Abstract:
A sound or characteristics of a sound that a golf club makes when swung by a test golfer may be displayed on a monitor, recorded in memory, and may be used by the test golfer as an aid to improving his or her swing. The sound that the club makes during the swing is enhanced when a sound generation element is attached to the golf club. A processor may cause a graph of characteristics of test golfer sound waves to be displayed along with a graph of an ideal case of a golf club being swung in an ideal manner.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This present patent application is a continuation in part of and claims the priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/422,511, titled “Sporting Equipment Audible Device”, filed on Apr. 24, 2003, and claims the priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/867,215, titled “Sporting Equipment Audible Device”, filed on May 29, 2001, which issued into U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,370, on Feb. 17, 2004, and which was the parent application of Ser. No. 10/422,511, and the present application claims the priority of PCT patent application, International application No. PCT/US01/26686, titled “Sporting Equipment Audible Device” filed on Aug. 28, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       Field of the Invention  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to sporting equipment and more specifically to a device that can be selectively attached to some sporting equipment for the purpose of generating an audible sound under predetermined conditions.  
           [0003]    The sound-generating device of the present invention is attached to hand held sporting equipment that travel through a sweeping motion, such as golf clubs and tennis racquets. By attachment of the sound-generating device to the aforementioned equipment it will be possible to cause audible sounds during predetermined velocities of the sound-generating device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention discloses a device that attaches to sporting equipment for the purpose of generating an audible sound under predetermined conditions. The device is selectively attached to hand held sporting equipment, such as a golf club and tennis racquet, that travels through a sweeping motion. By attachment of the sound-generating device to the aforementioned equipment it will be possible to cause audible sounds under abrupt increases in velocity. The device is comprised of a sound generation element and may include a means of attachment element.  
           [0005]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a sound generation element comprised of a planar sheet of polyester film having an amount of adhesive along one side of said polyester film with a peelable protective element covering the adhesive. The device is fixed to the sporting equipment by removing the adhesive protective element and placing the device in contact with the sporting equipment. The device is wrapped around the sporting equipment with the adhesive element being a fixed to a part of the planar sheet of polyester. The adhesive does not come into contact with the sporting equipment. Thereby the device is free to rotate about the sporting equipment during use.  
           [0006]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the device incorporates a means of attachment element. The means of attachment element provides for selective attachment and detachment of the sound generating device and is comprised of a snap-on collar or clip and alternately of lengths of material that can be twisted or tied around a portion of the sporting equipment. The means for attachment element can be lengths of suitable material, such as cord or wire reinforced cord, having the sound generation element fixedly positioned thereto with sufficient free end lengths that can pass around a selected point on the sporting equipment and tied or twisted as means for securing the sound generation element to the sporting equipment. As an alternate means of securing the sound-generating element to the sporting equipment, a clip is provided. The clip is a substantially cylindrical object having a slotted aperture formed by flexible divergent arms enclosing a throughbore whereby the clip can be pressed onto sporting equipment. The flexible divergent arms aid in the removal of the device from the sporting equipment.  
           [0007]    An additional element is provided for the sound generation element in the form of a planar somewhat rigid pliant material such as paper or plastic. That can be attached permanently or semi-permanently by any means known with the art, such as adhesively. Using a means of attachment element, such as a clip, enables selective attachment and removal of the sound generation device.  
           [0008]    The sound generation element has a clip mating member formed on one edge. The clip mating member Is inserted into a channel or aperture within the clip. The length of the sound generation element can be adjusted by wrapping said element around the clip mating member prior to insertion in the clip.  
           [0009]    The purpose of the sound generation device of the present invention is to provide means whereby a golfer may accurately determine whether he is accelerating the club at a proper point of the swing or during the wrong part of a swing or at the top of the back swing. If the golfer jerks the club back or hits from the top, the sound generation element will make a loud flutter sound at the point of incorrect acceleration. If the swing is correct, the sound generation element will only make the flutter sound at impact of the swing. The size of the flutter flag is inversely proportional to the speed at which is the flutter.  
           [0010]    A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation device that can be attached to selective sporting equipment.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation device that will interact with atmospheric air during a sweeping motion while attached to sporting equipment to generate sound.  
