GB2554755A

GB2554755A - Device for aiding putting of a golf ball

Info

Publication number: GB2554755A
Application number: GB1617164.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Reardon Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-10-10
Filing date: 2016-10-10
Publication date: 2018-04-11
Also published as: GB201617164D0; WO2018069695A1

Abstract

The magnification device 20 for aiding putting of a golf ball has a clip 22 for attaching the magnification device 20 to a shaft of a golf putting club (10, figure 1B). The magnification device 20 further has a magnification unit 26 to provide magnification, possibly by optical means. The magnification unit 26 may have a Fresnel lens which may be plastic and convex and may have alignment indicia for aligning the golf ball and head of the golf putting club (10, figure 1B). The magnification unit 26 may have a main plate-like body and be sized such that the magnified view of the golf ball and the head of the golf club may both be displayed concurrently. The magnification device 20 may be removable from the golf putting club (10, figure 1B). Also disclosed is a method of putting a golf ball using the magnification device 20.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Device for aiding putting of a golf ball

Abstract Title: Magnification device for aiding putting of a golf ball (57) The magnification device 20 for aiding putting of a golf ball has a clip 22 for attaching the magnification device 20 to a shaft of a golf putting club (10, figure 1B). The magnification device 20 further has a magnification unit 26 to provide magnification, possibly by optical means. The magnification unit 26 may have a Fresnel lens which may be plastic and convex and may have alignment indicia for aligning the golf ball and head of the golf putting club (10, figure 1B). The magnification unit 26 may have a main plate-like body and be sized such that the magnified view of the golf ball and the head of the golf club may both be displayed concurrently. The magnification device 20 may be removable from the golf putting club (10, figure 1B). Also disclosed is a method of putting a golf ball using the magnification device 20.

FIGURE 2

2a

1/3

FIGURE 1A

FIGURE 1B

2/3

22a

FIGURE 2

3/3

FIGURE 3A

FIGURE 3B

DEVICE FOR AIDING PUTTING OF A GOLF BALL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for aiding putting of a golf ball, a golf putting system comprising a golf club and the device, and to a method of putting a golf ball. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an attachable device having means to facilitate improved ball vision and to a golf putting system comprising a golf putter club and an attachable device comprising means for providing magnification. The invention finds advantageous application in the ability to improve the device user’s results in obtaining a successful placement of a golf ball into a hole (cup) thus achieving the goal of a lowest use of golf strokes to par.

Aspects of the invention relate to a device for aiding putting of a golf ball, to a golf putting system, to a golf putting club and to a method of putting a golf ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Putting is approximately 50% of a total number of strokes used in a game of golf. As golf rules dictate that the lowest number of strokes used to put the golf ball in the hole is the winner, it is desirable for a player to use a lowest possible number of strokes. It is desirable to provide training aids and golf putting devices that assist a golfer in achieving a low number of strokes.

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of golf putters by providing a golf putting system comprising a golf club and an attachable device comprising means for providing magnification. The attachable device or component can be affixed to the golf club to provide the golfer with an enlarged view of the golf ball and/or head of the golf club. The golf putting system is particularly beneficial in providing improvements in direction and accuracy. The invention also has the ability to remove the liability to get the so-called “yips” as it smooths out the putting stroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for aiding putting of a golf ball, the device having attachment means for attaching the device securely to a shaft of a golf putting club and having means for providing magnification.

Optionally, said means for providing magnification comprises one or more optical components, which may be provided by a Fresnel lens.

Optionally, said means for providing magnification is provided by a plastic Fresnel convex lens magnifier.

The means for providing magnification may comprise one or more lines, markings or other alignment indicia for facilitating alignment of a ball and the head of the golf club.

Optionally, said means for providing magnification comprises a main plate-like body. The main plate-like body may be sufficiently sized such that the device can provide magnification of both a head of a golf putting club and of a ball proximate thereto.

Optionally, the attachment means is provided along an edge of the main plate-like body.

Beneficially the device is removable, such that it can be attached to and removed from a golf putting club so that the club can be used with and without the putting aid device.

Optionally, the attachment means is a clip that is sized to fit at least partially around the shaft of the golf putting club, the clip being bonded at an edge portion of the device. The clip may comprise a first arm made of a resilient material, a second arm made of a resilient material and a shoulder portion.

