Patent Publication Number: US-2007099729-A1

Title: Golf green reading device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      Not Applicable.  
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
      Not Applicable.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates, in general, to a golf device and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for reading golf greens.  
      For many golfers, putting is a source of reoccurring frustration. Poor putting can quickly add unnecessary strokes to a player&#39;s score during an otherwise well played round of golf. Even the best players can lose a round of golf because of a missed putt. As the often-quoted phrase goes, “Drive for show and putt for dough.” 
      Often, the cause of poor putting is misreading the green. Putting greens are designed with contours of varying degrees of slopes to make putting a challenge for golfers, as well as for drainage purposes. Once a player&#39;s ball is on the green, he or she must navigate the correct path between the ball and the cup simply by looking at the putting green. To add to the confusion, many golf courses move the cup every few days to different positions on the green. Therefore, most putts are unique shots that present another opportunity for misreading the green. Some courses have caddies available at a considerable cost that are experienced in reading a particular course&#39;s putting greens. However, most courses do not provide caddies and the cost can be prohibitive at those that do. This leaves the challenge of reading greens to the players themselves.  
      Many different devices and techniques exist to aid the golfer with reading greens. To gauge the direction and degree of slope in a putting green, many golfers use the putter as a plumb bob sighting device by holding the handle at arm&#39;s length between thumb and index finger whereby the club assumes a generally vertical position due to the weight of the club head. In addition to this method, a number of portable sighting devices have been developed for golfers. However, all these previous devices have various drawbacks and shortcomings. For example, many devices use a mechanical leveling means, such as a bubble indicator, plumb bob, or crosshair that requires the user to manually align a bubble, bob, pendulum, or crosshair. However, such designs depend on the ability of the golfer to “line up” the device using various mechanical means, which introduce large tolerances and make the devices susceptible to human error.  
      Accordingly, there is a need for a inexpensive and easy to use device that is provides a reference line by which a golfer can read the slope of the green.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Briefly stated, a green reading device is provided, which has a lens with a reference line and which is secured to a housing. The device also includes an electrical circuit, having a power source, at least one light source, and at least one level switch secured to the housing. The light source is electrically connected to the power source and is capable of illuminating the reference line. The level switch is electrically connected to the power source and the light source so that the level switch activates the light source when the reference line is in either a horizontal or vertical orientation.  
      The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention as well as embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of a green reading device indicating a vertical orientation;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the first embodiment of the green reading device indicating a horizontal orientation;  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the first embodiment of the green reading device;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a control circuit of the green reading device;  
       FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of a green reading device used to read a putting green;  
       FIG. 6  is a front view of a second embodiment of a green reading device;  
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 6   
       FIG. 6B  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 6   
       FIG. 7A  and B are sectional views of alternate embodiments of the lens;  
       FIG. 8  is an illustrative view of a green reading device used to determine the relative elevation of a golf shot. 
    
    
      Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , a first embodiment of the present invention, generally referred to as a golf green reading device  10 , includes a generally circular lens  12  secured to a housing  14 .  
      The housing  14  includes a main body  16  that defines a cavity  18  for housing an electrical circuit  20  and a cylindrical or ring-shaped frame  22  extending from the body  16  that defines an aperture  24  for receiving the lens  12 . The body  16  also functions as a handle for holding the device  10 , whereby the user holds the device  10  by gripping the body  16  between a thumb and an index finger. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the housing  14  can comprise two halves  15  that engage along a parting line  17  by any suitable means. The two halves  15  can be removably connected, such as by a friction fit or with fasteners, to provide access to the electrical circuit  20 . The housing  14  can be made from any appropriate material, such as plastic or metal, but preferably an injection molded plastic.  
