US3708174A

US3708174A - Golf stance device

Info

Publication number: US3708174A
Application number: US00221922*A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Kamarauskas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-01-31
Filing date: 1972-01-31
Publication date: 1973-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-02

Abstract

A golf stance guide comprising an elongate member to which indicator dials are attached. Cords normally stored within the elongate member are attached at either end respectively to a golfer''s shoe and a dial so that the left-right dial readings indicating previously successful stances may be consistently repeated.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Kamarauskas [4 1 Jan. 2, 1973 s41 GOLF STANCE DEVICE 2,180,170 11/1939 Richards ..273/187 R 2,606,026 19/1952 [76] Inventor: Walter M. Kamarauskas, Warren 3 459 429 8/1969 i Mokena, 60448 3,627,328 12/1971 Becker ..273/l87 R Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Robert J. Doherty [57 ABSTRACT A golf stance guide comprising an elongate member to which indicator dials are attached. Cords normally stored within the elongate member are attached at either end respectively to a golfers shoe and a dial so that the left-right dial readings indicating previously successful stances may be consistently repeated.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures RIGHT FOOT READING [22] Filed: Jan. 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 221,922

[52] US. Cl. ..273/l87 R, 273/DIG. 21 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 69/36 [58] Field of Search ..273/l87, 183, 195; 33/174 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,562,744 11/1925 Dillow ..273/DIG. 21

LEFT FOOT READlNG II 1 READING 6 I LEFT FOOT GOLF STANCE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a golf stance guide. A proper stance, that is, the alignment of a golfers feet in relationship to each other and to the ball being addressed is an important factor upon which the execution of a successful drive or other golf stroke depends. The stance assumed by a golfer is important to proper balance in striking the ball effectively and furthermore enables proper weight shift which is an essential part of the swing. For each club, and depending on whether the golfer is short or tall, male or female, heavy or light, the stance assumed will be different in relation to the ball. Also, stances may be open or closed, more off one foot than the other and other such position factors depending on such considerations as the lie of the ball and whether or not the golfer desires to slice or hook the ball away from its normal straight line of flight for some particular purpose such as may occur on dog-leg holes or when attempting to overcome a tree or other obstruction on the course.

The present invention provides a device which serves to indicate and, therefore, guide the various relationships between the golfers feet, line of sight, and the distance from the ball. With this device, the golfer, when arriving at a comfortable'and effective stance based upon actual experience in swinging and hitting the ball, may quickly note the foot relationship of such successful stance from this device for use in similar future shots where the same stance would be desirable.

Stance positioning devices are known as evidenced by U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,459,429, 3,041,075, 3,384,377, 3,229,981 and others. Primarily these devices enable a golfer to guide his swing stance in relationship to the ball by initially placing portions of the device such as foot contacting elements or measuring portions in a prescribed position and distance relationship and thereafter placing the feet in such positions. Thus, a cord is utilized for such purpose in U. S. Pat. No. 3,229,981 and an extensible and measured tape in U. S. Pat. No; 3,459,429.

The device of the present invention differs from these known devices inasmuch as the measure actuation means thereofv attaches to portions of the golfers shoes so that the swing stance maybe adjusted by convenient reference to measurement dials close to the ball being addressed and thus in line of sight of the golfer while addressing the ball. This enables a golfer to address the ball in a comfortable stance and then observe the right-left foot positioning of the stance without breaking concentration to physically measure such stance as required by prior art devices.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description, which is based on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following description merely describes, preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The golf stance guide of the present invention comprises an elongate tubular member on which stance indicator means 12 comprising separate left foot and BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts of several views.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the golf stance guide of the present invention in extended, operative position,

FIG. 2 is a partial side view thereof, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of a portion of the present golf stance guide taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The golf stance guide of the present invention includes an elongate member or tube 10. The tube 10 is provided with stance indicator means 12 and measure actuation means 14. The stance indicator means 12 including dials 13 is preferably mounted on the forward end of the tube 10, that is, the end adapted for placement in proximity to the ball being addressed by the golfer, and the measure actuation means 14 is operatedly associated with both the tube 10 and the stance indicator means 12 so that modifications'in the foot placement (stance) of the golfer either left or right of the ball will be concurrently indicated on the stance indicator dials 13 within plain view of the golfer as he addresses the ball.

The tube 10 is formed of a suitable material to withstand golf course weather conditions such as aluminum, polypropylene or polyethylene. The tube 10 is preferably hollow so as to provide internally thereof a protected passageway for the measure actuation means 14 comprising cords 16 preferably of different colors to distinguish between left and right foot actuation means of the device. Tube 10 is open at one end and is further provided with a pointer 18 calibrated in inches so that by knowing the length of the tube 10 the overall distance from the open end 11 of the tube and the ball being addressed may be accurately determined. The pointer 18 is further retractable to the housing of the tube 10.

