US3610632A - Golfing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, and comprises two guides which are adjustably connectable at right angles one to the other and one of said guides has pivoted to its upper end a third guide which is locatable at right angles thereto and slidable therealong. The two guides are seated in a slotted connecting member to which a cap is threadedly secured to hold the two guides in their right angular relationship. The cap includes a central spigot for bearing against the crossing point of the two guides.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Stanley Benson Caldwell 31 Meols Drive, l-loylake, Wirral, Cheshire, England [2]] App]. No. 9,716

[22] Filed Feb. 9, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1 971 [54] GOLFING AID 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 273/187 R [51] Int. Cl A63 69/36 [50] Field of Search 273/186, 187, 195

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,517,555 12/1924 Graham 273/187 R 2,025,519 12/1935 Lingg 273/187 R X 2,169,407 8/1939 Crowley 273/187 R FOREIGN PATENTS 839,283 6/1960 Great Britain 273/187 R Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Linton & Linton GOLFING AID This invention relates to the game of golf.

It is generally recognized that for accurate and powerful hitting of a golf ball, as opposed to putting, it is essential to address the ball correctly, and to this end it is a common and accepted procedure for a player in lining up" to make a stroke, to place his feet at what he considers to be at right angles to the intended line of flight of the ball, see that his shoulders are parallel to said line of flight, and that the club shaft is also at right angles thereto. After this preliminary procedure, the feet are spread apart and the body posture suited to swinging the club to be used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a directional aid, for use in practicing golf strokes, which will enable a player to determine more precisely when he is correctly orientated relative to the required line of flight of a ball to be played whereby the above-described lining up procedure is facilitated.

Broadly, according to the invention, a device for the purpose specified comprises a first guide composed of a suitable, relatively rigid, material, a second guide similar to said first guide, means for adjustably connecting said first guide and said second guide at right angles one to the other, and said second guide being provided at or adjacent one end with a third guide which may be pivoted from a first position in line with said second guide to a second position at right angles thereto and parallel, in use, with said first guide.

. Said guides may be graduated in inches, or in other desired units of length and be of any cross-sectional shape commensurate withthe end in view. Conveniently said guides are in strip form.

The invention is further described with the aid of the accompanying explanatory drawings which illustrate by way of example only and not of limitation one embodiment.

In said drawings:

FIG. I is a plan view of a golfing aid according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the device drawn to an enlarged scale as compared with FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as on line IIl-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of the connecting means.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of the upper end of the device as viewed in FIG. 1.

Referring to said drawings, the letter A generally denotes a first guide, the letter B a second guide, and C connector means for adjustably connecting said guides A and B at right angles one to the other as shown in FIG. 1. D denotes a third guide which is pivotally connected by a pin to the upper end of the guide B.

The various components A, B, C and D may be constructed from any suitable material and conveniently one of the socalled plastics compositions. The guides A and B are in this instance in strip form about 3 feet long by about half an inch in width and, as shown, may be suitably graduated in desired units of length. The guide D is correspondingly dimensioned.

The connector means C comprises a base piece 11 formed with a flange I2 and a screw-threaded boss 13 which provided with two slots or grooves l4, 15. The slot 15 is greater in depth than the slot 14 by about the thickness of one of the guides A and B.

The connector C also comprises a cap 16 having an internally screw-threaded skirt 17 for screwing onto the boss 13 of the base piece 11, and a central spigot 18.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the guides A and B may be adjustably connected at right angles one to the other by locating same in the grooves l4, 15 of the boss 13 and then applying the cap 16 which is screwed down on the boss 13 so that the spigot 18 thereof bears against the crossing point of the guides A and B to lock same in required position, see more particularly FIG. 3.

A slider component 20 mounted on the guide B functions to locate the guide D in a position at right angles to the guide B as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

In use, said first guide A is laid upon the ground and, by

sighting along same, is aligned with an appropriate aiming point, e.g. a green flag. The second guide B is adjusted along said guide A so as to indicate at right angles thereto the required position of a ball to be played. The third guide D provides a guideline, parallel with the guide A, indicating the intended line of flight of the ball and also indicates the correct direction the club head should take backwards from and forwards through the ball.

The player stands with his feet aligned with the guide A and with his club shaft and ball aligned with the guide B. When correct alignment has been effected, the second guide may be retracted a short distance in order that a stroke may be played without obstruction, and then guide D is positioned to enable the player to see the required direction of the club head back and through the ball.

Experiment has shown that repetitive use of the device when practicing golf strokes enables a player to more correctly appreciate when he is lined up accurately relative to a required line of play.

Preferably, apertures as 2! are provided in the guide strips A and B wherethrough pegs or pins (conveniently golf tees) may be passed into the ground thereby to locate the device in required position against accidental displacement after alignment.

It will be seen that a golfing aid as described may readily be assembled for use, and as readily dismantled for storage and transport purposes. When dismantled the guides A, B and D may be laid in parallel juxtaposition and held in such position by the connector means C. A housing or container may of course be provided to hold the device when dismantled.

Iclaim:

1. A directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, comprising a first guide, a second guide similar to said first guide, means for adjustably connecting said first guide and said second guide at right angles one to the other, said second guide being provided at one end with a third guide which is pivotally attached thereto said connecting means comprises a screw-threaded base piece slotted to receive said first and second guides at right angles one to the other, and a screwthreaded cap for fitment to said base piece thereby to hold said first and second guides in required disposition.

2. A directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap comprises a central spigot for bearing against the crossing point of said first and second guides.

3. A directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said third guide is locatable at right angles to said second guide whereto it is pivoted, by means of a component slidably mounted on said second guide.

4. A directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second guides are in strip form and are provided with apertures for the reception of securing pins.

Claims (4)

1. A directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, comprising a first guide, a second guide similar to said first guide, means for adjustably connecting said first guide and said second guide at right angles one to the other, said second guide being provided at one end with a third guide which is pivotally attached thereto said connecting means comprises a screw-threaded base piece slotted to receive said first and second guides at right angles one to the other, and a screw-threaded cap for fitment to said base piece thereby to hold said first and second guides in required disposition.

2. A directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap comprises a central spigot for bearing against the crossing point of said first and second guides.

3. A directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said third guide is locatable at right angles to said second guide whereto it is pivoted, by means of a component slidably mounted on said second guide.

4. A directional aid for use in practicing golf strokes, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second guides are in strip form and are provided with aperturEs for the reception of securing pins.

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