David Paul Rankin

US Patent:

6966843, Nov 22, 2005

Filed:

May 5, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/305396

Inventors:

David Benjamin Rankin - Winston-Salem NC, US
James Whittle Kluttz - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

Accu-Sport International, Inc. - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A63B053/12

US Classification:

473202, 473409, 473407

Abstract:

A method and system is therefore provided for fitting a set of golf clubs to a particular golfer. In particular, the club fitting method and system assists a golfer in the selection of a set of golf clubs by providing objective indicia or scores representative of the manner in which the golfer hits golf shots with each of a number of different golf clubs. The club fitting method and system provide the golfer with numerical values representative of the consistency and performance of the golf shots made with a particular golf club, typically on an automatic basis. Based upon the relative numerical values representative of the consistency and performance of the golf shots made with a number of different golf clubs, the golfer can select the set of golf clubs which provides the combination of consistency and performance that is best suited for the golfer's game.

US Patent:

7209576, Apr 24, 2007

Filed:

Feb 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/360196

Inventors:

David Benjamin Rankin - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

Accu-Sport International, Inc. - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382107, 348155, 73488, 356 27

Abstract:

Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for capturing and thereafter analyzing the images of a golf ball in a manner that permits various parameters associated with a golf shot, including the backspin and sidespin of the golf ball, to be reliably determined. Further, the method, apparatus and computer program product may be configured to separately calibrate each image that is captured in a timely manner.

US Patent:

D542875, May 15, 2007

Filed:

Jan 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

29/252405

Inventors:

David B. Rankin - Winston-Salem NC, US
Mark D. Reasor - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

AccuSport International, Inc. - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

2102

US Classification:

D21789

US Patent:

8070620, Dec 6, 2011

Filed:

May 12, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/464704

Inventors:

David B. Rankin - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A63F 13/00
G01P 15/00

US Classification:

473222, 463 2, 463 7, 473198

Abstract:

A method, system and golf ball are provided to determine the deceleration of a golf ball and, in turn, the speed of a green. The system may include a golf ball and an offboard display device. The golf ball may include a golf ball body, a motion sensor disposed within the golf ball body to measure acceleration of the golf ball along each of three mutually perpendicular axes, and a transmitter disposed within the golf ball body to transmit data representative of deceleration. The display device may include a receiver to receive data representative of the deceleration of the golf ball from transmitter and a display to provide a representation of the deceleration of the golf ball. At least one of the golf ball and the display device may include a processor to determine deceleration of the golf ball based upon the acceleration measured by the motion sensor.

US Patent:

8192295, Jun 5, 2012

Filed:

May 12, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/464725

Inventors:

David B. Rankin - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A63B 57/00

US Classification:

473199, 473131, 473151, 473266, 473405, 434252

Abstract:

A method, system and golf ball determine the side spin and/or back spin of a golf ball to facilitate the evaluation of a putt. In one embodiment, a system includes a golf ball and an offboard display device. The golf ball includes a golf ball body, a motion sensor disposed within the golf ball body and configured to measure acceleration of the golf ball along each of three mutually perpendicular axis, and a transmitter within the golf ball body transmits data representative of spin of the golf ball. The display device includes a receiver and a display, and the receiver receives data representative of the spin of the golf ball from the transmitter and the display is configured to provide a representation of a measure of the spin of the golf ball.

US Patent:

8282499, Oct 9, 2012

Filed:

Nov 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/307833

Inventors:

David B. Rankin - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A63F 13/00
G01P 15/00

US Classification:

473222, 463 2, 463 7, 473198

Abstract:

A method, system and golf ball are provided to determine the deceleration of a golf ball and, in turn, the speed of a green. The system may include a golf ball and an offboard display device. The golf ball may include a golf ball body, a motion sensor disposed within the golf ball body to measure acceleration of the golf ball along each of three mutually perpendicular axes, and a transmitter disposed within the golf ball body to transmit data representative of deceleration. The display device may include a receiver to receive data representative of the deceleration of the golf ball from transmitter and a display to provide a representation of the deceleration of the golf ball. At least one of the golf ball and the display device may include a processor to determine deceleration of the golf ball based upon the acceleration measured by the motion sensor.

US Patent:

20060030422, Feb 9, 2006

Filed:

Sep 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/240681

Inventors:

David Rankin - Winston-Salem NC, US
James Kluttz - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

Accu-Sport International, Inc. - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A63B 53/00

US Classification:

473287000

Abstract:

A method and system is therefore provided for fitting a set of golf clubs to a particular golfer. In particular, the club fitting method and system assists a golfer in the selection of a set of golf clubs by providing objective indicia or scores representative of the manner in which the golfer hits golf shots with each of a number of different golf clubs. The club fitting method and system provide the golfer with numerical values representative of the consistency and performance of the golf shots made with a particular golf club, typically on an automatic basis. Based upon the relative numerical values representative of the consistency and performance of the golf shots made with a number of different golf clubs, the golfer can select the set of golf clubs which provides the combination of consistency and performance that is best suited for the golfer's game.

US Patent:

20060030429, Feb 9, 2006

Filed:

Jun 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/158394

Inventors:

David Rankin - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

Accu-Sport International, Inc. - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A63B 57/00

US Classification:

473407000, 473131000

Abstract:

A system, method and computer program product are provided in which the initial sidespin of a ball is measured such that the resulting flight path of the ball may be simulated more accurately. In this regard, a plurality of initial conditions of the ball, including sidespin, are measured, such as by a sensor including, for example, at least one camera that captures at least two images of the ball. The flight path of the ball is then determined, such as by means of a computing device, based upon the initial conditions including measurement of the ball spin. A representation of the resulting flight path is then created, again typically by means of the computing device.