Abstract:
A golf club features a hollowed club head having an insert movably mounted therein. The insert is weighted so that it works like a pendulum during a user&#39;s swing of the club. The insert has a flat face that shifts to present a face to the ball that corrects for improper technique.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to an improved golf club that has a hollow recess, receptacle or cavity that holds a moving insert. The insert provides a club face portion that shifts depending upon the orientation of the club shaft during the swing in order to correct for improper technique. The apparatus can be used as a teaching aid to indicate to the user when he or she has improperly supported the club during the swing. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     When a golfer swings a golf club and simultaneously supports the club in an improper orientation, the result is a ball that traverses a curved path. These curved paths of the golf ball are referred to as either a “hook” or a “slice”. A hook refers to a ball flight path that curves to the left of the fairway. A slice is a golf ball flight path that travels in a curved path to the right of the fairway. 
     Some golf club constructions have been patented which attempt to help the golfer in his or her appointed task of driving the ball as far and as straight as possible. 
     The Ackerman U.S. Pat. No. 1,975,307 provides a head for golf sticks that provides in combination a head, a hammer loosely seated in the head, and a plate forming a striking face thereof and adapted to be struck by the hammer. 
     The Chancellor U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,731 discloses a golf head incorporating a hollow interior with a movable weight supported on a mounting rod which can be oriented in different angular positions to counteract the tendency of the golfer to hook or slice the ball and to increase the distance which the ball is driven due to the additional forces exerted on the ball by the movable weight. The movable weight is centered on the mounted rod by spring devices and the overall shape and configuration of the golf club head is not changed. 
     A golf putter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,430. In the &#39;430 patent, the golf putter provides a head with a front to rear elongated rod-like weight or ram encased in a transparent plastics material body and is provided with a rotatable rod or ram portion to shift the axial center of the mass of the head to correct malfunctioning variations and to correct errors in the putting stroke. 
     The Lee U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,222 discloses a wood golf club head that includes a golf club head cavity, and a permanent magnet plate attached to the back side of the club head cavity whereby upon hitting the golf ball, the steel ball moves and hits an inner sweet point corresponding to a sweet point of the front surface face of golf club head, so that the struck ball will fly in a straight direction and in a longer distance compared with an expected golf ball distance. 
     In the Nickum U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,920, there is disclosed a golf club having an adjustable head with a positive locking mechanism. The lower end of the golf club shaft terminates in a spherical ball which is restrained within a cooperating bore in the golf club head which permits free rotational and pivotal movement of the head with respect to the shaft. A locking screw, when tightened within the bore, holds the pivot ball in place against rotational and pivotal motion. A portion of the locking screw is designed to break off after tightening so that the position of the head cannot be changed during play. 
     In the Lindstedt U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,446, there is disclosed a device for insuring that directional stability is monitored and maintained in three axes when addressing a golf ball with a golf club. Visual alignment and club head positioning is obtained through the use of holograms affixed to the heads of the clubs so that a visual check by the holder of the club reveals the image or object in three dimensions when the dub is improperly positioned and in two dimensions when it is perfectly positioned. Image color (s) are also used to enhance recognition of proper club head positioning. 
     In the Henwood U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,269, there is disclosed a putting stroke training device. The critical features of the putting stroke training device of the &#39;269 patent includes Y-axis sensor means for detecting and signaling whether the face of a putter strikes a golf ball perpendicular to the path of the putter head and X-axis sensor means for detecting and signaling any abnormal acceleration or deceleration of the putter head. The Y-axis sensor means is disposed in a Y plane that is perpendicular to the golf ball striking face. The X-axis sensor means is disposed in an X plane that is perpendicular to the Y plane and is in the same plane as the shaft. This putting stroke trainer will assist the golfer in striking the ball with the club face perpendicular to the path of the putter head, and in developing a smooth pendulum swing and avoiding the “yips”. 
     In the Tseng U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,587 there is disclosed a centroid-adjustable golf club head, which can enable a user to strike a golf ball more stably and accurately. The centroid-adjustable golf club head includes a head body, a sphericity, a floating ball and liquid with large specific weight. The head body has anti vibration and thermoplastic elastomer disposed therein and defines a screw hold at a top thereof. The sphericity is disposed in the anti vibration and thermoplastic elastomer of the head body. The sphericity has a charging spout formed on a top thereof and aligned with the screw hole of the head body; and an elastic wafer disposed between the head body and the sphericity. The floating ball is disposed in the sphericity. The liquid with large specific weight is fed from the charging spout to the sphericity. With this arrangement, the centroid of the club head can be adjusted to an appropriate position, depending to the relative position of the liquid and the floating ball. Therefore, the user can strike the ball stably in any time and by any angle. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved golf club that incorporates a compensating member or pendulum into the head of the club. The apparatus reacts to the swing of the golf club by the golfer, and tends to correct the imperfections in the user&#39;s technique. 
