US2670209A - Golf club direction indicator attachment - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1954 A. c. FAY

GOLF'CLUB DIRECTION INDICATOR ATTACHMENT Filed March 31, 1951 N Y 7 mm m m RN YN. A Q m \N N .UNRN MI T M g, m

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT GOLF CLUB :DIRECTION 'INDIGATOR ATTACHMENT;

All'ynC. Fay, ,East 'He'mpstead, ,N." 1Y2. ApplicatiomMarch iil, 1951 ;Serial Noe218i61Z1 6,(3la.ims.v (01. 2735163 This invention relates to; an. attachment: for:

golf clubs, and. more. particularly: an attachment for a. putter; or; similar clubato" enable a". player, ,while practicing, ,to.:align the club; with; relation to the ball; in; such, a. manner. that. he: will obtain .a definite. visual indication of the. direction in which. clubhead. is; facing, to enable him to predetermine; withnsome degreeof. accuracy, the direction the ballv will take: when struck.-

In.;putting,- or'other golflstrokes in which: anular; directionisof vitaliimportance; it is ..ex+ tremely, difiicult to, align; the club, head iIIiSIlCh a ,manner;-thatlthes ball; whenastruck, will accurately follow a; predeterminedidirection:

This requires accurate; alignment: oftthe. face, ofaclub, whichais; irregular in: form, so, that the ballwhen struck-,1. williaccurately follow: the? required. direction toward: the. 0111).:

In: order. to acquireaaz, highzdegree of: skillliin; handling a club of this type, itvisaessentialthat a player; practice. a1great'ideal;inwobtaining: club; head alignment and directional: control:

The object of: my: invention .isztoaprovide an attachment: for the head :off; as golf Fclub; which will enable a; player to: simultaneously and i ac curately align the hGBJdQOf the club withz'the ball, accurately level-the :headiof' the? club,: with relation to the ground: level, and-accuratelyfsightI the" direction in; which: the .=cli1b: head: ismfacing, to enable the player-tonalign"then-club? with the' cup,- or-other object; toward whichxthezball i is to be:directed:

A: further objectis; to provide .e' an; attachment-,2. for," agolf' club head,1whichmay readily and:v easily be attached to the'head .of ia; club, ,andis adjustable, so that itLcaniloeamounted? onsazwide range --of club head 1 shapes and :sizes;

Another 'object is .to provide'graduationson the; face of t the attachment ,-to enable arplayer to ac:- curately align. the; ball .withthe striking surface. of the club, andaccurately center thercballrwitht relation-to the, direction pointer.

A further. obj ectl-isnto provide. an. indicating, attachment, fitted. with, a. spirit level', which can be readily adjusted to enable thelplayer totad-I just the level to conform to levelofthe ground, regardless of the angular p osition of the upper edge of the head of*the*cl'ub:

A primaryobject is-to produce a'-unit*"which*-is rugged; can be produced" at relatively-low -cost; and can be-adjustedi' mounted -andl utilized by: personshavingdittl'e or no specializedimechanical A skill or training:

Theaccompanyingtdrawingsgaillustrativemf one;

c Admtar-led;wing;tom-other;suitahleetmzvewfthead embodiment;oftmylinventiom, together with) the description: on itS'1 construction and, the method. of: installation, operation, and utilization there ofi-,-;.\wi11.- -serve; tot clarify further obj ectsand advantages of my invention.

Inzthedrawings: 1

Fig; 1 israwfront-relevation; of the. headwof a. putter,; withtan? indicatorcattachment mountedthereon.

Fig,,,2 -is:-a plan view. ofr-therzindicator attach ment, attached to the putter head shown=inc Fig; 1,; with: a ball: 1112111308.;

Rig. 3 is a-.;-ver.tical section-r through the putten' head: and; theamountingiflanges 1 of the indicator; taken; at 1 3-3,--,,.Fig 2-...

It will be understood.- thatethe following description of i the: construction, .method .of attachment and: operation of the-golf clubzdirectiony indicator, is, intende'de as:explanatory of the. in ventionand not restrictive-thereof.

In thendrawinga, the: same reference numerals:- designate-the :same-eparts throughoutthe.variousviews.

The'direction indicator, shown -in:l?igs.- 1,. 2 and 3;,may berattached to:the head. H], of a-putteror: similartgolfclubn The attachment which may bemade of. sheet steel, aluminum; a plastic material; ,ort-other sheet material, comprises airelatively flattop l I, ofsub stantially; rectangular ,CIIDSS": section, with a trie angularpointer I2; formed at the -front'- end thereof;

AmaperturedA, ,of square,-;rectangular, 'orsother.

suitable-lrcontour with large fillets. l5, formed at thecorners-thereof; may betcut through the top, insubstantialalignment with the normalstriking,

position ;of the ball; I6 to enable a player 2 to see the :ball; ;,whi1ea:the aclub head is swung; through i a short are, preparatory' tostrikingthe ball. in

the:usual;.manner:'

The; frontzendfof: the; side members 1 ofrnthe:

indicatorzztopdmay; be folded .over; as indicated: in Fig. 3, the extreme endf.of.the-.-foldedv sectioni being bentuover toiforma pair. offlanges l8 and l 9-; ..substantially i perpendicular :to. the atop,-

The:reariportiomofteach of thesida-membersr I 1 i of; th'ectopgmay also :be: bent -:downward,. as:-

indicatedz-in-sflig-t- 355- pform argripping flange :20,

substantially perpendicular to: the :top, ,the outer, end zoie-eacn-lofzthagripning nanges. being-folded:

back: upomitselfctmf orm 21amauxiliary; flange; and;

retainer: 2.1 .f01;; a: clamp screwa-221;;Whichrmamfbe,

supported: bye each. of the doubled-L threadably: flangesa may be formed integral with one end of the clamp screw 22, a substantially spherical end 23 being formed at the opposite end of the screw, the spherical end supporting a swivel clamping head 24, in the manner indicated in Fig. 3, to enable the swivel head to assume an angular position, in conformity with the plane of the rear face 25, of the head of the club.

A formed plate spring 26, made of spring steel, or other suitable material, may be attached to the inner face of the left-hand flange I8, the opposite end of the spring engaging the face of the club head. A similar spring 21, may be attached to the opposite flange IS, in a similar manner. The left-hand spring comprises a flat base 28, which may be attached to the flange l8 by a plurality of rivets 29, spot welded to the flange, or otherwise attached thereto, and a clamping face 36, angularly disposed to the base, and spaced therefrom by an intermediate section, formed integral with the base, the clamping face of the spring assuming an angular position in substantial alignment with the slope of the forward face 3! of the club head, in the clamping position, shown in Fig. 3.

In the free position, the clamping face of the spring assumes an angle considerably greater than that of the forward face of the club head, to enable the head of the club to distort the spring and place it under tension, in the gripping position.

The spring 21, attached to the right hand flange 19 of the indicator, may be constructed in a similar manner, the base 28, being located at the top of the spring, and attached to the flange I9, in the manner hereinbefore described.

The clamping face 32, formed integral with the base, assumes an angle in alignment with the plane of the forward, or striking face ill of the club head, in the gripping position, although in its free position the spring clamping face is projected outward, to place the spring under tension in the gripping position.

In order to enable the player to accurately gage the position of the club head relative to the ball, a plurality of graduations 33, may be engraved or otherwise formed in the rear section 34, of the top, adjacent the aperture M. The central graduation 35, may be in substantial alignment with the striking center of the club head when the attachment is mounted in the position, shown in Fig. 2. A plurality of equally spaced narrow graduations 33a, may be formed, as indicated at the left-hand side of Fig. 2, or wider spaced graduations 331), shown at the right-hand side, Fig. 2, may be utilized, the spacing of the graduations being determined by the accuracy required in loeating the striking face of the club head with relation to the center of the ball.

