Golf club with slope indicator
First Claim
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1. A golf club, comprising:
- a shaft having a shaft axis; and
a scale disposed on the shaft, the scale including;
an arm having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion between the first and second ends,a fixed reference indicia disposed adjacent the arm and extending approximately parallel to the shaft axis, anda pivot support defining a pivot point for the arm and supporting the arm at its medial portion such that the arm can freely rotate within a plane and about the pivot support,wherein the reference indicia extends through the pivot point and at least one of the first end and the second end when the golf club is placed on a zero-slope surface, andwherein when the golf club is placed on a sloped surface, the arm is adapted to displace by an angle relative to the shaft, the angle being proportional to the degree of slope of the surface; and
a pivot lock for manually engaging the pivot support and arm, such that with the lock engaged the arm is fixed in rotation relative to the reference indicia and with the lock disengaged the arm is free to rotate relative to the reference indicia.
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Abstract
A golf club incorporates a slope indicator on its shaft. to enable a golfer to estimate the slope of a putting green. When the golf club is placed on the ground, the slope indicator indicates a degree of slope. The golfer may engage a lock for the slope indicator. Engagement of the lock allows the golfer to lift the club off the ground to inspect the slope indicator.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A golf club, comprising:
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a shaft having a shaft axis; and a scale disposed on the shaft, the scale including; an arm having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion between the first and second ends, a fixed reference indicia disposed adjacent the arm and extending approximately parallel to the shaft axis, and a pivot support defining a pivot point for the arm and supporting the arm at its medial portion such that the arm can freely rotate within a plane and about the pivot support, wherein the reference indicia extends through the pivot point and at least one of the first end and the second end when the golf club is placed on a zero-slope surface, and wherein when the golf club is placed on a sloped surface, the arm is adapted to displace by an angle relative to the shaft, the angle being proportional to the degree of slope of the surface; and a pivot lock for manually engaging the pivot support and arm, such that with the lock engaged the arm is fixed in rotation relative to the reference indicia and with the lock disengaged the arm is free to rotate relative to the reference indicia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A golf club, comprising:
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a shaft having a shaft axis; and a scale disposed on the shaft, the scale including; an arm having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion between the first and second ends, a fixed reference indicia disposed adjacent the arm and extending approximately parallel to the shaft axis, and a pivot support defining a pivot point for the arm and supporting the arm at its medial portion such that the arm can freely rotate within a plane and about the pivot support, wherein the reference indicia extends through the pivot point and at least one of the first end and the second end when the golf club is placed on a zero-slope surface, and wherein when the golf club is placed on a sloped surface, the arm is adapted to displace by an angle relative to the shaft, the angle being proportional to the degree of slope of the surface; and wherein the pivot support further includes a first configuration in which the arm can freely rotate within a plane and about the pivot support, and a second configuration in which the arm cannot rotate within the plane; the golf club further including a means for locking the pivot, comprising a stem received in a hole of the shaft, the stem having, at one end, the pivot support and at the opposite end a knob, wherein when the knob is pulled away from the shaft hole, the pivot support is configured in a locked position, preventing the arm from rotating within the plane, and when the knob is pushed towards the hole the arm can freely rotate within a plane and about the pivot support. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for measuring a slope of a putting surface, comprising the steps of
providing a golf club having a scale disposed on the shaft, the scale including an arm having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion between the first and second ends, a fixed reference indicia disposed adjacent the arm and extending approximately parallel to the shaft axis, a pivot support defining a pivot point for the arm and supporting the arm at its medial portion such that the arm can freely rotate within a plane and about the pivot support, and a pivot lock, wherein the reference indicia extends through the pivot point and at least one of the first end and the second end when the golf club is placed on a zero-slope surface, and wherein when the golf club is placed on a sloped surface, the arm is adapted to displace by an angle relative to the shaft, the angle being proportional to the degree of slope of the surface; -
placing the club on a sloped putting surface; engaging the pivot lock, thereby locking the arm position relative to the reference indicia; lifting the club from the putting surface after the pivot lock has been engaged; and inspecting the slope of the sloped putting surface by inspecting the arm position relative to the reference indicia.
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14. A method for measuring a slope of a putting surface, comprising the steps of
providing a golf club having a scale disposed on the shaft, the scale including an arm that freely moves between a first and second indicia disposed on the golf club when a pivot lock is disengaged, and fixes the arm'"'"'s position relative to the first and second indicia when the lock is engaged; -
placing the club on a sloped putting surface with the pivot lock disengaged; engaging the pivot lock; lifting the club from the putting surface after the pivot lock has been engaged; and inspecting the slope of the sloped putting surface by inspecting the arm position relative to the first and second reference indicia.
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Specification