U.S. patent application number 10/706226 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-15 for focused beam emitting golf ball like device for putter aim testing and training.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rohrer Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Rohrer, John W..
Application Number | 20040137997 10/706226 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32717690 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040137997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rohrer, John W. |
July 15, 2004 |
Focused beam emitting golf ball like device for putter aim testing
and training
Abstract
A laser or other focused beam is mounted in a device with the
appearance from above of a golf ball which device can either rest
on the ground in contact with a putterface or be attached to a
putterhead or other clubhead such that the focused beam is at a 90
degree angle to the putterface. After the device user is satisfied
that the club is properly aimed or aligned at a target, the laser
beam is activated via a wired foot, or finger, or wireless switch
such that the actual aim can be compared on a visible or blind
screen behind the target with the intended target. The device can
be used with any putter for putter training, putter club fitting,
and putter aim testing and selection.
Inventors: |
Rohrer, John W.; (York,
ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John W. Rohrer
5 Long Cove Rd.
York
ME
03909
US
|
Assignee: |
Rohrer Technologies, Inc.
York
ME
|
Family ID: |
32717690 |
Appl. No.: |
10/706226 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60430467 |
Dec 3, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/220 ;
473/221; 473/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/3614 20130101;
A63B 69/3685 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/220 ;
473/221; 473/236 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/36 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device with the appearance of a golf ball, or similarly sized
white or light colored circle or disc, when viewed from above with
a stable mounting or integral base underneath with an embedded
focused beam of light or other energy source which device can be
placed attached or unattached in front of the face of a golf putter
or other club such that the focused beam is at right angles to such
clubface for purposes of determining the actual orientation, aim,
or alignment of such clubface relative to an intended target when
such light source is activated.
2. The device of claim 1 where the focused beam is a laser or other
visible light source.
3. The device of claim 1 where the focused beam is an infrared or
other non-visible source.
4. The device of claim 1 where the focused beam is a radio
frequency or electro-magnetic source.
5. The device of claim 1 where the mounting-base is set on the
ground or a floor unattached to the clubhead and in flush contact
with a clubface such that the focused beam is at a normal angle to
such clubface.
6. The device in claim 1 where the mounting base is rigidly or
flexibly attachable to a putterhead, or clubhead face, or sole via
pressure sensitive adhesives, suction cups, straps, mechanical
clips or other means such that the focused beam is at a normal
angle to such clubface.
7. The device of claim 1 provided with interchangeable bases per
claim 5 and claim 6.
8. The device of claim 1 having a mechanical means in the mounting
base such as mating curved groves and ridges, slotted holes or the
like for adjusting the height of the focused beam relative to the
ground or a floor while maintaining the beam at right angles to the
clubface or the mounting base member contacting said clubface.
9. The device of claim 1 having the mounting base of claim 6 with a
flexible hinge, tape strip, or other suitable means allowing the
focus beam of the device to maintain its height or attitude
relative to the floor or ground when the user moves the club shaft
fore or aft.
10. The device of claim 1 with mounting base where the device with
mounting base and/or the floor activation button is weighted above
50 grams to prevent movement of either while the user is aligning
the clubhead.
11. The device of claim 1 with the mounting base where the device
with mounting base and/or floor activation button has a soft flat
elastomer bottom with multiple small projections or feet to firmly
grasp both flat hard slippery floor surfaces and textured grass or
carpeted surfaces without unintended movement during use.
12. The device of claim 1 where activation of the beam is via a
foot push button or switch connected to the device via wires.
13. The device of claim 1 where activation of the beam is via a
finger operated push button or switch detachably connected to the
club grip or upper club shaft in such position as to not disturb
the users normal grasp of the club, such push, button or switch
connected to the focused beam device via wires.
14. The device of claim 1 where activation of the focus beam is via
a button or switch on the device or its mounting base, or club
attachment means activated by a forward, downward or upward
movement of the putterhead relative to the base or device by the
user.
15. The device of claim 1 wirelessly connected to a focus beam
activation button or switch.
16. The device of claim 1 where the battery or other energy source
is located remotely from the device.
17. The device of claim 1 with a vertically oriented optional user
shielded backs top screen which can be placed behind the intended
target and approximately normal to its focused beam to show and/or
sense such focused beam and its position relative to an intended
target on or in front of such screen.
