GB2256371A

GB2256371A - Golf club having a guiding device mounted thereto

Info

Publication number: GB2256371A
Application number: GB9112007A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chin-Lung Ho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-04
Filing date: 1991-06-04
Publication date: 1992-12-09
Also published as: GB9112007D0; FR2677260B3; FR2677260A3

Abstract

A golf club has a ball receiving device (11) mounted on the shaft portion (10) of the golf club, and a guiding device (20) which includes a transparent hollow ball (21) retained by the ball receiving device (11) and containing a quantity of liquid that forms a positioning bubble (23) inside the transparent hollow ball (21). The transparent hollow ball (21) is provided with markings (211). The golf club is adjustably inclined so that the positioning bubble (23) can be moved to a desired position relative to the markings (211), with the desired position corresponding to a preferred golf club striking position of a golfer. <IMAGE>

Description

GOLF CLUB HAVING A GUIDING DEVICE MOUNTED THERETO The invention relates to a golf club, more particularly to a golf club having a guiding device to correct the inclination of the golf club so as to facilitate finding the preferred golf club striking position of a golfer.

As the popularity of golf increases worldwide, the number of people wanting to learn to play golf similarly increases. However, a golf course can accommodate only a limited number of golfers at a single time. Furthermore, in order to acquire the required skill to properly play golf, many days of practice are needed. This is impractical for a would-be student who has no time to spend each day on a golf course or in a driving range in order to learn how to properly handle the golf club and how to strike the ball for different distances.

In conventional golf, adjustments to the position of the golf club relative to the golf ball are made according to the naked eye. There is no basis for comparing a former golf club striking position with the present golf club striking position. Therefore, a golfer has no way of determining whether the golf club should be shifted to the left or right, or whether the height of the golf club should be adjusted. Thus, continuous practice is needed before the golfer can accurately strike the ball for distances ranging from 5 meters to 200 meters. For long distances, such as 200 meters, the inclination of the golf club is important so as to obtain the maximum distance for a single stroke. A student golfer thus spends a lot of time looking for the preferred golf club striking position in order to reach his objective of maximum range.As a consequence, golf is often referred to as a rich man's sport because of the huge amount of time and money spent in learning golf.

Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a golf club having a guiding device mounted thereto, said guiding device facilitating the correction of the inclination of the golf club so as to easily find the preferred golf club striking position of a golfer.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a golf club having a guiding device which is easy to assemble and use.

Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of a golf club of the present invention has a ball receiving device mounted on the shaft portion of the golf club, and a guiding device which includes a transparent hollow ball retained by the ball receiving device and containing a quantity of water that forms a positioning bubble inside the transparent hollow ball. The transparent hollow ball is provided with markings which form a set of rectangular coordinate axes. The golf club is adjustably inclined so that the positioning bubble can be moved to a desired position relative to the markings, with the desired position corresponding to the preferred golf club striking position of the golfer.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an illustration of the first preferred embodiment of a golf club according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded fragmentary view of the golf club of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a top view of a guiding device of the golf club of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the second preferred embodiment of a golf club according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic view of a guiding device for use with the golf club of the second preferred embodiment; and Figure 6 is a top view of the guiding device shown in Figure 5 when in use.

Referring to Figure 1, the first preferred embodiment of a golf club according to the present invention is shown to comprise a shaft portion 10 and a guiding device 20.

The golf club 1 is of a conventional type and the construction thereof will not be detailed herein. The golf club 1 has a shaft portion 10 provided with a ball receiving device 11. The ball receiving device 11 includes a substantially concave depression 111 preferably formed on the distal end of a grip section 100 of the shaft portion 10. The distal end of grip section 100 is provided with external screw threads 112. The ball receiving device 11 further includes an annular cap 113 having internal screw threads 114 to engage the external screw threads 112. The annular cap 113 has a top end provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange 115 that forms a central opening 116.

The guiding device 20 includes a hollow transparent ball 21 containing a quantity of liquid 22, such as water. The liquid 22 forms a positioning bubble 23 inside the transparent ball 21. Referring to Figure 3, the surface 221 of the transparent ball 21 is provided markings 211 which form a set of rectangular coordinate axes. The markings 211 are preferably engraved on the surface 221. The positioning bubble 23 is always maintained at a topmost level of the transparent ball 21 regardless of its orientation.

To assemble the first preferred embodiment, the transparent ball 21 is placed in the depression 111.

The annular cap 113 is then screwed to the distal end of the grip section 100. The transparent ball 21 is universally rotatable in the depression 111. A portion of the transparent ball 21 projects through the central opening 116 of the annular cap 113 so that the user can shift the transparent ball 21 so as to easily place the bubble 23 at a desired position relative to the markings 211.

The guiding device 20 can be placed at any position on the shaft portion 10. However, placing the guiding device 20 near the head portion of the golf club 1 is unadvisable because of instability thereof due to excessive swaying movement. Placing the guiding device 20 on the distal end of the grip section 100 is of greater utility and facilitates observation of the positioning bubble 23 and shifting of the transparent ball 21.