           [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation device that can be permanently or semi-permanently attached to sporting equipment.  
           [0013]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation device that can be selectively attached and removed from sporting equipment.  
           [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation device having a sound generation element.  
           [0015]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation element that can be fixedly attached to sporting equipment by means of adhesive.  
           [0016]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation element that can be attached to sporting equipment by means of an attachment element.  
           [0017]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation device having a sound generation element and a means of attachment element.  
           [0018]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation device comprising a sound generation element formed from a semi-rigid planar material such as, paper, Mylar or nylon or other polyester film.  
           [0019]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation attachment element for a sound generation element comprising lengths of suitable material such as cord or wire reinforced line that can be tied or twisted about sporting equipment as means of securement.  
           [0020]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment element for a sound generation element comprised of a cylindrical member having a slotted aperture that can be pressed on sporting equipment.  
           [0021]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment element having cylindrical walls with opposing divergent arms forming a slotted aperture that can be pressed on sporting equipment.  
           [0022]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation element having a post fixedly attached to one edge of the sound generation element and forming an integral part therewith.  
           [0023]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation element having a post whereby the sound generation element can be inserted into an attachment element and selectively removed therefrom.  
           [0024]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation element and an attachment element that form a sound generation device.  
           [0025]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sound generation element that can be adjustably mounted to vary the length of said sound generation element.  
           [0026]    Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.  
           [0027]    The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a sound generating device having a sound generation element that can be permanently/semi-permanently attached to hand held sporting equipment that will generate a sound during an accelerated sweeping motion.  
           [0028]    The sound generation element can be formed from a semi-rigid pliant material. The aforementioned sound generation elements can be selectively attached to hand held sporting equipment by means of an attachment element.  
           [0029]    The attachment element can form an integral part of the sound generation element, such as length of suitable material bonded to the sound generation element that can be positioned to straddle a portion of the sporting equipment and tied or twisted forming closure and attachment to the sporting equipment.  
           [0030]    Alternately the attachment element can be a clip that can be pressed onto selective sporting equipment.  
           [0031]    In another embodiment, the sound or characteristics of the sound that a golf club makes when swung may be displayed on a sound wave monitor or any other type of monitor. The sound or characteristics of the sound may be recorded in memory. The visual display of the sound waves created by a golf club that is swung is a useful teaching aid for a golfer because it allows a test golfer to actually see the relative speed of the swing during different phases of the swing. A test golfer can then compare his or her own swing, with a known ideal swing speed graph and use that comparison to improve his or her own swing. The sound that the club makes during the swing is enhanced when a sound generation element, such as one of the sound generation elements in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, is attached to the golf club.  
           [0032]    The present invention in one embodiment provides an apparatus comprising a memory, a receiver; and a processor. The processor receives data concerning test golfer sound waves received by the receiver. The test golfer sound waves typically are generated by the sound of a golf club being swung by a test golfer. The processor may cause characteristics of the test golfer sound waves to be recorded in the memory. The apparatus may further include a monitor or display. The processor may cause the monitor to display characteristics of the test golfer sound waves. The characteristics of the test golfer sound waves may be one or more amplitudes of the test golfer sound waves with respect to time. The characteristics of the test golfer sound waves recorded can be one or more amplitudes of the test golfer sound waves with respect to frequency.  
           [0033]    The processor may cause a graph of characteristics of the test golfer sound waves to be displayed along with a graph of an ideal case of a golf club being swung in an ideal manner. The graph of the ideal case may be derived from ideal sound waves recorded from a golfer swinging a golf club in an ideal manner. The golf club may have a sound generation element located thereon. The sound generation element may contain an airfoil made of a semi-rigid material.  
           [0034]    The present invention, in one or more embodiments, may also include a method comprising receiving data concerning test golfer sound waves, the test golfer sound waves generated by the sound of a golf club being swung by a test golfer, recording characteristics of the test golfer sound waves in a memory, and displaying characteristics of the test golfer sound waves.  
           [0035]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.  
