GB2594452A

GB2594452A - Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes

Info

Publication number: GB2594452A
Application number: GB2005919.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Samwell Christopher; Andrew Irvine Benjamin
Original assignee: Edward James Mellors; Mellors Group Ltd
Current assignee: Edward James Mellors; Mellors Group Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-23
Filing date: 2020-04-23
Publication date: 2021-11-03
Also published as: GB202005919D0

Abstract

An apparatus for sports, games and pastimes comprises: a single shaft for left and right handed players 9, and a striking apparatus such as a golf club head; the club head 10 including an array of embedded proximity magnetic reed switches or hall sensors arranged in a plurality of axes; an embedded mobile sensor or accelerometer 14; an RFID aerial 17; energy storage means 12; electronic circuit board 13 contained within the golf club shaft 11; magnetic balls (figs 7, 8) and an electronic game layout identified to the apparatus. The apparatus may recognise the identity of a player and the start point of a game. The ball may include a single magnet, or a plurality of magnets arranged uniformly around the centre of the ball.

Description

Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports, games and pastimes which use a shaft held by a player at one end connected to ball striking apparatus contained within the other end, which may be for example a golf club head or croquet mallet or snooker cue; shaft and ball striking apparatus containing wireless communication devices which provide wireless communication means to other devices, for example to balls and to game layouts which may be sited indoors and / or outdoors to facilitate sports, games and pastimes.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Sports, games and pastimes which use a variety of ball striking apparatus are among the most popular activities in the world and therefore attract widespread interest in continued technical development in order to broaden their appeal and thereby generate revenue. For example novel offshoots exist for the traditional 9 and 18 hole outdoor golf game by offering smaller indoor golf courses, driving ranges and 'crazy golf venues under different brand names. To broaden the appeal of these games still further the use of telecommunications in the form of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags secured within golf balls is well understood and taught in many examples of prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is well understood that sensors and RFID use electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects consisting of a tiny radio transponder, a radio receiver and transmitter to facilitate recognition, identification, number of strikes and impact of a strike on a ball through an accelerometer for example. Such innovations for example offer scope for novel rules and additional competitiveness between players, with in-game results being updated in real time on display panels for viewing by players and spectators alike.

SHORTCOMINGS AND DRAWBACKS IN THE PRIOR ART

US2015310236A1 amongst other prior art teaches the application of 'RFID' communication means in general terms for connecting a golf ball with a golf club to achieve a list of desirable outcomes. The shortcoming is the lack of specific functional detail which allows a person skilled in the art to clearly replicate the technology for manufacture and produce novel technical effects which work in the field. Similarly W02005028035 teaches in general terms that a ball comprises counting means which may consist of a microprocessor arranged to count the number of times the ball has been struck and further comprising identification means which are capable of uniquely identifying the ball; the identification means comprising an RFID tag and wherein the counting means further comprises an impact sensor and a motion sensor; in addition a ball as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising control means for the counting means, the control means being arranged to be externally actuated.

It is firstly an aim of the present invention to provide technical detail to overcome such shortcomings in a more robust patent application and secondly to provide an absorbing sport, game or pastime comprising a shaft held by a player at one end and connected to ball striking apparatus containable within the other end to offer enhanced enjoyment through wireless communication means by increasing the skill, interaction and level of concentration and competitiveness required of players. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided: Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes comprising: a single shaft for left and right handed players is held by a player at one end, the other end connecting to ball striking apparatus containing an array of embedded proximity magnetic reed switches or hall sensors arranged in a plurality of axes acting as a three dimensional space detector tuned and optimised to work in close proximity with a magnetic ball, an embedded mobile sensor or accelerometer; an RFID aerial; energy storage means; electronic circuit board containable within the length of the shaft transmitting data to a remote display board via a computer server; a plethora of static sensors; magnets in a ball and an electronic game course identified to the shaft and ball striking apparatus.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided: a ball, comprising a single embedded magnet and / or an array of embedded magnets, located in the centre of mass of a ball in equilibrium.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided: A course layout designed as an electronic game comprising a plethora of challenging shapes, surfaces and hazards featuring static electronic sensors and randomly positioned targets and ball receiving holes which are encircled by an array of static ball recognition electronic sensors containable around their interior perimeter; recognition sensors for the ball striking apparatus are containable within other sections; unique identification for all static sensors may transmit information to an electronic circuit board containable within the shaft of the ball striking apparatus; data from the electronic circuit board containable within may transmit to a display board for viewing by players and spectators alike via a computer server whenever a ball passes by, over, under or through a static sensor, stops, or goes into a hole on a game layout.

