Golf club alignment device

Abstract

A golf club alignment device includes a bracket and a housing which contains two light sources which emit narrow visible beams of light to illuminate spots on a target line extending perpendicularly from a golf club face. The housing is releasably attached to the bracket by means of a tongue and groove structure. Preferably, the tongue is rotatably mounted to the bracket so that an initial precise alignment of the light beams may be made. Once aligned, the housing may be removed from the bracket and reattached while preserving the initial alignment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf club alignment device comprising: 
 (a) a bracket adapted to be securely attached to a golf club shaft;    (b) a housing having at least one opening;    (c) alignment and engagement means for releasably engaging the housing to the bracket such that when the housing engages the bracket, it is always aligned in the same orientation; and    (d) at least one light source fixed within the housing for emitting a light beam through the opening.    
     
     
         2 . The device defined in    claim 1    wherein there are two light sources such that when the housing is engaged to the bracket, the light sources are aimed at points on a target line perpendicular to a club face.  
     
     
         3 . The device defined in    claim 2    wherein the light sources are laser diodes.  
     
     
         4 . The device defined in    claim 1    wherein the alignment and engagement means comprises a tongue and groove mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . The device defined in    claim 4    wherein bracket defines a central shaft axis and the tongue comprises a flat elongate disc which engages the bracket and which may pivot about an axis perpendicular to the central shaft axis.  
     
     
         6 . The device defined in    claim 5    wherein the tongue defines at least one arc-shaped slit aligned with a fastener opening formed in the bracket for receiving a fastener.  
     
     
         7 . The device claimed in    claim 6    wherein there are two light sources mounted within the housing and the housing engages the tongue such that any line perpendicular to the central shaft axis and which intersects both light beams always remains perpendicular to the central shaft throughout the range of motion of the tongue.  
     
     
         8 . The device defined in    claim 1    wherein the bracket comprises a first elongate bracket member fixed to a second elongate bracket member in a parallel configuration about the club shaft, said bracket members being held together by at least one removeable fastener.  
     
     
         9 . The device defined in    claim 8    wherein the first bracket member defines a semi-circular groove and has mounting flanges and the second bracket member is substantially flat.  
     
     
         10 . The device claimed in    claim 9    wherein an inner surface of the bracket is covered with a resilient frictional material for preventing rotation of the bracket and a golf club shaft.