US2652251A - Golf indicator apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1953 A. MOLINAR GOLF INDICATOR APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1952 mwqvroze. mama/i; XX $2.4

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,652,251 H GOLF INDICATOR APPARATUS Alfonso Molinar, Mexico City, Mexico Application January 4, 1952, Serial No. 264,957

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a'device for correcting or improving the stance of a golf player, and more particularly concerns an apparatus for marking the relative positions of a golf ball and the golf players feet with respect to the direc tion of intended flight of the golf ball.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device for indicating and recording a golfers stance. Another object is to provide a convenient guide including frictionally adjustable indicatorarms for aligning the golf club in proper relation to the feet and ball. Another object is to provide an adjustable device of this character "having calibrations indicating the proper change of position of feet and ball for utilizing golf clubs of different sizes and kinds. Another object is to provide a device of this character for controlling the direction and degree of curvature of the balls flight and thereby correcting a golf player's tendency to hook or slice or guiding the golf player in an intended hook or slice.

Golf devices having direction indicator devices have been intended exclusively for practice purposes heretofore and have not been suitable for both practice and for actual play. Such devices have been cumbersome and heavy and therefore not well adapted to be carried by a golf player and used from stroke to stroke in actual play on a golf course. In this connection it is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character indicated which is readily portable in a golf bag and detachably securable in fixed position to the surface of the golf course.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, including the simplicity and economy of the same, will be further apparent hereinafter, and in the drawings, whereof:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a golf indicator device constituting one specific embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 represents a front end view partly in section, taken as indicated by the lines and arrows II-II which appear in Fig. 1, with the relative positions of certain of the parts changed.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged view similar to Fig. 2, showing how the device may be secured to the surface of a golf course, and

Fig. 4 represents a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows IV-IV which appear in Fig. 1.

In summary, the invention relates to a golf direction and stance indicator comprising a base, a sleeve extending through said base, said sleeve having a bore of sufficient size to accommodate the shaft of a golf tee, a flight direction indicator fixed to said base, and position indicator arms pivoted to said sleeve above said base for indicating the position of the golf ball and the golfers foo Turning now to the specific embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, the number 5 designates a sleeve having a circular flange formed integrally at the top thereof. A washer 1 is secured to the bottom of the sleeve 5 and forms a flange similar to the flange 6, extending outwardly of the bore of sleeve 5. The washer 1 is secured in position by the flared portion 8 of the sleeve 5.

The number I 0 designates a semi-circular base element to which is affixed a direction indicator arm II having an arrow head 12 at its forward end. The base l0 includes a transverse bar l3 having a straight line forward edge which serves to indicate the line along which the heel of the golfers forward foot should be located. Specifically, for a right handed golfer, it will be understood that the right hand edge of the golfers left (forward) foot will be disposed against the left hand (forward) edge of the base I!) while the golfers toe will be placed against the near edge of indicator arm I I. The heel of the golfers forward foot may be at any point adjacent the bar l3, orbeyond its end, depending upon the length of the golfers foot. But the golfers foot will in any case be aligned with the forward edge of base I0. A curved bar [4 in the form of a semi-circle is formed integrally with the transverse bar I3. The bars l3, l4 carry the integral plate element I 5 which carries markings indicat ingthe proper positions of the parts for using golf clubs of different sizes and kinds. The bars l3, l4 also support three arms I6 which carry markings indicatingthe proper relative positions of the parts for opening and closing the golfers stance.

An adjustable indicator arm ll is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 5 immediately above the washer 1, and in frictional contact therewith. The adjustable indicator arm ll carries an. integral arrow head 20 indicating the proper initial position of the golf ball. It also carries an indicator stud 22 adjacent the markings on the plate element IS. The transverse bar [3 of base I0 is immediately above, and in frictional contact with, the adjustable indicator arm ll. Another adjustable indicator arm 2| is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 5 immediately above the transverse bar I 3. Adjustable indicator arm 2| is in frictional contact with the transverse bar l3 and with the flange E5. The adjustable indicator arm 2i extends rearwardly of the transverse bar i3 and has capacity to swing about the sleeve 5 to indicate the proper position of the rear foot of the golf player. It will be appreciated that the toe of the golfers rear foot will be disposed against the back end of indicator arm 21, and that it will be disposed at the desired angle with respect to the golfers front foot. This angle may vary with different golfers Or with different stances (closed or open), but in all cases the toe of the rear foot will point at the indicator arm 2! and in many cases it will be substantially perpendicular thereto.

