US3228696A - Golfing aid - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 11, 1966 c, J HULL 3,228,696

GOLFING AID Filed July 2'7, 1961 United States Patent 3,228,696 GOLFING AID Charles .1. Hull, 438 E. Baltimore, Greencastle, Pa. Filed July 27, 1961, Ser. No. 127,263 10 Claims. (Cl. 273-183) The present invention relates to golfing aids in general and in particular to a sighting device to be worn by a golfer to aid in keeping the head motionless during the swing and thereby improving the score.

It is well known among golfers that it is of prime importance that the golfer keep his head as nearly motionless as possible and his eyes focused on the golf ball during the entire swing in driving the ball. The chin should point toward the ball and the head should not move up or down or side to side. Should the head move during the swing it is likely that the driven ball will curve inwardly in a hook or outwardly in a slice. In addition, the back swing should be controlled to prevent an excessive back swing which would pull the eyes off the ball. Also during the swing, the body should pivot with the spinal column as an axis.

It is also well known that it is frequently diflicult to concentrate on the golf ball during the stance in addressing the ball and during the swing, especially when the golfer is under the stress of pressures from competition. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sighting means for a golfer to aid in keeping his head steady to prevent movement during the back swing.

It is also an object to provide a sighting means to aid in keeping the head at the correct position for the chin to clear the shoulder during the back swing.

It is a further object to provide a sighting means to aid in preventing excessive back swing in driving the ball.

It is another object to provide a sighting means to aid a golfer in pivoting his body about the spinal column as an axis during the swing.

It is still another object to provide an optical golfers sighting aid which is adjustable to accommodate golfers of various physical proportions.

It is an additional object to provide an optical sighting device of the class described for golfers to be worn in conjunction with ordinary eye glasses.

It is also an object to provide a sighting device which will aid a golfer in attaining and maintaining good ball concentration especially when under the pressures and stresses of competition.

It is further an object to provide a sighting device which once adjusted for wood shots will not have to be re-adjusted for subsequent iron shots.

For complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of the present invention in one of its contemplated forms;

FIGURE 2 is atop view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the adjustable bridge used with the glasses of FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of one of the lenses for use with the combination of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the present invention used in connection with a pair of clip-on sunglasses;

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the glasses of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is shown a pair of glasses generally indicated at 10 which comprises a pair of lenses 11 and 12, preferably of plastic, a bridge number 13, and a pair of temple members 14 and 15. The temple 14 is pivoted to a fitting 16 which is attached, as by Patented Jan. 11, 1956 riveting, to the lens 11 and the temple 15 is pivoted to a fitting 17 which is likewise attached to the lens 12. Each of the two lenses 11 and 12 has, respectively, a bridge portion 18 and 19 each of which has, respectively, an arcuate slot 20 and 21 therethrough. Each of the two bridge portions 18 and 19 are reduced in thickness to a point defined by boundary lines 22 and 23 respectively and shown best by FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the adjustable bridge 13 is provided with a vertical slot 24 and a pair of nose pads 25 and 26. A bolt 27, preferably having a rounded head as illustrated, passes through the slot 24 of the bridge 13, the slot 20 of lens 11 and slot 21 of lens 12 to thereby provide a common joining means to join all three of the parts together as shown in the FIGURES 1 and 2. A thumb nut 28 on the bolt 27 is provided to frictionally lock the two lenses and the bridge together when tightened afterthe parts have been adjusted to the required selected positions.

A target sight 29 is provided on the lens 11 and a similar target sight 30 is provided on the lens 12. These sights are preferably circular, although they may be of other shape, and should be dark and opaque. The sights may be placed on the lenses in any suitable manner such as by painting, engraving or decals. When plastic is used for the lenses, the sights may be etched into the surface of the plastic and then the etched surface may be filled with flat black ink or paint. I have discovered that the optimum size of the sights when positioned, as in the case of corrective eyeglass lenses, between about 9 millimeters (approx. inch) and about 14 millimeters (approx. inch) from the eyes, should be such that the inner diameter is not less than about 7 millimeters (approx. inch) while the band width or thickness of the ring is not less than about 1.5 millimeters (approx.

inch) nor greater than about 2.0 millimeters (approx. inch). When using the sights to sight a golf ball, it will be found that the two sights, if properly adjusted, will blend to appear as a single, hazy, circular shadow encircling the ball. If the sights be smaller than the above dimension, the circular shadow will be too small and it will be found extremely difiicult to keep the golf ball centered within the shadow. On the other hand, if the sights be larger than the above dimensions the shadow will appear much too large, and it will likewise be difficult to hold the ball centered. Should the width of the bands forming the circular sights be less than the of an inch measurement, the resulting shadow will be extremely difiicult to distinguish and if wider than the inch dimension the shadow will appear too dark and will tend to obstruct vision. The ideal sights will provide the golfer with what appears as a circular shadow on the ground of about 15 inches in diameter which is just dark enough to be readily noticed when both eyes are focused on the ball.

