CA2642157A1 - Electronic golf club - Google Patents

Description

Title: Electronic Golf Club Description TITLE: Electronic Golf Club The field of art that this invention relates to is the recreational sport of golf, in particular to the miniature version of golf known as mini golf or mini putt.
BACKGROUND ART:

Mini golf or mini putt is miniature version of the sport of golf. Mini golf is a recreational sport played for many years by people of all ages and skill level.
Although the principle of the game is the same as in golf it presents its own characteristics.
The golf course is considerable smaller. The distance between the holes can vary, but there are generally less than 10 meters from the starting point. Due to the short distance between the holes it uses a putter.
The goal of the game is to complete either eighteen or nine holes in as few strokes as possible.
The game can be played indoors, outdoors or glow in the dark environment.
The player hits the ball from the starting point. The ball then has to travel through a number of obstacles. Generally each player has to record its own score in a piece of paper. The person with less strokes wins.
With this invention there is no need to record the score on paper anymore the score is electronically recorded in the club. Eliminating the need for paper and pencil makes the game more environmental friendly, convenient and more fun for the players. The putter will record each stroke digitally directly on the handle, adding the score as the game progresses. The sensor on the putter's head is centrally located. The putter's head is cover by a rubber mould, having I

an indentation on it with the concave shape of the ball. This way we try to avoid accidental counting when the player hits other surface different than the ball.

The game of mini golf can be played by people all ages but specially target young people and family groups. This club on top of having the advantage of being environmentally friendly is going to be more appealing to that target group. This group is generally attracted to electronic devices; this putter has the digital counter, as well as having the option of incorporating sounds effects and optimal LED lights.
The LED lights can be used to play glow in the dark mini golf or for night time playing. Giving the business operators the option of extend their hours of operation.
Other advantage of this putter is that the sensor on the head of the putter is going to be embedded on both sides of the club allowing left or right people to use the same club this will reduce start up cost for business operators.

The score will be recorded on the actual handle of the putter. The business operator will have the option of having it communicates with a scoreboard or a computer as well.
Optional the putter will have an internal antenna that send Radio Frequency signals to the scoreboard or the computer.
Each club is going to have an ID number. At the end of the game the operator will clear the score from each putter with a remote control.
Each club has a moulded compartment with a removable lid for easy access to the circuit board and the battery (alkaline battery. This type of battery have a expected life of 7 years, approximately.)

2 Summary of the invention Electronic devices are moulded into the head and the shaft of a regular golf putter.
The head of the putter has embedded a touch sensor or a contact sensor on both sides. The sensor is located in the middle of the head with a small concave indentation of a 1mm. Only hitting the ball will register a count.
The head of the putter is cover by a rubber mould either fluorescent or solid color.
The shaft has a compartment with a removable lid to access the electronics; In that compartment there is a circuit board, an antenna that send RF signals to the score board or a computer, a battery, LED lights and a mini speaker.
There is a wire from the sensor on the head of the putter to the circuit board and other from the circuit board to the score display at the top of the handle.
At the top of the handle there is a score display and an IR light.

Fig 1 Refers to a side view of the putter 1 digital scoring display located at the top of the handle or putter.
Top opens to access digital display electronics.
2 Regular golf club Grip.

3 Regular golf Shaft

4 Wires run up inside of shaft to digital display moulded housing that holds electronic components 5a Circuit board 5b RF antenna (range 500 yards or more) 5c optional speaker for sound effects 5d optional coloured led lights for decorative effect.
5e LED light for night play 5f Removable plate 6 Touch Sensor in head of club recessed into head 1 mm to avoid accidental triggering of sensor unless ball is hit.
7 Rubber padding.

Claims