Abstract:
A golf club swinging guide releasably attachable to a lower end of a golf club shaft. The guide includes a stationary member having an alignment surface which, when adjustably aligned parallel to the striking face of the golf club head, automatically orients the visual intended line of flight perpendicular to the club face. A movable member is connected for free rotation to the stationary member about an upright axis of rotation which passes centrally through an enlarged clearance aperture through the stationary and movable members to facilitate installation over the grip area of the shaft. A wind vane extends laterally from one end of the movable member whereby the movable member is responsive to movement of air to visually align itself in a direction that the golf club is swung. Visual misalignment between the intended line of flight and the actual direction of golf club swing is viewable during a golf swing. Temporary securement of the alignment at the instant of golf ball impact is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to practice and corrective devices associated with the golf swing and the game of golf and more particularly to a golf club swinging guide which provides immediate viewable indicia reflective of any misalignment between the golf swing itself and the direction the striking face of the golf club head faces at the moment of golf ball impact. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   The world of golf has attracted a vast mountain of players, competitors and golf club equipment, not to mention the vast investment in golf courses themselves. However, the game of golf is premised upon a golf swing which is at best unnatural. Developing a correct swing for consistent power and accuracy is the ultimate challenge of every golfer. 
   One aspect of this golf swing perfection challenge is to cause the golf club striking face to strike the golf ball in a line of movement and with a club face striking face orientation which will propel the golf ball in a desired direction and with the desired amount of hook, slice or straight flight characteristics. One patent disclosure by Johnson in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,376 has provided such a golf club swinging guide. This invention by Johnson provides a swinging guide somewhat permanently clampable onto the lower end of the golf shaft of the golf club and provides a vane pivotally connected to that mount. The vane is freely pivotal and responsive to movement of air so that the vane visibly aligns itself in the direction of the golf club swing. 
   A broad array of additional U.S patented devices also provide some means for visually aligning the striking face of the golf club head with the golf ball on a more static pre-swing basis as follows:
         U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,150 Chiesa   U.S. Pat. No. 1,712,609 Gibson   U.S. Pat. No. 2,652,251 Molinar   U.S. Pat. No. 3,198,525 Smith   U.S. Pat. No. 3,262,705 Nunziato   U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,693 Eisenberg   U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,363 Harrison   U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,378 Backus   U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,971 Thornton   U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,129 Wilson   U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,962 Lin   U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,509 Gray   U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,564 Schang   U.S. Patent No. D347,457 Armstrong       

   The present invention provides a substantial improvement over the Johnson &#39;376 swinging guide in that many of the forces associated with the high velocity and arcuate movement of a golf club head are somewhat neutralized in the present invention over the Johnson device so that a more accurate indication of misalignment at the moment of golf ball impact is viewable. Further, a means for temporarily locking the misalignment relationship at the moment of golf ball impact is also provided. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to a golf club swinging guide releasably attachable to a lower end of a golf club shaft. The guide includes a stationary member defining a longitudinal intended line of flight and an alignment surface which, when adjustably aligned parallel to the striking face of the golf club head, automatically orients the intended line of flight perpendicular to the club face. A movable member is connected for free rotation to the stationary member about an upright axis of rotation which passes centrally through an enlarged clearance aperture through and common with the stationary and movable members to facilitate installation over the grip area of the shaft. A wind vane extends laterally from one end of the movable member whereby the movable member is responsive to movement of air to visually align itself in a direction that the golf club is swung. Visual misalignment between the intended line of flight and the direction of golf club swing is thus visually viewable during a golf swing. Temporary securement of this misalignment (or proper alignment) fixed at the instant of golf ball impact for past-swing viewing is also provided. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide a golf club swinging guide offering immediate viewable indicia to the golfer related to the relative orientation of the golf club striking face to the actual direction of swing at the moment of golf ball impact. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a highly visible indication of misalignment between the direction of the golf ball swing and the orientation of the golf ball striking face of a golf club head at the moment of golf ball impact. 
   Yet another object of his invention is to provide a means for temporarily locking the viewable indicia of misalignment (or proper alignment) between the golf club swing direction and the orientation of the striking face of the golf club head which may be viewed then released after the swing. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a golf club swinging guide releasably attachable to the lower end of the shaft of the golf club which is substantially less influenced by centrifugal and inertial change forces of the club head and lower shaft to provide a more accurate visible indication of misalignment between the golf club swing direction and the orientation of the striking face of a golf club head. 
   In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic view of one embodiment of the device attached to the lower end of a golf club in the form of an iron. 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  depicting a condition of swing misalignment. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 3  is partial section and showing a golf club shaft and head in phantom. 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing the releasable shaft mount in the open position. 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the embodiment of the invention of FIG.  5 . 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  again showing the embodiment of the invention of FIG.  5 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged side elevation section view of  FIG. 5  showing a golf club head and lower shaft in phantom. 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of FIG.  5 . 
