Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Club or club support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-13
2001-01-23
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Club or club support
C473S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176792
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand-held tool of the type utilized to repair crushed sod and grass scars and divots that sometimes are produced on the courses in the game of golf, and the deployment of such a tool in combination with a golf putter as an aid for putting practice.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During a round of golf quite frequently a golfer will arrive at a green in preparation for a golf putt, but will sometimes have to wait for several minutes for other golfers to complete their shots. During this time the golfer can contemplate the best way to execute the golf putt that is required to maximize the likelihood that the golfer's next putt will drop in the hole. In this connection it is often useful for the golfer to practice a proper putting stance, manner of addressing the ball, and swing of the golf putter club.
Many golfers have difficulty putting because the line of movement of the golf putter during the putting stroke is not precisely perpendicular to the face of the putter. As a consequence, when the plane of the impact face of the putter strikes the golf ball, it does so at a slight angle which will cause the ball to travel along a path at a slight angle to the plane of the putter stroke. Even a very slight error in this regard will result in a putt that travels to one side or the other of the cup.
Numerous putting aids exist which are designed to allow a golfer to improve putting strokes. However, conventional training aids involve devices which are too large or cumbersome to be carried along during the actual golf match. Rather, many conventional putting aids are designed for the golfer to utilize in private at a practice location, but not while awaiting a turn on the actual field of play.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves the use of a small golf divot repair tool in combination with a golf putter as a practice aid to golfers for practicing putting. Golf divot repair tools of the type employed in the combination of the invention are widely utilized by golfers for sprucing up golf greens and divots that are created while playing a game of golf. These tools are small, hand-held devices that are provided with a body having a pair of legs extending longitudinally from one end of the tool. In conventional practice the golfer grasps the tool at the end opposite the legs and inserts the legs into a crushed area on the green, or even the fairway, to lift up the grass following a shot or step that damages an area of the green. Golf divot tools are manufactured in a variety of configurations, but are all used for the basic purpose of sprucing up golf greens. Virtually all golf divot repair tools that are sold commercially to any extent are quite small, and easily fit within the pocket or otherwise on the person of the golfer. Golf divot tools are easy to carry and are unobtrusive during use. Moreover, they represent no additional burden to a golfer in playing a course when used in the combination of the invention.
There are several unique features about the golf divot repair tool employed according to the present invention. Many golf divot repair tools are equipped with slabs of magnetic material that are permanently mounted in cavities in the tool in such a manner as to receive a ball marker formed of a ferrous material atop the magnetic slab in the cavity. The divot repair tool of the present invention also employs a magnet, but of a different configuration and attached in a different location and for a different purpose as contrasted with a conventional golf divot repair tool.
Specifically, the golf divot repair tool of the invention has a magnet embedded in its structure at the end thereof opposite the longitudinally projecting legs. The magnet is embedded in such a way as to make direct contact with a planar surface placed against the surface of the tool at the end at which the magnet is located. The divot repair tool is preferably formed of a strip of magnetically insensitive material, such as a strip of aluminum, which includes a die cut circular opening at the end of the strip opposite the end at which the longitudinally projecting legs are formed on the tool. The die cut opening extends completely through the flat structure of the end of the tool opposite the legs.
A small, disc-shaped magnet is permanently secured in the circular opening formed in the end of the tool remote from the legs such that the flat, circular surfaces on both sides of the disc-shaped magnet reside in coplanar relationship with the surrounding surfaces of the end of the tool in which the magnet is embedded. As a consequence, the end of the tool in which the magnet is embedded can be placed flush against a flat ferrous surface that may be located either above or below the tool. The legs at the opposite end of the tool thereby serve as pointing indicia projecting outwardly from the surface to which the tool is magnetically attached.
The golf divot repair tool of the invention also includes a raised structure located between the end of the tool in which the longitudinally extending legs are formed and the opposite end of the tool in which the magnet is embedded. The alignment of this raised structure extends perpendicular to the longitudinal alignment of the tool. The raised, hump-shaped structure between the ends of the tool is useful for positioning the tool in such a manner that the legs of the tool project straight out from the putter head in a direction aligned along the proper path of movement of the putter head, or parallel to that path of movement.
The club head of the golf putter employed in the practice aid of the invention must be formed of a material attracted by magnetism, such as iron or steel. While some golf putter club heads are formed of brass or aluminum, the vast majority are made of steel, which is attracted by magnetism.
In one broad aspect the invention may be considered to be a golf putting training aid comprising in combination: a golf putter having a club head formed of a material attracted by magnetism and having a flat front ball-impact face, a sole extending rearwardly from the front ball-impact face, and a back including a central region that rises sharply upwardly from the sole at a linear demarcation therefrom that lies parallel to the front ball-impact face at an angle of at least forty-five degrees relative to the sole. The golf putting training aid is further comprised of a thin golf divot repair tool with a longitudinally elongated body defining a straight longitudinal axis of lateral symmetry having opposing ends and including a pair of longitudinally directed legs at one of the ends. A magnet is embedded in the other of the ends. A raised transverse structure is located between the ends and is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry. The golf divot repair tool is held against the club head by magnetic attraction between the magnet and the club head.
In one preferred manner of deployment the golf divot repair tool is held against the sole of the club head by magnetic attraction between magnet and the club head with the raised, transverse structure of the tool residing in abutment against the central region of the back of the club. Normally the divot repair tool will be aligned so that the longitudinal axis of lateral symmetry of the repair tool lies perpendicular to the front ball-impact face of the club head. The legs of the divot repair tool project rearwardly from the central region of the back of the club in a direction away from the ball-impact face.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the golf divot repair tool is held against the sole of the club head so that the legs of the divot repair tool project forwardly from the front ball-impact face. Normally the longitudinal axis of lateral symmetry of the repair tool lies perpendicular to the front ball-impact face of the club head when the divot repair tool is deployed in this manner as well.
The divot tool of the invention may be used in still other advantageous ways. In so
Thomas Charles H.
Wong Steven
LandOfFree
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