Dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device

Abstract

A dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device for a golf driver is disclosed. The dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device golf driver includes multiple pistons slidably mounted in the driver head along an axis of impact of the driver head with a ball. The device may be used with a new or existing driver head provided on a shaft.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application with Ser. No. 62/020,437 filed July 3, 2014 by Yeon and Mihwa Yang and entitled “A dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device”.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf clubs. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dynamic multi-impact golf driver having sliding pistons in the head of the driver to enhance the driving force of the driver head at the point of contact with a golf ball.

The present invention generally relates to a golf club head and more particularly to a golf club head having a series of movable weights/ encased pistons incorporated therein with the movement of the weight in relation to the golf club head developing an assist in impact of the driver to the ball in predetermined locations. The instant invention relates generally to weight distributing systems and more specifically it relates to a momentum generating golf club. The momentum generating golf club produces inertia in the direction of the ball upon contact and immediately thereafter.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None.

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

None.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention and Prior Art

This section is not Applicable to Provisional Applications. However, as far as known, there are no dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device this instant device. It is believed that this product is unique in its design and technologies.

2. Background of the Invention

The game of golf has enjoyed increasing popularity in the United States and other countries over the years. Golf requires that players strike a golf ball in as few shots as possible from a tee box into a hole located on a golf green some distance from the tee box. The initial shot from the tee box, commonly known as the drive shot, often determines the success or failure of a player on any particular hole since the closer the drive shot lies to the green, the easier for the player to chip the ball onto the green and/or putt the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible. The tee shot in golf is made typically using a golf driver. A conventional golf driver includes an elongated, flexible shaft with a solid wooden or metal driver head on the end. The driver head has curved rear and side surfaces along with a flat front surface or face plate which contacts the ball during a drive shot. The face plate is elongated and includes a heel area adjacent to the shaft, a toe area toward the end portion of the driver head, and a center area between the heel area and the toe area.

During a drive shot, it is desirable to contact the ball with the center area of the front face/ impact plate, since such contact often results in a straight and long-distance ball trajectory. If during a drive shot the heel area of the front face/ impact plate contacts the ball, then the ball will often “hook”, or travel in a curved trajectory to the left (in the case of a right-handed player). On the other hand, if the toe area of the face plate contacts the ball, then the ball will often slice or travel in a curved trajectory to the right. Therefore, consistent striking of a golf ball in an optimum manner with a conventional golf driver requires a high degree of skill which typically can only be mastered through routine long-term golf play or practice.

Problem Solved

Therefore, a golf driver is needed which is capable of consistently generating a long-distance and generally straight ball trajectory upon striking of a golf ball whether the ball contact point is at the heel area, the toe area or the central area of the driver. This improvement to the driver head with the encased pistons means a golfer does not need to hit the ball precisely in the same spot every time. The pistons help to compensate and give a secondary impact to correct the ball in relation to the driver heel or toe contact point.

One of the many problems encountered by golfers is the tendency to engage the front face/ impact plate of the club head with the ball in a manner that causes the ball to deviate from the desired path of flight. Generally, a golfer will have a tendency to slide the ball, hook the ball or drive the ball straight and will consistently drive the ball in the same manner. That is, if a person slices the ball, he usually will consistently slide the ball on each drive off the tee or if he has a tendency to hook the ball, he usually will hook the ball when he drives off each tee. While this tendency can be compensated for to a degree by varying the position of a golfer in relation to the golf ball and desired flight path, this does not effectively serve the problem inasmuch as substantial distance is lost when the ball is either sliced or hooked. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to construct a golf club head with movable weights therein which will counteract the tendency to slice or hook the golf ball and increase the distance where the golf ball is driven as well as increase the degree of accuracy of the flight path.

An additional object is to provide an momentum generating golf club in which a plurality of small dense weights which are carried within a forwardly placed cylindrical chamber within the club head. This chamber may also relate to a chamber that is non-cylindrical but shaped to provide a forwardly placed void to accomplish the same intent as the cylindrically shaped chamber depending on manufacturers' processes. One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide for constructing the head of a driver type golf club with a movable weight therein which acts to increase the distance that a golfer is able to drive a ball.

