US3400933A - Golf practicing device - Google Patents

Description

p 1968 c. D HEISER 3,400,933

GOLF PRACTICING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W2 34 w! .1 ev I Afr? \-32 I 1.f 1 I I! Lfln l 1",,

INVENTOR. CHARLES D, HE/SER UeoMrq u Sept. 10, 1968 c. D. HEISER 3,400,933

GOLF PRACTICING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CHARLES D. l'lE/S'ER BY Chow, a111,;

c. D. HEISER 3,400,933

GOLF PRACTICING DEVICE Sept. 10, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 30, 1965 20 k; 22 I b I 'I IN I I N VENTOR.

CHARLES D, HE/SER United States PatentO 3,400,933 GOLF PRACTICING DEVICE Charles D. Heiser, 2424 Euclid Ave., .Cleveland, Ohio 44115 Filed June 30,1965, Ser, No. 468,398

. Y 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-186) ABSTRACT or THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates in general to a device for practicing a golf swing and more particularly to such a device which guides the club head during the swing.

. This device of the present invention is designed to correct, through proper guidance of the club head during practice swinging, three of the most common faults in properly hitting a golf ball. These faults are topping, slicing and hooking the ball, and although the device controls the club head at all points during a swing, it still permits reasonable latitude in body, arm and wrist action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf practicing device which includes a rigid rod or member connected at one end by a universal type connection to a fixed wall or object at about eye level and connected at the other end by a universal type connection to the hosel or neck of the golf club.

' Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention as used by a golfer and showing the golfer addressing a golf ball; I.

FIGURE 2 is asimilar view showing the golfer at the top of his:back swing;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 showing the golfer in the follow-through portion of his swing;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the mounting bracket usedfor mounting the upper end of the rigid rod to a fixed object;

FIGURE 5 is a view of the mounting bracket taken from a position 90 degrees removed from FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view showing the connection of the lower end of the rigid rod to the neck of the golf club; and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but taken from an angle 90 degrees removed therefrom.

As pointed out above, the device of the present invention is designed to cause the golf club head to travel through the proper arc in passing to, through, and from the positionwhere a golf ball is to be struck in its normal position on the ground. The present invention aids in developing a grooved swing, which aids in preventing topping, slicing and hooking of the golf ball. One of the important features of the present invention is the use of what will be referred to in the specification and in the claims as a rigid rod. The rigid rod is preferably con structed of metal and it is appreciated that the term rigid is a relative term, however, in the sense it is used in the present application, it means the rod is of such a rigid or firm construction that the distance between the ends of the ice rod cannot be or cannot be substantially foreshortenedor lengthened by the pressure or force which is exertedon the rod through the medium of the player using a golf club which is attached thereto. 1

With this in mind, FIGURES :1, 2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate the use of the device in developing the referred to grooved swing for a golfer. FIGURE 1 shows a golfer 20 in the position of addressing a golf ball 22 with a conventional golf club 24, in this particular instance an iron. The ball 22 has been shown merely to illustrate the position on the ground where the club head should pass through and when practicing a ball is not normally used.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that thepresent device is susceptible of use in.practicing the swing regardless of whether irons or woods are being utilized; FIGURE 2 shows the golfer at the top of his backswin and FIGURE 3 illustrates the golfer during the follow-through portion of his swing.

The advantages hereinabove stated in using the present invention are carried out by the structure of the various? elements which will be specifically described hereinafter. The golf practicing device of the present invention includes a rigid rod 27 preferably constructed of metal and having first and second end portions 29 and 30. First connection means are provided for connecting the first end portion 29 of the rigid rod 27 to a fixed surface which in this particular embodiment is the surface of a post 32 and this first connection means is located substantially at eye level 34 of the person using the device when in the position of addressing the ball. The first connection means referred to includes a bracket 36 having a fiat portion 37 secured to the surface of the post 32 by screws 38. Another portion 40 of the bracket 36 which is integral with the portion 37 and which is generally L- or U-shaped in cross section (see FIGURE 5) is provided and this portion is slightly spaced from the post 32. A pivot member 42 is pivotally mounted by the two sides of the U-shape just immediately described above and is held in axial position, while permitting turning movement, by means of washers 44 and pins 45. The axis of the pivot member 42 extends generally at a right angle with respect to the surface of the post member to which it is attached.

A pivot pin 47 is mounted by the left end of the pivot member 42 as seen in FIGURE 5 and the axis of the pivot pin is generally at a right angle to the axis of the pivot member 42. The pivot pin is held in position by a member 48. The first end portion 29 of the rigid rod has a circular portion 50 which surrounds the pivot pin 47 and is rotatable there'about within the necessary limits. As a result, the means for securing or connecting the first end portion of the rigid rod to the post member permits universal movement of the rod with respect to the fixed surface of the post.

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate the connection means for connecting the second end portion 30 of the rigid rod to the neck of the golf club. This connection means comprises a hook 57 fixedly secured to the rigid rod at the second end portion and the extreme second end portion of the rigid rod is formed into a circular configuration 59. An annular stop member prefera'bly formed of material such as soft plastic or rubber is secured to the neck 55 of the golf club by means of an elastic band such as a rubber band (not shown) which is anchored to screw 63 at one end and wrapped under tension aroundstop member 61 either once or several times and the other end is then secured to the screw 63. The screw 63 is held only by the material of the stop member. It will [be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the precise means of securing the stop member to the neck of the club is not particularly important. A looped piece of cord 65 of some satisfactory material such as nylon has one end portion 67 surrounding the neck 55 of the club between the stop member 61 and the head 69 and this looped cord thereafter extends through the circular portion or configuration 59 on the second end of the rigid rod and the other end portion 71 is hooked or-looped over the hook 57 whereby it is held in position. This connection means secures the second end portion of the rigid rod to theneck of the golf club so that universal movement can be obtained between the rod and the golf club during swinging of the club.

As a result, when the golfer starts his backswing from the position of address as seen in FIGURE 1, the rigid rod causes the club head to move through the backswing in a prescribed path. The path is likewise controlled on the downswing through the impact area (where the ball would be located) and during the follow-through. The rigid rod causes the club head to strike the ground improperly if the club head is forced inside. or outside the proper path during impact and also guards against the tendency to pull up or lift the club at the bottom of the swing. As a result, the device assists in properly grooving the users swing during practice and thus aids in developingthe correct muscular coordination'essential to playing better golf.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Golf swing practicing apparatus including in combination a rigid metal rod having first and second end portions, first connection means for connecting said first end portion of said rod to a fixed surface comprising a bracket having a fiat portion adapted to be fixedly secured to a fixed surface and having another portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to said flat portion, a pivot member pivotally mounted on said another portion of said bracket for pivotal movement about an axis generally at a right angle to said another portion, a pivot pin mounted on an end of said pivot member with the axis of said pivot pin being generally at a right angle to the axis of said pivot member, said first end portion of said rod having a circular portion surrounding said pivot pin and being rotatable thereabout, second connection means for connecting said second end portion of said rod to the neck of a golf club comprising a hook fixedly secured to said rod at said second end portion, said second end portion of said rod having a circular aperture portion, an annular stop member adapted to be secured to the neck of a golf club, a looped piece of cord having a length such that one end thereof may be looped over the neck of a golf club and thereafter be extended through said circular apertured portion at said second end portion of said rod, and be looped over said hook, said rod being of such a length as to permit said club head to be swung through the arc of a golf club swing when said first portion is connected by said bracket to a fixed surface at about eye level of a person using said-apparatus and said second portion is connected to the neck of a golf club by said cord as aforesaid.

2. Golf swing practicing apparatus including in combination a rigid rod having first and second end portions, first connection means for connecting said first end portion of said rod to a fixed surface comprising a bracket having a first flat portion adapted to be fixedly secured to the fixed surface and an angled portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to said fiat portion, a pivot member mounted on said angled portion for pivotal movement about an axis generally at a right angle thereto, a pivot pin mounted on an end of said pivot member with the ax'is of said pivot pin being generally at a right angle to theaxis of said pivot member, said first end portion of said rod having. a portion surrounding said pivot pin and being rotatable thereabout,. second connection means for connecting said second end portion of said rod to the neck of a golf club comprising a hook fixedly secured to said rod at said second end portion, said second endportion of said rod having an annular apertured portion, a stop member adapted to be secured to the neck of a golf club, a looped piece of cord having a length such that one end thereof may be looped over the neck of a golf club and thereafter be extended through said annular apertured portion, and looped over said hook, said rod being of such a length as to permit said club head to be swung through the arc of a golf club swing when said first portion is connected by said bracket to a fixed surface at about eye levelof a person using said apparatus and said second portion is connected to the neck of a golf club by said cord as aforesaid.

3, Golf swing practicing apparatus including in combination a rigid rod having first and second end portions and a golf club having a shaft with a hand grip at one end and a head connected to the shaft by a neck at the'other end, horizontal support means for supporting a golfer, a fixed rod support spaced above said horizontal support means, first means connecting said first end portion of said. rigid rod to said fixed rod support so that universal move-;

ment is possible between said rod and said fixed rod support, second means connecting said second end portion of said rigid rod to said neck of said club so that universal movement is possible between said rod and said'club, the length of said rod being such that it will permit unimpeded a proper swing of said club at a golf ball positioned:

at address on said horizontal support means and impede an improper swing of said club at the ball positioned by forcing said golf club head to strike, said horizontal support means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,904 9/1948 Millner 2 73 191 2,655,378 10/1953 Sheifer 273191 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

G. J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner.

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