Abstract:
The present invention provides a device and method for assisting a person in achieving proper alignment. The device and method are particularly useful for achieving proper alignment for a golf stroke in which a golf ball is struck to move towards a target. In one embodiment, the device comprises a support member to be worn by the person. A light source is attached to the support member. The light source is adapted to generate a visible alignment beam of light on the ground in front of the person that is generally parallel to an alignment of the portion of the person&#39;s body upon which the support member is worn.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for improving alignment, and particularly to a device for assisting a person in determining proper alignment with a target using a projected planar beam of light.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is widely believed that proper initial body alignment and initial club face alignment are essential to a consistent and effective golf stroke. Proper alignment is thought to be critical in both the full swing and putting.  
           [0003]    For example, a number of studies have indicated that improper initial alignment results in subconscious compensation during the full swing and the putting stroke. For example, golfers that consistently align to the right of the target have been found to compensate for such alignment by developing a “pull” putting stroke that starts the ball rolling to the left of their actual alignment. Thus, poor alignment generally results in poor stroke mechanics. See Pelz, D., “The First Fundamental of Putting,”  GOLF Magazine,  146 (June 1995).  
           [0004]    In developing proper alignment in a putting stroke, it is generally believed that the eyes of the golfer should be aligned generally parallel to the target line and either be inside of or directly over the target line. During the full swing, it is believed that the golfer&#39;s body and eyes should be aligned generally parallel to the target line.  
           [0005]    It is also widely accepted that it is nearly impossible to recognize and develop proper alignment simply by practicing on the course or range. A number of devices have thus been developed to provide feedback to the golfer to allow the golfer to recognize proper alignment. For example, laser alignment putting aids are available. Such device, however, are relatively expensive. Less expensive, “alignment tracks” are also available but are often cumbersome to use and transport.  
           [0006]    It is, therefore, very desirable to develop a device for assisting a person, and particularly a golfer, to determine proper alignment that is inexpensive and easy to use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides a device for assisting a person in achieving proper alignment. In general, the device comprises:  
           [0008]    a support member to be worn by (that is to attach to) the person;  
           [0009]    a light source attached to the support member, the light source generating a visible alignment beam of light on the ground in front of the person that is generally parallel to an alignment of a portion of the person&#39;s body upon which the support member is worn.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the light source includes a laser and a generally cylindrical lens positioned transversely to the light beam emanating from the laser. The lens creates a planar beam of light which forms the visible alignment beam on the ground. Light sources other than lasers are possible as long as the planar light beam is visible to the user. A planar beam of light can also be generated by orienting a beam of light onto a convex mirrored surface. The light source can be attached to the support member remotely, for example, via a fiber optic cable.  
           [0011]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a device for assisting a golfer in achieving proper alignment for a golf stroke in which a ball is struck to move towards a target, comprising:  
           [0012]    a support member to be worn by the golfer;  
           [0013]    a light source attached to the support member, the light source generating a visible alignment beam of light on the ground in front of the golfer that is generally parallel to an alignment of the golfer&#39;s body when the support member is worn by the golfer;  
           [0014]    an alignment member attached to the support member, the alignment member comprising a planar mirrored surface thereon, the position of the alignment member being adjustable to enable positioning of the mirrored surface such that a reflection of the target may be viewed by the eye of the golfer closest to the target.  
           [0015]    In this embodiment, the support member preferably comprises eye glass frames. The alignment member is preferably adjustably attached to the frame member to enable positioning of the mirrored surface such that a reflection of the ball and the target may be viewed simultaneously by the eye of the golfer closest to the target.  
           [0016]    The present invention also provides a method of determining alignment of a portion of a body. The method comprises the steps of:  
           [0017]    attaching a support member to the portion of the body, the support member having attached thereto a light source, the light source adapted to generate a visible alignment beam of light on the ground that is generally parallel to the alignment of the portion of the body;  
           [0018]    generating the visible alignment beam of light on the ground. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a device of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in use by a golfer.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4A illustrates a view out of the eye nearest the target of a golfer using the present device.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4B illustrates a view out of the eye farthest from the target of a golfer using the present device.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4C illustrates the compound or composite view of a golfer using the present device.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a device under the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    Referring generally to FIGS. 1 through 4C, one embodiment of a device  10  of the present invention preferably comprises a support member  20  and an alignment member  30  attached to frame member  20 . Preferably, frame member  20  comprises eye glass frames as well known in the eye glass arts. Alternatively alignment member  30  can be attachable to the eye glasses of the user via “clip-on” mechanisms as well known in the eye glass arts. Alignment member  30  comprises a planar member  40 , having a mirrored surface  50  thereon. Alignment member  30  is preferably adjustably attached to frame member  20  via adjustment member  60  at the bridge of frame member  20 . A similar support member and alignment member are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,607, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0027]    Device  10  further comprises a light source attached to support member  20 . The light source generates a visible alignment line of light A on the ground in front of the golfer that is generally parallel to an alignment of the golfer&#39;s eyes when support member  20  is worn by the golfer during putting. In a preferred embodiment, the light source comprises a laser  70  and a generally cylindrical lens  75  positioned transversely to the light beam emanating from laser  70 . As known in the optics arts, lens  75  creates a planar beam or fan of light which emanates perpendicular to the axial alignment of lens  75 . This planar fan of light forms visible alignment line A on the ground parallel to the orientation of the golfer&#39;s eyes.  
