Apparatus for Measuring the Stimp and Other Characteristics of a Putting Green

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring the rolling resistance and other characteristics of a golf course putting green is disclosed herein. The present invention can be incorporated into a golf ball housing and used by golfers, greens keepers, and other persons to measure the green speed or stimp, and other characteristics, of a putting green on a golf course.

1 . An apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green by accelerating and decelerating an inertial golf ball across a portion of the golf course putting green comprising:
 a. an inertial golf ball, said inertial golf ball comprising a housing, said housing being configured to replicate a standard golf ball in shape and size;   b. a sensor element, said sensor element being located inside said housing, said sensor element functioning to sense the acceleration and deceleration of the inertial golf ball;   c. a data transmission system, said data transmission system being located inside said housing, said data transmission system functioning to transmit data received from said sensor element inside said inertial golf ball to the outside of the inertial golf ball;   d. a power storage element, said power storage element being located inside said housing, said power storage element functioning to provide power to the sensor element and the data transmission system of the inertial golf ball;   wherein said inertial golf ball can be accelerated across the portion of the golf course putting green such that said sensor senses the acceleration and deceleration of the inertial golf ball as it travels across the portion of the golf course putting green, and said data transmission system transmits information received from said sensor element to the outside of the inertial golf ball.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said housing is completely sealed with no access to the inside of the inertial golf ball. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said housing is completely sealed except for a socket that allows access to said power storage element inside the inertial golf ball. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said housing has a removable cover, said removable cover can be removed to provide access to said power storage element. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said housing has a partially or entirely translucent cover, said translucent cover providing visual access to said sensor element and power storage element. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said sensor element is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 6 , wherein said sensor element determines movement of said inertial golf ball continuously. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 6 , wherein said sensor element determines movement of said inertial golf ball at discrete points during the movement of said inertial golf ball. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said sensor element is a speedometer and timer, such that said sensor element determines the velocity of the inertial golf ball at particular times during the movement of the inertial golf ball. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said data transmission system is a display visible from the outside surface of the inertial golf ball. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said data transmission system is a speaker providing audible information to the outside surface of the inertial golf ball. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said data transmission system is a wireless communication system providing information to the outside of the inertial golf ball. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 12 , wherein said wireless communication system is one of radio waves or other electromagnetic waves capable of being transmitted, Bluetooth or other external communication protocols. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , wherein said power storage element is one of a battery, capacitor, inductive coil or other device allowing for non-contact power transfer. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 1 , further comprising a base unit, said base unit comprising:
 a. a receiver, said receiver receiving information from said data transmission system in said inertial golf ball,   b. a processor, said processor processing the information received from said data transmission system in said inertial golf ball and sending the processed information to a display,   c. said display capable of displaying the processed information.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 15 , wherein said base unit further comprises a receptacle, said receptacle configured to receive said inertial golf ball for charging and transmitting data. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 15 , wherein said base unit further comprises an input element, said input element allowing the entry of input information or commands. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for measuring the speed of a golf course putting green in  claim 15 , wherein said input element is one or more of an on/off switch, a keyboard, or a microphone.