Prior Art

Other weight distributing systems for golf clubs have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. 4,039,012 issued to Cook in 1977 shows a hammer having a hollow cylindrical head filled with recoil inhibiting pellets such as lead shot, and having its ends closed by metallic end caps each having an exterior impact surface. A handle-forming skeletal rod is centrally connected to the head, and said head and rod are encased within a unitary resilient encasement leaving the two impact surfaces exposed. Next, U.S. Pat. 4,461,481 issued to Kim in 1984 shows a driver type of golf club is provided which includes a hollow metal head having integrally formed thereon a front striking face/ impact plate and a rear wall with interior flat portions, and a removable sole plate. A rod having a back plate integrally formed on the rear thereof has a cylindrical weight slidably mounted thereon. The rod is fixed in position within said hollow metal head with its back plate anchored against the interior flat portions on the rear wall thereof and with its front end held in an opening provided in a front plate anchored against the back of the striking face. At the instant of impact of the striking face of the head with a golf ball, the cylindrical weight is propelled to freely slide along the fixed rod to hit the front plate on the back of the striking face, and therefore the ball, with a delayed impulse which creates an additional transfer of momentum to the ball thereby increasing the distance that the ball travels. A U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,747, was issued in 1993 to Choy that demonstrates a golf club which has an elongated shaft, a grip, and a club head. The club head has an annular channel having a free moving weight therein which maintains the center of inertia of the club head in the same location regardless of the swing plane of the golf club.

Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,222 was issued to Lee in 1994 that shows a wood golf club head includes a golf club head cavity, a steel ball within the golf club head cavity, and a permanent magnet plate attached to the back side of the club head cavity whereby upon hitting the golf ball, the steel ball moves and hits an inner sweet point corresponding to a sweet point of the front surface face of golf club head, so that the struck ball will fly in a straight direction and in a longer distance compared with an expected golf ball distance. A further U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,533 issued in 2000 to Finn provides a golf club includes a head having a striking face, a threaded cylindrical chamber behind and generally parallel to the face, a cylindrical weight member threaded in the chamber, a hosel attached to the cylindrical weight member having a shaft receiving socket with a non-circular portion and a threaded portion, a shaft having a hosel engaging end with a mating non-circular cross section and a ferrule having threads engagable with the threaded portion of the socket. An additional weight is adjustable in the chamber to provide the desired balance characteristics to the club. A second embodiment includes a head which is symmetrical so that the hosel may be attached at either end to make the club ambidextrous. Some different structures for attaching the hosel to the cylindrical weight member provide for variations in the loft of the club. Other embodiments include an asymmetrically weighted movable weight member which engages the head within a cavity therein and is adjustable both longitudinally and by changing the location of its center of gravity. A tool mates with each of the adjustments to provide complete and accurate club assembly and adjustment. Still another U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,515 was issued in 1990 to Shearer that teaches a cast metal hollow headed golf club head having there within at least one internal structural support member disposed between the rear of the club head and the face of the club head, a first end of the internal structural support member being positioned at the geometric center of the face of the club head and a second end of the structural support member opening through the rear surface of the hollow headed golf club and having an open bottom thereto which a bottom plate is permanently secured after the internal cavity of the hollow headed golf club is filled with a sound-proofing material, the internal structural member adapted to house additional metal or similar material to predetermine the resulting weight of the golf club head.

