US5486002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golfing apparatus
Assignee: INNOVATIVE GOLF Corp A NEVADA CORPORATION
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Filing: 1994-12-23
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2014-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A golfing apparatus for estimating the carry distance of a struck golf ball includes a doppler radar unit, a correlating circuit and a display. The doppler radar unit measures the doppler shift of the struck golf ball and a predetermined, empirically derived factor is used to correlate the measured doppler shift to an estimated carry distance for the ball. The display shows the estimated carry distance.
Inventors
- 👤 James L. Witler
- 👤 Douglas L. Spike
- 👤 Douglas C. Talbot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:44
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3658; A63B24/00; A63B24/0021; A63B69/3623; A63B2024/0028; A63B2024/0034; A63B2024/0037; A63B2024/0043; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/30; A63B2220/80; A63B2220/805; A63B2220/89; A63B69/3605; A63B69/3614
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A golfing apparatus for determining the carry distance of a golf ball which a golfer has struck, said golfing apparatus comprising: (a) a speed measuring mechanism which has a boresight and which measures a component of the speed of the golf ball, said speed measuring mechanism being aimed at the golf ball while in flight, wherein said boresight of said speed measuring mechanism is disposed at angle in the range of zero degrees to twenty five degrees with respect to level ground; and (b) correlating means for correlating said measured component of the speed of the golf ball with an empirically derived factor for use in determining the estimated carry distance of the golf ball, said correlating means being electrically coupled to said speed measuring mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A golfing apparatus for determining the carry distance of a golf ball which a golfer has struck, said golfing apparatus comprising: (a) a speed measuring mechanism which has a boresight and which measures a component of the speed of the golf ball, said speed measuring mechanism being aimed at the golf ball while in flight, wherein said boresight of said speed measuring mechanism is disposed at angle in the range of zero degrees to twenty five degrees with respect to level ground; and (b) correlating means for correlating said measured component of the speed of the golf ball with an empirically derived factor for use in determining the estimated carry distance of the golf ball, said correlating means being electrically coupled to said speed measuring mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising displaying means for displaying the estimated carry distance of the golf ball, said displaying means being electrically coupled to said correlating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said correlating means includes a counter which counts for a period of time determined by said empirically derived factor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said empirically derived factor corresponds to one or more different faced golf clubs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said empirically derived factor includes a plurality of factors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: (a) each of the plurality of factors corresponds to one of a plurality of different faced golf clubs, and (b) said correlating means further comprises (i) a manually operated selector switch for selecting one of said plurality of factors, and (ii) a counter which counts for a period of time determined by the selected one of said plurality of factors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A golfing apparatus for estimating the carry distance of a struck golf ball, said golfing apparatus comprising: (a) a speed measuring mechanism having a boresight disposed at an angle in the range of zero degrees to twenty five degrees with respect to level ground wherein said speed measuring mechanism measures the speed of the struck golf ball; (b) a storage device holding an empirically derived factor, said empirically derived factor relating a speed of a previously struck golf ball as measured by the speed measuring mechanism to an observed carry distance of the previously struck golf ball; (c) a circuit coupled to said speed measuring mechanism and to said storage device whereby said circuit correlates the measured speed of the struck golf ball with the empirically derived factor, thereby producing an estimated carry distance for the struck golf ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
A golfing apparatus for estimating the carry distance of a struck golf ball, said golfing apparatus comprising: (a) a speed measuring mechanism having a boresight disposed at an angle in the range of zero degrees to twenty five degrees with respect to level ground wherein said speed measuring mechanism measures the speed of the struck golf ball; (b) a storage device holding an empirically derived factor, said empirically derived factor relating a speed of a previously struck golf ball as measured by the speed measuring mechanism to an observed carry distance of the previously struck golf ball; (c) a circuit coupled to said speed measuring mechanism and to said storage device whereby said circuit correlates the measured speed of the struck golf ball with the empirically derived factor, thereby producing an estimated carry distance for the struck golf ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a display electrically coupled to said circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said speed measuring mechanism is a Doppler radar device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said speed measuring mechanism is a single Doppler radar device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said circuit includes a counter which counts for a period of time determined by said empirically derived factor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
A golfing apparatus for determining the carry distance of a struck golf ball, said golfing apparatus comprising: (a) a speed measuring mechanism having a boresight disposed at an angle in the range of zero degrees to twenty five degrees with respect to level ground wherein said speed measuring mechanism measures a component of the speed of the struck golf ball; and (b) a correlator electrically coupled to said speed measuring mechanism whereby said correlator correlates said measured component of the speed of the struck golf ball with an empirically derived factor for use in estimating the carry distance of the struck golf ball.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
A golfing apparatus for determining the carry distance of a struck golf ball, said golfing apparatus comprising: (a) a speed measuring mechanism having a boresight disposed at an angle in the range of zero degrees to twenty five degrees with respect to level ground wherein said speed measuring mechanism measures a component of the speed of the struck golf ball; and (b) a correlator electrically coupled to said speed measuring mechanism whereby said correlator correlates said measured component of the speed of the struck golf ball with an empirically derived factor for use in estimating the carry distance of the struck golf ball.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a display electrically coupled to said correlator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said speed measuring mechanism is a Doppler radar device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said speed measuring mechanism is a single Doppler radar device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 12, wherein a line drawn between the speed measuring mechanism and the golf ball defines a line of sight, and the measured component of the speed of the golf ball is taken along the line of sight.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the measured component of the speed of the golf ball includes a component taken along a line parallel to the boresight.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the line parallel to the boresight is coincident with the boresight.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of obtaining a predetermined factor for estimating the carry distance of a struck golf ball, said method comprising the steps of: (a) orienting a Doppler radar in an anticipated direction of the struck golf ball, (b) measuring a Doppler shift from the struck golf ball, (c) observing the actual carry distance of the struck golf ball, and (d) correlating the measured Doppler shift to the observed actual carry distance said correlation constituting the predetermined factor.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of obtaining a predetermined factor for estimating the carry distance of a struck golf ball, said method comprising the steps of: (a) orienting a Doppler radar in an anticipated direction of the struck golf ball, (b) measuring a Doppler shift from the struck golf ball, (c) observing the actual carry distance of the struck golf ball, and (d) correlating the measured Doppler shift to the observed actual carry distance said correlation constituting the predetermined factor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said step of orienting a Doppler radar in an anticipated direction of the struck golf ball includes the step of disposing a boresight at an angle in the range of zero degrees to twenty five degrees with respect to level ground.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said step of orienting a Doppler radar in an anticipated direction of the struck golf ball includes the step of disposing a boresight at an angle of ten degrees with respect to level ground.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of estimating tile carry distance of a struck golf ball, said method comprising the steps of: (a) orienting a Doppler radar in an anticipated direction of the struck golf ball, (b) measuring a Doppler shift from the struck golf ball, and (c) correlating the measured Doppler shift to an estimated carry distance of the struck golf ball using a predetermined factor, said predetermined factor relating the measured Doppler shift to an observed carry distance of a previously struck golf ball.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of estimating tile carry distance of a struck golf ball, said method comprising the steps of: (a) orienting a Doppler radar in an anticipated direction of the struck golf ball, (b) measuring a Doppler shift from the struck golf ball, and (c) correlating the measured Doppler shift to an estimated carry distance of the struck golf ball using a predetermined factor, said predetermined factor relating the measured Doppler shift to an observed carry distance of a previously struck golf ball.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-22 | 1999-07-24 | 2000-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-22 | 2003-07-24 | 2004-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-22 | 2007-07-24 | 2008-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |