Patent Grant
7118488
Not applicable.
This invention relates to golf putting, specifically to an alignment device for training golfers to make more accurate putts.
Putting is a very important part of the game of golf. An important aspect in learning to be a good golfer is proper alignment of the putter head with the golf ball and the target, which is the putting hole. A large variety of devices have been proposed in the past for helping a golfer to improve his or her putting skill.
These include devices that employ lasers, usually laser diodes, for emitting a collimated beam from the putter head. These devices have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,169,150 to Tindale (1992) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,609 to Carney (1998), among others. U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,291 to McCarthy (2004) also teaches a similar method of directing a collimated beam from the center of a putter head to either a target screen or a golf ball. However, the beam cannot be directed to both the golf ball and the target at the same time. In another approach a mirror is fixed to a putter head to reflect a collimated beam emitted from a laser that is affixed to a target, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,897 to Mick (1995), or affixed to a reference point, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,087 to Moser (2002). In yet another approach, two parallel collimated laser beams are emitted from a putter head, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,868 to Cloud (1991). A training device based on a single collimated laser beam has been marketed by The Smart Golfer, Marblehead, Mass. (www.thesmartgolfer.com) (2004). The main drawback of these techniques is that the laser beam is not visible in the air; it is visible in a scattering medium only, e.g., fog. Thus the user cannot see the laser beam itself but will see only a bright point where the beam strikes a screen.
A bare laser diode spreads its light like a cone. When collimating lens is placed in front of such a diode, the emitted light is collimated. A new laser line projecting device, commonly called a “light-fan generator”, “laser line generator”, or simply a “line generator” has recently become available. It spreads the light from a laser diode like a flat wedge or handheld fan. I.e., the light-fan generator emits a sheet like or flat beam that is very flat in one direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the beam, but that expands from the source or generator at an angle that encompasses an ever widening dimension in a second direction perpendicular to the one direction and the direction of propagation. Thus, the line generator generates a light fan instead of a collimated beam. When the light fan strikes a screen or any surface, it projects a bright line instead of a point on the screen.
A light-fan generator can be built using the collimating and rod lenses shown in
Another method for generating a light fan uses a special lens called a “line-generating lens”, which has different focal lengths in x and y directions. I.e., the line-generating lens collimates light in one direction and spreads light in the other direction.
1. When the laser line lies on the sweet spot of the putter head, it cannot lie on the top of the ball; thus it is difficult for a user to judge if the putter head and the ball are properly aligned.
2. The laser line on the ground is too short to connect the ball and a target (e.g., a cup to receive the ball); thus it is difficult for a user to judge if the putter head, the ball, and the target are properly aligned.
3. When the putter is swung, the light fan may strike a wall or a vertical screen, forming a slant line instead of a vertical line; thus it is difficult for a user to judge if the putter head is properly aligned.
4. The product has a plastic housing, which is detachably affixed to the shaft. The laser diode will become hot because the heat generated is not properly dissipated (plastic is not a good heat conductor). This will deteriorate the performance of the laser diode and cause the emitted light's brightness to decrease and the line's visibility to be low.
5. A user must mount and align the light-fan generator. It is not easy for an ordinary user who is inexperienced with laser alignment.
A similar arrangement using a laser affixed to the shaft of a putter has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,034 to Nelson (1976). The laser beam propagates parallel to the shaft until it is reflected by a convex mirror at the putter head, producing a light fan. The mirror is close to the shaft and not at the sweet spot of the putter head. The light fan strikes the ground, forming a bright line as a reference for putter alignment. The bright line is parallel to an imaginary line connecting the golf ball and a target, such as a cup. The drawbacks of this arrangement are:
1. The line projected on the ground does not connect the ball and the target; thus it is difficult for a user to judge if the putter head, the ball, and the target are properly aligned.
2. There is a distance between the laser at the shaft and the mirror at the putter head; thus it is difficult to maintain alignment between laser and mirror, especially after the putter is repeatedly swung.
An arrangement using a light-fan generator which is affixed to the putter head above the sweet spot is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,864 to Norwood (2002). When the putter is properly aligned, the device projects a short vertical line on a screen above a target. The device does not project any line on the ground that connects the ball and the target. The drawbacks of this arrangement are:
1. No line is projected on the ground to connect the ball and the target; thus it is difficult for a user to judge if the putter head, the ball, and the target are properly aligned.
