Patent Application
20240261649
This disclosure relates generally to golf club manufacturing, and more particularly to systems and methods for bending a hosel of a golf club head relative to a strike face of the golf club head.
Conventional golf club head bending techniques and systems can require a complicated and time-consuming calibration and set up of a bending machine before bending of a golf club head can take place. Additionally, ensuring a golf club head has been properly bent to a desired loft and/or lie can require complex calculations, complex measurement techniques, and expensive measurement components. Furthermore, conventional bending machines are big, bulky, and heavy, which makes storage, transportation, and operation difficult.
The subject matter of the present application has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the shortcomings of conventional systems for bending golf club heads. Conventional systems require extensive use of mechanical protractors and scales, which is a time-consuming process, is prone to manipulation errors, and does not provide real-time feedback. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present application has been developed to provide examples of a golf club head bending system that overcome at least some of the shortcomings of conventional systems.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples, which may or may not be claimed, of the subject matter, disclosed herein.
Disclosed herein is a bending system for bending a golf club head. The bending system includes a clamping assembly, configured to clamp the golf club head. The bending system also includes a position sensing device, selectively attachable to a golf club. The position sensing device includes a sensor array including an accelerometer and a gyroscope. The bending system further includes an electronic controller, configured to determine at least one of a lie or a loft of the golf club head, when the position sensing device is selectively attached to the golf club and the golf club head is clamped by the clamping assembly, based at least partially on sensor data received from the accelerometer and the gyroscope. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 1 of the present disclosure.
The clamping assembly includes a pre-clamp magnet configured to magnetically attach to a strike face of the golf club head. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 2 of the present disclosure, wherein example 2 also includes the subject matter according to example 1, above.
The clamping assembly further includes a primary clamp, configured to clamp the golf club head at a topline portion and a sole of the golf club head when the strike face is magnetically attached to the pre-clamp magnet, and a secondary clamp, configured to clamp the golf club head at a rearward portion and the strike face when the strike face is magnetically attached to the pre-clamp magnet. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 3 of the present disclosure, wherein example 3 also includes the subject matter according to example 2, above.
The primary clamp includes two sole-support pads that support the sole of the golf club head when the strike face is magnetically attached to the pre-clamp magnet, and that are movable relative to the pre-clamp magnet to accommodate a size and/or a shape of the sole of the golf club head. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 4 of the present disclosure, wherein example 4 also includes the subject matter according to example 3, above.
The two sole-support pads are translationally movable toward and away from the pre-clamp magnet. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 5 of the present disclosure, wherein example 5 also includes the subject matter according to example 4, above.
The primary clamp includes a first jaw, which supports the topline of the golf club head, and a second jaw, which supports the sole of the golf club head. The first jaw is pivotable and translationally movable toward and away from the second jaw. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 6 of the present disclosure, wherein example 6 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 3-5, above.
The secondary clamp includes an end plate, elastomeric pads spaced apart from each other and fixed to the end plate, an actuator, and a pliable coupling that couples the actuator to the end plate. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 7 of the present disclosure, wherein example 7 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 3-6, above.
The clamping assembly further includes a camera assembly. The pre-clamp magnet includes an aperture through which a portion of the strike face is viewable when the strike face is magnetically attached to the pre-clamp magnet. The camera assembly is configured to capture an image of the portion of the strike face viewable through the aperture. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 8 of the present disclosure, wherein example 8 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 2-7, above.
The electronic controller is configured to determine whether the golf club head is squarely attached to the pre-clamp magnet based on the image captured by the camera assembly. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 9 of the present disclosure, wherein example 9 also includes the subject matter according to example 8, above.
The clamping assembly includes a toe stop configured to engage a toe of the golf club head when the golf club head is clamped by the clamping assembly. The toe stop is movable in a direction parallel to a heel-to-toe direction of the golf club head. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 10 of the present disclosure, wherein example 10 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-9, above.
The position sensing device includes a sensor module that is selectively attachable to a shaft of the golf club head at a location proximate a hosel of the golf club head. The sensor module includes a shaft attachment portion that is configured to attach to the shaft with a snap fit. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 11 of the present disclosure, wherein example 11 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-10, above.
The shaft attachment portion includes a first retention arm and a second retention arm. When the shaft attachment portion is attached to the shaft, the first retention arm is spaced apart from the second retention arm along a central axis of the shaft. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 12 of the present disclosure, wherein example 12 also includes the subject matter according to example 11, above.
Each one of the first retention arm and the second retention arm includes a shaft retention channel. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 13 of the present disclosure, wherein example 13 also includes the subject matter according to example 12, above.
The second retention arm is oppositely oriented relative to the first retention arm. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 14 of the present disclosure, wherein example 14 also includes the subject matter according to example 13, above.
The first retention arm and the second retention arm are flexible relative to each other. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 15 of the present disclosure, wherein example 15 also includes the subject matter according to example 14, above.
The sensor array is fixed relative to the shaft attachment portion. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 16 of the present disclosure, wherein example 16 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 11-15, above.
The position sensing device includes a bending tool. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 17 of the present disclosure, wherein example 17 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-16, above.
The sensor array further includes a magnetometer. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 18 of the present disclosure, wherein example 18 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-17, above.
The position sensing device includes a wireless transceiver that is configured to wirelessly transmit the sensor data to the electronic controller. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 19 of the present disclosure, wherein example 19 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-18, above.
The position sensing device further includes an onboard power source and the accelerometer and the gyroscope are powered from electrical energy received from the onboard power source. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 20 of the present disclosure, wherein example 20 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-19, above.
The position sensing device captures the sensor data and the electronic controller determines the at least one of the lie and the loft of the golf club head in real time as the hosel is bent relative to the strike face. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 21 of the present disclosure, wherein example 21 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-20, above.
The bending system a further includes a graphical user interface configured to display a current position of the position sensing device in real time relative to a target position of the position sensing device. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 22 of the present disclosure, wherein example 22 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-21, above.
The position sensing device includes a bending tool. The bending tool includes a bar and a bit attached to an end of the bar. The bit is configured to engage and retain a hosel of the golf club head. The sensor array is attached to the bar of the bending tool. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 23 of the present disclosure, wherein example 23 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-22, above.
The bar includes a hollow portion that defines an interior cavity. The sensor array is within the interior cavity. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 24 of the present disclosure, wherein example 24 also includes the subject matter according to example 23, above.
The bending system further includes a clamping-assembly sensor module that is selectively attachable to the clamping assembly and includes a second sensor array having an accelerometer and a gyroscope. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 25 of the present disclosure, wherein example 25 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-24, above.
The bending system includes a plurality of position sensing devices. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 26 of the present disclosure, wherein example 26 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-25, above.
One of the plurality of position sensing devices includes a sensor module that is selectively attachable to a shaft of the golf club head at a location proximate the hosel of the golf club head. The sensor module includes a shaft attachment portion that is configured to attach to the shaft with a snap fit. Another one of the plurality of position sensing devices includes a bending tool that includes a bar and a bit attached to an end of the bar. The bit is configured to engage and retain a hosel of the golf club head. The sensor array is attached to the bar of the bending tool. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 27 of the present disclosure, wherein example 27 also includes the subject matter according to example 26, above.
Further disclosed herein is a method of bending a golf club head. The method includes a step of clamping the golf club head in a clamping assembly. The method also includes a step of attaching a position sensing device to a golf club including the golf club head. The method additionally includes a step of setting a position of the position sensing device on the golf club as an initial position associated with an initial loft and an initial lie of the golf club head. The method also includes a step of bending the hosel relative to a strike face of the golf club head. The method further includes a step of detecting a new position of the position sensing device relative to the initial position based on sensor data captured by at least one electronic sensor of the position sensing device as the hosel is bent. The method additionally includes a step of determining at least one of a new lie and a new loft of the golf club head, as the hosel is bent, based on a difference between the new position of the position sensing device and the initial position of the position sensing device. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 28 of the present disclosure.
The method further includes a step of magnetically attaching the strike face of the golf club head to a pre-clamp magnet. The golf club head is clamped in the clamping assembly when the strike face is magnetically attached to the pre-clamp magnet. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 29 of the present disclosure, wherein example 29 also includes the subject matter according to example 28, above.
The method further includes adjusting an orientation of the strike face, relative to the pre-clamp magnet, when the strike face is magnetically attached to the pre-clamp magnet. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 30 of the present disclosure, wherein example 30 also includes the subject matter according to example 29, above.
The method further includes capturing a digital image of the strike face through an aperture in the pre-clamp magnet and digitally superimposing indicia, representing scorelines, over the digital image of the strike face. The orientation of the strike face, relative to the pre-clamp magnet, is adjusted based on non-alignment of the indicia and scorelines of the strike face. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 31 of the present disclosure, wherein example 31 also includes the subject matter according to example 30, above.
The method further includes steps of determining a home position of the position sensing device and determining the initial loft and the initial lie of the golf club head based on a comparison between the home position and the initial position of the position sensing device. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 32 of the present disclosure, wherein example 32 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 28-31, above.
The clamping assembly is pivotally attached to a frame. A calibration pin is attached to the frame so that the calibration pin does not move relative to the frame. The calibration pin has a known position relative to the frame. The step of determining the home position of the position sensing device includes attaching the position sensing device to the calibration pin. The position of the position sensing device on the golf club is based on a comparison between the home position and sensor data captured by the at least one electronic sensor of the position sensing device when the position sensing device is attached to the golf club. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 33 of the present disclosure, wherein example 33 also includes the subject matter according to example 32, above.
The position sensing device includes a sensor module. The he sensor module includes the at least one electronic sensor. The sensor module includes a shaft attachment portion. The step of attaching the position sensing device to the golf club includes attaching the shaft attachment portion of the sensor module to a shaft of the golf club retained by a hosel of the golf club at a location proximate the hosel of the golf club head. Attaching the position sensing device to the calibration pin includes attaching the shaft attachment portion of the sensor module to the calibration pin. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 34 of the present disclosure, wherein example 34 also includes the subject matter according to example 33, above.
The position sensing device includes a bending tool. The bending tool includes a bar and a bit attached to an end of the bar. The bit is configured to engage and retain a hosel of the golf club head. The at least one electronic sensor is attached to the bar of the bending tool. The step of attaching the position sensing device to the golf club includes attaching the bit of the bending tool to a hosel of the golf club. The step of bending the hosel relative to the strike face of the golf club head includes moving the bending tool relative to the strike face when the bit is attached to the hosel. Attaching the position sensing device to the calibration pin includes attaching the bit of the bending tool to the calibration pin. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 35 of the present disclosure, wherein example 35 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 33-34, above.
The method further includes determining a home position of a clamping-assembly sensor module relative to the clamping assembly by attaching a pin attachment portion of the clamping-assembly sensor module to the calibration pin. The clamping-assembly sensor module includes at least one electronic sensor. The method also includes attaching the clamping-assembly sensor module to the clamping assembly. The method also includes determining a position of the clamping assembly based on a comparison between the home position of the clamping-assembly sensor module and sensor data captured by the at least one electronic sensor of the clamping-assembly sensor module when attached to the clamping assembly. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 36 of the present disclosure, wherein example 36 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 33-35, above.
Additionally disclosed herein is a method of bending a golf club head. The method includes a step of clamping the golf club head in a clamping assembly. The method also includes a step of attaching a first position sensing device to a golf club including the golf club head. The method further includes a step of determining a first home position of the first position sensing device. The method additionally includes a step of attaching a second position sensing device to the golf club. The method also includes a step of determining a second home position of the second position sensing device. The method further includes a step of determining a first position of the first position sensing device based on a comparison between the first home position and first sensor data captured by at least one first sensor of the first position sensing device when attached to the golf club. The method also includes a step of determining a second position of the second position sensing device based on a comparison between the second home position and second sensor data captured by at least one second sensor of the second position sensing device. The method further includes a step of bending the hosel relative to a strike face of the golf club head. The method additionally includes a step of determining at least one of a change in a lie and a change in a loft of the golf club head, as the hosel is bent, based on a comparison between the first position of the first position sensing device and the second position of the second position sensing device. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 37 of the present disclosure.
The method further includes attaching a third position sensing device to the clamping assembly, determining a third home position of the third position sensing device, and determining a third position of the third position sensing device based on a comparison between the third home position and third sensor data captured by at least one third sensor of the third position sensing device when attached to the clamping assembly. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 38 of the present disclosure, wherein example 38 also includes the subject matter according to example 37, above.
The step of determining at least one of the change in the lie and the change in the loft of the golf club head, as the hosel is bent, is based on a triangulation of the first position of the first position sensing device, the second position of the second position sensing device, and the third position of the third position sensing device. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 39 of the present disclosure, wherein example 39 also includes the subject matter according to example 38, above.
The described features, structures, advantages, and/or characteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments and/or implementations. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to impart a thorough understanding of embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific features, details, components, materials, and/or methods of a particular embodiment or implementation. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments and/or implementations that may not be present in all embodiments or implementations. Further, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure. The features and advantages of the subject matter of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the subject matter as set forth hereinafter.
In order that the advantages of the subject matter may be more readily understood, a more particular description of the subject matter briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only some embodiments of the subject matter and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the subject matter will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the drawings.
Reference throughout this specification to “one example,” “an example,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example of the present disclosure. Appearances of the phrases “in one example,” “in an example,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same example. Similarly, the use of the term “implementation” means an implementation having a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with one or more examples of the present disclosure, however, absent an express correlation to indicate otherwise, an implementation may be associated with one or more examples.
Golf club head bending machines are configured to bend the hosel of a golf club head relative to a strike face of the golf club head so that the golf club head has a desired loft and/or lie. The loft of a golf club head is the angle defined between the strike face of the golf club head and a ground plane when the golf club head is in a proper address position on the ground plane. The loft of the golf club head can also be associated with an axis of the hosel of the golf club head because the strike face lies in a plane that defines an angle relative to the axis of the hosel. The lie can be defined as the angle defined between the hosel axis and scorelines on the strike face.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0302946 A1 ('946 App), published Oct. 9, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a “reference position” (e.g., a proper address position) used to measure the various parameters discussed throughout this application. The reference or proper address position can be based on the procedures described in the United States Golf Association and R&A Rules Limited, “Procedure for Measuring the Club Head Size of Wood Clubs,” Revision 1.0.0, (Nov. 21, 2003). The proper address position is the position of the golf club head when (1) supported on a ground plane; (2) a hosel axis of the club head is at a lie angle θ1 of 60° relative to the ground plane; and (3) the hosel axis lies within a plane (e.g., vertical plane) that is perpendicular to the ground plane.
Typically, golf club heads are manufactured to have a standard loft and lie determined by the manufacturers prior to manufacturing of the golf club heads. In other words, each golf club head in a set is initially made to have a standard loft and a standard lie associated with each golf club head in the set. Often, golfers may be desirous to modify the standard loft and/or the standard lie based on user preferences, such as, but not limited to, a desired look of the golf club head at address, characteristics of the user's swing, a desired ball flight or trajectory, and the like. Additionally, in some instances, such as due to manufacturing tolerances and imperfections, a golf club head that is made to have a standard loft and/or a standard lie may have an actual lie and/or actual loft that diverges from the standard. Bending golf club heads, after manufacturing, can be helpful to adjust the loft and/or lie of the golf club heads to meet the manufacturer's specifications or a user's preferences.
However, as presented above, conventional bending techniques and systems have various shortcomings. For example, calibrating and setting up a bending machine can be complicated and time consuming. Additionally, ensuring a golf club head has been properly bent to a desired loft and/or lie can require complex calculations, complex measurement techniques, and expensive measurement components. Furthermore, conventional bending machines are big, bulky, and heavy, which makes storage, transportation, and operation difficult.
Referring to
As shown in
The frame portion 102 includes a frame 105, a clamping assembly 124, a supplemental measurement assembly 127 (optional), and a sensor-module calibration pin 122 (also identified as calibration pin 122). The clamping assembly 124 is configured to secure the golf club head 114 in place during a hosel bending process and is rotatably coupled to the frame 105. The supplemental measurement assembly 127, which is not used in some examples, provides an analog measurement of the angle of the shaft 112 of the golf club 110 relative to a strike face of the golf club head 114 and is movable coupled to the frame 105. In
Referring to
Referring to
The pre-clamp magnet 154 holds the golf club head 114 in place while the primary clamp 130 and the secondary clamp 131 are actuated to clamp the golf club head 114 relative to the main body 125. In this manner, an operator is not required to manually hold the golf club head 114 in place as the golf club head 114 is clamped, which enables the operator to use both hands, if needed, to clamp the golf club head 114 in place. In some examples, actuation of the primary clamp 130 and the secondary clamp 131 is controlled using the control interface 108. For example, the control interface 108 can include user-engageable control hardware (e.g., a first lever), which controls actuation of the primary clamp 130, and can include separate user-engageable control hardware (e.g., a second lever), which controls actuation of the secondary clamp 131.
Referring to
The first jaw 130A is actuated toward and away from the second jaw 130B via a hydraulic actuator 132. As shown in
The second jaw 130B includes one, two, or more sole-support pads 187, which are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the flat interface surface of the pre-clamp magnet 154. Each one of the sole-support pads 187 includes an interface surface configured to support and retain a corresponding portion of the sole 117 of the golf club head 114. The interface surface is rounded (e.g., semi-circular shaped cross-section) in some examples and angled in other examples. In some examples, the sole-support pads 187 are floating so that they are movable (e.g., rotatable and/or translatable) relative to the main body 125. In one example, the sole-support pads 187 are attached to the main body 125, at least in part, by springs which enable retained movement of the sole-support pads 187. Movement of the sole-support pads 187 relative to the main body 125 facilitate proper seating of the sole 117 of the golf club head 114 onto the sole-support pads 187 even if the golf club head 114 is not perfectly squared when clamped. Additionally, movement of the sole-support pads 187 accommodates clamping of different golf club heads having a variety of sole sizes and shapes. According to one example, the sole-support pads 187 are made of a metallic material, such as brass. In certain examples, translational movement of the second jaw 130B along the frame 105 is facilitated by a ball screw actuator system that includes a rotatable screw 210 (see, e.g.,
As shown in
Referring to
As shown by directional arrows in
Referring to
According to some examples, the hosel 118 is bent automatically. For example, the bending system 100 can include bending actuators (e.g., hydraulic or pneumatic actuators) that are mechanically coupled to the hosel 118 (such as via a bit similar to the bit 140) and selectively operable by the electronic controller 111 to move the bit and bend the hosel 118. When the golf club head 114 is clamped by the clamping assembly 124 and the hosel 118 of the golf club head 114 is secured to the bending actuators, activation of one or more of the bending actuators bends the hosel 118 relative to the strike face 115 of the golf club head 114. According to one example, shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The first retention arm 161 and the second retention arm 163 are oppositely oriented, such that the shaft retention channel 161A of the first retention arm 161 faces a first direction and the shaft retention channel 163A of the second retention arm 163 faces a second direction, opposite the first direction. In other words, the first retention arm 161 and the second retention arm 163 are on opposite sides of a plane within which the central axes 167, and 169 lie. Moreover, the first retention arm 161 and the second retention arm 163 are resiliently flexible relative to each other.
In operation, the shaft 112 is temporarily affixed or retained by the shaft attachment portion 160 by (1) positioning a portion of the shaft 112 within the semi-circular shaped channel of one of the first retention arm 161 or the second retention arm 163, (2) twisting the shaft attachment portion 160 about an axis angled (e.g., perpendicular) to the central axis 121 of the shaft 112 to move the other one of the first retention arm 161 or the second retention arm 163 away from the shaft 112, (3) while twisting the shaft attachment portion 160, moving the other one of the first retention arm 161 or the second retention arm 163 around the shaft 112, and then (4) untwisting the shaft attachment portion 160 so that the other one of the first retention arm 161 or the second retention arm 163 resiliently snaps onto the shaft 112. The shaft attachment portion 160 is detached from the shaft 112 using similar steps, but in the opposite order. The flexibility, positions, and spacing of the first retention arm 161 and the second retention arm 163, relative to each other, dictates the twisting force necessary to flex the shaft attachment portion 160 onto and off of the shaft 112 and the retention force applied onto the shaft 112 by the shaft attachment portion 160. The retention force is sufficient to maintain the position and orientation of the shaft attachment portion 160 on the shaft 112 while the golf club head 114 is bent.
As shown in
Additionally, the detection of the position of the hosel 118 is dependent on the assumption that the shaft 112 is properly aligned with the hosel 118 (e.g., central axes are colinear). Misalignment between the shaft 112 and the hosel 118, such as due to manufacturing inconsistences and tolerances, can create inaccuracies in detecting the position of the hosel 118. Positioning the sensor module 120 next to or in contact with the hosel 118 helps to eliminate or reduce the effect of shaft misalignment (e.g., when the central axis 121 of the shaft 112 is not colinear with a central axis of the hosel 118) because shaft misalignment is more pronounced away from the hosel 118.
Finally, positioning the sensor module 120 next to or in contact with the hosel 118 enables the bending system 100 to adjust the loft and/or the lie of the golf club head 114 before a shaft is attached to the golf club head 114, by attaching the sensor module 120 to a pin in the hosel 118 that replicates the tip portion of the shaft. Accordingly, when used herein, shaft can be interchangeable with a full shaft of a golf club of a pin designed to replicate a full shaft of a golf club.
According to some examples, in addition to the sensor module 120 near the hosel 118, to improve the accuracy of the sensed position of the hosel 118, one or more additional sensor modules 120 can be positioned at locations on the shaft away from the hosel 118. The sensor readings from the multiple sensor modules 120 can be received by the electronic controller 111 of the bending system 100, which determines the position of the hosel 118 based on an averaging or comparison of the sensor readings from the sensor modules 120.
Referring to
The sensors of the sensor array 159 are electrically powered. In one example, the electrical power is supplied to the sensor array 159 via a wired connection with a power source remote from the sensor portion 162. However, as shown, in certain examples, the electrical power is supplied to the sensor array 159 via a power source 173 (e.g., a battery) onboard the sensor portion 162. In some examples, the sensor portion 162 includes a rechargeable battery and an interface 172 or port (e.g., a USB or USB-C port) configured to receive electrical power for recharging the battery.
The bending system 100 further includes an electronic controller 111, which can be part of or communicatively coupled with the graphical user interface 106. The electronic controller 111 receives sensor input from the sensor portion 162 and determines the location of the hosel 118 relative to the strike face of the golf club head 114, and thus the amount the hosel 118 has been bent relative to the strike face, based on the sensor input. In one example, the electronic controller 111 receives the sensor input via a wired connection with the sensor portion 162. However, as shown, in certain examples, the electronic controller 111 receives the sensor input via a wireless connection. For example, as shown in
A method of bending a golf club head 114, using the bending system 100, includes a first calibration step and a second calibration step. The first calibration step includes calibrating the frame portion 102 to set a known position (e.g., home position) of the frame portion 102 in space. The first calibration step is performed once when the bending system 100 is turned on from an off mode. The second calibration step includes calibrating the sensor module 120 to set a known position (e.g., home position) of the sensor module 120 relative to the frame 105. The second calibration step is performed before each golf club head is bent. According to one example, as shown in
Before or after the first calibration step and the second calibration step, the golf club head 114 of the golf club 110 is clamped by the clamping assembly 124. Clamping the golf club head 114, using the clamping assembly 124, includes positioning the golf club head 114 on the sole-support pads 187 of the second jaw 130B, and magnetically attaching the strike face of the golf club head 114 to the pre-clamp magnet 154. Using an image captured by the camera assembly 142 and displayed by the graphical user interface 106, the orientation of the golf club head 114 can be manually adjusted or squared while magnetically attached to the pre-clamp magnet 154. Referring to
As shown in
After the golf club head 114 is supported on the second jaw 130B and the strike face 115 is attached to the pre-clamp magnet 154 (and after an operator squares the scorelines 176 if needed or desired), the golf club head 114 is further clamped by actuating the first jaw 130A to clamp the golf club head 114 between the first jaw 130A and the second jaw 130B. The clamping step of the method additionally includes actuating the secondary clamp 131 to clamp the golf club head 114 between the jaw of the secondary clamp 131 and the pre-clamp magnet 154.
Before or after the golf club head 114 is clamped by the clamping assembly 124 of the bending system 100, in some examples, the angle θ1 of the flat interface surface of the pre-clamp magnet 154 is adjusted, via actuation of the actuator 152, into a specified loft angle associated with the golf club head 114. The specified loft angle can be equal to the standard loft of the golf club head 114. For example, the standard loft of the golf club head 114 can be entered into or received by the electronic controller 111 of the bending system 100, and the angle θ1 can be adjusted so that the angle θ1 is equal to the standard loft of the golf club head 114. Alternatively, the specified loft angle can be any of various known angles, such as zero. In certain examples, the clamping assembly 124 helps determine an initial loft and/or initial lie of the golf club head 114 based on a known position of the actuator 152 relative to the frame 105. The position of the actuator 152, relative to the frame 105, is known based on one or more of actuation commands sent to the actuator 152 or feedback from the actuator 152. However, in other examples, the position of the clamping assembly 124, and thus the initial loft and/or initial lie of the golf club head 114, is determined by a clamping-assembly sensor module 120C (see, e.g.,
The position of the clamping assembly 124, and thus the position of the flat interface surface 129, can be positioned into a desired bending position before bending of the golf club head 114 takes place. The desired bending position can be any of various positions. However, in certain examples, the desired bending position is the position of the clamping assembly 124 when the hosel 118 of the golf club head 114 (when properly clamped by the clamping assembly 124) lies within a plane perpendicular relative to the frame 105. With the hosel 118 being perpendicular to the frame 105, the bending tool 139 can be in the same orientation (e.g., parallel to the frame 105) when the bit 140 is attached to the hosel 118, regardless of the loft of the golf club head 114. This helps to present the bending tool 139 to an operator, tasked to manually bend the golf club head 114, in a consistent manner (i.e., the same orientation) regardless of the type or loft of the golf club head 114. To achieve perpendicularity of the hosel 118 for differently lofted golf club heads, the position of the clamping assembly 124, relative to the frame 105, must be adjusted based on the known loft of the golf club heads. For example, the clamping assembly 124 is more upright, relative to the frame 105, when bending golf club heads having less loft compared to those having more loft.
The method of bending the golf club head 114 further includes attaching the bending tool 139 to the hosel 118 of the golf club head 114. But before the golf club head 114 is bent by the bending tool 139 (or even before the bending tool 139 is attached to the hosel 118), the sensor module 120 is moved from its home position on the sensor-module calibration pin 122 and attached to the shaft 112 of the golf club 110 near the hosel 118. As the sensor module 120 is moved, the sensor array 159 detects the motion of the sensor module 120 away from the home position and tracks the position the sensor array 159 relative to the 3-axis coordinate system and the orientation (e.g., angle) of the sensor array 159 relative to the orientation when in the home position. Accordingly, at any given position of the sensor module 120 away from the home position, the coordinates of the sensor module 120 on the 3-axis coordinate system and the orientation (e.g., angle) of the sensor module 120 are known. Thus, when the sensor module 120 is attached to the shaft 112, the sensor input received by the electronic controller 111 from the sensor module 120 can be used by the electronic controller 111 to determine an initial (e.g., pre-bent) position of the golf club head 114, an initial loft of the golf club head 114, and an initial lie of the golf club head 114. According to one example, all three of the accelerometer 166, the gyroscope 168, and the magnetometer 170 are used to determine the initial position of the sensor module 120, and thus the initial position of the golf club head 114. In certain examples, the magnetometer 170 is deactivated, and only one or both of the accelerometer 166 and the gyroscope 168 are used to track the position of the hosel 118 as the hosel 118 is bent.
In some examples, the initial loft and/or the initial lie of the golf club head 114, as detected by the sensor module 120, are compared against the loft and/or the lie of the golf club head 114, as determined by the position of the actuator 152 of the clamping assembly 124 or by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C, to ensure the sensor module 120 is properly attached to the shaft 112. The initial loft and/or the initial lie of the golf club head 114, as detected by the sensor module 120, should be the same as the loft and/or the lie of the golf club head 114, as determined by the actuator 152 or by the clamping assembly sensor module 120C. When the loft and/or the lie detected by the sensor module 120 and determined by the actuator 152 or by the clamping assembly sensor module 120C are the same, proper attachment to the shaft 112 can be confirmed. However, when the loft and/or the lie detected by the sensor module 120 and determined by the actuator 152 or by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C are different, the sensor module 120 is not attached properly. Adjustment of the sensor module 120 on the shaft 112 can be made until the loft and/or the lie detected by the sensor module 120 and determined by the actuator 152 or by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C are the same. It is recognized that in some examples, when the lie of the golf club head 114 is not manually squared, the camera assembly 142 can help determine the discrepancy between the actual lie and the squared lie, calculate an offset, and adjust the determination of the lie of the golf club head 114 after bending the hosel 118 by the offset. In this manner, a non-squared strike face can be compensated for automatically, via the camera assembly 142, without manual adjustment of the golf club head 114 in the clamping assembly 124.
In some examples, such as shown in
After a proper position of the sensor module 120 on the shaft 112 is confirmed, the golf club head 114 is properly clamped by the clamping assembly 124, and the bending tool 139 is properly attached to the hosel 118, the method of bending the golf club head 114 includes moving the bending tool 139 to bend the hosel 118 relative to the strike face 115. The operator moves the bending tool 139, to bend the hosel 118, until the golf club head 114 has the desired loft and/or the desired lie. Whether the golf club head 114 has the desired loft and/or the desire lie can be confirmed based on sensor input received from the sensor module 120. According to one example, the sensor or sensors of the sensor array 159 detect a new position of the hosel 118 as the hosel is bent and the electronic controller 111 determines, via geometric relationships, a change in the loft and/or lie of the golf club head 114 based on a difference between the initial position of the sensor module 120, before the hosel 118 is bent, and a current position of the sensor module 120, after the hosel 118 is bent. The detection of the position of the hosel 118 and the determination of the change in the loft and/or lie of the golf club head 114 are done in real-time as the hosel 118 is bent by the bending tool 139.
