WO1998020943A1

WO1998020943A1 - Golf club

Info

Publication number: WO1998020943A1
Application number: PCT/EP1997/006286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edith Bachor
Original assignee: Edith Bachor
Priority date: 1996-11-13
Filing date: 1997-11-11
Publication date: 1998-05-22
Also published as: DE19646822C1; AU5321498A

Abstract

Disclosed is a golf club (1) comprising a shaft (1) fitted with a head (4) on its lower end and a light beam producing device (8), the light beam of which (9) is oriented downwards substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft (2). Said golf club is intended to help golfers during practice and game sessions by better monitoring both the swing and the striking of the ball. This is done by displacing the head (4) laterally towards the shaft and by directing the light beam (9) bypassing the head (4).

Description

Golf clubs

The invention relates to a golf club with a shaft, at the lower end of which a head is arranged, and with a light beam generating device, the light beam of which is directed downward essentially parallel to the axis of the shaft.

Such a golf club is known from US Pat. No. 4,456,257.

The aim of the golf game is to drive a ball from a starting point into a hole with as few strokes as possible. It is of fundamental importance to convey the desired direction to the ball in the event of a stroke. One difficulty here is that you can do certain target exercises in a static state. A number of devices are known with which it can be checked whether the striking surface of the racket is aligned as exactly as possible perpendicular to the line along which the ball is to move after the stroke. Examples of this are US Pat. Nos. 4,251,077 and 4,997,189 and WO 93/09856. However, these devices have the disadvantage that they a considerable effort due to additional equipment that hinders practical use in general and especially on a golf course.

WO 96/04966 shows another golf club with a light beam generating device designed as a laser. The laser beam emerges somewhat above the golf ball and is directed perpendicular to the face. The laser beam can thus serve as a target aid.

EP 0 499 569 AI shows a golf club with a targeting device, which also works with a laser beam. Here, however, the laser beam does not emerge just above the face, but in the middle of the head.

Even a player who has trained himself in such a way that, in the idle state, can align his racket so that the striking surface is exactly perpendicular to the desired direction of movement of the ball, but has difficulties if he is to maintain this alignment even during a swing. The result is then unsatisfactory in many cases.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing the player with a training aid or play aid with which he can also check when swinging whether his club position or guidance is correct.

This object is achieved in a golf club of the type mentioned in that the head is laterally offset from the shaft and the light beam is directed past the head.

In contrast to the known golf club, which already has a light beam generating device, it is possible with the new golf club to change the course of the swing to be observed in a larger area. Above all, however, the possibility is created to observe the racket position in the idle state, ie when the ball is triggered. Until now, this was not possible because the racket covered the light spot it created on the floor. According to the invention, however, the light beam is now directed past the club head. In any case, it hits the floor in a way that is visible to the player, even if the head is held practically directly above the floor, as is necessary when striking. The player can then either swing with or without a ball and observe the course of the light spot created by the light beam on the ground. The inventor has found that this course of the light spot follows the course of the struck ball on the floor with very good nutrition. In many cases, this is even independent of the exact orientation of the club head to the desired direction of ball movement. The dynamic moment obviously plays a role that should not be underestimated. However, this influence can neither be estimated with a static device, nor solely by tracking a swing outside the impact of the head on the ball. This problem is overcome with the solution according to the invention. Even with short club movements, the course of the swing can be observed well for control purposes. The racket forms a unit with the light beam generating device, so that the normal impact behavior is not hindered or falsified by attaching or attaching parts. In the present case, "parallel" also means that the light beam can lie on the axis. The light beam can have a certain thickness.

The light beam is advantageously directed past the face of the head. He then hits the ball, for example, so that the player has one has good control over the moment the club hits the ball.

The light beam preferably crosses a line that is perpendicular to the face at the ideal point of impact. This ideal meeting point is also called "sweet spot". It is usually the point that is balanced in weight so that it transfers the greatest power to the ball. The light beam thus provides additional aiming aid. If the light beam hits the ball in the middle, one can assume that the ball and head will also come into contact at the ideal point of impact or at the "sweet spot". In addition, of course, the previously known aiming aids, such as, for example, a line perpendicular to the face, can be present at the ideal point of impact on the top of the head.

It is also advantageous that the light beam is 5-50 mm, in particular approximately 19 to 23 mm, away from the face. The light beam hits the golf ball approximately in the middle when the head touches the ball. This training is particularly advantageous for the preparation of the blow. It is easier for the player to check whether the light beam hits the ball in the middle parallel to the striking surface, even if it strikes perpendicular to the striking surface approximately at the center of the ball.

The light beam generating device is preferably arranged in the grip area of the shaft. The acceleration forces are lowest there in both the negative and the positive direction. The mechanical stress for the light beam generating device can thereby be kept low.