      The lens  12  can comprise two generally semi-circular segments  26  with each segment having generally flat viewing surfaces  28 , an arcuately shaped retaining edge  30 , and a generally linear mating edge  32 . The mating edges  32  of the segments  26  mate to form the cylindrical lens  12  with the edges  32  creating a visible reference line  34  in the viewing surfaces  28 . To secure the lens  12  to the housing  14 , the retaining edges  30  are secured to the frame  22  with any appropriate means, such as a friction fit or an adhesive. In another embodiment, the frame  22  can define grooves (not shown) that receive the peripheral edges of the segments  16 . The lens  12  can be made from any suitable translucent material known in the art, such as glass or plastic. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the reference line  34  can be created using other means, such as a score or groove in the lens, in which case, the lens is a one-piece lens.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , and  4 , the electric circuit  20  includes a power source  36 , such as a battery, electrically connected to an on/off power switch  38 , a level switch  40 , and a pair of light sources  42 . All the parts of the electric circuit  20  are contained within the cavity  18  of the housing  14 . The battery can be a replaceable battery, in which case, the housing  14  would include a removable panel to access a battery compartment. Alternatively, the battery could be a permanent battery which could be a rechargeable battery. As a further alternative, the power source could comprise a solar cell.  
      The power switch  38  is a typical push-button switch that toggles between an on and off position, which respectively completes and interrupts the electric circuit  20 . The power switch  38  enables the user to turn the device  10  on and off to conserve the power source  36  when the device is not in use. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any type of on/off power switch known in the art can be used. If desired, the on/off power switch  38  can be omitted with the understanding that the circuit  20  will be open when the device  10  is neither in the horizontal nor the vertical position.  
      The level switch  40  is a typical position dependant switch, such as a mercury switch, that detects a predetermined orientation of the reference line  34  and sends a corresponding electric signal to activate or deactivate the light sources  42 . When the reference line  34  is in either a horizontal or vertical orientation, the level switch  40  completes the electric circuit  20 , thereby activating the light sources  42 . When the reference line  34  is in any other orientation, the level switch  40  interrupts the electric circuit  20 , thereby deactivating the light sources  42 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that any type of level switch or sensor can be used. For example, the switch can be a bubble switch. Although the switch  40  is shown as a single switch, those skilled in the art will recognize that the switch  40  can comprise two position dependant switches—one which closes when the device  10  is generally horizontal and one which closes when the device is generally vertical.  
      In the preferred embodiment, the light sources  42  are typical light emitting diodes (LEDs), which can emit light of any color. The light sources  42  are positioned to emit light onto the reference line  34  so that the reference line  34  is sufficiently illuminated to be visible to the user. The light emitted from the light source  42  travels through the lens and reflects off the mating edges  32  of the lens segments  26  or the score in the single lens version. In this way, when the user looks at the viewing surface  28  of the lens  12  the light illuminates the reference line  34  without illuminating the rest of the lens  12 . Although two light sources  42  are shown, a single light source  42  could be used. Further, the position of the light source  42  in the housing  14  could be altered from that shown in the drawing. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any appropriate light source can be used, such as a laser or fiber optic element. If a fiber optic element is to be used, the fiber optic element can comprise the reference line  34   
      The overall size of the green reading device  10  is small enough to hold in the palm of the user&#39;s hand. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the device  10  also has a generally thin and flat profile. The small size and thin profile of the device  10  allows users to conveniently carry the device  10  around in their pants or shirt pocket or golf bag so they can easily access the device  10  when needed.  
      In operation, the golfer uses the device  10  after a golf ball  44  comes to rest on a golf green  46 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The user takes a position behind the golf ball  44  and facing a direction along a straight line extending between a cup  50  and the ball  44 . The user engages the power switch  38  to turn the device  10  on and holds the device  10  in a vertical orientation and in alignment with his eye  52  so that the green  46  is visible through the viewing surface  28 . The user rotates the device  10  about a center axis until the reference line  34  reaches either a vertical or horizontal orientation. When the reference line  34  reaches either the horizontal or vertical orientation, the level switch  40  completes the electric circuit  20  and activates the light sources  42 , which illuminate the reference line  34 . The illuminated reference line  34  signals to the user that the reference line  34  is in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. The user now sees on the viewing surface  28  an illuminated reference line  34  superimposed over the view of the golf green  46 . By observing the reference line  34  over the view of the green  46 , the user determines which direction the golf green  46  is sloped and therefore, the direction  54  he or she must putt the ball  44  to put it in the hole  50 .  
