Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-13
2002-09-10
Chiu, Raleigh W. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
C473S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06447401
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to golf, and more specifically to devices for properly aligning the head of a golf club relative to an intended path of ball travel, as well as golf clubs incorporating such devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the game of golf, proper alignment of the head of the club relative to the intended path of ball travel is very important. In order to hit the ball in a desired direction, it is necessary to maintain the striking face of the club normal to the intended path of travel as the club strikes the ball. If the striking face is not normal to the direction of travel, the ball will travel either to the right or left of the intended direction of travel.
It is known to provide alignment markings on the head of a golf putter to permit the golfer to properly align the putter head relative to the intended path of ball travel. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,990 to Weeks, issued on Oct. 15, 1996. Weeks describes a golf putter in which the upper surface of the heel portion of the putter head is provided with first and second alignment markings parallel to the striking surface of the putter. The alignment markings extend along either side of the base of the shaft such that, when the putter head is properly aligned, the golfer's line of sight will show the alignment markings being parallel to the putter shaft.
Although the putter alignment system described by the Weeks patent has been found to be effective, it can only be used with clubs having a heel portion projecting rearwardly of the shaft, and is not generally applicable to all golf clubs. To the inventor's knowledge, there does not exist an effective alignment system which is generally applicable to all golf clubs, including putters, irons, woods and drivers.
Furthermore, the alignment system described by Weeks is applicable only to putters having a heel portion of specific dimension and shape. Therefore, the Weeks alignment system is likely to be available only with the purchase of a specially designed putter, and is generally unsuitable for application to existing clubs.
Therefore, the need exists for an improved golf club alignment system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a system for aligning golf clubs which can be used with all golf clubs and which can be easily applied to new or existing clubs.
The present invention provides a golf club alignment device to be secured to an outer surface of a golf club shaft. The device comprises a band of material having first and second markings positioned at first and second ends of a central portion, the markings being of contrasting visual appearance relative to the central portion of the band, with the markings preferably being light in colour and the central portion of the band preferably being dark in colour. The contrasting visual appearance of the markings and the central portion create visual transition points between the markings and the central portion of the band.
The transition points between the markings and the central portion of the band are spaced apart by a distance such that, when the band is applied to the cylindrical surface of the golf club shaft with the center point of the central portion coincident with the rearmost point of the shaft, the transition points are located at 180 degrees to one another and at 90 degrees to the rearmost point on the shaft.
Therefore, when the device is installed on the golf club shaft, the central portion of the band extends about the rear face of the shaft, while the contrasting markings wrap around the front face of the shaft. The golfer aligns the club by sighting down along the front face of the shaft and rotating the club until both of the outer markings are visible while no part of the central portion is visible. Aligning the shaft in this manner ensures that the striking face of the golf club is properly aligned relative to the intended path of ball travel, improving the likelihood that the ball will travel in the desired direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1488900 (1924-04-01), Armstrong
patent: 1604696 (1926-10-01), Jordy
patent: 2865635 (1958-12-01), Jessen
patent: 4136877 (1979-01-01), Antonious
patent: 4167268 (1979-09-01), Lorang
patent: 4413824 (1983-11-01), King et al.
patent: 4872684 (1989-10-01), Dippel
patent: 4928971 (1990-05-01), Soles, Jr.
patent: 5058891 (1991-10-01), Takeuchi
patent: 5158297 (1992-10-01), Johnson
patent: 5441274 (1995-08-01), Clay
patent: 5564990 (1996-10-01), Weeks
patent: 5665007 (1997-09-01), Tatum
patent: D404450 (1999-01-01), Weeks
patent: 6022278 (2000-02-01), Vela
patent: 1160043 (1984-01-01), None
Chiu Raleigh W.
Ridout & Maybee LLP
Torkos Brothers Inc.
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