Golf stance and alignment device

• US 6,440,004 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ozzy Rodriguez
• Original Assignee: Ozzy Rodriguez
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Ozzy
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US09/920,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20020098902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 473/270, 473/218, 473/271, 473/272, 473/273, 473/266, 473/278
• US Class Current: 473/218
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3629 Visual means not attached to the body for aligning, positioning the trainee's head or for detecting head movement, e.g. by parallax
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3667 Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1084 Tapes combined with arrangements for functions other than measuring lengths

Abstract

A golf positioning and alignment device having a housing unit, guidance strips and spring loaded wound strip dispensers. More specifically, the present invention is a golf positioning and alignment device having three independently retractable guidance strips all contained within and mounted at the apexes of a substantially triangular housing unit. Each guidance strip is capable of being manually extended to a user-specified position and selectably locked or secured therein. The guidance strips are pulled through apertures or slits in the housing unit, wherein two opposing strips are pulled perpendicular to the golfer'"'"'s stance and wherein the third strip is pulled forward and secured proximal the golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf stance and alignment device, comprising:

a housing unit;

a first guidance strip dispenser, wherein said first guidance strip dispenser dispenses a first guidance strip and is housed in said housing unit;

a second guidance strip dispenser, wherein said second guidance strip dispenser dispenses a second guidance strip and is housed in said housing unit;

a third guidance strip dispenser, wherein said third guidance strip dispenser dispenses a third guidance strip and is housed in said housing unit;

a first locking arm, wherein said first locking arm locks said first guidance strip in a selectably dispensed position;

a second locking arm, wherein said second locking arm locks said second guidance strip in a selectably dispensed position;

a third locking arm, wherein said third locking arm locks said third guidance strip in a selectably dispensed position; and

a release button, wherein said release button disengages said first, second and third locking arms from said first, second and third guidance strips.

2. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 1 wherein said housing unit comprises apertures to allow said first, second and third guidance strips of said first, second and third guidance strip dispensers, respectively, to be fed through, accessed and extended or dispensed therefrom.

3. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third guidance strip dispensers are spring loaded to allow spring retraction of said first, second and third guidance strips, respectively after dispensing or extending said first, second and third guidance strips to a selected position.

4. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 1 wherein said first guidance strips comprises several evenly spaced markers or indicators to delineate where a golfer would position his left foot with respect to his choice of golf club.

5. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 1 wherein said second guidance strips comprises several evenly spaced markers or indicators to delineate where a golfer would position his right foot with respect to his choice of golf club.

6. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 1 wherein said third guidance strips comprises a plurality of evenly spaced markers to allow a golfer to position the golf ball a desired distance from his standing position.

7. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 2 wherein the ends of said first, second and third guidance strips that protrude through said apertures of said housing unit are bent or angled downwardly or upwardly to prevent complete recession of said first, second and third guidance strips into said housing unit when said first, second and third guidance strips have been retracted.

8. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 2 wherein the ends of said first, second and third guidance strips that protrude through said apertures of said housing unit possess throughholes for pegging said first, second and third guidance strips into the ground when said first, second and third guidance strips have been extended to a user-specified position.

9. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 2 wherein the ends of said first, second and third guidance strips that protrude through said apertures carry rings for pegging said first, second and third guidance strips into the ground when said first, second and third guidance strips have been extended to a user-specified position.

10. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third locking arms are housed within said housing unit and wherein each of said first, second and third locking arms comprise a first generally elongated member connected to a generally U-shaped section.

11. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 10 wherein said first generally elongated members of said first, second and third locking arms are connected to said release button, wherein a portion of said release button extends outside of said housing unit for accessibility and release of said locking arms.

12. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 10 wherein said generally U-shaped sections of said first, second and third locking arms abut and lockably secure said first, second and third guidance strips when said first, second and third guidance strips are in a user-specified position.

13. A golf stance and alignment device as in claim 10 wherein said release button is spring actuated, and wherein depression of said release button causes said first, second and third locking arms as a whole to lift upward and allow said generally U-shaped sections to simultaneously disengage from contact from said first, second and third guidance strips and allow retraction of dispensed said first, second and third guidance strips.