         [0028]    Preferably, laser  70  is attached to a stem member  25  of glass frame support member  20  such that laser  70  and the laser beam emanating therefrom are generally parallel to the longitudinal orientation of stem member  25 . With laser  75  oriented generally parallel to stem member  25 , alignment line A will generally appear at a distance in front of the golfer where the golfer&#39;s eyes are focused. The orientation of laser  25  can be made adjustable with respect to the orientation of support member  20  to account for individual differences between golfers, however, using adjustment mechanisms known in the art. For example, laser  75  can be rotatable about a point C with respect to stem member  25 . The position and orientation of alignment beam A can thereby be adjusted or calibrated for an individual golfer.  
         [0029]    To prevent injury to the golfer&#39;s eyes, device  10  preferably further comprises a shield  80  that prevent light emanating from lens  75  from directly contacting the golfer&#39;s eyes. Alternatively or additionally, support member  20  may include protective eye glass lens to shield the golfer&#39;s eyes as known in the laser and optics arts.  
         [0030]    During use, a golfer wears device  10  as one would wear standard eye glasses. While the golfer is in his or her putting stance, alignment member  30  is rotated downward so that a golfer can see the target (for example, the golf hole) reflected in mirrored surface  50  out of the eye on the side towards which alignment member  30  is rotated (that is, the eye closest to the target or hole). The vision of the other eye (that is, the eye furthest from the target or hole) is not obstructed by alignment member  30 . The user thus has direct, unobstructed vision of the putter head and ball via the eye furthest from the hole (that is, the right eye for a right-handed golfer and the left eye of a left-handed golfer).  
         [0031]    Mirrored surface  50  is maintained via adjustment member  60  (for example, a ball joint or hinge) at an appropriate angle θ with respect to vertical (see FIG. 2) such that the reflection of target  100  is seen in the field of vision of the eye nearest the hole. The reflection of target  100  is aligned such that it appears to the golfer to be directly behind ball  150  and putter  200  to place the golfer&#39;s eyes parallel to target line T between target  100  and ball  150 . As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A and  4 C, target line T and alignment line A are preferably colinear, at least in the case where the present invention is used while putting.  
         [0032]    Device  10  may also comprises means for indicating alignment of the eyes substantially directly over ball  150 . For example, a marker  55  may be positioned such that by placing the center of marker  55  directly in the line of sight with ball  150 , target  100  and putter  200  the golfer will be assured that the golfer&#39;s eyes will be part of target plane P.  
         [0033]    Because of differing head shapes, the center of marker  55  is preferably laterally adjustable (that is, in the direction of perpendicular to the target line) with respect to the center of alignment member  30  to facilitate achievement of such alignment. The adjustability may be accomplished, for example, via a linear drive screw mechanism (not shown). Alignment member  30  may also be adjustably attached to frame member  20  to allow rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to the target line to facilitate the desired orientation of alignment member  30  without strained flexing and/or tilting by the user. Such rotatable adjustment may be accomplished, for example, using a modified ball joint allowing rotation only in the planes of interest.  
         [0034]    By bending at the waist and tilting the head forward so that marker  55  indicates the desired alignment over ball  150 , the base of mirrored surface  50  will be positioned substantially perpendicular to the target line and the target and ball will appear generally in the center of mirrored surface  50  when the golfer&#39;s eyes are in proper alignment with the target.  
         [0035]    The view seen by a golfer using device  10  is best illustrated in FIGS. 4A through 4C. FIG. 4A illustrates the view of the golfer when the eye nearest the target is open and the other eye closed. Putter  200  and ball  150  would not be visible, but are illustrated for reference in broken lines. FIG. 4B illustrates the unobstructed view of putter  200  and ball  150  as seen by the golfer with the eye farthest from the hole open and the other eye closed. FIG. 4C illustrates the “compound” view of the golfer when both eyes are opened. Target  100  appears in mirrored surface  50  which is not shown in FIG. 4C.  
         [0036]    While maintaining the head steady, the golfer initiates the backswing and then brings the putter head through the ball on the target line indicated by mirrored surface  50  (and alignment line A). The present device thus provides a teaching aid to assist a golfer in achieving proper alignment during putting. Moreover, the present device also assists the golfer in maintaining the golfer&#39;s head steady during putting as any movement of the golfer&#39;s head is readily, visibly apparent from the motion of alignment member  30  with relative to the stationary ball.  
         [0037]    Another embodiment of an alignment device  200  of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, alignment device comprises a support member including a belt member  220  upon which a light source is attached. As described above, the light source generates a visible alignment line of light A on the ground in front of the golfer that is generally parallel to an alignment of the golfer&#39;s that portion of the golfer&#39;s body upon which support member is worn. As also described above, the light source preferably comprises a laser  230  and a generally cylindrical lens  240  positioned transversely to the light beam emanating from laser  230 . The light source can be adjustable relative to belt member  220  to enable the user to adjust the position of line A away from the body of the user. Device  200  of FIG. 5 can be worn, for example, on the chest or sternum region to study the alignment of the shoulders and/or on the waist or hip region to study the alignment of the hips. The alignment of device  200  can be checked or calibrate simply by standing against a wall and ensuring that line A is generally parallel to the wall. A switch for turning laser  230  on and off can be located on the laser or remotely.  
         [0038]    Although the present invention has been described in detail in connection with the above examples, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention except as it may be limited by the following claims.