      The present invention can also be embodied in the form shown in  FIG. 6 , which illustrates a second embodiment of the device  100  similar to the first embodiment of the device  10 . For easier reference, common elements have been numbered using the same numbers as in the first embodiment, except with a “100” prefix.  
      In the second embodiment of the device  100 , the housing  114  has generally trapezoidal shaped lens  112  with arcuate ends  130  and a reference line  134 . Unlike the reference line  34  of the device  10 , the reference line  134  is defined by an exposed edge of the lens  112 . The lens is secured to the housing  114 . The device  100  as illustrated does not include a frame which extends along the side edges of the lens. However, such a frame could be provided if desired. The electric circuit  120  is identical to the electric circuit  20  of device  10 , and hence, will not be described.  
      Like the first embodiment  10 , the second embodiment  100  operates by illuminating the reference line  134  when the user holds the device in a horizontal or vertical orientation. By observing the reference line  134  over the view of the green  46 , the user determines which direction the golf green  46  is sloped and therefore, the direction  54  he or she must putt the ball  44  to put it in the hole  50 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 6A  and B, the reference line  134  can comprise the edge of the lens  112 , and this edge can embody different shapes that enhance the visibility or reflectivity of the reference line  134 . As shown in FIGS.  6 A-B, the reference line  134  can be a V-shaped channel  150 . In  FIG. 7A , the reference line  134  is a V-shaped protrusion  152 ; and in  FIG. 7B , the reference line  134  is covered by a reflective surface  154 . The edge or reference line could also be flat. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other shapes can be used to enhance the visibility or reflectivity of the reference line.  
      As shown in  FIG. 8 , the second embodiment of the device  100  can also be used to determine the relative elevation of a target  160  for a golf shot. In operation, the user holds the device so that the longitudinal axis of the reference line  134  points at desired target  160 . The user slowly rotates the angle of the device  100  upwardly or downwardly until the reference line is illuminated, thereby, signaling to the user that the device is horizontal. From this, the user can determine if the target  160  is at a higher elevation or a lower elevation relative to the golf ball  44 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the user rotates the device downwardly from target position A to horizontal position B, which signals to the user that the target is at a higher elevation relative to the ball  44 . To aid viewing of the illuminated reference line, the device can include cants  162  at one or both ends of the lens edge. As seen in FIGS.  6 A-B, the cants  162  form ends to the V-shaped groove  150  which defines the reference line  134 . When the device is horizontal, the reference line  134  will be illuminated, as described above. At the same time, the cants  162  will also be illuminated, making it easier for the user to see that the reference line has been illuminated.  
      Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, other embodiments can have a lens  12  with arcuately shaped viewing surfaces  28 , such as convex or concave surfaces, which enlarge, reduce, or otherwise alter the image seen through the lens  12 . Also, the lens  12  can be any shape, such as square, elliptical, or any rectilinear or curvilinear shape. The lens  12  can be tinted to enhance the illumination of the reference line  34  or simply for aesthetic reasons. Other embodiments can include indentations on the outside surface of the body  16  to receive fingers for ergonomic handling of the device  10 . In yet another embodiment, the lens  12  can be unitary with the housing  14 . The reference line can also be a fiber optic filament, which is illuminated along its length when a light source is activated. The device can have a single light source or multiple light sources. Although shown with a single reference line, the device can be provided with two reference lines—a vertical reference line and a horizontal reference line. If two reference lines are provided, the circuit  20  can illuminate only one of the lines or both of the lines. These examples are illustrative only.