Although the glasses of FIGURES 1 and 2 are illustrated as being clear, they may be in the form of sunglasses. When sunglasses are used as a means for supporting the sights and positioning them before the eyes of a golfer, the tint of the lenses should preferably be graded from the top to the bottom with the darkest tint at the top and gradually diminishing until the lens becomes clear in ,the area of the sight, as shown by the stip ling of Figure 4.

When the sights are placed on the lenses they are preferably positioned with the center of each sight approximately of an inch below the center of the lens. Also the centers of the sights are spaced about 2 /2 inches apart when they are adjusted to the centered or medial position.

In using the glasses of FIGURE 1 the golfer, after teeing the ball and assuming the proper stance, closes one eye and adjusts the lens in front of the open eye until the golf ball appears centered in the sight. He then closes the open eye and, while holding the head as motionless as possible, adjusts the other lens while looking at the golf ball with the other eye until the ball appears to be centered in the sight with that eye. After adjusting the sights by moving the lenses inwardly or outwardly as necessary or moving the bridge member upwardly or downwardly as may be required, the sight should appear as a single shadow around the golf ball when both eyes are open and focused on the ball.

Another means for supporting the target sights is shown in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 in the form of clip-on sunglasses of the type used by those who wear prescription glasses. An example of such sunglasses is described in US. Patent No. 2,737,848 wherein a pair of plastic lenses 31 and 32 is supported by a frame mentber 33 also made of plastic. A pair of fingers 34, 3-5 extending downwardly from a finger grip member 36 pivoted on the frame 33, are adapted to engage the spectacles being worn. A flat spring 37 engaging the member 36 bears against the surface 38 of the frame 33 and urges the two fingers 34, 35 toward the lenses. A pair of substantially flat, thin shoulder members 39 and 40 extend outwardly and rearwardly at right angles to the frame 33 and are adapted to engage the upper edge of the prescription lenses, if the spectacles be of the rimless variety, or the upper edge of the lense frame if of the frame supported type.

In order to adapt the clip-on sunglasses to the present invention, I have modified them by providing for vertical adjustment of the sunglasses by adding set screws 41 and 42 which engage, respectively, threaded openings through the two shoulder members 39 and 40. The flat heads 43 and 44 of the screws 41 and 42 bear against the spectacles (not shown) and the vertical position of the clip-on glasses with respect to the spectacles may be adjusted by turning the set screws one way or the other as necessary.

In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 5 the target sights are in the form of flat, substantially thin, flexible plastic rings, one of which is shown at 45 in its uppermost adjusted position on the lens 31. The ring sight 45 is provided with a circular, tapered stud or boss 46 formed integral therewith which is adapted to be inserted in an opening 47 through the plastic lens 31 shown best in the enlarged section view of FIGURE 7. The dimensions of the opening 47 and the stud 46 should be such as to provide sufficient friction therebetween to support the sight when the stud is pressed into the opening. If the ring sight be of the proper thickness and preferred flexibility, it will flex or bend to conform to the curvature of the lens as shown in FIGURE 7. The sight 45 may be adjusted to any of a plurality of positions on the lens 3 1, the lowermost as well as the two extreme horizontal positions being illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 5 in addition to the uppermost position. Since it is possible that the sights may he accidentally shifted from the adjusted positions between golf games or since the two sights may be removed from the lenses in order that the clip-on glasses may be used as ordinary sunglasses for other purposes, it is preferable that some means he provided whereby the sights may be readily replaced in their exact, or very nearly exact, adjusted positions. To this end I have provided radial, equally spaced indicia about the openings 47 and 48 in the form of substantially short, very faint lines 49 on the surface of the lens 31 and lines 50 on the lens 32. Also, 'each of the sights is provided with a very small pointer, one of which is shown at 51 on the outer edge of the sight 4-5 opposite the location of the stud 46. Once the golfer has adjusted the two sights to suit his eyes he has only to note the position of the pointer on each sight with respect to the nearest indicium and set the sights to these positions each time he wishes to use them. It should be pointed out that the indicia on the lenses should be very fine and just barely discernible in which case they will not be noticeable or bothersome when the sunglasses are being worn for purposes other than as support for the target sights. It should also be pointed out that the sights shown in connection with the clip-on glasses of FIGURE 5 may also be used with the glasses of FIG- URE 1 as well as with other styles. When used with the glasses of FIGURE 1 it may not be necessary to provide the slot, bolt and nut adjusting means illustrated although such adjusting means in combination with the adjustable ring sight will provide a much wider range of adjustment to accommodate a wide range of anatomy variations in golfers. Likewise, the adjusting screw arrangement for vertical adjustment in the clip-on glasses of FIGURE 5 are not strictly necessary but will be found to give a more desirable range of adjustment. Since some golfers keep the head turned slightly when addressing .the ball, the adjustable sights allow such golfers to adjust these sights for sighting on the teed ball with the head in the slightly turned position.

While the invention has been shown and described in two of its preferred arrangements, it is to be understood that it may be used in other arrangements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example the invention, though not in its preferred form, may in one of its simplest forms be constructed of substantially soft, deformable wire to support a pair of ring sights about 2 /2 inches apart. The wire support frame may be formed between the sights into a bridge to engage the nose of the wearer and a pair of wire or plastic temple members, either pivoted on or fixed to the frame, may be provided to engage the ears of the wearer. Adjustment of the sights may be accomplished by bending or deforming the wire frame as necessary.

