Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a golf guide for use by golfer in teaching or reminding a golfer about preferred means of play. The golf guide has particular utility in connection with teaching golfers how to play difficult shots while on the golf course or driving range.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Golf guides are desirable to aid a golfer in performing better on the golf course, particularly when having to execute difficult shots. Using a golf guide can lower the golfers score and increase his confidence. There are many books, videos and other media that a golfer can use to learn to play better golf. However, better ways are needed for the golfer to quickly access information when he needs it on the golf course or on the driving range.  
         [0005]     The use of booklets guides or kits for access while on the golf course are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,786 to Candor discloses a booklet that lays out one or more holes on a golf course. The booklet is found in a notebook or binder that can be taken onto the course. However, Candor&#39;s patent does not disclose a method for helping with particular golfing scenarios but instead is used to familiarize the golfer with yardages and greens on the particular golf course, and has further drawbacks of not providing a means to protect the booklet from inclement weather often encountered while golfing and not providing a means of attaching the booklet to the golfer&#39;s bag.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,340 to Laakso discloses a golf scorecard and yardage guide playing booklet that is used to familiarize the golfer with yardages and a particular green and additionally has a scorecard. However, Laakso&#39;s patent does not disclose a method for helping with particular golfing scenarios, and has further drawbacks of not providing a means to protect the booklet from inclement weather and does not provide a means of attaching the booklet to the golfer&#39;s bag.  
         [0007]     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,045 to Schweim discloses a golf scorecard holder that can be clamped to a golf bag via a clamping ring. This device is made from rectangular rigid transparent plastic and allows the golfer access to his scorecard. However, it does not provide for any text, diagram, or other means of helping a golfer with particular golfing scenarios.  
         [0008]     The use of descriptive media for instruction or review of golf swings, lies etc. is known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 357,280 to Bechler discloses instructional golfing cards that can be used to teach or review different golf rules. However, Bechler&#39;s patent must be opened by fanning the booklet out which can make it more difficult to find particular cards and can become misfolded. The golfer would have to fold and unfold the entire set of cards every time he wanted to look at a single card unless the card known to be found near the beginning or end of the booklet. This booklet also does not provide for a means of attaching the cards to a golf bag. This invention has the additional deficiency of not providing particular aid for different golfing scenarios but instead gives basic golfing instructions and means of improving golf control. In addition, there is no protection from the rain and other inclement weather conditions.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,255 to Rodel discloses a cardholder for a plurality of cards that can be attached to a key ring. The holder is formed out of plastic and therefore has some resistance to rain. However, Rodel&#39;s patent does not disclose an application of using the cards to teach, does not mention golf or golf guides, and additionally does not contemplate a set of cards connected together for easy access to the different cards.  
         [0010]     While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a golf guide that allows for an easily access to cards that remind or teach golfers how to play a particular lie or correct for a difficult shot. The patents mentioned hereinabove make no provision for instructional media that can be attached to the golf bag and easily accessed on the golf course. The art disclosed herein does nothing to reinforce a golfer&#39;s teachings while they need the assistance when playing golf on the golf course or practicing at the driving range and do not provide for instructions on how to play through particular difficult shots and do not provide for attachment to the golf bag for easy access.  
         [0011]     Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved golf guide that can be used for teaching or reminding golfers how to approach particular golfing scenarios. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the golf guide according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of teaching or reminding golfers how to approach particular golfing scenarios.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of golfing booklets now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved golf guide, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved golf guide which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a golf guide which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.  
         [0013]     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a plurality of guide cards, wherein each card comprises a substantially flat front surface, a substantially flat back surface and a hole therethrough, the front surface and the back surface containing written and graphical descriptions of golfing scenarios. A connector such as a chain is threaded through the holes of the cards and clip, such as a key ring clip, is adapted for attaching the golf guide to a golf bag.  
