Golf aid

• US 5,919,098 A
• Filed: 03/12/1998
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keith William Salmon
• Original Assignee: Keith William Salmon
• Inventors: Salmon, Keith William
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US09/029,987
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 473/220, 273/186.3, 362/72, 362/184, 362/191
• US Class Current: 473/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club

Abstract

Illumination apparatus for attachment to a golf club and containing a light source which directs a light beam toward the eyes of the golfer. The apparatus includes a housing selectively attachable to the shaft of a golf club and having at least one light source. The light source may be mounted in a turret optionally retractable within a recess of the housing. The light source, which may be two in number, are settable in selected angular positions for proper adjustment of the light beam.

Claims

1. Apparatus for improving a golfer'"'"'s club swing, comprising;

a housing releasably attachable to a golf club having a shaft;

the housing being profiled on one side to receive a portion of the periphery of the shaft, thereby ensuring a predetermined alignment of the housing with the shaft;

the housing containing a light source positioned an a side of the housing opposite the one side and operative to direct a light beam toward the eyes of the golfer; and

means permitting selective angular adjustment of the light source with respect to the housing so that the path of the light beam is adjustable to be aimed upwardly directly into the eyes of the golfer without adjusting the position of the housing on the golf club, so that the golfer can see in retained peripheral vision a streak of light from the light beam indicating the path of the swing.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the profiling comprises a groove or channel (22) which is V-shaped and the housing includes releasable retaining straps which in use pass over the golf club shaft to engage the housing with the shaft.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the profiling comprises a groove or channel which can receive the entire cross section of the shaft.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the groove or channel is adapted for snap-action engagement with the shaft.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the light source (26) comprises at least one LED operative to produce pulsed illumination for improved visibility.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the light source is shaded or shrouded to achieve greater visibility in high ambient-lighting conditions.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the light source is mounted in a turret pivotably mounted in a recess in the housing for movement between a recessed position and an angularly-extended use position relative to the housing, and the means permits said angular adjustment of the light in the use position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a secondary light source positioned on the housing in spaced-apart relation to the first-mentioned light source to direct a second beam of light upwardly into the eyes of the golfer so that the golfer can see separate streaks of light from both light beams to produce an indication of incorrect club angle.