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  Golf club and practice arrangementUSPTO Application #: 20060281579Title: Golf club and practice arrangement Abstract: A golf club and target practice arrangement is disclosed for use in the game of golf. The golf club includes a shaft and a head attached to the shaft. A cavity is formed in the head and a removable light-producing insert is located within the cavity which, when activated, can project a beam of light from the golf club to the target. A non-light producing insert is also provided so as to be selectively received within the cavity in place of the light producing insert. The target includes a reflective surface and a plurality of light-receiving sensors for receiving the beam of light from the golf club. Further included on the target are an indicator light and a speaker for providing visual and audio feedback when the beam of light contacts the sensors. A visor and a tunnel may also be used with the target to shield outside light which may interfere with the sensors and visibility of the indicator light under certain conditions. (end of abstract) Agent: Botkin & Hall, LLP - South Bend, IN, US Inventor: Benedict F. Marnocha USPTO Applicaton #: 20060281579 - Class: 473340000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Club Or Club Support, Head, Putter The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060281579. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/351,606, filed Feb. 10, 2006; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/283,488, filed Nov. 18, 2005; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/659,648, filed Sep. 10, 2003; which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/409,463, filed Sep. 10, 2002; U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/447,593, filed on Feb. 14, 2003; U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/457,804, filed on Mar. 26, 2003; and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/471,953, filed on May 20, 2003. The subject matter disclosed in these applications is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to golf, and more particularly to a golf club and practice arrangement that facilitates development of proper club head aiming techniques. [0004] 2. Description of the Background of the Invention [0005] One element of a proper golf shot is proper orientation or aim of the club head. It is important that the club head be properly oriented relative to the golf ball and to the target during set-up of the golf shot. A proper golf swing or stroke will return the club head to the golf ball at substantially the same orientation and alignment adopted by the player during set-up. Thus, when addressing the golf ball, it is important the club head be properly oriented and aimed relative to a primary target along the desired line of ball flight or roll. [0006] The most-used club in golf is the putter. The most important and difficult task to accomplish with a putter is proper aim. To achieve proper alignment and orientation, one typically practices, without outside aid, until a proper golf swing is achieved, through a process of trial and error. Such a process is time-consuming, and with modern technologies, can be aided with the help of practice arrangements which can facilitate development of proper putting techniques. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In one embodiment, the present invention facilitates the development and practice of proper putter aim, one of the fundamentals in putting and one of the most difficult to master. [0008] In certain embodiments, the present invention is intended primarily as a practice device which may be used both indoors and out. However, the golf club of the present invention may also be used in actual play on a course. This is desirable in that it eliminates the need to transfer learning from a practice device to an alternate club used in regulation play. [0009] In certain embodiments, the practice arrangement and golf club of the present invention is well-suited for both purposes--practice and regulation play--and may be used both to learn proper aim and alignment of the golf club, as well as to actually play the game of golf. [0010] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a golf club with a shaft, a head attached to the shaft, a light-producing insert, and a non-light-producing insert. The head has a ball-striking surface, an aperture formed in the ball-striking surface for allowing light to pass therethrough and a cavity formed in the head adjacent the aperture. The light-producing insert is configured so as to be operably and removably received within the cavity. The non-light-producing insert is configured so as to be selectively received within the cavity in place of the light-producing insert. [0011] In one embodiment, the non-light-producing insert is substantially equal in weight to the light-producing insert and, in certain embodiments, may be substantially the same size and weight, and have substantially the same weight distribution, as the light-producing insert. [0012] In certain embodiments, the ball-striking surface of the head has a translucent material disposed over the aperture. A prism, or lens, may be disposed in, or behind, the aperture for transmitting light produced by the light-producing insert. The prism columnates a light beam produced by the light-producing insert such that the light beam forms a line on a surface between the head and a target. In addition to forming a line on a surface, a portion of the light beam may be projected onto a surface of a target. [0013] In certain embodiments, the prism may be formed as part of the light-producing insert. In these or other embodiments, the aperture is located in an approximate midpoint of the ball-striking surface. A switch may be provided to allow a user to selectively activate the light-producing insert. [0014] In one embodiment, the light-producing insert can include a battery-powered laser device. The non-light-producing insert may be formed of any material having an appropriate size, weight and weight distribution. [0015] In one embodiment, the invention includes a practice arrangement, which includes a combination of a golf club and a target. The golf club includes a shaft, a head attached to the shaft, a light-producing insert, and a non-light-producing insert. The head has a ball-striking surface, an aperture formed in the surface allowing light to pass therethrough and a cavity formed in the head adjacent the aperture. The light-producing insert is configured so as to be operably and removably received within the cavity. The non-light-producing insert is configured so as to be selectively received within the cavity in place of the light-producing insert. [0016] The target has both a surface for reflecting and a surface for receiving at least a portion of a light beam produced by the light-producing insert to provide an indication of the orientation of the head relative to the target. The target may have a surface which extends transversely to a target line defined by the light-producing insert. The surface may have a plurality of regularly-shaped marks thereon. A portion of the target may be configured so as to extend into a golf hole, or cup, to secure the target in position relative to the hole. [0017] The concepts disclosed are not limited to use with a golf club of the exact type illustrated in the drawings, but may be used with golf clubs of many shapes, sizes or dimensions. Additional embodiments, features and advantages will become apparent to those of skill in the relevant arts upon consideration of the following description of the illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a golf club and target practice arrangement according to the present invention; [0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the golf club with a light-producing insert according to the present invention; [0020] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the golf club with a non-light-producing insert according to the present invention; Continue reading... Full patent description for Golf club and practice arrangement Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf club and practice arrangement patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Golf club and practice arrangement or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Golf club Next Patent Application: Trajectory stability increased golf clubs with pluralities of holes Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf club and practice arrangement patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.66459 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
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