Alignment aid system

Abstract

The subject invention comprises a system, and method of using the system, for providing improved alignment in multiple dimensions. Appropriate settings include woodworking, machining, and sports, although there are several other practical applications for this technology. This system allows for simultaneous alignment along the x, y, and z axes. Another embodiment of this invention incorporates the multi-dimensional alignment station with one or more horizontal alignment stations. Each of the alignment stations have a base and top, guides that fit into the station tops and bases, and positional locks that lock the rotating element into place relative to the base plate and the alignment guides in place within the alignment stations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alignment aid system for providing adjustable guides, comprising:
 a. a multi-dimensional alignment station, a horizontal alignment guide, and a vertical alignment guide;   b. wherein said multi-dimensional alignment station further comprises a vertical station and a horizontal station;   c. wherein said vertical station further comprises a vertical station top, a vertical station base, and a station joiner:
 i. wherein said vertical station top comprises at least one top port extending through said vertical station top; 
 ii. wherein said vertical alignment guide is housed within said top port; 
 iii. wherein said vertical station top rotates parallel to said vertical station base; 
 iv. wherein said station joiner tightens to lock said vertical station top in place relative to said vertical station base; 
 v. wherein said station joiner tightens to also lock said vertical alignment guide in place within said top port; 
   d. wherein said horizontal station further comprises a horizontal station top, a horizontal state base, and a station joiner:
 i. wherein said horizontal station top comprises at least one top port extending through said horizontal station top; 
 ii. wherein said horizontal alignment guide is housed within said top port; 
 iii. wherein said horizontal station top rotates parallel to said horizontal station base; 
 iv. wherein said station joiner tightens to lock said horizontal station top in place relative to said horizontal station base; 
 v. wherein said station base tightens to also lock said horizontal alignment guide in place within said top port. 
   
     
     
         2 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 1 , wherein said vertical station top rotates 360 degrees about an axis located at the centerpoint of both the vertical station top and the vertical station base. 
     
     
         3 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 1 , wherein said horizontal station top rotates 360 degrees about an axis located at the centerpoint of both the horizontal station top and the horizontal station base. 
     
     
         4 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 1 , wherein each said station joiner comprises a friction lock comprising a nut, washer, and bolt; wherein each said washer rests on the top surface of each said station top, wherein each said bolt passes through a hole extending vertically through the centerpoint of each said station base and each said station top, through each said washer and, into each said nut, securing each said station top in place relative to each said station base, and securing each said alignment guide in place relative to said alignment station. 
     
     
         5 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 4 , wherein said nut of said station joiner of said horizontal station loosens to permit the horizontal rotation of said horizontal station top relative to said station base and tightens to lock said horizontal station top and said horizontal alignment guides in place. 
     
     
         6 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 5 , wherein said nut of said station joiner of said vertical station loosens to permit the vertical rotation of said vertical station top relative to said vertical station base and tightens to lock said vertical station top and said vertical alignment guide in place. 
     
     
         7 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 1 , wherein said vertical alignment station and said horizontal alignment station each further comprise angular measurement indicators structured and arranged to permit a user to read an angular displacement between the alignment guides attached to said station top and said station base. 
     
     
         8 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 1 , wherein said alignment aid system further comprises additional alignment stations, wherein said additional alignment stations are connected by an alignment guide, extending from a guide port of one alignment station into the port of another alignment station, with additional alignment guides extending from the other guide ports of said additional alignment stations, with all alignment guides being locked into place by the station joiners of each alignment station. 
     
     
         9 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 8 , wherein said station joiner further comprises at least one positional lock and said station top further comprises at least one lock seat; wherein said positional lock is structured and arranged to fit tightly within said lock seat; and wherein said positional lock is structured and arranged to place enough frictional force upon said alignment guides as to restrict their movement. 
     
     
         10 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 9 , wherein said alignment guides are arranged as to assist in one or more of the following purposes: placing ball position relative to foot placement; setting the distance to stand from the ball for each club for proper posture; aligning swing paths; establishing target path alignment; determining foot, hand, shoulder and knee positioning; checking clubface alignment; and to accurately position a camera for photographing and/or video recording golf swings. 
     
