Golf ball compression tester
AssigneeCompression Matters Corporation
InventorRobert Henry Niemeyer, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for measuring the spring rate of a golf ball is disclosed. The device receives a golf ball between a first anvil and a second anvil. A force gauge is provided on one anvil. A displacer is provided on another anvil. Each anvil defines a ball receiving depression that is larger than the dimples of the golf ball to be measured for negating measurement effects due to golf ball dimples when measurement of the golf ball is conducted. The displacement an anvil is determined. From the force data and displacement data, a spring rate of the golf ball can be calculated and a compression scale value may be calculate and displayed on the device for informing a golfer that is operating the hand held device.
Claims20
A device for measuring a golf ball comprising:
- a housing defining a ball receiving receptacle for receiving a golf ball;
- an first anvil and a second anvil mounted in said housing for receiving said golf ball therebetween;
- a strain gauge in communication with one of said first anvil and said second anvil;
- a displacer in communication with one of said first anvil and said second anvil;
- wherein said first anvil defines a first ball receiving surface defining a first ball receiving depression and said second anvil defines a second ball receiving surface defining a second ball receiving depression, said ball receiving depressions having a diameter larger than dimples of said golf ball to be measured, said depressions curved to match the radius of a golf ball for cradling the ball for negating measurement effects due to golf ball dimples when measurement of said golf ball is conducted.
A method of performing a compression test on a golf ball comprising:
- locating a golf ball between a first anvil and a second anvil, said golf ball located in a first depression defined by said first anvil and in a second depression defined by said second anvil, said first depression and said second depression larger than a dimple defined by said golf ball;
- compressing said golf ball by displacing one of said first anvil and said second anvil to produce a deflection of said golf ball;
- determining a change in said displacement of said one of said first anvil and said second anvil;
- determining a change in force delivered to said one of said first anvil and said second anvil due to said step of compressing said golf ball;
- calculating a spring rate of said golf ball by dividing said change in force by said change in displacement;
- converting said spring rate into a compression scale value.
A device for measuring a golf ball comprising:
- a housing defining a ball receiving receptacle for receiving a golf ball;
- an first anvil and a second anvil mounted in said housing for receiving said golf ball therebetween;
- a displacer in communication with one of said first anvil and said second anvil for moving one of said first anvil and said second anvil towards another of said first anvil and said second anvil;
- a strain gauge adjacent to one of said first anvil and said second anvil for measuring an applied force against said adjacent one of said first anvil and said second anvil;
- said first anvil defines a first ball receiving surface defining a first ball receiving depression and said second anvil defines a second ball receiving surface defining a second ball receiving depression, depressions having a diameter larger than dimples of a golf ball to be measured, said depressions curved to match the radius of said golf ball for cradling the ball, said ball receiving depressions for negating measurement effects due to golf ball dimples when measurement of said golf ball is conducted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.