Patent Publication Number: US-2005143182-A1

Title: Golf practicing device having velocity detection function

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a golf practicing device, and more particularly to a golf practicing device having a velocity detection function.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A conventional golf practicing device comprises a rotation disk, and a bar having a first end mounted on the a rotation disk and a second end formed with a practicing ball. Thus, the user can practicing the golf skills indoors by striking the practicing ball.  
      However, the conventional golf practicing device does not have a velocity detection function, so that the user cannot obtain the velocity of the practicing ball. In addition, the bar is rotated successively when being hit and cannot be returned to the original position automatically, so that the user has to wait until the bar stops moving or exert a force to stop movement of the bar, thereby causing inconvenience to the user. Further, the practicing ball of the bar is located close to the ground, thereby causing inconvenience to the learner. Further, the height of the practicing ball of the bar is fixed and cannot be adjusted so as to fit users of different heights and statures, thereby causing inconvenience to the users when using the golf practicing device.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a golf practicing device having a velocity detection function.  
      Another objective of the present invention is to provide a golf practicing device, wherein the sensor detects the velocity of the practicing ball, and the indication panel indicates the velocity of the practicing ball.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide a golf practicing device having an automatic restoring function.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide a golf practicing device, wherein the energized electromagnet produces a magnetic force to magnetically attract and move the magnetic block to return the bar to the original position, so that the bar can be restored to the original position automatically, thereby facilitating the user practicing the golf skill.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide a golf practicing device having a height adjustable function.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide a golf practicing device, wherein the height of the practicing ball of the bar can be adjusted arbitrarily so as to fit users of different heights and statures, thereby facilitating the users operating the golf practicing device.  
      In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a golf practicing device, comprising 
          a housing;     a sensor mounted in the housing and provided with a velocity sensing member and a position sensing member; and     a rotation disk rotatably mounted in the housing and having a periphery formed with a protruding velocity sensed portion that is movable to pass through the sensor to connect the velocity sensing member of the sensor, and a protruding position sensed portion that is movable to pass through the sensor to connect the position sensing member of the sensor.        

      Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf practicing device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a housing of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of an adjusting knob of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a cover of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of a rotation disk of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 2E  is a perspective view of a sensor of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a partially perspective view of the golf practicing device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a layout diagram of a circuit board the golf practicing device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a side plan cross-sectional view of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 7A  is a partially enlarged view of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a side plan cross-sectional operational view of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 8A  is a partially enlarged view of the golf practicing device as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-6 , a golf practicing device  1  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base  92 , a bottom plate  90 , a housing  30 , a support plate  70 , a sensor  80 , a rotation disk  40 , a cover  20 , a bar  25 , an adjusting knob  10 , an end cover  50 , and a circuit board  60 .  
      The base  92  is formed with a recess  93  having a periphery formed with a plurality of screw bores  95 . The base  92  has a surface provided with a sod  94 .  
      The bottom plate  90  is mounted in the recess  93  of the base  92  and has a periphery formed with a plurality of through holes  91  aligning with the screw bores  95  of the base  92 .  
      The housing  30  is mounted on the bottom plate  90  and has an upper portion formed with a recess  31  and a through hole  32  communicating with the recess  31 . The housing  30  has a surface formed with a chamber  35  (see  FIG. 2A ) and provided with two battery covers  33 . An electromagnet  36  is mounted in the chamber  35  of the housing  30 . The housing  30  has a periphery formed with a plurality of through holes  34  aligning with the through holes  91  of the bottom plate  90 .  
      The golf practicing device  1  further comprises a plurality of screws  79  extended through the through holes  34  of the housing  30  and the through holes  91  of the bottom plate  90  and screwed into the screw bores  95  of the base  92 , thereby securing the housing  30  and the bottom plate  90  on the base  92 .  
      The support plate  70  is secured in the housing  30  and is provided with a bearing seat  71  for mounting a bearing  72 . A detector  84  is mounted on a bottom of the support plate  70 . Two battery covers  73  and  74  are mounted on the support plate  40 .  
      The sensor  80  is mounted on the support plate  40  and is provided with a velocity sensing member  81  (see  FIG. 2E ) and a position sensing member  82 . The sensor  80  has two opened ends each provided with a catch plate  83 .  
      The rotation disk  40  is rotatably mounted on the support plate  70  and located in the housing  30 . The rotation disk  40  has a periphery formed with a protruding velocity sensed portion  46  (see  FIG. 2D ) that is movable to pass through the sensor  80  as shown in  FIG. 4  to connect the velocity sensing member  81  of the sensor  80 , and a protruding position sensed portion  47  (see  FIG. 2D ) that is movable to pass through the sensor  80  as shown in  FIG. 4  to connect the position sensing member  82  of the sensor  80 . The velocity sensed portion  46  of the rotation disk  40  is formed with two opposite openings  48  (see  FIG. 2D ) located between the velocity sensed portion  46  and the position sensed portion  47  of the rotation disk  40 .  
      The rotation disk  40  is provided with a first barrel  41  and a second barrel  45 . The first barrel  41  of the rotation disk  40  has a diameter greater than that of the second barrel  45 . The first barrel  41  of the rotation disk  40  is extended through the through hole  32  of the housing  30  and has a first end rotatably mounted on the bearing seat  71  of the support plate  70  by the bearing  72  and a second end formed with an insert  44 . A bearing  75  is mounted in the recess  31  of the housing  30  and rotatably mounted between the first barrel  41  of the rotation disk  40  and the housing  30 . The first barrel  41  of the rotation disk  40  has a periphery formed with an opening  42  and two opposite slide slots  43  each communicating with the opening  42 .  
      The second barrel  45  of the rotation disk  40  has a first end extended from the second end of the first barrel  41  of the rotation disk  40  and formed with an outer thread  450 . The second barrel  45  of the rotation disk  40  has a periphery formed with two opposite first limit grooves  451 , two opposite second limit grooves  452 , two opposite third limit grooves  453 , and two opposite fourth limit grooves  454 . Preferably, the first limit grooves  451 , the second limit grooves  452 , the third limit grooves  453  and the fourth limit grooves  454  of the second barrel  45  are disposed at different locations as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
      The cover  20  is rotatably mounted on the housing  30  and secured on the first end of the first barrel  41  of the rotation disk  40  to rotate therewith. The cover  20  has a periphery formed with an oblong slot  22 . The cover  20  has a first side formed with a through hole  21  and a second side formed with a support rod  23  (see  FIG. 2C ). A magnetic block  24  is secured on the support rod  23  of the cover  20  and aligning with the electromagnet  36  mounted in the chamber  35  of the housing  30 . The insert  44  of the first barrel  41  is inserted into the through hole  21  of the cover  20 . The second barrel  45  of the rotation disk  40  has a second end protruded outward from the cover  20 . A nut  76  is screwed on the outer thread  450  of the second barrel  45  and rested on the cover  20  to secure the cover  20  on the rotation disk  40  to rotate therewith.  
      The bar  25  is pivotally mounted on the cover  20  and has a first end extended through the oblong slot  22  of the cover  20  and pivotally mounted in the opening  42  of the first barrel  41 . The first end of the bar  25  is formed with a through hole  27  aligning with the two opposite slide slots  43  of the first barrel  41 . A pin  77  is extended through the through hole  27  of the bar  25  and is movably mounted in the two opposite slide slots  43  of the first barrel  41 , so that the first end of the bar  25  is pivotally movable in the first barrel  41  of the rotation disk  40 . The bar  25  has a second end formed with a practicing ball  26 .  
      The adjusting knob  10  having a disk shape is movably mounted on the rotation disk  40  and has an inside provided with a sleeve  11  movably mounted in the second barrel  45  of the rotation disk  40  and rested on the first end of the bar  25 . An elastic member  78  is mounted on the sleeve  11  of the adjusting knob  10  and is urged between the adjusting knob  10  and the rotation disk  40 . The elastic member  78  has a first end urged on the inside of the adjusting knob  10  and a second end urged on the second end of the second barrel  45  of the rotation disk  40 . The sleeve  11  of the adjusting knob  10  is provided with two opposite locking portions  12  selectively locked in the first limit grooves  451 , the second limit grooves  452 , the third limit grooves  453  and the fourth limit grooves  454  of the second barrel  45 .  
      The end cover  50  is mounted on the bottom plate  90  and located beside the housing  30 . The end cover  50  is provided with an indication panel  51  and a plurality of press buttons  52 . The end cover  50  has an end formed with a protruding seat  54  for mounting a power button  55 . The end cover  50  has a periphery formed with a plurality of through holes  53  aligning with the through holes  91  of the bottom plate  90 .  
