Abstract:
A training aid for practicing a golf swing. Two laser pointers are mounted at opposite ends of a bar that is affixed to a hat. The laser pointers are horizontally and vertically adjustable and are adjusted such that the laser beams from the two laser pointers cross at a desired point in front of the user. While maintaining the proper stance for a golf swing, the beams are adjusted to intersect each other a short distance above the golf ball. Any movement of the head will cause the beams to shift. This provides immediate feedback to the user and is useful in training the user to execute a golf swing while keeping the head in a certain position and motionless.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of training aids for sports activities. More particularly, it relates to a training aid to improve a golfer&#39;s swing. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In playing the game of golf, a golfer strikes a small ball with the head of a golf club. The ball is laying on the ground or held just off the ground by a tee. The head of the golf club is connected via a relatively long shaft to a handle. The goal is to strike the ball precisely with finesse and with varying degrees of force. This is a challenging task and reliably good swing practice requires that the golfer keep his or her head properly aligned and motionless throughout the swing. This technique is often difficult for a novice golfer to master. Even experienced golfers can lapse into bad habits and lose their swing. Moving the head even to a small degree can have subtle effects on the accuracy of the swing and it is sometimes difficult for the golfer to recognize that he is moving his head during the swing. For this reason, golfers who have a consistently poor swing and can afford it, often hire the services of a coach who can observe their swing technique and point out shortcomings. It is relatively expensive to hire a coach. For those who can&#39;t afford a coach, it is often extremely frustrating to try to correct a poor swing, because it is so very difficult to perceive small head movements on oneself during a swing. 
   Training aids are known that provide a light beam as a guide for the golfer. The light-emitting device is mounted on a cap or headband and adjusted to project a beam of light downward that will hit the golf ball or a spot on the ground a certain distance next to the golf ball when the golfer is in the proper stance for the swing. The disadvantage of such aids is that, with a single beam, or even with parallel beams, certain head movements of the golfer will not result in a change in the endpoint of the projected light beam. For example, a right-handed golfer could shift his body to the right and rotate the head to the left, without the endpoint of the beam moving from the target area. This type of motion of a golfer is quite common, and without the visual feedback from the light beam, the golfer often does not realize that he has moved his head. 
   What is needed, therefore, is a training device that aids the golfer in training and practicing the proper golf swing. What is further needed is such a training device that is easy to use and set up. What is further needed is such a training device that is transportable. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above cited needs are satisfied by a training aid that mounts onto headwear, such as a conventional baseball cap or a headband. The training aid comprises two laser pointer devices that are adjustably mounted on the headwear, one on each side of the head. The laser pointers are horizontally and vertically adjustable and are adjusted for use such that the light beams from each laser pointer cross at a certain point in front of the golfer. Use of the training aid will be described as training a golfer&#39;s swing. It is understood, however, that the training aid may be used for other applications, and the golfer will be referred to hereinafter as “user”. 
   The user addresses a target, such as a golf ball in a correct stance, with golf club in hand. The user manually adjusts the laser pointers so that, when maintaining the correct stance, the two laser beams cross at a point above the golf ball and continue down on each side of the ball, so as to bracket the golf ball, that is, the light beams are visible at two endpoints on the ground, one on each side of the golf ball. The user now attempts to strike the golf ball with a proper golf swing, keeping the head in the proper position. Any movement of the user&#39;s head, in any direction, causes a shift in the endpoints of the light beams that are reflected from the ground. Depending on the movement, one beam may shift closer to and one farther away from the target. or both endpoints may shift closer to or farther away from the target. Whatever the movement and the shift, the user receives instantaneous visual feedback that he has moved his head. The user sees the movement or shift in the light-beam endpoints at the same time he physically experiences body movement. This instantaneous visual signal of movement trains the user to be more attuned to body stance and to be aware of any movement of the head. 
   The laser pointers are battery operated devices. They can be individually powered by batteries and individually adjusted or connected to a common power source and power switch. Numerous methods of adjustably attaching the lasers are known. The lasers may be mounted directly on headwear or mounted on a mounting bar that is then attached to the headwear. The laser pointers may be mounted individually and be independently adjustable, or ganged together, so that the adjustments to one laser pointer are simultaneously applied to the other laser pointer. 
