Abstract:
The device of the present invention, positionable in or on a golf bag, monitors golf club location or presence. The device includes a marker mechanism, or tag, positionable on a golf club that imparts a unique identification to the club. The device also includes a sensing mechanism or sensing system that monitors the status of the clubs, including the presence, removal and return of the golf clubs. As each club includes a unique identifier, the sensing system can track the clubs by monitoring the sensors. The device also includes a readout mechanism that cooperates with the sensing system to provide information to the golfer regarding the status of their clubs.

Description:
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/993,396, filed Dec. 8, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,225, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/895,705, filed Jul. 17, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,483. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for monitoring a golf equipment inventory in a bag or on a golf course and to a method for keeping an inventory of golf equipment. 
     One common and expensive problem encountered by golfers occurs when a golfer pulls several clubs from a golf bag in order to ascertain the best club for a shot. At this time, the golfer is not certain of which club is most appropriate until the golfer has studied all of the conditions. Eventually, the golfer selects an appropriate club and drops the other clubs on the ground in order to take his stroke. After making the stroke, the golfer picks up the bag, oblivious in many instances, to the fact that one or more of his or her clubs are still positioned on the ground. The golfer&#39;s forgetfulness becomes apparent when he or she has occasion to select a club he or she has forgotten, only to find it is not in the bag. At this point, the golfer must either retrace his steps, traveling backwards through the course until finding the club, or the golfer must play the rest of the round of golf without the club. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The golf equipment inventory device of the present invention, positionable in or on a golf bag, includes a marker mechanism positionable within a grip shaft of a golf club. The marker mechanism includes in one embodiment, an identification medium unique to a particular golf club. The device further includes one or more mechanisms for sensing removal and return of the golf club from the golf bag by sensing a change in presence of the marker. Each of the mechanisms for detecting a change in the marker presence transmits a signal to a readout mechanism. 
     The present invention also includes a marker for identifying a golf club to a sensor. The marker includes a shaft and/or an end portion attached to the shaft. The marker is positionable in a grip of a golf club. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention for use on golf bags enclosing at least one tube for a golf club, the device includes a magnetic sensor affixed to a bottom end or proximally to the bottom end of each tube in the golf bag. The device also includes a mechanism for detecting a signal from the magnetic sensor. 
     Another embodiment of the device of the present invention includes a plurality of sensors positioned within a golf bag, on an inside or outside surface of the bag. The device also includes a magnetic media that corresponds to a particular sensor bearing coded information. The magnetic media is capable of activating a single sensor of the plurality. The device additionally includes a mechanism for receiving signals from each of the sensors of the plurality. 
     One other device embodiment utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) and includes a transponder positionable on or within a golf club. The device also includes a transmitter that is capable of transmitting a radio wavelength at a frequency that activates the transponder. The device further includes a mechanism for relaying to a golfer information that the golf club to which the transponder is positioned is either present or not present in the golf club bag. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cut-away view of one embodiment of the golf equipment inventory device of the present invention installed on a golf bag wherein the device is installed inside of a golf bag. 
     FIG. 2 is one side-view of a sensor mechanism of the golf equipment inventory device of the present invention wherein the device is installed outside of the golf bag. 
     FIG. 3 is one cut-away view of a golf club marker mechanism positioned within a golf club. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the golf club marker mechanism of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one other embodiment of the golf club marker mechanism of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 a  is a side view of one other marker embodiment. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the golf club readout mechanism. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the golf equipment inventory device for use on a golf bag with fixed tube inserts. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the golf equipment inventory device wherein the inventory device includes a coded magnetic mechanism. 
     FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an inverted-v-baffle positioned within a golf bag. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a golf equipment inventory device wherein the device includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) mechanism. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view of one control embodiment of the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic view of one other control embodiment of the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one readout embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The golf equipment inventory device of the present invention, illustrated in one embodiment at  10  in FIG. 1 includes a marker mechanism  12  positioned within a golf club  14  wherein the marker mechanism  12  encloses or otherwise contains an identification for each club  14 . The inventory device  10  further includes a sensing mechanism  15  that senses a removal of a golf club  14  from a golf bag  24  as well as return of the golf club  14  into the bag  24 . The inventory device  10  additionally includes a readout  22  that receives signals from the sensing mechanism  15  and that provides information to the golfer regarding clubs that have been removed from and returned to the golf bag  24 . 