      The golf practicing device  1  further comprises a plurality of screws  790  extended through the through holes  53  of the end cover  50  and the through holes  91  of the bottom plate  90  and screwed into the screw bores  95  of the base  92 , thereby securing the end cover  50  on the base  92 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the circuit board  60  is mounted in the end cover  50  and is provided with an automatic positioning circuit  61  connected to the position sensing member  82  of the sensor  80  and the electromagnet  36 , and an infrared sensing circuit  62  connected to the velocity sensing member  81  of the sensor  80 .  
      In operation, referring to  FIGS. 7 and 7 A with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , when the practicing ball  26  of the bar  25  is hit, the bar  25  is driven to rotate the cover  20  and the rotation disk  40 , so that the velocity sensed portion  46  of the rotation disk  40  is moved to pass through the sensor  80  as shown in  FIG. 4 . At this time, the velocity sensing member  81  of the sensor  80  detects the rotation impulse width between the two opposite openings  48  of the velocity sensed portion  46  and sends a signal to the infrared sensing circuit  62  of the circuit board  60  to measure the velocity of the practicing ball  26  of the bar  25 , and the velocity of the practicing ball  26  is indicated on the indication panel  51  of the end cover  50 .  
      Accordingly, the sensor  80  detects the velocity of the practicing ball  26 , and the indication panel  51  indicates the velocity of the practicing ball  26 .  
      When the rotation speed of the rotation disk  40  is reduced, the position sensing member  82  of the sensor  80  can detect reduction of the rotation speed of the rotation disk  40  by movement of the position sensed portion  47  of the rotation disk  40  and send a signal to the automatic positioning circuit  61  of the circuit board  60  to energize the electromagnet  36  mounted in the chamber  35  of the housing  30 , so that the electromagnet  36  produces a magnetic force to magnetically attract and move the magnetic block  24  mounted in the cover  20  so as to drive the cover  20 , the rotation disk  40  and the bar  25  to move backward to the original position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . In such a manner, the bar  25  can be restored to the original position automatically, thereby facilitating the user practicing the golf skill.  
      Accordingly, the energized electromagnet  36  produces a magnetic force to magnetically attract and move the magnetic block  24  to return the bar  25  to the original position, so that the bar  25  can be restored to the original position automatically, thereby facilitating the user practicing the golf skill.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 8 A with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the locking portions  12  of the adjusting knob  10  are initially locked in the first limit grooves  451  of the rotation disk  40  as shown in  FIG. 8A , and the practicing ball  26  of the bar  25  is located at the lowermost position.  
      Subsequently, the adjusting knob  10  is pressed toward the rotation disk  40  to move the sleeve  11  downward which presses and moves the first end of the bar  25  downward in the first barrel  41  (the pin  77  is movable in the slide slots  43  of the first barrel  41 ) to pivot the bar  25  upward about the opening  42  of the first barrel  41 , so that the practicing ball  26  of the bar  25  is moved upward and located at a higher position. At this time, the sleeve  11  of the adjusting knob  10  is moved downward, so that the locking portions  12  of the adjusting knob  10  are moved into and locked in the second limit grooves  452  of the rotation disk  40 .  
      Subsequently, the adjusting knob  10  is further pressed toward the rotation disk  40  to move the sleeve  11  downward which presses and moves the first end of the bar  25  downward in the first barrel  41  (the pin  77  is movable in the slide slots  43  of the first barrel  41 ) to pivot the bar  25  upward about the opening  42  of the first barrel  41 , so that the practicing ball  26  of the bar  25  is moved upward and located at a higher position. At this time, the sleeve  11  of the adjusting knob  10  is moved downward, so that the locking portions  12  of the adjusting knob  10  are moved into and locked in the third limit grooves  453  of the rotation disk  40 .  
      Subsequently, the adjusting knob  10  is further pressed toward the rotation disk  40  to move the sleeve  11  downward which presses and moves the first end of the bar  25  downward in the first barrel  41  (the pin  77  is movable in the slide slots  43  of the first barrel  41 ) to pivot the bar  25  upward about the opening  42  of the first barrel  41 , so that the practicing ball  26  of the bar  25  is moved upward and located at the uppermost position. At this time, the sleeve  11  of the adjusting knob  10  is moved downward, so that the locking portions  12  of the adjusting knob  10  are moved into and locked in the fourth limit grooves  454  of the rotation disk  40 .  
      Accordingly, the height of the practicing ball  26  of the bar  25  can be adjusted arbitrarily so as to fit users of different heights and statures, thereby facilitating the users operating the golf practicing device  1 .  
      Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.