Abstract:
A golf club utilizing a columnated beam of light for providing a guiding target, all incorporated into a golf club, having a switch that de-actuates when the club handle is dropped or rotated to a position in excess of a predetermined safe angle from vertical. Such a system to be utilized in a practical, repeatable fashion during ball address and stroke, while preventing errant light tracing during follow through. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of provisional applications Ser. No. 60/842539 filed on Sep. 6, 2007 and Ser. No. 60/836749 filed on 08/11/2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to golf clubs and, more specifically, to a golf club putter with an improved laser aiming system incorporated therein. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art There are currently a number of golf club putters that incorporate aiming assist devices. The shear number demonstrates the need and benefit of such a system. However, none of these devices as developed are capable of adapting a laser aiming system during the use of the club during its stroke. 
         [0005]    For example, the following references all disclose golf club putters incorporating some form of laser actuated guiding or aiming system: 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,221, issued in the name of Carney; 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No.  5 , 527 , 041 , issued in the name of Terry, III, et al; 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No.  5 , 707 , 296 , issued in the name of Hodgson et al; 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No.  5 , 980 , 393 , issued in the name of Molinaroli et al.; 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No.  5 , 435 , 562 , issued in the name of Stock et al.; and 
         [0011]    U.S. Patent Publication US200/0261072, published in the name of Adams. 
         [0012]    However, while all of these references describe a method and means of utilizing a columnated beam of light for providing a guiding target, all incorporated into a golf club, none of these reference address the specific improvements of the present invention that allow such a system to be utilized in a practical, repeatable fashion during ball address and stroke, while preventing errant light tracing during follow through. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved golf club with laser aiming system 
         [0014]    It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved laser aiming system incorporated into the club head in a self-leveling manner. 
         [0015]    It is a further feature of the present invention to provided an improved laser aiming system incorporating a handle mounted actuation switch that is self releasing during club follow through. 
         [0016]    Briefly described according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a golf club with laser beam pointer is provided in which two pendulum mounted laser beam emitters are incorporated into the club head for emitting a pair of columnated beams of light, parallel to each other, perpendicular to the club striking face, and spaced apart such as to form a guide around either side of an addressed golf ball surrounding the club head “sweet spot”. The light emitters are mounted in an inner club head assembly that is freely rotatable and counter weighted such as to cause the assembly to maintain a level attitude during the pendulum motion of the club stroke. In this manner, the targeting mechanism can be maintained during play. Additionally, a switch assembly incorporated in the handle operates the laser beam pointers during normal club gripping. An angular position mechanism causes an automatic shutoff of the laser beam emitters as the club shaft is diverted too far from perpendicular. In this manner, the columnated light is automatically shut off during club stroke follow through to prevent accidental targeting of or viewing by those around the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0017]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a partial front elevational view of a improved laser aiming golf club incorporating the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional side elevation view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross sectional end view thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional elevational view of a golf club handling incorporating a switching and power means for use therewith; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a battery charger mechanism, as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of an improved laser aiming golf club incorporating the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view thereof; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a partial detailed side elevational view shown in use; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a partial detailed top plan view shown in use; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a schematic depiction of the laser elevation control. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the laser elevation control mechanism; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12   a  is a partial side view of the emitter and outer assembly in the parallel position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12   b  is a partial side view of the emitter and outer assembly in the upward position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 12   c  is a partial side view of the emitter and outer assembly in the downward position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0032]    The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
       1. Club Head Improvements 
       [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an improved golf club, generally noted as  10 , is provided having a handle  12  affixed to an improved club head  14  in an otherwise conventional manner. However, on the club head striking surface  16  is generally a preferred striking location, known as the “sweet spot”  18 , and a pair of elongated apertures  20  are formed at an offset distance  22  to provided a clearance between a conventional golf ball (circumferences shown as  24 ) and the respective inner boundary of the elongated apertures  20 . 
