Patent Application
20160325159
The present disclosure generally relates to devices, methods, and systems for aligning a golf swing. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to devices that engage with a surface, such as an artificial grass golf mat, or a golf tee that may be placed to assist an individual with improving his or her golf swing.
Golf swing improvement devices come in many shapes and sizes. One such device may be a straight edge or marker that aligns a user's swing and/or stance. However, these devices are very bulky and are not configured to be used in connection with a golf tee. Thus, what is needed is a reusable, easy-to-use, inexpensive golf swing improvement device that is configured to work with a golf mat or golf teeing device.
To minimize the limitations in the cited references, and to minimize other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the following discloses a new and useful golf swing improvement device.
It is an object to provide a golf swing alignment or improvement device that connects to a golfing teeing device or golf mat.
It is another object to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.
These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, of the accompanying drawings, and of the claims.
The drawings are of illustrative embodiments, but do not depict all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition to or instead of the illustrative embodiments. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted for the purpose of saving space or for more effective illustrations. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without some or all components or steps provided in the illustrations. When different drawings contain the same numeral, that numeral refers to the same or similar components or steps.
In the following detailed description of various embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of the one or more embodiments. However, the one or more embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known procedures and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
While some embodiments are disclosed here, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become obvious to those skilled in the art as a result of the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention. The embodiments are capable of modifications of various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The Figures, and their detailed descriptions, are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection.
Preferably, the lanyard anchoring portion 905 does not have a hole, and a standard tee 50 is substantially prevented from passing through the lanyard anchoring portion 905. In this embodiment, the standard tee 50 passes through hole 30 and stops when it contacts anchoring portion 905. This allows the standard tee 50 to rest loosely within the hole 30, such that when the standard tee 50 is struck by a golf club, it is free to fly out of hole 30 with minimal resistance and the golf teeing device 910 remains in place on the surface.
The lanyard anchoring portion 905 is preferably constructed of a soft polymer such as plastic, but may comprise a hard polymer, a durable material, or any other material which may be capable of serving the purpose of the lanyard anchoring portion 905.
The lanyard anchoring portion 905, as shown, may be substantially circular and may comprise a groove 907. The groove 907 may be positioned along a circumference of the lanyard anchoring portion 905, and may be configured to engage loop 901 of lanyard 900. The groove 907 may be located along a circumference or outer portion of the lanyard anchoring portion 905. The thickness and depth of the groove 907 may be such that a loop 901 of the lanyard 900 is able to rest matingly within groove 907, thereby resisting being detached. In one embodiment, the lanyard 900 may be elastic and therefore able to more securely engage the lanyard anchoring portion by stretching from a relaxed state to fit into the groove 907.
The lanyard anchoring portion 905 may be a protrusion, indentation, ring, loop, catch, button, and/or snap that is configured to removeably, but securely engage the lanyard 900. Alternatively, the lanyard 900 may be permanently attached to lanyard anchoring portion 905. The lanyard 900 may be a cord, line, rope, string, twine, thread, cable, braiding, which is generally flexible, rigid, or elastic. The lanyard 900 may have two ends, a golf tee engagement end, which is typically a loop 901, as shown, and a ground anchor end. The ground anchor end may be configured to removeably, securely, and/or permanently engage the ground, a surface, or a structure that keeps the lanyard 900, and therefore the golf teeing device 910, from flying away in the event that a user hits the device 910 with a golf club during a swing.
The lanyard loop 901 may be formed by folding the end of the lanyard 900 to a portion of the lanyard 900 not at the end of the lanyard 900 and securing the end of the lanyard 900 by a rigid binding 902 or other binding agent. The anchor end may have a similar type of loop, or may end in another type of anchoring or attachment device.
An additional benefit of the lanyard 900 is that, when in use, the lanyard 900 may be laid out in the desired path of the swing. In this manner, the lanyard 900 acts as a visual guide for the golfer, indicating one potential golf club swing path. This potential swing path may be adjusted to allow the golfer to practice various types of swings.
When the lanyard 900 is engaged on one end of the lanyard anchoring portion 905 and secured to the ground or other item at the other end, the lanyard 900 may assist the golfer in locating the golf teeing device 910. Specifically, when the golfer strikes a golf ball positioned on a tee mounted onto the golf teeing device 910 and if the golf teeing device 910 is struck or otherwise moved, the golf teeing device 910 may be easy to locate due to being effectively secured to the ground via the lanyard 900.
In another embodiment, the lanyard anchoring portion 905 may be a separate portion of the golf teeing device 910 or may be a seamless extension of the golf teeing device 910.
Additionally, the lanyard 900 may act as a golf training aid. For example, the lanyard 900 may apply a directional force or secure the golf teeing device 910 to a specific point. Additionally, the lanyard 900 may provide the user with a point of reference which may allow the user to visualize how to swing the golf club. By allowing a user to visualize a directional path useful for swinging a golf club and striking a golf ball, the user may then swing using a more efficient swing path than they may have performed otherwise. By applying directional force to the golf teeing device 910, the user may cause the golf teeing device 910 to be not level, and therefore allow the golfer to practice different swings with a visual aid.
The elastic lanyard of the golf swing improvement device may allow golfers to envision a host of alignment patterns in order to master golf swing fundamentals. For example, the device may allow golfers to develop the proper golf set up, swing path, practice drills, and more. The golf swing improvement device may improve the following aspects of a user's golf game.
Some of the added benefits may be: Confidence at address; Shot accuracy; Distance control; Balance; Timing; Consistency; Strategy; Sequence; Rhythm; Visual reinforcement; and Learning how to shape different ball flights (draw, fade, high, low).
The golf swing improvement device may be employed in the following manners:
The golf swing improvement device may employ a specific elastic lanyard that is used to support its swing improvement and alignment training abilities. However, the lanyard may be any flexible and/or elastic length of material, including, but not limited to: military grade 550 cord, fishing lines, clothing articles such as hair ties, jewelry, shoe laces, tape, belts, or wires of any type, nylon strings, yarn, plastic string, or any material that may be configured to attach to the golf teeing device. The lanyard may be looped or tied to the lanyard attachment portion, or they may be connected via another means, including, but not limited to, paper clips, clothes pins, alligator clips, tape, glue, hook and loop material, or any adhesive product that would effectively connect the lanyard and the lanyard attachment portion.
In one embodiment the golf swing improvement device is a lanyard that is attached to a golf teeing device, without a separate lanyard attachment portion.
Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, locations, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments. The embodiments may be capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of the disclosure. It is intended that the scope of protection be not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.
Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent, to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.
This Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 14/579,164, filed on Dec. 22, 2014, titled “Golf Teeing Device”, by co-inventors John Luther Black Jr. and John Efrin Candias, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by this reference, and to which benefit is claimed. Application Ser. No. 14/579,164 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/918,027, filed on Jun. 14, 2013, titled “Golf Teeing Device”, by co-inventors John Luther Black Jr. and John Efrin Candias, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by this reference, and to which benefit is claimed.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14579164 | Dec 2014 | US |
| Child | 15152236 | US | |
| Parent | 13918027 | Jun 2013 | US |
| Child | 14579164 | US |
