Patent Publication Number: US-6902493-B1

Title: Adjustable laser for improving a golfer&#39;s putting stroke

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to teaching aids, and more particularly, to an easily and accurately adjustable light source, such as a laser, for improving the putting stroke of a golfer. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   As is well known to golfers, the holding of a golf club, body alignment to the ball and stroke, together with clubface alignment when hitting a golf ball are important in playing a good consistent game of golf. In this connection, numerous devices and methods have been adopted, and many patents obtained on devices and methods for improving golf strokes. Examples of such known devices and methods are set forth in the following U.S. patents:
         Des.277,955 to Head, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 1,169,188 to Peck;   U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,034 to Neson U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,244 to Uppvall;   U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,166 to Emerson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,509 to Lee;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,712 to Hoyle, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,345 to Jehn;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,992 to Harkness; U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,202 to Vargo;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,239 to Macroglou; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,436 to Mark.       

   Additionally, numerous patents have been obtained on lamps or lights for attachment to hats. Examples of such known lamps or lights are set forth in the following U.S. patents: 3,032,647 to Wansky et al.; 4,406,040 to Cannone; and 4,991,068. 
   Furthermore, numerous patents have been obtained on laser pointing devices. Examples of such known laser pointing devices are set forth in the following U.S. patents:
         Des. 403,450 to Ting; U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,150 to Huang;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,828 to Knowles et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,496 to Feldman et al.; and   U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,595 to Carney.       

   The known devices aid a person using them to accomplish specific task and to provide assistance to a golfer trying to improve his or her swing, while permitting the golfer to identify when his or her head is moving, by use of various motion-detecting alarms or lights. However, the known devices and methods do not adequately work for all golfers, nor do they provide the necessary repetitions to create “muscle memory” needed to produce a consistent putter stroke. 
   Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for an improved and simplified device which permits a golfer to improve their golf stroke, by preventing improper body and head movement, particularly during a putting stroke, while teaching the correct use of a putter to provide consistency in putting. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified device for aiding a golfer in putting. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified laser illumination device for use in teaching good putting stroke technique. It is another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved laser illumination device for clipping to the underside of a bill or brim of a golfer&#39;s cap or visor. It is yet another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified laser illumination device for use in teaching golf putting technique and preventing body and head movement. It is yet a further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved laser illumination device having a more precise illuminating dot to help a golfer identify body and head movement and a preferred travel line of a golf ball, before performing a putting stroke. And, it is a still further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved device to aid a golfer in improving the consistency of putting strokes, having an illuminated dot that is precisely moved by a lever system and which is aimed at a particular target spot (e.g., a golf ball) and a hole along a preferred travel line, to aid in the creation of correct muscle memory so as to create consistently good putting strokes. 
   These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a laser module housed in a molded body, which laser shines a bright red dot on a target spot or golf ball, and which clips to the underside of any bill or brim of a golfer&#39;s cap or visor. The laser module may be used while practicing or playing, either indoors or outdoors. The laser module is battery-operated and lightweight, is minimal in size, utilizes an electronic switch to prevent accidental shining of the laser in other people&#39;s eyes, and includes a push button on/off switch. Additionally, the laser module includes an internal user-adjustable reflective surface having very precise control to redirect the laser beam to a desired location after assuming a correct putting stance. Also, the present invention involves using the illuminated dot from the laser to aid a golfer in practicing strokes by first targeting a golf ball and then targeting a cup by tracing the dot along a preferred travel line of the ball to the cup. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the laser module of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a further perspective view of the assembled laser module; 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are partial cross-sectional views of the laser module; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a visor with a preferred embodiment of the laser module of the present invention shown being clipped underneath the brim of the visor; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a golfer wearing a visor and laser module of the present invention standing over and shining a red dot down onto a golf ball while aiming toward a cup; and 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are views of a golfer wearing the laser illumination device of the present invention, which is deactivated when the golfer raises his/her head to prevent shining of the laser into the eyes of a bystander. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein, specifically to provide for an improved and simplified device for teaching the targeting of a golf ball during a stroke wherein the head should be kept still, such as when using a putter or the like. 
