Systems and devices for controlled putting

• US 20080096683A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D'Miles Salmon
• Original Assignee: D'Miles Salmon
• Inventors: Salmon, D'Miles
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/251
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A putting system with a putter substrate and modules that detachably couple to the putter substrate to form a putter head is disclosed. The modules detect, determine, measure and/or monitor alignment and/or tempo of the putter head. Modules include displays and/or audio outputs that provide visual and/or audio representations of the alignment and/or the tempo of the putter head. In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, the system includes a target module for generating alignment signals that are received by a positioning module with a built-in receiver unit. Preferably, the transmitter unit includes an array of infrared transmitters and the receiver unit includes an array of infrared detectors. In operation the positioning module is configured to detect, determine, measure and/or monitor angular alignment of the putter head with respect to the target module based on intensities of the alignment signals received at each of the infrared detectors. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention the system includes weight modules with a range of weights and weight balances.

Claims

1. A system for putting comprising:

a) a putter assembly with a putter substrate and a handle; and

b) a plurality of modules configured to detachably couple to the putter substrate to form a putter head, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules is an alignment module configured to indicate an alignment of the putter head with a target.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment module includes a display for indicating the alignment of the putter head with the target.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the display includes an array of light emitting diodes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment module includes an audio means for indicating the alignment of the putter head with the target.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a target module with a transmitter unit for transmitting alignment signals in a path between the target and the putter head and wherein the alignment module includes a receiver unit for receiving the alignment signals.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the transmitter unit includes one or more of a radio transmitter and an optical transmitter for generating the alignment signals.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the receiver unit includes a plurality of detectors and a computing circuit for determining an angular alignment of the putter head as the putter head is moved back and forth through a putting trajectory.

8. The system of claim 1, future comprising a tempo module for indicating a tempo of the putter head as the putter head moves back and forth through a putting trajectory.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the tempo module includes a display for indicating the tempo of the putter head as the putter head moves back and forth through the putting trajectory.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the display includes an array of light emitting diodes.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the tempo module includes an audio output for providing an audio representation of the tempo of the putter head as the putter head moves back and forth through the putting trajectory.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the audio output includes an ear phone that plugs into a portion of the handle.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment module is configured to indicate a tempo of the putter head as the putter head moves back and forth through the putting trajectory.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the alignment module includes a display for providing a visual representation of the alignment of the putter head and the tempo of the putter head as the putter head moves back and forth through the putting trajectory.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules includes a weight module.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the weigh module includes a set of weights having a range of weights, each weight being configured to interchangeably couple to the weight module and provide a range of weights.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vibration dampener that is positionable between the putter substrate and any one of the plurality modules, while one of the modules is coupled to the putter substrate.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the vibration dampener is a compression ring.

19. A system for putting, the system comprising:

a) a positioning module coupled to a putter substrate, wherein the positioning module includes a receiver unit for detecting signals as the putter substrate is moved back and forth through a putting trajectory; and

b) a target module for positioning near a putting target with a transmitter unit for emitting the signals in a path between the target and the putter substrate.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the signals are optical signals.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the optical signals are infrared optical signals.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the transmitter unit includes an array of light emitting diodes for emitting the infrared optical signals.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the receiver includes an array of infrared detectors for detecting an intensity of the infrared light emitted by the array of light emitting diodes.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiver unit includes a computing circuit for determining an angular alignment of the positioning module as the putter substrate is moved back and forth through the putting trajectory based on the intensity of the infrared light detected by the array of infrared detectors.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the positioning module includes a display that provides a visual representation of the angular alignment of the positioning module.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the display includes a set of light emitting diode bars.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the positioning module is configured to detachably couple to the putter substrate.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising a tempo module for detachably coupling to the putter substrate and for indicating a tempo of the putter substrate as the putter substrate moves back and forth through the putting trajectory.

29. A system for putting, the system comprising a putter comprising a putter substrate, a putter handle and modules that detachably couple to the putter substrate and detect alignment and tempo of the putter substrate as the putter substrate moves back and forth through a putting trajectory.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the modules generate at least one of a visual and an audio representation of the alignment and the tempo of the putter substrate as the putter substrate moves back and forth through the putting trajectory.