Golf club including alignment device

• US 5,228,695 A
• Filed: 07/30/1992
• Issued: 07/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Meyer, Dean E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/921,726
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 273/164.1, 273/163 A, 273/81 B, 273/171, 273/187.4, 273/163 R, 273/164.2, 273/186.2, 273/187.5, 273/187.6
• US Class Current: 473/238
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A golf club is provided with an alignment device for indicating when the face of the club is properly aligned. The alignment device comprises a linearoptic screen or lenticular decal which provides a three-dimensional indicator, such as a line which appears below the top surface of the screen, for indicating when the face is aligned.

Claims

1. In combination, a golf club and an alignment device mounted on the golf club, the golf club having an elongated shaft having upper and lower ends, a grip on the upper end of the shaft, and a club head attached to the lower end of the shaft, the club head having a face for striking ,a golf ball, the alignment device comprising a screen viewable by a golfer while addressing a golf ball and which provides indicating means for indicating when the face of the club head is aligned with the direction in which the ball is intended to be struck and said screen having a bottom surface which faces toward the golf club and a top surface which faces away from the golf club, said screen including lenses which provide a three-dimensional image of said indicating means so that the indicating means appears below the top surface of the screen.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the club includes an alignment mark adjacent the screen, said indicating means comprising a line which is aligned with said mark when the face is properly aligned and which is offset from the mark when the face is not properly aligned.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said indicating means comprises a mark which is visible when the face is not properly aligned and which is not visible when the face is properly aligned.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said alignment device comprises a linearoptic screen having a plurality of lenses and an image behind the lenses for providing said indicating means.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said screen is mounted on the shaft adjacent the grip.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which said grip is provided with an opening and said screen is mounted on the shaft and is exposed by the opening in the grip.

7. The structure of claim 1 in which said screen is mounted on the grip.

8. The structure of claim 1 in which said club head includes a hosel which connects the club head to the shaft, said screen being mounted on the hosel.

9. The structure of claim 1 in which the club includes an alignment mark adjacent the screen, said indicating means comprising a line which is aligned with said mark when the face is properly aligned and which is offset from the mark when the face is not properly aligned.