The plane of the top I l, of the indicator, would normally be located substantially parallel to the bottom edge 36 of the club head, which is usually located at ground level.

In order to level the club head, independently of the angular position of the plane of the indicator, a spirit level 31, may be mounted at the front end of the top H, behind the pointer [2. The spirit level comprises a sealed, substantially cylindrical liquid-filled tube having hemispherically formed ends, the ends being supported by similarly formed heads 38, mounted at the ends of the tube, a packing 39 being inserted between each tube end and the head, to protect the spirit level tube from abrasion. An intermediate tubular casing 40 may be attached to, or formed integral with one head and. permanently, or removably attached to the opposite head, by suitable attaching means. An oval parallel-edged slot 4|, may be cut through the casing, to enable the player to observe the bubble in the spirit level.

A pair of cars 42, may be attached to, or formed integral with each of the tube casing heads, as indicated in Fig. 3. A pair of substantially vertical supports 43 may be cut out of the forward section of the top, the supports being bent upward, substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the top, to support the spirit level tube heads in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the free position the ears 42, may be substantially parallel to the axis of the spirit level, as indicated at the left-hand side, Fig. 2. In the gripping position, the ears would be bent around the vertical supports, to grip the supports, thereby supporting the spirit level heads, in the manner indicated on the right-hand side, Fig. 2. The use of the cars 42, as a means of supporting the spirit level, enables the spirit level to be mounted in a level position, regardless of the plane of the flat top H of the indicator, or the upper edge of the club head, to enable the player to accurately level the club head, parallel to the bottom edge 36, of the club head, regardless of the angular position of the other surfaces.

While a putter head of one type and crosssection is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the attachment may be used on a wide range of putter head constructions, the support flanges, formed integral with the top of the indicator, the springs, and the clamp screws being adjustable to accommodate a wide range of club head heights, thicknesses, and face angle positions.

In place of the pivoted head attached to the clamping end of the adjusting screw, other types of clamping surface may be provided, either formed integral with the screw, or attached thereto, depending upon the plane of the rear face of the club head, the thickness of the club head, and the range of club head thicknesses to be accommodated by a particular unit.

The size of the spirit level, the method of supporting the spirit level within the holder, and the method of attaching the spirit level holder heads to the indicator, may be altered considerably depending upon the size and type of spirit level used, the construction of the holder, and the construction of the indicator proper.

The indicator may be constructed of one piece of sheet material, formed and folded in the manner indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or the flanges may be formed separately, and welded, brazed, riveted, or otherwise attached to a separate top.

In place of the sheet metal construction, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the indicator may be formed of a laminated phenolic sheet material, or other plastic sheet, built up in sections of a laminated phenolic material, or molded in one piece of a suitable plastic material, the essentials of the construction and the method of supporting the indicator attachment on the club head being substantially as indicated in the drawings and hereinbefore described.

The form and contour of the aperture, formed in the top of the attachment, may be altered considerably, depending upon the size of the top of the indicator, and the area required to observe the golf ball, before it is struck by the club head.

The form and contour of the pointer formed at the front end of the indicator, shown in Fig. 1, may be altered considerably, the, angles of the sides being varied to;- obtain an accurate guide for} the clubhead; v

The spacing; of the graduations, formed at the rearend of the top of the indicator, and. the overall width of the graduation-s, may bevaried, depending upon the overallwidthor the indicator, the size of'the apertureformed the-top, and the length ofthe ball striking-area'of the club face, which is to be utilized.

relative to the position of; the ball and the cup, or other simulating object, used tedeterminethe direction which the-ball is-to talie, the club, with the attachment mounted thereon, and the-spirit level properly adjusted relative to the bottom edge of the club head,- may' beu'tilized inthefol lowing manner:- The bottom edge of levelled relative to the normal-ground line by centering the bubble in thespi-rit level;

The player may observe the ball through the aperture formed in the top of the indicator, and align the ball with the club head-face by means of the graduations formed'in the top of -the indicator.

