Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-16
2001-08-14
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
C473S259000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273826
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for training a golfer's swing. More particularly, this invention relates to such apparatus including or incorporating a club guide ring.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Where a golf club swing is correct or “true”, the direction of the instantaneous velocity (i.e., tangential velocity) of the head of the golf club at its point of impact with a golf ball coincides with the golfer's aim line. Upon making a true swing, the golf ball caroms off of the face of the club at an angle matching the loft angle of the club. Upon impact of such club face upon the golf ball, rotation about a horizontal axis, or back spin, is imposed upon the golf ball. Because golf balls typically are dimpled, such back spin beneficially provides lift and extra flight distance without curving the ball's flight leftward or rightward from the aim line.
In order for the direction of the instantaneous velocity to be consistent with a golfer's aim line, both the aim line and the arced path of the club head prior to meeting the golf ball must lie within a single plane. Where the aim line intersects such plane, the direction of the instantaneous velocity of the club head at the point of impact with the golf ball will deviate either rightward or leftward of the aim line. Such deviation of the instantaneous velocity tends to push or pull the ball away from the aim line, and tends to tilt the axis of rotation of the golf ball, causing the ball to curve rightward or leftward. Such out of plane golf swings are known as “hook” swings or “slice” swings, as opposed to a true swing. Assuming a right-handed swing, hook swings tilt the axis of rotation of the golf ball counter-clockwise resulting in leftward flight deviation, and slice swings tilt the axis of rotation clockwise, resulting in rightward flight deviation. “Grooving” a golfer's swing so that the arced path of the club head lies in a plane which contains, rather than intersects, the aim line is a key challenge of the game. Several types of golf swing training apparatus are known; such apparatus actually or ostensibly serving the function of promoting “muscle memory” which urges a golfer's shoulders, arms, hands and club to swing in unison within a correct plane. One such type of known golf swing training apparatus is a ring trainer, which includes a large ring for guiding the shaft of a golf club as a golfer swings the club through an arc to meet the golf ball or golf tee. Such ring trainers are exemplified by apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,993 issued Nov. 21, 1995 to Higginson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,545 issued Jan. 21, 1997 to O'Brien; U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,932 issued Oct. 6, 1998 to Alexander; U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,548 issued Jun. 13, 1995 to Bricker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,275 issued Aug. 15, 1995 to Woshishita; U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,367 issued Jul. 4, 1995 to Amos; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,974 issued Aug. 21, 1990 to Bellagamba. Such known golf swing trainers incorporating a club guide ring are mechanically complex, are uneconomically fabricated, are difficult to assemble and disassemble, and cannot be efficiently configured for storage or passage through doorways.
The instant invention solves the above problems by providing a golf swing training apparatus including club guiding ring; such apparatus being mechanically simple, being economically fabricated, being easily assembled and disassembled, and such apparatus being easily configured for storage or for passage through doorways.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
All of the major structural elements of the present inventive golf swing training apparatus preferably comprise furniture grade polyvinyl chloride plastic tubing. Suitably, other materials, such as aluminum tubing, may be utilized.
A major structural element of the instant inventive golf swing training apparatus comprises a ring between 50-70 inches in diameter. The ring preferably is supported by a base, the base having a forward section and a rearward section. Preferably, the rearward section of the base is pivotally attached to the forward section of the base.
The forward and lower end of the ring preferably is pivotally attached to the base by means of a pair or inverted “U” shaped tubes which dually serve as base support brackets and hinge shafts. Preferably, the lower ends of such brackets are fixedly attached to the base while the upper arcuately curved ends of such shafts support a pair of T-joint hinge sleeves, which in turn support the lower and forward end of the ring. While such hinge shafts may be suitably linearly configured and horizontally oriented, an arcuately curved configuration of such shafts is preferred, the curvatures serving the function of centering and preventing lateral sliding of the T-joint hinge sleeves.
The rearward and upper end of the ring is preferably supported by an extendable and retractable telescoping shaft. The lower end of the telescoping shaft preferably is pivotally attached to the rearward end of the rearward section of the base by means of a T-joint hinge sleeve. Preferably, the rearward section of the base also has a “U” configuration allowing such section to serve dual functions of centering the hinge sleeve of the telescoping shaft and providing base support. Like the pair of inverted “U” shaped tubes, other configurations of the rearward section of the base may be suitably utilized.
All of the jointed attachments of the ring to the base and to the telescoping shaft preferably comprise slip joints removably attached by means of shear pins extending through shear pin receiving apertures.
The polyvinyl chloride plastic tubing structure as described above allows for convenient adjustment of the angle of the ring with respect to the ground through alternate and selective extension and retraction of the telescoping shaft. Said structure may be easily and conveniently assembled or disassembled through manipulation of shear pins extending through the slip joint attachments. For convenience in storage of the apparatus or for transport of the apparatus through a doorway, the rearward section of the base may move pivotally upward, narrowing the side profile of the apparatus.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf swing training apparatus providing a golf club guiding ring, the lower forward portion of the ring being supported by a pair of “U” shaped brackets.
It is a further or alternate object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus having a base including a forward section and a rearward section, the rearward section of the base being pivotally attached to the forward section of the base, allowing pivotal motion of the base, narrowing the side profile of the apparatus, and allowing convenient storage or maneuvering of the apparatus.
Modes of use, and other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows and upon review of the appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
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patent: D. 336673 (1993-06-01), Ohly et al.
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patent: 4919432 (1990-04-01), Coggins et al.
patent: 4928974 (1990-05-01), VanKirk
patent: 5026065 (1991-06-01), Bellagamba
patent: 5330192 (1994-07-01), Amos
patent: 5441275 (1995-08-01), Yoshishita
patent: 5595545 (1997-01-01), O'Brien
patent: 5984798 (1999-11-01), Gilmour
Chambers M.
Chapman Jeanette
Davis & Jack, L.L.C.
Jack Kenneth H.
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