Positioning device for aiding an individual in positioning a golf club relative to an intended line of flight of a golf ball

• US 6,468,166 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Spitzer
• Original Assignee: Andrew Spitzer
• Inventors: Spitzer, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/532,098
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 473/241, 473/404, 333/34, 333/73, 333/84, 333/662.4, 333/662.6, 333/662.7, 333/70, 333/65, 333/91
• US Class Current: 473/241
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00

Abstract

A positioning device for assisting an individual in properly positioning the club face of a golf club so that a golf ball travels a desired path when struck by the golf club. The positioning device includes a hollow body which is generally symmetrically disposed about the shaft of a golf club. The body includes a front surface and a rear surface and an opening extending therebetween. The opening in the body receives the shaft of a golf club. The body further includes an upper section and a lower section each having left and right sides. The right side of the upper section is hingedly connected to the right side of the lower section. A fastener detachably connects the left side of the upper section to the left side of the lower section. The upper section has a recess formed therein for receiving a tubular spirit level. The tubular spirit level is curved about the axis of the shaft of the golf club. The curve of the spirit level extends in a first plane. The first plane extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the golf shaft.

Claims

1. A positioning device for aiding an individual in positioning a club face of a golf club relative to an intended line of flight of a golf ball so that the golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club;

said positioning device comprising;

(a) a body having an opening for receiving a shaft of a golf club; and

,

(b) an indicator for indicating the proper position of a club face of a golf club relative to an intended line of flight of a golf ball so that the golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club, said indicator being disposed in said body such that said indicator is visible, said indicator comprising a sealed tube containing a fluid and a float operatively associated with said fluid for indicating true vertical, said sealed tube is curved, said curve being oriented about an axis of the shaft of the golf club.

2. The positioning device set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said positioning device is substantially symmetrically disposed about the shaft of a golf club received in said opening of said body.

3. The positioning device set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said body has a recess formed therein for receiving said indicator.

4. The positioning device set forth in claim 3, wherein:

(a) said float of said sealed tube is a gas bubble.

5. The positioning device set forth in claim 1, further includes:

(a) indicia on said positioning device for indicating the proper position of said float so that a golf ball travels a desired path.

6. The positioning device set forth in claim 5, wherein:

(a) said indicia includes reference marks for identifying the position of said float where the club face of the golf club is perpendicular to the intended line of flight; and

,

(b) said indicia includes additional reference markings for identifying positions of said float where the club face is positioned other than perpendicular to the intended line of flight so that the golf ball travels a non-linear path once struck by the club face.

7. The positioning device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said body includes first and second sections, said opening being formed by said first and second sections; and

,

(b) means for securing said first section to said second section to prevent relative movement between said body and the shaft of the golf club, said means including multiple settings to allow for varying golf club shaft sizes.

8. The positioning device set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said curve of said sealed tube extends in a first plane, said first plane being substantially transversely disposed relative to the axis of the shaft of a golf club received in said opening of said body.

9. The positioning device set forth in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said first and second sections each having left and right sides, one of said left and right sides of said first section being hingedly connected to a corresponding left and right side of said second section; and

,

(b) said body including a fastener for detachably connecting the other of said left and right sides of said first section to the corresponding other of said left and right sides of said second section so that said body can be readily mounted on and removed from a shaft of a golf club.

10. The positioning device set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said opening in said body includes a friction means for creating added friction between said opening and the shaft of a golf club received in said opening.

11. A positioning device for aiding an individual in positioning a club face of a golf club relative to an intended line of flight of a golf ball so that the golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club;

said positioning device comprising;

(a) a body having an opening for receiving a shaft of a golf club, the shaft of the golf club having a first axis; and

,

(b) an indicator for indicating the proper position of the club face relative to an intended line of flight of a golf ball so that the golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club, said indicator being disposed in said body such that said indicator is visible, said indicator having a sealed chamber containing a fluid and a float operatively associated with said fluid for indicating true vertical, said indicator having a curved surface for operation with said float, said curved surface being oriented about the first axis of the shaft of the golf club, said indicator chamber being shaped and oriented to operate on more than one of the differing lie angles corresponding to the various clubs without realignment of said indicator chamber relative to said body.