Byaligning the pointer along the projected line of travel between the ball and the cup, or other object, the club head is placedintheproper angular position to direct the ball along itscorrectpath after it is struck bythe player.

The are of movementof the club headis the usual are required;- for directing the ball to the cup, and would depend upon the distance between the ball and the cup.

In training a player-to properly align-his-club It will be apparent to those skilled in theart that my present invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawings, andthat various-further modifications are possible in carrying out-the features of the invention without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head-of a golf club, ofthe conventional type, for aligning said club head in. the direction of movement of aball, the club head remaining unaltered, comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said top plate having an aperture formed therein, in substantial. alignment with one face of the club, to enable, a, player-stabbserve the ball through said aperture, a. pointer formed integral withone end. of said top. plate in axial alignment with saidaperture-said, top piate having a pair of substantially parallel support members formed integral therewith, a spirit level mounted between said support members, a housing supporting said spirit level, and means adjustably attaching said housing to the support members, said spirit level indicating the normal ground level, relative to the club head, in its normal striking position, a pair of flanges formed integral with the sides of said top plate, adjacent one face of the club head, a pair of rear flanges formed integral with the end of said top plate, near the opposite club face, and means threadably attached to each of said rear flanges removably clamping the club head between said flanges.

2. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head of a golf club, of the conventional type, for aligning said club head in the direction of movement of a ball, the club head remaining unaltered, comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said top plate the club headmay be the ball-striking QQtion of 6'. having an aperture'formed. therein, in tial alignment, with the. ball-striking section. on one faceof the; club. head, to. enableia playzen to observe the. ball through. said: aperture a pointer formed:v integral? with one, end; of said top: plate. in axial alignment withsaidmper-ture, the section of the top plate, adjacent. the. apere time, having a. plurality: of; graduations formed therein, to indicate theposition of the. striking center of the. clubrface, relativeto-the ball, said top-plate having a pairoi substantially parallel support membersintegral/therewith, ajspiritdevela tube mounted between the. support. members, a housing. supporting.- said spirit. leveli tube, each.

, end ofasaidi housinghaving-apain-of: earsdntegral.

therewith, each pair ofrears beingadjustablyrate taohed to the cor-responding. support member, a pair of. flanges formediintegralxwith. the. sides of said top plate, adjacent one facetofr the. club head, a plate springiattached to. each. of: said flanges, each. of. said springshaxzing a clamping faceengaging. the fact of=the.club-head=, a pair of rear flanges formed. integral with! the end or said. top. plate, near. the opposite club. face, a screw.v threadably attached. to. each on said. rear. flanges, the free end ofzeachofzsaidscrewshav: ing aswivel head attachedtthereto, said. flanges straddling the. club head, the club headbeing clamped between the. swivel: head; and. the spring attachedxto the. opposite flange.

3. A direction indicatorfor.removable attach: ment to theheadof: a, golf: club, ofa the. conven tional type, for. align-ingrsaid'. clubhead in the direction ofv movementofla ball, the. club. head remaining. unaltered, comprising, a. top plate mounted above. the club head; said. top. plate having an aperture formed:- therein, in. substane tial alignment with the. ball-strikhagsection of one. face of the club, tolenablea. player. to ob-.- serve. the balLthroughIsaid. apertur a pointer formed integral with. one. end of said. top plate in axialv alignment. with said; aperture, a portion of the top plate adjacent: thaapertu-re. having a plurality of graduations 1 inscribed; thereon, the center of said 'graduations being. in substantial alignment with the center; ofi'the. pointer, said top. late having a pair ofisubstantial-ly. parallel support members formed: integral therewith, a spirit level mounted between said. support. mem= bers, ahousingsupporting saidspirit level,- and means adjustablyattaching saidghousing to the support members, said. spirit level. indicatingrthe ground level, relative to, the. club. head; inil its normal striking position, a..pair:.of flangesformed integral; with thesides of: said to plate, adjacent one. face of the club-.head, a pair-ofrear flanges formed integral with the endoflsaid top plate, near the opposite club face, and means threadably attached to each of said rear flanges removably clamping the club head between said flanges.

4. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head of a golf club. of the conventional type, for aligning said club head in the direction of movement of a ball, the club head remaining unaltered, comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said top plate having an aperture formed therein, in substantial alignment with the ball-striking section of one face of the club, to enable a player to observe the ball through said aperture, a pointer formed integral with one end of said top plate in axial alignment with said aperture, the top plate having a pair of substantially parallel support members integral therewith, a spirit level mounted between the support members, a housing supporting said spirit level, each end of said housing having a pair of ears integral therewith, each pair of ears being adjustably attached to the corresponding support member, one end of the sides of said top plate being folded, the free end of each of said folded sides being bent to form a flange, adjacent one face of the club head, a formed plate spring attached to each of said flanges, each of said springs having a clamping face engaging the adjacent face of the club head, a pair of rear flanges formed integral with the end of said top plate, near the opposite club face, a screw threadably attached to each of said rear flanges, and a swivel head attached to each of said screws, said flanges straddling the club head, the club head being clamped between the swivel head and the spring attached to the opposite flange.

5. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head of a golf club, of the conventional type, for aligning said club head in the direction of movement of a ball, the club head remaining unaltered, comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said plate having an aperture formed therein, in substantial alignment with the ball-striking position of one face of the club, to enable a player to observe the ball through said aperture, a pointer formed integral with one end of said top plate in axial alignment with the aperture, the section of the top plate, adjacent the aperture, having a plurality of graduations formed therein, the center of said graduations being in alignment with the center of the pointer, to indicate the position of the striking center of the club face relative to the ball, said top plate having a pair of substantially parallel support members formed integral therewith, a spirit level mounted between said support members, a housing supporting said level tube. each end of said housing having a pair of ears formed integral therewith, each pair of ears being clamped around the corresponding support member, to adjustably support the spirit level, said spirit level indicating the ground level, relative to the club head in its normal striking position, a pair of flanges formed integral with the sides of said top plate, adjacent one face of the club head, a formed plate spring attached to each of said flanges, each of said springs having a clamping face engaging the face of the club head, a pair of rear flanges formed integral with the end of said top plate, behind the opposite club face, and means threadably attached to each of said rear flanges removably clamping the club head between the threaded means and the springs.

6. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head of a golf club, of the conventional type, for aligning said club head in the direction of movement of a ball, the club head remaining unaltered, comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said top plate having an aperture formed therein, in substantial alignment with the ball-striking position of one face of the club, to enable a player to observe the ball through the aperture, a pointer formed integral with one end of said top plate in axial alignment with the aperture, the section of the top plate, adjacent the aperture, having a plurality of graduations formed therein, the center of said graduations being in alignment with the center of the pointer, to indicate the position of the striking center of the club face relative to the ball, said top plate having a pair of substantially parallel support members formed integral therewith, a spirit level mounted between said support members, a housing supporting said spirit level, each end of said housing having a pair of ears formed integral therewith, each pair of ears being clamped around the corresponding support member, to adjustably support the spirit level, said spirit level indicating the ground level relative to the club head, in its normal striking position, a pair of flanges formed integral with the sides of said top plate, adjacent one face of the club head, a plate spring attached to each of said flanges, each of said springs having a clamping face engaging the face of the club head, a pair of rear flanges formed integral with the end of said top plate, near the opposite club face, a screw threadably attached to each of said rear flanges, and a swivel head attached to each of said screws, said flanges straddling the club head, the club head being clamped between the swivel head and the spring attached to the opposite flange.

ALLYN C. FAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 111,855 Moreno Oct. 25, 1938 365,033 Wood June 14, 1887 837,030 Blanchard Nov. 2'7, 1906 1,253,516 Norris Jan. 15, 1918 1,331,499 Hartford Feb. 24, 1920 1,658,528 King Feb. 7, 1928 1,678,750 Swan July 31, 1928 2,463,798 Paisley Mar. 8, 1949 2,503,506 Miller Apr. 11, 1950

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