| Method and apparatus for golf club fitting -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method and apparatus for golf club fittingRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Practice Swingable Implement Or Indicator Associated With Swingable Implement, Swingable Implement Swing Path IndicatorMethod and apparatus for golf club fitting description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060172813, Method and apparatus for golf club fitting. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation in part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/371,874. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of Invention [0003] This invention relates to a method for the fitting of golf clubs, and more particularly to an apparatus and method utilizing mark transfer from a mat back to the club. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Heretofore a wide variety of golf and golf related practice devices have been proposed and developed for improving golf skills. Prior devices have attempted to provide such practice tools in variety of different manners. A significant limitation of all prior devices however, is that such devices are often cumbersome, expensive, unreliable, and not particularly convenient for improving golf skills. Prior art devices that recorded the contact area of the golf club to the golf ball do not give the same type of information about the swing as one can have with a record of the contact area of the golf club to the ground. A record of how club contacted the ground, represented as the path that the club made across the ground as it was in contact with it, gives the observer the distinct advantage of acquiring additional information with regard to the swing, as discussed below. By recording the contact area of the club on the ground (as represented by the practice mat) as the club is swung through, a "dynamic" record of the contact is made. As the club is moved through the swing, and across the ground (mat), the amount of the club bottom in contact with the ground may change. This temporal aspect of the record can be observed with the present invention. This record is akin to the divot that a golfer may leave on the grass surface of the golf course on which actual swings are taken. A record of how the ball contacted the club face represents a different type of information. In addition, devices that record the contact area of the golf ball to the golf club carry the distinct disadvantage of requiring modification to the golf club. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,530 to Butler discloses an invention to record the "toe up" or "toe down" attitude of a golf club as it is swung through past the ground. This device carries the limitation that the recording is done on the club, especially since it requires modification of the club to be swung. Also, only one swing can be made before a disruption to the practice round must be made to replace the device on the club. Also, although this device does give some information about the way in which the club and the ground have come into contact with each other, the information is limited in that no "dynamic" record is made of the club contact with the ground. [0007] Devices which utilize tape on the club head to record the contact of the club head to the ground, or ground simulator, carry the distinct disadvantage or requiring that the tape be removed and replaced in order to have a new surface to mark for a new swing. This process is time consuming and, in the case of some modern shaped club heads, can be technically difficult. [0008] What is called for is a device that allows for the recording of the club contact area on the club, as well as the dynamic recording of the contact area of the golf swing to the ground. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for custom fitting of golf clubs that is convenient to use, reliable, inexpensive to manufacture, and may be used either inside or outside. The method and apparatus of the present invention is easy to use, and provides instant and reliable feedback about the fit of a golf club to the user by leaving a mark on the club and around and near a simulated golf ball or other target imprinted on a paper or other impressionable surface on a mat. The visible mark on the club gives information about the nature of the fit of the golf club to the user. The visible mark on the mat gives immediate information to the user as to the quality and characteristic of the swing, and as to whether the swing was appropriate to use as a basis for club fitting. A swing not "on target" with the simulated ball (or ball target) will give misinformation with regard to the club fit. [0010] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method for the fitting of golf clubs to a user. It is also an object of this invention to provide a divot or golf practice mat with an impressionable surface having one or more imprinted simulated golf balls or targets thereon. The impressionable surface is preferably composed of a no carbon required (NCR) type paper, but may alternatively be composed of or contain a wax, a carbon paper, thermal paper, or the like. The invention allows for the recording of the contact area between a golf club and the recording surface, which simulates the position of a golf ball on the ground. The invention also allows for the transfer of ink or other material to the club head to provide information regarding the fit of the club to the user. When the recording sheet has been used up, the recording sheet is easily removed and replaced. The sheet then becomes a permanent record of the contacts between the golf club and the apparatus. The mark transferred to the club may be easily removed in order to allow the mark from the subsequent swing to be clearly recorded. [0011] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [0013] FIG. 1 shows a mark retaining means with a plurality of simulated golf balls imprinted thereon, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a golf club fitting mat using adhesives to secure the mark retaining layer to the base element, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a golf club fitting mat using hook and loop fastening elements to secure the mark retaining layer to the base element, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a golf club fitting mat using adhesives to removeably attach the mark retaining layer to the base element. [0017] FIG. 5 is a side view of the golf club fitting mat illustrating a simulation of a golf club swing as the golf club is contacting the mark retaining layer. [0018] FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of the mark retaining layer after a use. [0019] FIG. 7 is a front view of the golf club fitting mat illustrating a simulation of a golf club swing as the golf club is contacting the mark retaining layer. [0020] FIG. 8 is a front view of the golf club fitting mat illustrating a simulation of a golf club swing as the golf club is contacting the mark retaining layer. Continue reading about Method and apparatus for golf club fitting... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for golf club fitting Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for golf club fitting 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. 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