     The present invention accomplishes these goals by providing a weighted insert within the club&#39;s head that is moved by centrifugal forces generated during the down stroke of the swing. The weighted insert pivots about an axle and this in turn rotates the striking face of the club&#39;s head which is on the opposite side of the weighted unit. 
     A change of about six to ten degrees in the angle of the striking face may be thus effected. This angle change affects the direction of the golf ball as the club head of the driver contacts the ball. The direction of the flight of the ball is normal to or at right angles to the striking face of the club. 
     If the golfer&#39;s swing has an outward curve to it, a spin is imparted to the ball causing its flight to make a curve to the right. Such a curved travel path for the golf ball is commonly referred to as a slice. 
     By changing the direction of the start of the ball&#39;s flight three or four degrees to the left, the final landing point of the ball is moved back toward the center of the fairway, correcting its errant course. 
     If the golfer swing follows a more inward curve, producing a course known as a “hook”, the weighted unit of the club head rotates in the opposite direction, pointing the face to the right approximately three to four degrees. This alteration of the ball&#39;s initial flight allows the spin of the ball to curve its course back to the left thus causing the ball&#39;s landing point to be close to the center of the fairway. 
     In one embodiment, an electric indicator can include a display with three small colored lights on the top of the club head indicating to the user which position the swinging weight unit assumed at the moment of contact with the ball. 
     In one embodiment, a spring or cable limits travel of the insert. In another embodiment, a pair of compression springs limits travel of the insert. 
     If the swing is perfectly straight, with the striking face driving the ball straight ahead, the white or center light illuminates or flashes. 
     If the swing has an outward curve so as to slice to the right, the green light illuminates or flashes. 
     If the swing has an inward curve, so as to hook the ball to the left, the red light illuminates or flashes. The apparatus of the present invention can be applied to drivers, wedges and/or any other golf club. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional, partial plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a shifted position of the weighted insert; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional, partial plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating another shifted position of the weighted insert; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan, sectional view illustrating a centered position of the weighted elements and the ball flight path; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a position of the weighted insert wherein it has shifted toward the club shaft; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a position of the weighted insert wherein it has shifted toward the club shaft; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional, partial plan view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a centered position of the weighted insert; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional, partial plan view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a shifted position of the weighted insert; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional, partial plan view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating another shifted position of the weighted insert. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  10 . Golf club  10  includes an elongated shaft  12  that supports club head  11 . Shaft  12  has an upper end  13  and a lower end  15 . The upper end  13  has gripping surface  14  that is the portion grasped by a user during play. 
     The club head  11  has an outer surface  17  that includes a generally flat face  16 . In the preferred embodiment, an opening  32  (preferably oval, ovid or squared in shape) is provided through which weighted insert  19  extends. Opening  32  communicates with a cavity or receptacle  18  that is occupied by insert  19 . 
     Insert  19  is a weighted insert, moving member or pendulum that can be seen in plan view in FIGS. 2-4 and  6 - 8 . The sectional view of FIG. 5 gives a side view of the weighted insert  19 . 
     Insert  19  attaches to club head  11  at pivot  20 . Insert  19  has a flat face  21  that functions as a majority of the club face and is that portion that strikes the golf ball during use. Weighted insert  19  has an upper surface  22 , lower surface  23 , rear curved surface  24 , a pair of angled surfaces  25 ,  26 , and curved edges  27 ,  28  that extend between the flat face  21  and the respective angled surfaces  25 ,  26 . Cavity  18  has curved surface  29 , angled surfaces  30 ,  31 , and opening  32  that communicates with face  16  of club head  11 . 
     FIGS. 3-4 and  6 - 8  illustrate the position of weighted insert  19  during use. In FIG. 2, the weighted insert  19  is shown in a centered position within cavity  18 . In FIG. 3, the weighted insert  19  has shifted toward the club shaft  12  so that the angled surface  25  approaches the surface  30  of cavity  18 . This movement of weighted insert  19  is illustrated by arrow  33  in FIGS. 3 and 7. 
