KR100698381B1 - Golf swing training device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a golfer assisting device (10), consisting of a low-level high-frequency physical vibration generator (14) housed in the housing (12) for transmitting vibration to the golfer as a physical vibration pattern representing the golfer's preferred swing tempo. do.

Golf aids, vibration patterns, golf clubs, grip parts, vibration generating means.

Description

Golf Swing Practice Device {GOLF SWING TRAINING DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a golfer training device for improving and maintaining the tempo of the golf club swing, and more particularly to a golf swing training device that allows the golfer to maintain the swing tempo of the golfer's preferred golf club under conditions such as practice or practice It is about.

Maintaining a consistent golfer's swing tempo under a variety of game conditions has long been recognized as important for reducing golfer scores throughout the game. Conventionally, an audiovisual exercise aid has been developed to improve the consistency of golf swing tempo by providing an audio signal or an image signal to guide a golfer during the backswing and downswing of a golf club. However, these practice aids were only suitable for use under limited conditions. However, under the game conditions, the golfer must see the golf ball when the golf ball is addressed, during the backswing, at the top of the backswing, and during the downswing of the golf club to ensure that the clubhead can hit the golf ball accurately. Fix it to the ball. This condition prevents the practice of conventional video signals under the game conditions.

In addition, the conventional acoustic signal training aids have various drawbacks. These systems, which require loudspeakers to generate voice signals for golfers, interfere with the golfer's mobility on the course and confuse other golfers. A system using a headset connected to a voice signal source interferes with a swing pattern of a golfer wearing a training aid, which is rather confusing than assisting a golfer in a game condition. Indeed, an audio headset or earphone will act as an obstacle during the golfer's swing.

The following U.S. patents describe such prior art video and audio practice aids. U.S. Pat.

Recently, a shock device that transmits a periodic electric shock signal to a golfer's wrist has been proposed as a means for informing a golfer while swinging a golf club. Japanese Patent Publication JP3-128073 describes such a system. The periodic impact on the golfer has the adverse effect of ensuring a smooth and consistent golf club swing.

The present invention consists of a compact and lightweight electromechanical golfer assist that generates a low frequency physical vibration pattern of relatively high frequency. Such braces are housed in a housing that transmits physical vibration to the golfer.

In a first embodiment of a golfer assistor, the housing consists of a case about the size of a pager pager that can be attached and carried to the golfer's body using a belt or pocket clip or other suitable means.

In a second embodiment of the golfer assisting device, the housing consists of a space or tubular case formed in the grip portion of the golf club. These cases can be transferred from one club to another and used by golfers in their hands or pockets.

In all embodiments, the golfer assist at the command generates a low level of physical vibration pattern. The physical vibration pattern can be set at the manufacturer or during user use, and this vibration pattern is the golfer's preferred backswing time, the club's downtime at the top of the backswing, and the club's downswing and follow-through time. It is physically sensed by the golfer as indicative of a golf club swing tempo.

In the first preferred embodiment of the golfer aid, the vibration pattern time can be programmed by the golfer himself in consideration of the physical condition of the golfer, the size and shape of the golf club, the practical conditions of the course, and the like. In addition, the first embodiment of the golfer assist device has a control switch for sending a high-frequency electrical signal to enable the physical vibration to be sent to the acoustic transducer for generating a high-frequency acoustic pattern representing the golfer's preferred swing tempo It may include.

1 (a)-(d) are a front view, a right side view, a top view, and a left side view of a case accommodating a golfer assist device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front view of the case of Figure 1 shown by removing the front cover to show the circuit configuration of the golfer aid shown in Figure 1;

3 is a block diagram of a golfer aid shown in FIG.

Figure 3 (a) is a modified form of the block diagram of Figure 3 replacing the LED configuration shown in Figure 3 with an acoustic configuration.

4 is a timing diagram of one of the vibration and light patterns generated by the golfer aid of FIG. 3 showing the golfer's preferred golf club swing tempo consisting of a backswing, a club rest of the backswing top and a downswing time.