To play a typical game any number of players, left or right handed, is given a sporting apparatus with a unique identification allocated and registered to a particular player. An embedded mobile sensor or accelerometer within the ball striking apparatus records the identity of the player for data transmission to an electronic circuit board.

Each player starts a game in turn, the start point of the game layout recognising the player through pre-programmed electronic means containable within the ball striking apparatus at the point of signing-on of the player.

During a game the impact, force and velocity of hit on a magnetic ball through an accelerometer within the ball striking apparatus could be shown, and the direction of travel may be measured, by a combination of sensors in the ball striking apparatus transmitted to a remote display board via a computer.

In addition for training purposes data showing the exact place on the apparatus where the ball was hit may be recorded and transmitted via a computer to a remote screen, display board, or mobile device.

After a player starts a game of golf, for example, the ball after being struck travels over a course layout on its way to the first hole or target and will encounter hazards on the way, for example, varying degrees of slopes, undulating surfaces, bunkers and water; each slope, undulating surface, bunker and water containing randomly positioned static sensors which record the locality of a ball passing by, over, under, through or stopping and relay back to the display board on a scale range 1 to 10 the degree of pre-programmed difficulty encountered including the level of impact, 10 being the easiest or lowest and 1 being the hardest or highest and so on until all holes have been sunk. Each hole in the game will be given a name and a par total. For instance the player with the least amount of points and least amount of shots undertaken in the least amount of time for each hole wins a game.

In order that the nature of the present invention may be clearly understood an embodiment using a golf club, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional side view of a golf club featuring internal componentry, communication and energy storage means in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cross sectional side view of a golf club head featuring internal componentry and communication means in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional end view of a golf club featuring internal componentry and communication means in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a reed switch, or hall sensor in open and closed states locatable in a golf club head in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows an underneath schematic view of an RFID aerial locatable preferably at the base of a golf club head in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a circuit board and communication means preferably concealed within a golf club handle or shaft in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 shows a cutaway section of a magnetic ball depicting a spherical magnet located and embedded within the centre of mass in equilibrium in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 shows a cutaway section of a magnetic ball depicting an array of magnets locatable and embedded within an equal portion of mass in equilibrium in an embodiment of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In figure 1 a cross sectional side view of a typical golf club putter 9 depicts the componentry needed to play a game, comprising a golf club head 10, handle 11, internal energy storage means 12, preferably locatable in the upper portion of the shaft, connected to an internal electronic circuit board 13 by connection means 21; locatable in the golf club head connected to the circuit board are embedded vibration sensor 14, embedded mobile sensor 22, an array of embedded proximity magnetic reed switches, or hall sensors arranged in a plurality of axes 15, capacitive proximity sensors 19, accelerometer 20, printed circuit board 16 and RFID aerial 17.

In figure 2 a cross sectional close up side view of a golf club head depicts electronic connection means 21 engaging with an encapsulated collection of electronic devices connected together such as: 1. an electronic inertial sensor, impact, vibration, or motion sensor 14 recognises and counts each hit of a magnetic ball and is set up at the beginning of a game to identify the person who will be using the golf club or ball striking apparatus.

2. an array of proximity magnetic reed switches 15 arranged in a plurality of axes positioned such that they can record and count the hits of a magnetic ball from anywhere around the golf club or ball striking apparatus acting as a three dimensional space detector, whenever a magnetic ball is hit at any angle by the golf club or ball striking apparatus containing an embedded mobile sensor.

3. an RFID aerial 17 located in the base of the golf club or ball striking apparatus instigates a game through communication with a sensor at the start point of a game.

In figure 3 a cross sectional end view of a golf club head shows electronic connection means 21 and depicts positioning of an array of embedded proximity magnetic reed switches 15 vertically along the centreline of the golf club head offering electronic recognition of a magnetic ball for both left and right handed players; attached to PCB 16 is an electronic inertial, vibration or motion sensor 14 which recognises the number of identified magnetic ball hits and details of a player's shots; electronic capacitive proximity sensor 23, accelerometer 24, embedded electronic inertial sensor 25 and embedded electronic orientation sensor 26 for gauging the degree of difficulty on a score of 1 to 10 of each shot undertaken; all for remote transmission via a circuit board encapsulated in the golf club to a computer controlled display board, or mobile device.

In figure 4 reed switch 27 located in a golf club head is shown in a closed and open state.

The notation N and S refer to North and South magnetic polarity. A magnet in a ball and the reed switches in the club head are tuned and optimised to work in close proximity to eliminate game error and counts hits.