     In FIG. 4, arrow  34  indicates that weighted element  19  has pivoted to a position that places it as far as possible away from shaft  12  wherein angled surface  26  engages surface  31  of cavity  18 . Spring  44  functions as a stop for limiting pivotal movement of insert  19 . Fitting  45  can be removably attached to club head  11 , so that different springs  44  of different size, length, and/or tensile strength can be used with club  11  as desired. Spring  44  can be attached at one of its ends to insert  19  at pin  46  and at its other end to fitting  45 . 
     In FIGS. 6-8, a golf ball  35  is shown after it has been hit by golf club  10 . In FIG. 6, the golfer has perfected a smooth even swing so that the weighted element  19  remains centered in cavity  18  as indicated by arrow  37 . The swing causes the golf ball to fly straight off of the face  21  in an intended direction, eg. down the center of the fairway. In FIG. 7, the golfer has produced a swing that tracks the path indicated by arrow  38  which typically would produce a “hook” travel path for the ball  35 . However, in FIG. 7, weight element  19  has shifted to produce an angle between face  21  of element  19  and face  16  of club head  11 . Thus, despite the golfer&#39;s errant swing, the ball  35  travels on a desired path (indicated by arrow  36 ) which brings its final resting point near the center of fairway. 
     In FIG. 8, the golfer produces a swing indicated by arrow  39  which typically would produce a slice travel path for the ball. However, the weighted insert element  19  has shifted in the direction of arrow  34  so that the flat face  21  on element  19  forms an angle with the club face  16  again, producing a travel path for ball  35  (as indicated by arrow  36 ) which brings its final resting point close to the center of the fairway. 
     In FIG. 1, the outer surface  17  of club head  11  can be provided with a colored zones indicator  40  that is comprised of a fitting having a bore with a lens  47 . A plurality of colored lights  41 ,  42 , or  43  are provided on upper surface  22  of insert. The center zone or light  42  would preferably be white, and would indicate a correct swing in that the weighted insert element  19  is centered, the position of FIG.  6 . The zone or light  41  could be a color that would represent the position of FIG. 7, namely that the club has been swung along the path  38  causing the weighted element  19  to assume the innermost position of FIG.  7 . In such a situation, the zone  41  would be seen when viewed through lines  47 , to indicate with certain color (such as red) an inward curve that would have produced a hook travel path for the ball. 
     In the FIG. 8 orientation, the zone or light  43  would indicate with a selected color (such as green) an outward curve  39  so as to slice the ball toward the right. If desired, as an alternative to the colored zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 , battery could be provided in the club head  11  or in the shaft  12  or insert  19  for powering lighted zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 . Contact switches could be provided for illuminating either the light  41  or the light  43  when contact is made between either of the respective surfaces  24 ,  25  with respective surfaces  30 ,  31 . If neither of the surfaces  30  or  31  were contacted by its adjacent angled surface  25 ,  26  respectively, a timer could be provided to simply illuminate the center light  42  after a few seconds. 
     FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  48  in FIG.  9 . The weighted insert  19  of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12 can be of a similar configuration, size and shape to the insert  19  shown in FIGS. 1-8. Thus, the weighted insert  19  in FIGS. 9-12 has the same numerical indicator  19  as in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-9. 
     Golf club  48  has a shaft  12  with a lower end portion  15  that is similar to the shaft  12  shown and described in FIG. 1 with respect to the preferred embodiment. Shaft  12  joins to club head  53  at lower end  15 . Club head  53  provided with a hollow interior or cavity  50  receiving insert  19 . Insert  19  is movably attached to club head  53  at pivot  20 . 
     The club head  53  has an outer surface  49  that carries an indicator panel  56  having three indicator lights  57 ,  58 ,  59  that can be electrically powered (eg. battery). These indicator lights  57 ,  58 ,  59  are used to provide an indication of whether the weighted insert  19  has shifted to the position shown in either of the FIG. 10,  11  or  12 . 
     A pair of springs  51 ,  52  are used to center the insert  19  to the position shown in FIG.  10 . If the golfer improperly manipulates the club  48  so that the weighted insert  19  moves toward shaft  12  as shown in FIG. 11, an electrical circuit (not shown) lights the indicator light  59  (eg. a red light) to indicate a hook condition. Such a circuit can simply be contacts that are on weighted insert  19  that engage other respective contacts at surfaces  30  or  31  of club head  11  or  53 . As with the preferred embodiment, the weighted element  19  in the shifted position presents a flat face  21  that compensates for this error and directs the ball on a path that brings its final resting point near the desired center of the fairway. 
     In FIG. 12, the weighted insert shifts to a position away from the club shaft  12 , as occurs during a “slice” error by the golfer. In such a case, the indicator light  57  (eg. green light) illuminates or flashes. As with the preferred embodiment, the flat face  21  of the weighted insert  19  shifts positions so that despite the golfer&#39;s errant swing, the ball  35  travels along a desired path (indicated generally by arrow  36 ) which brings its final resting point near the center of the fairway as desired. When the weighted insert  19  is centered (FIG. 10) the center light (eg. white)  58  illuminates or flashes. 
     The springs  51 ,.  52  in the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12 are preferably compression type springs, each mounted in its respective socket  54 ,  55  as shown in FIGS. 10-12. 
     The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Part Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 golf club 
               
