Abstract:
A pressure sensing and notification system to be worn by a golfer to facilitate proper putting and swing techniques. The system indicates to the golfer via a physically-detectable signal that is transmitted to the golfer instantly in response to the golfer handling a club with excessive pressure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/184,151, filed Jun. 4, 2009, titled GOLF PUTTING AID, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present inventive concept relates generally to athlete-training aids. More specifically, embodiments of the present inventive concept concern a device to be worn by an athletic to provide feedback responsive to the athlete&#39;s performance while golfing. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Proper putting technique is critical to successful play of golf. While putting, there are a variety of factors that a golfer must track to ensure desirable contact between a putter and a golf ball and resultant travel of the golf ball. Such factors include aim, velocity, form, and grip. 
         [0006]    Golfers commonly err with respect to the factors of velocity, form, and grip. Tendencies include undesirable pushing or pulling of the putter, decelerating the putter mid-swing, and griping the putter too tight. Any one of these errors may cause the golf ball to travel undesirably. In view of the plurality of tendencies, it is difficult to identify a cause of an error to avoid repeating it. Similar problems are present when a golfer swings a club, particularly during chipping and pitching. 
         [0007]    Popular putter-grip styles vary among individuals and include the single interlock, the double interlock, the single overlap, and the baseball grip. The aforementioned errors are common to each of these grip styles. 
         [0008]    Conventional training aid devices suffer from various limitations. For instance, conventional devices generally provide untimely feedback with limited detail, which prevents a user from pinpointing an error. Additionally, conventional devices are generally not adaptable to accommodate users of different strength, style, and skill level, which prevents optimization for an individual user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The following brief summary is provided to indicate the nature of the subject matter disclosed herein. While certain aspects of the present inventive concept are described below, the summary is not intended to limit the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the present inventive concept provide an athletic training aid that does not suffer from the problems and limitations of conventional training aids, such as those set forth above. 
         [0011]    The present inventive concept broadly concerns a sensing and notification system to be worn by a golfer to teach proper puttering and swing technique by indicating to the golfer via a physically-detectable signal that is transmitted to the golfer instantly in response to a sensed improper technique. 
         [0012]    According to one aspect of the present inventive concept, the apparatus includes a glove dimensioned and configured to be received on a hand of a user. The glove presents a contact region on a palm side thereof. The apparatus further includes a controller and a sensor mounted to the contact region to detect a condition of the contact region and communicate the condition to the controller. The apparatus also includes an indicator connected to the controller to generate a physically-perceivable signal if activated by the controller. The controller is operable to activate the indicator if the condition exceeds a predetermined value. 
         [0013]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present inventive concept, the assembly broadly includes a printed circuit board electrically connected to a pressure sensor and a vibrator. The pressure sensor includes an elongated, flexible body that extends longitudinally along and about a middle finger of the golfer. The vibrator is activated by the controller to deliver the physically-detectable signal if the pressure sensor detects pressure in excess of a predetermined value that is selected from one of a plurality of values. 
         [0014]    Additional aspects, advantages, and utilities of the present inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0015]    Preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a golf training system, in accordance with first embodiment of the present inventive concept, illustrating a user gripping a shaft of a putter with a golf glove; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front right perspective view of the golf training system illustrated in  FIG. 1  with a first flap and a second flap of the glove in an open configuration to expose a printed circuit board and a passage opening on a backhand side of the glove; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the golf training system illustrated in  FIG. 1  with a sensor positioned on a contact point of a palm side of the glove; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the golf training system illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrating the printed circuit board. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the golf training system illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrating the sensor on the palm side of the glove in contact with the putter; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a front right perspective view of the golf training system illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the first flap of the glove in the open configuration and the second flap of the glove in a closed configuration to expose an engagement section for the first flap on the second flap. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    The drawing figures do not limit the present inventive concept to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the preferred embodiment. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , a golf training system  20  is illustrated in a first embodiment in the form of a golf glove  30  that is configured to receive a hand  35  for gripping a golf club shaft  37 . 
