FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention enables hitting tools, such as those used in sports that usually involve hitting a ball, e.g., golf clubs, baseball or cricket bats, tennis racket, hockey sticks etc. to provide immediate feedback to the player, indicating whether an intended area of the device has come in contact with the ball, more specifically, embodiments of the invention are implemented in one or more desired locations of the hitting tool, they detect the impact energy created by the hit, and interfaces with the player so that the player instantly perceives a signal as a positive reward when the target has been reached.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Learning a sport that involves using a tool to hit a ball mostly involves developing the eye-hand coordination to achieve timing and precision of the location the ball contacts the tool in order to achieve a desired result. Unfortunately, the ball makes contact during a very short lapse of time (within milliseconds), which prevents the player from clearly perceiving the exact location of the hit. When information about the impact location is available, it acts as a guide as to which body movement leads to desired results. Behaviorally speaking, for example: during practice, the body movements that lead to a positive outcome would be re-enforced with the instant availability of the accuracy information, thus improving efficiency of training.

In golf, for example, it is difficult for beginners to hit a golf ball in the center of the club head. The current technology consists of a tape that is glued to the striking surface of the club head. When struck by a ball, the tape creates a mark, which registers hits. The player then examines the tape for a mark, to check whether the ball was centered. With this technology, the player has to bend down or bring the club up to see it. The latter forces the player to assume body positions which are not involved in practicing the sport in question.

Embodiments of the invention enable the tools used to practice such sports to provide instant feedback on the proper location where the ball strikes the tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide a device that, when implemented in a tool used for hitting balls, for example, is able to detect the contact location information and instantly provide that information. The availability of such information provides instant feedback during practice sessions. A device in accordance with the invention comprises, a impact sensor capable of emitting an electric signal combined with means to convert the electric signal into one or more easily perceptible signals (visual, auditory, vibrating etc.).

Embodiments of the invention allow a golfer to instantly perceive whether a ball made contact with the a desired location (e.g. center of the club head). By enabling golfers to instantly determine whether they have hit the ball in the center of the club, and without bending down or changing their body position, golfers can keep practicing without interrupting their rhythm, position or focus thus speeding up the learning process.

An embodiment of the invention is configured as a separate device that comprises an impact sensor and a light emitting diode (LED), capable of generating a light signal in response to impact resulting of the ball's striking of the impact sensor. The device comprises an adhesive surface. A golfer, for example, would use the adhesive surface to stick the device to the center of the strike surface of the club head. During practice, when the golf ball strikes the device i.e. , the center of the strike surface of the golf club head, light is therefore emitted, indicating that the golfer had properly hit the golf ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a block diagram that represents the main components in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

Figure 2 represents the head portion of a golf club in which an embodiment of the invention is embedded within the head of the golf club. Figure 3 represents an embodiment of the invention attached to the striking surface of a golf club head.

Figure 4 represents an exploded view of a device embodying the invention.

Figure 5 represents a device embodying the invention as described in Figure 4, showing specifically the side facing the direction of the ball strike. Figure 6 represent the back side of the device represented in Figure 5.

Figure 7 represents a device embodying the invention, using an electric power source and a switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention comprise impact sensing means, capable of emitting an electric signal, combined with means to convert the electric signal into one or more easily perceptible signals through a user interface.

By placing embodiments of the invention at one or more specific locations of a ball hitting tool, embodiments of the invention are able to detect the ball's contact location on the tool, and instantly provide that information through a user interface (e.g., visual, auditory, vibrating etc.), which may be perceived through a simple interface (e.g. Light Emitting Diode, LED), and/or through a signaling device such as headphones, or any other electronic device capable of interfacing with humans. The availability of such information provides instant feedback during practice sessions.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the pertinent art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.

Throughout the description, the term sensor is used to describe any available device that may be used to implement the invention for the purpose of detecting the location of a strike.

While a golf club is used as an example of a tool used to strike a ball in sports, the disclosure the term bat assumes the meaning of any implement used by a person to strike a target. Such implement comprises bats for playing baseball, cricket etc., rackets for playing tennis etc., hokey sticks etc. Moreover, it is easy to conceive based on the disclosure, that the invention may be implemented in any device with the purpose of signaling the location of the strike. The latter comprise any sports equipment, electronic devices, medical applications, tools, musical instruments, shoes, gloves, utensils, vehicles, jewelry, military equipment, toys or any other device for which impact location information may be collected. Figure 1 is a block diagram that represents the main components in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Block 101 represents an impact sensor capable of receiving impact (e.g., from a ball) and generating an electric signal. Block 101 represents implementations that comprise a piezoelectric sensor. The piezoelectric sensor is capable of generating at least a portion of the energy received from the impact with the ball into electric current. Embodiments of the invention may implement in block 101 a spring-based electric contact, a mechanical or capacitance-based touch switch or any other available contact detection devices. With the implementation of any switch, the electric signal may be generated using an electric source. The generated electric signal may reflect the strength of the ball strike, i.e. the amplitude of the electric signal depends on the level of energy delivered by the strike, or the signal may be binary, i.e. only indicating whether contact with the ball has been made.