       FIG. 11  is a rear elevation view of FIG.  10 . 
       FIG. 12  is an enlargement of area D of FIG.  11 . 
       FIG. 13  is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a section view in the direction of arrows  14 — 14  in FIG.  13 . 
       FIG. 15  is a section view in the direction of arrows  15 — 15  in FIG.  13 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to  FIGS. 1  to  4 , one embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  10 . This embodiment  10  includes an elongated stationary member  12  having a generally elongated diamond shape in plan view and a similarly shaped moveable member  14 . These members  12  and  14  are typically fabricated of molded or formed light weight flat plastic material having sufficient stiffness and resiliency for the task at hand yet of sufficiently light weight so as to be relatively unencumbered by the centrifugal and inertial forces associated with being attached near the head end of a golf club during swinging thereof. 
   The stationary and movable members  12  and  14  are connected together for free relative rotation about axis  30 , the center of a circular clearance aperture  28  which, as seen in  FIG. 1 , is of sufficient diametrical width to slide over the enlarged upper end of a grip GR of a shaft SH 1  of a golf club GC 1 . Relative free rotation in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 3  between the stationary end movable members  14  and  12 , respectively, is effected by an inexpensive fabricated bearing arrangement best seen in FIG.  4 . Note in this embodiment that the axis of rotation  30  is generally parallel to and displaced from the longitudinal axis of the golf club shaft SH 1  or SH 2 . 
   A releasable mount  16  is rigidly connected to, and centrally positioned on, the stationary member  12  and is formed of two opposing spring loaded arms  24  and  26  which, when squeezed together, causes the clamping jaws  24   a  and  26   a  to open about pivotal axis  32 , and when released, provide for a friction clamping force to be exerted against the lower end of the golf club shaft SH 1  shown in FIG.  3 . This releasable connection of the mount  16  to the lower end of the shaft SH 1  is effected after the device  10  has been slid downwardly through its aperture  28  over the grip GR of the golf club shaft SH 1 . 
   The stationary member  12  further includes an alignment surface or edge  20  formed as a part of forward extension  18 . This alignment surface or edge  20  is fixed in perpendicular orientation with respect to a longitudinal line L of the stationary member  12 . Line L may be imaginary as defined by the tips of the elongated diamond shape of the stationary member  12  or may be applied in some viewable indicia such as in line or dot form for easier observation during each golf swing. 
   An upwardly extending wind valve  22  is connected or formed with one end of the movable member  14 . This vane  22  causes the movable member  14  to become aligned with the direction of swing. 
   Again, in  FIG. 1 , the preferred orientation and alignment of the striking face J is established after the device  10  is attached to the lower end of shaft SH 1  as shown. After the releasable mount  16  has been clampingly engaged to secure the device in its position shown, slight forced adjustable rotating movement of the stationary member L may be effected so that the alignment edge  20  is exactly parallel to the plane of the striking surface J. 
   At this point, the golfer is ready to visually align the line L with a projected sight line S 1  which is substantially parallel to and only slightly displaced by an inch or two from the intended line of flight F 1  of the golf ball B after it is struck. In other words, the golfer simply aligns the line L of the stationary member  12  to be aimed at the green G or some other landmark down a fairway before commencing the back swing of the golf club with the device  10  properly attached thereto and aligned. 
   During the down swing, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a condition of misalignment is there depicted. In this circumstance, the striking face J is properly aligned perpendicular to the intended flight line F 1 . However, the arc of the swing is depicted as being in the direction of S 2  rather than S 1 , the desired flight line, and is so indicated because the weathervane  22  attached and upwardly extending from the rearward portion of the moveable member  14 , has been aligned with the direction of air movement there over which has thus caused the free relative rotation of the movable member  14  into the position shown, i.e. the actual arc of the swing at the moment of golf ball impact. As a result, the golfer could expect the golf ball B to slice to the right along flight line F 2 . 
   Note that virtually all other combinations of alignment and misalignment either intentionally or unintentionally causing a golf ball flight to be other than directed straight at the green or fairway feature at which the golfer has intended to drive the golf ball. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5  to  11 , a second embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  40 . In this embodiment, the elongated diamond feature of each of the stationary and movable members  42  and  44 , respectively, has been emphasized. Again, these members  42  and  44  are constructed preferably of thin lightweight plastic material whether fabricated or each separately molded as a unit. The mounting arrangement in this embodiment  40  includes two pivotal clamping arms  46  and  48 , each having a cylindrical semi-circular shaft engaging saddle  54  and  56 , respectively, attached thereto in mating fashion surrounding an axis of rotation  58 . 
