Golf putter with electronic leveling device and message display

• US 5,492,329 A
• Filed: 02/27/1995
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward J. Kronin
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Kronin
• Inventors: Kronin, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/394,462
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 273/186.2, 273/186.3, 273/187.6, 273/194 R, 273/194 A, 273/162 B, 273/187.4, 273/187.5, 273/162 F, 273/193 R, 273/163 R, 33/366, 33/334
• US Class Current: 473/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A putter including an electronic leveling device contains:

(a) a source of electrical energy;

(b) a display means for producing a signal composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes when the circuit is energized;

(c) a light diffusion means placed over said signal for displaying messages and the like for promotional and advertising purposes;

(d) an electric circuit means for electrically joining the display means to said source of electrical energy; and

(e) a switch means in said electric circuit means and movable between a closed position where electrical energy is permitted to pass from said source of electrical energy to said display means through the aforementioned electric circuit means to electrically energize said display means producing a signal composed of a plurality of LEDs and illuminating the light diffusing means that lights a message or the like on the surface of said light diffusing means, said switch means being in said closed position when said longitudinal axis of said putter head is held at an angle that is unparallel to the horizon and an open position in which electrical energy is prevented from passing from said source of electrical energy to said display means through said electrical circuit means when said longitudinal axis of the putter head is held parallel to the horizon.

Claims

1. An electronic level-indicating putter comprising;

a shaft, a putter head having a longitudinal axis at one end of said shaft;

the other end of said shaft remote from said putter head for being gripped by a golfer;

contained in said putter is an electronic leveling device comprising;

(a) a source of electrical energy;

(b) a display means for producing a signal composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) when the circuit is energized;

(c) a light diffusion means placed over said signal for displaying messages and the like for promotional and advertising purposes;

(d) an electric circuit means for electrically joining the display means to said source of electrical energy; and

(e) a switch means in said electric circuit means and movable between a closed position where electrical energy is permitted to pass from said source of electrical energy to said display means through the aforementioned electric circuit means to electrically energize said display means producing a signal composed of a plurality of LEDs and illuminating the light diffusing means that lights a message or the like on the surface of said light diffusing means, said switch means being in said closed position when said longitudinal axis of said putter head is held at an angle that is unparallel to the horizon and an open position in which electrical energy is prevented from passing from said source of electrical energy to said display means through said electrical circuit means when said longitudinal axis of said putter head is held parallel to the horizon.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said switch means is comprised of a single pole dual throw mercury bubble switch afixed to the longitudinal axis of the club head and located inside the putter head with said switch means inserted in said electrical circuit means and movable between a closed position in which electrical current is permitted to pass from said source of electrical energy to said display means and to electrically energize said display means, illuminating the light diffuser means that lights a message or the like, said switch being in a closed position when the longitudinal axis of said putter head is not parallel to the horizon, and in an open position in which electrical energy is prevented from passing from said source of energy to said display means and beyond when said longitudinal axis of said putter head is held parallel to the horizon.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said electronic leveling device includes a main switch located on the end of the putter shaft remote from the club head for being gripped by the golfer said main switch for producing a visible signal when electrically energized.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which said main switch is in said electrical circuit means and movable between a closed position in which electrical energy is permitted to pass from the source of electrical energy to the display means with its LED display and its light diffuser means that is used to illuminate a message or the like for promotional or advertising purposes and an open position in which electrical energy is prevented from passing from the electrical energy source therethrough.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said display means is a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged along the top longitudinal axis of the putter club head said plurality of light emitting diodes illuminating a light diffuser means and lighting and projecting a message or the like visible to the golfer.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which the light diffusing means is a body that is afixed over the display means with its plurality of LEDs utilizing the light from said LEDs to illuminate opague light filters contained in the light diffusion means and said opague light filters having openings or transparent inserts arranged to allow the shape of letters creating messages, symbols or the like that can be lighted and projected to promote or advertise a concept, product, person, organization, entity or the like.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which said opague light filters means a paper, plastic, fabric, and interactive materials that react with a variety of wavelengths including those in the infrared and ultraviolet spectrums to produce visible light that can be used to create messages, symbols, or the like to promote or advertise a concept, person, group or the like.

8. The electronic leveling putter and message maker according to claim 1 has the electronic leveling device, display means, light diffusing means, the switch means composed of a single pole dual throw mercury bulb switch, and segments of the electric circuit means in the club head and a source of power means and parts of the electric circuit means in the shaft of the club furthest from the club head.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which the source of power consists of two size AA batteries or the like in the shaft of the club at the end furthest from the club head.