Abstract:
A golf ball aiming device is provided that allows a golfer to accurately position a ball relative to its intended target. The device includes a laser for aiming and pointing the device along with an alignment feature for aligning the ball relative to the device.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 12/391,753 filed Feb. 24, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a golf ball aiming device and, a method for aiming a golf ball while playing a game of golf. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The sport of golfing contains many variables which require a player to develop certain skills in order to improve their game. For example, in the putting portion of the game of golf, stroke, speed, aiming the ball and aiming the putter face are variables which can be controlled by the player. The stroke and speed are dependent in part on the player&#39;s ability to gauge the necessary force to be applied to the ball by the putter. There are many physical variables in connection with executing the proper stroke, and speed, which are part of the challenges of the game of golf. These variables are often addressed by practicing the game over and over again. 
     Likewise, the aiming portion of the putting game also has many variables which further lends to the difficulty of mastering the putting game. Failure to have proper alignment of the ball with the hole on the green leads to many missed putts. It has been shown that most golfers fail to properly align the ball with the hole on the green due to the ball, the face of the putter, and the hole not being properly aligned. 
     Golfers have attempted to enhance their golf putting game by utilizing various golf aiming devices. Some of these devices can be attached to the golf putter. These devices, however, assist in aligning the face of the putter relative to the ball. Controlling this variable is important, but is not the focus of the present invention. Other devices provide markings on the golf ball which aid the player in the alignment of the ball relative to the target. Other devices have been known to be used to help the golfer with alignment of the ball relative to the flag, or target. They are often cumbersome, difficult to use and somewhat expensive. Moreover, none of these devices work well to help the golfer provide accurate alignment of the ball relative to the target. 
     It would be desirable to provide a golf ball aiming device that projects an image off in the distance relative to the point where the player would like the ball to be delivered. The aiming device could be positioned over the golf ball and, once the proper spot has been identified where the ball should be delivered, the golf ball can then be aligned relative to, and hence placed in alignment with, the golf ball aiming device. It would be desirable to provide a laser type device securable to a golf aiming device that can be used as a source for providing a light beam at the point which the ball should be delivered to. 
     It would also be desirable to provide a golf ball aiming device that is portable, lightweight, and perhaps collapsible. 
     It would be further be desirable to provide a golf ball aiming device that could be utilized for not only putting situations, but also to aid the golfer in driving the ball long distances. 
     It would also be desirable to provide a golf ball laser device that enhances the player&#39;s ability to aim the ball to an intended target thus minimizing, if not eliminating, the variables that are often associated with miss-aiming the ball during putting situations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf ball aiming device; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the  FIG. 1  device; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the  FIG. 1  device; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the device taken from the perspective of line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative golf ball aiming device; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the golf ball aiming device with the laser rotated upward and away from the housing; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the  FIG. 6  device; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of  FIG. 6  device, showing a utensil placing a mark on a ball; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the  FIG. 6  device, with the ball located in place; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the  FIG. 6  device, from an underside perspective; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative golf ball aiming device; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of the  FIG. 11  device with the laser in different positions; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an alternative golf ball aiming device, with the lower base portion and the center portion, being pivotally connected thereto; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a front view of the  FIG. 13  device; 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken from the lines  15 - 15 , of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates the  FIG. 13  device in a collapsed condition; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates the top view of the  FIG. 16  device; 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional view taken from lines  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken from lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an alternative golf ball aiming device having three collapsible legs; 
         FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the  FIG. 20  device; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a side view of the  FIG. 20  device, with a ball positioned relative to the device; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a top view of the  FIG. 20  device with the laser rotated to a vertical position; 
         FIG. 24  illustrates the  FIG. 20  device in its collapsed condition; 
         FIG. 25  illustrates an alternative golf ball aiming device; 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a top view of the  FIG. 25  device; 
         FIG. 27  illustrates an underside perspective view of the  FIG. 25  device, with a golf ball shown in a position relative to the housing; 
         FIG. 28  illustrates the  FIG. 25  device from the underside perspective, with its legs shown in a stored condition; 
         FIG. 29  illustrates a game that can be utilized with the present invention employing a game board; 
         FIG. 30  illustrates the golf ball aiming device, in the top view, with the ball shown in phantom in a misaligned position; and 
         FIG. 31  illustrates the golf ball aiming device, in the top view, with the golf ball shown in phantom in the aligned position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a golf ball aiming device  10  having a base  12 , downwardly extending legs  14  and a laser  16 . A ball  18  is positioned within an interior cavity  20  of the device  10  and has sufficient clearance to allow a user to easily maneuver the ball  18  within the cavity  20 . The base  12  has an upper surface  22 , a pair of elongated windows or slots  24  that extend through the upper surface  22 , and an upwardly extending retainer wall  26  for positioning the laser  16 . The retainer wall  26  runs substantially the axial length of the base  12  and provides a rigid mounting surface for the laser  16  to be located. It will be appreciated that the retainer wall  26  could be on both sides of the laser  16 , thus creating a trough for the laser  16  to rest in or to be mounted to. The laser  16  can be secured to the retainer wall  26  through various mechanical fastening conventions, for example, an adhesive. 