2. No laser heat dissipation issue is addressed; thus the laser may become hot and the emitted light brightness may decrease accordingly.
Another arrangement using a light-fan generator is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,910 to Foster (2004). The light-fan generator is detachably connected to a putter shaft using a clamp. The light fan emitted from the generator is aligned to be normal to the ground and the putter head by two adjustments which must be performed by a user. In the first adjustment, the user rotates both a turret of a laser module and the clamp using a special alignment tool. The second adjustment is the rotation of the rod lens using a coin. However, this patent does not mention any procedure to position this vertical light fan over the sweet spot of the putter head. Thus, the extension of the projected line may not pass the sweet spot. The line is projected on the ground and a vertical bar, which is a target. However, the projected line does not necessarily pass the ball. The drawbacks of this arrangement are:
1. The line projected onto the ground does not pass the ball; thus it is difficult for a user to judge if the putter head, the ball, and the target are properly aligned.
2. It is difficult for an ordinary user to perform the laser alignment in two adjustments to get a vertical light fan.
3. The mechanical structures of the laser module employing the turret and the clamp are complex, which make it expensive to manufacture.
4. No laser heat dissipation issue is addressed; thus the laser may become hot and the emitted light's brightness may decrease accordingly.
To summarize, the prior art fails to teach the projection of a line on the ground that can connect the sweet spot, the top of the golf ball, and the target. Thus it is difficult for a user to judge if the putter head, the ball, and the target are properly aligned. The prior art also fails to provide a training putter which is simple to use without laser alignment. The prior art further fails to teach the dissipation of the heat generated by the laser diode to the putter in order to preserve or maintain the optimum operation of the laser diode and to maintain the desired brightness of the emitted light.
Accordingly, several advantages of one or more aspects of the present invention are:
1. it provides an improved training putter with a light-fan generator which does not require laser alignment;
2. it projects a laser line that connects the sweet spot of a putter head, the top of a golf ball, and a target for putter alignment, which is needed in the training to improve putting skill;
3. it projects a vertical line onto a screen or wall for putter alignment, which is needed in training to improve putting skill;
4. it provides laser heat dissipation means to keep the laser emitting a high-brightness line;
5. it provides a training putter with a detachable light-fan generator which can be used during regulation play after the light-fan generator is removed; and
6. it provides a light-fan generator which can be mounted on a user's own putter and which projects a line that connects the sweet spot of a putter head, the top of a golf ball, and a target.
Further advantages of one or more aspects are the provision of a training putter which is simple to use and maintain and which is inexpensive to manufacture. Still further advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
In accordance with the invention, a light-fan generator is affixed to the top of a putter head above its sweet spot. The light-fan generator emits a vertical light fan normal to the face of the putter head and the ground so that the light fan projects a line on the ground that connects the sweet spot of the putter head, the top of a golf ball, and a target, such as a cup or a putting hole. Thus, the golfer can easily see when the putter head, the golf ball, and the target are aligned. Furthermore, the heat generated in the laser diode can be quickly dissipated through a metal housing to the metal putter head and the metal putter shaft to the surrounding air. The light-fan generator can also be mounted onto a user's own putter.
Consequently, an axis 39 of light fan 38 is also parallel to the ground but normal to the face of putter head 32. In this way, generator emits a vertically oriented fan- or wedge-shaped beam. As shown in
The operation of laser diodes is very sensitive to temperature. A laser diode chip emits light by injecting electric current through it. The light generation in the laser diode chip is a process related to quantum physics that also generates heat. Thus, the chip is heated when electric current flows through it. The rising temperature of the chip in turn affects the light generation process in the chip, resulting in a decrease in output optical power. Furthermore, the rising temperature will also shorten the lifetime of the laser diode or even destroy it. Therefore, without properly cooling the diode, the emitted light will dim as the temperature rises, and its lifetime will be shortened accordingly.
In the present training putter, light-fan generator 36 is held by metal housing 52, which is connected to a chip (not shown) inside. Housing 52 is affixed to putter head 32, and head 32 is further connected to the putter's metal shaft (not shown). In this way, the heat generated by the chip will be easily dissipated through the metal putter head and the metal shaft to the surrounding air. Therefore, the light-fan generator will produce a line with constant high brightness, and its lifetime will not be shortened as much.
