FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a golf club, and more specifically to a golf driver, that may be used to assist a golfer in developing the skill of maintaining their eyes on the ball during the swing, referred to sometimes herein as eye contact, as well as developing consistency in their swing.

The present invention also relates to a method for practicing swinging of a golf club and in particular for practicing the golf driving stroke in order to develop the necessary hand/eye coordination to better drive the golf ball during a game of golf.

The present invention also relates generally to a new construction of a golf club that may be used to learn the golf driving stroke, and more particularly by golfers to practice or improve their golf driving stroke by concentrating or focusing on their swing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous apparatus that enable a golfer to practice swinging a golf club in order to improve their swing, whether driving with a golf driver or putting with a golf putter. However, there is ongoing development of new apparatus that address drawbacks of existing apparatus.

The present invention is one such apparatus that improves on existing apparatus and enables a golfer to practice or improve their golf game, and specifically, eye contact.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new golf club that can be used to develop eye contact.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new method for practicing swinging a driver for golf.

A golf club in accordance with the invention that may achieve one or both of these objects includes a head having a front, ball-striking surface and a cavity arranged to retain therein a ball. The front surface includes an opening communicating with the cavity and arranged apart from peripheral edges of the front face such that an annular portion of the front face surrounds the opening. The head is constructed without structure in front of the opening such that when the golf club is swung against a ball, passage of the ball through the opening into the cavity is used to evaluate the swinging of the golf club. Capture of the ball is considered to be an appropriate stroke whereas contact of the ball with the annular portion of the front face is considered an imprecise stroke.

The cavity is configured to prevent movement of the ball therefrom after capture during the swing, i.e., at least until the golfer manually retrieves the ball from the cavity or otherwise manipulates the golf club to release the ball from the cavity. The head also preferably includes one or more channels leading from the cavity to a rear face and/or to a side face to allow flow of air from the cavity during the swing and thereby aid in passage of the ball into the cavity.

In one embodiment, the opening is positioned on the front face in a sweet spot of the head determined based on, for example, dimensions of the head. Also, the opening preferably has a size larger than a cross-sectional size of the ball so that exact alignment of the opening with the ball is not required in order to capture the ball in the cavity. The golf club may be used in combination with any type, size of ball, e.g.. with a ball made substantially entirely of a soft material.

A method for practicing swinging of a golf club in accordance with the invention includes providing a golf club as described above, placing a ball on a support, then swinging the golf club while attempting to capture the ball in the cavity, and evaluating the swing of the golf club based on whether the ball was captured in the cavity or not.

Parameters of a subsequent swing may be adjusted based on the evaluation of the swing when the ball is not captured in the cavity.

The above-mentioned objects and other objects of the present invention are attained in accordance with the golf club of the present invention and method for its use which are described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lower portion of a first embodiment of a golf club including a head in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf club head shown in FIG. 1 with a ball therein.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a golf club head in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a third embodiment of a golf club head in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the golf club shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view through a fourth embodiment of a golf club in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view through a fifth embodiment of a golf club in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a sixth embodiment of a golf club head in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 1 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1 1 -1 1 in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 1 2 and 13 are front views of collars that may be used to reduce the size of the opening in the golf clubs in accordance with the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements, the invention constitutes a novel construction of a goif club that may be used to improve golfing skills, including hand/eye coordination, and FIGS. 1 -13 generally illustrate a golf driver or part thereof. Although a golf driver is illustrated and described as an example of a golf club to which the invention is applicable, the invention is equally applicable to other types of golf clubs, including but not limited to irons

FIG. 1 shows a head 10 of a golf driver 8 having a front, ball-striking face 1 2 with an opening 14 in an interior area, i.e. , the opening is apart from peripheral edges of the front face 1 2. As such, an annular portion of the front face 12 surrounds the opening 14. The opening 14 leads to a cavity 16 that is substantially closed from behind, i.e., it is closed to the extent that it does not allow a golf ball that can enter the opening 14 to pass out of the cavity 1 6 rearward during the swing. Preferably, the opening 14 is situated in the "sweet spot" of the head 10, i.e., that spot that when striking the ball, provides the optimum drive.

However, channels 18 are formed between the side face 20 and/or rear face of the head 10 to allow air to pass from the cavity 16 to the outside (as best seen in FIG. 3). The number and shape of the channels 18 is not material to the invention, and thus can be a single channel or a plurality of channels, and the channels 1 8 can be designed based on the size and shape of the head 1 0. The intended purpose of the channels 1 8 is to prevent an air pressure build-up in the cavity 16 during a swinging movement of the golf club 8 which could adversely affect the swing because the pressure build-up would exert a force against retention of the ball 24 in the cavity 16.

In addition to the head 10, the golf driver 8 includes other components standard or known for inclusion in a golf driver, e.g., a shaft 22, only part of which is shown and a grip (not shown) arranged at the upper end region of the shaft 22.

The head 10 is preferably dimensioned to be larger than a conventional golf driver head, i.e., oversized. Opening 14 is dimensioned relative to a ball 24 to be used with the golf driver 10, see FIG. 2. Opening 14 may therefore have the same cross-sectional size as or be slightly larger than the cross-sectional size of the conventional golf ball, but may also be used in combination with a specifically sized golf ball having a larger or small diameter than a conventional golf ball.

Moreover, to enable use of a training apparatus that comprises the golf driver 8 and a ball 24 indoors and/or in a home setting, the ball 24 may be made of a soft material. In this manner, if the golfer swings the driver 8 and the annular portion of the front face 12 is brought into contact with the ball 24, the ball 24 is propelled forward but is unlikely to damage property. Use of the ball 24 made of soft material is not. however, limited to indoors and/or in a home setting and may be used anywhere the golfer desires.

In an exemplifying use of the apparatus, the golfer prepares the ball 24 by placing it on a support, for example, a tee, and then after clearing sufficient area in which to swing the driver 8. the golfer swings the driver 8 and tries to capture the ball 24 in the cavity 16 by swinging with such precision that the opening 14 is brought into alignment with the ball 24 allowing the ball 24 to pass through the opening 14 into the cavity 16. If the golfer does not swing precisely, then the annular portion of the front face 12 of the head 1 0 will strike the ball 24 and propel the ball 24 forward.

Obviously, the larger the opening 14 relative to the diameter or cross-sectional size or area of the ball 24, the easier it will be for the golfer to capture the ball 24. Capture of the ball 24 in the cavity 16 is aided by the presence of the channels 18 because air trapped in the cavity 16 during the swing flows out of the cavity 1 6 through the channels 1 8 and thus does not prevent retention of the ball 24 in the cavity 16 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). Furthermore, if the opening 14 is in the sweet spot, capturing the ball 24 in the cavity 1 6 will indicate that the golfer has optimally swung the driver 8. which is particularly important if the golfer is using the apparatus to improve their eye contact.

Indeed, the apparatus is extremely useful to enable a golfer to develop their hand- eye coordination because they can keep their head down and focus on the ball 24 while swinging the driver 8, and swing while attempting to capture the ball 24 in the cavity 16. The golfer can continue to practice with the apparatus until they can continuously capture the ball 24 in the cavity 1 6 and thereby improve their hand/eye coordination which could be converted to a better golf drive stroke during an actual round of golf and the golfer would swing and improve the likelihood of the sweet spot on the front face of an actual golf driver striking the ball.

Accordingly, the driver 8 may be used to teach the skill of maintaining the golfer's eyes on the ball 24 during the swing. Such skills, i.e.. concentration, eye contact and focus, are difficult to learn, especially for beginner golfers. However, using the driver 8. or another type of golf club with the same features as driver 8 aside from head shape and dimensions, a golfer can develop proper form for their swing by training their brain to capture the ball 24 in the cavity 1 6. and not focus on watching the ball after impact. Anticipation of the shot is also removed since, ideally, the ball 24 will be captured in the cavity 1 6. Once the golfer develops their skill of swing the driver 8 to strike the ball 24 in the sweet spot and thereby capture the ball 24 in the cavity 6, the golfer should see an improvement in their golf game.

Yet another advantage of the use of the driver 8 is that golfer can develop their swing consistency by practicing use of the driver 8 until the ball 24 is consistently and repeatedly captured in the cavity 1 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5. another embodiment of a driver in accordance with the invention is designated generally as 30 and includes a mechanism to enable easy removal of the ball 24 from the cavity 1 6 by enhancing access to the cavity 1 6. Specifically, the cavity accessing mechanism comprises a pair of fold-out doors 32 connected via hinges or pivot pins 34 to the body 36 of the driver 30. in a manner for connection well-known to those skilled in the art. Fold-out doors 32 are small doors that, in combination, do not extend across the entire opening 14. Fold-out doors 32 are not situated in front of the opening 14 because they do not impede ingress of a ball 24 through the opening 14 into the cavity 1 6. Rather, fold-out doors are shaped, e.g. , with the curvature as shown, to enable the ball 24 to easily pass through the opening 1 4 into the cavity 1 6. The hinge or pivot pins 34 are configured to enable the fold-out doors 32 to pivot or swing outward thereby increasing access to the cavity 1 6 and the ball 24 when present therein after use of the driver 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of a driver in accordance with the invention is designated generally as 40 and includes a different mechanism to enable easy removal of the ball 24 from the cavity 1 6 by enhancing access to the cavity 1 6. Specifically, the cavity accessing mechanism comprises a flip door 42 connected via one or more hinges or pivot pins 44 to a body 46 of the driver 40, in a manner for connection well- known to those skilled in the art. Flip door 42 is arranged at the top of the driver 40, see FIG. 7. and flips up to enable release of the ball when present in the cavity 1 6 after use of the driver 40. Alternatively, the flip door 42 may be configured to flip inward into the cavity 1 6 to eject the ball 24 therefrom. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a golf driver in accordance with the invention which is designated generally as 50 and is very similar to golf driver 8 shown in FIGS. 1 -3 with the exception that instead of a closed cavity 16. the cavity is open at the rear and thus forms a through channel 52 having an opening 54 in the front face 12 of the driver 50 and another opening 56 in the rear or side face 20 of the driver 50. As shown, opening 54 is larger than opening 56 but the relative size of the openings is not critical to the invention and the openings 54, 56 may be the same size or opening 56 larger than opening 54, Both openings 54, 56 should be at least as large as the diameter of the golf ball 16 to be sued with driver 50 to enable the golf ball 24 to pass through the opening 54 into the channel 52 and out of the channel 52 through opening 56. Thus, in use, the golfer would swing the driver 50 and ideally, momentarily capture the ball 24 in the channel 52, but during the continuation of the stroke, the ball 24 would exit from the channel 52 through opening 56. In this embodiment, channels 18 are not required because the air in front of the ball 24 would simply pass through the opening 56.

FIG 9 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a golf driver in accordance with the invention which is designated generally as 60 and is very similar to golf driver 8 shown in FIGS. 1 -3 with the exception of a ball removal mechanism. The ball removal mechanism comprises a pin 62 that is movably fixed to a body of the driver 60, in a manner known to those in the movable pin art. The pin 62 extends through a channel 64 in the body of the driver 60 and ideally is positioned so that it will be behind the ball 24 when the bail is present in the cavity 16. As such, pushing the pin 62 inward causes the ball 24 to be ejected from the cavity 16. Pin 62 includes a head 66 that is dimensioned to prevent its passage through the channel 64 and a shaft 68 that moves within the channel 64. The length of the shaft 68 determines the extent to which the head 66 of the pin 62 will project beyond the side or rear face 20 of the driver 60.

Pin 62 may be pushed or urged rearward to the position shown in FIG. 9 during the swing and/or by the entry of the ball 24 into the cavity 1 6. Then, to remove the ball 24 from the cavity 16, the golfer presses the pin 62 inward, in the direction of arrow A. causing ejection of the ball 24 from the cavity 16.

Variable positions and configurations of the pin are envisioned. Thus, the invention encompasses generally a depressible pin that may be moved to one position prior to or during the swing when the ball is not present in the cavity and after the ball is present in the cavity as a result of the swing, the pin is moved to another position in which the pin itself or a member connected thereto exerts force against the ball 24 to eject it from the cavity 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 1 1 , another embodiment of a driver in accordance with the invention is designated generally as 70 and includes a different mechanism to enable easy removal of the ball 24 from the cavity 16. Specifically, the ball removal mechanism comprises a finger groove 72 opening from the front face 1 2 of the driver 70 to position proximate or at the rear of the cavity 1 6 (see FIG. 1 1 ). The finger groove 72 is dimensioned to enable the golfer to stick their finger through the finger groove 72 to reach the rear of the cavity 16 and exert an outward force against the ball 24 from the rear to thereby cause removal of the ball 24 from the cavity 16.

FIGS. 1 2 and 13 show two different collars 74. 76 that are designed for insertion into the cavity 16 of any of the embodiments of the golf driver described above to the extent possible. Collars 74. 76, when placed into the cavity 16, serve to reduce the size of the opening 14 through which the ball can pass. Each collar 74, 76 has the same outer dimensions and includes an opening 78, 80, respectively, that is the same as or larger than the diameter of the ball 24 to enable the ball 24 to pass therethrough. However, the size of the openings 78, 80 varies from one collar to the next. That is, there may be any number of collars, more than the two as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, with each having a different size interior opening.

In use. a golfer may decide to start using driver 8 without a collar in the cavity to provide the largest size opening 14. Then, as the golfer advances and improves their hand/eye coordination using the driver 8, they would insert a collar having the largest interior opening, e.g.. collar 74. This makes it a little more difficult to capture the ball 24 in the cavity 16. Retention of the collar 74 in the cavity 16 is provided, for example, by sizing the outer dimension of the collar 74 to fit snugly into the cavity 1 6. Other means for retaining the collar 74 in the cavity 16 may also be provided and are considered to be part of the invention.

Thereafter, as the golfer continues to improve their hand/eye coordination using driver 8, they could remove collar 74 and insert collar 76, which has a smaller opening 80 than opening 78 in collar 74. This makes capturing the ball 24 in the cavity even more difficult than with collar 74. This process of reducing the size of the opening 14 via insertion of different collars can continue until the golfer is satisfied with their swing.

As such, a set of collars 74, 76 would be manufactured, with each having substantially the same outer dimensions but each with a different size opening. The collars may be marked to indicate the size of the opening to thereby enable a golfer to sequentially reduce the size of the opening as their use of the driver 8. and hand/eye coordination, improves. In another embodiment of the invention, inside the head of the driver there is a foam that traps the ball and absorbs shock from constant use. The foam may be any type of shock-absorbing foam known to those skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, polyurethane foam (any one of the several hundred formulations), silica gel, bioflex hybrid foam, polyethylene cell foam and military foam. The foam may be present in the cavity 16 or define the cavity 16 itself.

While prior art golf clubs exist with cavities in the head, the cavities of these golf clubs are invariably covered by a plate when the golf club is used, with the plate having a particular structure to improve the use of the golf club. The golf driver 8 in accordance with the invention does not include any structure that covers the opening 14 in the front face 1 2. nor are any mechanisms provided to enable attachment of a plate or other such structure to cover the opening or interpose material between the front of the head 8 and the cavity 1 6.

Moreover, prior art golf clubs exist that have cavities that open to a face other than the front face, such as those that have a cavity in the bottom or rear face designed to enable a golf ball to be picked up upon a specific handling of the golf club. These cavities are intentionally designed not to have any impact on the golfer's swing. As such, these golf clubs cannot teach the invention wherein a cavity is provided with the intent to capture a golf ball during a swing with the capture of the golf ball being indicative of a proper or accurate swing.

The embodiments of the invention described above thereb provide a new golf driver that can be used to develop eye contact as well as a new method for practicing swinging a driver for golf. Moreover, the driver is adaptive, when used with the collars, in that it can be adjusted based on the golfer's skill level.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and. therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.