18. The device of claim 1 with backstop screen of claim 17 with
multiple photo or RF/EM/IR sensitive sensors connected to a
dedicated or computer display showing actual clubhead orientations
when the focused beam is activated relative to the intended target.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Numerous laser and other optical alignment devices have been
proposed for putters and other golf clubs. Almost all such devices
have one or more light sources, either in the clubhead, attached to
the clubhead, generally above it and above ball height, or attached
to the putter shaft or hosel near the clubhead. None of the above
have gained wide popularity as putter training devices because they
are cumbersome or inaccurate to set up and use, and present a
substantially different optical picture than the golfer will see on
the course during actual play. If a single centered laser is
embedded into a putterface, it cannot be aimed or aligned at a
target with a golf ball in front of it (ball blocks light)
resulting in an unrealistic alignment picture. Numerous putterheads
with two lasers (toe and heal) have been proposed allowing ball
placement in between to overcome this problem. The two laser beams
are offset left and right of the target requiring compensation for
the actual target. These putters do not conform to the United
States Golf Association (USGA) Rules of Golf and, therefore, the
golfer must use another putter during actual play.
[0002] Other designs attach a single laser above the clubface high
enough to shoot over a golf ball. This creates an optical picture
substantially different than the user's usual on-course putter.
Many others have proposed shaft or hosel mounted laser alignment
devices with a single focused beam or numerous dots along the
target line. These devices are difficult and time e consuming to
line up accurately. Set up is range sensitive. For example, if
aligned properly for 20 feet, they must be realigned if practice is
desired at 10 feet.
[0003] All of the above devices are extremely shaft angle
sensitive. The beam hits the ground in front of the target or goes
skyward above any target backstop if the user moves the puttershaft
more than a few degrees from true vertical. Few, if any, of the
devices have user remote activation of the light source. If the
light is turned on before the user aims, he uses the light, not his
own skills, to aim or align to the target. Nothing is learned. None
accommodate "blind testing" where the user does not learn of his
aim test results until several aims are completed, and therefore
can't cheat by using one aim test result to "adjust" or improve the
next one.
[0004] Putterhead or shaft mounted lasers, and other light or
mirror based putters, are illegal for actual play under USGA rules.
You must therefore play actual rounds without the above devices
creating a different aim picture. The shaft and putterhead
detachable mounted lasers are difficult to mount and align making
them impractical for comparing alternative putters (to see which
ones you aim best) or testing alternative putting setups and
stances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention describes an inexpensive, easy to use
laser or other focused beam based aim training or testing device
which can be used with any putter (or other club) without time
consuming or cumbersome setup and adjustment. It is either
unattached or flexibly attached to the putterhead. It can be used
with or without an optional recording backstop screen and can have
a user activated remote switch, for either "blind testing" (where
you don't see and, therefore, cannot adjust from your prior aim and
"shot"), or full view testing. Unlike others, it is not shaft angle
or loft sensitive. The device presents a realistic visual picture
of any putter with a ball centered in front of it. Golfers can
easily use the device themselves in a golf shop or home to find the
putter they can consistently "aim" the best or to find the stance
and setup-putting their optical aim on the target line.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0006] There are numerous examples of single or duel lasers or
lights embedded into putterheads including U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,458,038; 5,980,393; 5,810,674; 5,593,354; 5,482,283; 5,169,150;
5,165,691; and possibly others. These putters are non-conforming to
the USGA Rules of Golf and, therefore, cannot be used in normal
play, requiring a different putter for play vs. practice. The
single central embedded clubhead laser or light can't be used with
a ball in front creating an unnatural unrealistic optical picture.
The twin lasers are offset from the ball target line requiring
compensation. They can't be used to test the aim or alignment of
any other putters. They are extremely loft and lie sensitive where
a slight shifting of the user's hand position shoots the beam in
wayward directions, hitting the floor before the target or shooting
over it. They lack remote user activation buttons which a user can
engage only after one feels his aim and alignment are correct. If
the laser remains on during aiming, the user is tempted to "cheat"
using the laser beam not the putterhead to aim. No user vision
shielded backstop screens are described which are necessary for
"blind tests."
[0007] Numerous other examples describe lasers, mirrors, or focused
beams permanently or removably attached to the top of putterheads.
These allow more realistic use of a golf ball in front of the
putterface and do not require aim compensation like twin laser
putterheads, but the laser mount, or mirror, or light source
presents an unrealistic optical picture for aiming vs. putters used
in actual play. Like all devices rigidly affixed to putterheads or
shafts, they are loft and lie sensitive, and they lack user remote
activation buttons allowing users to "cheat" by using the beam to
aim rather than learn their true-aiming tendencies. They also
lack-user shielded backstop screens for "blind testing." Those with
removable lasers can be USGA legal, but realignment of the lasers
once removed is time consuming, inaccurate and cumbersome. Examples
of putterhead attached devices include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,383,087;
6,371,864 B1; 6,095,930; 5,725,439; 5,709,609, 5,611,739;
5,464,221; 5,388,832; 5,330,188; 5,213,331; and 5,193,812.
[0008] Perhaps the most popular type of laser-putter systems
involve putter shaft attached devices. Some are-attached low, at or
near the club Hosel and throw a single beam, either offset 4" to
12" from the target line, or aimed from a different angle making
tedious readjustment and calibration necessary every time the
target to putter distance is changed. Other higher shaft mounts
project multi-dots along the putterhead target tine (again after
tedious adjustment). Still others bounce the shaft mounted lasers
off 45 degree angle oriented mirrors mounted on top of the
putterhead destroying-any realistic looking siting pictures. All of
the above are loft and lie sensitive, lack user shielded backstop
screens and lack user operated remote activation (except U.S. Pat.
No. 5,472,204). Shaft mount examples include U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,238,298 B1, 6,149,537, 5,725,440, 5,494,290 and 5,207,429.
[0009] Prior art discloses only two putter alignment devices which
lie on the ground unattached to a putter like the present,
invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,897 describes a laser device which
is laid on the ground (by user or assistant) against the putterface
after the user has attained his aim and removed the golf ball. This
is cumbersome and time consuming with a very high likelihood that
the aim will be lost before the procedure is done, especially if
the user attempts this unassisted. Both the device and its use
differ substantially from the subject invention. The other U.S.
Pat. No. 4,997,189 to Pelz, requires accurate mounting of a mirror
on the putter toe at precisely a 90 degree angle from the face and
exact, alignment of a light source/sensor box (with top display)
parallel to the putter-target line. If the user moves the putter
toward or away from the sensor box, the alignment is off. Neither
device describes user remote activation buttons or user shielded
recordable backstop screens. U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,038 B1 does
describe a photo-sensitive screen with remote display, but uses a
single non-user shielded backstop and putterhead embedded light
source with all the limitations of same previously described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present invention in intimate
contact with a typical putterhead. The focused beam emitting
device, a small laser in this embodiment, is embedded in a sphere
having the size and appearance of a golf ball, which is attached to
a base sitting stably on the ground. Two alternative focused beam
activation means are shown.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the same embodiment
of present invention again in intimate contact with a putterhead.
An attitude adjustment means for the focused beam is shown as are
two activation means.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the present invention showing
the typical location of a golfer's eye above a typical putter in
conjunction with a user blind recordable backstop screen of the
present invention placed behind the target aim point (typically the
center of a golf cup or white floor disc of cup size). The focused
beam impacts the screen to show or record the golfers actual aim
vs. his intended aim (at the center of the cup or aim target).
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of an alternative embodiment
of the present invention where the laser ball device is preferably
flexibly attached with pressure sensitive tape or the like to the
sole of a typical putter such that the focused beam is normal to
the putterface when viewed from above. Attitude adjustment and
activation means are also shown.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The present invention utilizes a focused beam device of
visible or non-visible light or other energy to determine or
improve a golfer's ability to aim or align any putter, or other
club, accurately at a specific target. Because the device has the
size, shape, and appearance of a golf ball, when viewed by a golfer
from above, and can be used with any putter, it has the identical
optical appearance of an actual ball being addressed and aimed by a
golfer with a putter (or other club).
[0015] The present invention also incorporates one ore more remote
user activated beam activation means and an optional user blind
recordable backstop screen placed behind the intended aim target
(typically the center of a golf cup or similarly sized flat white
disc on the ground). This allows the user to aim, shoot, and record
several alignments without using the visible focused beam to
improve aim (i.e., cheat), again exactly simulating actual playing
conditions where such visible aiming beams are not permitted under
the Rules of Golf.
[0016] The present invention is, therefore, useful in determining
or improving a golfer's aiming accuracy with a specific putter or
club (i.e., the relative dispersion of multiple shots at a target),
as well as, average alignment error (i.e., the location of the shot
grouping center relative to the intended target point). Aiming
accuracy (shot dispersion) is primarily influenced by the optical
appearance of specific putterheads when viewed (aimed) by a golfer
from above with a ball in place. At a range of 20 feet, a typical
golfer might have an aim dispersion of 12 inches with one putter
and less than half that with another better optically suited to
him. The same golfer might have an alignment error of 3.degree.
left with one putter, stance or setup and 0.degree. with another
putter, stance or setup.
[0017] The subject invention, therefore allows a golfer to select
the best putter, stance, and setup to optimize both aim accuracy
and alignment. It also allows improvement through practice aiming
not possible by actually stroking a ball which introduces swing
errors and green errors (breaking slopes and grass grain moving a
ball off line). The subject invention represents a major
improvement over the current art of golf laser or light aiming
devices because:
[0018] 1. It is the only device presenting an optically realistic
picture of the user's actual playing putter (unencumbered by any
shaft or clubhead mounted light sources) addressing a golf
ball.
[0019] 2. Since the focused beam is in the ball which stays flat on
the ground and not rigidly attached to the club or shaft, it is not
loft or Iie sensitive, with the beam hitting the ground in front of
the clubhead if the player moves his hands forward, and skyward if
he moves his hands rearward.