Figure 4 (a) is the timing of one of the vibration and acoustic patterns generated by the golfer's aid of Figure 3 (a) showing the golfer's preferred golf club swing tempo consisting of a backswing, a club rest on the backswing top and a downswing time. Diagram.

FIG. 5 is a detailed circuit diagram of the golfer aid shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing various modes of operation of a golfer assist device as shown in FIG.

7 is a perspective view showing a circuit board of a second embodiment of the present invention that can be inserted into and separated from a space formed in a grip portion of a golf club;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the circuit board of the second embodiment of the present invention housed in a plastic case adapted to be inserted into and removed from a space formed in a grip portion of a golf club or to be carried in a golfer's hand or pocket; FIG.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram of a golfer assisting device in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing one of vibration patterns generated by the golfer aid shown in FIG.

The figure shows a golfer assistor 10 of the present invention. The golfer assisting device 10 is composed of a compact and lightweight portable housing 12 that can be worn on the golfer's body. The housing 12 includes vibration generating means 14 for generating a low level physical vibration pattern or light pattern, and a low level physical vibration or light pattern with an adjustable time indicating a golf club swing tempo of the user. A user selection means 16 is programmed to program the operation of the vibration generating means 14 so that it can occur.

As already mentioned, the swing of the golf club begins with the golfer addressing the golf club head to the golf ball, backswing the golf club to the resting position of the swing top, and then down swinging the club so that the golf ball hits the golf club head. After the blow is made, the process is followed through.

As will be described in detail below, by using the golfer assisting device 10 of the present invention, the golfer in consideration of the physical condition of the golfer, the shape and size of the golf club, and the conditions of the golf course presented to the golfer Pre-set the operation of your golfer assist 10 to generate vibration or light patterns representing a number of different swing tempos, each consisting of a user-selected backswing time, a swing top pause, and a downswing and follow-through time. Programmable Due to the low level vibration pattern generated by the golfer assisting device 10 and physically sensed by the golfer, the golfer selects his golf club swing tempo for his preferred golf club swing tempo, backswing, pause and down. You can be guided to meet your swing time.

In particular, as shown in Figures 1 (a)-(d), the housing 12 is made of lightweight plastic material and is about the size of a conventional pager pager. The housing can be worn by the golfer himself using the belt clip 18 fixed to the back portion 20 of the housing 12.

The front portion 22 of the housing 12 is arranged with a conventional LCD display 24 which selectively displays several user program times for the backswing BS, the swing top resting TOP and the downswing DS. . For example, the time selected by the user for the backswing BS, the pause TOP, and the downswing DS shown in FIG. 1A is 1200, 500, and 1800 unit times, respectively. These times are the "up" and "down" of the backswing momentary switch ("BACK") 26 and the downswing momentary switch ("DOWN") 28 where the golfer is placed on the front portion 22 of the housing 12. Simply press the directional arrow buttons to adjust. For example, if a golfer believes that the golf club swing tempo must be modified to change the backswing time to 1300 units in consideration of his physical condition, golf club selection, or golf course conditions, the golfer himself must The "up" display button in 26) can be simply pressed to increase the displayed backswing time to "1300". Likewise, if the golfer believes that the preferred golf club swing tempo should be changed to reflect the downswing time to 1700 units of time, the golfer himself may simply press the "down" display button on the downswing moment switch 28 to display the displayed down. The swing time can be reduced to "1700". In these cases, setting up the operation of the golfer assist 10 is very similar to setting up a conventional digital clock or video channel or volume selector.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the LCD display 24 may also indicate whether the golfer assist 10's operating mode is manual (“MANU”) or automatic (“AUTO”). This mode of operation is selected by a golfer pressing a button of an auto / manual (“AUTO” / “MANU”) momentary switch 30 placed on the front face 22 of the housing 12. In the manual mode of operation, the golfer assist 10 is a manual disposed on the upper surface 34 of the case, which is the top of the LCD display 24 to indicate each swing tempo adjustment of the golfer assist 10 as already mentioned. Manual operation of the operation (" MANU ACT ") switch 32 is required. In the automatic mode of operation, the golfer assisting device 10 is placed on the upper left face 38 of the golfer accessory housing 12 until the manual operation (“MANU ACT”) switch 32 is changed to the manual operating mode. The swing tempo operation is recycled as mentioned above until the " On-Off " power switch 36 is turned off.

