GB2110095A

GB2110095A - Golf clubs

Info

Publication number: GB2110095A
Application number: GB08232896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Desmond Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-23
Filing date: 1982-11-18
Publication date: 1983-06-15

Abstract

A practice golf club has a light emitting diode fitted to the head of the club to indicate the path followed by the club head as it is swung. A reflector is mounted behind the diode to reinforce the light from the device.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to golf clubs Field of invention This invention concerns apparatus which is primarily intended to enable the user to obtain practice in swinging a golf club and addressing a golf ball correctly. In particluar the application allows a user or a coach instructing the user to check the correctness or otherwise of a users swing and ball address.

Background to the invention and prior art Applicants British Patent Specification No.

1 270422 described a practice golf club which consists of a hollow shaft a club head fixed to one end of the shaft an electric light bulb mounted in the club head and means housed in the shaft and axially slideable therein under the action of the centrifugal force during the swinging of the club to engage a contact to close an electric circuit containing the light bulb.

Applicants later Specification No.

2039749A described an improvement in the device described in Specification 1 270422 in which the battery is incorporated into a recess in the head of the club and access is gained to the battery compartment by means of a removable or slideable hatch. The Specification also described a device for reducing current drain from the battery to the minimum in the form of a variable resistence for limiting the current to the bulb and therefore the intensity of light from the bulb. Whilst the full light intensity is always available from the bulb upon appropriate adjustment, many lighting conditions do not require such brilliance from the bulb and an improvement in the battery life can be obtained by reducing the current flow and current drain on the battery except when absolutely necessary.

The forms of club described in the two previous specifications are primarily practice devices and may or may not be used to hit a ball with. Where the practice is essentially that to improve the line of the stroke, there is actually no need to address a ball but merely a Tee position and the illuminated locus of the head as it moves through the air is sufficient to instruct the player as to whether or not he is improving his stroke.

Some difficulties have been experienced when using the head to actually hit a ball in that the fragile incandescent filament of a conventional electric bulb does not always withstand the impact shock and bulb life can be limited.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative design which does not suffer from this disadvantage.

Summary of the invention According to the broadest aspect of the present invention the bulb provided in the practice golf club head of specifications 1270422 or 2039749 is replaced by an impact resistant light emitting device such as a light emitting diode or the like.

Such a device has two advantages.

1. It is essentially shock resistant, 2. The current requirements may be considerably less than those of a corresponding filament lamp.

According to a further aspect of the present invention the light emitting diode includes a mirror surface to the rear of the diode so as to reinforce the light from the diode in the viewing direction.

The mirror surface may comprise a reflective material or foil applied, as by a clear adhesive, to the rest of the device.

Where the rear of the device is normally coated with opaque material such as a paint or varnish in a plastics or metal housing, the covering or housing material is first removed to allow the mirror-like material to be fitted in place.

The battery may as described in Specification 2039749 still be housed in the head of a club with a sliding or hinged trap door to cover the battery compartment.

A variable resistor may still incorporate in the circuit controlling the light emitting diode or similar device so as to control the brilliance thereof.

Where an earth return is required in the rotatable switch associated with the handle of the club, a pair of insulated contacts are provided to advantage which themselves are bridged by a conductive member when the handle is rotated and mored thereby in a downward direction so as to close the circuit containing the bulb and battery.

It is to be understood that this feature is not limited to being employed with a light emitting diode but may be incorporated with either a light emitting diode or ordinary incandescent bulb.

1. In a practice golf club of the type described and claimed in my Patent Specifications 1 270422 or 2039749, the light source is replaced by an impact resistant light emitting device.

2. A practice golf club as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting diode.

3. A practice golf club as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the battery is to be housed in the head of the club with a sliding or hinged trap door to close the battery compartment.

4. A practice golf club as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a variable resistor is incorporated in the circuit controlling the light emitting device so as to control the brilliance thereof.

5. A practice golf club as claimed in claim

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to golf clubs Field of invention This invention concerns apparatus which is primarily intended to enable the user to obtain practice in swinging a golf club and addressing a golf ball correctly. In particluar the application allows a user or a coach instructing the user to check the correctness or otherwise of a users swing and ball address. Background to the invention and prior art Applicants British Patent Specification No. 1 270422 described a practice golf club which consists of a hollow shaft a club head fixed to one end of the shaft an electric light bulb mounted in the club head and means housed in the shaft and axially slideable therein under the action of the centrifugal force during the swinging of the club to engage a contact to close an electric circuit containing the light bulb. Applicants later Specification No. 2039749A described an improvement in the device described in Specification 1 270422 in which the battery is incorporated into a recess in the head of the club and access is gained to the battery compartment by means of a removable or slideable hatch. The Specification also described a device for reducing current drain from the battery to the minimum in the form of a variable resistence for limiting the current to the bulb and therefore the intensity of light from the bulb. Whilst the full light intensity is always available from the bulb upon appropriate adjustment, many lighting conditions do not require such brilliance from the bulb and an improvement in the battery life can be obtained by reducing the current flow and current drain on the battery except when absolutely necessary. The forms of club described in the two previous specifications are primarily practice devices and may or may not be used to hit a ball with. Where the practice is essentially that to improve the line of the stroke, there is actually no need to address a ball but merely a Tee position and the illuminated locus of the head as it moves through the air is sufficient to instruct the player as to whether or not he is improving his stroke. Some difficulties have been experienced when using the head to actually hit a ball in that the fragile incandescent filament of a conventional electric bulb does not always withstand the impact shock and bulb life can be limited. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative design which does not suffer from this disadvantage. Summary of the invention According to the broadest aspect of the present invention the bulb provided in the practice golf club head of specifications 1270422 or 2039749 is replaced by an impact resistant light emitting device such as a light emitting diode or the like. Such a device has two advantages. 1. It is essentially shock resistant, 2. The current requirements may be considerably less than those of a corresponding filament lamp. According to a further aspect of the present invention the light emitting diode includes a mirror surface to the rear of the diode so as to reinforce the light from the diode in the viewing direction. The mirror surface may comprise a reflective material or foil applied, as by a clear adhesive, to the rest of the device. Where the rear of the device is normally coated with opaque material such as a paint or varnish in a plastics or metal housing, the covering or housing material is first removed to allow the mirror-like material to be fitted in place. The battery may as described in Specification 2039749 still be housed in the head of a club with a sliding or hinged trap door to cover the battery compartment. A variable resistor may still incorporate in the circuit controlling the light emitting diode or similar device so as to control the brilliance thereof. Where an earth return is required in the rotatable switch associated with the handle of the club, a pair of insulated contacts are provided to advantage which themselves are bridged by a conductive member when the handle is rotated and mored thereby in a downward direction so as to close the circuit containing the bulb and battery. It is to be understood that this feature is not limited to being employed with a light emitting diode but may be incorporated with either a light emitting diode or ordinary incandescent bulb. CLAIMS

5. A practice golf club as claimed in claim 1 of the Patent Specification 1 270422 or Application 2039749 in which the circuit comprising the light emitting device and battery is completed by a conductive member which bridges two insulated contacts when the handle is rotated in a downward direction.

6. A practice golf club as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 or 3 to 5 wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting diode which includes a minor surface to the rear of the diode so as to reinforce the light from the diode in the viewing direction.

7. A practice golf club as claimed in claim 6 wherein the mirror surface comprises a reflective material or foil applied to the rear of the device.

8. A practice golf club as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the reflective material or foil is secured to the diode housing by an adhesive.

9. A practice golf club as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8 wherein the coating of the diode housing is partially removed to allow the mirror-like material to be applied thereto.