Method and apparatus for sport swing analysis system

Abstract

An apparatus includes an aligner that is attached to an applicator through a hinge and provides for the application of a strip, such as a retroreflective strip to a swung sports implement.

1 . An apparatus for the application of an adhesive-backed strip of material to a one of two surfaces of an object, the surfaces joined through a common angle comprising: 
 an applicator having an aperture oriented in a preferred direction; and    an aligner connected to the applicator through a hinged joint, the joint configured to allow the applicator to be placed in contact with a first surface of the object and the aligner to be placed in contact with a second surface of the object, the aligner restricting the orientation of the aperture within the applicator to a preferred alignment along the first surface of the object.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is composed of a synthetic material.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the aperture includes at least one sloped interior wall configured to guide the strip of material to a preferred position on the first surface of the golf club head.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the aperture is a substantially rectangular aperture having a major and a minor axis.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the major axis of the aperture is parallel with the axis of the hinge.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the aligner includes a plurality of tabs.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the applicator and aligner are configured such that when the aligner is placed in contact with the bottom of a golf club head's face and the joint between the applicator and aligner is bent so that the applicator is brought in contact with the bottom surface of the club head, the major axis of the aperture is aligned parallel to surface of the club face.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the aperture is spaced a predetermined distance from the hinge.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for the application of an adhesive-backed strip of material to a golf club head comprising: 
 an applicator having an aperture oriented in a preferred direction;    an aligner connected to the applicator through a hinged joint, the joint configured to allow the applicator to be placed in contact with a first surface of a golf club's head and the aligner to be placed in contact with a second surface of the golf club head, the aligner restricting the orientation of the aperture within the applicator to a preferred alignment along the first surface of the golf club head, the aperture being substantially rectangular and having a major an minor axis, the major axis of the aperture is parallel with the axis of the hinge, the aperture also having at least one sloped interior wall configured to guide the strip of material to a preferred position on the first surface of the golf club head.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the applicator and aligner are configured such that when the aligner is placed in contact with the bottom of a golf club head's face and the joint between the applicator and aligner is bent so that the applicator is brought in contact with the bottom surface of the club head, the major axis of the aperture is aligned parallel to surface of the club face.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the aperture is spaced a predetermined distance from the hinge.  
   
   
       12 . A method of applying an adhesive-backed strip of material to a golf club head comprising: 
 bringing an applicator having an aperture oriented in a preferred direction in contact with the bottom surface of a golf club head;    bringing an aligner in contact with the surface of a golf club face, the aligner being connected to the applicator through a hinged joint, the joint configured to allow the applicator to be placed in contact with a first surface of a golf club's head and the aligner to be placed in contact with a second surface of the golf club head, the aligner restricting the orientation of the aperture within the applicator to a preferred alignment along the first surface of the golf club head; and    pressing the adhesive strip of material into the aperture.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of aligning the joint of the aligner/applicator in close proximity with the corner formed by the club face and club bottom surfaces.