Patent Application
20230173370
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The disclosure relates to level devices and more particularly pertains to a new level device for assisting a user with visualizing the slope of a putting green. The device includes a cap that is wearable on the user's head and a bubble level is that pivotally disposed on a brim of the cap. The bubble level includes a reference line that is aligned with the visible horizon thereby facilitating the user to visualize the slope of a putting green.
The prior art relates to level devices including a golf practice device that includes a head band and a rigid rod that extends away from the headband such that a user can visualize the motion of their head relative to a golf club. The prior art discloses a golf ball aligning device that includes a cap and a rigid brim attached to the cap which has a squared edge to facilitate a user to view a possible trajectory of a golf ball. The prior art discloses a golf aiming device that includes a hat and a light emitter coupled to the hat for protecting an alignment mark onto the ground for assisting with aiming a golf shot. The prior art discloses a variety of aiming devices that are attachable to a brim of a hat for assisting with aligning a golf shot.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a cap that has a brim which extends above a user's line of sight when the user is wearing the cap. A pair of hinges is each disposed on the brim and each of the hinges is positionable in a deployed position or a stored position. A bubble level is coupled to each of the hinges and the bubble level is spaced downwardly from the brim when the hinges are positioned in the deployed position such that the bubble level is positioned within the user's line of sight. The bubble level has a reference line extending along a full length of the bubble level and the reference line is aligned with the visible horizon. In this way the bubble level indicates the degree of slope of the putting green to assist the user with successfully putting on the putting green.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A pair of hinges 28 is each disposed on the brim 14 and each of the hinges 28 is positionable in a deployed position or a stored position. Each of the hinges 28 comprises a first portion 30 which hingedly engages a second portion 32. The first portion 30 has a coupled surface 34 and the coupled surface 34 of the first portion 30 of each of the hinges 28 is coupled to the bottom surface 26 of the brim 14. Additionally, the hinges 28 are spaced apart from each other and are positioned on a line extending between the first lateral edge 20 and the second lateral edge 22 of the brim 14. The second portion 32 of each of the hinges 28 extends downwardly from the first portion 30 when the hinges 28 are positioned in a deployed position. The second portion 32 of each of the hinges 28 rests against the first portion 30 when the hinges 28 are in a stored position.
A bubble level 36 is coupled to each of the hinges 28 and the bubble level 36 is spaced downwardly from the brim 14 when the hinges 28 are positioned in the deployed position. In this way the bubble level 36 can be positioned within the user's line of sight. The bubble level 36 has a reference line 37 extending along a full length of the bubble level 36. Moreover, the reference line 37 can be aligned with the visible horizon thereby facilitating the bubble level 36 to indicate the degree of slope of the putting green to assist the user with successfully putting on the putting green.
The bubble level 36 comprises a pair of mounts 38 and each of the mounts 38 comprises a cup 40 that has an outer wall 42 and a stem 44 extending away from the outer wall 42. The stem 44 has a distal surface 46 with respect to the outer wall 42 of the cup 40 and a first surface 48 extending between the outer wall 42 of the cup 40 and the distal surface 46. The first surface 48 of the stem 44 of each of the mounts 38 is coupled to the second portion 32 of a respective one of the hinges 28. The distal surface 46 of the stem 44 abuts the bottom surface 26 of the brim 14 having the cup 40 being spaced downwardly from the bottom surface 26 when the hinges 28 are positioned in the deployed position. The cup 40 is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface 26 of the brim 14 when the hinges 28 are position in the stored position. Additionally, the stem 44 comprises a first portion 50 that slidably receives a second portion 51 such that the stem 44 has a telescopically adjustable length.
The bubble level 36 includes a tube 52 that has a first end 54, a second end 56 and an outer wall 58 extending between the first end 54 and the second end 56. Each of the first end 54 and the second end 56 extends into the cup 40 of a respective one of the mounts 38. The tube 52 is comprised of a translucent material to facilitate the user to see through the tube 52. The tube 52 is partially filled with a fluid 60 such that a bubble 62 is defined within the tube 52. The outer wall 42 has a pair of level lines 64 each extending around a full circumference of the outer wall 42. Moreover, each of the level lines 64 is spaced from a center 66 of the tube 52. In this way each of the level lines 64 visually communicates that the tube 52 is oriented level when the bubble 62 is positioned between the level lines 64.
The reference line 37 is printed on the outer wall 42 of the tube 52 and the reference line 37 extends between the first end 54 and the second end 56 of the tube 52. The tube 52 is spaced downwardly from the brim 14 when the first portion 30 of the stem 44 associated with each of the mounts 38 is pulled outwardly from the second portion 32 of the stem 44 associated with each of the mounts 38. In this way the tube 52 is more easily visible for the user when the user is wearing the cap 12. Additionally, the reference line 37 may have a bright color, such as red or orange, thereby enhancing visibility of the reference line 37 for the user.
In use, the cap 12 is worn while the user is playing the game of golf. The bubble level 36 is pivoted downwardly and the first portion 30 of the stem 44 of each of the mounts 38 is drawn downwardly from the second portion 32 of the stem 44 of each of the mounts 38. In this way the bubble level 36 is horizontally oriented within the user's field of vision. Additionally, the user tilts their head, if required, in order to align with reference line 37 with the visible horizon. In this way the user can ascertain the slope of the putting green by observing the positioning of the bubble in the tube 52. Thus, the user can more accurately determine the direction to putt the golf ball in order to successfully sink the golf ball into the hole.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
