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This invention relates to a generally spherical ball (10), comprising a training golf ball (1), having a center of gravity at other than the center (100) of the spherical ball (10) by the addition of a weighting means or a cavity means (200) proximal to the sphere's surface (20). The invention, more particularly relates to the asymmetrical, relative to the center of the spherical ball, formation of a weighting or cavity means intermediate the center and a surface and proximal the surface of the training golf ball. This application is pending from a provisional application filed on Dec. 17, 2004, application No. 60/637,293.
Different generally spherically shaped structures, having an offset center of gravity which tend to curve when propelled and caused to spin, are shown in the prior art including U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,548 to Ellis et al; Re. 35,488 to Sposato; U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,783 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,238 to Newcomb et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,682 to Collins et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,650 to Watson and U.S. Pat. No. 1,873,221 to Senn.
The patents referred to herein are referenced in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.
A generally spherical ball, having a center of gravity at the center of the spherical shape, will tend to curve if propelled with a spin. Prior art reveals generally spherical balls having a center of gravity offset from a center of the sphere, ball or generally spheroidal shape with the offset center of gravity emphasizing the curve of the ball or generally spheroidal shape where the ball is propelled with a spin.
A spherical golf ball, when putted with a stroke which does not cause spin will travel in a straight line. A golf ball, when putted with a stroke which induces spin will travel in a curved line.
The apparatus of this invention discloses and claims a spherical training golf ball having either a weight or a cavity means proximal a training golf ball's surface and asymmetrical relative to a training golf ball's center, thereby displacing the training golf ball's center of gravity from the training golf ball's center. Also disclosed is a guideline circumference, along the circumference of the sphere, which would demonstrate radial symmetry of the weight or cavity means if the sphere was bisected along the guideline circumference. Also disclosed is an orthogonal guideline circumference, orthogonal to the guideline circumference and along the circumference of the sphere, which would demonstrate radial symmetry of the weight or cavity means if the sphere was bisected along the orthogonal guideline circumference.
A putting stroke of the training golf ball which does not induce spin and which has an axis of the stroke coincidental with the guideline circumference or with the orthogonal guideline circumference, will propel the training golf ball in a straight line. A putting stroke which either induces spin or where the axis of the stroke is not coincidental with either the guideline circumference or the orthogonal guideline circumference will exhibit an exaggerated curve. Thus visual training will be experienced by a golfer, by observation of the presence or absence of a curved path of the training golf ball, relative to the accuracy or inaccuracy of the putting stroke.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevation of a training golf ball (1) showing a generally spherical ball (10) having a surface (20) with weighting means or cavity means (200) shown. Also illustrated is a Central Axis (300), a putter head (500) and a putter stroke direction (600). Also seen is a guideline circumference (220).
FIG. 2 illustrates the training golf ball (1) with the putter head (500) positioned for a putter stroke direction (600) not coincidental with the guideline circumference (220) or Central Axis (300).
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a training golf ball (1).
FIG. 4 is a section from FIG. 3 showing the weighting means or cavity means (200) and illustrating the Central Axis (300) and a weighted or cavity means guideline circumference angle Θ (250).
FIG. 5 illustrates a front elevation of an alternate shaped weighting means or cavity means (200).
FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the training golf ball (1) of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a vertical section bisecting the training golf ball (1) to illustrate radial symmetry of the weighting means or cavity means (200) and a weighted or cavity means orthogonal guideline angle Φ (252).
FIG. 8 is a front elevation the training golf ball (1) showing the guideline circumference (220) and orthogonal guideline circumference (240).
FIG. 9 illustrates the training golf ball (1) rotated 90 degrees with guideline circumference (220) and orthogonal guideline circumference (240). Illustrated is a putter head (500) and a putter stroke direction (600) which is coincident with the central axis (300).
FIG. 10 illustrates the training golf ball (1) rotated 90 degrees with a putter head (500) and a putter stroke direction (600) which is not coincident with the central axis (300).
FIG. 11 is a section from FIG. 6 showing the training golf ball (1) bisected orthogonally from that of FIG. 4 and illustrating radial symmetry of the weighting means or cavity means (200) and a weighted or cavity means orthogonal guideline circumference angle Φ (252).
FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative shaped weighting means or cavity means (200) with guideline circumference (220) and orthogonal guideline circumference (240).
FIG. 13 is a side elevation of FIG. 12 showing the guideline circumference (220) and the orthogonal guideline circumference (240) and illustrating the weighting means or cavity means (200).
FIG. 14 is a vertical section from FIG. 13 illustrating radial symmetry of the weighting or cavity means (200) when the training golf ball (1) is bisected along the guideline circumference (220) showing the weighted or cavity means guideline circumference angle Θ (250).
FIG. 15 is a section from FIG. 14 illustrating the radial symmetry of the weighting or cavity means (200) when the training golf ball (1) is bisected along the orthogonal guideline circumference (240) and showing the weighted or cavity means orthogonal guideline circumference angle Φ (252).
The training golf ball (1), seen in FIGS. 1-15, shows a generally spherical ball (10) having a surface (20) with weighting means or cavity means (200) shown. A Central Axis (300) passes through a center (100) of the spherical ball (10). The Training golf ball (1) has a generally uniform density with the exception of the weighting means or cavity means (200) which is either of greater or lesser density than the remainder of the training golf ball (1). In the preferred embodiment the weighting means or cavity means (200) is geometrically symmetrical, as suggested in FIGS. 1, 5 and 12, including but not limited to at least one plug, at least one wedge or at least one truncated hemisphere composed of materials of a density greater then the general density of a golf ball including but not limited to metals or of a density less than the general density of a golf ball including but not limited to plastics and cavities. In the preferred embodiment the weighting means or cavity means (200) extends from the surface (20) or proximal the surface (20) to a point intermediate the surface (20) and the center (100) thus offsetting the training golf ball (1) center of gravity from the center (100). The weighting means or cavity means (200) is asymmetrical relative to the center (100), i.e., bisecting the training golf ball (1) so that mirror images of the weighting means or cavity means (200) is displayed will reveal radial symmetry while demonstrating asymmetry relative to the center. That is, there will not be a like weighting means or cavity means (200) on the opposing side of the hemisphere upon such bisection.
In the preferred embodiment a guideline circumference (220), at the surface (20), is formed such that bisecting the training golf ball (1) along said guideline circumference (220) will reveal mirror images of the weighting means or cavity means (200). An orthogonal guideline circumference (240), at the surface (20), is formed such that bisecting the training golf ball (1) along said orthogonal guideline circumference (240) will reveal mirror images of the weighting means or cavity means (200). The orthogonal guideline circumference (240) is orthogonal to the guideline circumference (220). The guideline circumference (220) and the orthogonal guideline circumference (240) comprise sighting marks at the surface which may compose a broken line, a line which partially encompasses the total circumference of the training golf ball (1) or a line which encompasses the total circumference of the training golf ball (1). The guideline circumference (220) and the orthogonal guideline circumference (240) provide a sighting means for the golfer.
A putter head (500) striking the training golf ball (1) without inducing spin, when the putter stroke direction (600) is aligned with either the guideline circumference (220) or the orthogonal guideline circumference (240) will cause the training golf ball (1) to travel in a straight line. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the training golf ball (1) when propelled with the putter head (500) positioned for a putter stroke direction (600) not coincidental with the guideline circumference (220) or orthogonal guideline circumference (240) will travel in a curved path illustrating visual training for the practicing golfer.
In the preferred embodiment the weighting means or cavity means (200) is further defined, along the guideline circumference (220), by a weighted or cavity means guideline circumference angle Θ (250), as depicted in FIG. 7, from the center (100) to the extremity of the weighted or cavity means (200) at the position where the guideline circumference bisects the weighting or cavity means (200) and, along the orthogonal guideline circumference (240) at the position where the orthogonal guideline circumference bisects the weighting or cavity means (200). The weighted or cavity means guideline circumference angle Θ (250) is within the range of 1 degree to 359 degrees. In the preferred embodiment the guideline circumference angle Θ (250) is 1 degree to 180 degrees. The weighted or cavity means orthogonal guideline circumference angle Φ (252) is within the range of 1 degree to 359 degrees. In the preferred embodiment the guideline circumference angle Θ (250) is 1 degree to 180 degrees.
In the preferred embodiment bisecting the training golf ball (1), as depicted in FIGS. 7, 11, 14 and 15, along either the guideline circumference (220) or the orthogonal guideline circumference (240) reveals radial symmetry of the weighting means or cavity means (200).
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.