   The free rotation between the stationary and movable members  42  and  44  is accomplished by a more sophisticated lightweight bearing arrangement as best seen in FIG.  9 . The preferred bearing having bearing halves  66   a  and  66   b  is supplied by Dynaroll Corporation or preferably from a selection of suitably sized plastic ball bearings by KMS Bearings, Inc. Again, the inside diameter of the inner bearing portion  66   a  must be of sufficient size for clearance around the enlarged upper distal end of the grip G of the shaft SH 1  or SH 2 . 
   A rotational alignment member  60  having parallel alignment edges  62  and  64  extends forwardly of and is preferably formed as a unit with the stationary member  42 . The movable member  44 , again freely rotatable with respect to the stationary member  44 , includes a downwardly extending vane  68  which is positioned along the outer rearward half of the movable member  44  and is preferably formed as a unit therewith. 
   To install this embodiment  40 , the clamping arms  46  and  48  are opened pivotally as shown in  FIG. 6  about the pivotal connections  50  and  52 , respectively, the entire device  40  is slid over the upper end of the grip G through the clearance aperture  66 , moved downwardly in the position shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  with respect to the club head H 1  or H 2  and thereafter, the clamping arms  46  and  48  are moved together in the position shown in FIG.  5 . The cylindrical gripping saddles  54  and  56  clampingly engage onto the lower portion of the shaft SH 1  or SH 2  as best seen in  FIGS. 9  to  11  providing for substantial frictional immobilization of the device  40  except for the ability to slightly forcefully adjust the rotational alignment of the alignment surfaces  62  or  64  as seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . When either of the alignment surfaces  62  or  64  is viewed by a player as being parallel with the striking face J, the locking arms  46  and  48  may be further tightened and held in the tightened position by a tooth ratchet arrangement including serrations  72  and  74  formed into the upwardly surface surrounding the outer bearing portion  66   b  which matably engage with downwardly extending saw tooth teeth of each of the clamping members  46  and  48  as seen in FIG.  12 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , this embodiment  40  is used in the same fashion as previously described in  FIGS. 1 and 2  wherein the stationary member  42  is rotationally aligned so that one of the parallel alignment edges  62  or  64  is viewed parallel to the striking face J so that the longitudinal sight line M of the stationary member  42  is substantially aimed along projected line S 1  parallel to the intended flight line F 1  toward a typical target such as a green G. In  FIG. 8 , although the alignment of the device  40  is proper with respect to alignment surface  62  and the striking face J, the direction of the swing S 3  is indicated by the movable member  44  acting against wind resistance of vane  68  turning the movable member  44  to align with the swing arc S 3  rather than the intended swing arc S 1 . This misalignment will cause the ball B to slice along an unintended flight line F 3  because of this misalignment between the arc of the swing S 3  and the intended arc S 1 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 13  to  15 , a third embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  40 ′. This embodiment  40 ′ is substantially similar to the embodiment  40  described previously. However, the ability of the golfer to concentrate both upon a proper swing and to visually observe the alignment or misalignment between the movable and fixed members  44  and  42 , respectively, may be a bit challenging for a novice or intermediate golfer. Therefore, this embodiment  40 ′ provides a means for temporarily locking the misalignment (or alignment) relation between the fixed and movable members  42  and  44 , respectively, at the moment of golf ball impact with the striking face of the golf club. This feature based upon a momentum change or sound produced at golf ball impact, will generally allow the golfer to concentrate on the swing and then view the temporarily held condition of alignment between the stationary and movable members  42  and  44  after the swing. 
   To accomplish this temporary locking arrangement in one simple although not limiting embodiment of this concept, an inertial ball  82  is held on a lightweight shaft  74  which is pivotally connected at  86  to a mounting block  80  attached to the upper surface of the stationary member  42  immediately along side of the alignment aperture  66   b . The pivotal arm  84 , when rotated in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 14 , also rotates a small plastic gear  88  which, in turn, moves a small elongated rack  90  in the direction of the arrow in FIG.  14 . One end  92  of the rack  90  has a tapered knife edge which, when moved in the position shown in phantom in FIG.  14  and in  FIG. 15 , engages between two adjacent fins  94  which define spaced slots  96 . 
   As should now be clear, upon impact with the golf ball, the inertial member  82  instantly moves in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 14  into the orientation shown in phantom whereupon the tapered knife edge  92  engages within one of the slots  96  thus temporarily locking the rotational relationship between the movable and the stationary members  44  and  42 , respectively. After the golf swing, the golfer may then examine the alignment relationship between the stationary and movable members  42  and  44  to analyze the swing and thereafter reset the device by moving the inertial member  82  into the position shown as solid line in  FIG. 14  thus releasing the stationary and movable members  42  and  44  for free relative rotation therebetween ready for the next golf swing. 
   Again, the embodiment of the general temporary locking arrangement is intended for illustration and is not intended to be limiting in that other spring-loaded arrangements triggered by impact or sound capable of releasing upon golf ball impact to lock the stationary and movable members together momentarily for observation after the swing are intended to be within the scope of this invention and this aspect of the disclosure. 
   While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.