Planar-parallactic golf alignment aide
View Patent ↗A Planar-Parallactic Golf Alignment Aide is disclosed. Also disclosed is a device that provides the golfer with a planar alignment sight line for aligning the club face with the target. The invention further provides the golfer with a parallactic alignment sight line for placing his or her head in the proper and repeatable position in order to eliminate unintentional stance variations. The aide may be incorporated within the club head and operate by aligning an aperture or line with the projected image of that aperture or line to use the phenomena of parallax for head alignment. The aperture or line is formed in the top of a dome, and the projected image then appears on a projection surface below the dome. The device may either be an attachment for a conventional club head, or may incorporated into the head itself.
1. A golf club, comprising:
a head defined by a face, a top surface, a projection surface, a front thick portion adjacent to said face, a central thinner portion adjacent to said front thick portion, and a rear thick portion in spaced relation to said front thick portion, said projection surface disposed on said central thinner portion;
an alignment assembly comprising an elongate bar-shaped dome interconnecting said front thick portion and said rear thick portion perpendicular to said head face, said elongate bar-shaped dome defining a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface in spaced relation to said projection surface; and
an alignment image inscribed on said projection surface.
2. The club of claim 1 , wherein said dome top surface having a slot formed therein.
3. The club of claim 2 , wherein said slot defines a line that is generally perpendicular to said face.
4. The club of claim 3 , further comprising first and second alignment lines inscribed on said top surface of said head, said first and second alignment lines are co-linear with said slot.
5. The club of claim 2 , wherein said slot defines an axis that is aligned along a line that is generally perpendicular to said face.
6. The club of claim 5 , further comprising said inscribed alignment image being inscribed on said projection surface, said slot further defining a parallactic sight line in alignment with said inscribed alignment image and said slot.
7. The club of claim 6 , wherein said dome top surface is generally coplanar with said club head top surface.
8. The club of claim 7 , wherein said projection surface, slot and said alignment image are oriented whereby said alignment image is aligned with said slot along a parallactic alignment sight line.
9. In combination with a golf club head an alignment assembly for attachment to said top surface of a golf club head, said head defined by a front face and a rear face, comprising:
a dome consisting essentially of an elongate bar having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first club-head-attaching end attachable in proximity to said head front face and a second club-head-attaching end attachable in proximity to said head rear face, and a projection surface associated with said club top surface, said elongate bar further defined by a slot formed between said top surface and said bottom surface, said projection surface further defined by an alignment image inscribed thereon; and
a void defined between said dome bottom surface and said projection surface.
10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said top surface further comprises at least one darkened portion of said surface adjacent to said slot.
11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein said projection surface further comprises a lightened portion.
12. The club of claim 9 , further comprising first and second alignment lines inscribed on said top surface of said head, said first and second alignment lines are co-linear with said slot.
13. A golf club having a head defining a face and a top surface, the head comprising:
parallactic alignment means for defining a parallactic alignment sight line, said parallactic alignment means comprising a dome having a slot formed therethrough to define a parallactic alignment sight line interconnecting said slot with an alignment image, said dome defining an elongate bar shape having a first face and a second face parallel to said first face and a pair of opposing ends in perpendicular alignment to said head face, said opposing ends extending from a front thickened portion and a rear thickened portion, respectively, of said head; and
planar alignment means for defining a planar alignment sight line.
14. The club of claim 13 , wherein said slot associated with said club is oriented perpendicular to said face.
15. The club of claim 14 , wherein said parallactic alignment means comprises a projection surface associated with said head opposite to said slot.
16. The club of claim 15 , wherein said projection surface further comprises a lightened portion generally opposite to said slot.
17. The club of claim 14 , further comprising first and second alignment lines inscribed on said top surface of said head, said first and second alignment lines are co-linear with said slot.