   Good muscle memory creates consistency in stroking a golf ball, and particularly in short strokes, such as putting or chipping. Therefore, the primary goal in good short stroke technique is to have consistency. As is well known, unwanted body or head movement during the short strokes, such as a putting stroke will destroy such consistency. The present invention helps to eliminate such unwanted body or head movement, and teaches proper stroke consistency by using the novel lighting device of the present invention to more effectively teach a golfer how to properly make short strokes, such as a putt. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention a device or module  10  has a light source, preferably a laser as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings and as described more fully below. A golfer  13  (see  FIGS. 6-8 ) will place or wear the device  10  on the underside of a bill or brim of a cap, hat or visor  11 . In this position, because the laser device  10  is sized and dimensioned to fit the golfer  13 , an operative end  22  of the laser device is very closely placed between the golfer&#39;s eyes, and in close proximity to the forehead of the golfer. This exact placement of the operative end  22  of the device  10  between the eyes reduces parallax because of the closeness of the light source to the golfer&#39;s eyes thereby placing the path of the laser dot in the line of sight of the golfer&#39;s vision path, thus creating a realistic replication of the performance of the eyes. Therefore, no special hat or visor is required for mounting the device  10 . Furthermore, the device  10  is designed so that the golfer&#39;s vision is not impaired and because of the small physical size of the device, the golfer&#39;s concentration is not disturbed. Additionally, because of the close proximity of the vision path to the laser dot path, a very clear circular, concentrated light dot, with substantially no edge feathering is produced, whereby consistently improved putting results are obtained. 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , a currently preferred embodiment of the laser module  10  comprises a body or housing  12 , having a first, inner or operative end  22  and a second, outer or holding end  18 . The first or operative end  22  has a power source  20 , such as one or more batteries, insertable through a door opening  23  in the first end, and an illuminating beam  24  is emitted through an opening  14 , from a light source  26 , such as from a laser diode, held in the housing  12 . A clip  16  is secured to the exterior housing  12  at second end  18  for mounting the device  10  to the underside of a bill or the like on the cap, hat or visor  11  (see FIGS.  5 - 8 ). The illuminating beam  24  is redirected by an adjustable reflective surface  28 , such as a mirror, to a desired location, between preferred angles of approximately 36° to 10°. The adjustable reflective surface  28  is held in a body  30  rotatably held in the housing  12 . The body  30  and reflective surface  28  are precisely moved by an exterior handle  32  and inner levers  25 ,  27 , rotatably secured between the body  30  and the exterior handle  32 . A first of the internal levers  25  is secured to the body  30  and ends in an enlarged portion  29 , held in a forked portion  31  of lever  27 . The inner lever  27  is secured to a shaft  33  rotatably held in the housing  12  and carrying the handle  32 . The housing  12  also includes an on/off switch  40  for activating the laser. 
   The unique construction of the mirror lever operating system and its placement in the housing  12  allows the laser beam  24  projected by the reflective surface  28  to start from a point which is in close proximity to the eyes and very close to a golfer&#39;s forehead. This minimizes the disturbing parallax that would normally be found between the projected beam and the normal eye visualization path. 
   A P.C. board  34  is held in the housing  12  and connected to the laser diode  26  and remaining components in any acceptable manner, and includes an electronic or other type switch thereon to shut off the laser when a golfer wearing the same moves their head upwardly, to prevent accidental shining of the laser light into a bystander or any other person&#39;s eyes (see FIGS.  7  and  8 ). The P.C. board  34 , batteries  20 , laser  26  and on/off switch  40  are electrically connected and grounded so as to operate safely in the housing  12 . 