         [0024]    The glove  30  is made of knit, natural leather, and/or synthetic material and includes an opening  40  through which the hand  35  is received, with the opening  40  being defined between a backhand side  42  and a palm side  44 . A slit  46  extends from the proximal end of the backhand side  42  and the palm region  44  to facilitate entry of the hand  35  into the opening  40  by permitting expansion of the opening  40 . 
         [0025]    Turning to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the glove  30  includes a first flap  50  that folds over and attaches to a second flap  60 . Each of the flaps  50  and  60  have an attachment end sewn to the glove  30 , and may be moved to and from an open configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and a closed configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . It is foreseen that the flaps  50  and  60  may be attached to the glove  30  by means other than sewing, for example, by hook-and-loop material, without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0026]    The first flap  50  extends parallel with respect to the opening  40  from a left side of the glove  30 , across the slit  44 , and may be selectively secured to a section  62  of the second flap  60  on a right side of the glove  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The first flap  50  has a hook-and-loop material section  50   a  that is attached to the section  62  of the second flap  60 , which also comprises hook-and-loop material to permit adjustable engagement of the first flap  50  with the second flap  60 . The adjustable engagement enables the user to selectively position the first flap  50  in one of a variety of closed configurations along a length of the section  62  of the second flap  60 , which defines a size of the opening  40  of the glove  30 . In this manner, the user may select a desired fit of the glove  30 . 
         [0027]    When the first flap  40  is in the open configuration, as illustrated by  FIG. 2 , the slit  44  is exposed so that the opening  40  may be expanded. When the opening  40  is expanded, entry and removal of the hand  35  into and out of the opening  40  is facilitated. 
         [0028]    The second flap  60  extends laterally from the right side of the glove  30 , adjacent to the opening  40 , parallel to the first flap  50 , and up to the slit  44 . The second flap  60  may only be moved to and from the open and closed configurations when the first flap  50  is in the open configuration and the second flap  60  is exposed. The second flap  60  is selectively secured to the glove  30  in the closed configuration using hook-and-loop material oriented partially along a perimeter  64  of the second flap. In the illustrated embodiment, the hook-and-loop material extends entirely along a first side  64   a  and a second side  64   b  of the second flap  60 , partially along a third side  64   c  of the second flap  60 , and does not extend along a fourth side  64   d  of the second flap  60  that is sewn to the glove  30 . 
         [0029]    When the second flap  60  is in the closed configuration, the second flap  60  forms a compartment  70  that is arranged on a backhand side  42  of the glove  30  to house a printed circuit board (PCB)  80  to control the system  20  therein. The PCB  80  is removable from the compartment  70  to enable washing of the glove  30 . 
         [0030]    The compartment  70  includes hook-and-loop material that extends entirely along a first side  70   a  and a second side  70   b,  and partially along a third side  70   c  of the compartment  70 , which are respectively securable to the first side  60   a,  the second side  60   b,  and the third side  60   c  of the second flap  60 . Hook-and-loop material does not extend along a fourth side  70   d  of the compartment  70 , which abuts the sewn end  60   d  of the second flap  60 . 
         [0031]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , the compartment  70  encloses a portion of an elongated pocket  72  and an opening  74  thereof. The pocket  72  extends from the compartment  70  at the third side  64   c  of the second flap  60  adjacent to the hook-and-loop material of the third side  64   c  of the second flap  60 . The pocket  72  extends longitudinally along and about a portion of the glove  30  that corresponds to a middle finger of the hand  35  and terminates at the palm region  44  of the glove  30 . 
         [0032]    In the first embodiment, the compartment  70  is arranged on the backhand side  42  of the glove  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , such that the PCB  80  is carried by the glove  30 . It is foreseen, however, that the PCB  80  need not be attached to the user, but could remotely control the system  20 , for example via wireless communication, without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0033]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , the PCB  80  includes a battery compartment  90 , a power switch  100 , a settings switch  110 , and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  120  mounted thereon and is electrically connected to a sensor  130  and a vibrator  140 . 