12. The positioning device set forth in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said positioning device is substantially symmetrically disposed about the first axis of the shaft of a golf club received in said opening of said body.

13. The positioning device set forth in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said body having front and rear surfaces, said front surface extends substantially parallel to said rear surface.

14. The positioning device set forth in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said body has a recess formed therein for receiving said indicator.

15. The positioning device set forth in claim 14, wherein:

(a) said float of said indicator is a gas bubble.

16. The positioning device set forth in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said sealed chamber is a sealed tube having a circular cross-section.

17. The positioning device set forth in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said curved surface of said chamber extends in a first plane, said first plane is substantially a transverse plane of the first axis of the shaft of a golf club received in said opening of said body.

18. A positioning device set forth in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said body includes a first section and a second section, said first and second sections each having left and right sides, one of said left and right sides of said first section being hingedly connected to a corresponding left and right side of said second section; and

,

(b) said body including a fastener for detachably connecting the other of said left and right sides of said first section to the corresponding other of said left and right sides of said second section so that said body can be readily mounted on and removed from a shaft of a golf club.

19. A golf club having a positioning device mounted thereon for aiding an individual in positioning a club face of a golf club relative to an intended line of flight of a golf ball so that the golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club;

said golf club comprising;

(a) a club head and a shaft, said shaft having a first axis;

(b) a positioning device including a body having an opening for receiving said shaft;

and,

(c) an indicator for indicating the proper position of said club face relative to an intended line of flight of a golf ball so that the golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club, said indicator being disposed in said body such that said indicator is visible from said front surface of said body, said indicator having a sealed chamber containing a fluid and a float operatively associated with said fluid for indicating true vertical, said sealed chamber having a curved surface for operation with said float, and said curved surface being oriented about said first axis, said indicator chamber being shaped and oriented to operate on more than one of the differing lie angles corresponding to the various clubs without realignment of said indicator chamber relative to said body.

20. The golf club set forth in claim 19, wherein:

(a) said positioning device is substantially symmetrically disposed about said first axis of said shaft.

21. The golf club set forth in claim 19, wherein:

(a) said body has a recess formed therein for receiving said indicator.

22. The golf club set forth in claim 21, wherein:

(a) said indicator includes a sealed tube having a liquid and a gas bubble contained therein.

23. The golf club set forth in claim 22, wherein:

(a) said curved surface of said sealed tube extends in a first plane;

said first plane is substantially a transverse plane of said first axis of said shaft.

24. A golf club set forth in claim 19, wherein:

(a) said body includes a first section and a second section, said opening being formed by said first and second sections, said first and second sections each having left and right sides, one of said left and right sides of said first section being hingedly connected to a corresponding left and right side of said second section; and

,

(b) said body including a fastener for detachably connecting the other of said left and right sides of said first section to the corresponding other of said left and right sides of said second section so that the body can be readily mounted on and removed from said shaft.

25. A golf club as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

(a) said body is hollow.

26. A positioning device for aiding an individual in positioning the club face of a golf club relative to an intended line of flight so that a golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club, said positioning device comprising:

(a) a body having an opening for receiving a shaft of a golf club, and

(b) a spirit level for indicating the proper position of a club face of a golf club relative to the intended line of flight so that a golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club, said spirit level being disposed in said body such that said spirit level is visible, said spirit level comprising a sealed chamber containing a fluid and a float operatively associated with said fluid for indicating true vertical, said spirit level has a curved surface for operation with said float, said curved surface being oriented about an axis of the shaft of the golf club, said spirit level chamber being shaped and oriented to operate on more than one of the differing lie angles corresponding to the various clubs without realignment of said chamber relative to said body; and

,

(c) indicia formed on said positioning device for orienting said float, whereby a golfer positions himself so as to hit a golf ball along a desired line of flight and rotates the shaft of the golf club until said float is in proper relation with said indicia, thereby orienting the club face of the golf club in a desired position so that the golf ball travels a desired line of flight.

