US1644392A - Golf club - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 4, 1927.

E. V. MYERS GOLF CLUB Filed April 1927 "'CQZ J- INVENTOR m %QZQJ By Attorneys, W"

Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE V. MYERS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

GOLF CLUB.

Application filed April 19, 1927. Serial No. 124,881.

This invention relates to golf clubs and aims to provide certain improvements therein. n In playing golf there are a number of strokes which are best performed by a stroke which at least in part is in line with the desired direction of the ball. In putting, particularly, the ideal stroke is one n wh ch the swing of the club head is in a direct line toward the hole, and this is true on the backward as well as the forward swing. The club head may, and usually does, describe an arc during the stroke, but this are should be in a vertical plane which coincides with the direction that theball is designed to take. During this stroke the ideal position of the hitting face of the club head is exactly at right angles to the line of travel. of the ball, and this position is maintained ideally throughout the entire stroke. This stroke is very difficult to learn accurately.-

According to the present invention I provide a club by which the stroke may be practised, and the hands and wrists or arms are substantially forced to form the stroke properly. By consistent use of the invention the muscles learn the stroke, with the result that in actual play, putting is much improved. The club provided by my invention may or may not have a striking portion or head, but for general use the invention takes the form of an accessory device to be applied to an ordinary putter, the accessory being kept as light as possible in order to avoid materially changing the balance and weight of the club. The invention is also useful in connection with other clubs, and it contains the further featureof providing a marking device carried upon or forming part of the club, which marking device will leave a streak upon the turf, indicating whether the club has been stroked properly on either side of the ball.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate several embodiments of the invention,

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a plan showing the shaft of the club in section.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

Fig. 4: is a perspective view of a modification.

Fig. 5 is a plan'showing the shaft in section.

plan showing another and B is the operative part. In all of the drawings a club head G is shown, the device being applied to an ordinary club.

The device has essentially at least two separated points D and E. These two points are particularly designed to contact with and slide along a straight edge of some kind such as the baseboard of a room, a door, the lower step of a flight of stairs, or a board arranged edgewise on the floor. The simplest form of construction is that shown in Fig. 6, wherein the points D and E are the ends of a single piece of rod'F, the latter being designed to be clamped to a shaft by a clamp I prefer, however, to make the device with the points D and E connected, as shown in the remaining figures, the rod F being properly bent and connected to a clamp piece H which in turn is clamped to the shaft of the club by a clamp member I.

The connecting portion J (see Fig. :2) is best i made straight in a vertical plane, or at least not convexed on its outer side J. Horizontally, however, the portion J is best curved, as seen in Fig. 3, in order that any danger of striking the ends of the device against the floor during the swinging of the club may be avoided.

The device is best rigidly attached to the club in such manner that the striking face K of the club (if the club has a head) shall be precisely at right angles to a line drawn between the two points D and 117. In the constructions of Figs. 1 to 5 the ends of the rod forming the invention are shown as fixed tightly to the clamp by rivets L in Figs. 4L and 5, and adjustablyby clamp screws N in Figs. 1 and 2. In Figs. 1 and 2 both ends of the rod are fixed to the same clamp section, while in Figs. & and 5 they are fixed to the opposite clamp sections. In either case there is preferably provided thumb-screw bolts M M, by which the device may be easily applied to and removed from the club, or adjusted along its shaft.

Where the clamp screws N are used, the

' device can be adjusted inwardly and outwardly with respect to the club head.

I prefer to provide a covering for those parts of the device which slide along the straight'edge, in order that the device may move easily and avoid marring or scratching the straight edge. This is shown in the various constructions at P. Any suit-able material may be used for this purpose. such as cloth, rubber, or the like, or, if desired, anti-friction devices of various kinds, such as small rollers of felt, rubber, or the like, may be mounted at the points of contact, as shown at Q, in Fl 7, for example.

In the use of'the invention as applied to a putter, it is best to practice with a straight edge such as a baseboard or the like, as hereinbefore described, and after a certain skill is attained, the device may be used to practice with any straight line which does not guide the club, such as a scam in a carpet or a line marked upon the floor. This will test the unaided ability of the arms. to perform a stroke when not guided by the straight edge, while at the same time the guiding points of the club will indicate visually Whether the line is being followed.

The invention is susceptible of use in this manner with other clubs than putters, and for this purpose I prefer to provide a mark ing device which will sweep lightly over the turf at that part of the stroke immediately before and after hitting the ball. For this purpose the preferred construction is to make the covering P absorbent and to use it as'a carrier of powder or chalk, or chalk in solution, so that it will leave a marl: upon the turf. If the points D and E are separated as in Fig. 6, the'mark will comprise two lines either coincident or separated, depending upon how the club head has turned. 1f the points D and E are connected as in the remaining figures, the mark will comprise a band of greater or less width depending upon how the head has turned. The points may be arranged in any suitable inanner to secure this visual indication of the position of the club head as it is sweeping past the turf or other object. To secure the results. however, these points whether separated or connected must have a distance between them very considerably in excess of the thickness of the metal of the ordinary iron club from its front to its rear face, If the marker traces only a single narrow line, the effect of turning of the club head will be imperceptible.

It will be understood that the device may be constructed in many different ways, either as a complete device without the club head, or as an accessory part of the club, so long as it provides at least two separated points which will act as a straight edge to guide the to-and-fro motion of the club. The constructions shown are preferred however, since they are easily applied to any type of club, being susceptible of adjusted positions thereon. If a fabric is used on the bearing portions of the club, this may be a pile fabric which will avoid marring the straight edge, and which also will act as a carrier for the chalk or other marking material in case this feature'is used.

What I claim is: l. A golf club having fixed at the front of its lower end two separated bearing points adapted to be used as a gage to provide an indicator as to the swing of the club.

2. A golf club having at its front lower I end two separated bearing points and means means for attachment to the club, and having means projecting forward near the end of the club head for contacting with a straight edge in front of the shaft of the club, said 111621-118 providing at least two separated points, whereby the club head is guided when swung in a direction corresponding to the desired travel of the ball.

means for attachment to the latter, and having a forward edge which is straight and elongated in a vertical plane, and is adapted to lie in front of the club head when at tached to the club, said edge having an antifriction device.

An accessory for a golf club having means for attachment to the latter, and hav ing a forward edge which is straight and elongated in a vertical plane, and is adapted to lie in front of the club head when attached to the club, said edge being curved downwardly with relation to a horizontal plane.

7. An accessory for a golf club substantia-liy triangular in shape, having a forward guiding edge and two arms leading toward the shaft of the club, and clamping means connected with said arms, said forward guiding edge lying in front of the club head when attached to the latter.

8. An accessory for a golf club comprising a rod bent to substantially triangular shape, the middle being'an elongated portion straight in a vertical plane, and the ends being connected with a clamp for attachment to the club, and the middle lying in front of the club head whenattached to the club.

9. A golf club having fixed at its lower end two separated bearing points adapted for contact with a vertical plane surface and guiding the club when swung with the handie as a pivot so that the head portion as 0. An accessory for a golf club having it slides along such surface describes a vertical are lying in substantially a plane parallel with the desired straight line of travel of the ball.

10. An accessory for a golf club having an edge which is straight in a vertical plane and elongated to provide a guiding surface, such surface extending" at the front of the club head and causing the club to swing in a straight line when in contact with a straight edge.

11. An accessory for a golf club having an edge which is straight in a vertical plane and elongated to provide a guiding surface, such surface extending at the front of the club head and causing the club to swing in a straight line when in contact with a straight edge, and means for attaching said accessory to the club.

12. A golf club having a marker comprising in efiect two marking points distant from each other largely in excess of the width of an ordinary iron club head from its front to its rear face, and being so disposed that themark produced on the turf or the like will vary in width in accordance with the angular position of the club head with regard to its hitting surface while it is passing along the ground.

13. A golf club having a marker comprising in effect two marking points distant from each other largely in excess of the width of an ordinary iron club head from its front to its rear face and being so disposed that the mark produced on the turf or the like will vary in width in accordance with the angular position of the club head with regard to its hitting surface while it is passing along the ground, and such points having means for carrying a marking substance.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EUGENE V. MYERS.

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