U.S. patent application number 13/861535 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-12 for golf stroke alignment system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Woodrow C. Stillwagon. Invention is credited to Woodrow C. Stillwagon.
Application Number | 20140162801 13/861535 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50881556 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140162801 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stillwagon; Woodrow C. |
June 12, 2014 |
Golf Stroke Alignment System
Abstract
The interactive alignment system incorporates a luminescent
element that highlights the club's centerline to facilitate aiming
and provides a tangential projected halo on the golf ball from the
center of club's face that helps visual targeting of the swing
stroke.
Inventors: |
Stillwagon; Woodrow C.;
(Greenville, SC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stillwagon; Woodrow C. |
Greenville |
SC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50881556 |
Appl. No.: |
13/861535 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61797627 |
Dec 12, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/3614 20130101;
A63B 53/042 20200801; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 53/0487 20130101;
A63B 53/0441 20200801; A63B 53/04 20130101; A63B 60/00
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/220 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36 |
Claims
1. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body, that happens to
be a putter, having a ball striking surface, a top surface when
viewed from the ball address position, and an alignment aid that
includes a luminescent means that is perpendicular to the ball
striking surface of club, provided on or integrally formed as part
of the top surface that extends along the club head from the ball
striking face to the rear area of the club head to help improve
alignment and accuracy.
2. The luminescent means in claim 1 is a polymer with special
optical properties that absorb and condense light from its
surroundings through the smooth cast surface and re-emit the light
in a concentrated form at its cut narrow edge.
3. The luminescent means in claim 1 can extend along the centerline
of the club from the ball striking surface to the club's heal.
4. The vertical luminescent means in claim 3 mounts on surface of
the golf head.
5. The vertical luminescent means in claim 3 can bifurcate the face
of the golf club head.
6. The vertical luminescent means in claim 3 is exposed partially
on the face of the golf club head.
7. The light emitted in claim 2 projected upward to highlight the
club's centerline and facilitate aiming.
8. The light emitted in claim 2 projects forward from the ball
striking surface and projects a halo on a golf ball that is tangent
to the face of the golf club.
9. The projected halo in claim 8 provides a visible target on the
ball for striking.
10. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body, that happens to
be a putter, having a ball striking surface, a top surface when
viewed from the ball address position, and an alignment aid that
includes a luminescent means that is embedded in the center of the
ball striking surface of club, provided in the face of the club
head that extends from the striking face to the rear area of the
club head to improve alignment and accuracy.
11. The luminescent means in claim 10 is a polymer with special
optical properties that absorbs and condenses light from its
surroundings through the smooth cast surface and re-emits the light
in a concentrated form from its core.
12. The luminescent means in claim 11 penetrates the body of the
club and extends from the face to the opposite surface of the
club.
13. The light emitted in claim 11 projects forward from the face of
the club and creates a halo on a golf ball that is tangent to the
face of the golf club.
14. The projected halo in claim 13 provides a visible target on the
ball for striking.
15. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body, that happens to
be a putter, having a ball striking surface, a top surface when
viewed from the ball address position, and an alignment aid that
includes a luminescent insert means with a perpendicular notch in
the center of the ball striking surface of the insert in the face
of the club to improve putting alignment and accuracy.
16. The luminescent means in claim 15 is a polymer with special
optical properties that absorb and condense light from its
surroundings through the smooth cast surface and re-emit the light
in a concentrated form from its cut notched edge.
17. A cut perpendicular notch is selectively beveled into the
rearward facing insert that joins the luminescent face insert to
the insert recess in the golf club body.
18. The surfaces that flank the selectively beveled notch are not
altered to absorb available surrounding light.
19. The light emitted from the selectively beveled notch in claim
17 projects forward from the club's face and creates a halo on a
golf ball that is tangent to golf club.
20. The projected halo in claim 19 provides a visible target on the
ball for striking.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/797,677 filed Dec. 13, 2012, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention combines long evolved putter club
design, but not limited to, with a modern optically enhance plastic
to help better align the club and focus on the ball during the
putting stroke of a golfer. The teachings of this invention are
applicable to the design of all golf clubs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Golf is frequently referred to as being a `game that is 50%
fun and 50% putting`. Typically it takes 1, 2, 3 and sometime more
shots (strokes) to hit your golf ball from the tee to the putting
green. The golfer tries to hit the ball as far as possible between
the golf tee and the putting green. However, once the ball is on
the green (putting surface), the skilled golfers will then try to
limit the number of strokes on the green to 1 or 2 putts. On the
green the emphasis is different; the golfer needs to focus on
accurately aiming and stroking of the golf ball.
[0004] Helping the golfer to better aim his putt, all putting clubs
have some type of alignment means included on top of the club head
of the putter. This alignment means could include a black or white
line, a scribed line, series white discs, a notch, a slot et cetera
on the top surface of the club. These alignment means usually
extend from the front of the hitting surface to the back of the
club.
[0005] Before the golfer approaches the ball to putt, many golfers
first `mark` the ball and reposition the ball in such a way that
the ball's name or a scribed reference line can be used as a
reference to help aim the putt with the face of the putter. Because
the golfer must stoop to place the ball on the ground, it is
difficult to accurately reposition and align the ball. After the
ball has been repositioned, the golfer places his putter behind the
ball and tries to align the ball's name or scribed reference line
and the centerline markings on the club head. Commonly there is a
little misalignment between the ball and the putter alignment
means. Usually, the golfer favors the club alignment means over the
positioning of the golf ball. Unfortunately, choosing the putter
for alignment distracts the golfer's attention away from focusing
on the golf ball to focusing on the putter's club head. Good
putters don't focus on the putter head. Both teaching and playing
professional golfers overwhelmingly favor 4:1 the need to
concentrate the golfer's attention on the ball over focusing on the
club head to be a successful putter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] This invention transforms the putter into becoming an
interactive element in the putting process. Imbedding a colored,
transparent polymer like Acrilex's Fluorescent, Edge Color and LISA
Acrylic plastics or ComPlex Plastics' Fluorescent Edge Acrylic
plastic, but not limited to, creates a light emitting source that
highlights the club's centerline and helps align the putter. At the
same time, the Acrylic plastic projects a glowing halo forward on
the circumference of the golf ball that is tangent to the putter's
face. The optically brightened Acrylic plastic element is
sandwiched or embedded along the centerline and/or across the face
of the putter between the front hitting area and the club's heal.
It is desirable that all or a portion of the brightened plastic
element be exposed to visible light. The fluorescence of the
plastic element is governed by the laws of geometric optics and
light refraction. When light passes from a medium of high optical
density to a medium of lower optical density, only a small portion
of the fluorescent light can be emitted at the interface between
the plastic and air. Most of the light is repeatedly reflected back
and forth inside the material. The trapped light can emerge most
effectively through the exposed narrow and/or beveled edge of
material. A portion of the light trapped between the flat surfaces
can be deflected through the opposing flat surface by the
application of a reflective coating on the first flat surfaces. The
same application of a reflective coating can be used to amplify
edge brightness.
[0007] The Acrylic insert can be cast, thermoformed, mechanically
cut, drilled, routed, laser cut, bonded, wedged, riveted, press
fit, and glued to complement the unique physical design of the club
head. The luminescence of the Acrylic element can be amplified, a
portion of the surface may be printed, hot stamped, scribed,
beveling or silk screened. Choice of the Acrylic element's color
can complement the best color acuity of golfer.
[0008] The golfer, when using the interactive guidance system,
places his putter directly behind the ball. Sighting the luminated
Acrylic plastic line on the top edge of the putter, the golfer then
positions the putter to aim striking the ball on the trajectory the
golfer believes will best to stroke the ball and make the putt. The
same luminated Acrylic line that facilitates putter alignment
projects a forward glow from its face on the golf ball that is
tangent to the club. The light halo that is created on the ball is
most intense at the optimal point of contact when being stroked by
the putter. The luminated point of contact on the ball now becomes
the center of focus for the golfer about to strike his putt. The
point of contact momentarily imprints the mind of the golfer and
the focus of the putting stroke. Shifting the golfer's focus to the
golf ball will improve alignment and putt accuracy.
[0009] In applications where traditional putt alignment methods are
preferred, a single or double bevel undercut on the backside of the
Acrylic plastic club face insert will project a luminated halo on
the optimal point of contact on the golf ball for stroking a
putt.
[0010] The alignment and highlighting optimal contact point
teachings disclosed are not limited to the putter and can be
usefully adapted to other golf clubs like irons, woods and a hybrid
clubs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a generic putter and golf ball.
[0012] FIG. 1a illustrates a front view of a generic putter.
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates an insert modified putter and golf
ball.
[0014] FIG. 2a illustrates a front view of a bifurcated putter.
[0015] FIG. 2b illustrates a front view of a putter with partial
insert.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a through hole modified generic putter
with golf ball.
[0017] FIG. 3a illustrates a front view of a thru hole generic
putter.
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a generic putter head with a beveled face
insert.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The present invention seeks to help the golfer improve
putting performance by better alignment of the putt and
highlighting the point of contact on the golf ball. The Acrylic
element in the club head that highlights the golf ball collects
and/or absorbs light from their surroundings, conducting it within
the material and re-emitting a greatly amplified of the light in a
concentrated form at its edge. The majority of the illustrations
demonstrate the critical interaction between the putter and the
golf ball.
[0020] As a point of reference, FIG. 1 depicts a typical Putter 10,
with its Putter Top 12, Putter Heal 13, Putter Hosel 14, Putter
Center Line 15. In the putting process, the golfer tries to align
the Putter Center Line 15 with the Golf Ball 35. Best putting
results occur when the Putter Center Line 15 is tangent with the
Golf Ball 35. Currently, the golfer must proximate the tangent
alignment between the Putter Center Line 15 and the Golf Ball 35.
FIG. 1a provides a prospective front view of the Putter Face 11,
Putter Top 12 with its Putter Hosel 14 and Putter Center Line
15.
[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a Modified Putter 19 with its Putter Top 12,
Putter Heal 13, and Putter Hosel 14 that has been upgraded with
Highlighted Surface 30 and Light Adsorbing Surface 31. Light is
captured by the Light Adsorbing Surface 31, it is amplified and
projected from the exposed edges of the Highlighted Surface 30. The
intensified light emitted from the Highlighted Surface 30 strikes
tangentially the Golf Ball 35 and Spotlights Ball 36. FIG. 2a
depicts a front prospective view of a Bifurcated Putter 16 with its
Putter Face 11, Putter Hosel 14 that has been upgraded with
Highlighted Surface 30. The full height Highlighted Surface 30 will
project light tangentially on the Golf Ball 35 (not shown). FIG. 2b
shows a front prospective view of a partial Insert Mount Putter 17
with its Putter Face 11, Putter Hosel 14 that has been upgraded
with Highlighted Surface 30. The truncated Highlighted Surface 30
projects light tangentially on the Golf Ball 35 (not shown).
[0022] FIG. 3 depicts a Rod Modified Putter 18 with its Putter Top
12, Putter Heal 13, and Putter Hosel 14 that has been upgraded with
a rod shaped element that has the Highlighted Surface 30 and Light
Adsorbing Surface 31. The emitted light from the Highlighted
Surface 30 luminates tangentially the Golf Ball 35 (Highlighted
Golf Ball 36). Likewise, FIG. 3a shows a front prospective view a
Rod Modified Putter 18 with its Putter Face 11, Putter Top 12, and
Putter Hosel 14 with its rod Highlighted Surface 30
[0023] The Putter Head 32 in FIG. 4 depicts a putter head with its
Putter Face 11, Putter Hosel 14, and Insert Recess 38 that will
accept the Putter Insert 33. The Putter Insert 33 has a Light
Adsorbing Surface 31, a Reverse `V` Notch 35, a Forward Projecting
Highlighted Surface 34, and a Reverse Attachment Surface 39.
Selectively, the vertical Reverse `V` Notch 35 can be partial or
full length to create the Forward Projecting Highlighted Surface 34
within the Putter Insert 33. The Forward Projecting Highlighted
Surface 34 will luminate a focus point for the golfer to
concentrate on that is tangent to the club on the golf ball (not
shown).
[0024] The illustrated examples are offered by way of illustration
of the invention's versatility and not meant to limit the invention
in any way. The present invention may be embodied in other forms
without departing from its spirit of essential characteristic. The
described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only
illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is
therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than the
foregoing descriptions. All changes which come within the meaning
and scope of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within
their scope.
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