It should also be pointed out that it may be desirable in certain cases, as for example when the lenses 11, 12 are made of glass or very thin plastic and therefore subject to possible damage, to support the lenses in suitable frames constructed from metal, plastic, or other suitable material.

It will be seen, therefore, that the wire support frame provides a support means for supporting the sights which is equivalent to the lenses shown in the drawing while the bridge in conjunction with the two temple members provide positioning means for positioning the sights before the eyes of a golfer in the same manner as the bridge and temple members illustrated. Also, the deformable wire bridge and temple members provide not only such positioning function but adjusting means, by bending or twisting, to adjust the position of the two sights with respect to the eyes of the wearer in the same manner that the connector 27, joining the two lenses 11 and 12 and the bridge member 13 together, allows all three to be moved with respect to each other for adjusting the position of the two sights.

I claim:

'1. A golfing aid to be worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the head motionless during the swing comprising a pair of lenses, means for positioning said lenses before the eyes of said golfer, an opening in each of said lenses, a ring target sight on each of said lenses, means positioning said sights in any of a plurality of adjusted positions, said positioning means comprising a pivot pin on each of said sights engaging said openings, the dimensions of said openings and said pins being such that a snug fit is provided there'between whereby to frictionally hold said sights in any of a plurality of selected adjusted positions contiguous to said lenses.

'2. A golfing aid to be worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the head motionless during the swing comprising a pair of sunglasses, the said glasses being formed from a single piece of plastic, a pair of temple members pivoted on said glasses, an opening in each lens below the level of the eyes of the wearer, a ring target sight on each of said lenses, means positioning said sights in any of a plurality of adjusted positions, said positioning means cornprising a pivot stud on each of said sights tfrictionally engaging said openings, the said frictional engagement being sufliciently snug as to hold said sights in any of a plurality of adjusted positions.

3. A golfing aid to be Worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the head motionless during the swing comp-rising a pair of lenses, means for positioning said lenses before the eyes of said golfer, an opening in each of said lenses below the eye level of said golfer, a target sight on each of said lenses, means positioning said sights in any of a plurality of adjusted positions, said positioning means comprising a pivot stud on each of said sights frictionally engaging said openings, the said frictional engagement being sufficiently snug as to hold said sights in any of a plurality of adjusted positions and indicia associated with said lenses and said sights to indicate the adjusted positions thereof.

4. A golfing aid to be Worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the head motionless during the swing comprising a pair of clip-on sunglasses having a pair of lenses for use with prescription spectacles worn by said golfer, adjusting means for adjusting said sunglasses vertically when positioned on said spectacles, a target sight on each lens of said sunglasses and means for adjusting the position of said sights with respect to said lenses.

5. A golfing aid to be worn by a golfer to assist in keeping the head motionless during the swing comprising a pair of ring target sights through which a golfer may look to sight a golf ball to be driven, means for positioning said rings before the eyes of said golfer at a distance from the eyes of between about 9 and 14 millimeters, the band width of said rings being between about 1.5 and 2.0 millimeters and the inner diameter of said rings being between about 7 and 9 millimeters, and means for adjusting the position of said rings with respect to the eyes of said golfer.

6. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning means comprises a pair of spectacles, the lenses of which support the said rings.

7. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning means comprises a pair of spectacles having a pair of lenses and a bridge member, the said rings being positioned on said lenses.

8. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 7 wherein the said adjusting means comprises means for adjusting the positions of said lenses and said bridge member each with the other and means for locking said lenses and said bridge member together in any of a plurality of adjusted positions.

9. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning means comprises a pair of lenses each of which supports one of said rings thereon, a temple member pivoted on each of said lenses, a bridge member, and means joining each of said lenses and said bridge member together.

10. A golfing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning means comprises a pair of lenses each of which supports one of said rings thereon, a frame member supporting each of said lenses, a temple member pivoted on each of said frame members, a bridge member, and means joining each of said frame members and said bridge member together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,135,921 4/1915 Ramsay 214.6 1,283,815 11/1918 Lamphier 2-14.12X 1,353,759 9/1920 Keitz 35l45 1,637,406 8/1927 Brumder. 2,663,021 12/1953 Douglass 214.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 206,311 11/1923 Great Britain. 208,028 12/ 1923 Great Britain.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 4. A GOLFING AID TO BE WORN BY A GOLFER TO ASSIST IN KEEPING THE HEAD MOTIONLESS DURING THE SWING COMPRISING A PAIR OF CLIP-ON SUNGLASSES HAVING A PAIR OF LENSES FOR USE WITH PRESCRIPTION SPECTACLES WORN BY SAID GOLFER, ADJUSTING MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID SUNGLASSES VERTICALLY WHEN POSITIONED ON SAID SPECTACLES, A TARGET SIGHT ON EACH LENS OF SAID SUNGLASSES AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID SIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO SAID LENSES.

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