Golf Training Device and Method Thereof

The present disclosure generally relates to golf and golf training, and more particularly, to a golf training device and a golf training method using the golf training device.

In general, golf is a sport in which a player uses an assortment of golf clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes in a course, using as few hits or strokes as possible. Golf proficiency requires the ability to make accurate, predicable, and consistent contact with the golf ball. Accordingly, golf players often practice swinging a golf club in order to hit the golf ball accurately and consistently. A key aspect of accurate and consistent hits requires the player to maintain visual focus on the golf ball through the entire execution of the golf club swing. However, during their swing, many players tend to look away from the ball location before the club makes contact with the golf ball, negatively affecting the accuracy and distance of their shots.

Accordingly, there is a need for a golf training device, and a golf training method using said golf training device, that maintains a golf player's visual focus on the golf ball during the golf swing to enhance a golf player's contact with the golf ball for accurate and consistent shots.

This summary is intended merely to introduce a simplified summary of some aspects of one or more implementations of the present disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the present teachings, nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. Rather, its purpose is merely to present one or more concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description below.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities embodied in the present disclosure may be achieved by providing a golf training device, comprising: a flash unit to generate a signaling light; and a control unit to control the generation of the signaling light, wherein the control unit controls the generation of the signaling light according to a mechanical impact threshold, and wherein the control unit controls at least a duration of the signaling light.

The control unit and the flash unit can be configured to be placed separately on a golf club, and the control unit can be removable and the flash unit can be at least partially removable from the golf club.

The control unit can be configured to be placed at least 12 inches apart from the flash unit.

The control unit can control at least one of a duration of the signaling light, a pattern of the signaling light, and a color of the signaling light.

The flash unit can be configured to be placed coincident with a preferred location for striking a golf ball with the golf club.

The flash unit can comprise less than 20% of a total weight of the golf training device.

The control unit can comprise: a sensitivity input to adjust the mechanical impact threshold; and a duration input to adjust the duration of the signaling light.

The control unit can comprise: an accelerometer to detect a mechanical impact.

The control unit can control the flash unit to generate the signaling light only if the detected mechanical impact exceeds the mechanical impact threshold.

The flash unit can comprise: one or more lights to generate the signaling light; a light housing to house the one or more lights; and a base plate to allow the flash unit to be at least partially removable.

The flash unit can further comprise one or more alignment marks to align the flash unit to the preferred location for striking a golf ball with the golf club.

The base plate can comprise a hook-and-loop style fastener.

The golf training device can further comprise a transmission cable to electrically connect the control unit to the flash unit, wherein the transmission cable can be removably connected to at least one of the control unit and the flash unit, and wherein the transmission cable can physically secure the flash unit to the golf training device.

The golf training device can further comprise one or more sleeves to secure the transmission cable to the golf club.

Each of the one or more sleeves can have a different diameter.

The one or more sleeves can comprise a resilient material configured to press-fits around a shaft of the golf club and around the transmission cable.

The one or more sleeves can comprise a cable channel to receive the transmission cable and a shaft channel to receive the shaft.

The one or more sleeves can comprise an anti-slip spine disposed within the shaft channel to provide a high-friction shim between the shaft and the one or more sleeves to prevent rotation or vertical slip of the one or more sleeves in relation to the shaft.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities embodied in the present disclosure may also be achieved by providing a method of golf training, comprising: equipping a golf club with a golf training device; adjusting a signaling light of the golf training device to focus the attention of a user to a preferred point of impact between the golf club and a golf ball; and adjusting a mechanical impact threshold of the golf training device according to the golf club used, wherein the golf training device comprises: a flash unit to generate the signaling light, and a control unit to control the generation of the signaling light, wherein the control unit controls a duration of the signaling light and the mechanical impact threshold.

The control unit can comprise a sensitivity input to adjust the mechanical impact threshold, and a duration input to adjust the duration of the signaling light, and wherein the control unit and the flash unit can be configured to be placed separately on a golf club, and wherein the control unit can be removable and the flash unit can be at least partially removable from the golf club.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

It should be noted that some details of the figures have been simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding of the present teachings rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy, detail, and scale.

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary implementations of the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Generally, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Phrases, such as, “in an implementation,” “in certain implementations,” and “in some implementations” as used herein do not necessarily refer to the same implementation(s), though they may. Furthermore, the phrases “in another implementation” and “in some other implementations” as used herein do not necessarily refer to a different implementation, although they may. As described below, various implementations can be readily combined, without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the specification, the recitation of “at least one of A, B, and C,” includes implementations containing A, B, or C, multiple examples of A, B, or C, or combinations of A/B, A/C, B/C, A/B/B, B/B/C, A/B/C, etc. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” Similarly, implementations of the present disclosure may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, the elements A, B, C, etc.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first object, component, or step could be termed a second object, component, or step, and, similarly, a second object, component, or step could be termed a first object, component, or step, without departing from the scope of the invention. The first object, component, or step, and the second object, component, or step, are both, objects, components, or steps, respectively, but they are not to be considered the same object, component, or step. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Further, as used herein, the term “if” can be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context.