Block 125 represents an electric power source. Embodiments of the invention comprise a small form factor electric power source, such as a lithium ion battery or any other electric power source capable of enabling embodiments of the invention to generate an electric signal.

Block 110 represents the electric connection that conveys the electric signal from sensor 120 to the next stage.

Block 120 represents the means an embodiment of the invention implements to convert the electric signal received from sensor 101 into one or more signals capable of interfacing with a user. In an embodiment of the invention, the electric signal is converted to light using a light emitting diode. In another embodiment of the invention, the LED is combined with a capacitor, such that the light emission outlasts the duration of the initial electric signal.

In addition, in embodiments of the inventions, block 120 comprise electronic components that convert the electric signal into a radio signal. The radio signal may be encoded in frequency and pattern and transmitted so that it can be detected and decoded by a receiving device.

Block 130 represents electronic components capable of receiving the radio signal from the components of 120. Embodiments of the invention comprise a portable computing device. In embodiments of the invention, the portable computer device is an electronic circuit capable of receiving the radio signal and generating an audible sound, which sound may be delivered through head phone. Moreover, according to the invention, the radio signal may be received by a portable computing device that is capable of executing computer program code and has a display screen. The latter portable computing device may execute computer code and generates a visual (and/or auditory) output through a user interface.

Figure 2 represents the head portion of a golf club in which an embodiment of the invention is embedded within the head of the golf club. A golf club head 200 may be designed to have an embodiment of the invention hosted within it, and placed at the center of its striking surface 210.

Figure 3 represents an embodiment of the invention attached to the striking surface of a golf club head. IN the case represented in Figure 3, an embodiment of the invention 300 is attached to the outer surface of the striking surface of the club head. The embodiment of the invention 300 may carry markings 310 that guide the user to properly place the embodiment of the invention onto the desired location of the striking surface of the club head. The embodiment of the invention, as represented in Figure 3, may be comprised within protective material that provides a window 320 for viewing emitted light that accompanies detection of a ball strike.

Figure 4 represents an exploded view of a device embodying the invention. The device represented in Figure 4 comprises a piezoelectric sensor 410, that is connected to a light emitting diode 420. The device comprises a protective layer 430. The device comprises an inner layer of protective material 450. The latter supports the piezoelectric sensor and the LED on one side, and on the opposite side has a layer 460 of adhesive material attached to it. The device comprises a second layer 445 of protective material having a window for viewing LED 420.

Figure 5 represents a device embodying the invention as described in Figure 4, showing specifically the side facing the direction of the ball strike.

Figure 6 represent the back side of the device represented in Figure 5. Figure 7 represents a device embodying the invention, using an electric power source and a switch. The device of Figure 7 is powered by a battery 730. A switch 710 is configured to make contact under the pressure of a ball strike. The device comprises a capacitor 740 and a light emitting diode 720. The electric/electronic circuitry of the device represented in Figure 7, may be embedded in any specific location within a striking tool, such as a club head. Alternatively, the circuitry of the device may be embedded within protective material (not shown here) as represented in the Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6.

An embodiment of the invention comprises a piezoelectric sensor having a circular shape and having about 1 .5 inch in diameter, a green LED, a paper or plastic enclosure and a layer of adhesive material. The piezoelectric sensor is soldered to the green LED, and folded between the paper or plastic enclosure. The layer of adhesive material is placed on one side of the device for use to attach the device embodying the invention to the striking surface of a golf club head. The device, because of its thin structure, appears as an ornamental sticker. The device is attached to the center location of the striking surface of the club head.

When a golfball hits the piezoelectric sensor an electric current is generated that causes the LED to emit light indicating that the golf ball has been hit in the center of the face of the golf club head.

Embodiments of the invention may utilize different size piezoelectric sensors to create options with different levels of accuracy. A smaller piezoelectric sensor, for example, could be used to indicate a more precise strike location for advanced players and a larger piezoelectric sensor could be used to indicate a broader desired location for beginners. The components could also be embedded inside the golf club head to have a permanent indicator as to how close to the center of the striking surface of the golf club head the golf ball was struck.