As mentioned above, according to some examples, the hosel 118 is bent manually using the bending tool 139. However, in one example, the bending of the hosel 118 is automatedly controlled by the electronic controller 111 so that the bending of the golf club head 114 from an initial loft and lie to an adjusted or desired loft and lie is done automatically via automatic actuation of one or more bending actuators. However, in yet another example, actuation of one or more bending actuators is controlled manually by an operator via user-engagement controls or hardware.
Referring to
Similar to the graphical sensor-module adjustment guide 190 of
As the golf club head 114 is bent, the shaft 112 of the golf club 110 may have a tendency to wobble. Such wobbling affects the readings of the position of the shaft 112 (e.g., translated into the position of the hosel 118) from the sensor array 159. Referring to the chart 200 of
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
Because the bending tool 139A is selectively attached to the hosel 118 of the golf club head 114 in preparation for bending the golf club head 114, and the position or orientation of the hosel 118 relative to the strike face 115 corresponds with the position or orientation of the shaft 112 (or pin) of the golf club 110, the position of the bending tool 139A when attached to the hosel 118, as detected by the sensor array 159 of the bending tool 139A, can be used to determine the location of the hosel 118 relative to the strike face 115, and thus the amount the hosel 118 is bent relative to the strike face 115, in the same manner as the sensor module 120. Accordingly, like the sensor module 120, the bending tool 139A can be calibrated, as part of the second calibration step, to set the home position of the bending tool 139A relative to the frame 105. Referring to
After the home position of the bending tool 139A is set, the bending tool 139A can be removed (e.g., detached) from the calibration pin 122, and, after the golf club head 114 is clamped by the clamping assembly 124, the bending tool 139A can be attached to the hosel 118 of the golf club head 114 (see, e.g.,
In some examples, the initial loft and/or the initial lie of the golf club head 114, as detected by the bending tool 139A, are compared against the loft and/or the lie of the golf club head 114, as determined by the position of the actuator 152 of the clamping assembly 124 or by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C, to ensure the bending tool 139A is properly attached to the hosel 118. The initial loft and/or the initial lie of the golf club head 114, as detected by the bending tool 139A, should be the same as the loft and/or the lie of the golf club head 114, as determined by the actuator 152 or by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C. When the loft and/or the lie detected by the sensor module 120 and determined by the actuator 152 or by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C are the same, proper attachment of the bending tool 139A to the hosel 118 can be confirmed. However, when the loft and/or the lie detected by the sensor module 120 and determined by the actuator 152 or by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C are different, the bending tool 139A is not attached properly. Adjustment of the bending tool 139A on the hosel 118 can be made until the loft and/or the lie detected by the sensor module 120 and determined by the actuator 152 or by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C are the same.
Referring to
Engagement between the clamping-assembly engagement feature and the corresponding feature on the clamping assembly 124 temporarily secures the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C to the clamping assembly 124, so that the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C co-moves with the clamping assembly 124 relative to the frame 105. In the illustrated example, the clamping-assembly engagement feature includes a pair of apertures 230 formed in a base of the pin attachment portion 260, and the corresponding feature on the clamping assembly 124 includes a pair of pins 232 on the main body 125 of the clamping assembly 124. The pair of pins 232 are received into the pair of apertures 230 to temporarily secure the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C to the main body 125. Although in the illustrated examples the engagement feature of the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C is a pair of apertures 230 formed in the base of the pin attachment portion 260 and the corresponding engagement feature of the clamping assembly 124 is a pair of pins 232 on the main body 125, in other examples, the engagement feature of the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C can be any of various types of engagement features located on any of various portions of the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C and the corresponding engagement feature of the clamping assembly 124 can be any of various types of engagement features located on any of various portions of the clamping assembly 124, as long as engagement between the engagement features help to temporarily secure the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C to the clamping assembly 124. For example, although not shown, the engagement feature of the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C can be the first retention arm 161 and a second retention arm 163, and the corresponding engagement feature of the clamping assembly 124 can be a pin, like the sensor-module calibration pin 122.
Because the position or orientation of the clamping assembly 124 relative to the frame 105 corresponds with the position or orientation of the flat interface surface 129 of the pre-clamp magnet of the clamping assembly 124, which indicates the loft angle of the strike face 115 of the golf club head 114 when attached to the flat interface surface 129, the position of the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C, when attached to the clamping assembly 124, as detected by the sensor array 159 of the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C can be used to determine the location of the strike face 115 and the location of the hosel 118 relative to the strike face 115. This can be helpful to ensure the golf club head 114 is in a predicted position or in the correct bending position before bending of the golf club head 114 is performed. Like the sensor module 120, the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C can be calibrated, as part of the second calibration step, to set the home position of the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C relative to the frame 105. Referring to
After the home position of the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C is set, the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C can be removed (e.g., detached) from the calibration pin 122, and the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C can be attached to clamping assembly 124 (see, e.g.,
In some examples, the position of the clamping assembly 124, as detected by the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C, is compared against a desired or predicted position (e.g., the desired bending position) of the clamping assembly 124 associated with a desired position of the golf club head 114 for bending. The detected position of the clamping assembly should be the same as the desired or predicted position of the clamping assembly 124. When they are not the same, the position of the clamping assembly 124 can be adjusted, such as via the actuator 152, until it is the same as the desired or predicted position of the clamping assembly 124.