           [0036]    The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sound generation element of the present invention having an amount of adhesive on a portion thereof.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sound generation element of the present invention wrapped around a golf club shaft.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the present invention taken from FIG. 3 as indicated.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sound generation element of the present invention wrapped around a golf club shaft.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the present invention taken from FIG. 5 as indicated.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sound generation device of the present invention.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sound generation device with an attachment clip.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sound generation element with an attachment clip.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the sound generation element with an attachment clip.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 11 is a section view of the present invention attached to a golf club shaft by a retaining clip.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the sound generation element wrapped around a golf shaft with a retaining clip.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the present invention wrapped around a golf shaft with a retaining clip.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the sound generation device attached to means for ties.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the sound generation element of the present invention attached to a tennis racquet.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the sound generation device of the present invention attached to a tennis racquet.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIGS. 18A, 18B,  18 C,  18 D,  18 E, and  18 F show sound signal diagrams which are used for describing the embodiment of FIG. 17 of the present invention.  
     
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0055]    With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.  
         [0056]    [0056] 10  present invention  
         [0057]    [0057] 12  sound generation element  
         [0058]    [0058] 14  sound generation attachment element  
         [0059]    [0059] 18  golf club  
         [0060]    [0060] 20  golf club shaft  
         [0061]    [0061] 22  wire reinforced line  
         [0062]    [0062] 24  clip  
         [0063]    [0063] 26  arm of clip  
         [0064]    [0064] 28  aperture  
         [0065]    [0065] 30  golfer  
         [0066]    [0066] 32  point of back swing  
         [0067]    [0067] 34  point of incorrect acceleration  
         [0068]    [0068] 36  point of flutter sound  
         [0069]    [0069] 38  tennis racquet  
         [0070]    [0070] 40  adhesive material  
         [0071]    [0071] 42  clip mating member  
         [0072]    [0072] 44  slot  
         [0073]    [0073] 46  post  
         [0074]    [0074] 48  wall  
         [0075]    [0075] 50  small clip  
         [0076]    [0076] 52  hook and loop material  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0077]    The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.  
         [0078]    Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention  10  disposed on a golf club  18  having a sound generation element attached thereto whereby a golfer  30  will cause the sound generation element to emit a sound by jerking the golf club  18  during the top of the back swing. If the golfer  30  jerks the golf club  18  back at the back swing point  32  or has incorrect acceleration at point  34 , e.g., a flutter sound or other sound will be emitted at point  36 .  
         [0079]    Turning to FIG. 2, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention  10  attached to the shaft  20  of a golf club. The sound generation element may be made of a stiff pliant material, such as paper or plastic or the like that is fixed to the golf club shaft  20  for the purpose of generating a sound under predetermined conditions during a sweeping motion of the golf club  18 .  
         [0080]    Turning to FIG. 3, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention  10  showing the sound generation element  12  having a partial layer of adhesive material  40  on one portion thereof. The adhesive material will bond the sound generation element  12  to, e.g., a golf club shaft  20 , by being wrapped around the shaft  20 .  
         [0081]    Turning to FIG. 4, shown therein is a view of the sound generation device of the present invention  10  attached to shaft  20 . The sound generation element  12  is wrapped around the shaft  20  and adhesively attached to itself. The sound generation element  12  encloses shaft  20  without being affixed thereto. Thereby the sound generation element  12  is able to freely rotate around shaft  20 . During use of the present invention the sound generation  12  will rotate around shaft  20  lagging during a sweeping motion.  
         [0082]    Turning to FIG. 5, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention  10  showing the sound generation element  12  having a mating hook and loop material  52  on one end thereof. The hook and loop material is spaced apart so that a golf club shaft can be placed between said mating members whereupon said mating members will be engaged enclosing the golf club shaft therein. The sound generation element  12  having been releasably fixed to golf club shaft  20  has sufficient circumference to freely rotate about club shaft  20 .  
         [0083]    Turning to FIG. 6, shown therein is a view of the sound generation device of the present invention  10  attached to a shaft  20 . The sound generation element  12  is wrapped around the shaft  20  and the mating hook and loop material  52  is attached to itself enclosing shaft  20  without being affixed thereto. Thereby the sound generation element  12  is able to freely rotate around shaft  20 . During use of the present invention the sound generation  12  will rotate around shaft  20  lagging during a sweeping motion.  