   A currently preferred method of using the device or laser module  10  of the present invention, will now be described. After the laser or lighting device  10  is placed on the underside of the golfer&#39;s hat or visor  11  with the end  22  closely adjacent the golfer&#39;s forehead, between the golfer&#39;s eyes, a target area or golf ball  29  is placed on a surface, such as a putting green, a floor, or any other surface in a training area. The golfer  13 , holding a putter  25 , assumes a normal putting stance, in relation to the target area or ball  29 . If this stance is wrong, it is easy to correct as described below. The laser or other light source  10 , if not on, is activated by pressing switch  40 , and a spot of light  17 , preferably a clear red dot formed without any fuzzy outside edges, because of the high reflective angle off of the reflecting surface  28 . The spot of light is precisely controlled by the user by moving the external handle  32  to thereby move the levers  25  and  27  so as to rotate or move the body  30  and reflecting surface  28 , to accurately place the spot of light  17  so as to illuminate a selected target area or spot on the ball  29 . The connection and movement of the internal levers  25 ,  27  by external handle  32  allows very precise alignment of the red dot  17 , and enables the golfer  13  to move the dot between the selected angles mentioned above. Furthermore, this accurate and precise movement of the reflecting surface  28  allows a clear and sharp image or light dot  17  to be consistently obtained in the desired position without having to adjust the position of a cap or visor on the golfer&#39;s head. Additionally, the lever operating mechanism of the device eliminates the need for angular or location repositioning on the bill of the cap or visor, thus making the device significantly easier to use for the golfer. 
   The golfer  13  then, if he or she has not already done so, finds the “sweet spot” on a head the putter  25 , in a known manner, and aligns the sweet spot with the target area or golf ball  29 . Once the golfer  13  has aligned the sweet spot on the club head, the golfer takes a normal stroke with the putter  25 , and notes any light dot movement, with respect to the center of the target area or golf ball  29 . The golfer repeats the putter stroke process as described above, and concentrates on holding the light dot  17  steady on the target area or ball  29 . Once the golfer  13  has successfully achieved the required skill in such a putting stroke, without moving the dot of light  17  off the target area or ball  29  when putting, the golfer resumes a normal stance over the target area or golf ball  29 , with the putter head aligned, and aims the laser dot  17  onto a further target spot or cup  38 . The golfer  13  traces a preferred travel line  21  between the target area or ball  29  and the further target spot or cup  38  (see  FIG. 6 ) with the laser dot  17 , either from the target spot or cup  38  back to the target area or golf ball  29 , or the other direction, along the preferred line of the ball travel. 
   As discussed above, the face of the putter head is lined up with the target area or ball  29 , and is moved by the golfer toward the further target spot or cup  38 , from the target area or ball  29 . The golfer  13  practices putter strokes attempting to sink the ball into the cup  38 , while preventing unnecessary movement of his or her body or head. By using the device  10  of the present invention as described above, players improve their putter stroke by making it more consistent. This device  10  allows the golfer to consistently hit the ball and make the ball move the same distance after being struck, thereby improving the golfer&#39;s putting stroke when not wearing the device of the present invention when putting during an actual game at a golf course or other putting green. Additionally, the device of the present invention improves the player&#39;s putting stroke, while improving one&#39;s ability to stroke the ball and spike the “sweet spot” of the putter. Using the device of the present invention, the player&#39;s sensitivity to very slight body or head movements is improved, thereby improving the effects of the putting stroke. Finally, the device of the present invention improves a player&#39;s targeting of a hole by visualization of the line of travel of the ball after a putting stroke along the preferred line  21  formed between the target area or golf ball  29 , and the further target spot or cup  38 . The golfer  13  continues repeating the putter stroke until he or she has successfully achieved the required skill in such a putting stroke, without moving the dot of light  17  off the target area or ball  29  when striking it. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments that can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood, that within the scope of the intended claims, the invention may be practiced other than is specifically described herein.