         [0034]    The battery compartment  90  is sized and shaped to receive a 3-volt battery  93  that may be introduced to or removed from the battery compartment  90  when the PCB  80  is exposed. It is foreseen, however, that any battery of sufficient voltage to power the system  20  could be used without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. Alternatively, the system  20  may be powered by an external power source, such as but not limited to a power source of another electronic device, such as an IPHONE® or the like, without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0035]    When the first flap  50  and the second flap  60  are in their open configurations, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the power switch  100  is exposed to enable activation and deactivation of the system  20  by manipulating the power switch  100 . It is foreseen that the system  20  may be activated and deactivated by other means, such as by a motion-detector switch without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. In this manner, the motion-detector switch activates the system  20  when the hand  35  is in motion and deactivates the system  20  when the hand  35  or system  20  is at rest, e.g., after a predetermined time period, which advantageously provides ease of use and power conservation. 
         [0036]    The settings switch  110  is operable to permit selection of one of a plurality of pressure-sensitivity settings so that the user may adjust the system  20  with respect to ideal grip pressure, which differs depending on a variety of factors such as the user&#39;s age, gender, and ability. In the first embodiment, the plurality of settings range between 1 to 25 lbs and preferably include four settings such as two pounds, three pounds, four pounds, and five pounds. It is foreseen, however, that any pressure setting could be used depending on a particular user&#39;s needs. For instance, the system  20  may be manufactured so that the glove  30  has a plurality of different sizes and predetermined pressure settings to accommodate general user types, for example children, women, and men. 
         [0037]    Additionally, the system  20  is programmable and may be connected to communicate with an external device to define one or more sensitivities within a sensor range, e.g., between one and one hundred pounds. In this manner, a wide variety of golfers of various ages, genders, and abilities could use of the system  20 , which would be advantageous for a profession user, such as a golfing instructor. It is foreseen that the system  20  may be calibrated for a specific user prior to initial use and/or anytime thereafter. 
         [0038]    The LEDs  120  include four LEDs  120  aligned on the PCB  80 . The LEDs  120  cooperate with the settings switch  110  and are operable to visibly indicate to the user an activated/deactivated status and, if the system  20  is activated, a present pressure-sensitivity setting. 
         [0039]    The LEDs  120  are operable to deactivate after manipulation of the setting switch  110 , e.g., after a predetermined time period such as 5 seconds, and reactive when the settings switch  110  is again manipulated to conserve power. As such, if the settings switch  110  is manipulated and one or more of the LEDs  120  is illuminated, such indicate that the system  20  is activated. Similarly, if the settings switch  110  is manipulated and none of the LEDs  120  is illuminated, such indicates that the system  20  is deactivated. 
         [0040]    When the pressure sensitivity is at its lowest setting, for example two pounds, a single, leftmost one of the LEDs  120  is illuminated if the settings switch  110  is manipulated. With each push of the settings switch  110  while one of the LEDs  120  is illuminated, a next, most adjacent one of the LEDs  120  activates and the prior one of the LEDs  120  deactivates to indicate an increase in pressure sensitivity. As such, only one of the LEDs  120  is illuminated at any one time. When a single, rightmost one of the LEDs  120  is illuminated, the pressure sensitivity is at its highest level, for example five pounds. If the settings switch  110  is manipulated when the rightmost one of the LEDs  120  is illuminated, the pressure sensitivity resets to its lowest setting and is capable of being increased as provided above. In this manner, the LEDs  120  provide an efficient means for communication and eliminate any ambiguity with respect to the present pressure-sensitivity setting. It is foreseen, that other illumination patterns could be used to convey status of the system  120  without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0041]    The sensor  130  is a piezoresistive force sensor having an elongated flexible-printed circuit  134  that extends from the PCB  80  with a single button  136  of a pressure-sensitive ink at a distal end thereof. The sensor  130  is ultra-thin with a width of 0.0008 inch. In the first embodiment, the sensor  130  extends from the PCB  80  and into the pocket  72 . In this manner, the pocket  72  guides the sensor  130  along and about a portion of the glove  30  that corresponds to a middle finger of the hand  35  and terminates at the palm side  44  of the glove  30  that corresponds to a contact point  132  between the glove  30  and the golf club shaft  37 . In this manner, the button  136  is situated on the contact point  132  to sense a pressure between the golf club shaft  37  and the hand  35 . 