Optionally, the shoulder portion and the first and second arms are an integral unit, wherein the first and second arms diverge from the shoulder portion away from one another. The first arm may be shaped to fit about the shaft of the golf putting club and may be shaped to return towards the second arm. Optionally, the first arm has a free end, and the second arm has a free end that is shaped and sized such that the free ends of the first and second arms are closely proximate to one another.

According to another aspect, there is provided a method of putting a golf ball into a cup, the method comprising:

(i) providing a golf putting club having a device as described above attached to the shaft thereof;

(ii) viewing a head of the golf putting club and a golf ball proximate thereto, through the means for providing magnification such that the head of the golf putting club and the golf ball appear to have a greater than normal size;

(iii) aligning the head of the golf putting club with ball; and (iv) striking the ball towards the cup.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1A shows a side view of a golf putting system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 1B is a perspective view of the golf putting system of Figure 1 illustrating a clip that attaches said holder to the putter club according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a device for aiding putting of a golf ball;

FIGURE 3A is an end view of the device of Figure 2; and

FIGURE 3B is a front plan view of the device of Figures 2 and 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the device for aiding putting, a golf putting system and methods of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. Indeed, it will be understood that the device for aiding putting, the golf putting system and methods described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.

To improve a golfer’s ability to see and align a golf ball with the head of his golf club 10, with the aim of improving the golfer’s ability to strike the ball into a golf cup, the present disclosure provides a removable device 20 for aiding putting. The device 20 and a golf putting club 10 are shown in Figures 1A and 1B. The device 20 provides a magnification unit (see Figures 1 to 3B). At least a substantial part of the device 20 is made up of the magnification unit 26 in order to provide a sufficient area through which the golfer can see his club head 16 and golf ball. The magnification unit 26 may be a glass magnifier or preferably is provided by a Fresnel lens 26 as this is more robust, less fragile, easy to produce and situate within the device 20. Optionally the Fresnel lens 26 is a plastic convex type.

Referring again to Figures 1A and 1B, it can be seen that the golf club 10, which may optionally be a golf putting club 10, comprises a handle 12, a shaft 14 and a head 16. The golfer holds the handle 12, and positions the shaft 14 and head 16 relative to a golf ball to be putted such that when the golf club is swung, the golf ball is struck and, hopefully, the golf ball is thereby moved into a cup or hole and is putted. Many factors affect whether the ball will in fact be putted and many golfers spend considerable time training and practising their technique. To aid in training or match play success, the device 20 of the present disclosure aims to improve the golfer’s view of the ball and head 16 so that he can ensure that the head 16 and the ball are correctly aligned before striking the ball. Additionally, the size of the device 20 allows the golfer to continually view the club head 16 and ball positioned proximate thereto so that he can ensure, or at least improve his chances, of the club head 16 remaining correctly aligned as the golfer swings the club through to strike the ball.

The device 20 is lightweight so as to avoid affecting the weight of the club 10. Furthermore, the device 20 is removable so that the club 10 can be used with and without the device 20.

As shown in Figures 1 A, 1B and 2, the device 20 has attachment means 22 for attaching the device 20 securely to the shaft 14 of the golf putting club 10. Additionally, the device has means for providing magnification 26 comprising one or more optical components 26 which, preferably, is provided by a Fresnel lens 26 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3B by a series of concentric rings which are not actually visible artefacts of the Fresnel lens 26 in normal use. Whilst many optical components or combinations of components are suitable for forming the magnification unit 26, it has been found that a plastic Fresnel convex lens magnifier has particular beneficial application in the device 20.

Although not shown, in some arrangements the means for providing magnification 26 comprises one or more lines, markings or other alignment indicia for facilitating alignment of a ball and the head 16 of the golf club 10. Such markings may include a solid line; a dotted line; a line with an arrow head or similar.

Returning now to the presently illustrated embodiment, the device 20 and/or said means for providing magnification 26 comprises a main plate-like body 24, an edge of which may or may not provide magnification. The plate-like body 24 may be flexible, transparent and in the region of 0.2 mm to 3 mm thick. In order to provide a sufficiently large magnified viewing area it is preferred, but nevertheless optional, if the main portion 24 has a length of between about 60mm and about 20mm; and a width of between about 30mm and about 80mm.

As shown in the Figures, the attachment means 22 is provided along an edge of the main plate-like body 24. Optionally, the attachment means 22 may be bonded to the main portion 24 of the device using an adhesive or other affixing means. The attachment means 22 may be bonded substantially centrally along the edge of the main portion 24. This provides for an even weight distribution, but it is envisaged that in other embodiments, the attachment means 22 may be positioned off-centre and even weight distribution may be ignored or achieved by other means.

