Golf club swing training device

• US 4,456,257 A
• Filed: 09/16/1982
• Issued: 06/26/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonnie J. Perkins
• Original Assignee: Sonnie J. Perkins
• Inventors: Perkins, Sonnie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US06/418,815
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 273/183 D, 273/183 B, 273/186 A, 273/194 R, 273/186 R, 273/183 E, 273/193 R, 273/162 R, 273/186 C
• US Class Current: 473/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club

Abstract

A golf club is provided with swing plane sensing apparatus. Light beams are projected in opposite and parallel directions lengthwise of the club shaft. The beams may be projected axially of the shaft, or outside the shaft.

Claims

1. In a golf swing plane sensor, the combination comprising

(a) golf club having a shaft and ball striking head, and

(b) means associated with the club to project a first light beam in a first direction lengthwise of the shaft to intersect the ground as the club is held in ball addressing position and then swung rearwardly, and to project a second light beam in a second and diametrically opposite direction lengthwise of the shaft to intersect the ground as the club is swung backwardly and upwardly so the free end of the shaft is directed toward the ground.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means comprises at least one light source carried by the club.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a second light source carried by the club, the one light source producing the first beam, and the second light beam producing the second beam.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the second beam is directed to pass adjacent to and frontally of a sweet spot defined by the head.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said sources are defined by light bulbs.

6. The combination of claim 5 including electric battery means carried by the club and operatively connected with said bulbs.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means comprises a first light source directed in said first direction, and a second light source directed in said second direction, said light sources carried by the club.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said means includes a power source externally of the club and operatively connected with said light sources.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said light sources include fiber optics light pipes.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said light sources include light generation apparatus free of the club, said light pipes emerging from the club shaft to extend to said apparatus.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said apparatus includes a container having a clip attachable to the player'"'"'s attire.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein said light pipes respectively have terminals at the club head and at the end of the shaft remote from the head.

13. The combination of claim 1 including sensor means sensitive to said beams to sense whether or not one or both of the light beams have traversed predetermined path or paths adjacent the ground, during the golf swing.