As shown in Fig. 1 (a), the front portion 22 of the housing 12 also has a swing tempo selected by the golfer using the backswing momentary switch 26, downswing momentary switch 28 mentioned above. Seventeen light emitting diodes (LEDs) 40 are arranged in an array of semi-circular arrays to allow for a visible display. The operation of these light emitting diodes (LEDs) 40 is under the control of an "LED / VIB" momentary switch 42 disposed on the front part 22 of the housing 12. By pressing this LED / VIB momentary switch 42, the golfer can select the operation of the golfer assist 10 in the visible mode ("LED") or vibration mode ("VIB").

In the LED's mode of operation, the LEDs will operate in an order consistent with the swing tempo programmed by the golfer as mentioned above. For example, in the case of swing tempo displayed by the LCD display 24 shown in Fig. 1 (a), the ON / OFF power switch 36 is operated with the LED / VIB momentary switch 42 in the LED position. When done, the LED will flash with a timing sequence as shown in FIG. That is, after the short time shown by time T1, the lowest LED 40a is turned on and is kept on for a time T2 informing the golfer that he or she should address the golf club head to the golf ball. After the time shown by T3 has elapsed, the programmed backswing time will begin by lighting the LED 40b-i with an hourly continuous light indicating this backswing time T4. LED 40i will remain lit for a time T5 indicating the golf club's swing top rest period. After the time T5 has passed, the LED will illuminate in reverse order from the LED 40i to the LED 40a and will light continuously from the LED 40j to the LED 40q for a time T6 indicating the downswing and follow-through time of the golf club. Will be. If the golfer assist is in the manual operation mode as mentioned above, when the LED completes the operation cycle mentioned above, the LED will be extinguished and wait to resume by the operation of the manual operation switch 32. If the golfer assisting device 10 is in the automatic operation mode as mentioned above, the LED operation is performed when the automatic / manual switch 30 is changed to the manual mode or the power is turned off by operating the on / off power switch 36. Will be repeated continuously.

As mentioned above, the LED mode of operation of the golfer assist 10 is particularly useful because the visible support for the golfer is achieved by selecting the setting or program operation of the golfer assist. In this regard, the LED operates so that the light-emitting operation in a timed sequence can be made visually indicating the swing tempo that the golfer has set the golfer assistor 10 programmed.

When the LED / VIB momentary switch 42 is in the VIB mode, the golfer aid 10 is placed in the vibration mode, at which time the vibration generating means 14 housed in the housing 12 is shown in FIG. It generates a low level of physical vibration pattern of selection time. The physical vibration generated by the vibration generating means 14 is a vibration of a slightly higher level than the physical vibration of a low level, for example, the level generated by a conventional electric shaver. The golfer physically senses this vibration as a pattern of his golf club swing tempo, including the golf club's backswing, top rest and downswing.

In particular, in the timing sequence of the physical vibration shown in Fig. 4, after a short time shown by the time T1 has elapsed, a series of physical vibrations are generated by the vibration generating means 14 during the time T2, so that the golfer has his own golf club. Inform that the golf ball should be addressed. After the time shown by T3 has elapsed, the physical vibration is generated by the vibration generating means 14 for the programmed time, indicating that the backswing time T4. At the end of the swing swing back swing, the vibration is stopped for a time T5 indicating the golf club's swing top rest period. After the T5 time has elapsed, the vibration generating means 14 generates the vibration again during the time T6 indicating the downswing and the follow through time. If the golfer assist is in the manual operation mode as mentioned above, the vibration generating means 14 will be at rest and wait for the restart process by the operation of the manual operation switch 32. If the golfer assisting apparatus 10 is in the automatic operation mode as mentioned above, the above-mentioned vibration operation may be performed by the automatic / manual momentary switch 30 being changed to the manual mode or by the on / off power switch 36. It will repeat continuously until power is cut off.