   According to the invention, the training aid could have other applications other than as a golf swing training aid. The inventive feature is a pair of light beams that brackets an object and shifts with any movement, whether the movement be in a horizontal or vertical plane or combination thereof. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of the training aid according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view the first embodiment of the training aid. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a first embodiment of the training aid, mounted on headwear. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates the light beams crossing above and bracketing a golf ball. 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the front of the training aid of  FIG. 4A , showing the switchbox with battery terminals. 
       FIG. 4B  is a top down view of the first embodiment of the golf training aid, showing the switchbox and switch. 
       FIG. 5A  is a top partial cross-sectional view of a spring-loaded adjustment means. 
       FIG. 5B  is a side partial cross-sectional view of the spring-loaded adjustment means, showing a clamp fastening means. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a ball-and-socket adjustment means. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, the embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a training aid  100  mounted on headwear  160 . The training aid  100  comprises two laser pointers  110 , each of which emits a light beam  114 , an adjustment means  120  for adjusting the orientation of the laser pointers  110 , and a mounting means  130  for mounting the laser pointers  110  on the headwear  160 . The laser pointers  110 , also referred to individually as a first laser pointer  110 A and a second laser pointer  110 B, are adjustable such that a first light beam  114 A from the first laser pointer  110 A crosses with a second light beam  114 B from the second laser pointer  110 B that bracket a target, such as a golf ball. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the training aid  100 . The laser pointer adjustment means  120  include fastening means  132  for attaching the first and second laser pointers  110 A and  110 B, respectively, to the mounting means  130 . The mounting means  130  is a bar or platform that extends across the width of standard headwear and the laser pointers  110  are attached to the ends of the mounting bar  130 . The fastening means  132  are conventional fastening means, such as, for example, conventional ball-and-socket swivel connectors that allow the laser pointer  110  to rotate in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis V and to rotate in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis H, or releasable clamps, or other type of connection. The laser pointers  110  will generally be forward pointing, so the degree of rotation in the vertical, as well as in the horizontal, direction may be limited to an arc that is sufficient to allow adjustment within a limited forward-facing range. There are numerous possible ways of integrating the laser pointer adjustment means  120  with the fastening means and mounting them to the mounting bar  130  so that the laser pointers  110  are horizontally and vertically adjustable. In this embodiment, the laser pointers  110 A/ 110 B each have a respective adjustment means  120 A/ 120 B, for horizontal adjustment. Vertical adjustment is achieved by rotating the mounting bar  130  about its axis, which is also the horizontal axis H. It is understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to any particular mounting system. In this first embodiment of the training aid  100 , each laser pointer  110  is a self-contained device, having its own power supply and being individually adjustable. 
     FIGS. 3A and 4A  are perspective views and  FIGS. 3B and 4B  are top down views of a first, preferred embodiment of a training aid  200 .  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the training aid  200  mounted on headwear, which, as shown in the illustrations, is a baseball cap, but may be any kind of headwear, including a headband. Laser pointers  110  are fastened to a mounting means or bar  230  by fastening means  232  that will allow the laser pointers  110  to rotate in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis V that extends through the fastening means  232 . The mounting bar  230  has a longitudinal or horizontal axis H and turning the mounting bar  230  about its longitudinal axis H swings the distal end of the laser pointer  110  vertically, thereby providing vertical adjustment of the laser pointer  110 . In this preferred embodiment, the vertical orientation of both laser pointers  110  is controlled simultaneously by rotation of the mounting bar  230 . 
   The mounting bar  230  is rotatably captured within a switchbox  240 . The switchbox  240  contains battery terminals  250  for replaceable batteries that provide power for the laser pointers  110 . An ON/OFF switch  241  is provided on the switchbox  240  for activating both of the laser pointers  110 . In the embodiment shown, the mounting bar  230  is a hollow tube with a cable aperture  252  and serves as a cable conduit between the switchbox  240  and the laser pointers  110 . A cable (not shown) is insertable into the mounting bar  230  and provides the electrical connection between the battery terminals  250  and the laser pointers  110 . It is well known in the art to do this and this feature is not described in any detail. 