When using the first preferred embodiment, the inclination of the golf club 1 is first adjusted until the golfer has found his preferred golf club striking position. Since the inclination of the golf club 1 has been changed, the position of the bubble 23 relative to the original position of the markings 211 similarly changes. The portion of the transparent ball 21 projecting through the central opening 116 of the annular cap 113 is then manually shifted so as to make the center of the markings 211 coincide with the positioning bubble 23. The annular cap 113 prevents untimely separation and retains the transparent ball 21 within the depression 111. During succeeding use of the golf club 1, the inclination of the golf club 1 is simply adjusted until the positioning bubble 23 coincides with the center of the shifted markings 211.

The present invention thus facilitates positioning of the golf club to the golfer's preferred golf club striking position.

In case strong winds affect the swinging of the golf club, corresponding adjustments can be made to the position of the shifted markings 211 so as to take into account wind direction, thereby obtaining the most preferred golf club striking position.

Referring to Figure 4, the ball receiving device 12 of the second preferred embodiment of a golf club according to the present invention is shown to comprise a substantially concave depression 121 preferably provided on the distal end of a grip section 100' of the shaft portion of the golf club. An annular flange 122 projects inwardly from an open top end of the depression 121. The annular flange 122 is preferably made of resilient plastic. The transparent ball 21 is forced into the depression 121 via the annular flange 122 such that a portion of the transparent ball 21 projects through the central opening defined by the annular flange 122. The operation of the second preferred embodiment-is quite similar to that of the first preferred embodiment and will not be detailed further.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a guiding device 20' which can be used to replace the transparent ball 21 of the second preferred embodiment. The guiding device 20' similarly comprises a transparent ball 21' containing a quantity of liquid 22' which forms a positioning bubble 23' therein. (The phantom lines indicate the inner surface of the transparent ball 21'). The transparent ball 21' is also provided with markings 211' which form a set of rectangular coordinate axes (as shown in Figure 6). The transparent ball 21' has a liquid inlet 25' to permit injection of liquid therein and an annular groove 24' to engage the annular flange 122.

Since the transparent ball 21' engages the annular flange 122, manual shifting of the transparent ball 21' is not permitted. Thus, when using the guiding device 20', the position of the bubble 23' relative to the divisions of the markings 211' is kept in mind once the golf club has been positioned at the preferred golf club striking position (as shown in Figure 6). During succeeding use of the golf club, the inclination of the golf club is simply adjusted until the bubble 23' is within the immediate vicinity of the noted position.

The present invention thus provides a golf club that permits easy correction of the inclination of the golf club to find the golfer's preferred golf club striking position. This is in contrast with conventional golf clubs in which there is no basis for comparing the present golf club striking position with a former golf club striking position.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A golf club having a shaft portion, characterized by: a ball receiving device mounted on said shaft portion; and a guiding device including a transparent hollow ball retained by said ball receiving device and containing a quantity of liquid that forms a positioning bubble inside said transparent hollow ball, said transparent hollow ball being provided with markings; whereby, said golf club is adjustably inclined so that said positioning bubble can be moved to a desired position relative to said markings, said desired position corresponding to a preferred golf club striking position of a golfer.

2. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft portion has a grip section with a distal end, said ball receiving device being provided on said distal end.

3. The golf club as claimed in claim 2, wherein said markings form a set of rectangular coordinate axes.

4. The golf club as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ball receiving device comprises: a substantially concave depression formed in said distal end of said grip section; and an annular cap mounted on said distal end of said grip section and having a top end provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange that forms a central opening; said transparent hollow ball being retained within said depression by said annular flange, said transparent hollow ball having a portion projecting through said central opening of said annular flange so that the golfer can shift said transparent hollow ball so as to place said positioning bubble at said desired position relative to said markings.

5. The golf club as claimed in claim 4, wherein said annular cap is screwed onto said distal end of said grip section.

6. The golf club as claimed in claim 4, wherein said annular flange is made of resilient plastic, and said annular cap is integrally formed with said grip section at said distal end, said transparent hollow ball being forced into said depression via said annular flange.

7. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid is water.

8. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein said markings are engraved on said transparent hollow ball.

9. The golf club as claimed in claim 3, wherein said ball receiving device comprises a substantially concave depression formed on said distal end of said grip section and an annular flange projecting inwardly from said distal end of said grip section and forming a central opening; said transparent hollow ball being received by said depression and having an annular groove to engage said annular flange, said transparent hollow ball having a portion projecting through said central opening of said annular flange.

10. A golf club as substantially described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A golf club having a shaft portion provided with indicator means for indicating to a golfer when using the club a degree of inclination thereof for assisting the golfer to direct the golf club towards a preferred striking position.

12. A golf club according to Claim 11 wherein the indicator means comprises a bubble inside a convex window, the window having position markings thereon.