         [0014]     In another aspect of the current invention, a deluxe golf guide is provided. The deluxe golf guide has a ringed binder and a plurality of guide cards, wherein each card comprises a substantially flat front surface, a substantially flat back surface and one or more holes therethrough for insertion into the ringed binder, the front surface and the back surface containing written and graphical descriptions of golfing scenarios. Also provided in the deluxe golf guide are a score card holder and a pencil holder. The binder optionally has holders for a yardage chart, golf tees, markers, and other golfing tools.  
         [0015]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.  
         [0016]     The invention may also be described by cards having dimensions of about 10 cm long by 7 cm wide. Preferably, the front surface of each card comprises a diagram of a golfing scenario and bulleted points and the back surface comprising a brief description of the golfing scenario.  
         [0017]     There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.  
         [0018]     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0019]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0020]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved golf guide that has all of the advantages of the prior art booklets and guides and none of the disadvantages.  
         [0021]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved golf guide that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.  
         [0022]     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved golf guide that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such golf guide economically available to the buying public. Two non-limiting versions of the parsaver golf guide are described. It is contemplated that the one version is an economical teaching aid and the deluxe version is appropriate for gifts and more all-inclusive option for purchase.  
         [0023]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new golf guide that provides in the apparatuses of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. The golf guide is provided for easy access to relevant information on the golf course.  
         [0024]     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of one embodiment of the golf guide as it is clipped to a golf bag and is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a descriptive view of one card of the golf guide of the present invention, showing both the front and back view of the card.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an illustrative of one embodiment of the golf guide of the present invention, where the cards are held in a ringed binder. 
     
    
       [0029]     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-3 , a preferred embodiment of the golf guide of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 .  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 1 , a new and improved golf guide  10  of the present invention for teaching or reminding golfers how to approach particular golfing scenarios is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the golf guide  10  has a number of cards  12 , each of which has at least one hole  14  extending through the card. A connector  16 , such as a metal chain, metal loop, or plastic loop extends through the hole in each of the cards connecting them together but allowing for facile access to the front and rear surface of each of the cards. A clip  18  is attached to the connector  16 . This clip is adapted for attaching the cards to a golf bag  20 . The clip  18  may also attach the cards to a golf cart or the golfer&#39;s clothing (such as through a belt loop etc.) or to the cart. The clip is preferably one similar to clips found on key ring attachments. In one embodiment, the clip is normally in a closed position and is opened by moving a lever, which opens the clip for as long as pressure is applied to the lever; the lever can be opened using a single hand.  
         [0032]     Attachment of the golf guide to a golf cart by means of a clip and connector allows the golfer to refer to the cards quickly and easily while on the golf course or driving range. The golfer can fan through the set of cards to find the appropriate card with ease.  
         [0033]     In one embodiment, these cards  12  are approximately 10 cm by 7 cm and approximately 0.5 mm thick. This size is selected because it is large enough for an image and text to be displayed and yet small enough not to add much additional bulk or weight to the golf bag. Other sizes of cards are also contemplated; for example, the cards may be 9×6 cm or 12×8 cm. The thickness of the cards depends on the materials used. Thicker cards may be produced with thicker stock of paper, plastic or plastic lamination. The cards will be less than 2.0 mm thick. The cards are waterproof, meaning that in the presence of drizzle or rainy conditions, the cards will not be destroyed. Any water found on the cards can be wiped off or allowed to evaporate and will not harm the cards.  
         [0034]     In  FIG. 2 , the front and back surfaces of a single card  12  are shown simultaneously. A hole  14  traversing through the thickness of the card can be seen in the upper left corner of the card. On the front surface of the card  22 , a diagram of a golfer is shown. A simple golfing diagram  24  depicting the set up or lie with easy-to-follow arrows demonstrating items such as the appropriate stance, club angle and position, and an appropriate swing is shown. Bulleted points  26  or “swing thoughts” help the golfer play the shot/set up correctly by describing the diagram and points to remember in the particular golfing scenario. On the back surface of the card  28 , a brief description  30  of the golfing scenario diagramed on the front of the card is shown. This brief description  30  concisely describes what will happen if the shot is played normally and how the golfer can adapt stance, swing, clubface, or other aspect of the game to compensate for the particular condition and get the desired results.  
