Testing apparatus for measuring a golf hit

Abstract

A testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball that has been hit includes a golf ball or an element that can be either rigidly connected to, or linked through, one degree of freedom pivoting around its axis to an arm, which when the golf ball is struck can pivot around an axis of rotation that can achieve a partial or full turn before hitting a mechanical stop. The golf hit testing device further includes apparatus for measuring force, acceleration and rotational velocity of the golf ball that has been hit.

Claims

1. A testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball hit when a golfer hits a golf ball, comprising: a rotating arm with a golf ball affixable to an end of said rotating arm for placing the golf ball in a pre-hit position; a shaft; stanchions for accommodating said shaft; rotating member affixed to said rotating arm opposite the golf ball and rotatable around shaft; supporting rails for supporting said stanchions; a damper for receiving the golf ball after the golf ball is hit; a sensor for measuring an impact of the golf ball being hit; biasing means for returning the golf ball hit to the pre-hit position; means for measuring force of the golf ball being hit; and, means for measuring rotational velocity of the golf ball being hit.

2. The testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball hit when a golfer hits a golf ball according to claim 1, further comprising a magnet for maintaining the golf ball in the pre-hit position.

3. The testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball hit when a golfer hits a golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said means for measuring force of the golf ball being hit include an accelerator for measuring acceleration and force of a golfer's golf swing and a signal/data read-out screen for visually displaying data of said accelerator.

4. The testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball hit when a golfer hits a golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said means for measuring the rotational velocity of the golf ball being hit include an accelerator for measuring acceleration and force of a golfer's golf swing and a signal/data read-out screen for visually displaying data of said accelerator.

5. The testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball hit when a golfer hits a golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said sensor for measuring an impact of the golf ball being hit includes an accelerator.

6. The testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball hit when a golfer hits a golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said sensor for measuring an impact of the golf ball being hit includes an encoder.

7. The testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball hit when a golfer hits a golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said sensor for measuring an impact of the golf ball being hit includes a force gauge.

8. The testing apparatus for measuring a golf ball hit when a golfer hits a golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said sensor for measuring an impact of the golf ball being hit includes a resistive network.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) In the drawing figures, wherein similar features are denoted with similar reference numerals throughout the several views:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the testing apparatus of the present invention positioned on the ground with pikes and prior to impact;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the testing apparatus of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the sensor of the testing apparatus of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the testing apparatus of the present invention prior to use;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the testing apparatus of the present invention with the golf ball in motion;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of the testing apparatus of the present invention showing the golf ball thereof on impact with the mechanism thereof that measures the force and dissipates the energy;

(8) FIG. 7 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the sensor of the testing apparatus of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8A is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention prior to contact with the golf ball;

(10) FIG. 8b is a side view of the second embodiment of the invention after contact with the golf ball;

(11) FIG. 9A is a top view of the second embodiment of the invention prior to contact with the golf ball;

(12) FIG. 9b is a top view of the second embodiment of the invention after contact with the golf ball;

(13) FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention prior to contact with the golf ball; and,

(14) FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention after contact with the golf ball illustrating the slot thereof on the left where the ball thereof moves past the wall thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS

(15) The following numbering is used the various drawing figures: 10a first embodiment of present invention 10b second embodiment of present invention 12 golfer 12a golf club to impress a force on golf ball 14a golf ball in static pre-hit position 14b golf ball during travel 14c golf ball in post-hit destination position 14d golf ball 14e golf ball 16 ground 18a mounting rail 18b mounting rail 20a stanchion on mounting rail 20b stanchion on mounting rail 20c stanchion on mounting rail 20d stanchion on mounting rail 22a ground spike attached to mounting rail 22b ground spike attached to mounting rail 22c optional ground spike attached to mounting rail 22d optional ground spike attached to mounting rail 24 pivot point 24a pivot point 26 shaft 26a shaft 28a adjustment collet on shaft 28b adjustment collet on shaft 30 rotating arm 32 rotating member 34 rotation arc of rotating arm 36 magnetic latch to maintain golf ball pre-hit position 38a accelerator to measure the acceleration and forces of golf swing 38b encoder (optical or magnetic) 38c force gauge 38d resistive network 40 damper 42 spring 44 signal/data read-out screen 46 sensor 48 camera 50 frame 52 slot in frame 54 direction of hit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(16) The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a golf hit testing device designed to test the impact force of a golf club when it launches a golf ball. The golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention will not only allow measuring how strong the swing is, but more importantly allow the golfer to optimize for his/her best grip, best club to use, and best posture that can maximize the force of that shot and presently there are no available systems or devices for this purpose.

(17) As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 the golf hit testing device of embodiment 10a of the present invention comprises golf ball 14a or element that can be either rigidly connected or linked through one degree of freedom (pivoting around its axis) to arm 30 which when struck by golfer 12 using gold club 12a pivots on shaft 26 at pivot point 24 and rotates on said shaft 26 in the arc 34 to achieve a partial or full turn before hitting a mechanical stop, damper 40. Golf ball 14b is illustrated partially rotated and when the rotation is concluded golf ball 14c is in contact with damper 40. The components of the golf hit testing device are affixed to mounting rails 18a and 18b which are imbedded in ground 16 by ground spikes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d. (either 22a and 22b or 22c and 22d are used at one time). Stanchion 20a is attached to rail 18a and stanchion 20b is affixed to rail 18b and stanchions 20c and 20c are optional. Adjustable collets 28a and 28b are positioned on shaft 26 for adjustment by user. Golf ball 14a, 14b and 14c are shown in their various positions.