[0020] 3. The device can be used with all USGA legal clubs (which
cannot have focused light sources) without cumbersome, time
consuming, inaccurate light source or mirror attachment to the
clubhead or clubshaft and adjustment.
[0021] 4. It can be used with its optional backstop screen to blind
test aim a putter such that the user cannot "cheat" by using the
visible light beam from one aim test to improve the next.
[0022] 5. It incorporates users activatable beam activation means
(wireless or wired floor, grip mounted or remote button) keeping
the beam off until the user feels he has achieved correct aim.
[0023] The preferred embodiments are more fully described in'the
drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan or overhead view of a typical putter 10
with shaft 11 and face 12 in sliding contact with the rear face 9
of the subject invention, which contains a base 5 preferably either
of transparent or translucent plastic or painted green to take it
out of optical view. The base is of sufficient size, weight, and
bottom flatness to sit firmly on a putting green, carpet, or smooth
floor without significant tipping or canting fore and aft or side
to side. A focus beam holder 1 is attached to, or an integral part
of, the base 5 and has the appearance of a golf ball when viewed
from above. A focused beam emitting source 2, such as a small laser
is embedded into the holder 1 facing forward toward the target 28
with aim point 26 and at a 90 degree angle from the base rear face
9 in contact with a putter 10 (or other club). The source emits a
focused energy beam 3 such as visible or non-visible (IR or UV)
light or an electromagnetic beam (RF). The beam source 2 contains
an energy source 4 such as batteries or alternatively such energy
source 4 can be remote from the beam source 2 such as near the
floor or club shaft-activation means 7 or push button or pressure
switch connected by wires 6. The energy source 4 can also be in the
holder 1 or base 5. Alternative activation means include a pressure
contact switch 8 on the rear face of the base 5 which activates
when contacted by the face 12 of a club 10 or a wireless remote
activation switch (not shown).
[0024] FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of the embodiment shown and
described in FIG. 1. The base 5 has an optional weighing means 14
to provide stability against unintended movements and an adjustment
screw or other means 15 to adjust the angle or attitude of the beam
3 relative to the ground or floor. Also shown is an
elastomer-bottom surface 16 to prevent slippage on smooth surfaces
with multiple small feet or spikes 17 to hold position in grass or
carpet pile., An optional mating groove or circular keyway 18
between the beam holder 1 and base or base weight (5 or 14),
oriented on the target line allows attitude adjustment of the beam
3 without disturbing its 90 degree orientation with the base rear
putter contacting surface 9.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a golfer's eye above a putter shaft 11 with
optional shaft or grip mounted beam activation means 27 or floor,
button 7 with the beam 3 shooting over the target point (the center
26 of a golf hole 28) before passing through a transparent or
translucent backstop screen 22 and contacting either removable
manual marked or light sensitive recording paper 23, or a photo, or
other energy sensitive electronic sensor screen (also 23). If the
electronic sensor screen is, used, it can be wire or wirelessly
connected to a display screen 27 showing the dispersion and
alignment of one or more aim attempts 25 vs. the intended target
26. A top shield 20 can be used to prevent the golfer from seeing
above line 29, the light beam location of his prior aim attempts
and using it to "adjust" subsequent attempts. "Blind" putter aim
tests and training are therefore possible. The top shield 20 can be
adjusted up or down via adjustable legs 21. The user's eye to
target line is shown as 19.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of an alternative embodiment
of the present invention which can use the same or smaller base 30,
with rear face 31 under the golf ball shaped holder 1 with beam
source 2 and optional attitude adjustment means 15 and 18 as
previously described. A plastic sheet, or film, or tape strip 32
attaches the base 5 or 30 of FIG. 2 or FIG. 4, respectively, to the
bottom of a putter 10 or other club via pressure sensitive adhesive
34, or similar means, such that the rear of the base (9 in FIG. 2
or 3 in FIG. 4) is in contact with the putterface 12. Part 33, or
all of the sheet, or film, or tape strip 32 can act as a flexible
hinge such that the putter's loft can be changed by the user (by
moving this hands fore or aft relative the putterhead) without
changing the attitude of the beam 3 which could otherwise either
strike the ground in front of the target (28 in FIG. 3) or shoot
over the backstop screen (22 and 23 in FIG. 3). Also shown is an
alternative activation switch 35 which can be activated by pressing
the putter or club downward.
[0027] In another preferred embodiment (not shown), a white or
light colored circle or disc, approximately the diameter of a golf
ball and located in a substantially horizontal plane on the device,
replaces the golf ball shaped device of the present invention.
[0028] Other embodiments incorporating the principles of the
invention described herein are also a part of the present
invention.
* * * * *