         [0084]    Turning to FIG. 7, shown therein is a perspective view of the sound generation device of the present invention  10 . The sound generation element  12  being of a semi-rigid pliant material is fixed to a post  46  which is attached to the means of attachment element being a clip  24 . The clip  24  has a slotted aperture  44  in the wall  48  thereof wherethrough the post  46  of the sound generation element can be inserted and retained thereby. The clip  24  has a slotted aperture  28  formed by divergent arms  26  whereby the clip attachment element can be pressed onto sporting equipment. The divergent arms  26  provide means for easily dismounting the sound generation element from the sporting equipment.  
         [0085]    Turning for FIG. 8, shown therein is a perspective view of the sound generation device of the present invention  10  showing the sound generation element  12  wrapped around the post  46  a selective number of times whereby the length of the sound generation element  12  can be varied. Other elements previously disclosed are also shown.  
         [0086]    Turning to FIG. 9, shown therein is a perspective view of the sound generation device of the present invention  10  showing the sound generation element  12  wherein the post  46  is inserted into a slotted aperture  44  within the wall of the means of attachment element  24 . The means of attachment element  24  grips a portion of sporting equipment, such as a golf club. The means of attachment clip  24  can be rotated upon the sporting equipment through a predetermined number of degrees whereby the sound generation element  12  can be rotated to generate a sound through a sweeping motion in either of the back swing or fore swing of a golf club.  
         [0087]    Turning to FIG. 10, shown therein is a view of the sound generation device of the present invention  10 . The sound generation device is comprised of a sound generation element  12  being a length of semi-rigid pliant material fixedly attached to a post  46  which forms a sound generation attachment element mating member for insertion into a small clip  50  disposed on the back of the large clip  24  opposite to arms  26 .  
         [0088]    Turning to FIG. 11, shown therein is a view of the sound generation device of the present invention  10  attached to a sporting equipment shaft  20 . The sound generation device is comprised of a sound generation element  12  having a length of semi-rigid pliant material fixedly attached to a post  46  which forms a sound generation attachment element mating member for insertion into a small clip  50  on the back of the large clip  24 .  
         [0089]    Turning to FIG. 12, shown therein is a perspective view of the sound generation device partially mounted onto a sporting equipment shaft  20 . The sound generation device is comprised of a sound generation element  12  and a mounting element  24 . The sound generation element  12  can be wrapped around the sporting equipment shaft until a desired length of the sound generation element is exposed, whereupon the clip attachment element  24  is pressed onto the shaft  20  over the sound generation element movably fixedly positioning the sound generation element a desired length onto the sporting equipment shaft  20 .  
         [0090]    Turning to FIG. 13, shown therein is a view of the sound generation device of the present invention  10  attached to a shaft  20 . The sound generation element  12  is wrapped around the shaft  20  until a desired length of sound generation element is exposed. The sound generation attachment element  24  holds the sound generation element  12  at the aforementioned selective positioning onto the sporting equipment shaft  20 .  
         [0091]    Turning to FIG. 14, shown therein is a perspective view of the sound generation device comprised of a sound generation element  12  and a sound generation attachment means forming an integral part therewith. The sound generation device, as shown, is a semi-rigid planar pliant material fixed to multiple lengths of a suitable tying or twisting material, such as cord or wire reinforced cord  22 . The sporting equipment is encircled by the opposing lengths of the tie material  22  positioned at each distal end. The lengths of line  22  are then tied or twisted around the portion of sporting equipment. This configuration enables the sound generation element  12  to be attached to irregular objects such as a tennis racquet. It also provides for selective attachment as need be.  
         [0092]    Turning to FIG. 15, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention  10  attached to a tennis racquet  38 . The sound generation device  10  is comprised of a sound generation element detachably attached to the tennis racquet  38  by means of ties  22  forming an integral part of the sound generation element. The sound generation device will emit a sound during an accelerated jerky sweeping motion of the tennis racquet  38  as opposed to a smooth sweeping motion.  
         [0093]    Turning to FIG. 16, shown therein is a perspective view of the sound generation device of the present invention comprising a sound generation element  12  and a means of attachment element  22 . The sound generation element is comprised of a semi-rigid pliant material attached to the rim of a tennis racquet  38  by ties  22 .  