In 1971 a U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,731 was awarded to Chancellor, Jr. that describes a golf club head incorporating a hollow interior with a movable weight supported on a mounting rod which can be oriented in different angular positions to counteract the tendency of a golfer to hook or slice the ball and to increase the distance which the ball is driven due to the additional forces exerted on the ball by the movable weight. The movable weight is centered on the mounting rod by spring devices and the overall shape and configuration of the golf club head is not changed. Another prior art device is demonstrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,916 issued to Sommer in 1997. This patent shows Sports equipment for ball games comprising a stroke portion and a shaft portion including a grip, in particular a tennis racket or a golf club, wherein mass particles are integrated into the equipment structure which are freely displaceable or freely movable thereto and which are provided in one or a plurality of chambers the volume of each of said chambers being small relative to the interior volume of the stroke and/or the shaft portion. The stroke characteristics of the sports equipment can be varied depending from the distribution of the chambers within the structure and/or from the amount of the mass particles used. Stroke shocks are attenuated with the result that occurrence of “tennis elbow” is diminished. Indicated is also a method for the manufacture of a tennis racket having high shock absorption and good oscillation attenuation properties and being manufactured in fiber-plastics-structure techniques. One other U.S. Pat. No. 7,192,363 issued in 2007 to Blankenship teaches a golf head with a variably dampened face. Here is shown a golf club head includes a body having a front surface, a back surface, a heel end, a toe end, a sole extending between lower portions of the heel and the toe ends, and a top rail extending between upper portions of the heel and toe ends. A face is coupled to the body through a rheological fluid. The golf club head is tuned by changing the viscosity of the rheological fluid.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,009 was issued in 1998 to McAtee that taught a Momentum generating golf club. Here is a momentum generating golf club comprising an elongated shaft. A resilient grip is on a top end of the elongated shaft, while a club head body is on a bottom end of the elongated shaft. The club head body has a front striking face and an internal chamber. A weight is located within the internal chamber for free movement therein. When a golfer takes a back swing the weight will move backwards in the internal chamber, to produce inertia in the direction of the back swing of the club head body to increase the extent of the back swing, thus allowing for a higher speed of the club head body in the forward swing of the golf club, so as to hit a golf ball further on the front striking face. A U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,213 issued to Otoguro in 2006 demonstrates a golf club head, in which a stable high-inertia moment is generated at the time of down swinging and impacting of a golf club, thereby reliably achieving the effect of increase in driving distance. A golf club head has a plurality of hollow chambers arranged in mutually parallel relation and in mutually adjacent relation within a head from a heel toward a toe. Each hollow chamber is faced with a sole-forming wall. A weight composed of a granular body or liquid body is sealed in each of the hollow chambers, and each of the hollow chambers is provided with an openable and closable inlet/outlet port for charging the weight into each of the hollow chambers.

None of the prior art devices provide a simple and efficient dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device like the present driver assist. In view of the above, it will be appreciated that there exists a need for an improved dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices, particularly the disadvantages noted within.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device for a golf driver. The multi-impact golf driver includes a shaft, a driver head provided on the shaft and multiple pistons slidably mounted in the driver head along an axis of impact of the driver head with a ball. The preferred embodiment is a dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device for a golf driver comprising: (a) a plurality of chambers from the rear of the golf driver through to the face/ impact plate of the golf driver;

• (b) a plurality of encased pistons slidably mounted in said encasement of the pistons; and (c) a means to removably fasten the encased pistons into the chambers of the driver head along an axis of impact of said driver head with a ball.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

There are several objects and advantages of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device. There are currently no devices or systems that are effective at providing the objects of this invention.

Item Advantages
1    driver head with the encased pitons means a
     golfer does not need to hit the ball precisely
     in the same spot every time
2    opposite face/impact plate load in weight
     pockets
3    multiple type weights in same encasement
4    simple tool to adjust
5    universal once pockets fitted
6    multiple gram weights

Finally, other advantages and additional features of the present system of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the full description of the device. For one skilled in the art of golf driver and golf club improvement devices and systems, it is readily understood that the features shown in the examples with this system and combination of components are readily adapted to other types of systems or devices for golfing assists.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS—FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device that is preferred. The drawings together with the summary description given above and a detailed description given below serve to explain the principles of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device. It is understood, however, that the system is not limited to only the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGS. 1A through 1D are sketches of the general dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device for golfing applications.

FIGS. 2A through 2G are sketches of the general dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device with components and features noted.

FIGS. 3A through 3H are additional sketches of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device with the components and features shown from generally a bottom view and bottom isometric view.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are sketches of the trajectory with and without the aid of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sketch of the trajectory with the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device.