Optionally, in the present arrangement, the attachment means 22 is a clip 22 that is sized to fit at least partially around the shaft 14 of the golf putting club, the clip 22 being bonded at an edge portion of the main portion 24 of the device. It will be appreciated that the attachment means could take many and various forms and a suitable attachment means 22 is lightweight and easy to operate, yet provides a secure attachment of the device 20 to the club 10 without damaging or marking the club 10. Accordingly, the present invention optionally provides the clip 22, best viewed in Figure 2, that comprises a first arm 22a made of a resilient material, a second arm 22b made of the same resilient material and a shoulder portion 25. The shoulder portion 25 may have an elongate portion that is bonded or otherwise affixed to the main body 24 of the device 20 (see Figure 3B). The first and second arms 22a, 22b are formed as an integral one-piece unit with the shoulder portion 25. The first and second arms 22a, 22b each diverge from the shoulder portion 25 and slightly away from one another at a closed end of the clip 22. As shown in Figures 2 and 3B, the first arm 22a is shaped to fit about the shaft 14 of the golf putting club 10 and is shaped to return towards the second arm 22b. It will be appreciated that the length, shape and format of the arms may take many and various configurations and still achieve a fitment that can be attached to the shaft of a golf club 10. It can be seen that the first arm 22a has a free end and that the second arm 22b also has a free end. Both free ends may terminate in a slight upturn or curve, which may facilitate the installation of the shaft 14 into the clip 22. The free ends of the first and second arms 22a, 22b are closely proximate to one another, but do not form a closed loop. The ends can be temporarily prized apart by providing a force to separate them. This may be most easily achieved by the relative pushing together of the clip 22 and shaft 14. The resilience of the material from which the clip and arms 22, 22a, 22b are formed means that after the opening force is no longer applied the arms 22a, 22b spring back to their original position closing the loop and gripping the shaft 14. In this way the device 20 can be removably and securely attached to the club 10, thus forming a golf putting system.

To use the golf putting system, a golfer views the head 16 of the golf putting club 10 and the golf ball positioned closely thereto through the Fresnel lens 26, which magnifies his image of the golf ball such that the head 16 of the golf putting club 10 and the golf ball appear to have a greater than normal size. It may then be easier for the golfer to align the head 16, and the rest of the club 10 as appropriate, with the ball such that when the golfer strikes the ball, he is more likely to hit the ball accurately.

It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in other embodiments of the invention it is envisaged that the lens may be placed in other parts of the club to facilitate improved vision. Whilst the invention provides particular advantage for putters, it is envisaged that the device also may be used in conjunction with other types of golf club.

Claims

1. A device for aiding putting of a golf ball, the device having attachment means for attaching the device securely to a shaft of a golf putting club and having means for providing magnification.

2. A device according to claim 2 wherein said means for providing magnification comprises one or more optical components.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said means for providing magnification is provided by a Fresnel lens.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said means for providing magnification is provided by a plastic Fresnel convex lens magnifier.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the means for providing magnification comprises one or more lines, markings or other alignment indicia for facilitating alignment of a ball and the head of the golf club.

6. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said means for providing magnification comprises a main plate-like body.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the main plate-like body is sufficiently sized such that the device can provide magnification of both a head of a golf putting club and of a ball proximate thereto.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the attachment means is provided along an edge of the main plate-like body.

9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device is removable.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the attachment means is a clip that is sized to fit at least partially around the shaft of the golf putting club, the clip being bonded at an edge portion of the device.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein the clip comprises a first arm made of a resilient material, a second arm made of a resilient material and a shoulder portion.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the shoulder portion and the first and second arms are an integral unit, and wherein the first and second arms diverge from the shoulder portion away from one another.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the first arm is shaped to fit about the shaft of the golf putting club and is shaped to return towards the second arm, wherein the first arm has a free end, and wherein the second arm has a free end that is shaped and sized such that the free ends of the first and second arms are closely proximate to one another.

14. A golf putting system comprising: a golf putting club and a device according to any preceding claim.

15. A golf putting club having the device of any of claims 1 to 13 attached thereto.

16. A method of putting a golf ball, the method comprising:

(i) providing a golf putting club having a device according to any of claims 1 to 13 attached to the shaft thereof;

(iii) aligning the head of the golf putting club with ball; and (iv) striking the ball.

17. A device, golf putting system and/or method substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying Figures.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB 1617164.7 Examiner: Dr Niall Deakin