         [0094]    [0094]FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of an apparatus  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  100  includes a sound wave monitor of display  102 , a processor  104 , a memory  106 , an interative device  108 , and a receiver/transducer  110 . The processor  104  is electrically connected to the sound wave monitor  102 , the memory  106 , the interactive device  108 , and the receiver/transducer  110  by communications lines  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c , and  104   d , respectively.  
         [0095]    [0095]FIGS. 18A, 18B,  18 C,  18 D,  18 E, and  18 F show sound signal diagrams  200 ,  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 , and  250 , respectively, which are used for describing the embodiment of FIG. 17 of the present invention.  
         [0096]    Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18A-F, the receiver/transducer  110  receives sound waves. These sound waves may be made by a person swinging the golf club  18  of FIG.  1  causing the sound generation element  12  to flutter. The receiver/transducer  110  may change the sound waves into an electrical signal and supply the electrical signal via communications line  104   b  to the processor  104 . The processor  104  may cause the sound wave monitor  102  to display characteristics of the sound wave or waves made by the person swinging the golf club  18 . The processor  104  may also store characteristcs of the sound waves made by the swinging golf club  18  into memory  106 . The interative device  108 , which may be, for example, a computer mouse and/or a computer keyboard may be used to tell the processor  104  whether to store characteristics of the sound waves in memory  106  or whether to display them on monitor  102 , and the manner in which the sound waves are displayed or stored.  
         [0097]    The sound waves made by the swinging of the golf club  18  may have, as an example for description purposes only, the characteristics shown by FIG. 18A. FIG. 18A shows the amplitude (amp.) of the sound wave or waves plotted against time (t). The time t=0 represents the start of the swinging of the golf club  18  and the time t=t1 represents the end of the swinging of the golf club  18 . The curve  201  shows the amplitude of the sound wave or waves generated by the golf club  18  with respect to time. The curve  201  is for description purposes only and does not represent actual results. The sound signal diagram  200  may be displayed on the monitor  102 .  
         [0098]    The sound waves made by the swinging of the golf club  18  may have, as an example for description purposes only, the characteristics shown by FIG. 18B. FIG. 18B shows the amplitude (amp.) of the sound wave or waves plotted against frequency (ω). The curve  211  shows the amplitude or magnitude of various frequencies for the sound wave or waves generated by the golf club  18 . The curve  211  is for description purposes only and does not represent actual results. The sound signal diagram  210  may be displayed on the monitor  102 .  
         [0099]    The monitor  102  may also display an ideal sound wave diagram  220 . The ideal sound wave diagram  220  may have, as an example for description purposes only, the characteristics shown by FIG. 18C. FIG. 18C shows an ideal or expected amplitude (amp.) of a sound wave or waves when the golf club  18  is swung in an ideal manner, plotted against time (t). The time t=0 represents the start of the swinging of the golf club  18  and the time t=t1 represents the end of the swinging of the golf club  18 . The curve  221  shows the ideal or expected amplitude of the sound wave or waves expected to be generated by the golf club  18  with respect to time. The curve  221  is for description purposes only and does not represent real expected results. The sound signal diagram  221  may be displayed on the monitor  102 .  
         [0100]    The monitor  102  may also display an ideal sound wave diagram  230 . The ideal sound wave diagram  230  may have, as an example for description purposes only, the characteristics shown by FIG. 18D. FIG. 18D shows an ideal or expected amplitude (amp.) of a sound wave or waves when the golf club  18  is swung in an ideal manner, plotted against frequency. The curve  231  shows the ideal or expected amplitude of the sound wave or waves expected to be generated by the golf club  18  with respect to frequency. The curve  231  is for description purposes only and does not represent real expected results. The sound signal diagram  231  may be displayed on the monitor  102 .  
         [0101]    [0101]FIG. 18E shows that the curve  201  for an actual golfer swinging may be displayed along with the ideal curve  221  on the monitor  102 . FIG. 18F shows that the curve  211  for the actual golfer swinging may be displayed along with the ideal curve  231 .  
         [0102]    Again, curves  201 ,  211 ,  221 , and  231  are used for description purposes only and do not necessarily represent any actual or anticipated results.