US3485497A

US3485497A - Golf practising device

Info

Publication number: US3485497A
Application number: US643565A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reginald Valentine Wilks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-06-05
Filing date: 1967-06-05
Publication date: 1969-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-23

Description

Dec. 23, 1969 |22. v w|`LKs 3,485,497

GOLF PRACTISING DEVICE Filed June 5, 1967 fea/Mu o MQW Tl/vi Mz K5 United States Patent Office 3,485,497 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf-practising apparatus having a stand which carries at an adjustable distance from the ground an optical system comprising a reflecting surface and a golf ball shape which acts as the object. The distance between the reflecting surface and the golf ball image is adjustable. When the reflecting surface is viewed from above the image of the golf ball shape appears to be below the reflecting surface.

The position of the optical system on the stand and the distance between the reflecting surface and the golf ball image are adjusted by the viewer so that the image of the golf ball shape appears to be adjacent to the ground only when the viewer is in the correct stance for a stroke at the golf ball image with a golf club and so that, if the viewers head is moved while making the stroke, the golf ball ima-ge vwill move or disappear from v1ew.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for facilitating practising with a golf club to enable the user to discern if he is keeping his head in a constant position relative to the yball Whilst swinging the golf club in the execution of a golf stroke before and after striking the ball with the club head.

In actual play and for the perfect execution of a golf stroke, it is important that the player should not move his head when making the stroke.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a device for producing an image of a golf ball at which the user aims a golf club, the device comprises a stand supporting at some distance from the ground a golf ball shape in a holder and a reflecting means in which the user sees an image -of the golf ball shape apparently at ground level, so that said image moves or disappears if the users head is moved, while making a stroke, out of the normal line of sight of the image in which the head is in the correct position.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which enables the user to simulate striking a golf ball in a confined space, and enables the user to ascertain if his head is being kept steady in play, and enables him to observe the position and arc of flight of the club head relative to the position of the image of the ball at the point of impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Constructional embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional side elevation of a first embodiment of the device made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the lirst embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional side elevation of a second embodiment of the device made in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the drawings, the first and second embodiments of the device comprises a stand .1 which can be placed on the ground and on which is pivotably mounted an arm or jib 2 which is pivotably connected to the upper part of a vertically inclined box-like member 3 at a suitable height from the ground. In the first embodiment, the arm 2 has a counterbalance 4 (FIG. 2) at its end remote from the box-like member 3. The height of the box-like member 3 above the ground may be varied in both embodiments by moving the position of the arm 2 on the stand 1.

The box-like member 3 has back and front vertical walls (in relation to the user), two side walls and a top. The side walls extend below the other walls and the front edges of the side walls are inclined downwards rearwardly from the level of the bottom edge of the front wall. The inner walls of the box-like member 3 are painted black.

Inside the box-like member 3 of the first embodiment are secured reflecting surfaces in the form of two mirrors: a top mirror 5 fixed against the top wall and a rear mirror 6 fixed against the rear wall. Also mounted on the box-like member 3 is a reflecting surface in the form of a viewing mirror 7 which is carried on horizontal trunnions pivoted on the side walls of the box-like member 3, at a position below the front and rear walls, so that the viewing mirror 7 may be adjusted to be partly within the box-like member 3 with its reflecting surface uppermost. At the lower part of the box-like member 3 and below the viewing mirror 7 is a golf ball holder in the form of a metal or wire support plate or cradle 8 for an actual golf ball 9. The cradle or support plate 8 may have arms which slide in retaining channels (not shown) inside the side walls of the box-like member 3 to allow upwards or downwards adjustment of the height of the golf ball 9 above the ground.

In use, light from the apertures at the bottom, front and sides of the box-like member is reflected from the

mirrors

5 and 6 so that when a user looks into the correctly-adjusted viewing mirror 7 the user will see a virtual image 10 of the golf ball 9 as if it were lying on the ground, which is 10 to 20 inches below the viewing mirror 7, If, in swinging at the virtual image 10 of the golf ball, the users head moves, the virtual image 10 of the golf ball will also move or disappear from view.

The top mirror 5 of the first embodiment may not be fixed against the top wall; the distance from the top wall to the top mirror 5 may be adjustable.

The second embodiment of the device is the same as the first embodiment except that the rear mirror 6 and the counterbalance 4 are not included.

In either the rst or second embodiment the arm 2 may be fixed on the back of the box-like member 3, instead of being fixed to the sides, so that the arm 2 is a single strut.

Where reference is made to a golf ball in the specilication and claim, this reference includes all members of spherical shape and also all other shapes capable of producing an image of circular or spherical shape.

I claim:

1. A device for use by golfers while practising golf swings comprising a box, means for supporting said box above a playing surface on which a golfer may stand and address a golf ball image, means for producing a virtual image of a golf ball on said playing surface when said box is supported thereabove, said last mentioned means comprising a golf ball image producing element supported in the box, a mirror pivotally mounted on the box for vertical swinging movement relative to the box about a horizontal axis, and mirror means in the box for reflecting an image of the golf ball image producing element to the pivotally mounted mirror and thence to the eye of the golfer, the relative positions of said golf ball image producing element, mirror and mirror means being such that when said box is supported above said playing surface, the golf ball image reected to the eye of the golfer appears to the golfer to be the image of an actual golf ball positioned below the box and adjacent the playing surface so that the golfer may execute swings with a golf club at the apparent golf ball on the playing will appear to move if the golfer moves his head while executing a club swing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,110,495 11/1963 Carter 273-35 FOREIGN PATENTS 430,844 6/ 1935 Great Britain.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R.

surface and said image reflected to the eye of the golfer 15 272-8; 273-199