               
                 11 
                 club head 
               
               
                 12 
                 shaft 
               
               
                 13 
                 upper end 
               
               
                 14 
                 gripping surface 
               
               
                 15 
                 lower end 
               
               
                 16 
                 flat face 
               
               
                 17 
                 outer surface 
               
               
                 18 
                 cavity 
               
               
                 19 
                 insert 
               
               
                 20 
                 pivot 
               
               
                 21 
                 flat face 
               
               
                 22 
                 upper surface 
               
               
                 23 
                 lower surface 
               
               
                 24 
                 curved surface 
               
               
                 25 
                 angled surface 
               
               
                 26 
                 angled surface 
               
               
                 27 
                 edge 
               
               
                 28 
                 edge 
               
               
                 29 
                 curved surface 
               
               
                 30 
                 surface 
               
               
                 31 
                 surface 
               
               
                 32 
                 opening 
               
               
                 33 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 34 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 35 
                 golf ball 
               
               
                 36 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 37 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 38 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 39 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 40 
                 indicator 
               
               
                 41 
                 zone/light 
               
               
                 42 
                 zone/light 
               
               
                 43 
                 zone/light 
               
               
                 44 
                 spring 
               
               
                 45 
                 fitting 
               
               
                 46 
                 pin 
               
               
                 47 
                 lens 
               
               
                 48 
                 golf club 
               
               
                 49 
                 outer surface 
               
               
                 50 
                 cavity 
               
               
                 51 
                 spring-compression type 
               
               
                 52 
                 spring-compression type 
               
               
                 53 
                 club head 
               
               
                 54 
                 socket 
               
               
                 55 
                 socket 
               
               
                 56 
                 indicator panel 
               
               
                 57 
                 indicator light 
               
               
                 58 
                 indicator light 
               
               
                 59 
                 indicator light 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.