FIGS. 6A to 6F; FIGS. 7A to 7 E; FIGS. 8A and 8 B; FIGS. 9A and 9B; FIGS. 10A and 10B; and FIGS. 11A to 11C are prior art devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS - REFERENCE NUMERALS

The following list refers to the drawings:

TABLE B
Reference numbers
Ref # Description
30    dynamic, multi impact golf club assist device 30
30A   preferred device with replacement insert 30A
30B   alternative device 30B with modified driver 32
31    driver 31 with preferred device 30A
32    driver head 32
33    shaft 33
34    head curvature 34 of driver
35    convex upper surface 35 of driver
36    generally flat bottom surface 36
37    front face/impact plate 37 of driver
38    rectangular plate opening or aperture 38 (for front/
      impact faceplate 50)
39    grip 39 of shaft
40    heel piston chamber 40
41    piston guides 41
42    pistons 42 slidably mounted on guides 41 ( generally
      flat and cylinders)
42A   at least one airflow chamber 42A of piston 42
42B   bore or aperture 42B through piston 42
43    chamber dividing walls 43
44    center piston chamber 44
44A   fourth chamber 44A
45    cylindrical insert enclosure 45
450   means 450 for attaching insert 45 to interior
      surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49
451   means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to
      interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as a
      plurality of threaded grooves 451 in the chamber and
      the outer surface of the insert 45
452   means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to
      interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as a
      plurality of barbs or the like 452 [jagged or
      rounded] on the outer surface of the insert 45
453   means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to
      interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as an
      adhesive 453 placed between the chamber and the
      outer surface of the insert 45
454   means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to
      interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as at
      least one circumferential ribs or the like 452 on
      the outer surface of the insert 45
455   means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to
      interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as
      knurling configuration 455 in the chamber and the
      outer surface of the insert 45
456   means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to
      interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as
      press fit 456 in the slightly undersized chamber and
      the nominal/slightly oversized outer surface of the
      insert 45
46    cap 46
47    means for fastening 47 (threads, stake, adhesive or
      equal
48    solid weight pocket 48 (Taylo Made Clubs and the
      like)
49    toe piston chamber 49
50    essentially rectangular face plate 50 of driver
51    heel area 51 of faceplate 50 (nearest shaft 33)
52    center area 52 of faceplate 50 (essentially center
      of plate 38)
53    toe area 31 of faceplate 50 (farthest from shaft 33/
      opposite heel area 51)
60    spherical weight 60 (ball bearing or equal)
61    abacus-like disks 61 with center aperture 61A
61A   center aperture 61A
62    granular weight 62 (easily move, grains may be
      spherical)
63    gel pack 63 (liquid or gel - in a waterproof sealed
      sack)
75    golf ball 75
76    trajectory 76 of a driven or hit golf ball 75
77    desired trajectory 77 (usually center of fairway)
78    fairway edge 78
79    golfer/user 79 of the driver 31 and assist device
      30
81    hook 81 - user drives ball left
82    slice 82 - user drives ball right
83    straight 83 - user drives ball - middle of fairway
86    corrected hook 86 (boost impact at heel)
87    corrected slice 87 (boost impact at toe)
88    enhanced straight 88 (boosted by added impact)
90    Taylor made, Calloway, or the like driver 90 with
      weight pockets 48
91    Taylor, Calloway, or the like made weight 91
92    tool 92 to assemble weight to driver
93    package 93 for weights
94    Yang ½ piston pocket 94 (face plate assembly) U.S.
      Pat. Application Ser. No. 11/212972 (Non Published)
95    Prior Art 95 U.S. Pat. No. 2,592,013
96    Prior Art 96 U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,533
97    Prior Art 97 U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,515
98    Prior Art 98 U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,731
99    Prior Art 99 U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,916
100   Prior Art 100 U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,481
101   Prior Art 101 U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,009
102   Prior Art 102 US Patent 690,940
103   Taylor made adjustable slide weight driver 103

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PERFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present development is a dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device. The present invention relates to golf clubs. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dynamic multi-impact golf driver having sliding pistons in the head of the driver to enhance the driving force of the driver head at the point of contact with a golf ball. The invention generally relates to a golf club head and more particularly to a golf club head having a series of movable weights incorporated therein with the movement of the weight in relation to the golf club head developing an assist in impact of the driver to the ball in predetermined locations. The instant invention relates generally to weight distributing systems and more specifically it relates to a momentum generating golf club. The momentum generating golf club produces inertia in the direction of the ball upon contact and immediately thereafter. This improvement to the driver head with the encased pitons means a golfer does not need to hit the ball precisely in the same spot every time. The pistons help to compensate and give a secondary impact to correct the ball in relation to the driver heel or toe contact point.

