Field of Search:
33/46G 273/54BC,54B,183E,183B,183R,19A,19B 351/158
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a sighting device for directing the eyes of a wearer and more particularly to a head-steadying sighting device for aligning a golfer's head and eyes with a golf ball.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
There are many situations wherein a person wishes to accurately align his head and eyes on an object and maintain them in this position during movement of the body of the person. In particular, in many sports the participant wishes to sight on the object, such as an archery target or golf ball, and maintain his head and eyes on this object. The game of golf, in particular, requires that the golfer concentrate and hold his head steady and eyes on the ball during driving and putting.
Although there are many factors which contribute to a successful game of golf, one of the most important parts of the game is the golfer's ability to swing a club accurately to hit the golf ball. To insure a correct swing the golfer must hold his head steady during the entire movement of the golf club. By assuming a correct initial stance, and keeping his head steady during his swing, the golfer practically forces himself to swing evenly and smoothly.
Normally, the golfer relies only on keeping his eye on the ball while making his swing. For many golfers this is not sufficient to concentrate their attention on maintaining the required head position. Although many a golfer has attempted to develop the necessary concentration to maintain his head in the required head position, there exists a need for a means which shows the golfer whether he is properly maintaining his head in the required position throughout his entire swing.
The invention disclosed in the present specification is believed to provide a reliable and efficient device for helping a golfer to maintain his head in a given position after he has accurately sighted on a golf ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a sighting device comprising an elongated member with a sight at one end for aligning a wearer's eyes with an object and securing means at the opposite end for securing the device to the wearer's head.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a sighting device to aid in maintaining the head and eyes of a wearer on an object.
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a device for a golfer to aid his swing by indicating to the golfer when he has moved his head during his swing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device for concentrating a golfer's attention on holding his head steady.
And a further object of the present invention is to provide a device for aligning a golfer's head and eyes with a golf ball and to assist his holding the alignment during the course of his swing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a golfer in the back swing position wearing the sighting device of the instant invention fixed to the frame of his glasses to line up the golfer's head and eyes with a golf ball;
FIG. 2 shows the golfer of FIG. 1 in the follow-through position of his swing with his head in the same position and his eyes still lined up with the ball;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a pair of glasses having the sighting device of the present invention mounted on the frame thereof;
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the sighting device of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a partially-offset end view looking in the direction of the arrows 5--5 of FIG. 4 showing the two circular ends of the sighting device of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 a preferred embodiment of the sighting device 11 of the present invention comprising an elongated central member 13 having circular portions 15, 17 formed at the ends thereof. The sighting device is preferably constructed of a resilient, stiff material such as plastic, spring steel or the like. In the preferred embodiment shown, the elongated central member 13 is straight, and together with the two circular ends 15, 17, is preferably constructed from a single length of wire.
The circular ends 15, 17 are formed by turning in any suitable manner, so that they lie in planes which are disposed at 90° to each other. The sighting device of this invention may also be formed from an elongated length or strand of central wire having separate circular elements secured to the ends thereof by any suitable connection.
The first circular end portion or sight member 15 is used to align a wearer's eyes with an object, such as a golf ball. This sight member is preferably formed by bending or twisting a predetermined amount of one end 19 of a piece of wire at 90° to the wire, then turning a further predetermined length of this bent end 19 to form approximately one and one-half substantially circular turns. Preferably, at least the last quarter-turn 21 of the wire is left as a straight portion and bent so that it is directed toward the central portion of the turns to form an aligning or sighting post 23.
The second or clip end 17 of the sighting device is preferably formed by turning the other end of the wire away from the sighting end in such a manner that between two and three substantially circular wire coils 25 are formed in a plane passing through the wire at 90° to a plane passing through the sight end of the wire. The further end portion 27 of the circular coils formed at the clip end of the wire is then bent toward the central section of the coils, and in a preferred embodiment, is offset at 29 in such a manner that it will form a spring member which engages a surface over which the clip end 17 is fitted.
As seen in FIG. 3, the formed sighting device of the present invention is mounted on one of the arms 31 of the frames 33 of a pair of glasses by inserting the arm between the formed coils 25 of the clip end of the sighting device. Depending on the type of frames used in a particular pair of glasses, the sighting device may then be lined up with the eye of the wearer by adjusting the clip, and if considered necessary, the straight central member 13 of the sighting member may be bent to insure proper alignment of the wearer's head and eyes with a golf ball.
The clip member 17 may just as easily be secured to the brim of a cap (not shown) worn by the golfer, and the brim and/or sighting device may then be adjusted to insure proper alignment of the head and eyes of the wearer with a golf ball. If deemed desirable, the golfer may also wear a headband, (not shown), of any suitable material, to which the clip end of the sighting device may be secured to enable the golfer to properly align his head and eyes with the golf ball by use of the sighting device.
Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, illustrated therein is an application of the present invention wherein a right-handed golfer 35 has clipped the sighting device of the present invention to the right-hand arm of the frames of his glasses. The player assumes his proper stance and aligns his head and his right eye by sighting through the sight member of the device, as shown by the broken line 37, to insure proper alignment of his head and eyes with the golf ball. After the circular sight has been aligned with the ball, any undesired head movement is immediately noticeable. Therefore, as the golfer goes through his swing he is forced to always keep his head steady with his eye fixed on the ball.
Any undesired head movement of the golfer during his swing is immediately noticed and may be instantaneously corrected to insure that the golfer keeps his proper stance throughout the entire swing.
One of the advantages of the sighting device of the instant invention lies in the fact that it is so light and versatile that the device may be removably attached to the eye glass frames, brim of a hat, or headband, worn by the golfer, at either the right or left side thereof. The means for fixing or securing the sighting device is so constructed that it may be easily mounted on, and held in place in any position around the entire periphery of, the hat brim, eyeglass frames, or headband by merely slipping the circular wire clip portions thereon. Therefore, either a right-handed or left-handed golfer may properly sight, with either eye, by merely lining up the circular sight with his right or left eye and a golf ball.
A further advantage of the sighting device of the instant invention lies in the fact that it is a great teaching aid for the novice or experienced golfer, in that it practically forces the golfer to keep his hand steady during his back swing stroke, and follow through by merely lining up his eye with the circular sight and a golf ball and maintaining his sight picture throughout the entire swing.
The sighting device of the present invention may be used while practicing on a practice tee, in the home or yard, or may be used on the fairway during a round of golf.
Another advantage of the sighting device of the instant invention lies in the fact that the sighting device may be used in connection with other sports wherein the wearer wishes to sight on an object and retain his sight on the object by preventing movement of his head during any movement of his body.
While other equivalent means can be substituted for certain portions of the described construction of the present invention, the preferred embodiment disclosed herein has many advantages over the prior art and other sighting devices currently on the market because of its light weight and versatility whereby it may be easily attached to and removed from a wearer's head.