Abstract: An improved optical putter. The optical putter has a club head whose cross-section is characterized as having four active surfaces: a substantially flat surface for resting the club head upon the green in a first alignment position; a ball-addressing surface; a second, substantially flat, reflective surface for aligning the golf club in a second alignment position; and a substantially flat bottom surface that is substantially perpendicular to the ball-addressing surface. The reflective surface is a semi-circular wedge shape having a sighting line for guiding the golfer to position her or her head and stance. Depending upon the alignment position, the reflecting surface can face upwardly towards the eye of the golfer or towards the cup of the green.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling tubular elements of a frame without welding or adhesive bonding. Connection elements are used with which mechanical connections may be accomplished by deforming the tubular element to conform to the shape of its respective connection element. Preferably, the connection element is shaped to be inserted within a hollow end of a tubular element and includes radially inwardly directed recesses. The tubular element is deformed with respect to the recesses, preferably by electromagnetic pulse forming, to thereby lock the tubular element and connection element against relative movement. Such connection elements and method may be used in frames of mobile units such as bicycles, wheelchairs, and walkers. The forming process used in connecting the tubular frame elements may also be used to create ride compliance features in the frame by deforming at least one of the tubular elements to modify its spring constant.

Abstract: A new method of fabricating the joint between a golf club head and the golf club shaft, and the article fabricated therefrom, is described herein. The golf club head in which the shaft is inserted has a bore hole having a recessed contoured aperture. The hollow, metal, or electrically conductive golf club shaft is placed into the bore hole of the club head, and an electric coil is placed inside the shaft. The electric coil is electrically pulsed, causing the shaft to expand outwardly to fit the contour of the aperture. The electro-formed, mechanically-bonded shaft is now permanently and integrally anchored to the golf club head. The club head aperture is additionally fitted with a plurality of vertically-disposed grooves along the vertical shaft axis. These vertical grooves capture the shaft as it expands outwardly to the internal surface during electromagnetic forming. The electromagnetically-formed shaft expands into these grooves and is prevented from rotationally or angularly slipping about the club head.

Abstract: A method of aligning and addressing a golf ball upon a putting green in order to stroke and putt the golf ball into a cup of the green, comprising the steps of:a) resting a golf club upon a surface of a putting green with its shaft disposed at an acute angle with respect to the surface, in order to position a golfer with respect to a club head of the golf club, wherein his or her eye is directed directly over a reflective surface of the club head when addressing a golf ball, and a grip of said shaft being extended at an angle and adjacently to the side of the golfer;b) presenting the golf club in an addressing position, so that the club head is adjacent a golf ball, and is positioned to putt the golf ball, and the grip of the shaft is disposed in front of the golfer;c) optically aligning the club head towards a cup of the green by sighting a reflection of the cup upon a reflective surface on the club head, and adjusting the club head direction; andd) optically controlling the stroke of the club head by sighti