In figure 5 an underneath schematic plan view of the RFID aerial 17 is represented by a series of equal loops; the overall plan shape may follow the perimeter of the golf club head or ball striking apparatus In figure 6 a schematic view of circuit board and wireless protocol communication means to a server 13 (showing symbolic transmission means 33) provides additional electronic support for proximity reed switches; mobile sensor; an array of embedded electronic sensors; embedded electronic inertial sensors; an embedded electronic accelerometer; electronic impact sensors and electronic orientation sensors configured within the club head or ball striking apparatus.

In figure 7 magnetic ball 27 is shown with cutaway quadrant 28 for illustrative purposes only. Embedded in the magnetic ball is shown a single magnet 29. To be able to roll true the magnet is located in the ball's centre of mass in equilibrium.

In an alternative version, figure 8 shows a magnetic ball 30 with cutaway quadrant 31 for illustrative purposes only, an equally spaced array of a plurality of magnets 32 embedded in the magnetic ball's centre of mass in equilibrium to enable the ball to roll true.

The foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. It will be appreciated, however, that changes may be made to the details of construction and configuration of components without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Therefore, the description provided herein is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined by the following claims and the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes comprising a single shaft for left and right handed players is held by a player at one end, the other end connecting to ball striking apparatus containing an array of embedded proximity magnetic reed switches or hall sensors arranged in a plurality of axes acting as a three dimensional space detector tuned and optimised to work in close proximity with a magnetic ball, an embedded mobile sensor or accelerometer; an RFID aerial; energy storage means; electronic circuit board containable within the length of the shaft transmitting data to a remote display board via a computer server; a plethora of static sensors; magnets in a ball and an electronic game layout identified to the shaft and ball striking apparatus.
2. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which the array of magnetic proximity reed switches embedded within the ball striking apparatus is dedicatedly identified to a player at the start point of a game.
3. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which the array of magnetic proximity reed switches embedded within the ball striking apparatus is tuned and optimised with a magnet in a ball to work in proximity to eliminate game error.
4. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which the plethora of magnets in the magnetic ball and the reed switches in the ball striking apparatus are tuned and optimised to work in proximity to eliminate game error.
5. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which the array of embedded proximity magnetic reed switches, or hall sensors is arranged in a plurality of axes positioned such that they may recognise a hit of a magnetic ball at any angle to the ball striking apparatus
6. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 5, in which the array of proximity magnetic reed switches acting as a three dimensional space detector records a ball being hit at any angle by the ball striking apparatus.
7 Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 6, in which the array of proximity magnetic reed switches acting as a three dimensional space detector records a ball being hit from anywhere around the ball striking apparatus.
8. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which the array of embedded proximity magnetic reed switches, or hall sensors are aligned centrally along the length of the ball striking apparatus to facilitate electronic transmission of data to a circuit board which may be sited within the shaft for both left and right handed players.
9. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which the embedded mobile sensor or accelerometer records a hit of the magnetic ball, detecting acceleration, impact, vibration and tilt to determine movement and exact orientation along the three axes of the ball striking apparatus for data transmission to the circuit board.
10. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which the embedded mobile sensor or accelerometer within the ball striking apparatus recognises the identity of a player for data transmission to the circuit board.
11. Sporting apparatus according to claim 1, in which the embedded mobile sensor or accelerometer counts the number of hits of a magnetic ball.
12. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which an embedded RFID aerial, located within the ball striking apparatus recognises a player at the start point of a game.
13. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 2, in which a single magnet of predetermined shape is embedded within the central axis of a ball.
14. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 2, in which a plethora of embedded magnets are arrayed uniformly within the central axis of a ball.
15. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim1, in which the magnet in a ball and the reed switches in the ball striking apparatus are tuned and optimised to work in close proximity to eliminate game error.
16. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which an electronic circuit board is contained within the ball striking apparatus.
17. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which energy storage means is located within the shaft.
18. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which energy storage means is a collection of batteries.
19. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which an electronic game layout comprises randomly positioned holes or targets to receive magnetic balls, the holes and / or targets encircled by and containing an array of magnetic ball recognition static sensors, which record when a magnetic ball is hit, contained around their interior perimeter transmitting such information to a display board or mobile device via a computer server
20. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which an electronic game layout comprises a plethora of randomly positioned hazards including undulating surfaces, bunkers and water which recognise magnetic balls as they pass by, over, under or through, and recognise when magnetic balls come to a stop, thereby transmitting such information to a display board or mobile device via a computer server.
21. Apparatus for sports, games and pastimes according to claim 1, in which an electronic game layout comprises a plethora of magnetic ball recognition static sensors, which recognise the locality of a hit and record the impact whenever a magnetic ball passes into one of the holes or hits a target transmitting such information to a display board or mobile device via a computer server.