     The inventory device  10  of the present invention permits the golfer to concentrate on the game of golf rather than concentrating on the location of his or her golf clubs. The inventory device  10  of the present invention does not require the golfer to change his or her actions regarding removal of a golf club  14  from a bag  24  or placement of the club into the bag  24 . The device  10  accommodates the natural movements and behavior of the golfer in order to track the presence or absence of golf clubs  14  with respect to the golf bag  24  and to report this status to the golfer through the readout  22 . Further, the device  10  may be used with any conventional golf club  14  having a shaft  16  terminating at a butt end  26  and having a grip  28 . 
     Each golf club  14  within the golfer&#39;s inventory is fitted with the marker  12  affixed within the butt end  26  of each golf club at the grip  28 . Each marker  12  encloses or otherwise contains a code readable by the sensing mechanism  15  for identifying the club&#39;s identity as well as the club&#39;s presence within or outside of the golf bag  24 . The code is, in one embodiment, embodied by a magnetic strip  17  having magnetic information. 
     In the marker embodiment, the marker  12  includes a push shaft element  30  and an end element  32  positioned on the shaft  30  at one end of the marker  12  for concealing and protecting the marker  12  from the elements once the marker  12  has been installed in the grip  28  of the golf club  14 . In one embodiment, the push shaft  30  contains the code in the magnetic media  17 . In particular, magnetic media  17  is encased within the push shaft  30  that is inserted in the club grip  28 . It is also contemplated that the magnetic strip  17  may be supported by the shaft  30  on the marker  12  or adhered to the shaft  30  on the marker  12  with an adhesive. 
     The marker  12  is preferably made of a polymeric material, such as polypropylene. However, metallic or cellulose-based materials may also be used to make the marker  12 . The marker  12  may be made of a solid material or may be hollow. 
     One embodiment of the marker is illustrated at  50  in FIG.  5 . The marker  50  includes a push shaft  52  and an end element  54  positioned on the push shaft  52 . The marker  50  is constructed of plastic that is sufficiently reversibly deformable to fold as necessary to pass through a hole  19  in the golf club  14  but to return to its original form once in place. For the marker  50 , the end element  54  encloses an orifice  56  to permit insertion of magnetic media  58  into the end element  54 . 
     One other embodiment of the marker is illustrated at  150  in FIG. 5 a.  The marker  150  includes a main body shaft  152  overlaid with a polymeric coating  154 . A plurality of teeth  156   a-b  retain the marker  150  within the grip of the golf club  14 . The marker  150  may have a length of about 1 inch. 
     The sensing mechanism  15  includes a magnetic reader module  21  for generating read magnetic strip information signals from the unique magnetic media  17  or  58  of each marker  12  or  50  attached to each club  14 . The magnetic reader module  21  includes a magnetic/charge head assembly  40  that charges and reads the magnetic information encoded on the magnetic strip  17  or  58  in each marker  12  or  50 . Conventional head assemblies are known and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,034,836; 5,041,933; 5,274,522; and 5,285,324. 
     The sensing mechanism  15  additionally includes, in one embodiment, a microprocessor  44  for converting the magnetic media  17  or  58  into a club identification and for storing this information. The information is then transmitted to the readout  22 . In one other embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a microprocessor  44  is incorporated within the readout  22  only. With this embodiment, the sensing mechanism  15  transmits the raw magnetic media information code data directly to the readout  22 , where it is manipulated and stored by the microprocessor. 
     The magnetic reader module  21  may be positioned, in one embodiment, within the golf club bag  24 , as shown in FIG.  1 . It is also contemplated, however, that the magnetic reader module  21  is positioned outside of the bag  24 . The magnetic reader module  21  is positioned so that marker  50  is below the module  21  when stored and passes by the module  21  upon golf club removal from the bag  24 . The magnetic charge head assembly  40  charges and reads the magnetic media in the golf club  14  as it passes by the mechanism  21 . 
     The magnetic reader module  21  detects removal and return of golf clubs with respect to the bag  24 . If the magnetic/charge head assembly  40  is tripped, that is, senses a golf club position, the microprocessor  44  is programmed to search for prior entry of the club into the bag due to detection of the presence of the club by detection of the marker  12 . If no prior entry is found, the microprocessor  44  signals to the golfer through the readout  22  that a club  14  is missing from the bag. If a prior entry is found, the microprocessor  44  signals through the readout  22  to the player, that the club has been returned. 
