US3264002A - Golf putt alignment device - Google Patents

Description

Aug 2 1966 v D. F-ALUMBO 3,264,002

GOLF PUTT ALIGNMENT DEVI CE Filed Oct. 15, 1963 INVENTOR Dominick Polumbo Patented August 2, 1966 3,264,002 GOLF PUTT ALIGNMENT DEVICE Dominick Palumho, Oakdale, N.Y. (82 Boulevard Ave., West Islip, Long Island, N.Y.) Filed Oct. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 316,237 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-183) This invention relates generally to the game of golf and more particularly to a golf putt alignment device capable of assisting the golfer in his endeavor to sink the golf ball into the cup of the green by providing an imaginary guide line connecting the ball and cup prior to and during the putting stroke.

Whereas golfers presently relay upon various methods or aids to accomplish visual alignment of the ball with respect to the cup, as e.g., lying the golf club upon the green in a direction extending from the ball to the cup, and like preliminary guidance devices, temporary visual alignment only, is afforded inasmuch as such guidance devices are removed just prior to the putting stroke and the memory of the golfer must be relied upon for accurate effectuation thereof. It will be appreciated, however, that such methods or aids are very often absent of substantial value especially because of the golfers inability to retain the memory image sufficiently long for correlation thereof with his swing and further because of the inherent inaccuracies of such devices in failing to provide true alignment even before the golfer is ready to carry through with his putt.

Accordingly, and consonant with the foregoing, the instant invention has for an object the provision of a structural device adapted to enable visual alignment of the ball with the cup during the putting swing thereby precluding any reliance upon the memory of the golfer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which may be associated with sunglasses and spectacles of like character which will enable the golfer to envision an imaginary connection between the ball and the cup of the green.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a putt alignment device comprised of a substantially opaque linear element adapted to be positioned spacedly with respect to the eyes of the user.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character which includes means enabling positional adjustment thereof intermediate both eyes of the user and the object being viewed.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a putt alignment device, which when worn by the user, will not interfere with the normal line of vision thereof.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a device of the described character which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, easily and quickly adorned and highly effective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant putt alignment device will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realised and attained by means of the structure defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the putt alignment device worn by the user, the visual imaginary line between the ball and the cup of the green being shown therein;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the device shown attached to a conventional pair of spectacles; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan elevational view of the device according to FIGURE 3 wherein the adjustable positioning feature is illustrated.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURES l and 2 show the putt alignment device designated generally by numeral 1. 1

More specifically, the device according to the preferred embodiment includes transparent member 2 having top and bottom edges 4, 6, respectively, and side edges 8 and 10. It will be understood that transparent member 2 may be constructed of glass, plastic or any other suitable composition and may be colored or not. Preferably, said member is neither concave nor convex but may, however, be formed of lens-type configuration. Further, it will be appreciated that said transparent member may be completely framed as shown, or frameless or partially framed, such being merely a matter of choice. Said transparent member, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, is adapted to simultaneously extend across the lines of vision of both eyes of the user when said member is secured to the head thereof. Temple bow arms 12, 14, hinged at 16 and 18, respectively, to the upper portion of the frame outlining top edge 4 of said member, extend above and behind the ears of the wearer thus providing means whereby said member may be removably secured to the head of the user. Bridge portion 20 provides further securement for said member when supported upon the nose of the wearer in the usual manner.

Linear element 22 extending continuously and surfacedly of said transparent member is substantially parallel with respect to the top edge 4 thereof and is spaced from said top edge whereby it lies intermediate both eyes of the user and the object being viewed. As shown, the length of said element is approximately the distance between said side edges although, it will be understood, its length as shown is merely exemplary, and may, however, extend beyond the said side edges or lie therewithin. The length of said element, must however, extend at least sufficiently to simultaneously intercept the lines of vision of both eyes and therefore must at least equal the distance between the centers of the eyes. The linear element illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 consists of an opaque line imprinted across the transparent member. The material forming the element may, however, take the form of a length of tape, cord, a crayon or ink mark, or any suitable material. The line may be opaque, substantially opaque, translucent, or other suitably visible texture.

With reference now to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that a linear element 24 composed of wire is utilized. It will be further seen that said element is spacedly disposed with respect to a transparent member 26, adjustment arms 28, 30 being connected to said element at one end, the other end of said adjustment arms being slidably secured to temple bow arms 32, 34, the latter being equivalent of construction and function to temple bow arms 12 and 14 as aforedescribed.

Adjustment arms 28, 30, accordingly provide means whereby the spaced relation of said element with respect to said transparent member and eyes of the user may be accomplished. As shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, said linear element is by way of example shown to occupy two positions, i.e., one position designated by solid line 36, the other position designated by broken line 38. Slide fasteners 38, connected to said adjustment arms, facilitate movement of said linear element as desired. Said arms 28 and 30 bend downwardly at 40, 42, thus positioning said element intermediate both eyes of the user and the objects being viewed.

The length of said linear element according to the modified embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 is shown to be substantially greater than the distance between the centers of the eyes of the user, varying lengths thereof being, however, suitable as described hereinabove with respect to the preferred embodiment.

Accordingly, with the putt aligning device positioned in front of the eyes of the golfer, a guide line extending between the ball and the cup of the green may be vaguely seen, said line being the image of the linear member subtended and superimposed along the path the golf ball is to be directed.

Although varying embodiments of the putt aligning device have been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A putt alignment device for assisting a golfer in aligning the golf ball with respect to the cup of the green, comprising a transparent member at least a portion of which extends between the lines of vision of both eyes of the user when said member is positioned in front of the eyes, said transparent member having top, bottom and side edges, the transparency of said at least a portion of said transparent member being uninterrupted except for a linear element disposed contiguously and continuously thereacross, said linear element being in substantial parallelism with respect to said top edge, spaced with respect thereto, and extending at least the distance between both eyes of the user.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,527,027 10/1950 Mull 214.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 27,252 1906 Great Britain.

206,311 11/1923 Great Britain.

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

ISAAC LISANN, ROBERT B. HULL, Examiners.

I. D. 13008, Assistant Examiner.

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