Golf putter that indicates to the golfer when their eyes and head are optimally and consistently aligned to the putter-head, golf ball, and target-Line

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of golf putter design. After the golfer has assumed his putting stance, the Eyelignment™ putter incorporates features that provide a golfer specific visual feedback related to whether the golfer's eyes are correctly aligned with the golf ball, the putter-head, and the intended target-line. This visual feedback is not available in current putter designs. Current putter designs may have design features that help a golfer aim and align a putter's face to the golf ball and along the intended target-line, but current designs provide no visual feedback related to whether the golf ball and putter-head are actually properly aligned, and no feedback related to the alignment of a golfer's eyes. The Eyelignment™ design provides golfers visual feedback to help golfers consistently achieve the proper alignment of their eyes to the putter-head and the target-line and does so while the golfer is taking his putting stance.

1 . The Eyelignment™ design incorporates into the putter head design features that provides a golfer visual feedback to align both the golfer's eyes with the putter-head, the golf ball, and along the golf ball's intended target-line. 
     
     
         2 . The Eyelignment™ design uses a Three-Point Targeting System, aligning a golfer's eye with two different targets that are part of the putter-head, the primary target alignment mechanism ( FIGS.  17 A  & B), a secondary target alignment mechanism ( FIG.  17 C ), and it can (but not required) employ a Front perpendicular target line ( FIG.  33 H ) as a target line that can be added to an extended height Eyelignment™ putter as an additional eye alignment mechanism 
     
     
         3 . Define, according to  claim 2 , the Primary target alignment mechanism ( FIGS.  17 A  & B) as the higher eye-focus or target-line, metal strip, metal ball, or metal cylindrical pin, or some other type of sighting mechanism that is the higher, or upper, eye-focus target used in the golfer's eyes/putter-head/target-line alignment process. 
     
     
         4 . Define, according to  claim 2 , the Secondary target alignment mechanism ( FIG.  17 C ) as the lower eye-focus or target-line, metal strip, painted stripe, or other type of sighting mechanism that is on the “bottom” or floor of the putter, and it is the lower eye-focus line used in the golfer's eyes/putter-head/target-line alignment process. 
     
     
         5 . Define, according to  claim 2 , a Front perpendicular target line ( FIG.  33 H ) as a target line that can be added to an extended height Eyelignment™ putter as an additional eye alignment mechanism which is placed perpendicular to the secondary target alignment mechanism ( FIG.  33 C ) and is the same color, usually a bright red and the same width, and provides a golfer an additional eye alignment focal point ( FIG.  33   ). 
     
     
         6 . Define, according to  claim 1 , an Alignment feedback field ( FIG.  17 D ) as an area on the putter, often painted in a bright, contrasting color to the primary and secondary target alignment mechanisms, usually a bright white color, which is used to provide a visual indication to the golfer when that golfer's eyes/putter-head/target-line alignment is suboptimal. 
     
     
         7 . Define, according to  claim 2 , an Eye Focus angle relative to target alignment as a measure of the angel of deflection, from perpendicular, between the primary and secondary target alignment mechanism necessary for identifying incorrect eye/target-line/putter-head alignment. 
     
     
         8 . According to  claim 2 , the width and type of Eyelignment™ target mechanism can range from as wide as 1/16 inch up to 3.5 inches wide. 
     
     
         9 . According to  claim 2 , the height difference between primary and secondary target alignment mechanism for detection of misalignment is at least ¼ inch, up to the maximum allowed under golf rules, which is 2.5 inches today (see  FIG.  21 F ,  FIG.  23 F ,  FIG.  23 G ), where the more height differential between the primary and secondary target mechanisms the easier is detection of misalignment, ( FIG.  23 F ,  FIG.  23 G ). 
     
     
         10 . According to  claim 2 , if a particular Eyelignment™ design putter has incorporated a front perpendicular target line ( FIG.  33 H ), when a golfer's eyes are aligned correctly this front perpendicular target line is aligned with the primary target alignment mechanisms ( FIG.  33 A ) and secondary target alignment mechanism ( FIG.  33 C ). 
     
     
         11 . According to  claim 2 , an Eyelignment™ designed putter is developed with what is termed a Lower Primary Target Height ( FIG.  21   ) where the height difference between the primary and secondary targets is 0.5-1.5 inches ( FIG.  21 F ), may use either a blade or mallet style putter head, may have either a separated front and rear primary targets ( FIG.  21 A , B) or a one piece front and rear primary target ( FIG.  34 A ), and the width of the primary and secondary targets is the same. 
     
     
         12 . According to  claim 2 , an Eyelignment™ designed putter is developed with what is termed an Extended Height Design ( FIG.  22   ) which has both a higher (or extended height) putter face height and an extended height primary target height ( FIG.  22 A , B), where the height difference between primary and secondary targets is 1.0 inch to the maximum putter head height allowed by the rules of golf (currently 2.5 inches), may use either a blade or mallet-head type putter head, may have a separated front and rear primary targets ( FIG.  22 A , B) or a one piece front and rear primary target ( FIG.  26 A ,  FIG.  29 A ), and the width of primary and secondary targets is the same, with the width of the primary and secondary targets varying from 01/16 to 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         13 . According to  claim 2 , an Eyelignment™ putter design with either a Lower Primary Target Height or an Extended Height Design is developed with no rear brace ( FIG.  37   ) while encompassing the other design features of an Eyelignment™ putter. 
     
     
         14 . An Eyelignment™ designed putter is developed with what is termed a Vertical Front Perpendicular Target Line ( FIG.  33   ) that can be incorporated into the Lower Primary Target Height with all of the other features of that designs. 
     
     
         15 . According to  claim 14 , an Eyelignment™ designed putter is developed with what is termed a Vertical Front Perpendicular Target Line ( FIG.  33   ) that can be incorporated into the Extended Height Design with all of the other features of that design. 
     
     
         16 . According to  claim 2 , an Eyelignment™ designed putter is developed with what is termed a Single Plane Primary Target ( FIG.  32   ) where this design may use an extended or standard height, it may or may not have a rear supporting structure, it has a single plane primary target ( FIG.  32 A ) and where the putter-head may have either a blade or mallet-head design. 
     
     
         17 . According to  claim 1 , an Eyelignment™ designed putter is developed with what is termed a Riflesight™ Eyelignment™ Mechanism, ( FIG.  38   ). 
     
     
         18 . According to  claim 1 , the Riflesight™ design may use either a blade or mallet head design, it has separated front and rear primary targets ( FIG.  38 A , B), it must have a rear support structure, the front and rear primary targets can be beads with a diameter that is the same as the secondary target's width (like in a rifle's front sight) or the primary targets can be metal or plastic tabs whose length can vary, where the width of primary target's bead or tab and secondary target can vary from 1/16 to 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         19 . According to  claim 2 , an Eyelignment™ designed putter can be designed so that the primary target position above the secondary target may be made adjustable to allow for differences in each golfer's eye focus angle relative to target alignment.