(18) The golf hit testing device of the present invention also has apparatus for measuring force and/or acceleration and/or rotational velocity and signal/data read-out screen 44 is provided. Camera 48 (not shown) may also visually record the movement. Typical sensors used to accomplish these measurements are namely: (a) accelerometer 38a for measuring acceleration and ultimately the forces of the golf swing; (b) encoder 38b (optical or magnetic) around the rotation shaft of the arm of the golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention can be used to measure the rotational velocity and can be integrated to calculate acceleration; (c) force gauge 38c at the stop of the golf hit testing device of the present invention will also allow measuring the force of impact; and, (d) resistive network 38d of the golf hit testing device of the present invention to show change of voltage due to impact.

(19) FIG. 6 illustrates stanchion 20a and optional stanchion 20d, both affixed to rail 18a. Golf ball 14c is in contact with damper 40 which in turn transmits the impact of golf ball 14c to spring 42 and then to accelerator 38a, encoder 38b, force gauge 38c and/or resistive network 38d. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of embodiment 10a further illustrating some of the essential elements of embodiment 10a.

(20) The golf hit testing device of the embodiments 10a and 10b of the present invention have a damping module STOP 40 to absorb and dissipate the kinetic energy of the golf ball after impact. The damping module can be mounted (fixed or attached) on the left side or right side based on the golfers, if they are right-handed or left-handed.

(21) Rotating arm 30 of the golf hit testing device of the present invention should move more than 90 to clear the swing of the club and not get stuck midway to prevent impact injuries to the golfer. Accordingly. struck golf ball 14a ball moves away and hide under the horizontal plane after impact as in FIG. 6. The moving components should have some stiffness (such as, an internal spring or spring like) to dissipate the impact force component that is in the same direction as the arm 30 itself to reduce the stress on the golf ball and prevent separated from the arm.

(22) The golf hit testing device of invention 10a contains rotating arm 30 moving on a plane parallel to the ground of floor or may have the arm moving in the vertical plane instead. The advantage of the first option is that it does not need to be placed vertically to guarantee a specific preset height of the ball relative to the floor.

(23) Golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention allows golfers to train at home, optimize their swings, and replicate the real-life motion of the golf ball during impact. One can also adjust the height of the target ball to make use of different golf clubs. In another embodiment, the golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention has the same rotating arm with or without the spinning axis, but no sensors onboard. For this scenario, a camera with a computer vision algorithm can track the initial impact frames and quantify speed by placing the camera at specific locations relative to the device.

(24) Since the golf ball geometry is constant, the software can track the ball of the golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention and quantify its speed. A mobile app with a camera phone would be an easy way to perform this function. A mobile app is also one possible way to show the results from the sensors in the other embodiments. Displaying the results on an on-board LCD display or separate PC is also viable option to show the measured and calculated values of impact force, speed, and acceleration.

(25) In the preferred embodiment 10a shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, arm 30 rotates after hitting the golf ball and contacts the mechanism to absorb the impact. FIG. 7 illustrates the position of spring 42 and rubber dampener 40 that dissipate the kinetic energy of the ball. As shown in FIG. 3, after golf ball 14a bounces back arm 30 returns to the start position with the force of spring 42 and magnetic latching mechanism 36 maintains arm 30 in a start position. Two typical concepts of measuring the impact force are: 1. a strain gauge similar to a load cell; and, 2. a piezoelectric sensor that detect vibration and reports the value of its amplitude.

(26) A signal is processed by a microcontroller on board and displayed on a digital screen 44 that prompt the user of when the golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention is ready for another hit. In one embodiment, the microcontroller will display meaningful results to the user, such as, simulated yards per hit instead of just a score. The values displayed are corresponding to the magnitude of the impact force. The device can be flipped on its side to accommodate for left-handed and right-handed players. As shown in the various figures the display of the present invention could have two screens 44 to display the results or one screen with the ability to rotate the display enclosure, so that the display screen is facing upward for the golfer to see the readout results.

(27) As shown in FIGS. 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a and 10b in the second preferred embodiment 10b, the arm of the golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention can be mounted to freely slide up and down to adjust for the height of the golf ball when it could be as low as sitting on the grass and as high as a full length of a golf tee. Golf balls 14e and 14d are shown prior and after being contacted by golf club 12a. Rotating arm 32 rotates on shaft 26a at pivot point 24a of the golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention can be spring loaded with a sensor to measure the upward force component after impact and it can be used to dissipate the kinetic energy in the vertical direction. Rubber dampeners can be used there as well to further dampen that vertical force. The direction of hit 54 on golf ball 14 moves golf ball 14d to contact damper 40 spring 42 and sensor 46. Frame 50 provides support for rotating member 32b and slot 52 provides clearance for golf ball 14e.

(28) In order to emulate and swirl the golf ball, it is possible to allow the golf ball to have an additional degree of freedom and use an encoder to measure its rotational speed. A torsional spring can be used to absorb the kinetic energy of the swirl.

(29) In a further embodiment the golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention could have an audio feedback to show the measured impact force. Colored LEDs are another way of displaying the results with or without the LCD displays.

(30) Finally, the golf hit testing device of the embodiments of the present invention can also be used for various sports, such as, boxing, baseball, and tennis to measure and adjust one's swing impact force.

(31) Each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a testing apparatus for measuring a golf hit, nevertheless, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.