     The slots  24  are located on opposite sides of the laser  16  and provide a window for alignment of the alignment marks that are located on the ball  18 . The alignment marks, for example as shown is  FIG. 8 , can be made utilizing a permanent marker or the like. The slots  24  are substantially longer, then they are wide, so as to allow for a sufficient length of mark to be placed on the ball  18 . The slots  24  also act as windows for the player to view through and align the mark relative to the length  28  of the slot  24 . 
     The device  10  has four downwardly and outwardly extending legs  14 . The front of the device  10  has an opening  30  that is defined by the spread apart legs  14  and provides a clear line of sight between the ball  18  and the target or hole  32  (see  FIG. 29 ). 
     The laser  16  has an end cap  34 , and on-off button  36  and a laser lens  38 . The end cap  34  may be removed from the housing  40  of the laser  16  so as to provide access to a battery compartment. Thus, the device  10  can be serviced by providing a new battery when necessary. This version of the laser  16  is rigidly secured to the base  12  and the laser  16  is in longitudinal alignment with the slots  24 . It is preferred that the laser  16  is operable to emit a green light so as to enhance visibility of the light when used outdoors. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the underside of the  FIG. 1  device  10 . The legs  14  are spread apart and help define the cavity which provides a large clearance area for the ball. This allows the user to easily locate his fingers in the cavity and manipulate the ball. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the  FIG. 1  device  10 . The ball  18  is shown extending outside of an indented portion  42  of the base  12 . A pair of marks  44  can be viewed through the slots  24 . The marks  44  are on the top surface of the ball  18  and are shown in perfect alignment with the slots  24 . This view depicts the ball being in perfect alignment with the laser  16 . When the player depresses the on-off button  36  a beam of light will be directed towards a target. In this depiction, the ball  18  is in alignment with a target, for example the center line of a hole on a golf green. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the section taken from line  4 - 4  of the  FIG. 3  device  10 . The ball  18  has ample clearance  46  between the top surface of the ball  18  and the underside  48  of the base  12 . There should be sufficient clearance  46  between the device  10  and the ball  18  so as to allow the player to easily maneuver the ball  18  within the cavity  20 . This provides for ease of alignment of the ball  18 , and the marks  44  thereon, relative to the slots  24  and the device  10 . Moreover, sufficient clearance is required so as to allow the player easily remove the device  10  once the ball  18  has been properly aligned to the device. The legs  14  therefore are shown in a downwardly and outwardly sloping configuration in the side elevational view so as to enhance the clearance  46 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative golf ball aiming device  50  that, like  FIG. 1  device, is made of a single piece of construction. It would be appreciated, that the devices  10  and  50  can be made of plastic or other durable material. The device  50  has a base  52 , a laser  54 , a pair of covers  56  and spring  58 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the base  52  has a front face  60  with a pair of downwardly extending spaced apart legs  62  and a window  64 . The window  64  provides access for a player to utilize a marker  66  to be inserted within the window  64  thus generating a mark  44  on a ball  18 . The base  52  also has a vertically extending cavity  68  for receiving the spring  58  which is operable to bias the end of the laser  54 . 
     The base  52  further has a recess  70  that extends a substantial length of the base  52  and includes a window  72  for seeing the ball  18  down below. The window  72  also provides an edge that in turn can be used for providing a straight line on a surface of the ball. Also, a window  72  allows the player to align the mark  44  on the ball  18  relative to the window  72 . 