27. The positioning device set forth in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said positioning device is substantially symmetrically disposed about the axis of the shaft of a golf club received in said opening of said body.

28. The positioning device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said body has a recess formed therein for receiving said spirit level.

29. The positioning device set forth in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said opening in said body includes a friction means for creating added friction between said opening and the shaft of a golf club received in said opening.

30. The positioning device set forth in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said indicia includes reference marks for identifying the position of said float so that the club face of the golf club will be perpendicular to the intended line of flight.

31. The positioning device set forth in claim 30, wherein:

(a) said indicia includes further markings for identifying various positions of said float where the club face is positioned other than perpendicular to the intended line of flight of the golf ball so that the golf ball travels a non-linear path once struck by the club face.

32. The positioning device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said float is a gas bubble.

33. The positioning device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said body includes first and second sections, said opening being formed by said first and second sections; and

,

(b) means for securing said first section to said second section to prevent relative movement between said body and the shaft of the golf club, said means including multiple settings to allow for varying club shaft sizes.

34. The positioning device as set forth in claim 33, wherein:

(a) said first and second sections each have left and right sides, one of said left and right sides of said first section is hingedly connected to a corresponding left and right side of said second section; and

,

(b) said body includes a fastener for detachably connecting the other of said left and right sides of said first section to the corresponding other of said left and right sides of said second section so that the body can be readily mounted on and removed from the shaft of a golf club.

35. The positioning device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said curved surface of said spirit level extends in a first plane, said first plane is substantially a transverse plane of the axis of the shaft of the golf club.

36. A positioning device for aiding an individual in positioning the club face of a golf club relative to an intended line of flight so that a golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club, said positioning device comprising:

(a) a body having an opening for receiving a shaft of a golf club, and,

(b) a spirit level for indicating the proper position of a club face of a golf club relative to the intended line of flight so that a golf ball travels a desired path once struck by the golf club, said spirit level being disposed in said body such that said spirit level is visible, said spirit level having a sealed chamber containing a fluid and a float operatively associated with said fluid for indicating true vertical, said spirit level has a curved surface for operation with said float, said spirit level chamber being fixed relative to said body such that said spirit level chamber is not adjustable relative to said body.

37. The positioning device set forth in claim 36, wherein:

(a) said positioning device is substantially symmetrically disposed about the axis of the shaft of a golf club received in said opening of said body.

38. The positioning device set forth in claim 36, further includes:

(a) indicia formed on said positioning device for orienting said float, whereby a golfer positions himself so as to hit a golf ball along a desired line of flight and rotates the shaft of the golf club until said float is in proper relation with said indicia, thereby orienting the club face of the golf club in a desired position so that the golf ball travels a desired line of flight.

39. The positioning device as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

(a) said body has a recess formed therein for receiving said spirit level.

40. The positioning device set forth in claim 36, wherein:

(a) said opening in said body includes a friction means for creating added friction between said opening and the shaft of a golf club received in said opening.

41. The positioning device set forth in claim 38, wherein:

(a) said indicia includes reference marks for identifying the position of said float so that the club face of the golf club will be perpendicular to the intended line of flight.

42. The positioning device set forth in claim 41, wherein:

(a) said indicia includes further markings for identifying various positions of said float where the club face is positioned other than perpendicular to the intended line of flight of the golf ball so that the golf ball travels a non-linear path once struck by the club face.

43. The positioning device as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

(a) said float is a gas bubble.

44. The positioning device as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

(a) said body includes first and second sections, said opening being formed by said first and second sections; and

,

(b) means for securing said first section to said second section to prevent relative movement between said body and the shaft of the golf club, said means including multiple settings to allow for varying club shaft sizes.

45. The positioning device as set forth in claim 44, wherein:

(a) said first and second sections each have left and right sides, one of said left and right sides of said first section is hingedly connected to a corresponding left and right side of said second section; and

,

(b) said body includes a fastener for detachably connecting the other of said left and right sides of said first section to the corresponding other of said left and right sides of said second section so that the body can be readily mounted on and removed from the shaft of a golf club.