The golf club head bending system 100 includes at least one position sensing device 250. In some examples, the golf club head bending system 100 includes only one position sensing device 250, which can be any one of the sensor module 120, the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C, or the bending tool 139A. Each one of the sensor module 120, the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C, and the bending tool 139A can be used to provide position data concerning the position of the golf club head 114 and/or the clamping assembly 124 for promoting accurate, precise, and efficient bending of the golf club head 114. However, accurate and precise bending of the golf club head 114 can be improved by combining or comparing position data from multiple position sensing devices 250. Accordingly, in certain examples, such as shown in
According to some examples, the position of the golf club head 114 relative to the frame 105 and the amount the golf club head 114 has been bent can be determined by triangulating the positions of multiple position sensing devices 250, relative to the frame 105, such as the individual positions of the sensor module 120, the clamping-assembly sensor module 120C, and the bending tool 139A.
In view of the foregoing, and according to one example shown in
In the above description, certain terms may be used such as “up,” “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “left,” “right,” “over,” “under” and the like. These terms are used, where applicable, to provide some clarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. But, these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and/or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an “upper” surface can become a “lower” surface simply by turning the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object. Further, the terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to” unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or mutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” also refer to “one or more” unless expressly specified otherwise. Further, the term “plurality” can be defined as “at least two.” Moreover, unless otherwise noted, as defined herein a plurality of particular features does not necessarily mean every particular feature of an entire set or class of the particular features.
The term “about” or “substantially” in some embodiments, is defined to mean within +/−5% of a given value, however in additional embodiments any disclosure of “about” may be further narrowed and claimed to mean within +/−4% of a given value, within +/−3% of a given value, within +/−2% of a given value, within +/−1% of a given value, or the exact given value. Further, when at least two values of a variable are disclosed, such disclosure is specifically intended to include the range between the two values regardless of whether they are disclosed with respect to separate embodiments or examples, and specifically intended to include the range of at least the smaller of the two values and/or no more than the larger of the two values. Additionally, when at least three values of a variable are disclosed, such disclosure is specifically intended to include the range between any two of the values regardless of whether they are disclosed with respect to separate embodiments or examples, and specifically intended to include the range of at least the A value and/or no more than the B value, where A may be any of the disclosed values other than the largest disclosed value, and B may be any of the disclosed values other than the smallest disclosed value.
Additionally, instances in this specification where one element is “coupled” to another element can include direct and indirect coupling. Direct coupling can be defined as one element coupled to and in some contact with another element. Indirect coupling can be defined as coupling between two elements not in direct contact with each other, but having one or more additional elements between the coupled elements. Further, as used herein, securing one element to another element can include direct securing and indirect securing. Additionally, as used herein, “adjacent” does not necessarily denote contact. For example, one element can be adjacent another element without being in contact with that element.
As used herein, the phrase “at least one of”, when used with a list of items, means different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used and only one of the items in the list may be needed. The item may be a particular object, thing, or category. In other words, “at least one of” means any combination of items or number of items may be used from the list, but not all of the items in the list may be required. For example, “at least one of item A, item B, and item C” may mean item A; item A and item B; item B; item A, item B, and item C; or item B and item C. In some cases, “at least one of item A, item B, and item C” may mean, for example, without limitation, two of item A, one of item B, and ten of item C; four of item B and seven of item C; or some other suitable combination.
Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first” “second” etc. are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item.
As used herein, a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware “configured to” perform a specified function is indeed capable of performing the specified function without any alteration, rather than merely having potential to perform the specified function after further modification. In other words, the system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware “configured to” perform a specified function is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the specified function. As used herein, “configured to” denotes existing characteristics of a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware which enable the system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware to perform the specified function without further modification. For purposes of this disclosure, a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware described as being “configured to” perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being “adapted to” and/or as being “operative to” perform that function.
The electronic controller and associated modules described in this specification may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. The electronic controller may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.
The electronic controller may also be implemented in code and/or software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of executable code which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of the electronic controller need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the electronic controller and achieve the stated purpose for the electronic controller.
Indeed, code of the electronic controller may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within the electronic controller, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different computer readable storage devices. Where the electronic controller or portions of the electronic controller are implemented in software, the software portions are stored on one or more computer readable storage devices.
Any combination of one or more computer readable medium may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be a storage device storing the code. The storage device may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, holographic, micromechanical, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the storage device would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
Code for carrying out operations for embodiments may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages including an object oriented programming language such as Python, Ruby, Java, Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language, or the like, and/or machine languages such as assembly languages. The code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one example of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.
The present subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the examples below are to be embraced within their scope.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/443,330, filed Feb. 3, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63443330 | Feb 2023 | US |
