Instrumented softball or baseball bat and bat knob and system for monitoring a bat swing

Abstract

An instrumented baseball or softball bat knob comprising a knob housing including a generally cylindrical member inserted into a handle end of the bat and a knob portion attached to the cylindrical member. The knob portion has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the handle end of the bat. An electronics package is mounted within the knob housing and includes one or more sensors, a microcontroller (processor), memory device and a battery to generate and store data relative to conditions of a batter's swing. The electronics package may also include a wireless transmitter/antenna/transceiver to transmit swing condition data to an external, remote processing unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An instrumented baseball or softball bat knob, comprising;
 a housing that is configured to be fixed to a handle end of a bat; and   an electronics package mounted within the housing and comprising:
 one or more sensors mounted within the housing and capable of detecting conditions associated with a swing of the bat and capable of generating raw swing condition data associated with a swing of the bat, and the raw swing condition data is used to generate processed swing condition data associated with the swing of the bat; 
 a memory device mounted in the housing for storing the processed swing condition data and/or for storing the raw swing condition data generated by the sensors; 
 a battery mounted within the housing that supplies power to the sensors, processor, memory and transceiver; and, 
 a processor mounted within the housing and in electrical signal communication with the one or more sensors, memory device, transceiver and battery. 
   
     
     
         2 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 1  further comprising a transmitter mounted within the housing that transmits the processed swing condition data or raw swing condition data to an external processing unit, and the transmitter is in electrical signal communication with the processor. 
     
     
         3 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to generate the processed swing condition data based on the raw condition data generated by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a generally cylindrical portion to be inserted within the handle end of a bat and a knob portion affixed to the cylindrical portion, and the knob portion having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the handle end of a bat. 
     
     
         5 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 4 , wherein the electronics package is disposed within an internal volume of the knob portion of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 4 , wherein the cylindrical portion has external threads matching an internally threaded portion of the handle end of a bat. 
     
     
         7 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a generally cylindrical housing to be inserted and fixed within a handle end of a bat. 
     
     
         8 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 4 , further comprising a charging portal on the knob portion of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 4 , wherein the electronics package is disposed within an internal volume of the housing defined by the knob portion and cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         10 . The instrumented bat knob of  claim 4 , wherein the electronics package is disposed within an internal volume of the housing defined by the cylindrical portion of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . An instrumented baseball or softball bat, comprising:
 a barrel portion;   a handle portion connected to the barrel portion and having a handle end;   an instrumented knob including a knob housing affixed to the handle end of the bat; and   an electronics package mounted within the knob housing comprising:
 one or more sensors mounted within the housing and capable of detecting conditions associated with a swing of the bat and capable of generating raw swing condition data associated with a swing of the bat and the raw swing condition data is used to generate processed swing condition data associated with the swing of the bat; 
 a memory device mounted in the housing for storing the processed swing condition data generated by the processor and/or the raw data generated by the sensors; 
 a transceiver mounted within the housing that transmits the processed swing condition data to an external processing unit; 
 a battery mounted within the housing that supplies power to the sensors, processor, memory device and transceiver; and, 
 a processor mounted within the housing and in electrical signal communication with the one or more sensors, memory device, transmitter, and battery. 
   
     
     
         12 . The instrumented bat of  claim 11 , wherein the instrumented knob housing includes a generally cylindrical portion inserted within the handle end of the bat and a knob portion connected to the cylindrical portion, wherein the knob portion is external of the handle end of the bat and has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the handle end of the bat. 
     
     
         13 . The instrumented bat of  claim 11 , wherein the instrumented knob housing includes a cylindrical housing inserted into and affixed to the handle end of the bat and a knob portion affixed to an outer surface of the handle end of the bat. 
     
     
         14 . The instrumented bat of  claim 12 , further comprising a charging port on the knob housing and the charging port is in electrical communication with the battery and is configured to receive an electric charging device. 
     
     
         15 . The instrumented bat of  claim 12 , wherein the electronics package is disposed within an internal volume of the knob portion of the instrumented knob housing. 
     
     
         16 . The instrumented bat of  claim 12 , wherein the electronics package is disposed within an internal volume of the instrumented knob housing defined by the knob portion and cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         17 . The instrumented bat of  claim 12 , wherein the electronics package is disposed within an internal volume of the instrumented knob housing defined by the cylindrical portion of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . A system o monitoring a bat swing comprising:
 a bat having a barrel portion, and a handle portion connected to the barrel portion and having a handle end;   an instrumented knob housing affixed to the handle end of the bat;   an electronics package mounted within the knob housing comprising:
 one or more sensors mounted within the housing and capable of detecting conditions associated with a swing of the bat and capable of generating raw swing condition data associated with a swing of the bat and the raw condition data is used to generate processed swing condition data associated with the swing of the bat; 
 a memory device mounted in the housing for storing the processed swing condition data generated by the processor and/or the raw data generated by the sensors; 
 a transceiver mounted within the housing that transmits the processed swing condition data to an external processing unit; a battery mounted within the housing that supplies power to the sensors, processor, memory device and transceiver; 
 a processor mounted within the housing and in electrical signal communication with the one or more sensors, memory device, transmitter, and battery; and 
   a processing unit external to the instrumented knob, and positioned remotely to and not n physical contact with the bat, wherein the processing unit is in wireless signal communication with the instrumented knob to transmit the raw swing condition data or processed swing condition data between the processing unit and the instrumented knob.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the instrumented knob includes a charging port with one or more electrical connections and the system further comprising a battery charger assembly including an electrical interconnect connectable to, and detachable from, the charging port of the instrumented knob. 
     
     
         20 . The instrumented knob of  claim 1  wherein the instrumented knob further comprises a charging port on the housing with one or more electrical connections and a battery charger assembly, including an electrical interconnect, that is connectable to, and detachable from, the charging port of the instrumented knob. 
     
     
         21 . The instrumented bat of clam  11  wherein the instrumented knob of the bat includes a charging port on the knob housing with one or more electrical connections and a battery charger assembly, including an electrical interconnect, that is connectable to, and detachable from, the charging port of the instrumented knob. 
     
     
         22 . The instrumented knob of  claim 1  further comprising a vibration motor mounted within the knob housing and electrically connected with the processor.