Customizable golf club alignment system

Abstract

A plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive labels on a single sheet, having a blank surface, a solid colored surface, or an imprinted design adapted to help align a golf club while targeting when one or a plurality of the labels are attached to any variety of golf club head. The labels comprise circular and semi-circular shapes, are between ⅛ inch and 2 inches in diameter, and are removable without damaging the golf club head. The imprinted designs comprise a single line, two parallel, crossed lines, or a plurality of dots, triangles, squares, rectangles, or other geometric shapes, colored to contrast with a background color so that they are clearly visible and facilitate the alignment of the golf club.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPPLICATION

This is a utility patent application which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/695,169 filed on Jun. 29, 2005.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates in general to devices for enhancing golf game play, and more particularly to devices for improving and customizing the alignment of golf clubs.

Aligning the center of a golf club head to a golf ball is critical for a successful golf strike. Visualizing the correct swing path of the club head through the ball toward the target is critical to achieve desired results. Frequently, novice players have difficulty properly aligning the golf club and dedicated practice is required to achieve perfection. In order to help improve the alignment procedure, some golf clubs and putters are provided with permanently affixed indicia. These indicia are generally located on the golf club head. A golfer can therefore compare the position of the golf ball with respect to these indicia for proper alignment.

Several alignment systems for golf clubs have been developed in art. For example, U.S. Pub. No. 20050176520 to Henry discloses a golf ball putter including golf ball alignment indicia. The indicia are disposed on the top surface of the golf putter head and define at least a C-shaped configuration. A golf ball is visually aligned to center the ball on the striking face. The indicia may further include at least one line segment disposed coincidentally to the initial direction of travel of the golf ball.

U.S. Pub. No. 20050202895 to Hueber discloses a golf putter having visual indicia to correct for misalignment. The indicia are generally D- shaped with the back line linear portion parallel to the clubface and the arc portion facing forward toward the clubface. A linear alignment line is disposed within the arc and back line. The alignment line is angled a slight amount away from perpendicular. U.S. Pat. No.'s 7,037,211, 6,767,292, and 5,234,217 also disclose golf clubs/putters having alignment indicia. However, the alignment indicia of the above golf clubs/putters are integral to the golf club/putter heads, and therefore not customizable.

U.S. Pub. No. 20050192114 to Zider discloses an interchangeable alignment system for golf putters. The system comprises a set of interchangeable top plates having alignment indicia. The top plates are to be attached on the top surface of a putter head. The indicia may include a series of arrows or curved lines in alignment with one another. Although top plates are interchangeable facilitating customization, the pressure-sensitive adhesive labels of the present invention are different in that they are applied directly to a golf club head, may be used with any type of golf club head, not just putters, and multiple indicator stickers of a variety of sizes may be used on a single golf club head.

Since the indicia typically included as permanent markings on golf clubs may not be easy to use and are not customizable, golfers have difficulty using these indicia to improve their golf game. Frequently the designs of these indicia are hard to see. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a customizable and non-permanent alignment system for golf clubs.

A further object is to provide a customizable alignment system for golf clubs that includes a plurality of pressure-sensitive labels of different shapes and designs to fit over a wide variety of golf club heads.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a customizable alignment system for golf clubs that includes a plurality of pressure-sensitive labels with a variety of imprinted designs to help align the golf clubs. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a plurality of pressure-sensitive circular or semi-circular removable adhesive labels, the surfaces of which comprise solid colors, blank white, or contrasting patterns for customizing the alignment of a golf club as it pertains to the target of the club. Multiple labels are disposed on a single sheet to allow ease of use, and to allow users to select a variety of sizes or patterns for an individual golf club. Each label comprises an imprinted design and at least one label is attached to the golf club head to help align the golf club while targeting. The imprinted designs are comprised of a single line, two parallel or crossed lines, or a plurality of dots, triangles, squares, or rectangles. The imprinted designs are colored and oriented such that they are clearly visible and facilitate the alignment of the golf clubs when the labels are attached to the golf club heads, and they may be placed in rows of two or more dots perpendicularly or parallel to the club face.

