Abstract:
A housing for a sensor includes the sensor; vertical walls surrounding an aperture containing the sensor; a horizontal floor connected to a bottom of the vertical walls, the floor having the sensor located thereon; and a vertical shaft connected to the bottom of the floor and configured to connect the housing to a grip of a golf club. The shaft and at least the horizontal floor define a continuous air passage to vent air pressure from an inside of the golf club to an outside of the golf club.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a housing for containing telemetry, sensing, processing and other electronic components that provide data regarding playing the game of golf. The housing can be affixed to a golf club. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A good shot in the game of golf requires a golf swing with certain bio-mechanic precision. The critical components of a golf swing include, among other things, the plane on which the club is swung, the speed of the backswing and forward swing, the steepness and direction of angle of the club throughout the swing, the angle of the club face, the path of the swing as well as the body positioning of the golfer during the swing. Various devices (referred to herein as “club tags”) that typically include such components as accelerometers, gyros, piezo sensors and other sensors, can be attached to a golf club and can measure and even recreate a golf swing so that it can be analyzed and improved upon. 
     Club tags can also detect whether a golf club has been removed from the golf bag and assist in pinpointing the location at which a club was taken out of the golf bag. This makes it easier to keep track of golf clubs and find clubs that have been left behind during play. 
     Additionally, club tags can also detect whether a golf swing has occurred, thus making scoring and data collection easier and less intrusive in the actual play of the game. 
     These applications describe club tags which collect data and provide the data to the golfer. The club tags include sensors which are contained within a housing which is affixed to the grip end of the club. In one embodiment, the housing includes a threaded shaft which is screwed into a hole in the end of the grip. 
     In one embodiment, the sensors collect data while a golfer takes a golf swing and then provide the data to be golfer thereafter so the golfer can improve their swing. In another embodiment, the sensors collect data based on the status of the golf club, for instance, whether the golf club is in or out of the golf bag. However, due to the stresses on the golf club during the swing, pressure within the club builds and can expel the shaft of the housing from the hole in the end of the grip. 
     Thus, there is a need for a club tag housing apparatus that houses the swing analysis and detection equipment and which protects the sensor equipment; securely fastens the club tag to a golf club and remains securely fastened during the rigors of the golf swing; provides a relief for pressure and vibration forces that are built up during the golf swing; and is unobtrusive to the golf swing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A housing for sensor includes the sensor, vertical walls surrounding an aperture containing the sensor, a horizontal floor connected to a bottom of the vertical walls, the floor having the sensor located thereon, a vertical shaft connected to the bottom of the floor and configured to connect the housing to a grip of a golf club, where the shaft and at least the horizontal floor define a continuous air passage to vent air pressure from an inside of the golf club to an outside of the golf club. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a lower portion of the housing of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of upper portion of the housing of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention along with a tool for fixing the housing to a golf club; 
         FIG. 5  shows a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows a lower perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a side perspective view of further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows a top perspective view of an exploded view of an additional embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  shows a top perspective view of the additional embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  shows a side view of the additional embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  shows a front view of the additional embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  shows a bottom view of the additional embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  shows a top view of the additional embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 16  shows a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIGS. 1-7  illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention. Housing  10  includes sidewalls  12 , horizontal floor  14 , and shaft  20 , all of which make up a lower housing. The sidewalls  12  and horizontal floor  14  form an aperture into which a sensor (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) is placed. In one embodiment, shaft  20  includes threads  22  for connecting housing  10  to the grip of a golf club. In this regard, housing  10  may be fully or partially recessed into the grip of the golf club, or may sit on the top surface of the grip of a golf club. 
     The sensor within housing  10  may include components configured to detect the status of a golf club and/or the characteristics of a swing of the golf club (e.g., photosensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, piezos, magnetometers, etc.), process swing data (e.g., processors, micro controllers), and transmit data from the apparatus to another computing device. Details regarding these functions are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/548,320 and 11/548,323 and PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/55837. These applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , shaft  20  also includes air passage  24  for allowing pressure that builds up inside the club to pass through the shaft  20 . Air passage  24  connects with air passages  26  which allow the air to exit the club without disengaging housing  10  from the grip. As shown in  FIG. 1 , two air passages  26  connect to air passage  24 . However, a single air passage or more than two air passages may be used within the scope of the present invention. 
     Further, a single, straight air passage may extend from the shaft  20  all the way through an upper housing  30 . In this case, the air passage would extend through the center of the aperture which includes the sensor. In this case, the sensor would need to be arranged away from the center of the aperture. Such embodiment may include a passive sensor. 