Means are provided for detachably securing the indicator device to the earth or other material comprising the surface of a golf course. It will be observed. that the bore of sleeve 5 is of sumcient size to accommodate the shaft 23 of golf tee which has an enlarged head 2% larger than the bore of sleeve 5.

In operation, the golf indicator device is conveniently carried in a golf bag or otherwise from place to place during the course of normal play on a golf course. At each location where a golf stroke is to be played, the device is placed upon the ground and the golf tee shaft 23 driven through the bore of shaft 5 and into the earth E, Fig. 3. The golf indicator device is thereby detachably secured in fixed position to the surface of the golf course. The indicator arms ll, 2!, which are frictionally held between the flange 6 and washer l by reason of the pressure created by the flared portion 8 of sleeve 5, are adjusted in accordance with the character of the golf club to be used and the nature of the stance desired. The golf ball is placed opposite the tip of arrow head 23, the golfers forward foot is placed with the right side edge of the heel in line with the left side edge of the transverse bar l3, and the golfers rear foot is placed immediately adjacent the indicator at the rear end of indicator arm 2!. After completing the stroke, the golf player may remove the indicator device from the surface of the golf course by the golf tee.

It will be appreciated that, although the invention has been described in detail with reference to one specific embodiment thereof, it will be readil apparent to those skilled in the art that the mechanical elements of the device may be varied and that equivalent mechanisms may be employed for accomplishing the same result, all within the scope of the invention. All such changes, including reversals of parts and the use of certain features independently of other features, are considered to be within the spirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A golf direction and stance indicator comliiting it together with prising a sleeve having a substantially vertical bore, substantially horizontal flanges at the top and bottom of said sleeve, said flanges extending outwardly of said bore, a lower indicator arm pivotally mounted on said sleeve in frictional contact with the flanges at the bottom of said sleeve, a base on said sleeve above said lower indicator arm, a flight indicator fixed to said base, and an upper indicator arm pivotally mounted on said sleeve in frictional contact with the flanges at the top of said sleeve, said base being formed integrally with said flight indicator and said base having a straight forward edge that extends perpendicular to said flight indicator and coacts with'the flight indicator to fix the position and direction of the goifers forward foot.

2. A golf direction and stance indicator comprising a sleeve having a substantially vertical bore, substantially horizonta1 flanges at the top and bottom of said sleeve, said flanges extending outwardly of said bore, a lower indicator arm on said sleeve in frictional;

pivotally mounted contact with the flanges at the bottom of said sleeve, a semi-circular base plate on said sleeve above said lower indicator arm, said base plate having a straight-line forward edge serving as an indicator of the proper position of the heel of the golfers forward foot, an arm fixed to said base plate at a fixed angle to said forward edge and serving as an indicator of the direction of flight of the golf ball, and an upper indicator arm pivotally mounted on said sleeve in frictional contact with said base plate and with the flanges at the top of said sleeve, said base plate carrying a visible system of identifying marks arranged to indicate the proper positions of one of said indicator arms to indicate the different locations of a golf ball for executing strokes with different clubs, and said base plate also carrying aseparate system of identifying marks arrangedto indicate the proper positions of the other of said indicator arms to indicate the proper positions of the golfers rear foot to open and close the. golfers stance, both said indicator arms being pivoted about a common center.

ALFONSO MOLINAR.

References Cited in the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,208,995 Lyon Dec. 19, 1916 1,761,532 Morris June 3, 1930 2,025,519 Lingg Dec. 24, 1935 2,180,170 Richards Nov. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 388,166 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1933

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