Patent Application
20240042299
Not Applicable
Golf alignment sticks are one of the simplest and most widely used golf training apparatus used by golfers of all skill levels—amateurs and professionals alike. As the name suggests, the apparatus consists of a stick or sticks, primarily used by placing them on the ground as a visual guide to help the user (golfer) achieve proper alignment. While one or more sticks can be used to serve different purposes, using two alignment sticks is a common and preferred way to help achieve proper body alignment and feet position. By laying down two sticks on the ground, with one aimed at the target and the second placed on top and perpendicular to the first and pointing to the golf ball, the golfer is provided with visual aids that help to properly align his/her body and position the feet relative to the golf ball.
While the previously described product usage arrangement (i.e., two sticks arranged perpendicular to each other in a “cross”-like arrangement on the ground) can be achieved using golf alignment sticks that are presently available on the market, they lack design features that promote user-friendliness and functionality, thereby limiting a more widespread usage of such products. For example, when a stick is simply placed on top of another, it can easily move during usage because the two sticks are not secured to each other, and often need to be adjusted.
Additionally, users of golf alignment sticks especially when two sticks are involved, have the desire to keep them together during storage and handling, primarily for organizational and convenience purposes. The present invention offers a solution to this situation by adding a second coupling mechanism that helps to secure and maintain the two sticks together during storage and handling.
The invention herein incorporates simple yet unique mechanical features into ordinary golf alignment sticks, producing a built-in coupling mechanism that transforms them into an improved product that is more convenient to use and highly functional.
The first embodiment of the present invention comprises of a pair of golf alignment sticks each having at least one freely sliding sleeve (along the axis of the stick) that serves as a coupling mechanism. The freely sliding sleeves are also able to freely rotate around the axis of the sticks. The coupling mechanism allows the two sticks to be easily, conveniently, and securely arranged for example, perpendicular to each other while placed on the ground. The coupling mechanism can be based on any suitable mechanical method but the preferred method is based on magnetic coupling, achieved by integrating a magnet onto the freely sliding sleeve from one or both of the sticks. Once the magnetic coupling mechanism is engaged (simply by bringing the two sleeves together such that the magnetic force intimately couples the two sleeves together), the two freely sliding sleeves are coupled to each other yet the sticks can be easily moved relative to each other while being intimately connected to each other through the magnetic coupling. More specifically, when the user places the two sticks on the ground in the approximately desired positions with the coupling mechanism engaged, the two sticks remain securely connected yet become easily and conveniently adjustable into the final configuration. During subsequent usage of the product, the user continues to enjoy the convenience and ease with which the sticks can be adjusted, enabled by the coupling mechanism. Separating or de-coupling the sticks is simply done by pulling the two sticks apart.
The second embodiment of the present invention incorporates yet a second coupling mechanism to the first embodiment, where the primary purpose of the second coupling mechanism is to aid in keeping the two sticks together when not in use, for example while stored in a golf bag. This second coupling mechanism is constructed in the same manner as the first coupling mechanism described in the first embodiment, but unlike the first coupling mechanism, the second coupling mechanism is made to be non-sliding along the sticks. Moreover, the sleeves that make up the second coupling mechanism are positioned near one end of the sticks in such a way that they do not appreciably slide along the length of the sticks, but able to rotate freely around the axis of the sticks.
The most widely available golf alignment sticks based on prior art have no unique design features that facilitate coupling of two sticks together. The most common product for example, consists of a pair of identical fiberglass sticks that are about 48 inches long and about 0.3 inch in diameter. The sticks are often furnished with some markings along the sticks that can serve as visual aids but no other functional features are incorporated—in particular, features that serve to promote using two sticks arranged in a cross-like configuration in a convenient and secure manner. While two such prior art sticks can be placed into a cross-like configuration simply by placing one stick on top of the other in a perpendicular manner, the top stick is prone to movement and often necessitates the user to reposition the stick during usage, actions that are undesired and non-value added.
An example prior art that aims to provide a solution for securing two basic golf alignment sticks together in a perpendicular manner uses a separate mechanical assembly such as the one described in the reference [U.S. Pat. No. 9,259,635B2]. While this approach may provide secure positioning of the sticks, disadvantages include inconveniences associated with having to set up the assembly, the inability to easily make adjustments, and having to always carry and maintain the separate assembly. Yet there are other more complex designs that attempt to achieve this purpose using elaborate mechanical systems, for example as described in the reference [U.S. Pat. No. 8,246,482B1], but not only do they use different mechanical assemblies than the present invention, they are also entirely separate devices that do not incorporate the basic golf alignment sticks.
No prior art exists that leverages magnets for the purpose of connecting or coupling two or more golf alignment sticks together in the manner prescribed by the present invention. One prior art [U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/202,950B2] that uses magnets for the purpose of coupling the two sticks together (and not for product operational purpose) embeds the magnets inside the endcaps, which is not contemplated in the present invention.
The present invention transforms ordinary pair of golf alignment sticks into a product that is far more functional, useful, and effective as a golf training aid. A particularly useful way in which a pair of ordinary golf alignment sticks are used is to place them on the ground in a cross-like configuration to visually aid the user to align his/her body along the target line and position the feet properly relative to the ball (as described in the Background section and depicted in
The present invention offers multiple benefits to the user. First, the simple but unique coupling mechanism created by the sliding sleeves of the two sticks provides a highly functional feature that allows the user to easily, quickly, and securely arrange the two sticks on the ground, to be used for aligning the body and feet in the proper positions prior to making a golf swing. An additional unique feature comprising of a second coupling mechanism integrated into non-sliding sleeves of the two sticks further provides a highly functional feature that allows the two sticks to be conveniently and securely attached to each other during for example, handling, transport, and storage. In short, the ease and convenience derived from these unique features greatly promote the use of the apparatus.
The apparatus of the present invention is unique yet simple, and as such, can be described by the following primary modes of operation. Referring to the accompanying figures, the detailed description of the configuration and the mode of operation of the present invention will be presented below. In the figures, each component is indicated by a reference number, and in some cases the size of the elements in the drawings may be slightly exaggerated for purpose of clarity and convenience.
Referring back to
The sliding sleeve 101 integrated onto the first stick 100 is necessarily made using a ferromagnetic material (for example, metals such as Ni, Fe, Co) with the preferred choice of the present invention being ferromagnetic steel, due to its wide availability and low cost. The ferromagnetic property of the sliding sleeve 101 allows it to couple magnetically with the magnet 202 integrated onto the sliding sleeve 201. The sliding sleeve 201 integrated onto the second stick 200 is also made using ferromagnetic steel as the preferred choice of the present invention, but can also be made using any non-ferromagnetic material such as plastic or non-ferromagnetic metal. The preferred choice of the type of magnet 202 is a magnet commonly known as rare earth magnet, which generally provides stronger magnetic coupling strengths than the more common ceramic or other permanent magnets. While using a single magnet is preferred for simplicity, more than one magnet may be used just as effectively.
The sliding sleeves 101 and 201 are made to be freely sliding along the length of the sticks 100 and 200, respectively, by making the inner diameter of the sleeves slightly larger than the diameter of the sticks 100 and 200, preferably by at least 0.01 inch, but smaller than the outer diameter of the endcaps 300 in order to avoid the sleeves 101 and 201 from sliding off the sticks 100 and 200. The practical length of the sleeves 101 and 201 can range from 0.2 to 4 inches with the preferred choice of the present invention being about 1 inch. While the geometric dimensions of the magnet 202 and 102 are not critical so long as they provide the proper magnetic strength, they are chosen to be comparable to the dimensions of the sleeve 201.
Integration of the magnet 202 onto the sliding sleeve 201, or magnet 102 onto the sliding sleeve 101, can be achieved in any suitable manner including for example, by wrapping the sleeve 201 and the magnet 202 as a combined unit using a plastic based film or tubing. It is noted that the exact nature of the way in which the magnet is integrated into the sleeve is not critical so long as the magnetic coupling strength is maintained to a useful level.
All characteristics of the sliding sleeves (101, 201) and the associated magnets (102, 202) described above also apply to the non-sliding sleeves (103, 203) and their associated magnets (103, 203), and hence need not be explicitly repeated.
Endcaps (or protective caps) 300 as previously described, are commonly used in ordinary golf alignment sticks for protection purpose. As the name suggests, endcaps simply cover the end of the sticks using its one-end-open and one-end-closed tube-like design. These are commonly made from vinyl or other plastic based material and commercially available in a wide range of sizes (diameter and length).
Element 301 was previously described as a collar-like component that is rigidly attached onto the sticks in a suitable position to serve as a confinement mechanism for the sleeves 103 and 203. This element 301 for example, can be made from the same material as the endcaps 300 or other material such as plastic or metal tubing.
While the embodiments of
While
Alternate mode of operation envisioned involves the use of additional sticks beyond the original pair of sticks. This can be achieved by simply integrating more than one sliding sleeve on the sticks, creating additional coupling units. For example, while the two sticks of the original pair are arranged in a cross-like pattern, a third stick can be coupled to the original first stick also in a cross-like pattern, creating an extra visual aid for the user to employ as he/she desires. Additional sticks (fourth, fifth, etc.) can be employed in a similar manner by integrating additional sliding sleeves to create the coupling units described in this disclosure.
The present invention transforms one of the most common golf training aids—alignment sticks—into an enhanced product equipped with highly functional and user-friendly features that encourage more frequent use of the product. Combined with the simplicity and convenience associated with the apparatus, this invention has the potential to be widely adopted by the golfing community and become the most standard product of its kind.