     Additionally, instead of an air passage  24  through a center of shaft  20 , threads  22  may include cuts to allow air to pass around the outside of shaft  20 . Thus, a continuous air passage through the cuts and up to air passage  26  would allow air to pass from inside the golf club to outside the golf club without disengaging housing  10 . 
     Housing  10  may also include upper housing  30  connected to the top of sidewalls  12  to protect the sensor. In this regard, upper housing  30  may be removable from the lower housing to expose the electronics within the lower housing, particularly the battery. The upper housing  30  may be composed of a rubber or silicon material. 
     Upper housing  30  may be connected to sidewalls  12  using several different methods. For example, upper housing  30  may be connected to sidewalls  12  using a cleated locking mechanism, a twist locking mechanism, or a threaded locking mechanism. Each of these locking mechanisms include a mechanical locking mechanism, such as, for example, a slotted or notched locking mechanism, that securely seats and affixes the upper housing  30  to the lower housing, while still allowing removal of upper housing  30  to access the electronics, particularly a battery for the sensor, within the lower housing. 
     Further, a gasket may be placed between the upper housing  30  and the lower housing to more securely affix the upper housing  30  to the lower housing and to act as a barrier to water or debris entering into the aperture in the lower housing holding the electronics. In this regard,  FIG. 10  shows gasket  160  located between upper housing  130  and sidewalls  112 . In this embodiment, the gasket is of a material so as to allow light to pass through the gasket  160  to the light sensitive sensors  150  in the housing  110 . 
     In another embodiment, the upper and lower housings are permanently affixed to one another. In such an embodiment, a rechargeable battery for the sensor may be used. In this regard, the lower housing may include charging pads for contact charging the battery, or inductive charging may be used to charge the battery. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , upper housing  30  includes a window  34  to allow light to enter the housing  10  such that the light impinges on the sensor within. The window  34  in  FIG. 2  is an axial aperture with an axis oriented perpendicular to the upper surface of upper housing  30 . In other embodiments, window  34  may have a radial or angular configuration. In the radial configuration, window  34  is located in sidewalls  12  such that light penetrates through the side of housing  10 . In the angular configuration, the window  34  is located in the upper surface of upper housing  30 , but an axis of the window is oriented at an angle to the upper surface of upper housing  30  to enhance light amplification or gathering. 
     Upper housing  30  and sidewalls  12  also include apertures  32  for receiving projections  72  of tool  70 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Tool  70  is a custom-made tool used to attach and remove housing  10  to a golf club. Apertures  32  may be used in such manner to facilitate removal of the tag from the golf club or removal of the upper housing. Ideally, the depth of the aperture should be slightly deeper than the length of the tool projections  72  to prevent the golfer from puncturing the aperture floor by applying too much pressure on the tool. Placing apertures  32  on the perimeter of upper housing  30  has the advantage of allowing for a more rigid or robust floor to the aperture  32 , thereby preventing the golfer from puncturing the aperture floor by applying too much pressure on the tool. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment in which the air passage for relieving pressure within the club includes passageway  60  cut through the threads on the shaft. The passageway  60  connects to the air passages running on the outside of upper housing  30 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment in which upper housing  40  is fixed to the lower housing using a cleated locking mechanism. In such an embodiment, cleats on upper housing  40  are received by apertures  42  with a lower housing to lock the upper housing to the lower housing.  FIG. 9  also illustrates the sensor  50  beneath the window  44  in the upper housing  40 . 
       FIGS. 10-15  show an additional embodiment in which shaft  120  of the lower housing includes a spiked extension  122  for fixing the housing  110  to a golf club. Alternatively, the shaft  120  may include two or more spiked extensions. Spike extension  122  is inserted into a hole in the club grip to attach the housing  110  to the grip.  FIG. 10  also shows sensor  150  beneath gasket  160  and upper housing  130 . Further, the additional embodiment may include air passage  126  to relieve pressure within the club, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 16  depicts an embodiment which uses a golf shoe cleat tool to attach and remove the upper housing to and from the golf club. This allows window  234  to be located in a center portion of the upper housing. Thus,  FIG. 16  shows upper housing  230  includes apertures  232  away from the edge of the upper housing. As golf players may already own such a golf shoe cleat tool, housing  210  will not require players to obtain any new equipment to add or remove housing  210  from their golf clubs. Ideally, in such an embodiment, the depth of the aperture should be slightly deeper than the length of the tool projections to prevent the golfer from puncturing the aperture floor by applying too much pressure on the tool.  FIG. 16  also shows threads  236  on the lower housing which allow upper housing to be screwed on the lower housing. 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.