Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice projectile addressing surface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-01-09
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice projectile addressing surface
C473S270000, C473S266000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171201
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates primarily to apparatus for assisting golfers with alignment and ball position to improve their golf swings. More particularly, the invention concerns a golf swing alignment apparatus for use with driving range golf practice mats typically provided at driving ranges as well for use at driving ranges that provide a ground surface only.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At a driving range, a golfer wishing to practice his golf swing places a golf ball on a tee inserted into the tee hole in, or upon the surface of, a golf mat practice mat and attempts to place his feet in an appropriate position on the mat so as to properly align himself to swing a golf club to drive the golf ball in a desired direction. If we consider one reference line passing in just in front of the toes of the golfer's feet and another reference line perpendicular to the first line passing through the ball, then the appropriate position for the golfer's feet is determined by the distance of the first reference line from the ball as well as position of the intersection of the two reference lines relative to the golfer's feet.
While reference lines could be incorporated into the surface of the mat to aid in the placement of the golfer's feet, mats incorporating reference lines are not normally found at driving ranges, perhaps because mats are typically rotated periodically to even out wear, necessitating a large number of sets of reference lines. Further, several lines would be needed in each set to accommodate golfers of varying size and the configuration of the reference lines would vary with the type of golf club used, even for the same golfer. For example, a mat incorporating such reference lines is disclosed in Dionne et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,494.
A number of other golf practice mats are known for aligning a golfer's swing. For example, Fowler, U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,109, Richards, U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,130, Menendez, U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,946, and Bott, U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,913 disclose such mats. In each case, the golfer wishing to use such mats at a driving range must rely upon the operator of the driving range to provide such mats or must transport his own mat to the driving range, at best an inconvenience.
Other golf swing alignment aids are known. For example, Trosko, U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,584, Medders, U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,248, Blanchard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,422, Poirier, U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,815, Beatty, U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,407, and Balson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,448, disclose various templates, frames, or arrangements of cords or strips.
Of the alignment aids mentioned, only Beatty, U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,407, in
FIG. 5
thereof discloses an apparatus suitable for use with a golf mat
30
. However, it appears that the mat
30
must have specific characteristics, such as an aperture
37
near the tee
38
and an over-all square shape, which may not be present in golf mats found at all driving ranges (most golf mats in use are now octagonal). Further, strips
40
do not appear to be repositionable for golfers of varying size and for the use of a variety of golf clubs and are held in place by springs
39
and J-hooks
36
, both of which protrude somewhat above the surface of the mat
30
and so may interfere with the golfer's swing.
Sutton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,815, discloses a golf swing alignment device including a mat
28
and several flexible cords
22
, which act as reference lines, and frames
26
for holding the cords
22
in place. The cords
22
and frames
26
appear to be selected for the mat
28
of a particular size as the cords
22
are not specifically elastic. Further, the frames
26
appear to protrude above the surface of the mat
28
, possibly leading to interference with the golfer's swing. As well, if the golf ball is accidentally hit along the surface (“topping the ball”), then the ball could be deflected by the frames
26
cause injury to bystanders.
To the knowledge of the inventor, a compact, easily transportable, and inexpensive golf swing alignment apparatus for use at driving ranges with or without the golf mats that happen to be present has not been available previously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed in one aspect to providing a removable and repositionable apparatus that can be easily installed on a golf driving range mat so as to provide swing alignment assistance to a golfer who wishes to improve his or her ball striking abilities through a more complete understanding of the critical elements of body alignment, stance and ball positioning. In addition, for safety reasons, the apparatus sits flush with or below the surface of the golf practice mat reducing the possibility of contact between the golf ball or golf club and any part of the apparatus that could deflect the golf club or golf ball and cause injury or damage.
In effect, the apparatus provides two reference lines, one line parallel to the desired direction of flight and the other passing through or next to the tee (or the position of the golf ball if no tee is being used) and perpendicular to the direction of flight. The apparatus comprises first and second strips of flat elastic material and four anchors. Each strip has a length selected so that the strip will be under moderate tension when it is stretched straight across the mat from one edge of the mat to the opposite edge of the mat and held against the mat by a discrete anchor at each end of the strip. In use, the strips are stretched across the mat so that the first strip is aligned in parallel with the intended direction that the golf ball is to be hit at an adjustable distance from the golf ball selected to be appropriate for the golfer. The second strip is aligned perpendicular to the first strip alongside the tee (or the position of the golf ball if no tee is being used) so that when the golfer swings the head of the golf club will pass over the second strip after hitting the golf ball. Alternatively, the golfer may use only one strip at a time as the strips are independent of each other.
Each strip has at least one discrete eyelet at each end thereof. Each anchor has two portions, a flat rigid first portion for placement under the mat near an edge of the mat and a second portion extending generally upward beside that edge of the mat when the first portion is so placed. The second portion ends in a hook that may be passed through a discrete eyelet of a strip to anchor in place the end of the strip having that eyelet. Once a discrete anchor is attached to each end of a strip, the hook of each anchor is bent over so that the anchors will stay attached to the ends of the strip. The upward extension of the second portion of the anchor when in place is less than the thickness of the mat so that the eyelets of the strips are held below the upper surface of the mat when the strips are anchored in place, thereby to reduce the possibility of interference of the apparatus with the golfer's swing and with the flight of the golf ball should the golfer accidentally top the ball. As compared to previously known golf swing alignment aids such as those described in Beatty, U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,407 and Sutton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,815 in which springs or frame protrude above the surface, the present invention may offer enhanced safety to bystanders.
Optionally, a third strip may be provided for more advanced golfers who are concerned with the plane in which they swing. The third strip may be positioned on top of the second strip so that the head of the golf club will not hit the second strip or catch on it when the golf ball is hit off the third strip. The third strip is useful for those golfers who wish to hit the golf ball right off the surface without the use of a tee. For example, a beginning golfer while practicing putting or an advanced golfer practicing with all clubs except drivers may wish to use the apparatus without a tee.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3550946 (1970-12-01), Menendez
patent: 3580584 (1971-05-01), Trosko
patent: 3868109 (1975-02-01), Fowler
patent: 3920248 (19
Barrigar Robert H.
Nguyen Kien T.
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