device may be provided.