         [0035]     This figure depicts a single card in the golfing guide of the current invention. A plurality of cards will be included in each golfing guide, with each card connected to one another through a connector attached through the hole  14  in each card. Preferably, there will be 10-40 cards, or more particularly 15-25 cards, or about 20 cards in a golfing guide. Each card in the set will depict a different golfing scenario, rule, or general game tip. It is contemplated that one card will index the golfing scenarios found on the other cards and that one card will be a title card for the set. It is also contemplated that several golfing guides as described in this invention will be available, each with a different set of golfing scenarios on the cards therein.  
         [0036]     The distinction between the front and back surfaces of the cards is arbitrary, and may be altered by moving the hole to the opposite upper corner of the card. However, when connected together, all golfing diagram  24  and bulleted points  26  should face in one direction and all brief descriptions  30  the other.  
         [0037]     The cards will address issues for golfing scenarios such as: how to prevent hooking, how to prevent slicing, how to stop topping the ball, how to get out of the bunker, how to hit the ball on a downhill lie, determining tee height and placement for different woods, reading how far away the flag is and playing a ball in a water hazard. Many other golfing scenarios will also be provided in one card set.  
         [0038]     The cards will give appropriate information for each scenario and provide suggestions on, for example, club selection, stance, weight distribution, club head angle, lie, loft, etc.  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the current invention. This embodiment is a “deluxe” golf guide  32 , and contains additional features. In this embodiment, multiple holes  14  are provided to attach the cards  12  to a ringed binder  34 . The binder  34  contains closable rings  36 , which can be snapped, closed to secure the cards  12  into the binder  24 . There may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more rings in the binder. Each card  12  will have the same number of holes  14  as the binder  34  has closable rings  36  and the holes  14  are spaced so that the cards  12  fit into the binder  34 . The binder also contains a holder or pocket for a scorecard  38  and one or more pencil holders  40  for one or more pencils  42 .  
         [0040]     Optionally, the deluxe golf guide  32  may contain a holder for a yardage guide showing the yardage and layout of the particular golf course, a handicap converting table, a description of the basic rules, a tablet of paper or a plastic sheet and marker for taking notes, and other various information. The deluxe golf guide  32  may contain a clip  18  for attachment of the golf guide binder  34  to a golf bag, golfer, cart, or other object easily accessible while on the golf course.  
         [0041]     The cards  12  will be made out of laminated paper or paperboard. Alternatively, the cards will be made out of a thin rigid sheet of plastic. The cards may be white paper printed with black ink and laminated with a clear plastic. Alternatively, the cards may comprise colored paper, colored ink, or colored plastic. The different colors may correspond with different aspects being taught (e.g. one color of text for a description of what happens when the golf ball is hit normally and a different color suggesting adjustments that can be made) or with different types of cards (e.g. one color of card for shots from the fairway and a different color of card for shots from the rough or hazards).  
         [0042]     In use, it can now be understood that the parsaver golf guide described herein may be used by novice or intermediate level golfers who want to better their game. It may be used by a golfer who is also engaged in lessons or by a golfer who wants to better his game alone. The different golfing scenarios will provide the golfer with ways of reminding him golfers how to play difficult shots or lies.  
         [0043]     While a preferred embodiment of the golf guide has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, any suitable material such as plastic laminated paper or paperboard, or plastic may be used. And although a parsaver golf guide depicting various golfing scenarios has been described, it should be appreciated that the golf guide herein described is also suitable for guiding a golfer through various golfing situations, and may include a set containing golfing rules, club selection and projected ball distances, golfing etiquette, etc.  
         [0044]     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

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