AU739890B3 - A golf swing training system - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicants: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: Graham Steven GINARD and Heather Jane GINARD Graham Steven GINARD CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

A GOLF SWING TRAINING SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us: A GOLF SWING TRAINING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a method to improve a person's golf swing, by providing a narrow light beam, for instance a laser light, which extends between the person's eyes and onto the golf ball. The invention is particularly applicable to improving a golf swing, but may also find use in other ball sports which requires a ball to be hit by a bat, club, racquet and the like in a precise manner.

BACKGROUND ART Various devices and systems have been used to improve a golf swing. Mechanical devices are known which grip the golf club in such a manner that the golf club can only be swung in the correct manner. Other mechanical devices are known which grip or hold various parts of the golfer's body in a rigid manner to improve the golf swing. All of these mechanical devices suffer from a number of disadvantages, the principal disadvantage being that the devices cannot be readily moved along the golf fairway.

It is known to attach lasers or other light emitting devices to golf clubs. The laser is attached to the golf club in such a manner that the swing of the club can be tracked. In this manner, it is hoped that the golf swing can be improved. A disadvantage with this arrangement is that golf clubs are subject to knocks which can damage the laser. If the laser is not firmly attached, the laser may also be knocked out of alignment. Also, each club may require a laser which greatly adds to the cost. If a single laser is used, it needs to have some form of quick coupling and decoupling arrangement to allow it to be attached to various clubs. However, it is usually critical that the laser does not lose alignment. In practice it is found that this arrangement is not particularly satisfactory as the average golfer is not able to ensure that the laser is always correctly aligned.

It is also known to provide lasers or other light emitting devices which are mounted next to the golfer and which shine a light beam onto the ground to allow the golf swing to be properly tracked. This arrangement suffers from the same disadvantage as mechanical arrangements in that it is generally impossible to move such an apparatus along a golf fairway.

In general, to have a good golf swing requires a person to keep his head in a fixed orientation with respect to the golf ball during the golf swing. Typically, the person's eyes are required to stay on the golf ball during the golf swing. By positioning the head in this manner, it is found that the golf swing can be improved. Therefore, any method or device which can improve this would be beneficial to a golf player. It would also be beneficial if such a method or device could be made small and portable.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus whereby a light emitting device, such as a laser, is attached to a person's hat or about a person's head in such a manner to keep the person's head in a correct orientation with respect to the golf ball during the golf swing. It is found that this may improve the golf swing.

By being attached to the person's head or hat, the device does not need to be attached to the golf club which overcomes one of the abovementioned disadvantages. The same device can be used in respect of any golf club as the device is mounted to the person and not the club. The device can be easily worn by the person which means it can be used anywhere along the fairway.

In one form, the invention resides in a method of aligning a person's head to a golf ball to improve the golf swing, the method comprising positioning a light emitter on the person's head, the emitter being of the type which emits a narrow beam of light, the light emitter being positioned such that the light beam extends between the person's eyes (when viewed from above) and onto the golf ball.

In another form, the invention resides in an item of headwear which comprises a light emitter of the type which emits a narrow beam of light, the light emitter being positioned such that the light beam extends between the person's eyes (when viewed from above).

The light emitter may comprise a laser. The laser can have an output of 1 milliwatt and have a wavelength of between 630-680mm.

The light emitter may be attached to an item of headwear which is worn by the golfer. The item of headwear may comprise a cap. The cap may have a peak. The light emitter may be attached to the peak of the cap.

In one form, the light emitter may be releasably attached to the cap and may be provided with a clip or clamp to allow it to be attached to the cap, and typically to the peak of the cap. In another form, the light emitter may be attached to the cap in a non-removable manner. In this form, the cap may have a peak which is formed from two parts, and the light emitter may be sandwiched between the two parts. Other forms of attachment are also envisaged.

In another form, the light emitter may be attached to, or form part of a band, strap and the like. This may be length adjustable to provide a comfortable fit. The band, strap and the like can pass over the person's forehead and the light emitter may be attached to all form part of the band or strap in this area.

The light emitter is preferably attached such that the light beam extends between the person's eyes when viewed from above. Typically, the emitter is positioned on the person's forehead, and above the person's nose such that the light beam extends between the person's eyes. When viewed from the front, the light emitter is typically above the person's eyes but positioned approximately midway therebetween.

If a laser is used as the light emitter, there is the risk of eye injury if the laser beam is shone into the eyes of an adjacent person. This could be minimised by using a weak laser beam, but this may result in the ball not being properly are illuminated, and it is possible that the laser beam would not be readily visible on the golf ball in bright sunlight. This could be overcome by providing a more powerful laser, but then there is the risk of accidental eye injury to a golfing partner. Therefore, in another form of the invention, there is provided a laser light emitter which is attachable to a person's head or headwear, the emitter having a shutter means is which is moveable between an open position where the laser beam is unhindered, and a closed position where the shutter means blocks the laser beam, the shutter means being in the closed position when the emitter is in a substantially horizontal orientation, and being in the open position when the emitter is in a downwardly inclined position. In this manner, as long as the person is looking down, the emitter is in an inclined position and the shutter is in the open position. However when the person looks up, the shutter moves to the closed position to block the laser beam. This allows a more powerful laser to be used. Preferably, the shutter moves automatically between the open and closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a golfer wearing a cap having a light emitter shining a light beam onto a golf ball.

Figure 2 illustrates a underneath view of a cap containing a laser in the peak.

Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of a cap containing a clip on laser.

Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the cap of Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates the clip on laser.

Figure 6 illustrates a head band containing a laser.

Figure 7 illustrates a laser having a shutter, the shutter being in the closed position.

Figure 8 illustrates the laser of Figure 7 where the shutter is in the open position.