         [0042]    In the first embodiment, the system  20  comprises a single sensor  130  to sense pressure at the single contact point  132 . It is foreseen, however, that multiple sensors could be routed to multiple contact points via multiple pockets without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. For instance, one or more additional sensors may be added that extend from the PCB  80 , through a pocket, and to a contact point on a portion of the glove  30  corresponding to another contact point between the hand  35  and the golf club shaft  37 , such as a portion of the glove  30  corresponding to a thumb. It is foreseen that the sensor  130  could be attached to the glove  30  in another manner and/or be adjustable, e.g., using hook-and-loop material, without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0043]    The system  20  employs the vibrator  140 , which comprises a vibramotor device connected to the PCB  80  via wires  142 . Upon activation, the vibrator  140  is operable to deliver a vibration that is physically-detectable by the user. Other physically-detectable signals such as audible and visible signals may alternatively be used and are within the ambit of the present inventive concept, however, the vibration signal is more preferred because an audible signal may distract others and a visible signal may detract from the user&#39;s swing as the user watches an indicator for the visible signal. 
         [0044]    The vibrator  140  is activated if pressure sensed by the sensor  136  is greater than the pressure defined by the setting switch  110 . Likewise, the vibrator  140  is deactivated if the pressure sensed by the sensor  136  is equal to or less than the pressure defined by the setting switch  110 . 
         [0045]    Again, in a secluded and/or teaching environment, it may be desirable that the signal be audible and/or visible, for example, so that another party such as an instructor can observe the signal and provide instruction. Thus, it is foreseen that the vibrator  140  could be substituted for or operate in sync with another signaling device capable of independent activation and operable to deliver another physically-detectable signal, such as an audible signal and/or a visible signal. 
         [0046]    The vibrator  140  is attached to a region of the glove  30  that corresponds to a region of the user that is susceptible to receiving the vibration. In the first embodiment, the glove  30  positions the vibrator  140  on a portion of the glove  30  corresponding to a portion of the hand  35  between metacarpal bones of the thumb and forefinger, which is a fleshy, sensitive area of the hand  35  relative to other areas of the hand  35 . Notably, the compartment  70  extends onto this area of the hand  35  and the vibrator  140  is positioned therein. 
         [0047]    In the first embodiment, the glove  30  is a full glove similar to a standard golf glove, but it is foreseen that the glove  30  may be a partial glove, i.e., a glove with one or more partial slots or no finger slots. 
         [0048]    A second embodiment of a golf training system that is not illustrated, is described below. For the sake of brevity, the remaining description will focus primarily on the differences of this embodiment relative to the embodiment described above. The primary difference is substituting alternative attachment means for that provided by the glove  30 . 
         [0049]    Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment includes a PCB having a battery compartment, a power switch, a settings switch, and a plurality of LEDs mounted thereon and electrically connected to a sensor and a vibrator. 
         [0050]    The PCB, sensor, and vibrator are positioned on the user in the same regions as like elements in the first embodiment, except that in the second embodiment, they are secured using independent straps that are sized and shaped to secure the PCB, sensor, and vibrator. It is foreseen that other attachment means maybe substituted for the straps without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
         [0051]    The second embodiment enables the user to use the system without a glove or, in the alternative, to fit a glove over the system for use therewith. 
         [0052]    The present inventive concept will now be described in use with respect to the first embodiment. 
         [0053]    Returning to the first embodiment, to use the system  20 , the user fits the glove  30  onto the hand  35  with the system  20  preferably deactivated. To facilitate entry of the hand  35  into the glove  30 , the user may elect to move the first flap  50  to its open configuration to expand the slit  46  and increase a circumference of the opening  40  of the glove  30 . 
