US5684284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring distances in the game of golf
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-06-16
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Granted: 1997-11-04
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Expires: 2015-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for measuring distance in the game of golf includes an electro-mechanical DriveGauge™ which is provided with a large, easy-to-read display and which registers the player's strides in yards. The apparatus is preferably contained in an attractive housing having a belt clip and the display is mounted "upside down" so that the player may read the display without removing the apparatus from his/her belt. A large prominently colored reset button is preferably provided adjacent to the display so that the display may be quickly and easily reset to zero after a measurement is noted by the player. According to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, an electromechanical transducer is coupled through a noise filter to a counter which is coupled through a display control and driver to a large four digit LCD display. A clock oscillator is coupled to a system clock unit which provides clock signals for the noise filter and the display control and driver. A stride register is set by a setting unit and provides output to the counter. The noise filter prevents extraneous mechanical vibration of the unit from registering as a player's stride. The LCD display preferably displays up to 999.9 yards in increments of 0.1 yards. In order to set the stride register, the player inputs the distance in feet using the setting unit using a single button which is pressed repeatedly, each press representing 0.1 feet.
Inventors
- 👤 Chung-Hoon Lee
- 👤 Joseph C. Dokko
- 👤 Ji-Hoon Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:58
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0686; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; G; G01; G01C; G01C22/00; G01C22/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for measuring distance in yards during a game of golf, said apparatus comprising: a) a case having means for attaching said case to a golfer's article of clothing; b) an electromechanical transducer housed in said case and being responsive to paces walked by the golfer when said case is attached to the golfer's article of clothing; c) a stride register for storing a value indicative of the golfer's stride; d) a counter accumulator coupled to said electromechanical transducer and to said stride register, said counter accumulator accumulating said value and storing an accumulated value in response to said electromechanical transducer and converting said accumulated value to a distance in yards; e) a display means coupled to said counter accumulator for displaying said distance in yards; f) setting means for setting said stride register to store said value for a golfer; and g) an electronic noise filter circuit electronically coupled between said electromechanical transducer and said counter accumulator for preventing extraneous mechanical vibration of the case from registering as a pace.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for measuring distance in yards during a game of golf, said apparatus comprising: a) a case having means for attaching said case to a golfer's article of clothing; b) an electromechanical transducer housed in said case and being responsive to paces walked by the golfer when said case is attached to the golfer's article of clothing; c) a stride register for storing a value indicative of the golfer's stride; d) a counter accumulator coupled to said electromechanical transducer and to said stride register, said counter accumulator accumulating said value and storing an accumulated value in response to said electromechanical transducer and converting said accumulated value to a distance in yards; e) a display means coupled to said counter accumulator for displaying said distance in yards; f) setting means for setting said stride register to store said value for a golfer; and g) an electronic noise filter circuit electronically coupled between said electromechanical transducer and said counter accumulator for preventing extraneous mechanical vibration of the case from registering as a pace.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said display means displays yards and tenths of yards.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said setting means includes means for setting said value in feet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said value in feet includes tenths of feet.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for measuring distance walked by a user, said apparatus comprising: a) a case having means for attaching said case to an article of clothing of the user; b) an electromechanical transducer housed in said case and being responsive to paces walked by the user when said case is attached to the user's article of clothing; c) a stride register for storing a value indicative of the user's stride; d) a counter accumulator coupled to said electromechanical transducer and to said stride register, said counter accumulator accumulating said value and storing an accumulated value in response to said electromechanical transducer; e) a display means coupled to said counter accumulator for displaying said distance; f) setting means for setting said stride register to store said value for a user; and g) an electronic noise filter circuit electronically coupled between said electromechanical transducer and said counter accumulator for preventing extraneous mechanical vibration of the case from registering as a pace.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for measuring distance walked by a user, said apparatus comprising: a) a case having means for attaching said case to an article of clothing of the user; b) an electromechanical transducer housed in said case and being responsive to paces walked by the user when said case is attached to the user's article of clothing; c) a stride register for storing a value indicative of the user's stride; d) a counter accumulator coupled to said electromechanical transducer and to said stride register, said counter accumulator accumulating said value and storing an accumulated value in response to said electromechanical transducer; e) a display means coupled to said counter accumulator for displaying said distance; f) setting means for setting said stride register to store said value for a user; and g) an electronic noise filter circuit electronically coupled between said electromechanical transducer and said counter accumulator for preventing extraneous mechanical vibration of the case from registering as a pace.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: said display means displays yards.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: said display means displays yards and tenths of yards.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: said setting means includes means for setting said value in feet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: said value in feet includes tenths of feet.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for measuring distance walked by a user, said apparatus comprising: a) a case which is dimensioned to be carried by the user; b) an electromechanical transducer housed in said case and being responsive to paces walked by the user when said case is carried by the user; c) a stride register for storing a value indicative of the user's stride; d) a counter accumulator coupled to said electromechanical transducer and to said stride register, said counter accumulator accumulating said value and storing an accumulated value in response to said electromechanical transducer; e) a display means coupled to said counter accumulator for displaying said distance; f) setting means for setting said stride register to store said value for a user; and g) an electronic noise filter circuit electronically coupled between said electromechanical transducer and said counter accumulator for preventing extraneous mechanical vibration of the case from registering as a pace.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for measuring distance walked by a user, said apparatus comprising: a) a case which is dimensioned to be carried by the user; b) an electromechanical transducer housed in said case and being responsive to paces walked by the user when said case is carried by the user; c) a stride register for storing a value indicative of the user's stride; d) a counter accumulator coupled to said electromechanical transducer and to said stride register, said counter accumulator accumulating said value and storing an accumulated value in response to said electromechanical transducer; e) a display means coupled to said counter accumulator for displaying said distance; f) setting means for setting said stride register to store said value for a user; and g) an electronic noise filter circuit electronically coupled between said electromechanical transducer and said counter accumulator for preventing extraneous mechanical vibration of the case from registering as a pace.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said display means displays yards.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said display means displays yards and tenths of yards.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said setting means includes means for setting said value in feet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said value in feet includes tenths of feet.
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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) | 2000-11-03 | 2001-05-05 | 2001-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-03 | 2005-05-05 | 2005-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-03 | 2009-05-05 | 2009-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |