US 4,279,419 AGranted

Table top golfing figure with spring driving rotatable upper torso

AssigneeVictory Games, Inc.

InventorsGeorge A. Barnes, Leslie Perhacs, Jr.

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Abstract

A golfing figure is shaped to resemble the stance of a human golfer when addressing a golf ball and is designed to duplicate an ideal golf swing. The golfing figure includes an upper body member which is joined with a lower body member to rotate about an axis extending generally along the length of the upper body member in the same manner in which the upper body of a golfer swings when hitting a ball. The upper and lower body members are interconnected by a torsion spring which automatically rotates the upper body member forwardly after it has been manually rearwardly rotated. The degree of relative rotation permissible between the upper and lower body members is limited to approximately the actual movement of the upper body of a golfer when hitting a golf ball. The torsion spring is mounted within mating upper and lower sockets contained at the juncture of the upper and lower body members. The hands of the golfing figure include an arcuate notch which is adapted to receive and lock a blade projection on the handle end of a miniature golf club held by the golfing figure.

Claims11

Dependent claims

In a golfing figure shaped to resemble a human golfer holding a golf club with outstretched arms and bent forwardly to address a golf ball, the figure having an upper body member forming the portion of the golfing figure from the waist up and a lower body member forming the portion of the golfing figure from the waist down, an improved joint assembly interconnecting the upper and lower body members for relative rotation about an axis extending generally along the length of the upper body member, said improved joint assembly comprising:

(a) a downwardly open, upper socket formed in the lower portion of the upper body member;
(b) a pin extending downwardly through said upper socket along the axis of rotation of the upper body member;
(c) an upwardly open, lower socket formed in the upper portion of the lower body, said socket having portions defining a pilot hole for rotatably receiving the lower end portion of said pin;
(d) spring means surrounding said pin and housed within said upper and lower sockets;
(e) attaching means for attaching said spring means to the upper and lower body members so that the upper and lower body members are nominally aligned with each other;
and
(f) stop means for limiting the angle of relative rotation of the upper and lower body members between a first position wherein the upper body member is rotated rearwardly from angular alignment with the lower body member to thereby energize said spring means, and a second position wherein the upper body member is rotated forwardly from angular alignment with the lower body member to thereby release said spring means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.