Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-02
2001-05-08
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227982
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to training devices which assist a golfer to correctly swing a golf club. More particularly, it relates to training devices equipped with lasers to provide an optical indication of the complete swinging action of a golf club, including take away, back swing and down swing.
2. Background of the Invention
Training tools designed to aid golfers in producing correct club motions have included arm braces, gloves, tubular tracks, and other devices. More recently, optical devices using lasers have been proposed. A search of the U.S. patent literature revealed laser assisted golf training tools, but only for putting strokes and not golf club swings.
These patents include U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,228 to De Aguilar which shows a laser-generated light beam traveling downward inside the golf club grip until it strikes an adjustable mirror which diverts the beam to exit through a hole in the club, in a path parallel to the theoretical path of a struck golf ball. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,562 to Stock et al is similar, using a reflecting prism in the club hosel to emit a laser beam perpendicular to the shaft of the club. This indicates the alignment of the club face.
Another approach is taken in U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,897 to Mick in which the laser beam originates from behind the cup on a green and is directed toward the club face to determine the amount of deviation in a golfer's sighting position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,290 to Stefanoski shows a laser putter in which an internal laser beam is reflected by a convex mirror onto the ground forward of the putter head to provide a line of sight which aids in lining up a putt.
These patents show training devices applicable only to putting, and moreover, lack means to determine the attitude of both ends of a golf club. It is the principal aim of the present invention to indicate the path and final position of both the grip end and the head end of a golf club during a swing. This permits complete documentation, analysis and remediation of a golf club swing.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a training device which assists a golfer in correcting his or her golf swing.
It is another object to provide a training device which tracks the complete golf swing consisting of take away, back swing and down swing.
It is a further object to provide a training device which gives a continuous indication of the location and attitude of the grip and the head of a golf club during a complete golf swing.
It is still another object to provide a training device which is self-acting, portable and suitable for golfers of all sizes and both genders.
It is yet another object to provide a training device which is rugged, inexpensive, and simple to use indoors or outdoors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To implement the stated objectives of the invention, a Dual Ended Laser Swing Aid has been devised. The Swing Aid has the general shape of a golf club, consisting of a grip, shaft and head. The Swing Aid accommodates two back-to-back axial laser modules, pointing in linearly opposite directions.
The upper, or grip, laser module, located close to the top of the grip, emits a laser beam directed upward into the air through a hole in the grip knob which forms the upper end of the grip on the shaft. The lower, or head, laser module, located in the shaft below the upper laser module, emits a laser beam directed downward into the air through a hole in the bottom of the head. The two laser beams are equal and opposite, and lie on and thus are coincident with the same geometrical straight line which is the central axis of the shaft.
For good visibility, lasers emitting red-colored beams of low intensity which will not injure the golfer or damage the golfer's clothes are used. Such a laser typically requires a 3-volt power supply with a 60 milliampere operating current, and produces a beam of 650 nanometer wavelength and 2.5 milliwatt output power, with a range of 500 meters and a mean time to failure of 10,000 hours.
Both laser modules are powered by the same DC circuit which includes a battery and a “momentary” on-switch mounted on the shaft and through the grip for convenient safe manual laser actuation. Typically the battery is located in the hollow shaft between the laser modules. For slender shafts two axial 1.5 volt batteries in series have been found suitable.
The head may have different geometrical shapes, such as a cube or sphere, and is not meant for hitting an actual golf ball. This is to prevent any impacts from destroying the axial alignment of the laser beams.
The sequence of a correct golf swing and the associated laser beam patterns are as follows: At address the head laser will shine on the ground where the ball would be. During a correct back swing the head laser will show the desirable path of the beginning take away line. The grip laser next indicates the target or takeaway line and the head laser shows the swing plane line.
On the downswing the grip laser shows the correct target line and the head laser shows the beginning of the swing plane line of the down swing. At the finishing of the down swing, prior to the follow through, before impact with the imaginary ball, the head laser will then show the proper swing plane line through the target line to impact. At impact the grip laser will point to the center of the golfer's body.
Since the golfer is always looking at the ball until after impact, the golfer alone can observe all the laser tracks, with or without the help of a video camera. If the laser lines do not conform to the correct motions described above, the golfer has a set of diagnostics on how to correct the various parts of the golf swing.
The overall advantage of the Dual Ended Laser Swing Aid is seen to be the indication of the motion of both the grip and the head of a golf club during a complete swing sequence. This knowledge permits the golfer to correct and improve the complete golf swing. Other advantages realize the stated objectives, including suitability for golfers of all sizes and both genders, portability, ruggedness, simplicity, low cost, and use indoors or outdoors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2080608 (1937-05-01), Hannaford
patent: 3384741 (1968-05-01), Bice
patent: 4456257 (1984-06-01), Perkins
patent: 4911450 (1990-03-01), Rabold
patent: 5082282 (1992-01-01), Hernberg
patent: 5154427 (1992-10-01), Harlan
patent: 5269528 (1993-12-01), McCardle
patent: 5464221 (1995-11-01), Carney
patent: 5470072 (1995-11-01), Cunningham
patent: 5593354 (1997-01-01), Falossi et al.
patent: 5665006 (1997-09-01), Pellegrini
patent: 5848941 (1998-12-01), Morra
Gorden Raeann
Graham Mark S.
Lazereyes Golf, LLC
Lyon & Lyon LLP
LandOfFree
Dual ended laser swing aid does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Dual ended laser swing aid, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dual ended laser swing aid will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2543983