All physical properties that are defined hereinafter are measured at 20° C. to 25° C. (68° F. to 77° F.) unless otherwise specified.

When referring to any numerical range of values herein, such ranges are understood to include each and every number and/or fraction between the stated range minimum and maximum, as well as the endpoints. For example, a range of 0.5% to 6% would expressly include all intermediate values of, for example, 0.6%, 0.7%, and 0.9%, all the way up to and including 5.95%, 5.97%, and 5.99%, among many others. The same applies to each other numerical property and/or elemental range set forth herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Additionally, all numerical values are “about” or “approximately” the indicated value, and take into account experimental error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary skill in the art. It should be appreciated that all numerical values and ranges disclosed herein are approximate values and ranges. The terms “about” or “substantial” and “substantially” or “approximately,” with reference to amounts or measurement values, are meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or values need not be achieved exactly. Rather, deviations or variations, including, for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations, and other factors known to those skilled in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect that the characteristic was intended to provide. As used herein, “about” is to mean within +/−10% of a stated target value, maximum, or minimum value.

With regard to procedures, methods, techniques, and workflows that are in accordance with some implementations, some operations in the procedures, methods, techniques, and workflows disclosed herein can be combined and/or the order of some operations can be changed.

illustrates a golf training device according to an implementation of the present disclosure.illustrates a schematic diagram for a golf training device according to an implementation of the present disclosure. As illustrated in, a golf training deviceincludes a control unitand a flash unit. The golf training devicecan further include a transmission cable. The golf training devicecan also further include one or more sleevesto secure the transmission cableto the golf club.

The control unitand the flash unitcan be separately placed on a golf club. The control unitcan be removable, and the flash unitcan be at least partially removable from the golf club. For example, the control unitcan be placed on a shaftof the golf cluband the flash unitcan be placed on a headof the golf club. The control unitcan be placed near a gripof the golf clubto facilitate user access. For example, the control unitcan be placed within 6 inches of the lower edge of the grip. The control unitcan be placed a distance apart from the flash unit. For example, the control unitcan be placed at least 12 inches apart from the flash unit. In other implementations, the control unitcan be placed at least 16 inches apart, at least 18 inches apart, at least 20 inches apart, or at least 24 inches apart from the flash unit. The separate placement of the control unitand the flash unitimproves the weight distribution of the golf training deviceon the golf cluband helps reduce the possible effects of the mass and/or weight of the golf training deviceon the swing of the golf club. While not limited to any particular theory, the inventors belief that by placing the relatively heavier components of the golf training deviceinto the control unitand placing the control unitcloser to a center of the swing arc, i.e. high on the shaft, a rotational inertia of the golf clubduring a swing can be lowered compared to locating the entire mass of a training device on or near the head, and the effects of the additional mass on a golfer's swing can be lessened, such that the golfer's swing will remain the same or similar when the golf training deviceis removed after training. That is, moving a large portion of the weight of the golf training devicefrom the headto beneath a gripof the shafthelps balance the weight impact of the golf training deviceon the golf cluband helps minimize changes to the rotational inertia of the golf clubduring a swing. In one implementation, less than 20% of the weight of the golf training deviceis located on the head.

The control unitand the golf training deviceis generally ambidextrous. That is, the golf training devicecan be installed and used on either left-handed or right-handed clubs.

The golf training deviceis configured to be at least partially removable from the golf club, and in some implementations, fully removable from the golf club. In some implementations, the golf training devicecan be separated for compact transport and storage. For example, the control unitand the flash unitcan be easily separated for storage. Similarly, the one or more sleevesand the transmission cablecan also be separated for transport and storage.

While the figures of the present specification describe the golf club headas a driver head, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and implementations of the present disclosure can be used with other types of golf clubor head. The shape of the headis only representative, and the actual shape can be dependent upon the specific club type, model, and manufacturer. However, as described below, in preferred embodiments, the flash unitis placed coincident with a preferred location for striking the golf ballwith the golf clubin order to facilitate the training stimulus of the golf training device(see).