BEST MODE Figure 1 illustrates the invention in use. The invention in this embodiment comprises a laser 10 mounted to the peak 11 of a cap 12 which is fitted to the head of a golfer 13. Laser 10 emits a laser beam 14 which illuminates a golf ball Figure 2 is a below view of a cap which has a built in laser emitter. In this embodiment, cap 16 has a peak 17. Peak 17 is formed from two layers 18, 19 which which are fairly stiff so that when the two layers are attached to each other, a fairly stiff or rigid peak 17 is formed. The two layers comprise an upper or top layer 19 and a lower or bottom layer 18. The two layers are releasably attached to each other through press studs 20, although other forms of attachment are also envisaged. The two layers may also be permanently attached to each other by sewing, gluing and the like. A laser device is sandwiched between the two layers 18, 19, and because of the stiffness of peak 17, the laser does not flop downwardly due to sagging of peak 17. The laser device comprises a laser light emitter 21, which emits a laser beam forwardly of peak 17. The laser device includes an on/off switch 22 which is positioned on peak 17 such that it can be conveniently actuated by the person's fingers. Switch 22 may be a press switch or a slide switch. A battery compartment 23 is positioned at the rear area of the laser device and accommodates a battery to power the laser. Battery compartment 23 has a door to allow a battery to be inserted or removed from the compartment. The bottom layer 18 is provided with a flap 24 which can be opened to expose the door to the battery compartment. In this manner, the laser battery can be quickly changed.

Figures 3-5 show an alternative embodiment which comprises a separate laser device 26 (best illustrated in Figure which has a clamping finger 27 attached to it. Clamping finger 27 is joined to the remainder of the laser device at a front edge 28. Laser device 26 contains the laser emitter 29 the battery compartment 30 (see Figure 3) and the on/off switch 31. The laser device typically has a length of between 50-100 mm, a width of between 30 mm, and a thickness of between 5-20 mm. This can of course vary to suit, but these dimensions make the laser device suitable for clamping attachment to the peak of most caps.

As illustrated in Figure 3, laser device 26 clamps onto the peak 11 of cap 12 with clamping finger 27 extending over the top of the peak, and the remainder of the laser device 26 being underneath the peak 11, which protects the laser device from sun and rain. The laser device 26 is positioned on peak 11 such that the laser beam extends between the person's eyes when viewed in plan. This is best illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a head band 33 is provided which can extend about the person's head and over the person's forehead. The head band can be adjusted through adjustment means such as Velcro straps, although other types of adjustment means can also be used. Suitably, the head band is formed of an elastic material, or has elastic portions extending along the side and rear parts of the person's head. The front part of the band 34 extends over the person's forehead. This front part contains a laser emitter 35 which is positioned above and between the person's eyes. The front part also contains a battery compartment 36 and an on/off switch 37.

In an embodiment of the invention, the laser emitter is provided with a shutter means which blocks the laser beam when a person looks up, thereby reducing or eliminating the possibility of eye injury to a golfing partner. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the shutter means. In this embodiment, the laser device 40 again has an on/off button 41, a battery compartment 42, and a forward laser light emitter 43. Attached to a top wall 44 of laser device 40 is a shutter means. The shutter means comprises a body portion 45 which snaps onto top wall 44. Body portion 45 has an angled top wall 47 which, when the laser device is in a horizontal position, is inclined from a higher front end 48 to a lower rear end 49. Body portion incorporates a weight in the form of a solid rod 46. Solid rod 46 slides along top wall 47 and a channel or bore can be provided to keep rod 46 in place.

Rod 46 will slide to rear end 49 when the laser device 40 is in a horizontal position as illustrated in Figure 7. When the laser device 40 is inclined downwardly as illustrated in figure 8, rod 46 will slide to the front end 48. Rod 46 is attached to a line member 50, line member 50 extending about a pulley The line member is suitably an elastic string or cord. The other end of line member 50 is attached to a shutter or lens 51. Figure 8 illustrates line member 50 attached to an edge of shutter 51 which is provided with a small fastening hole 52 to allow the line member 50 to be attached to shutter 51. In figure 8, it can be seen that as laser device 40 is inclined downwardly such that the laser beam illuminates a golf ball 53, rod 40 slides to a forward part adjacent front end 48 and pulls line member 50 along with it. The line member 50 will then retract or pull upwardly shutter 51 to swing shutter 51 away from the laser beam. The laser beam is therefore now not blocked by the shutter.

If the laser device is lifted to the horizontal position as illustrated in figure 7, rod 46 will slide downwardly towards rear end 49 and in doing so line member 50 will be released which will drop or rotate shutter 51 over laser emitter 43 to block the laser beam. The shutter may be formed of solid material to entirely block the laser. Alternatively, the shutter may be somewhat transparent to reduce the laser intensity to a safe level when the laser device is in the horizontal position.

As the laser device is typically on a cap peak, as a golfer lowers his head to look at a golf ball, the shutter will open to allow the laser beam to illuminate the golf ball. As soon as the golfer looks up, the shutter will move over the laser emitter to block it. The device can work in low light and foggy conditions and allows practice at night time.

It should be appreciated that various other changes or modifications can be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. A laser light emitter which is attachable to a person's head or headwear, the emitter having a shutter means which is moveable between an open position where the laser beam is unhindered, and a closed position where the shutter means blocks the laser beam, the shutter means being in the closed position when the emitter is in a substantially horizontal orientation, and being in the open position when the emitter is in a downwardly inclined position, the light emitter being positioned such that the light extends between the persons eyes (when viewed from above), and is able to shine onto a golf ball.

2. The emitter of claim 1, which is built into the peak of a cap.

3. The emitter of claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 31 st day of August 2001 Graham Steven GINARD and Heather Jane GINARD By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.