US20170065870A1

US20170065870A1 - Golf Club Alignment Device

Info

Publication number: US20170065870A1
Application number: US15/260,120
Authority: US
Inventors: Clinton "Bud" Wilcox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-09-09
Filing date: 2016-09-08
Publication date: 2017-03-09

Abstract

An alignment device for attachment to a golf club includes a pair of elongate guide rods removably connected to a striking face of a golf club head having a toe region and a heel region, the pair of elongated guide rods being relatively spaced to enable a golf ball to be positioned therebetween. A pair of connection plates attaches the pair of elongate guide rods to the striking face and an adhesive layer for mounting the connection plates to the striking face. A removable connecting means connects the proximal end of each of the pair of elongate guide rods with the pair of connection plates.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from the U.S. provisional application with Ser. No. 62/215,899, which was filed on Sep. 9, 2015. The disclosure of that provisional application is incorporated herein as if set out in full.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Technical Field of the Disclosure
The present embodiment relates generally to golfing equipment, and more particularly, to a device to improve a golfer's stroke and aim when putting or driving a golf ball toward a designated target.
Description of the Related Art
Certain existing golf putters have been developed with various features to assist the golfer in properly aligning the club and the ball prior to putting the ball toward a distant target during training and actual play. Such features have included projections integral with or removably connectable to conventional putters that extend forwardly of the striking surface or area of the putter to bracket the “sweet spot” of the putter and provide some visual alignment between the putter and the distant target. Other prior features include slots, alignment marks, and so on for enhancing alignment between the putter and the ball.
Alignment devices which extend forward of the face of the golf head are particularly helpful for teaching a golfer the proper position of the striking portion of the face plate with respect to the golf ball and the hole during practice or training. However, such devices are not permissible during play under current United States Golf Association (USGA) regulations. Ideally, it would be desirable for a golfer to be able to use the same putter or other golf club for both practice and play so that the reflexes and muscle memory learned with one putter during practice can be used during play without the added difficulty of adapting to a different putter.
Therefore, there is a need for an alignment device for quickly and effectively installing and removing the alignment device for a golf club. Moreover, such a needed device would provide a pair of elongate guide rods removably connected to a striking face of a golf club head. Such a needed device would have a pair of connection plates to attach the pair of elongated guide rods to the striking face. Such a needed device would further have multiple uses, such as allowing the golfer to more easily follow the path of a swing, to easily indicate the angle of a wedge, and to be adaptable to multiple golf club types, including those not made from a ferromagnetic material. The present embodiment accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

To minimize the limitations found in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon the reading of the specification, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an alignment device for attachment to a striking face of a golf club head that includes a pair of elongated guide rods having a first guide rod and a second guide rod, the first guide rod and a second guide rod each having a proximal end and a distal end. The pair of elongated guide rods is relatively spaced to enable a golf ball to be positioned therebetween. The alignment device further comprises a pair of connection plates to attach the pair of elongate guide rods to the striking face, each of the pair of connection plates including a first face and a second face. The first face of each of the pair of connection plates includes an adhesive layer for mounting the pair of connection plates to the striking face. The second face of each of the pair of connection plates includes a removable connecting means to connect the proximal end of each of the pair of elongated guide rods with the pair of connection plates. The pair of connection plates is attached between the guide rods and the striking face of the golf club head. Further, the pair of connection plates is relatively spaced to enable a golf ball to be positioned therebetween. The first guide rod is connected to the toe region and the second guide rod is connected to the heel region of the golf club head respectively.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a golf putter comprising a golf club head comprises a toe region, a striking face and a heel region. A pair of elongate guide rods is removably connected to the striking face. The pair of elongate guide rods includes a first guide rod and a second guide rod. The pair of elongate guide rods has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of each of the guide rods are connected to the toe region and heel region of the golf club head respectively.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the golf putter or other golf club may further comprise a pair of connection plates attached to the striking face and which serve as intermediary between a non-ferromagnetic face and magnetic guide rods. Further, the placement of the guide rod on the shaft of the golf club can assist the golfer with tracing the arc or movement of a golf swing.
A first objective of the present invention is to provide a pair of elongate guide rods removably connected to a striking face of a golf club head.
A second objective of the present invention is to provide a pair of connection plates to attach the pair of elongate guide rods to the striking face.
A third objective of the present invention is to provide a removable connecting means to connect the proximal end of each of the pair of elongate guide rods with the pair of connection plates.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an adhesive layer for mounting the pair of connection plates to the striking face.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Elements in the figures have not necessarily been shown to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention, thus the figures are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be best understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like designations denote like elements throughout the figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective top view of an alignment device installed on a golf club head of a golf putter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 1B and 7C illustrate a perspective views of at least one connection plate in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective bottom view of the alignment device installed on the golf club head of the golf putter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective bottom view of the alignment device installed on the golf club head of the golf putter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective front view of the alignment device installed on the golf club head of the golf putter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective front view of the alignment device installed on the golf club head of the golf putter wherein a golf ball is shown in front of the golf putter;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective rear top view of the alignment device installed on the golf club head of the golf putter wherein the golf ball is shown in front of the golf putter;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a perspective top view and front view of the alignment device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate perspective views of the alignment device with arrows depicting the movement of the golf putter head during the course of a swing;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the alignment device wherein the alignment device is positioned on a wedge type golf club and a golf ball is positioned in the air and wherein phantom lines depict a first position of said golf ball; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the alignment device.

It is noted that the figures are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope thereof. It is further noted that the figures are not necessarily to scale. The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. “And” as used herein is interchangeably used with “or” unless expressly stated otherwise. As used herein, the term ‘about” means +/−5% of the recited parameter. All embodiments of any aspect of the invention can be used in combination, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural and singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “wherein”, “whereas”, “above,” and “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of the application.
The description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. While the specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
Referring now to the FIGS. 1-6, an alignment device 10 as shown is attached to a striking face 12 of a golf putter 50 in accordance with the present embodiment of the present invention. Here, the alignment device 10 is installed on a golf club head 42 having a typical shaft 40 that extends from the golf club head 42. The alignment device 10 for attachment to the striking face 12 of a golf club head 42 includes a pair of elongate guide rods 14 having a first guide rod 16 and a second guide rod 24, the first guide rod 16 and a second guide rod 24 each have a proximal end 22 and a distal end 24. The pair of elongated guide rods 14 is relatively spaced to enable a golf ball 32 to be positioned therebetween. The alignment device 10 further comprises a pair of connection plates 26 to attach the pair of elongate guide rods 14 to the striking face 12, each of the pair of connection plates 26 including a first face 28 and a second face 30. The first face 28 of each of the pair of connection plates 26 includes an adhesive layer (not shown) for mounting the pair of connection plates 26 to the striking face 12. The second face 30 of each of the pair of connection plates 26 includes a removable connecting means (not shown) to connect the proximal end 22 of each of the pair of elongate guide rods 14 with the pair of connection plates 26. The pair of connection plates 26 is attached between the guide rods 14 and the striking face 12 of the golf club head 42. Further, the pair of connection plates 26 is relatively spaced to enable a golf ball 32 to be positioned therebetween. The first guide rod 16 is connected to a toe region 34 and the second guide rod is connected to a heel region 36 of the golf club head 42 respectively, on either side of a sweet spot 38 and above the sole so as to not interfere with the golf putter 50 movement during use. An alignment mark 44 typically denotes the area of the sweet spot 38.
The alignment device 10 itself is shown best at FIGS. 7A and 7B, however in use it is positioned on the striking face 12 of the golf club head 42 as shown in FIGS. 1-6. can be adapted for use with a particular golf club 20 selected from the group consisting of a putter, iron, driver, wood or the like, and is intended to help a user both align the sweet spot 38 of the golf club 20 striking face with the golf ball 32 and orient the striking face 12 of the golf club head 42 such that it is perpendicular to the forward direction of the golf club 20 swing.
In this embodiment, the guide rods 14 and are preferably of solid cylindrical construction with a diameter of about 0.25 inch and a length of about two inches. However, it will be understood that the guide rods 14 may be hollow and/or of any shape such as conical or triangular, square, oval, or hexagonal in cross section, and so on. Preferably, the guide rods 14, are installed equidistantly from the sweet spot 38 so that the golf ball 32 may be aligned with the sweet spot 38 during use. It will be further understood that the elongate guide rods 14 may be of any diameter or cross dimension and length. The larger diameter end of the guide rods 14 contains a small magnet, preferably of neodymium or similar type. Positioning the magnet with in the proximal end of the guide rods 14 with the larger diameter allows the guide rods 14 to be securely seated against the striking face 12 of the golf club 20, but without leaving any marks or changing the golf club 20 in any way. In this manner, the elongate guide rods 14 may be installed for practice or training and readily removed for playing so as to conform with USGA regulations. Accordingly, the muscle coordination and reflexes learned with a particular golf club during training can continue to be used without the necessity of adapting to a different golf club during play.
Referring now to the FIGS. 8A, 8B and FIG. 9 in particular, when the guide rods 14 are installed on the golf club head 42 of the golf putter 50 (or other golf club), the provided area or space within which a golf ball 32 (shown in phantom line) (See FIG. 9) may be received. In order to properly aim and strike the golf ball 32, the guide rods 14 are aligned with the cup, hole (not shown) or other designated target with the guide rods 14 on either side of the golf ball 32. In this position, the striking face 12 is generally perpendicular with respect to an imaginary line extending between the golf ball 32 and the distal target. Once the golfer is comfortable with the relative positions between the golf putter 50, golf ball 32 and distal target, the golf putter 50 is brought backward then forward in a typical swinging motion, with adequate care to ensure that the golf ball 32 is struck with the striking face 12 without contacting the guide rods 14. If the golfer executes the putting stroke so that the golf ball 32 is positioned either too close to the heel 36 or the toe region 34, the guide rods 14 will strike the golf ball 32, notifying the golfer of the faulty putting stroke through the dislodging and/or vibrating (haptic feedback) of the guide rods 14. When the golf putter 50 is used for actual play, the guide rods 14 are removed so that the same putter (or other golf club) can be used for both practice and actual play. Although most strokes are relatively straight (See FIG. 8A), for those golfers with more accurate or curving strokes. One of the guide rods 14 (preferably the inner guide rod, closest to the golfer) may be removed (See FIG. 8B).
The width of the area between the guide rods 14 may be selected to accommodate either beginning golfers or those with intermediate or advanced skills, since a narrower area requires greater maneuvering skill than a wider area.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the pair of connection plate 26 is in the form of a thin disk of magnetically attractive material and may be installed on the striking face 12 of the golf club 20 utilizing the magnetization of the pair of guide rods 14 to the connection plates 26. Alternatively, at least a distal end 24 of each guide rods 14 may be magnetized or include a magnet, the guide rods 14 may stick to the connection plates 26. The connection plate 26 is required for each of the guide rods 14 and at least one connection plates 26 are shown in the FIG. 1B. The connection plates 26 are preferably connected to the toe region 34 and the heel region 36, respectively, of the golf club head 42 via an adhesive layer. A pair of spaced guide rods 14 is in turn removably connected to the connection plates 26, respectively. The connection plates 26 are preferably constructed of a thin disk of ferromagnetic sheet material, such as stainless steel or other magnetically attractive material, but may alternatively comprise a magnet or the like. Likewise, the proximal ends of the guide rods 14 are either magnetized or contain a magnetic insert for removable attachment of the guide rods 14 to the connection plates 26. The relatively thin nature of the connection plates 26 ensure that there is little or no interference with the putter 50 when the guide rods 14 are removed so that the putter 50 may be ready for playing. Moreover, the magnets and magnetically attractive material may be replaced with other removable connecting means such as double-sided adhesive tape, hook and loop fasteners, inter-engaging tabs, and so on.
The adhesive layer preferably comprises double-sided adhesive tape that permanently attaches the connection plates 26 to the striking face 12. However, the adhesive layer may be formulated to removably attach the connection plates 26 to the striking face 12. The adhesive layer may alternatively comprise an adhesive coating on the connection plates 26 and/or may be formulated to removably attach the connection plates to the striking face 12. Moreover, the adhesive layer may be replaced with other removable connecting means such as hook and loop fasteners, inter-engaging tabs, and so on.
The guide rods 14 are preferably of solid cylindrical construction with similar dimensions. However, the guide rods 14 may be hollow and/or of any shape, diameter or cross dimension and/or length.
The alignment device 10 is especially advantageous when it is impractical to form bores in the club head and/or when the head is constructed of a non-magnetic material. Accordingly, the connection plates 26 together with the adhesive layer can be positioned at any position on the striking face 12 and the guide rods 14 can be removably connected to the connection plates 26 to ensure that the golf ball 32 is struck at the sweet spot 38 and in the intended direction during training. Prior to actual play, the guide rods 14 and, if desired, the connection plates 26 and accompanying adhesive layer can be removed so that the same club can be used for both training and playing as previously described.
In one embodiment, magnets are positioned inside the hollow interior at the proximal end of each guide rods 14. The magnets are preferably permanently connected to the guide rods 14 through adhesive bonding, although other connecting means may be used, such as press-fitting and so on. Each magnet may be constructed of any magnetic material as long as it is sufficiently strong for holding the guide rod during swinging and striking.
In yet another embodiment, the guide rods 14 may be affixed to a wedge type golf club 20 (see FIG. 9) in order to better show the angle of the wedge to the golfer. In yet another embodiment the golf putter 50 includes a rubber pad or synthetic pad on its face, and in this instance preferably a neodymium magnet is used in association with the guide rods, which provides sufficient magnetic force to penetrate the rubber pad.
In yet another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 10A, the alignment device 10 is somewhat similar in construction to the alignment device previously described for non-ferromagnetic golf club head 42, with the exception that the connection plates 26 have been replaced by a larger connection plate 70 that extends substantially to the striking face 12 of the golf club head 42. In this regard the guide rods 14 may be adjusted along to the striking face 12 of the golf club head 42. In this manner, the guide rods 14 may be adjusted closer together or further apart depending on the skill of the golfer and/or the size of the golf ball 32. With the exception of its shape, the connection plate 70 is of similar construction to the disk-shaped connection plates previously described. In addition, the connection plate is preferably attached to the striking face 12 of the head in a similar manner as previously described.
In accordance with a further embodiment, depicted in FIG. 10B, a magnet may be replaced with a plug constructed of magnetically attractive material and a pair of elongate plates 60 may be replaced with magnetic material to thereby provide mutual attraction between the proximal end of the guide rods 14 and the elongate plates 60. It will be understood that the guide rods 14 may alternatively be removably connected to the elongate plates 60 through any well-known removable connecting means as previously described.
It will be understood that the term “preferably” as used throughout the specification refers to one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and therefore is not to be interpreted in any limiting sense. In addition, terms of orientation and/or position as may be used throughout the specification denote relative, rather than absolute orientations and/or positions.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It will be understood, therefore, that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but also covers modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in the structure of the golf club head of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An alignment device for attachment to a golf club, the alignment device comprising:

a pair of elongate guide rods removably connected to a striking face of a golf club head comprises a toe region and a heel region, the pair of elongated guide rods being relatively spaced to enable a golf ball to be positioned therebetween; and

a pair of connection plates to attach the pair of elongate guide rods to the striking face.

2. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of elongate guide rods has a proximal end and a distal end.

3. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the pair of elongate guide rods includes a first guide rod and a second guide rod.

4. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of connection plates includes a first face and a second face.

5. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the first face of each of the pair of connection plates includes an adhesive layer for mounting the pair of connection plates to the striking face.

6. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the second face of each of the pair of connection plates includes a removable connecting means to connect the proximal end of each of the pair of elongate guide rods with the pair of connection plates.

7. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the pair of connection plates is attached between the guide rods and the striking face of the golf club head.

8. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the first guide rod is connected to the toe region and the second guide rod is connected to the heel region of the golf club head respectively.

9. The alignment device of claim 1 wherein the pair of connection plates is a thin disk.

10. An alignment device for attachment to a golf club, the device comprising:

a pair of elongate guide rods includes a first guide rod and a second guide rod, the first guide rod and a second guide rod has a proximal end and a distal end, the pair of elongated guide rods being relatively spaced to enable a golf ball to be positioned therebetween; and

a pair of connection plates to attach the pair of elongate guide rods to the striking face, each of the pair of connection plates includes a first face and a second face.

11. The alignment device of claim 10 wherein the first face of each of the pair of connection plates includes an adhesive layer for mounting the pair of connection plates to the striking face.

12. The alignment device of claim 10 wherein the second face of each of the pair of connection plates includes a removable connecting means to connect the proximal end of each of the pair of elongate guide rods with the pair of connection plates.

13. The alignment device of claim 10 wherein the pair of connection plates is attached between the guide rods and the striking face of the golf club head.

14. The alignment device of claim 10 wherein the pair of connection plates is relatively spaced to enable a golf ball to be positioned therebetween.

15. The alignment device of claim 10 wherein the first guide rod is connected to the toe region and the second guide rod is connected to the heel region of the golf club head respectively.

16. The alignment device of claim 10 wherein the pair of connection plates is a thin disk.

17. A golf putter comprising:

a golf club head comprises a toe region, a striking face and a heel region; and

a pair of elongate guide rods removably connected to the striking face.

18. The golf putter of claim 17 wherein the pair of elongate guide rods provide haptic feedback to the user,

19. The golf putter of claim 17 wherein the each of the pair of elongate guide rods has a proximal end and a distal end.

20. The golf putter of claim 17 wherein the proximal end of the guide rods are removably connected to the toe region and heel region of the golf club head respectively.