   The switchbox  240  has two mounting bar apertures  242 , one on each side of the box, through which the mounting bar  230  is inserted. The apertures  242  are sized to provide a friction-fit with the mounting bar  230  that will allow the bar to be rotated when torque is applied, but will hold the bar in its position when torque is no longer applied. 
   The switchbox  240  is also equipped with headwear mounting means  246 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4B , the headwear mounting means  246  comprises small apertures for attaching the box to headwear by means of a rivet or other type of fastener. Other types of fasteners are included within the scope of the invention, such as adhesive fasteners, fabric hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, ties, stretch bands, etc. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrates a spring-loaded adjustment means  520 . The fastening means  132  is a clamp  133  that holds the laser pointer  110 . The adjustment means  120  is a spring-biased mechanism with a biasing spring  122  and a stop collar  124 . In its released position, the biasing spring  124  forces the stop collar  124  against the mounting bar  130  sufficiently tight to prevent the clamp  133  from changing position without force being applied to it. The stop collar  124  is attached to a clamp neck  134  that extends from the body of the clamp  133 . The stop collar  124  may be a separate component that is secured on the clamp neck  134  after the clamp  133  has been inserted into an aperture or groove on the mounting bar  130  or may be integrated into the construction of the clamp  133 , depending on whether the mounting bar  130  is provided with a groove or an aperture for receiving the clamp neck  134 . The orientation of the stop collar  124  may be adjusted vertically or horizontally, within a range permitted by an opening in the wall of the mounting bar by pushing on the clamp  133  in the direction of the stop back of the mounting bar  130 . Once the clamp  133  is repositioned to a desirable orientation, it is released and the biasing spring  122  forces the stop collar  124  up against the wall of the mounting bar  130 , without changing its orientation. 
     FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a ball-and-socket adjustment means  620 , comprising a clamping means  632  for adjustably clamping the laser pointer to a mounting means  630 . The clamping means  632  includes a clamp  636  that is clampable about a ball  631  provided at the end of the mounting bar  630 . The clamp  636  has a first clamp arm  636 A and a second clamp arm  636 B and a fastening means  634  that holds the two clamps arms  636 A/ 636 B together over the ball  631 . The fastening means is ideally a threaded fastener or other type of fastener that will allow the clamp arms  636 A and  636 B to be quickly and easily relaxed or tightened around the ball  631 . The clamp arms  636 A/ 636 B each have a ball socket  638 , such as a recess or a hole. The clamp arms  636 A/ 636 B fit around the ball  631  and are movable on the ball  631  vertically and horizontally through an arc that is restricted only by the area of the ball  631  that is attached to the mounting bar  630 . In this manner, the orientation of the laser pointer  110  may be adjusted vertically and/or horizontally to the desired position. 
   The laser pointers  110  are preferably commercially available laser pointers known to the art. Ideally, the laser pointers  110  are battery operated devices using conventional batteries. Such batteries include rechargeable batteries, alkaline batteries, long-life coin-type batteries, etc. An example of a suitable laser pointer is the “Ik-2-5in1” sold by Instapark of Santa Fee Springs, Calif. The mounting bars  130 ,  230 , the laser pointer adjustment means  120 ,  220  and the switchbox  240  are ideally constructed of rigid material such as wood, metal, and plastic, although plastic is the preferred material for cost and weight reasons. 
   A description of the use of the training aid according to the invention will refer to the training aid  100 , although it is clear that the training aid  200  is used in the identical manner. A proper golf swing requires that the golfer keep the head motionless throughout the swing. Thus, while moving the upper, torso and arms through the motions of the swing, the goal is to keep the head in the same location with the eyes on the golf ball, without moving the head to the right or left, forward or back, up or down, regardless of the motion of the torso, arms, legs, and feet. The golfer attaches the training aid  100  to headwear  160 , such as a cap or headband, and places the headwear  160  on his or her head. He turns on the laser pointers  110  and, with golf club in hand, addresses the golf ball in a correct stance. He then, while maintaining the correct stance, adjusts the laser pointers  110  so that the first and second light-beams  114 A,  114 B bracket the golf ball, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The golfer attempts a golf swing. Any movement of the golfer&#39;s head during the swing will cause the light-beams  114 A/ 114 B to shift relative to the target area. This provides the golfer with instantaneous feed back and aids in training a perfect swing. 
   It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the training aid  100  may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims.