U.S. patent application number 12/330398 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-10 for golf club with slope indicator.
Invention is credited to Seok Ki Kim.
Application Number | 20100144457 12/330398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42226841 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100144457 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Seok Ki |
June 10, 2010 |
GOLF CLUB WITH SLOPE INDICATOR
Abstract
A golf club incorporates a slope indicator on its shaft to
enable a golfer to estimate the slope of a putting green. When the
golf club is placed on the ground, the slope indicator indicates a
degree of slope. The golfer may engage a lock for the slope
indicator. Engagement of the lock allows the golfer to lift the
club off the ground to inspect the slope indicator.
Inventors: |
Kim; Seok Ki; (Hong Kong,
HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P.
1 MARITIME PLAZA, SUITE 300
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111
US
|
Family ID: |
42226841 |
Appl. No.: |
12/330398 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/226 ;
473/404; 473/409 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20130101;
A63B 69/3685 20130101; A63B 2220/18 20130101; A63B 2220/833
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/226 ;
473/404; 473/409 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36; A63B 53/00 20060101 A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club, comprising: a shaft having a shaft axis; and a
scale disposed on the shaft, the scale including: an arm having a
first end, a second end, and a medial portion between the first and
second ends, a fixed reference indicia disposed adjacent the arm
and extending approximately parallel to the shaft axis, and a pivot
support defining a pivot point for the arm and supporting the arm
at its medial portion such that the arm can freely rotate within a
plane and about the pivot support, wherein the reference indicia
extends through the pivot point and at least one of the first end
and the second end when the golf club is placed on a zero-slope
surface, and wherein when the golf club is placed on a sloped
surface, the arm is adapted to displace by an angle relative to the
shaft, the angle being proportional to the degree of slope of the
surface; and a pivot lock for manually engaging the pivot support
and arm, such that with the lock engaged the arm is fixed in
rotation relative to the reference indicia and with the lock
disengaged the arm is free to rotate relative to the reference
indicia.
2. (canceled)
3. A golf club, comprising: a shaft having a shaft axis; and a
scale disposed on the shaft, the scale including: an arm having a
first end, a second end, and a medial portion between the first and
second ends, a fixed reference indicia disposed adjacent the arm
and extending approximately parallel to the shaft axis, and a pivot
support defining a pivot point for the arm and supporting the arm
at its medial portion such that the arm can freely rotate within a
plane and about the pivot support, wherein the reference indicia
extends through the pivot point and at least one of the first end
and the second end when the golf club is placed on a zero-slope
surface, and wherein when the golf club is placed on a sloped
surface, the arm is adapted to displace by an angle relative to the
shaft, the angle being proportional to the degree of slope of the
surface; and wherein the pivot support further includes a first
configuration in which the arm can freely rotate within a plane and
about the pivot support, and a second configuration in which the
arm cannot rotate within the plane; the golf club further including
a means for locking the pivot, comprising a stem received in a hole
of the shaft, the stem having, at one end, the pivot support and at
the opposite end a knob, wherein when the knob is pulled away from
the shaft hole, the pivot support is configured in a locked
position, preventing the arm from rotating within the plane, and
when the knob is pushed towards the hole the arm can freely rotate
within a plane and about the pivot support.
4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the pivot locking means
includes an abutting surface fixed relative to the club shaft and
adjacent the stem, wherein when the knob is pulled away from the
shaft hole, the arm is pulled towards the abutting surface and when
the arm is in contact with the abutting surface, friction holds the
arm in place, thereby preventing rotation within the plane until
the knob is pushed towards the hole.
5. The golf club of claim 4, further including a transparent glass
or plastic case enclosing the scale, and an opening in the golf
club shaft which receives the case, the case including a convex
lens.
6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the reference indicia is a
line extending through the first and second ends and the pivot
point.
7. The golf club of claim 6, the scale further including hash marks
extending approximately orthogonally of the arm, fixed relative to
the shaft and disposed adjacent one or both of the first and second
ends, the hash marks being indicative of a plurality of magnitudes
of angular displacements of the arm relative to the reference line
when the golf club lays on a sloped surface.
8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the scale is enclosed within
an at least a partially transparent case and the reference indicia
includes a first and second reference indicia, wherein when the
golf club lies on a zero-slope surface the first indicia is
viewable through the case while the second indicia is obstructed by
the arm, and when the golf club lies on a sloped surface both the
second and first indicia are viewable through the case.
9. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the first and second indicia
are a first and second colour, first and second pattern, and/or
first and second material.
10. A method for measuring a slope of a putting surface, comprising
the steps of providing a golf club having a scale disposed on the
shaft, the scale including an arm having a first end, a second end,
and a medial portion between the first and second ends, a fixed
reference indicia disposed adjacent the arm and extending
approximately parallel to the shaft axis, a pivot support defining
a pivot point for the arm and supporting the arm at its medial
portion such that the arm can freely rotate within a plane and
about the pivot support, and a pivot lock, wherein the reference
indicia extends through the pivot point and at least one of the
first end and the second end when the golf club is placed on a
zero-slope surface, and wherein when the golf club is placed on a
sloped surface, the arm is adapted to displace by an angle relative
to the shaft, the angle being proportional to the degree of slope
of the surface; placing the club on a sloped putting surface;
engaging the pivot lock, thereby locking the arm position relative
to the reference indicia; lifting the club from the putting surface
after the pivot lock has been engaged; and inspecting the slope of
the sloped putting surface by inspecting the arm position relative
to the reference indicia.
11. A method for measuring a slope of a putting surface, comprising
the steps of providing a golf club having a scale disposed on the
shaft, the scale including an arm that freely moves between a first
and second indicia disposed on the golf club when a pivot lock is
disengaged, and fixes the arm's position relative to the first and
second indicia when the lock is engaged; placing the club on a
sloped putting surface with the pivot lock disengaged; engaging the
pivot lock; lifting the club from the putting surface after the
pivot lock has been engaged; and inspecting the slope of the sloped
putting surface by inspecting the arm position relative to the
first and second reference indicia.
12. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the reference indicia is a
line extending through the first and second ends and the pivot
point.
13. The golf club of claim 12, the scale further including hash
marks extending approximately orthogonally of the arm, fixed
relative to the shaft and disposed adjacent one or both of the
first and second ends, the hash marks being indicative of a
plurality of magnitudes of angular displacements of the arm
relative to the reference line when the golf club lays on a sloped
surface.
14. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the scale is enclosed within
an at least a partially transparent case and the reference indicia
includes a first and second reference indicia, wherein when the
golf club lies on a zero-slope surface the first indicia is
viewable through the case while the second indicia is obstructed by
the arm, and when the golf club lies on a sloped surface both the
second and first indicia are viewable through the case.
15. The golf club of claim 14, wherein the first and second indicia
are a first and second color, first and second pattern, and/or
first and second material.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to golf clubs and in
particular golf putters.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many golfers have difficulty `reading` a green so as to putt
the golf ball to the pin with the correct speed and direction. In
particular it may be difficult to assess the slope of the green,
especially if the slope is slight or changes direction.
[0003] What is required is a simple means of determining green
slope (if any) so as to allow a novice golfer to improve his game,
and to learn to `read` a green. Such a device would be particularly
useful as a training aid.
[0004] There have been other attempts to provide a device for
measuring the slope, such as a spirit level. Examples of golf clubs
that use a spirit level are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,755,623,
4,179,125, 5,209,470, 5,820,476, 2,919,491, and Great Britain Pat.
No. 2318980, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety for all purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the invention there is a golf club that
includes a scale for indicating the slope of a putting surface. The
scale is preferably located on the shaft envelope, although it
could be located along other areas of the golf club, such as a
putter. The scale includes a weight balanced arm and a reference
line. When the putter is placed on the putting surface, the arm
moves relative to the reference line if there is a slope, i.e.,
inclination, to the putting surface. If there is no slope to the
putting surface, then the arm does not move relative to the
reference line.
[0006] The scale may include a cover, for example a slidable door
or sleeve, to protect the face thereof from weather and dirt. A
cover or sleeve may also be incorporated so that the club may be
converted from training mode (scale exposed for use) and
competition (sleeve slid over scale so that it cannot be used).
[0007] The scale may conveniently be incorporated within one
component of the golf club, for example the handle, shaft or head,
so as to facilitate manufacture and assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other features of the invention will be apparent from the
following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of
example only in the accompanying drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putter having a scale
disposed on its shaft.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a portion of the putter shaft
and a close-up view of the scale of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3A is a side view close-up of the scale of FIG. 1. FIG.
3B is a top, cross-sectional view of the scale as taken from
section IV-IV in FIG. 3B. The scale includes an arm balanced about
a rotation axis and a reference line to indicate the degree of
rotation of the arm about the rotation axis.
[0012] FIGS. 4A-4B are two top views of the scale as taken from
section IV-IV in FIG. 3B. FIG. 4A depicts a first, unlocked or free
rotation position for the arm and FIG. 4B depicts a second, locked
position for the arm.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a scale with hash marks.
[0014] FIGS. 6A-6B shows an alternative embodiment of the scale.