Light-fan 38 emitted by generator 36 is normal to the ground, and also normal to the face of putter head 32. By affixing device 48 to putter head 32 above its sweet spot 49, the plane of the vertical light fan intersects putter head 32 at the sweet spot. Projected line 40 on the ground is normal to the face of putter head 32. A proximal extension or projection of line 40 intersects putter head 32 at sweet spot 49. In putting training, a player can align the training putter until projected line 40 passes both top 42 of golf ball 34 and a target 56, which can be a cup to receive the ball or a putting hole.
Since the plane of the vertical light fan intersects sweet spot 49, line 40 is aligned with three objects: (1) sweet spot 49 of putter head 32, (2) top 42 of ball 34, and (3) target 56. Although line 40 does not actually intersect sweet spot 49, the proximal extension of line 40 does intersect sweet spot 49. Furthermore, since light fan 38 is normal to the ground, the opposite or distal extension of line 40 is long enough to lie on a wall or a screen 44 to form a vertical line 46. If line 46 on wall or screen 44 is slanted, it indicates that the putter is not in proper alignment, i.e., light fan 38 is not normal to the ground. To align the putter in practice, a player connects top 42 of ball 34 to target 56 using line 40, and adjusts the putter to project a vertical line 46 on the wall or screen.
The present putter alignment device is simpler and superior to of the Norwood device since the present device does not use a second light source, a light-emitting diode (LED), or a second aperture at the top of the device for aligning the putter. The user can align the device without looking at any LED through any second aperture while they adjust the putter to make a short line on a screen vertical. The present device is also superior since it enables the golfer to align the putter by simply adjusting it so that projected line 40 lies on the ground and connects top 42 of ball 34 with target 56.
The present putter alignment device is an important contribution to putting training. A training putter can be used, however, only in practice and not during regulation play. Device 48 can be detached by unscrewing screws 50, so that a player can use the putter in regulation play after device 48 is removed. Unlike the device described in Foster, supra, which needs two adjustments to form a vertical light fan and has no facility for positioning the light fan over the sweet spot, device 48 can be detached and reattached simply without any laser alignment. All required laser alignments have been completed in the factory.
Device 48 is affixed to putter head 32 on the top of sweet spot 49. The space between two front brackets 68 is wide enough to let putter head 32 strike ball 34 at sweet spot 49. When the switch is turned on, light-fan generator 36 emits light fan 38 and projects line 40, which is normal to putter head 32 and lies on the ground to connect top 42 of golf ball 34 with target 56.
Accordingly, the reader will see that a putter can be used with the laser line projecting device for putting training to improve putting skill. By turning on the switch, the device emits a vertical light fan that is normal to the putter head and projects a line onto the ground which connects the top of a golf ball with the target. Therefore the alignment of the putter, the ball, and the target can be clearly visualized. Furthermore the device can be detached and reattached easily without aligning a laser.
The heat generated in the laser diode is quickly dissipated through the metal housing, the metal putter head, and the metal shaft to the surrounding air. Since the proper operating temperature of the laser diode can be maintained, the laser diode will operate properly, which means the power of the emitted light will not be decreased, and its lifetime will not be shortened.
Furthermore, the laser line projecting device can be mounted on the head of a user's own putter using mounting means, for example, an adaptor including a pair of front brackets and an opposing screw that is threaded through a threaded attachment to the device.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Other embodiments are possible. For example:
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by examples given.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3953034 | Nelson | Apr 1976 | A |
| 5029868 | Cloud | Jul 1991 | A |
| 5169150 | Tindale | Dec 1992 | A |
| 5213331 | Avanzini | May 1993 | A |
| 5388832 | Hsu | Feb 1995 | A |
| 5435562 | Stock et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5452897 | Mick | Sep 1995 | A |
| 5611739 | Carney | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5709609 | Carney | Jan 1998 | A |
| 5725439 | Halsey et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
| 6066052 | Li | May 2000 | A |
| 6371864 | Norwood | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6383087 | Moser | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6767291 | McCarthy | Jul 2004 | B1 |
| 6796910 | Foster | Sep 2004 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060166753 A1 | Jul 2006 | US |
