Golf swing plane trainer

• US 6,530,845 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William W. Corbett
• Original Assignee: William W. Corbett
• Inventors: Corbett, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US09/564,733
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 473/199, 473/219, 473/226, 473/228, 473/229, 473/230, 473/231, 473/235, 473/236, 473/238, 473/242, 473/243, 473/249, 473/256, 473/257, 473/263, 473/266, 473/269, 473/329, 473/519, 446/240, 446/266, 446/484, 273/412
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/222 by overcoming gyroscopic forces, e.g. by turning the spin axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3621 Contacting or non-contacting mechanical means for guiding the swing
• 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 golf swing aid for coupling to a golf club having a shaft having a head on a bottom end thereof and a free top end. The golf swing aid includes a gyro assembly adapted for mounting on the golf club such that a user feels a sensation upon the golf club being swung improperly. The gyro assembly may be removably attached to the golf club, such as the top end thereof, and may further be rotatably and swivelly mounted on the golf club so as to allow a shaft of the gyro assembly to remain vertical during the swing.

Claims

1. A golf swing aid system comprising:

a golf club including a shaft having a head on a bottom end thereof and a free top end;

a golf swing aid removably mounted on the free top end of the golf club for permitting selective removal of the golf swing aid from the golf club, the golf swing aid comprising;

a mount including a cap defined by a top face and a flexible peripheral side wall coupled to a periphery of the top face and extending therefrom for defining an interior space and an open bottom receiving the free top end of the shaft of the golf club, the top face of the mount having a post fixedly coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom in coaxial relationship with the shaft of the golf club;

a housing constructed from a transparent material and including a hollow lower hemisphere, a member fixedly coupled to an apex of the lower hemisphere and extending therefrom in coaxial relationship therewith and further pivotally connected to the post of the mount, the housing further including a hollow upper hemisphere snappily connected to the lower hemisphere to define a full sphere; and

a gyro assembly including a shaft having a stator fixedly mounted on a central extent thereof, a rotor rotatably mounted about the stator for rotating with respect to the stator upon the receipt of power, a substantially orb-shaped flywheel mounted on the rotor about an axis which coincides with the shaft of the gyro, a pair of cylindrical batteries mounted on diametrically opposed points on the flywheel about axes which are parallel with the shaft, a reed switch mounted on the gyro assembly and connected between the batteries and the rotor for supplying power to the rotor and rotating the flywheel upon the closing thereof, and an annular slider ring having ends of the shaft coupled to diametrically opposed points thereon such that the flywheel of the gyro assembly rotates about an axis which remains in perpendicular relationship with an axis about which the slider ring is formed;

a magnetic slider mounted on the housing;

wherein the gyro assembly is removably situated within the housing and the reed switch of the gyro assembly is adapted to close upon the gyro assembly being situated in the proximity of the magnetic slider, whereby a user feels a sensation upon the golf club being swung improperly.

2. A golf swing aid system comprising

a golf club including a shaft having a head on a bottom end thereof and a free top end;

a golf swing aid removably mounted on the free top end of the golf club for permitting selective removal of the golf swing aid from the golf club, the golf swing aid comprising;

a gyro assembly adapted for mounting on the golf club such that a user feels a sensation upon the golf club being swung improperly; and

a mount including a cap defined by a top face and a flexible peripheral side wall coupled to a periphery of the top face and extending therefrom for defining an interior space and an open bottom receiving the free top end of the shaft of the golf club.

3. A golf swing aid system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the top face of the mount has a post fixedly coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom in coaxial relationship with the shaft of the golf club.

4. A golf swing aid system as set forth in claim 3 additionally comprising a housing constructed from a transparent material and including a hollow lower hemisphere, a member fixedly coupled to an apex of the lower hemisphere and extending from the apex, the member being in coaxial relationship with the apex and being pivotally connected to the post of the mount, the housing further including a hollow upper hemisphere connected to the lower hemisphere to define a sphere.

5. A golf swing aid system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the gyro assembly includes a shaft having a stator fixedly mounted on a central extent thereof, a rotor rotatably mounted about the stator for rotating with respect to the stator upon the receipt of power, a substantially orb-shaped flywheel mounted on the rotor about an axis which coincides with the shaft of the gyro, at least one battery mounted on the flywheel, a reed switch being mounted on the gyro assembly and connected between the batteries and the rotor for supplying power to the rotor and rotating the flywheel upon the closing of the reed switch, and an annular slider ring having ends of the shaft coupled to diametrically opposed points thereon such that the flywheel of the gyro assembly rotates about an axis which remains in substantially perpendicular relationship with an axis about which the slider ring is formed.

6. A golf swing aid system as set forth in claim 5 additionally comprising a magnetic slider mounted on the housing.

7. A golf swing aid system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the gyro assembly is removably situated in the housing and the reed switch of the gyro assembly is adapted to close upon the gyro assembly being situated in the proximity of the magnetic slider such that a user feels a sensation upon the golf club being swung improperly.