In particular, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in a block diagram in FIG. 3 and in a detailed circuit diagram in FIG. 5, the golf assisting aid 10 is powered by two 1.5 volt AAA type batteries 44 and is ON-OFF. The 3 volt Vcc power is supplied to the golfer assist 10 by the operation of the power switch 36 and the conventional DC / DC converter 46. The DC / DC converter 46 is shown in FIG. 5 as switching regulator U1 of part number MSC7150-03 manufactured by OKI. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the power supply Vcc includes the above-mentioned LCD display 24 and LED 40, vibration driver 48, vibration motor 50, MICOM integrated circuit 52, and EEPROM memory integration. Power is applied to the vibration generating means 14 including the circuit 54 and the LED driver integrated circuit 56.

In Fig. 5, the LCD display 24 is indicated by LCD1, which may be the product name SEQ0363 / 03 (A0) manufactured by Gemni. The LED 40 may be a conventional LED manufactured by UTC, and the vibration driver 48 and the vibration motor 50 are indicated by the reference code MO1 and manufactured by Shin Kwang, which is a product name 3R2.8. The EEPROM memory integrated circuit 54 is indicated by the symbol U2 and is the product name 24C02 manufactured by Atmel. The MICOM integrated circuit 52 is indicated by the symbol U3 and is a product name KS88C2434 manufactured by Samsung. The LED driver integrated circuit 56 is indicated by the symbols U4 and U5 and is a product name 74LS138 manufactured by Fairchild. The crystal oscillator (" XTL ") 58 shown in FIG. 3, also indicated by the symbol X1 in FIG. 5, is a typical 4 MHz oscillator manufactured by Sunny. The physical contour of some components in the housing 12 is shown in FIG. 2 and details for realizing the preferred embodiment of the present invention are understood with reference to the detailed circuit diagram of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 3, basically, the EEPROM memory integrated circuit 54 has a MICOM integrated circuit representing various options selected by a preset to allow a golfer, a user of the golfer assister 10, to display his preferred golf club swing tempo. An instruction table for 52) is stored. Pre-setting of the golfer auxiliary 10 is generated by the vibration motor 50 under the control of the vibration driver 48 to control the time of the vibration indicating the time of the backswing and downswing of the golf club 26, This is performed by pressing the "up" and "down" buttons of the downswing momentary switch 28. This setting is displayed by the LCD display 24 and can be indicated by the operation of the LED 40 under the control of the LED driver integrated circuit 56 in the manner mentioned above.

In particular, several modes of operation of the golfer assistor of the present invention are described in steps S1-S26 in FIG. 6. In step S1, the ON-OFF power switch 36 is operated. In step S2, the golfer presses the " up " and " down " buttons of the respective backswing momentary switches 26 and downswing momentary switches 28 to select the time values of the backswing and downswing times. While this setting is made, the LCD display 24 displays the backswing, swing top rest and downswing times selected by the golfer in step S3.

In step S4, the golfer controls the LED / VIB momentary switch 42 to select the oscillation or LED operating mode of the golfer's assistant. If the vibration operation mode is selected as shown in step S5, the next step S6 selects the automatic or manual operation mode of the golfer's assistant by controlling the auto / manual switch 30.

If the manual operation mode is selected as shown in step S7, the operation of the auto / manual switch 30 is required as shown in step S8. As described in the method of operation for the golfer assisting device 10 shown in Fig. 6, the operation of this manual operation switch 32 is time delayed for 3 seconds in step S9 and then programmed by the golfer in step S2. As a result of the operation of the vibration motor 50 will be generated a low level of physical vibration representing the preferred swing tempo of the golf club. According to the method shown in FIG. 6, this vibration pattern is repeated three times in step S10 before the golfer activates the manual operation switch 32 in step S11 to resume the manual operation mode of the golfer assisting device 10. Otherwise the manual operation mode will be terminated.