According to these embodiments, different colors are used to
indicate whether there is a slope to the putting surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in perspective view a
putter 1 with a scale 10 mounted to the putter shaft 2. The shaft 2
includes a lower end 2a that is connected to the putting head 4,
e.g. via a hosel. The upper end 2b of the shaft 2 receives a grip
7.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the scale 10 indicates the degree of
slope to a green by utilizing a pair of weighted ends 15a, 15b of a
balance arm 14 configured to freely rotated about a shaft assembly
30. The degree of movement of the arm 14 is appreciated by
inspecting the deviation of the arm 14 relative to a fixed
reference line 18 formed on the front surface of a backboard or
reference surface 30, the scale 10 may be enclosed in a glass or
plastic case 11. The case 11 may be formed as a diverging convex
lens, which magnifies the relative positioning between the arm and
reference line 18 for ease of viewing by the golfer.
[0017] When the putter 1 is placed on the putting surface in the
manner shown in FIG. 2, i.e., with the reference line 18 extending
parallel to the slope of the green and the rotation axis A (see
FIG. 3B) orientated substantially perpendicular to the vertical,
the arm 14 will rotate clockwise or counter clockwise if the slope
of the putting surface is at an angle to the horizontal. The degree
of slope may then be understood by the angle .theta. between the
reference line 18 and the arm 14.
[0018] Regardless of the tilt or slope of the putter, the arm 14
will extend parallel to the horizontal when the arm 14 is balanced
about its support point 20. Thus, in FIG. 2 the scale 10 indicates
the degree of slope of the putting surface based on the difference
between the horizontal (arm 14 orientation) and the slope of the
green (reference line 18). The difference in degree of slope being
indicated by the angle .theta. between line 14 and line 18. In some
embodiments, this perturbation or rotation may be expressed
visually to the golfer by simply inspecting the relative locations
of the lines 14, 18, by using reference hash marks or reference
lines displayed across the surface 30 or placed on the
glass/plastic cover 11, or by using distinguishing colors or
patterns (see FIGS. 6A-6B).
[0019] According to another aspect of the disclosure, the scale 10
includes a locking feature that enables a golfer to pick up the
putter to inspect the slope depicted on the scale 10. Referring to
FIGS. 4A-4B, which shows a cross-sectional view of the scale 10 as
in FIG. 3B, the scale includes a shaft 20 about which the arm 14
pivots. The shaft includes a head 21, a lower end having a knob 24
and a fitting 2e that allows shaft to be pulled and pushed up or
down, as indicated in FIGS. 4A-4B. When the knob 24 is pushed
upwards as shown in FIG. 4A, the head 21 is separated from the
surface 30 and does not obstruct the rotation of the arm 14, so
that the arm 14 can freely rotate about the shaft 20. When the head
21 is brought down to abut the surface 30, as indicated by
reference 23 in FIG. 4B, the head 21 is pulled into abutment with
the surface 30 and arm 14, thereby retraining free rotation of the
arm 14. The knob 24 may be easily pressed towards the shaft opening
2e, or pulled away from the shaft opening 2e to selectively
engage/disengage the head 21 from the arm 14 by known methods in
the art, e.g., by having a resilient, plastic ledge that engages
with a ridge formed on the shaft 26 that selectively positions the
head 21 in the locked (FIG. 4B) or unlocked position (FIG. 4A).
This locking feature enables a golfer to pick up the putter to
inspect the slope indicated on the scale 10 without disrupting the
relative position between the arm 14 and reference line 18.
[0020] In use, the golfer would first place the putter 1 on the
ground in the manner shown in FIG. 2 (so that the rotation axis A
is about perpendicular to the vertical) and allow the arm 14 to
come to rest. Next, the golfer would pull the knob 24 out (FIG. 4B)
so as to fix the arm 14 in its balance position relative to the
reference line 18. The golfer may then pick up the putter to
visually inspect the position of the arm 14 relative to the line
18. This locking feature can obviate the need for a golfer to have
to bend down to an uncomfortable position in order to inspect the
scale 10.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 6A-6B, According to some embodiments, the
scale 10 may include hash marks 40 that can be used to inspect the
degree of slope, i.e., the amount that the arm 14 has rotated
relative to the reference line 18. According to other embodiments,
a scale 50 includes arms 14 which have a first color 52 and are
shaped to cover a second color 54 when the putting surface is flat
(FIG. 6A). When the putter 1 is placed on a sloped surface (FIG.
6B), the arm 14 having a first color 52 surface rotates to expose
the second color 54. The first color 52 may be, for example, green
and the second color 54 red.
[0022] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the art that changes and modifications can be made without
departing from this invention in its broader aspects. Therefore,
the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such
changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope
of this invention.
* * * * *