No-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid

Abstract

A teaching aid promoting better shots in golf by prompting the user to keep his or her head still. Using a downwardly extending panel, the teaching aid system as described herein provides and/or enhances visual cues to the golfer so that he may keep his head in a still or relatively still position while making the shot. Such shots may particularly include the putt, but may also be applicable to the chip and the drive. A variety of embodiments provide multiple means by which the present system may be implemented. The descending panel may be folded into an invisible, unobtrusive, and/or unobstructive configuration that may either be incorporated into a hat or removably detachable from it.

1 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim, comprising:
 a panel;   said panel hingedly attached to the brim;   said panel positioned generally adjacent to the outer edge of said brim and capable of folding inward along the brim when in a closed position;   said panel projecting downwardly and away from the brim when deployed and in an unfolded or open position; and   said panel sized and positioned to be at a sufficient distance before eyes of the wearer such that the panel does not cover the eyes of the wearer when said panel is deployed; whereby   head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer.   
   
   
       2 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the brim defining a recess into which said panel may fit when folded.   
   
   
       3 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 said panel flush with an underside of the brim when said panel is in said folded position.   
   
   
       4 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said hinge having cam action to hold said panel in at least one position.   
   
   
       5 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 said hinge resiliently holding said panel in said folded position.   
   
   
       6 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said panel having a free end substantially opposite said hinge, said free end having a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof.   
   
   
       7 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said surroundings of the wearer including a golf ball that the wearer is attempting to strike with a club, said panel's first and second relative positions with respect to said golf ball indicating to the wearer whether or not the wearer's head is turning when the wearer strikes said golf ball.   
   
   
       8 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim, comprising:
 a panel;   a hinge hingedly attaching said panel to the brim;   said hinge having cam action to hold said panel in at least one position and resiliently holding said panel in said folded position;   said panel positioned generally adjacent to the outer edge of said brim and capable of folding inward along the brim when in a closed position;   said panel projecting downwardly and away from the brim when deployed and in an unfolded or open position;   said panel having a free end substantially opposite said hinge, said free end having a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof;   said panel sized and positioned to be at a sufficient distance before eyes of the wearer such that the panel does not cover the eyes of the wearer and such that head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer; and   said surroundings of the wearer including a golf ball that the wearer is attempting to strike with a club, said panel's first and second relative positions with respect to said golf ball indicating to the wearer whether or not the wearer's head is turning when the wearer strikes said golf ball.   
   
   
       9 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the brim defining a recess into which said panel may fit when folded.   
   
   
       10 . A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 said panel flush with an underside of the brim when said panel is in said folded position.   
   
   
       11 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat, the detachable indicator providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim, comprising:
 a clip, said clip adapted to be detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat;   a panel;   a hinge hingedly attaching said panel to said clip;   said panel positioned in alignment with the brim when in an undeployed position;   said panel projecting downwardly and away from the brim when in a deployed position; and   said panel sized and positionable to be before eyes of the wearer when deployed; whereby   head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer.   
   
   
       12 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said clip further comprises:
 an upper clip panel flexibly coupled to a lower clip panel, said upper and lower clip panels defining a brim slot therebetween   
   
   
       13 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said clip further comprises:
 said brim slot being curved to match a curved surface of said brim.   
   
   
       14 . detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 said panel having a free end substantially opposite said hinge, said free end having a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof.   
   
   
       15 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts further comprises:
 first and second circular projections respectively corresponding and attached to respective ends of respective ones of said pair of posts, each of said circular projections having a diameter approximately matching visually that of a golf ball to be putted although the golf ball is several times farther away from the eyes of a wearer of the indicator than said pair of posts.   
   
   
       16 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a middle sub-post positioned between said pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, said sub-post having a third circular projection similar to that of said pair of posts; and   said first, second, and third posts arranged in at least an isosceles triangle so that when said indicator is deployed the golf ball may be placed visually between in alignment with said first and second circular projections and may be placed visually below and in alignment with said third circular projection.   
   
   
       17 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 said hinge having cam action to hold said panel in at least one position.   
   
   
       18 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 said hinge resiliently holding said panel in said folded position.   
   
   
       19 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 said surroundings of the wearer including a golf ball that the wearer is attempting to strike with a club, said panel's first and second relative positions with respect to said golf ball indicating to the wearer whether or not the wearer's head is turning when the wearer strikes said golf ball.   
   
   
       20 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat, the detachable indicator providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim, comprising:
 a clip, said clip adapted to be detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat, said clip having an upper clip panel flexibly coupled to a lower clip panel, said upper and lower clip panels defining a brim slot therebetween, said brim slot being curved to match a curved surface of said brim;   a panel;   a hinge hingedly attaching said panel to said clip, said hinge having cam action to hold said panel in at least one position including resiliently holding said panel in an undeployed or folded position;   said panel having a free end substantially opposite said hinge, said free end having a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof said panel positioned in alignment with the brim when in said undeployed position;   said panel projecting downwardly and away from the brim when in a deployed position;   said panel sized and positionable to be before eyes of the wearer when deployed such that head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer, said surroundings of the wearer including a golf ball that the wearer is attempting to strike with a club, said panel's first and second relative positions with respect to said golf ball indicating to the wearer whether or not the wearer's head is turning when the wearer strikes said golf ball.   
   
   
       21 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts further comprises:
 first and second circular projections respectively corresponding and attached to respective ends of respective ones of said pair of posts, each of said circular projections having a diameter approximately matching visually that of a golf ball to be putted although the golf ball is several times farther away from the eyes of a wearer of the indicator than said pair of posts.   
   
   
       22 . A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a middle sub-post positioned between said pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, said sub-post having a third circular projection similar to that of said pair of posts;   said first, second, and third posts arranged in at least an isosceles triangle so that when said indicator is deployed the golf ball may be placed visually between in alignment with said first and second circular projections and may be placed visually below and in alignment with said third circular projection.   
   
   
       23 . Headgear for putting, comprising:
 a brim or bill having a pointed forward end thereof selected from the group consisting of: a single point or gore, a pair of points or gores defining a throughspace therebetween, and combinations thereof.   
   
   
       24 . Headgear for putting as set forth in  claim 23 , further comprising:
 said pair of points having oppositely opposed markings on different ones of said pair, said markings serving to visually align an item, including a golf ball, between said points.