The advantages for the device are listed above in the introduction. Succinctly the benefits are that the device:

• • A. Is opposite/contiguous to the front face/ impact plate load in weight pockets;
  • B. Is accompanied with multiple type weights in same encasement;
  • C. Uses a simple tool to adjust;
  • D. Is universal once pockets fitted;
  • E. Can have multiple gram weights; and
  • F. Means, a driver head with the encased pitons, that a golfer does not need to hit the ball precisely in the same spot every time.

The preferred embodiment is a dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30 for a golf driver 31 comprising: (a) a plurality of chambers 40, 44, 49 from the rear of the golf driver through to the front face/ impact plate 37 of the golf driver; (b) a plurality of encased pistons 45, 42 slidably mounted in said encasement 45 of the pistons; and (c) a means 47 to removably fasten the encased pistons into the chambers of the driver head along an axis of impact of said driver head 32 with a ball 75.

There is shown in FIGS. 1-11 a complete description and operative embodiment of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30A and alternative 30B . In the drawings and illustrations, one notes well that the FIGS. 1-11 demonstrate the general configuration and use of this product. The various example uses are in the operation and use section, below.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30 that is preferred. The drawings together with the summary description given above and a detailed description given below serve to explain the principles of the colostomy bag cleaning system and combination device. It is understood, however, that the device 30 is not limited to only the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. Other examples of dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device are still understood by one skilled in the art of golfing assist and club devices to be within the scope and spirit shown here.

FIGS. 1A through 1D are sketches of the general dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device for golfing applications. Demonstrated in FIGS. 1A, B and C are the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30A, 30B; the driver 31 and driver head 32; the shaft 33; head curvature 34 of driver; the convex upper surface 35 of driver; the generally flat bottom surface 36; and the face 37 of driver. FIG. 1D shows the trajectory 76 of a driven or hit golf ball 75.

FIGS. 2A through 2G are sketches of the general dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30A, 30B with components and features noted. These sketches show and demonstrate: dynamic golf club assist device 30A (preferred embodiment) and 30B (alternative embodiment); driver 31; driver head 32; shaft 33; head curvature 34 of driver; convex upper surface 35 of driver; generally flat bottom surface 36; face 37 of driver rectangular plate opening or aperture 38 (for faceplate 50); heel piston chamber 40; piston guides 41; pistons 42 slidably mounted on guides 41 (generally flat and cylinders); at least one airflow chamber 42A of piston 42; bore or aperture 42B through piston 42; chamber dividing walls 43; center piston chamber 44; fourth chamber 44A; cylindrical insert enclosure/ encasement 45; cap 46; means for fastening 47 (threads, stake, adhesive or equal; weight pocket 48; toe piston chamber 49; essentially rectangular face plate 50 of driver; heel area 51 of faceplate 50 (nearest shaft 33); center area 52 of faceplate 50 (essentially center of plate 38); toe area 31 of faceplate 50 (farthest from shaft 33/opposite heel area 51); a piston encasement filling element/material (FIG. 2F showing examples and not limitations) such as a spherical weight 60 (ball bearing or equal); abacus-like disks 61 with center aperture 61A; center aperture 61A; granular weight 62 (easily move, grains may be spherical); and gel pack 63 (liquid or gel—in a waterproof sealed sack). One easily sees in the preferred embodiment 30A, a small, encased piton may replace the fixed weight in a Taylor Made, Calloway, or the like club or equivalent. In the alternative embodiment 30B the encased piston is longer and may require some additional preparation of the driver to receive the longer piston 30B. In FIG. 2G is shown examples and not limitations of the means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49. These include but are not limited to (a) means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as a plurality of threaded grooves 451 in the chamber and the outer surface of the insert 45; (b) means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as a plurality of barbs or the like 452 [jagged or rounded]on the outer surface of the insert 45; (c) means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as an adhesive 453 placed between the chamber and the outer surface of the insert 45; (d) means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as at least one circumferential ribs or the like 452 on the outer surface of the insert 45; (e) means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as a knurling configuration 455 in the chamber and the outer surface of the insert 45; and (f) means 450 for removably attaching insert 45 to interior surface of chamber 40, 44, 44A, 49 such as press fit 456 in the slightly undersized chamber and the nominal/slightly oversized outer surface of the insert 45.

FIGS. 3A through 3H are additional sketches of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30A, 30B with components and features noted with the components and features shown from generally a bottom view and bottom isometric view. Shown are: dynamic golf club assist device 30A (preferred embodiment FIGS. 3A through 3D)) and 30B (alternative embodiment FIGS. 3E through 3H);; driver 31; driver head 32; shaft 33;head curvature 34 of driver; convex upper surface 35 of driver; generally flat bottom surface 36; front face/impact plate 37 of driver rectangular plate opening or aperture 38 (for faceplate 50); heel piston chamber 40; piston guides 41; pistons 42 slidably mounted on guides 41 (generally flat and cylinders); at least one airflow chamber 42A of piston 42; bore or aperture 42B through piston 42; chamber dividing walls 43; center piston chamber 44; fourth chamber 44A; cylindrical insert enclosure/encasement 45; cap 46; means for fastening 47 (threads, stake, adhesive or equal; weight pocket 48; toe piston chamber 49; essentially rectangular face plate 50 of driver; heel area 51 of faceplate 50 (nearest shaft 33); center area 52 of faceplate 50 (essentially center of plate 38); and toe area 31 of faceplate 50 (farthest from shaft 33/ opposite heel area 51).

FIGS. 4A and 4B are sketches of the trajectory with and without the aid of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged sketch of the trajectory with the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device. These are discussed below in the operation section.

FIGS. 6A to 6F; FIGS. 7A to 7E; FIGS. 8A and 8 B; FIGS. 9A and 9B; FIGS. 10A and 10B; and FIGS. 11A to 11C are prior art devices. Shown in these figures are prior art that attempted to solve the problem of a slice or hook with assist devices yet failed. The prior art includes: Yang ½ piston pocket 94 (face plate assembly)—U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/212,972 (Non-Published and now abandoned); Prior Art 95 U.S. Pat. No. 2,592,013; Prior Art 96 U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,533; Prior Art 97 U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,515; Prior Art 98 U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,731; Prior Art 99 U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,916 Prior Art 100 U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,481; Prior Art 101 U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,009; Prior Art 102 U.S. Pat. No. 690,940; and a Taylor made adjustable slide weight driver 103.

The details mentioned here are exemplary and not limiting. Other specific components and manners specific to describing a dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device may be added as a person having ordinary skill in the field of golfing and golf driver assist devices and systems and their uses well appreciates.

Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

The dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30 has been described in the above embodiment. The manner of how the device operates is described below. One notes well that the description above and the operation described here must be taken together to fully illustrate the concept of the instant device described herein.

The preferred embodiment is a dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30 for a golf driver 31 comprising: (a) a plurality of chambers 40, 44, 49 from the rear of the golf driver through to the front face/ impact plate 37 of the golf driver; (b) a plurality of encased pistons 45, 42 slidably mounted in said encasement 45 of the pistons; and (c) a means 47 to removably fasten the encased pistons into the chambers of the driver head along an axis of impact of said driver head 32 with a ball 75. This improvement to the driver head with the encased pitons means a golfer does not need to hit the ball precisely in the same spot every time. The pistons help to compensate and give a secondary impact to correct the ball in relation to the driver heel or toe contact point.

There are today in the marketplace several drivers 31 that receive fixed weights in a weight pocket 48. To use the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30A these weight pockets 48 may be used for the preferred embodiment 30A. The piston merely replaces the fixed weight in a Taylor made, Calloway, or equivalent head. For the alternative and longer embodiment 30B, the golfer determines first that the pocket 48 extends from the back curved area 34 of the head 32 all the way to the back of the faceplate 50. If so, an externally threaded 47 encased piston 42 may be used immediately. If there is no weight pocket (i.e. not a Taylor made, Calloway, or the like equivalent) or if the weight pocket is too small in diameter or does not extend to the back of the faceplate 50, then the driver requires the chambers to be drilled and modified to accept the encased piston device 30. In this case an external thread 47 of interference fit encasement may be used with or without an adhesive. Once installed the pistons act as described below.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are sketches of the trajectory with and without the aid of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged sketch of the trajectory with the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device. Demonstrated is the effect the device has on the golf ball when used with the driver. The figures explain themselves with the shown items: golf ball 75; trajectory 76 of a driven or hit golf ball 75; desired trajectory 77 (usually center of fairway); fairway edge 78; hook 81—user drives ball left; slice 82—user drives ball right; straight 83—user drives ball—middle of fairway; corrected hook 86 (boost impact at heel); corrected slice 87 (boost impact at toe); and enhanced straight 88 (boosted by added impact). As shown the diagrams, the toe area 53 of the face plate 50 may contact the golf ball 75. Accordingly, upon impact of the face plate 50 with the golf ball 75, inertia causes the piston 42 in the toe piston chamber 49 to slide forwardly on the piston guide 41 and strike the rear surface of the face plate 50. The piston 42, in combination with the forward motion of the driver head 32, propels the golf ball 75 in a generally curved ball trajectory 87 (corrected slice) such that the golf ball 75 initially leaves and then returns to the desired trajectory 77 for the golf ball 75. Consequently, the golf ball 75 lands nearer to the desired target (which, in golf play, is the golf green) then would be achieved using a conventional golf driver. Furthermore, the piston 42 enhances the forward driving motion of the driver head 32 such that the golf ball 75 achieves a greater distance than is the case with respect to a conventional golf driver 31. As shown in the middle diagram of FIG. 5, in the event that the center area 30 of the face plate 50 contacts the golf ball 75, the piston 42 in the center piston chamber 44 slides forwardly on the piston guide 41 and strikes the rear surface of the face plate 50. Consequently, the golf ball 75 is propelled in a straight and long-distance ball trajectory which approximates the desired trajectory 77. Finally, as shown in the diagram of FIG. 5, in the event that the heel area 51 of the face plate 50 contacts the golf ball 75, the piston 42 in the heel piston chamber 40 slides forwardly on the piston guide 41 and strikes the rear surface of the face plate 50. Consequently, the golf ball 75 is propelled in a generally curved ball trajectory 86 (corrected hook) such that the golf ball 75 initially leaves and then returns to the desired trajectory 77 for the golf ball 75. Therefore, the golf ball 75 lands within or closer to chipping range of the golf green than would be the case using a conventional driver.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which these inventions belong. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present inventions, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All patents and publications mentioned herein, including those cited in the Background of the application, are hereby incorporated by reference to disclose and described the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.

The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present inventions are not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

Other embodiments of the invention are possible. Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.

Thus the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more”. All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims.

The terms recited in the claims should be given their ordinary and customary meaning as determined by reference to relevant entries (e.g., definition of “plane” as a carpenter's tool would not be relevant to the use of the term “plane” when used to refer to an airplane, etc.) in dictionaries (e.g., widely used general reference dictionaries and/or relevant technical dictionaries), commonly understood meanings by those in the art, etc., with the understanding that the broadest meaning imparted by any one or combination of these sources should be given to the claim terms (e.g., two or more relevant dictionary entries should be combined to provide the broadest meaning of the combination of entries, etc.) subject only to the following exceptions: (a) if a term is used herein in a manner more expansive than its ordinary and customary meaning, the term should be given its ordinary and customary meaning plus the additional expansive meaning, or (b) if a term has been explicitly defined to have a different meaning by reciting the term followed by the phrase “as used herein shall mean” or similar language (e.g., “herein this term means,” “as defined herein,” “for the purposes of this disclosure [the term] shall mean,” etc.). References to specific examples, use of “i.e.,” use of the word “invention,” etc., are not meant to invoke exception (b) or otherwise restrict the scope of the recited claim terms. Other than situations where exception (b) applies, nothing contained herein should be considered a disclaimer or disavowal of claim scope. Accordingly, the subject matter recited in the claims is not coextensive with and should not be interpreted to be coextensive with any particular embodiment, feature, or combination of features shown herein. This is true even if only a single embodiment of the particular feature or combination of features is illustrated and described herein. Thus, the appended claims should be read to be given their broadest interpretation in view of the prior art and the ordinary meaning of the claim terms.