     
         11 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 8 , wherein all of said alignment stations and alignment guides are locked into place by said station joiners, allowing said alignment aid system to be moved without affecting the relative angular orientations of said alignment stations and alignment guides. 
     
     
         12 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor for anchoring said alignment station to a surface. 
     
     
         13 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 1 , wherein the tightening of said station joiner simultaneously locks in place the following: said alignment guides housed within said guide ports; the length of the portion of said alignment guides that extends out from said alignment station; the angular orientation of said station top relative to said station base. 
     
     
         14 . An alignment aid system comprising:
 a. A horizontal alignment station;   b. A horizontal alignment guide housed within the top of said horizontal alignment station;   c. A vertical alignment station;   d. A vertical alignment guide housed within the top of said vertical alignment station;   e. Wherein the bottom edge of said vertical alignment station is attached at a 90 degree angle to a side of the top surface of the horizontal alignment station;   f. Wherein the top of said horizontal alignment station rotates 360 degrees about the center of the horizontal alignment station at a fixed height along the plane of the horizontal axis;   g. Wherein the top of said vertical alignment station rotates 360 degrees about the center of the vertical alignment station at a vertical plane that is adjusted by the rotation of the top of said horizontal alignment station;   
     
     
         15 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 14 , further comprising a vertical alignment lock and a horizontal alignment lock; wherein said horizontal alignment lock loosens to permit the adjustment of the top of the horizontal alignment station relative to its base, and tightens to lock its top at a desired alignment relative to its base; wherein said vertical alignment lock loosens to permit the adjustment of the top of the vertical alignment station relative to its base, and tightens to lock its top at a desire alignment relative to its base. 
     
     
         16 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 15 , wherein said horizontal alignment lock loosens to permit the adjustment of said horizontal alignment guide, and tightens to lock said horizontal alignment guide in place, within the horizontal alignment station; wherein said vertical alignment lock loosens to permit the adjustment of said vertical alignment guide within the vertical alignment station. 
     
     
         17 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 16 , further comprising an additional horizontal alignment guide housed within the base of said horizontal alignment station. 
     
     
         18 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 17 , wherein said second horizontal alignment guide extends into the base of a second horizontal alignment station; wherein said second horizontal alignment guide further comprises a top with a third horizontal alignment guide housed therein; wherein the top of said second horizontal alignment station can be rotated while also rotating said third alignment guide about the center of said second horizontal alignment station. 
     
     
         19 . The alignment aid system described in  claim 14 , wherein the top of said vertical alignment system further comprises degree markings; wherein the base of said vertical alignment system further comprises angle indexes; wherein the angular displacement of the top of said vertical alignment system relative to its base can be measured by reading said degree markings against said angle indexes after the top is rotated. 
     
     
         20 . An alignment aid system for providing adjustable guides comprising:
 a. primary alignment station;   b. a multi-dimensional alignment station;   c. two additional alignment stations;   d. four horizontal alignment guides; and   e. one vertical alignment guide;   f. wherein each of said primary alignment station, multi-dimensional alignment station, and additional alignment station comprises a horizontal alignment station;   g. wherein said multi-dimensional alignment station further comprises a vertical alignment station;   h. wherein each said horizontal alignment station and vertical alignment station comprises a station top, a station base, a top port, a station joiner, and a base port;   i. wherein said primary alignment station houses a horizontal alignment guide through a base port, passing said horizontal alignment guide along a foot position path through to a base port of said multi-dimensional alignment station;   j. wherein said primary alignment station also houses a horizontal alignment guide through a top port following a path to ball position;   k. wherein said multi-dimensional alignment station houses a vertical alignment guide through a top port in its vertical station top;   l. wherein said multi-dimensional alignment station houses a horizontal alignment guide through a top port in its horizontal station top, passing said horizontal alignment guide through to a top port of a first additional alignment station and also through a top port of a second additional alignment station;   m. wherein the first additional alignment station houses a horizontal alignment guide through a base port following a downswing path; and   n. wherein the second additional alignment station houses a horizontal alignment guide through a base port following a target path.