         [0054]    Once the glove is received onto the hand  35 , the user may move the first flap  50  to its closed configuration by attaching the first flap  50  to any portion of the section  62  of the second flap  60 , which causes the slit  46  to be closed and the circumference of the opening  40  to be decreased to snugly fit the hand  35 . 
         [0055]    The glove  35  may be used throughout a golf game with the system  20  activated or deactivated. However, because the system  20  is particularly suitable as a putting aid, it may be desirable for the system  20  to be maintained in a deactivated state until the user is preparing to putt so that power is conserved. 
         [0056]    When the user is preparing to putt or swing a club and desires assistance from the system  20 , the user moves the first flap  50  to its open configuration in order to access the second flap  60 . The user may then move the second flap  60  to its open configuration to expose the PCB  80  within the compartment  70 . With the PCB  80  exposed, the user may access and manipulate the power switch  100  to activate the system  20 . If the user manipulates the power switch  100  and observes illumination of one or more of the LEDs  120 , the system  20  is activated. 
         [0057]    After activating the system  120 , the user may observe the present pressure-sensitivity setting by noting a position of an illuminated one of the LEDs  120  as discussed previously. If the user desires a different pressure sensitivity, the user may alter such by manipulating the setting switch  110  until a desired pressure sensitivity is achieved. 
         [0058]    With the system  20  activated and the pressure sensitivity set to a desired setting, the user may move the second flap  60  to its closed configuration to conceal the PCB  80  and move the first flap  50  to its closed configuration by attaching the first flap  50  to any portion of the section  62  of the second flap  60 , which causes the slit  46  to be closed and the circumference of the opening  40  to be decreased to snugly fit the hand  35 , as discussed previously. The user is now able to putt or swing a club with the aid of the system  20 . 
         [0059]    The user grips the golf club shaft  37  in one of a variety of grip styles including, but not limited to single interlock, the double interlock, the single overlap, and the baseball grip. In any one of these grip styles, the middle finger of the hand  35  engages the golf club shaft  37  at the contact point  132  on the palm side  44  of the glove  30 . In this manner, the sensor  130  and particularly the button  136  thereof is situated between the hand  35  and the golf club shaft  37  and is operable to measure a pressure therebetween and communicate such to the PCB  80 . 
         [0060]    If the force between the hand  35  and the golf club shaft  37  exceeds the pressure sensitivity setting, the vibrator  140  is activated to alert the user to the excessive force. The vibrator  140  deactivates when the user reduces grip pressure force on the golf club shaft  37  by relaxing the grip. 
         [0061]    With particular regard to a putting stroke, if the user pushes or pulls the putter, or decelerates the putter in mid-swing, such causes an increase in pressure. If the increase in pressure exceeds the pressure sensitivity setting, the vibrator  140  is activated to alert the user to the improper technique. Because the vibrator  140  is activated immediately upon detection of the excessive force, the user can pinpoint the error based on when the vibrator  140  is activated. For instance, if the vibrator  140  is activated when the putter is at rest, the system  20  is indicating that the user&#39;s grip on the golf club shaft  37  is too tight. Further, if the vibrator  140  is activated when the user is swinging the putter and before striking a golf ball, the system  20  is indicating that the user is pulling the putter or decelerating the putter mid-swing. Still further, if the vibrator  140  is activated when the user is swinging the putter and after striking a golf ball, the system  20  is indicating that the user is pushing the putter. 
         [0062]    Any one of these indications may result in poor putting performance. Because the system  20  alerts the user immediately upon detection of a user error, i.e., excessive force pressure, the user may pinpoint and reduce the pressure. 
         [0063]    The preferred forms of the present inventive concept described above are to be used as illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present inventive concept. Obvious modifications to the preferred embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept. 
         [0064]    The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present inventive concept as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the present inventive concept as set forth in the following claims.