     The laser  54  has a pair of outwardly extending arms  74  that are held in place by the covers  56  which in turn are held in place by conventional fasteners  76 . The laser  54  is pivotally connected to base  52  as a result of the covers  56  compressing the arm  74  against the base  52 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the base  52  has a rear face  78  that extends downwardly from an upper surface of the base  52 . A door  80  provides access to a battery compartment positioned within the rear face  78 . Conventional wiring is utilized to provide the electrical connection between the laser  54  and the batteries located within the battery compartment that lies behind door  80 . It will be appreciated that instead of providing interchangeable batteries within a battery compartment within the base  52 , a replaceable battery could be housed within the laser  54 . Likewise, a battery could be located in other positions within the base  52 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , the ball  18  is shown positioned up within the cavity of the device  50 . The player utilizes the marker  66  and manually places a mark  44  on the ball  18  while utilizing edge  82  of window  64  as a guide. Here it is shown with the marker  66  slightly offset from the edge  82  for illustrative purposes only. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the  FIG. 6  device, with a ball  18  shown relative to the device  50 . The device  50  has another interior cavity  84  that is ball-shaped to match the outer configuration of the ball  18 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the ball  18  is positioned within the cavity  84 . This configuration allows the ball to be placed within the cavity  84  and in proper alignment with the window  64 . Once the ball is in this marking position, the ball can now have the mark  44  placed thereon so that it is true to the outer surface of the ball  18 . For example, see  FIGS. 8 and 10  for the proper positioning of the ball  18  during the marking step of this novel process. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an alternative golf ball aiming device  90  that includes a base  92 , a vertically extending middle portion  94 , a telescoping portion  96  that is received within the middle portion  94 , and a laser  98 . The base  92  includes a pair of legs  100  that converge at a central point  102 . Each leg has downwardly extending pads  104  which provides stability to the device  90 . The legs  100  are sufficiently spread apart to allow a ball  18  to be positioned near the central point  102  and each leg  100  is sufficiently long to provide stability to the device  90 . 
     The middle  94  extends from the central point  102  to an upper end and includes a guide  106  on one of its sides that is concaved shaped for receiving the ball  18 . The guide  106  provides a marking surface, or template, for the player to utilize when adding marks  44  to the ball  18 . The telescoping portion  96  has an elongated portion  108  and a mounting portion  110 . The mounting portion  110  includes an expandable clip portion  112  for receiving a pair of outwardly extending arms  114  on an end cap  115  of the laser  98 . The clip portion  112  can be elastic such that it allows the arms  114  to be pivotably snapped to the mounting portion  110 . Thus, laser  98  is operable to pivot relative to the telescoping portion  96 . The fit there between is sufficiently rigid, such that the laser can maintain its position in a variety of locations once arranged by the player. 
     The elongated portion  108  is operable to move relative middle portion  94 . The elongate portion  108  has detents (not shown) at its lower end thereof that are operable to be received by windows  116  of the guide  106 . The elongated portion  108  is adjustable relative to the middle portion  94  so as to change the height of the laser  98 . This would allow the device  90  to be utilized, not only for putting, but in situations where the player would like to utilize the device  90  for long drives. Thus, the device  90  can be adjusted vertically, relative to a ball  18  being positioned on a tee (not shown). The laser  98  is not only used for aiding in putting, but can be used for aiming a ball during driving conditions. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a side elevational view of the  FIG. 11  device but with the telescoping portion  96  being shown in two positions. In a first position  118 , the laser  98  is shown in an upper position where the telescoping portion  96  is extended to an extreme upper position. By contrast, the laser  98  can be located to second position  120  whereby the laser  98  is shown in a lower position. The device  90  has a lock that allows the vertical position of the laser to be held in place, yet be manually adjustable. The lock is shown in detail in  FIG. 15  where the tab  149  and window  142  are in a locking arrangement with one another. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an alternative golf ball aiming device  130  that is collapsible. The device  130  has a pair of legs  132  and a middle portion  134  with a pivot point  136 . The pivot point  136  allows the middle portion  134  and the legs  132  to fold relative to one another so as to make the device  130  portable. The device  130  further has the telescoping portion  138  and the laser  140  which are similar to the components that were discussed in the  FIG. 11  device. 
       FIG. 14  is a front view of the  FIG. 13  device  130 . The legs  132  are sufficiently spread apart so as to allow the device  132  to be stable while on the putting green or where ever it may be utilized. The width of the device  130  is approximately two thirds of the height of the device  130 . 
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view of the  FIG. 13  device, taken from lines  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 . This view shows the telescoping portion  138  having an outwardly extending tab  140  that is operable to be received within one of the windows  142  of the middle portion  134 . Once the tab  140  locks in place within one of the windows  142 , the height of the device  130  can be secured. These components define a locking member. In order to readjust the height of the device  130 , the operator merely needs to depress tab  140 , thus providing clearance relative to the windows  142 . The pivot point  136  includes a pivot pin  137  that extends through the hole in the legs  132  and pierces a hole within the middle portion  134 . The middle portion  134  has a tab  144  that is operable to engage surface  146  of the legs  132 . This provides a locking engagement, or second lock, between the legs  132  and the middle portion  134  in order to prevent inadvertent collapsing or folding of the device  130 . This second lock enhances the foldability of the device  130 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates the device  130  in a folded or stowed position. The laser  140  is shown folded and laying parallel to the telescoping portion  138  which in turn is shown laying along the same plane as the legs  132 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a top view of the  FIG. 16  device while in its folded position. The laser and the middle portion are aligned with one another so as to provide a streamlined configuration. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates the  FIG. 17  device  130  taken from lines  18 - 18 . The device  130  has a very thin profile which allows the player to place the device  130  in his or her pocket when not in use. The telescoping portion  138  has at its upper end a mounting portion  148  and a lower portion  150  that is operable to telescope within the middle portion  134 . The laser  140  is operable to pivot in approximately 180 degrees in direction relative to the mounting portion  148 . This provides for a compact arrangement of the device  130  when in its stowed position. 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken from lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 17 , illustrating how the laser  140  and the mounting portion  148  are connected. The laser  140  has an outwardly extending arm  152  with a pair of tabs  154 . The mounting portion  148  has a clip portion  156  which includes a pair of detents  158  that are operable to receive the tabs  154  which collectively define a locking means. As shown in  FIG. 19 , the laser  140  is in the stowed position and is held in place as a result of the interface between the tabs  154  and the detents  158 . This represents a stowed, locked position. By contrast, the player can maneuver the laser  140  by approximately 90 degrees thus allowing the tabs  154  to be received within a slot  160  of the mounting portion  148 . If the tab  154  is within the slot  160 , the laser  140  will be held in place. The clip portion  156  is spring biased in a closed position which aids in maintaining engagement of the tabs  154  relative to the slot  160 . Thus, the laser  140  can be maintained in a stowed position, or in an open locked position. 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  illustrate an alternative golf ball aligning device  170  that is foldable. The device  170  has a base  172 , a pair of folded legs  174 , a rear leg  176  and a laser  178 . The front legs  174  are pivotally connected to the base  172  as is the rear leg  176 . Connector pins  180  pivotally connect each leg to the base  172  via conventional methods. The base  172  has a recess  182  that is operable to receive an end cap  184  and its associated arms  186 . Covers  188  secure the arms  186  in place and fasteners  190  secure the covers  188  relative to the base  172 . However, the laser  178  is free to pivot relative to the base  172  so as to place the laser in different orientations. A spring  192  is positioned within a slot  194  of the base  172 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 22 , the ball  18  is shown within a cavity  196  of the device  170 . To operate the device  170 , the operator depresses on-off button  198  which applies a downward force on the laser  178  thus allowing the laser to be compressed against the spring and be oriented in a substantially parallel direction to the ground. However, due to the play in the spring  192 , the operator will be able to vary the orientation of the resulting laser beam as it is directed towards a target. This provides flexibility for the player to maneuver the laser beam in a vertical direction in the area surrounding the target, yet maintaining lateral positioning of the laser. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates the  FIG. 22  device but from the top view. Here, the laser  170  has been oriented in a vertical position thus exposing a recess  200  within the top surface of the base  172 . Within the recess  200  there is a window  202  that provides a visual access to the ball  18  below. As shown in  FIG. 21 , the ball  18  has a mark  44  as is shown by a solid line. In the  FIG. 23  illustration, the mark  44  is shown in perfect alignment with the window  202 . This means the ball  18  is properly aligned with the device  170 . 
       FIG. 24  illustrates the  FIG. 28  device in the folded or stowed position. The legs  174  are shown folded, thus giving a streamlined configuration of the device  170 . The rear leg  176  is shown nested between the two outer positioned front legs  174 . 
       FIG. 25  illustrates an alternative golf ball aiming device  210  that utilizes golf tees as its legs. The device  210  includes a base  212 , a laser  214 , and three golf tees  216  depending downwardly from a lower surface of the base. The laser  214  is fixed to the upper surface of the base  212 . The base  212  has a pair of slots  218  extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the laser  214 . The slots  218  provide a template for marking parallel lines on ball  18  and a window for the player to visually look through and see the ball below. This becomes important when the player is aligning the ball to the device  210 . 
       FIG. 27  illustrates an underside perspective view of the device  210 . The lower surface  220  of the base includes downwardly extending sockets  222  located at each corner of the triangle-shaped base  212 . Each socket  222  includes an internal port  224  for receiving the pointed head of a golf tee  216 . Each socket  222  is molded within the base  212 . The device is preferably made from plastic. 
     Golf tees  216  can be easily removed form the sockets  222  as shown in  FIG. 28 .  FIG. 28  illustrates an underside perspective view of the device  210 , but with the golf tees  216  in their stowed position. The lower surface  220  includes a set of clips  226  extending downwardly from the lower surface  220 . Each set of clips  226  includes a pair of arms that are operable to spring and lock into place a golf tee  216 . The third golf tee  216  is held in place by another clip  228  that is integrally molded within the lower surface  220 . The clip  228  is part of a downwardly extending concaved portion  230 , which extends from the lower surface  220 . The concave portion  230  is shaped similar to the outer periphery of a ball  18 . The concave portion  230  operates as a template for receiving a golf ball  18 . When the golf ball is placed against this template, it allows a user to insert a marker in slots  218  (see  FIG. 26 ), so as to make one or more markers on the surface of the ball. The purpose of the markers are to allow the ball to be properly aligned relative to the slots  218 . 
     The golf tees  216  can be removed from their stowed position, as shown in  FIG. 28 , and reassembled to its ready to use state, as shown in  FIG. 25 . Thus, the device  210  is a portable device that can be easily placed in a stowed condition, or a ready to use condition. 
       FIG. 29  illustrates an alternative use of the devices  10 ,  50 ,  90 ,  130 ,  170  or  210 , as disclosed herein. For discussion purposes, reference is made to the device  50 . It will be appreciated that any of the aforementioned devices can be utilized with the game system  240  disclosed herein. The game system includes the device  50  and a game board  242 . The game board has an elongated board section  244  and a pair of downwardly extending stakes  248 . The stakes  248  are secured to the board section  244  which allows same to be planted in the ground. The board section  244  includes a series of markers  250  that are placed along the outside surface of the board section. At the center of the board section  244  there is a hole  32  which is to exemplify the hole on a putting green. Thus, the target would be the center point of the hole  32 . 
     To play the game system  240 , the player stakes the game board  242  into the ground. Next, the player places the device  50  over the top of the ball  18  and aligns the laser beam  252  with the target  254 . Once the laser is on point with the target  254 , the player moves the ball  18  so that it is in proper alignment relative to the device  50 . For example, see  FIG. 30  where the ball  18  and its corresponding marker  44  are not in alignment with the window  72 . Here the ball  18  is shown positioned to the left of its intended target, the hole  32 . If a player were to put the ball in this misaligned orientation, the ball would go well to the left of the hole  32 . However, utilizing the present novel game system  240 , this misalignment will be overcome. 
     As shown in  FIG. 31 , the ball  18  has been orientated to the right thus aligning the marker  44  relative to the longitudinal axis of the window  72 . The goal is to make the marker  44  parallel to the window  72 . When this occurs, the ball will traverse a straight line  256  and be delivered to the center of the hole  32 . Once the ball  18  and the device  50  have been properly aligned relative to one another, the device  50  can be carefully removed thus allowing the ball  18  to be free and clear of any obstructions so that the putt can occur. 
     In order to operate the novel game system, the following steps can be applied. First, the player will place golf ball  18  into the template on the device  50 . While the ball is placed in the template, the player uses a marker to draw one or more lines on the ball. See  FIG. 8  for example. Second, the operator places the device  50  directly over the top of the ball  18  with the laser  54  being pointed toward the target. The operator then turns the laser on, and the target can be located. Once the laser has properly located the target, the laser can be turned off. Third, the player then utilizes their fingers to rotate the ball  18  until the marker(s) on the ball  18  are exactly lined up with the window  72 . Fourth, the device  50  can then be carefully removed and it is important to not touch the ball during this step. Fifth, utilizing the markers on the ball, the player is now ready to put the ball. The ball is now in a perfect aligned state ready for the player to place the putter behind the ball, with the face square and perpendicular to the marker on the ball. It is now necessary for the player to hit the ball with the proper speed and stroke. The aiming component of the putting game having now been simplified and the accuracy enhanced.