The visualization of the club head to target alignment relationship is difficult for each individual depending on eye dominance, stance, height, vision and lighting conditions. The present invention helps facilitate brain memory for easier perception of proper alignment and desired swing path than standard manufacturer's marks which are subtle, or a non-customizable mark. The present invention also provides an easy to use retrofit modification for all types of golf clubs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate several embodiments of the labels with a variety of imprinted designs in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 8 through 11 show the labels of the present invention adhered to a golf club head at different locations.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 10 . . . Label of the Present Invention
• 11 . . . Golf Club Head

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8. The present invention provides a set of adhesive labels 10 for attachment to the golf club heads in order to help align golf clubs while targeting. A user can customize the alignment method according to his/her convenience and preferences by adhering a single label or multiple labels on the golf club heads. The present invention provides an easy to use, inexpensive, temporary or permanent retrofit modification for any type of golf club.

One of the surfaces of the labels is covered with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, while the opposite surface comprises a variety of imprinted designs or a solid background. The labels are comprised of vinyl, plastic, and other printable and durable materials. The imprinted designs are comprised of a single line, two parallel lines, crossed lines, a plurality of dots, triangles, squares, rectangles, and other geometric shapes that facilitate easy alignment of the golf clubs. The colors of the labels and the imprinted designs contrast to make the imprinted designs clearly visible when the labels are adhered to the golf club heads. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the labels are removable.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, several embodiments of the labels 10 with a variety of imprinted designs are illustrated. The labels 10 comprise different sizes and shapes in order to fit a variety of golf clubs such as woods and putters. In one embodiment, the label is circular and includes a single line passing through its center, as shown in FIG. 1. Other embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprise circular labels with two parallel lines and two perpendicular crossed lines. FIGS. 4 and 5 show circular labels having opposite contrast compared to the labels shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively. FIG. 6 shows a circular label with three identically oriented triangles.

The labels comprise circular and semi-circular shapes, and are between ⅛ inch and 2 inches in diameter. A variety of shapes is disposed on a single sheet of stickers, allowing a user to employ multiple stickers of the same and different sizes in a variety of patterns on the golf club. A semi-circular label with a single line passing through its center is shown in FIG. 7. In addition, both semi-circular and circular labels are contemplated with three lines or four, comprising a center line with two equidistant parallel lines, or a series of parallel lines.

Referring to FIG. 8, the circular label with triangles as an illustrative embodiment is adhered to a golf club head 11 to facilitate alignment. Multiple labels can also be adhered to the golf club heads, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. The labels help in properly aligning the center of the striking face with the center of the golf ball.

For ease of use, multiple labels are disposed on a single sheet, so that users can easily select a number of labels at one time, and may also replace labels as needed. By providing a plurality of labels of different shapes and sizes having a variety of imprinted designs, a user has an option to customize the alignment of golf clubs by selecting labels that he/she feels will help improve the outcome of a golf shot.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

Claims

1. A device for improving the alignment of a golf club relative to its target comprising a plurality of pressure-sensitive labels having an adhesive first side, and a second blank, solid color or patterned side adapted to assist in aligning the golf club while targeting, wherein;

the labels comprise circular or semi-circular shapes of between ⅛ inch and 2 inches, so that at least one or a plurality of the labels are adapted to fit on the top surface of a variety of golf club heads; and,

the second side comprises a blank white surface, a solid color surface, a single line contrasting against a solid background, two parallel or crossed lines contrasting against a solid background, or a triangle, squares, rectangles, or other geometric shape contained within the borders of the second side, and contrasting against a solid background so that they are clearly visible and facilitate the alignment of the golf club when at least one of the labels is attached to the golf club head.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the labels are comprised of circular and semi-circular stickers between ⅛ inch and 2 inch in diameter, and multiple labels are adhered to a single club head.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the labels are applied to a variety of golf club heads, including putters.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the labels are made of vinyl, plastic, or other printable and durable materials.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the geometric shapes applied to the second side of the labels comprise colors contrasting with the background color of the label.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a white stripe is applied across the diameter of a black label.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a black stripe is applied across the diameter of a white label.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a white cross is applied across the diameter of a black label.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a black cross is applied across the diameter of a white label.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein two parallel white lines are applied across the diameter of a black label.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein two parallel black lines are applied across the diameter of a white label.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the lines comprise three and four parallel white lines on a black background.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the lines comprise three and four parallel black lines on a white background.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein multiple geometric shapes are contained in on a single label.

15. A method of improving the alignment of a golf club relative to its target, comprising the steps of;

adhering an adhesive backed marker, or a series of adhesive backed markers to the top surface of any variety of golf club in a manner which enhances the user's visualization of the angle of swing;

focusing on the arc of the marker or markers as a swing or a practice swing is made; and

adjusting the arc of the swing as necessary to improve the accuracy of the swing.