As used herein, spatial or directional terms, such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” and the like, relate to the subject matter as it is shown in the drawing FIGS. However, it is to be understood that the subject matter described herein may assume various alternative orientations and, accordingly, such terms are not to be considered as limiting. Furthermore, as used herein (i.e., in the claims and the specification), articles such as “the,” “a,” and “an” can connote the singular or plural. Also, as used herein, the word “or” when used without a preceding “either” (or other similar language indicating that “or” is unequivocally meant to be exclusive—e.g., only one of x or y, etc.) shall be interpreted to be inclusive (e.g., “x or y” means one or both x or y). Likewise, as used herein, the term “and/or” shall also be interpreted to be inclusive (e.g., “x and/or y” means one or both x or y). In situations where “and/or” or “or” are used as a conjunction for a group of three or more items, the group should be interpreted to include one item alone, all of the items together, or any combination or number of the items. Moreover, terms used in the specification and claims such as have, having, include, and including should be construed to be synonymous with the terms comprise and comprising.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degrees 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 arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

With this description it is to be understood that the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30 is not to be limited to only the disclosed embodiment of product. The features of the system of the dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device 30 are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the description.

Now that the invention has been described:

Claims

1. A dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device for a golf driver comprising:

(a) a plurality of chambers from the rear of the golf driver through to the face of the golf driver;

(b) a plurality of encased pistons slidably mounted in said encasement of the pistons; and

(c) a means for removably attaching the plurality of encased pistons into the chambers of the driver head along an axis of impact of said driver head with a ball.

2. The device in claim 1 wherein the Piston is further comprised of an encasement filled with a movable element/material.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the movable element/material is selected from the group consisting of a spherical weight; an abacus-like disks; a granular weights; and a gel pack.

4. The multi-impact golf driver of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pistons comprises a third piston provided adjacent to said center area.

5. The multi-impact golf driver of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pistons comprises a fourth piston provided adjacent to said center area.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for removably attaching the plurality of pistons into the chambers of the driver head is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of threaded grooves; a plurality of barbs; an adhesive; at least one circumferential ribs; a knurling configuration and a press fit.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for removably attaching the plurality of pistons into the chambers of the driver head is a plurality of threaded grooves.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for removably attaching the plurality of pistons into the chambers of the driver head is a plurality of barbs.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for removably attaching the plurality of pistons into the chambers of the driver head is an adhesive.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for removably attaching the plurality of pistons into the chambers of the driver head is at least one circumferential ribs.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for removably attaching the plurality of pistons into the chambers of the driver head is a knurling configuration.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for removably attaching the plurality of pistons into the chambers of the driver head is a press fit.

13. The multi-impact golf driver of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of piston guides provided in said driver head and wherein said plurality of pistons slidably engages said plurality of piston guides.

14. The multi-impact golf driver of claim 1 further comprising a face plate carried by said driver head and wherein said plurality of pistons is slidably mounted adjacent to said face plate.

15. The multi-impact golf driver of claim 14 further comprising a plurality of piston guides extending from said face plate into said driver head and wherein said plurality of pistons slidably engages said plurality of piston guides.

16. The multi-impact golf driver of claim 14 wherein said face plate comprises a heel area and a toe area and wherein said plurality of pistons comprises a first piston provided adjacent to said heel area and a second piston provided adjacent to said toe area.

17. A dynamic, multi-impact golf club assist device for a golf driver comprising:

(a) a plurality of chambers from the front face/ impact plate of the golf driver through to the face of the golf driver;

(b) a plurality of encased pistons slidably mounted in said encasement of the pistons; and

(c) a means for removably fastening the encased pistons into the chambers of the driver head along an axis of impact of said driver head with a ball.

18. The multi-impact golf driver of claim 17 wherein said face plate comprises a center area between said heel area and said toe area and wherein said plurality of pistons comprises a third piston provided adjacent to said center area.

19. The multi-impact golf driver of claim 17 wherein said face plate comprises a center area between said heel area and said toe area and wherein said plurality of pistons comprises a fourth piston provided adjacent to said center area.