The light beam generating device is advantageously formed by a laser unit which is arranged in the shaft. A laser unit creates a laser beam, ie a very strongly focused light that forms a relatively narrow point of light on the ground even at a greater distance, which is also still clearly visible. The laser can be easily placed in the grip area of the shaft. It can be formed, for example, by a laser diode with a suitable control circuit. Until the light emerges from the shaft, the beam has not yet fanned out so far that it touches the shaft walls. The light beam is therefore largely synchronized with the hand movement of the player. The alignment of the laser unit is also simplified the further the light beam generating device is removed from the lower end of the shaft. In this case the "bearing line" increases. When the laser beam emerges from the opening at the lower end of the shaft, ie it hits this opening, the beam is aligned parallel to the axis of the shaft with very good nutrition.

The laser unit preferably generates a colored, in particular red, light. This has two advantages. On the one hand, red lasers, for example, are relatively cheap. On the other hand, a colored light spot on the green lawn is still clearly visible. The choice of color depends on the surface on which you want to play.

The shaft preferably has a plug receptacle at the lower end. A plug can be arranged in the plug receptacle. Particularly if you want to prevent the light beam generating device from being used as a playing aid, for example during a tournament, one can simply insert the plug. As a result, this help is blocked with relatively simple measures. There is no need to make any further changes to the interior of the racket. The racket preferably has a removable stopper in the stopper receptacle, which protrudes from the shaft in the inserted state. This ensures that the plug is inserted in the racket or not.

The light beam generating device advantageously has a switch which is arranged in the grip area. This makes it possible to ensure that the light beam generating device is only switched on when the racket is actually held by the handle. This has two advantages. On the one hand, energy is saved. The light beam generating device is therefore not switched on accidentally. On the other hand, this is a security aspect. The light beam generating device is only switched on when the player actually holds the racket in his hand. This means that it cannot generate a beam of light unsupervised that could annoy or endanger others. As soon as the player releases the handle, the switch stops the operation of the light beam generating device.

It is particularly preferred that the switch is designed as a sensor switch. A sensor switch does not need any moving parts. For example, it reacts to heat or pressure from one hand. The light beam generating device can therefore be put into operation as soon as the player puts his hand around the handle of the racket. Golf clubs are usually inserted into a golf bag with the handle downwards during transport. With a sensor switch, the risk of inadvertent switching on is low.

As a further safety aspect, it can be provided in a preferred embodiment that the light beam generating device is provided with a safety switch designed as a gravity switch, which a function of the light beam generating device only possible if a predetermined minimum force acts in the direction of the lower end of the shaft. The light beam generating device should only be able to operate if the racket is held in the striking position or the player executes a swing. In the first case, gravity acts on the racket and thus also on the gravity switch, which thus enables the light beam generating device to be activated. If the racket is held so that the head is facing downwards, the light beam can emerge. In the other case, the gravity switch can also be activated because during the swing a centrifugal force acts on the racket in the direction of the head, ie in the direction of the lower end of the shaft, which likewise enables the light beam generating device to be activated. In the first case, nuisance or danger to other people is excluded because the light beam is directed exclusively at the floor. In the second case, there is also no risk because the swing causes a movement that only directs the light beam to certain areas for a very short time.

In a preferred embodiment, the racket is designed as a putter. In another preferred embodiment, it is designed as a wedge. Both are rackets where the high precision of the swing is important, while the strokes performed with these clubs often require only a small swing.

The light beam generating device is preferably designed as a module which can be inserted into the grip area from one end. Such modules are commercially available in the form of laser pointers, which have approximately the shape of a ballpoint pen. Your foreign diameter is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of a shaft of a normal golf club, so that with a few additional measures, such as the formation of an insert in the golf club, a receptacle for such a light beam generating module can be made. If the golf club is not used, the light beam generating device can then be removed from the club. This has two advantages: On the one hand, there is no danger that if the golf club is operated incorrectly, a dangerous light beam will escape and negatively affect other people. On the other hand, the light beam generating device can be used for other purposes.

It is particularly preferred that the shaft in

Grip area has a slot for receiving a switching element of the module. In one embodiment of known laser pointers, the switching element is formed by a clip with which the laser pointer can normally be fastened in a pocket.

The laser pointer can be put into operation by gently pressing this clip. If you now provide the golf club with a slot in the area of its handle through which this clip or another switching element can pass, then you can also easily and easily operate such a module from the outside.

The invention is described below on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. Show here:

1 is a schematic perspective view of a golf club designed as a putter,

2 shows a schematic front view of a putter,

3 is a schematic side view of a putter; 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a grip portion of a racket;

5 is a front view of a golf club designed as a wedge,

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment to Fig. 4 and

Fig. 7 shows a further alternative embodiment of a handle portion of the racket.

A putter 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a shaft 2, on the upper end of which a handle 3 is arranged, while on the lower end a head 4 is arranged. The head 4 is exaggerated in Fig. 1.

The head 4 has a striking surface 5. The striking surface 5 is laterally offset from the shaft 2 in such a way that a space in the extension of the shaft 2 remains free, ie is not blocked by the head 4.

This is achieved in that the head 4 is connected to the shaft 2 via an angle bracket 6. The angle holder 6 has a receptacle 7 for the shaft. A right-angled angle holder 6 is shown. Of course, other shapes are also conceivable, as long as the head 4 is offset from the shaft 2 or laterally offset. Instead of a separate angle holder 6, a correspondingly curved shaft with an opening or a correspondingly shaped head can also be used.

In the shaft 2, more precisely in the area of the handle 3, a light beam generating device 8, which is shown in more detail in FIG. The light beam generating device 8 generates a highly concentrated one Light beam 9 emerging from the shaft 2 at the lower end of the shaft 2. Since the space is free there, the light beam 9 can propagate there unhindered and either hit the floor or a ball 10 shown schematically in FIG. 2. However, it remains visible in both cases, both during the swing and when aiming or responding before the swing.

1 to 3, an ideal point of impact 11 ("sweatspot") is drawn on the club surface 5 of the head 4. This is the point that is weight-balanced so that the head gives the ball the greatest acceleration when it hits it at this ideal point of impact 11. The light beam 9 is now aligned so that it intersects a line 12 which is perpendicular to the striking surface 5 and is erected at the point of impact 11. The light beam 9 is thus an additional aiming aid. The player knows that when the light beam 9 hits the ball at a certain point, the ball is in the ideal position relative to the

Head 4 is or in other words the racket is held correctly in relation to the ball.

Alternatively, the light beam can also be directed past the face 4 past the head 4. It is then tracked to the head, so to speak. If necessary, the back of the head can then be made thinner or have a recess so as not to block the path of the light onto the floor. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a racket designed as a wedge, because it simultaneously displaces the shaft so that the risk of ball contact with the shaft is lower. Such ball contact leads to penalty points according to general golf rules. In order to be able to reliably prevent the exit of the light beam 9, which may be necessary, for example, in tournaments where aiming aids are prohibited, the lower end of the shaft 2 can be closed by a stopper 27. This is then arranged in a plug receptacle provided for this purpose and protrudes from the shaft 2 for control purposes.

FIG. 4 now shows the closer structure of the light beam generating device 8. Two batteries 13, 14, which form the energy sources, are initially provided. Of course, more or fewer batteries can also be provided. A safety switch 15 is connected in series with the batteries, which in the present exemplary embodiment is designed as a gravity switch. It has a contact element 16 which connects two contacts 17, 18 to one another only when a predetermined force occurs in the downward direction. If the force is not present, the contact element is pushed away from the contacts by a spring 19. The force that brings the contact element 16 in connection with the contacts 17, 18 can be, for example, gravity. But this only works if the racket is held with its head 4 down. Another possible force is centrifugal force when swinging with the club. In this case, too, the safety switch 15 can activate the light beam generating device. Of course, such a safety switch can also have a different structure. So that the light beam generating device is actually only activated when a player handles the racket, a switch 20 in the form of a sensor switch is provided in the handle. For example, it reacts to pressure or temperature and is connected to control electronics 21. The light beam generating device can therefore only be activated if one acts on the switch 20.

A laser unit 22 with associated electronics 23 is then arranged in series with the switch 20 or the control electronics 21. The laser unit 22 generates the light beam 9, which emerges from the shaft 2 as a strongly focused red laser beam.

For this, however, as stated above, the prerequisite is that the racket is either held with its head 4 down or the player executes a swing and the switch 20 is actuated at the same time. When the racket is transported, what is usually the

If the handle 3 is held down and the head 4 is held up, then the laser unit 22 cannot be activated.

It can also be provided that the light beam generating device 8 can be completely removed from the shaft 2. Instead, a substitute weight can be used so that the club's stroke or playing behavior does not change. The shaft 2 can also be divided into several sections in the longitudinal direction and the section that contains the light beam generating device can be made interchangeable.

However, the entire light beam generating device 8 is preferably accommodated in the grip area of the shaft 2. There the lateral forces are lowest, for example when the head 4 hits the ball 10. One can however, also accommodate the electronics of the light beam generating device in the grip area and the laser unit, for example a laser diode with a lens, at the head end of the shaft. The laser diode itself is relatively insensitive to external influences.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the light beam 9 exits a predetermined distance d in front of the striking surface 5. The distance d is chosen so that the light beam 9 strikes the ball 10, preferably approximately at the apex of the ball 10, when the ball 10 responds. As I said, this makes aiming easier. With an ordinary ball diameter of approximately 42 mm, the distance is then 5 to 50 mm, preferably approximately 19 to 23 mm.

