Sliding T-Square Golf Alignment Aid for Consistent Setup

Solution Overview

Problem

Current golf practice aids, such as alignment sticks, require manual adjustment of the alignment stick indicating ball position, which can lead to misalignment and inefficiency when trying to move to new areas of the turf, disrupting the golfer's swing consistency.

Innovation Solution

A two-part bracket system that secures the alignment sticks in place, allowing the top bracket to slide along the bottom bracket, enabling easy adjustment of the alignment stick indicating ball position without manual intervention, using golf tees or spikes for anchoring and club contact blocks for sliding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual adjustment of alignment sticks is used, then the golfer can reposition the ball marker, but the alignment may become misaligned and the process becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of alignment stick adjustmentVSAvoidalignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment stick assembly is designed to be self-aligning through the T-square geometry. When the crossbar is moved along the shaft, the perpendicular intersection is automatically maintained without requiring manual realignment by the golfer. This self-service mechanism eliminates the misalignment problem while keeping the operation simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic repositioning of the ball marker along the alignment shaft while maintaining the fixed perpendicular relationship. The crossbar can slide to different positions on the shaft, and each position automatically maintains proper alignment, enabling both ease of operation and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the golfer moves to find unused turf, then they can continue practicing, but they must bend over and manually move the cross rod which delays practice

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepractice efficiencyVSAvoidtime to reposition alignment stick

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment stick assembly is designed to be self-aligning through the T-square geometry. When the crossbar is moved along the shaft, the perpendicular intersection is automatically maintained without requiring manual realignment by the golfer. This self-service mechanism eliminates the misalignment problem while keeping the operation simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic repositioning of the ball marker along the alignment shaft while maintaining the fixed perpendicular relationship. The crossbar can slide to different positions on the shaft, and each position automatically maintains proper alignment, enabling both ease of operation and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the cross rod is moved with the club, then the golfer's hands are free, but the intersection of the two rods becomes misaligned or inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of alignment stick adjustmentVSAvoidalignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment stick assembly is designed to be self-aligning through the T-square geometry. When the crossbar is moved along the shaft, the perpendicular intersection is automatically maintained without requiring manual realignment by the golfer. This self-service mechanism eliminates the misalignment problem while keeping the operation simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic repositioning of the ball marker along the alignment shaft while maintaining the fixed perpendicular relationship. The crossbar can slide to different positions on the shaft, and each position automatically maintains proper alignment, enabling both ease of operation and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10195510B2Sliding t-square practice aid

Publication Date: 2019.02.05 KARSTEN MFG CORP

AI summary

A golf alignment aid comprising: a first bracket including a first portion, a second portion adjacent to the first portion, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion; the second portion including a first channel and a second channel oriented parallel with the first channel, and a third channel configured to receive a first alignment stick, and a second bracket including a first rail slidably received within the first channel, a second rail oriented parallel with the first rail and slidably received within the second channel, and a cradle positioned between the first rail and the second rail; the cradle configured to receive a second alignment stick oriented perpendicular to the first alignment stick.