The flash unitcan generate a signaling light, and the control unitcan control the flash unitto generate the signaling light. The signaling lightcan be generated according to a predetermined input. For example, the signaling lightcan be generated according to an impact detected by the control unit. In one implementation, the control unitdetects an impact on the golf club. The control unitcan control the generation of the signaling lightaccording to a mechanical impact threshold. The control unitcan control at least one of a duration of the signaling light, a pattern of the signaling light, and a color of the signaling light. For example, the control unitcan control the duration of the signaling light.

The flash unitcomprises one or more lightsto generate the signaling light. For example, the one or more lightscan be implemented as a light-emitting diode (LED)and the flash unitcan comprise an LEDto generate the signaling lightaccording to one or more signals from the control unit. The one or more lightsand/or the LEDcan be an analog device, and the control unitcan control the generation of the signaling lightby controlling an electrical current provided to the flash unit. For example, in one implementation, the control unitprovides an electrical currentto the flash unitto control the flash unitto generate the signaling light.

The control unitcan provide the electrical currentaccording to a predetermined input. The flash unitreceives the electrical currentand generates a signaling lightaccording to the electrical currentreceived. The electrical currentprovided by the control unitcan control at least one of a duration of the signaling light, a pattern of the signaling light, and a color of the signaling light. In one implementation, the electrical currentcontrols the duration of the signaling light. For example, the control unitcan control a period of time that the electrical currentis provided to the flash unitto control a duration of the signaling lightand/or a pattern of the signaling light. In addition, in cases where the flash unit includes a multi-color LEDor one or more lights, the control unit can control which of the red/green/blue channels of the multi-color LEDor which of the one or more lightsreceives the electrical currentto control a color and/or a pattern of the signaling light.

The golf training devicecan further include a transmission cableto transmit the electrical currentfrom the control unitto the flash unit. The golf training devicecan further include one or more sleevesto secure the transmission cableto a shaftof the golf club.

illustrate a control unit for a golf training device according to implementations of the present disclosure.illustrates examples of a control unitthat, for instance, could be used with the golf training devicedescribed above and as illustrated in. As illustrated in, a control unitcan include a control unit housingand a control unit connector.

The control unitcan further include one or more interfaces. The one or more interfacesallow a user to adjust the operation of the golf training device. For example, as illustrated in, the control unitcan include a power switchto power-on/power-off the golf training device, a power status indicatorto indicate a power status of the golf training device, a sensitivity inputto adjust the predetermined input, such as the mechanical impact threshold, and a duration inputto adjust a duration of the signaling light.

In other implementations, the control unitcan further include additional or different interfaces to adjust the operation of the golf training device. For example, the control unitcan include interfaces to adjust a pattern of the signaling lightand/or a color of the signaling light, interfaces to control a wireless connection of the control unitand the flash unit, such as Bluetooth connectivity, etc.

The control unit housingcan house one or more electronic components of the golf training device. For example, the control unit housingcan house power, sensing, logic, and user control components of the control unitas described below. The control unit housingcan be water-proof or water-resistant and can shield the one or more electronic components from the environment. The control unit housingcan be impact-resistant or comprise a resilient material. The control unit housingcan include a plastic or polymer material. For example, the control unit housingcan include a polycarbonate polymer.

The control unit connectorcan secure the control unitto the golf club. For example, the control unit connectorcan removably attach the control unitto a shaftof the golf club. The control unit connectoris adjustable and is configured to secure to different sizes or diameters of a golf clubor a shaft. In some implementations, the control unit connectorremovably attaches the control unitto the golf club.

The control unit connectorcan be implemented as a thumbscrew hinged clamp configured to allow the removable attachment of the control unitto the shaft. As illustrated in, the control unit connectorcan include an upper clamp arch, a lower clamp arch, an elastomer c-clip, and a thumbscrew fastener. The upper clamp archcan be integrated to the control until housing. For example, the upper clamp archcan be integrally formed with the control unit housing, such as during a single molding operation. The lower clamp archcan be articulated and connected at a hinge to one side of the upper clamp arch. The upper clamp archand the lower clamp archcan be configured to clamp around and accommodate various shaftdiameters. The elastomer c-clipcan be disposed within an inner surface of the upper clamp archand the lower clamp archfacing the shaftand can cushion the shaftto prevent damage or marring of the golf clubwhen the thumbscrew fasteneris used to tighten the upper clamp archand the lower clamp archaround the shaft. Whiledescribe the control unit connectorwith respect to a thumbscrew hinged clamp, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the control unit connectorcan be implemented as other devices to securely and removably attach the control unitto the golf club.

The control unitcan attach at a single point to prevent or minimize an amount of mechanical stress induced on the control unitand/or the golf clubduring a swing of the golf club. For example, the control unitcan attach at a single point of the shaftto allow the shaftto flex during a swing.