5 shows a racket designed as a wedge 24. This is also known as "iron 9". The head 4 'has a striking surface 5' which is inclined with respect to the shaft 2 '. Such a racket, a special iron, is suitable for approach shots and blows from bunkers. Here too, precise club ^{guidance is} particularly important.

From Fig. 5 it can also be seen that the lateral displacement of the head 4 'to the shaft 2' can be effected in that the shaft 2 'has an angled lower end 25. In this case, an opening 26 is provided in the area of the angle from which the light beam 9 can exit.

6 shows an alternative embodiment of a grip section of a racket, in which the “inner life” is only shown schematically in most areas. The shaft 2 is made of metal here. The battery 13 is conductively connected to the shaft 2. The shaft 2 is surrounded in the region of the handle 3 by a layer 30, for example made of leather. The layer 30 also covers a metal plate 31 which is connected to the shaft 2 via a rocker joint 32. However, the metal plate 31 has no electrical connection to the shaft 2, but only to the control electronics 21 '. Return springs 33, 34 are provided on both sides of the rocker joint 32, which return the metal plate 31 to the position shown in relation to the shaft 2.

When a golfer takes the club in his hand, he automatically presses the handle 3 slightly together so that the metal plate 31 comes into contact with the shaft 2 and thus an electrical connection from the battery 13 via the shaft 2 and via the metal plate 31 to the control electronics 21 'can be produced. This system can also be carried out by bending the metal plate 31, provided that the metal plate 31 automatically exerts the necessary restoring force. The light beam generating device 22 is therefore actuated whenever a golf club touches the handle, regardless of where the hand is actually placed.

Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a handle 3 'of a golf club. The shaft 2 'is hollow and has a slot 35 in the region of its handle 3', which is guided a certain distance from the upper end face in the direction of the club head.

The light beam generating device 22 'is designed as a module which can be inserted into the shaft 2'. Shown is the design of a module as a so-called laser pointer, which has approximately the shape of a ball pen. Such a laser pointer is actuated in that a switching element 36 in the form of a clip. The switching element 36 fits snugly in the slot 35. The slot 35 is located at a position where it can be gripped by the golfer when striking. So when the golfer puts his hand around the handle 3 ', he also acts on the switching element 36 so that a laser beam is directed onto the lawn or the ball.

Just as the light beam generating device 22 'can be inserted into the shaft 2' in the direction of the arrow 37, it can also be removed again, so that on the one hand it can be ensured that a light beam is not accidentally generated during transport and endangers other people . On the other hand, the light beam generating device 22 'can also be used for other purposes, for example for training purposes.

Claims

claims

1. Golf club with a shaft, at the lower end of which a head is arranged, and with a light beam generating device, the light beam of which is directed downward essentially parallel to the axis of the shaft, characterized in that the head (4, 4 ') laterally offset to Shaft (2, 2 ') is arranged and the light beam (9) is directed past the head (4, 4').

2. Golf club according to claim 1, characterized in that the light beam (9) in front of the face (5, 5 ') of the head (4, 4') is directed past.

3. Golf club according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light beam (9) is a line

(12) crosses, which is perpendicular to the face (5) in the ideal point of impact (11).

4. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light beam (9) approximately

5-50 mm, in particular 19 to 23 mm, from the striking surface (5). _ _,

17

5. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the light beam generating device (8) in the handle region (3) of the shaft (2) is arranged.

6. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the light beam generating device (8) is formed by a laser unit (22) which is arranged in the shaft (2).

7. Golf club according to claim 6, characterized in that the laser unit (22) generates a red light.

8. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the shaft (2) has a plug receptacle at the lower end.

9. Golf club according to claim 8, characterized in that it has a removable plug (27) in the plug receptacle, which protrudes from the shaft (2) in the inserted state.

10. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the light beam generating device (8) has a switch (20) which is arranged in the grip area (3).

11. Golf club according to claim 10, characterized in that the switch (20) is designed as a sensor switch.

12. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the light beam generating device (8) is provided with a safety switch (15) designed as a gravity switch, which functions as a light beam. Generation device (8) only possible if a predetermined minimum force acts towards the lower end of the shaft (2).

13. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is designed as a putter (1).

14. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is designed as a wedge (24).

15. Golf club according to claim 14, that the light beam

(9) past the striking surface past the head (4 ').

16. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the light beam generating device (22 ') is designed as a module which can be inserted from one end into the grip area.

17. Golf club according to claims 16, characterized in that the shaft (2 ') has a slot (35) in the grip area for receiving a switching element (36) of the module (22').