         [0034]    As shown in conjunction with  FIG. 2 and 3 , the club head  14  incorporates an inner assembly  30  mounted within an outer assembly  32 . The outer assembly  32  forms the outer surface of the club head  14 , and as such can be anticipated as containing any of the various and sundry other improvements available for improved golf club putters. However, the outer assembly  32  is hollow for receiving the inner assembly  30 , and is enclosed by a first end plug  34 A and a second end plug  34 B, respectively. It is anticipated that each end plug  34  is threadingly engaged within the outer assembly to seal the formed inner chamber, but any other conventional means of attachment can also be utilized. The inner assembly  30  is anticipated as being freely rotatable within the inner chamber formed by the outer assembly  32  and houses a pair of laser beam emitter  40  mounted within and to the inner assembly  30  by a mounting bracket  42  which holds each laser beam emitter  40  securely in a fixed position such that a beam of columnated light  44  can be directed inward and outward, respectively. Each light beam  44  is directed toward a surface type mirror or prism  46  such that the light beam  44  is directed outward though the elongated openings  20  in a manner that the planar, vertical beam in a manner that thereby impinges on the ground on each side of the addressed golf ball  24 . 
         [0035]    Referring now in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , an end view is shown for greater clarity in which the club head  14  having a striking surface  16  is addressed to a golf ball  24 . The club head  14  has an inner assembly  30  housed within an outer assembly  32  and having an offset  50  to allow the inner assembly  30  to freely rotate within the cavity formed by the outer assembly. A counterweight  52  keeps the inner assembly in a relatively level attitude during the pendulum motion normally imparted to the outer assembly  32  by the handle  12 . In this manner, the laser emitters  40  can direct a planar beam of light  44  consistently, reflected off the mirror or prism  4  and through the elongated aperture  20  in a manner that the planar, vertical beam in a manner that thereby impinges on the ground on each side of the addressed golf ball  24 . 
         [0036]    As just described above, the rotating inner assembly pivots within the outer assembly (which forms the club head) and remains in a relatively level attitude, and represents a major improvement of the present invention. While the mechanism for powering the laser beam emitters  40  and allowing for the pivoting/rotating motion of the inner assembly  30  does not need to be restricted, for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure a preferred embodiment of such means shall be provided such that one skilled in the art can be reasonably taught to practice the improvements of the present invention. As such, the pivoting and rotatablility of the inner assembly  30  can be accomplished by providing a tubular support sleeve  52  and a central hub  54  formed at each end of the inner assembly  30  are centrally aligned such as to form an axle upon which the inner assembly can rotate. This requires clearance  50  on all sides between the outer surface of the inner assembly and the inner surface of the chamber formed by the outer assembly. Further, to allow for easier movement with reduced friction, ball bearings  56  or the like can be employed as well between the sleeve  52  and hub  54  and their supports can be employed. 
         [0037]    Finally, communication and control of electrical power must be provided to the laser beam emitters  40  remotely from the handle  12 . Shown to accomplish this, a means for communicating electrical connections through a pivoting assembly is employed in which a the housing of the inner assembly is nonconductive, such as being formed of a plastic material, with electrical connections being provided on either end. At the outer end, an electrical contact  60  is in communication with one pole of a battery through a conductor attached through the hub  54 . At the end, an electrical conduit  62  in communication with the opposite pole of a battery is conducted though a brush  66  and commutator  68  (shown as a metal disc) at the inner end of the assembly. A spring  70 , to provide sufficient pressure to allow the brush  66  to maintain constant electrical contact with the commutator  68 , thereby allows for an electrical circuit to be communicated to the club head  14  from the shaft  12  in order to power and control the laser emitters  40  in a manner that still allows the inner assembly  30  to maintain a level attitude, even with a pendulum motion imparted to the club  10 . 
         [0038]    Such a mechanism is provided as way of an exemplary enabling disclosure, and is not meant to limit the present invention. 
       2. Club Handle/Switching Improvements 
       [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the handle  12  is anticipated as forming an inner cavity containing a power source, such as a battery  70 , in electrical communication with the club head  14  through a conductor  72  in contact with one pole of the battery  70 , and while a parallel conductor can be utilizes in contact with the opposite pole, if the handle  12  is formed of a ferrous material the shaft itself can equally function to complete an electrical circuit. A push button  74  operatively connected to a laser emitter operating switch  75  is then pressed to reset the laser beam emitters. 
