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US 8,299,921 B2Granted
Golf club protector with sensing device and alert
OwnerAnthony F. LaSalainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A golf club storage and protection device comprising an elongated member and a sensing device. The elongated member houses the golf club shaft and grip and protects the shaft and grip from wear and damage. The sensing device is housed within the elongated member and includes a motion sensor that senses movement of the elongated member beyond a motion threshold level, and an alarm. The sensing device contacts the grip when the golf club is present in the elongated member and the alarm is kept deactivated. When the golf club is removed from the elongated member for at least a predetermined time period and the elongated member is moved beyond the motion threshold level, the alarm will activate until either the golf club is returned to the elongated member or the device is turned off.
Claims28
A device for storing and protecting a golf club, comprising:
- a hollow elongated member having at least one open end for receiving a golf club;
- and
- a sensing device housed in the elongated member, the sensing device including
- a circuit controlled by a switch having a first state and a second state, wherein the switch is in the first state when the golf club is housed within the elongated member and is in the second state when the golf club is removed from the elongated member, the circuit including
- a motion sensor for sensing omnidirectional movement of the elongated member beyond a motion threshold level, and
- an alarm including at least one of an audio and visual component,
- wherein (i) when the switch is in the first state, the alarm is deactivated, and (ii) when the switch is in the second state for at least a predetermined time delay period, the alarm is activated upon movement of the elongated member beyond the motion threshold level.
4 more elements
A device for storing and protecting a golf club comprising:
- first means for receiving the golf club;
- and
- second means housed within the first means for sensing position of the golf club relative to the first means, the second means including third means having a first state and a second state for activating the second means, wherein the third means is in the first state when the golf club is housed within the first means and in the second state when the golf club is removed from the first means, the second means further including fourth means for sensing omnidirectional movement of the first means beyond a motion threshold level, and fifth means for alerting a golfer that the golf club is removed from the first means when (i) the third means is in the second state for at least a predetermined time delay period and (ii) the first means is moved beyond the motion threshold level.
A golf club, golf bag, and golf club protection device assembly comprising:
- a golf club including a shaft, grip and head;
- a golf bag defining an opening and a base opposite the opening;
- and
- a golf club protection device including
- a hollow elongated member having at least one open end for receiving at least the shaft and grip of the golf club, the hollow elongated member received through the opening of the golf bag and positioned inside the golf bag so that the elongated member rests against the base of the golf bag, and
- a sensing device housed within the elongated member, the sensing device including a circuit activated by a switch having a first state and a second state, the switch in the first state when at least the golf club shaft and grip is housed within the elongated member, and in the second state when the golf club is removed from the elongated member, the circuit including a motion sensor for sensing omnidirectional movement of the golf bag beyond a motion threshold level, and an alarm including at least one of an audio and visual component,
- wherein (i) when the switch is in the first state, the alarm is deactivated, and (ii) when the switch is in the second state for at least a predetermined time delay period, the alarm is activated when the golf bag is moved beyond the motion threshold level.
4 more elements
A method for protecting a golf club and sensing the presence of the golf club within a golf bag comprising the steps of:
- providing a golf club including a shaft, grip and club head;
- providing a golf bag defining an opening and a base opposite the opening;
- and
- providing a golf club protection device including
- a hollow elongated member having at least one open end for receiving at least the shaft and grip of the golf club, the hollow elongated member received through the opening of the golf bag and positioned inside the golf bag so that the elongated member rests against the base of the golf bag, and
- a sensing device housed within the elongated member, the sensing device including a circuit activated by a switch having a first state and a second state, wherein the switch is in the first state when at least the golf club shaft and grip are housed within the elongated member, and in the second state when the golf club is removed from the elongated member, the circuit including a motion sensor for sensing omnidirectional movement of the golf bag beyond a motion threshold level, an integrated timer for monitoring a predetermined time delay period, and an alarm having an activated state and a deactivated state and including at least one of an audio and visual component, wherein (i) when the switch is in the first state, the alarm is in the deactivated state, and (ii) when the switch is in the second state for at least the predetermined time delay period, the alarm is placed in the activated state when the golf bag is moved beyond the motion threshold level;
- inserting the golf club into the elongated member until the grip contacts the switch;
- further inserting the golf club into the elongated member and toggling the switch from the second state to the first state;
- removing the golf club from the elongated member in order to use the club and substantially simultaneously toggling the switch from the second state to the first state to activate the circuit;
- and
- one of:
- (i) reinserting the golf club into the elongated member and substantially simultaneously toggling the switch from the second state to the first state within the predetermined time delay period, and maintaining the alarm in the deactivated state;
- (ii) reinserting the golf club into the elongated member and toggling the switch from the second state to the first position after the predetermined time delay period has expired, but without moving the golf bag beyond the motion threshold level, and maintaining the alarm in the deactivated state;
- and
- (iii) moving the golf bag beyond the motion threshold level after the expiration of the time delay period and substantially simultaneously placing the alarm in the activated state to alert a golfer that the golf club is missing from the golf bag, and, after the alarm is activated, reinserting the golf club into the elongated member and substantially simultaneously toggling the switch from the second state to the first state to return the alarm to the deactivated state.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.