If the automatic operation mode is selected in the golfer assist as shown in step S12, the operation of the golfer assist 10 in step S13 is delayed for 1 second and then the continuous vibration pattern as shown in Figure 4 in step S14. Appears and the duration of this pattern is selected by the golfer operating the " up " and " down " buttons of the backswing momentary switch 26, downswing momentary switch 28 in step S2. At any point, the golfer can end the continuous vibration operation of the golfer assisting device 10 by setting the auto / manual switch 30 to the manual operation mode in step S15.

If the LED operation mode of the golfer assist 10 is selected in step S4, the golfer assist enters the LED mode as shown in step S16. Next, the golfer can select the operation of the golfer assist as manual mode or automatic mode as shown in step S17. If the manual mode is selected by the operation of the auto / manual switch 30, the operations of the steps shown in steps S18 to S22 follow the operation already described for steps S7 to S11. If the automatic mode is selected by the operation of the auto / manual switch 30, the operations of the steps shown in steps S23 to S26 follow the operation already described for steps S12 to S15. As already mentioned, this LED mode of operation will be useful to assist the golfer in the presetting or resetting of the swing tempo indicated by the golfer aid 10.

As a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention as mentioned above, an audible acoustic structure is added to the golfer assist. For simplicity, as shown in FIG. 3A, this acoustic structure replaces the LED / VIB momentary switch 42 of FIG. 3 with an acoustic / vibration selector switch 60 and the LED driver circuit 56 and the LED 40. By replacing the conventional acoustic signal generator 62 and the acoustic speaker 64.

In this modification, when the selector switch 60 is in the vibration mode, the operation of the golfer assisting device 10 is as described above with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. When the selector switch 60 is in the acoustic mode, the MICOM 52 of FIG. 3A operates the acoustic signal generator 62 to generate a low level high frequency electric signal having a duration pattern similar to the acoustic pattern shown in FIG. 4A. . The electrical signal generated by the acoustic signal generator 62 is converted by the acoustic generator 64 into an acoustic pattern as shown in FIG. 4A, which pattern switches 26 and 28 in the manner previously mentioned. The control consists of a low level "humming" sound that matches the preferred swing tempo selected by the golfer.

A second embodiment of the present invention is described in Figures 7-10. 7, 9 and 10 are simple variations of the first embodiment of the invention as already mentioned. Descriptions of components and operations consistent with the first embodiment should be referred to in order to better understand the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 7, the circuit board 76 on which the electrical components of the second embodiment are mounted is of an axial extension type formed at the end of the grip portion 74 which is constituted on the shaft 72 of the golf club. The cavity 80 is inserted into or detached from the cavity 80. When removed from the golf club 70, the circuit board is inserted into the cavity 80 at the end of the other golf club or put into the golfer's pocket to help maintain the golfer's preferred swing tempo. It can be used as a means for transmitting the physical vibration generated by the (10) to the golfer.

With respect to this arrangement of circuit boards 76, the cavity 80 includes slots 78 of axial extension that allow both edges of the circuit board 76 to be inserted and supported. When the circuit board 76 is in the cavity 80, the open end of the cavity can be closed with a helical plug (not shown) so that the golfer aid 10 can be sealed in this cavity and the power switch on the circuit board 36 is positioned in grip portion 74 and in line with pushbutton 82 extending through shaft 72. When configured in this manner, pressing the pushbutton 82 causes the power switch 36 to switch between the " on " and " off " states, thereby providing a golfer assist in a manner as already described in FIGS. Will work (10). In FIG. 7, the physical vibration and its duration pattern are transmitted from the circuit board 76 to the golfer's hand through the grip portion 74 of the golf club 70 to inform the golfer of his preferred golf club swing tempo. do.

As shown in FIG. 9, the golfer assistor in the second embodiment of the present invention is much simpler and includes fewer functional components than the first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. For example, the golfer assist in FIG. 9 has already been mentioned and also includes only programming momentary switches 26 and 28 to set the preferred duration of the backswing and downswing as shown in FIG. 10. The options for the programmed duration that can be selected by the momentary switches 26 and 28 can also be limited to 400, 600, 700, 800, and 1000 unit times, for example.

However, in addition to the momentary switches 26 and 28, the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the golfer setting the backswing and downswing time as already mentioned and the backswing pause as shown in FIG. It includes a top-pause programming switch 61 to adjust the time of.

Setting the time of this backswing and downswing and the resting period is done before inserting the circuit board 76 into the cavity 80. When the circuit board is inserted into the cavity, the only thing that the golfer can control the golfer assisting device 10 is to press the pushbutton 82 to operate the power switch 36. For further adjustment of the brace, the circuit board 76 must be removed from the cavity 80.

In order to assist in the removal and reinsertion of the circuit board 76 into the cavity 80 and to protect the circuit board, the circuit board is preferably loaded in a tubular housing or case as shown in FIG. As shown, the circuit board is housed in a tubular plastic case 90. The case 90 can be easily inserted into and removed from the cavity 80 and can be carried in the pocket or hand of a golfer in a conventional manner, and is a physical vibration generated by the golfer's assistant and informing the golfer's preferred swing tempo. It can be easily detected by the golfer.

As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention and its preferred operation mode were demonstrated and illustrated, this invention can be changed or modified, without deviating from the technical idea of this invention. For example, in the above-mentioned context the term "golf club" should be understood to include "putter". In addition, for the second simplified embodiment of the present invention, the golfer aid is embedded in the grip portion of the golf club or putter, or the golfer may carry it in his hand or pocket, and may also play golf by a "velcro" fastener or other suitable means. It may be attached to the outside of the club or putter. Important in these respects is the placement of the brace so that the physical vibration generated by the brace is sensed by the golfer and acts as a guide to allow the golfer to maintain their preferred swing tempo. The activator switch of the brace may also be arranged at other parts or ends of the grip and may be connected to various types of batteries, for example clock batteries, to power other circuit components of the brace. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be limited only by the following claims.

Claims (15)

In the golfer aid (10), which assists the golfer to swing the golf club at a consistent tempo preferred by the golfer, the golfer assist generates a low level physical vibration pattern detected by the golfer as the swing tempo of the preferred golf club. And a housing (12) for supporting the physical vibration generating means and for transmitting the physical vibration pattern to the golfer. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic loudspeaker 64, the physical vibration generating means and / or the acoustic signal generator 62 for driving the acoustic generating speaker, and the driving means are selectively connected to the acoustic generating speaker or the physical vibration generating means. Golfer aids characterized in that it comprises a selection switch (60) for. 2. A golfer assistor according to claim 1, comprising user selection means (16) for controlling the time of the vibration pattern. 4. A golfer assistor according to claim 3, comprising a visible LCD display (24) for displaying the time programmed by the user. 4. A golfer assistor according to claim 3, comprising a light emitting diode (LED) responsive to user selection means for visually displaying the swing tempo of the golfer's preferred golf club. 6. A golfer assistor according to claim 5, comprising an LED / VIB momentary switch (42) for actuating a light emitting diode (LED) or vibration generating means (14). 4. A golfer assistor according to claim 3, wherein the vibration generating means (14) consists of electromechanical means comprising a vibration motor (50). delete 2. The golfer assistor according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) has a clip configured to be attached to the golfer's body. A golfer assistor according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (12) is received in the grip portion (74) of the golf club (70). delete The golfer assisting device according to claim 10, characterized in that the physical vibration generating means (14) comprises a power switch (36) in the grip portion (74) of the golf club (70). 13. The cavity (80) according to claim 12, wherein the physical vibration generating means (14) consists of a circuit board (76) for supporting the circuit components and the housing is formed in the grip portion of the golf club for axially receiving the circuit board. Consists of the golf switch, characterized in that the power switch 36 is installed on the circuit board to be operated by the golfer holding the golf club. 2. A golfer assistor according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) consists of a tubular case (90). 2. A golfer assistor according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (12) is mounted in a cavity (80) formed in the grip portion (74) of the golf club (70).

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