     The magnetic reader module  21  transmits a signal to the readout  22  illustrated in one embodiment in FIG. 12, which may be mounted on the outside of a bag  24  and is readily visible to the golfer. The readout  22  transmits a warning  25  upon golf club removal to the golfer after a time interval defined in a time delay feature is reached. The warning alert may be a strobe. In one embodiment, the time delay is five minutes. A range for time delay is ten seconds to ten minutes. The readout  22  signals to the golfer, in one embodiment, the specific club  14  which is missing from the bag  24  at  27 . In another embodiment, the readout  22  emits an audible signal at  29  to the golfer indicating that a club  14  is missing. With this embodiment, the readout  22  may optionally identify the specific club. Upon replacement of the club  14  into the bag  24  and past the magnetic reader module  21 , the readout  22  ceases any alerts. The readout  22  may be turned off or on at  31 . 
     The readout typically also includes a “snooze” feature. A “snooze” feature is a time delay for alarms after a first alarm. With the “snooze” feature, the golfer may deactivate an alarm when it is initially activated. In one embodiment, after five minutes, the alarm will be reactivated. 
     It is contemplated that the inventory device  10  of the present invention may further include an override feature that permits a golfer to ignore the absence of a particular club. The override feature is preprogrammed into the microprocessor  44 . A golfer will, in one embodiment, also have a capacity to adjust visual, such as strobe, or audio alert intervals provided by the readout  22 . It is also contemplated that the inventory device may further include a remote receiver and readout  22 , which is worn on the golfer&#39;s person, rather than being installed on the bag  24 , in order to minimize possible distraction to other golfers. With this embodiment, the receiver and readout  22  may include a vibration mode, in addition to an audio or visual mode, to signal to the golfer that a club  14  is no longer in the bag  24 . The remote readout  22  receives signals telemetrically from the sensor mechanism  15 . The microprocessor  44  may be used to permit a golfer to optionally select an alert modality, i.e. an audio, visual, such as a strobe, or vibratory signal. The golfer may also select the duration of the signal, a snooze option and so on. 
     It is also contemplated that the inventory device of the present invention includes an option whereby the golfer may specify the number of clubs for which the inventory device will account. This feature permits golfers who carry more or fewer clubs than regulations allow to maintain an inventory of their clubs. This feature is also optionally programmed by the golfer from a selection preprogrammed into the microprocessor  44 . 
     One other embodiment of the inventory device of the present invention is preferably meant to be customizable by each golfer and to allow for customization of golf club identification. This customization may be accomplished by an additional device which specifically encrypts or formulates a specific magnetic signal for each golfer. With this embodiment, golf clubs are encoded not only on a club basis but on a golfer identity basis as well. 
     In one embodiment, the magnetic reader module  21  is affixed within the bag  24 . The magnetic reader module  21  is stationary and communicates with the readout  22  via a wire  46 . The magnetic reader module  21  and microprocessor  44  are capable of determining whether a single club or multiple clubs have been removed from the bag  24 . The magnetic reader module  21  and microprocessor  44  can also determine if one or more clubs removed from the bag has not been returned because of the data stored by the microprocessor  44 . 
     Presented below are examples of the inventory device of the present invention. These examples are not intended to limit the device, but are presented to illustrate specific embodiments of the device. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     A golf equipment inventory device for use with a golf bag with fixed tube inserts is illustrated generally at  60  in FIG.  7 . The device  60  is usable on a golf bag such as is shown at  62  with one or more fixed tube inserts  64  enclosed within the bag  62 . A magnetic proximity sensor  66  is affixed at or near a bottom end  68  of each tube. The magnetic proximity sensor  66  may be switched to an “open” or a “closed” position in a rest state. The term “open” as used herein refers to a sensor circuit rest state as being unenergized. The term “closed” as used herein refers to the sensor circuit rest state as being energized. 
     Each golf club  70  inserted into the tube  64  encloses a magnet  72  which is positioned within a butt of each club grip  74 . In operation, when the club  70  is placed in the tube  64  within the bag  62 , the butt of the grip  74  contacts the bottom  68  of the tube  64 . The magnet  72  within the grip is then in close proximity to the magnetic proximity sensor  66 , and thereby causes the sensor to either open or close a sensor circuit. If the sensor rest state is open, the magnet closes the circuit and energizes the sensor. If the sensor rest state is closed, the magnet opens the circuit and de-energizes the sensor circuit. 