The tube is further provided with a plate 20 connected by known means such as welding or clamps to the body of the tube at the forward end thereof and extending laterally to eachside thereof. The plate is provided on each side thereof with mounting means comprising screwopenings 22 in order that the measure actuation means 14 may be attached thereto. The stance indicator means 12 illustrated is comprised of left and right dials 13 which in turn are in part comprised of left and right support members 28 attached to the plate 20 through openings 22 by means of screws 26. Each support 28 is further provided with a central upstanding boss for a receipt of a hub member 30 which in turn serves to encompass a spring member 32 such as a wound or flat spring. The left cord 16 is attached to the outer surface 34 of the hub member 30. The spring 32 serves to exert a continuing retraction force on each of the cords 16. Each cord 16 is in turn threaded through openings 36 provided on the sides of the tube 10, continue through the hollow portion of the tube and extend out the rear opening thereof. Each cord is at the opposite ends thereof provided with'fastening means 38 for attachment to the shoes of the golfer utilizing the stance positioning guide of the present invention. The fastening means 38 may take the form of a U-shaped clip not shown) to which a cord is connected thereto. The leg of the clip unattached to the cord is adapted for insertion over the shoe of the golfer. Also the cord may simply be attached to the heel of the shoe'by means of a tack or a loop provided at the cord end for connection with one of the cleats provided on the heel of the golf shoes.

The upper face of the hub member 30 is further provided with a facia 40 having measurement indicia thereon. A protective face or cover 42 for connection to the support 28 so as to provide protection to the internal portions of each of the measure of stance indica tor means 12 is also provided. The cover is preferably formed of a transparent plastic.

A peg or point .44 is attached to the central bottom portion of the plate 20 so that the device may be inserted into the golf playing surface, i.e., ground, for operation in the following manner: The guide is placed between the golfer and ball being addressed whereupon the point 44 is inserted into the playing surface to fix the position of the guide relative to the ball. An additional point (preferably retractable) may be provided for play in sandy or other type surfaces where undue pivotal movement of the tube would occur. If required, the pointer 18 is extended to approximately align the ball to be addressed normal to the plane of the golfers stance. The fastening means 38 are connected to the golfers shoes. The golfer adjusts his stance until the readings both for the left and right foot on the dials 13 (a zero reading would be one wherein the golfers heels were together and no left or right reading indicated, i.e., when the cords 16 extend no further than the open end 11 of the tube 10) corrolate with those readings which have met with success inplaying similar shots. in the past. In this way then a simple and easily utilized device is provided whereby past experience and practice on the course as to the particular placement of the left and right feet of the golfer in relationship to the ball being addressed and which has met with 7 success can be repeated time and time again thus enhancing the pleasure and realiability of the golfers ame.

While the foregoing is illustrated and described what i to said tube, 2. Support means attached to said tube proximate to the other end thereof,

. lndicator means mounted on said support means, said indicator means comprising at least one dial mounted on said support means, and,

. Measure actuation means operatively associated with said indicator means and attachable to the shoe of the golfer utilizing the guide, whereby movement of said shoe in stance adjustment registers on said indicator means.

2. The golf stance device of claim 1 wherein said support means extends on opposite sides of said tube and wherein a pair of dials are respectively mounted on either side of said support means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each dial comprises a hub member and spring means for biasing said hub member to a zero dial position on each of said dials.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said measure actuation means comprises a first cord attached to one of said hub members and a second -cord attached to the other of said .hub members, both said cords running through the body of said hollow tube and extending out the open end thereof.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein a U-shaped clip is attached to the running end of each of said cords, each of said clips attachable to a golf shoe.

6. The golf stance device of claim 1 wherein said dial includes a hub member and spring means for biasing said hub member to a zero dial position.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said means for temporarily positioning the tube comprises a point mounted on the bottom of said support.

8. The golf stance device of claim 1 wherein said measure actuation means comprises at least one cord attached to said indicator means at one end'thereof, said cord further extending'through said tubeandattachable to said shoe at the other end thereof.

18 i I i

Claims

1. A golf stance guide comprising: a. A hollow tube open at least at one end thereof, said tube having,

1. Means for temporarily fixing the position of said tube in relationship to a playing surface attached to said tube,

2. Support means attached to said tube proximate to the other end thereof, b. Indicator means mounted on said support means, said indicator means comprising at least one dial mounted on said support means, and, c. Measure actuation means operatively associated with said indicator means and attachable to the shoe of the golfer utilizing the guide, whereby movement of said shoe in stance adjustment registers on said indicator means.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said measure actuation means comprises a first cord attached to one of said hub members and a second cord attached to the other of said hub members, both said cords running through the body of said hollow tube and extending out the open end thereof.

8. The golf stance device of claim 1 wherein said measure actuation means comprises at least one cord attached to said indicator means at one end thereof, said cord further extending through said tube and attachable to said shoe at the other end thereof.