         [0040]    A position switching means is also anticipated as being used at the upper end of the club handle. This allows the electrical circuit to be complete when the shaft is in a proper vertical position within a certain angular range from vertical, but disconnects the circuit, opening the switch, when the shaft is pivoted outside such a range. As shown, this is implemented by the use of a central electrical contact  80  made from a nonmagnetic material, but being a good electrical conductor mounted centrally through the handle and in communication with the battery. A ball  82 , made of a magnetizable and electrically conductive material, is further provided in the vicinity of the contact  80 . A solid washer  84  is further provided have an aperture at its center that allows free access  84   a  to the electrical contact  80 , and having one flats side and an opposite side with a slope  86 . It is anticipated that this washer is made of brass, copper or aluminum. In this manner, the magnetizable ball  82 , when attracted to the central contact  80  will bridge the gap between the contact  80  and the washer  84 , thereby completing the circuit. This can be caused to happen by a spring returned pushbutton  88  urging the ball  82  into such a position. The attraction of the ball  82  to the contact  80 , however, must not be so strong as to overcome gravity when the shaft is pivoted to a horizontal or near horizontal position. In such a condition, it is anticipated that the ball  82  will fall and thereby break the electrical circuit, causing the switch to be reset. 
         [0041]    As further shown in  FIG. 5  is a recharger  90 , specifically adapted to maintain an electrical connection through the resettable switching means described above, while charging the battery in an otherwise conventional manner. Such a mechanism is provided as way of an exemplary enabling disclosure, and is not meant to limit the present invention. 
         [0000]    3. Additional feature of laser beam elevation control 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 10  which shows the configuration of the club with the ability to compensate for a sloped putting area. The club head  14  may be configured with a selector switch  95  that allows the lasers beam emitters  40  to be moved up or down. The selector switch  95  controls a motor  100  that is capable of raising or lowing the laser beam emitters  40 . The motor  100  connects to electrical lines  105 , which are configured to allow the motor  100  to function based on the user&#39;s selection through closing open circuits to enable functionality. The motor  100  is preferably powered by the battery  70 . 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , the motor  100  is showed in conjunction with the laser beam emitter  40 . A support shaft  110  is connected to the motor  100  that rotates based on the selection made with the selector switch  95 . An electronically controlled pendulum  115  and a pendulum gear box  120  are also attached to the support shaft  110  to control the laser beam emitter  40 . The motor  100  rotates the support shaft  110  which through the electronically controlled pendulum  115  and the pendulum gear box  120  shifts the laser emitter up or down based on the selection of the user. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIGS. 12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c , the laser beam emitter  40  and outer assembly  32  is showed in the parallel, upper, and lower positions respectively.  FIG. 12   a  shows the laser beam emitter  40  and outer assembly  32  in the parallel position.  FIG. 12   b  shows the laser beam emitter  40  and outer assembly  32  in the upward position.  FIG. 12   c  shows the laser beam emitter  40  and outer assembly  32  in the downward position. Each of these figures show the laser emitter pivoted off the support shaft. 
       OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0045]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 6  though  9 , to use the present invention the ball is addressed and the club held in an otherwise conventional manner as shown. The switch is engaged and the laser emitters powered and activated. If the club handle exceeds a predetermine angle from vertical (anticipated as approximately twenty degrees from vertical) the laser emitters will shut off. Should the player droop the club, the like emitters will similarly shut off, assuring the safety of both players and observes. Such a safety feature, as implemented, will remain operative even if the main control switch has failed. 
         [0046]    The user may also engage the laser elevator. This is typically done if the receiving cup is either obstructed or too low due to the slope of the green. The user will select to move the laser either up or down through the selector switch. The reversible motor will then move then rotate the support shaft which in turn moves the laser emitters and the dynamic platform to the user&#39;s desired position. 
         [0047]    As shown and described, the present invention can be used to provide a visual aid to confirm the ball&#39;s intended track. Providing a pair of parallel light beams than intersect vertically with the ground, a “corridor” is shown. 
         [0048]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is not intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the exemplary Claims appended hereto. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only broadly by the Specification, Drawings and their equivalents.