     Although one tube and sensor are described, it is understood that a plurality of tubes and proximity sensors are positioned within the bag. In one embodiment, all of the proximity sensors are wired into one continuous series circuit of the device  60 . In another embodiment, the sensors are wired in a parallel circuit. Should one or more proximity sensors  66  be switched to send an alarming signal to a readout  76  because a magnet  72  is no longer in close proximity to the sensor, the readout  76  alerts a golfer via a visible, audible, or vibratory signal that one or more clubs are missing. Once the club or clubs are replaced, the circuits are returned to a rest state and the signals are discontinued. 
     The device  60  utilizes wires and requires data in the form of electronic signals to be transmitted from the magnetic proximity sensors to a microprocessor readout via the wire or group of wires. The device  60  signals when a club  70  is missing from the bag  62  but is not capable of providing information as to which club or clubs are missing. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     One other golf equipment inventory device that can, in some embodiments, identify which particular club is missing from a golf bag is illustrated generally at  80  in FIG.  8 . This device  80  is mountable on a golf bag  82  that may be an open bag or a closed bag. A plurality of sensors  84 A-L is mounted on an interior surface  86  of the bag. In one embodiment, the sensors are mounted in a lower portion of the bag  82 . The position of the sensors  84 A-C with respect to the bottom of the bag depends upon the strength of the magnetic fields of the magnets in the grips of the golf clubs. Each of the sensors  84 A- 84 L is activated by a corresponding magnetic field generated by a magnet that bears complementary coded information, herein called a “coded magnet.” In one embodiment, an inverted conical baffle such as is illustrated at  85  in FIG. 8A is positioned on a bottom surface of the golf bag. The inverted conical baffle positions the golf clubs so that the magnets are positioned adjacent to the sensors. 
     The coded magnet  88  is inserted within a butt of each club  90  grip. Consequently, each club is identified by a corresponding magnetic field that can activate one or more of the sensors. Magnetic fields are selected for each coded magnet  88  so that the magnet can activate its corresponding sensor  84 A- 84 L within the lower portion of the golf bag  82 . The magnetic sensor signals are transmitted to a readout  92  by either a single wire or a group of wires such as are shown at  94 . 
     If the sensors are wired sequentially to form a single series circuit, it will not be possible for the device to signal which specific club is missing. However, if the sensors are wired in parallel, the device may be capable of signaling which particular golf club  90  is missing from the bag  82 . With this embodiment, the magnetic field of a magnet within a golf club either activates or inactivates a sensor switch resulting in either case, in a change in state of the sensor. The change in state is signaled to a microprocessor. Identification code may also be transmitted to the microprocessor. The microprocessor breaks the code and reports to the golfer through a readout which club is missing from the bag. In one embodiment, the microprocessor has a memory that can receive change in state signals from each sensor and identification code signals from each magnet. With this embodiment, the device can report multiple missing clubs. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     One other embodiment utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID) of the inventory device of the present invention is illustrated generally at  100  in FIG.  9 . This device  100  is also positionable on an open or closed golf club bag such as is shown at  102  in FIG.  9 . Each golf club  104  encloses a transponder  106  within a butt of each golf club grip  112 . A transmitter, transceiver, or transmitter/receiver  108  may be positioned on a readout  110  or other points within or outside of the bag  102 . The transmitter  108  transmits a unique radiowave at a particular frequency over a spatial range such as is shown at  111 . The radiowave activates the transponder  106  that is programmed to respond to that particular frequency. It is contemplated that each of the fourteen or more golf clubs typically in the bag will have its own transponder that is activatable at a unique radio frequency. Electromagnetic energy created by each radiowave is sufficient to activate the transponder  106 . Once activated, the transponder  106  signals to the transmitter  108  that it and the club are in the bag. Once receiving the signal from the transponder  106 , the transmitter  108  sends another radio frequency that can actuate a different transponder  106 , the transmitter  108  sends another radio frequency that can actuate a different transponder for a different club. These steps are repeated until the inventory device  100  has received a signal from all transponders in all of the clubs. The cycle is then repeated. 
     The particular transponder sensitivity and radiowave frequency are of a magnitude that confines tracking to the space within the bag  102  and not substantially outside of the bag. 
     The device  100  requires no wires between the transmitter and the transponder. Information concerning presence or absence of the transponder  106 , hence the club, is transmitted via a radiowave. The device  100  may be installed on any type of golf bag or club. The device  100  may distinguish particular club status or may identify that one or more clubs are missing from the bag as well as identifying which clubs are missing, depending upon how information received by the transmitter  108  is processed. 
     The aforementioned description is not to be interpreted to exclude other golf equipment inventory devices advantageously employing the present invention. Other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.