Golf putting training device

• US 5,692,966 A
• Filed: 11/14/1996
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen G. Wash
• Original Assignee: Stephen G. Wash
• Inventors: Wash, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/749,073
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 463/219-226, 463/231, 463/238, 463/240, 463/267-268, 463/409, 434/252, 364/410
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• 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 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A golf putting training device has been provided which has a housing with a generally vertical planer front for sitting on a putting surface. A non-coherent light source is mounted in the housing for projecting a light from the front across the putting surface to the face of a golf putter head from a first location on the front of the housing. A receptor for receiving reflecting light from a specular reflecting surface mounted on a golf putter head is spaced laterally a predetermined distance from the desired golf ball impact point on the putter head. The receptor is vertically spaced from the first location. A target light is provided in the front of the housing which is laterally spaced from the first location a distance equal to the predetermined distance for aligning the putter head in proper orientation for putting a golf ball toward the target light. A signal means is also provided in the housing for providing a signal responsive to reflected light striking the receptor when the putter is properly aligned. Circuitry is provided to cancel out extraneous reflected light.

Claims

1. A golf putting training device comprising:

a golf putter having a putter face, said putter face having a distal end, a proximal end, and a golf ball impact point positioned between said distal end and said proximal end;

a housing;

a specular surface mounted on the putter face and selectively spaced a lateral predetermined distance away from the golf ball impact point;

a non-coherent light source having a vertical axis for projecting a light beam from said housing across a putting surface to said specular surface;

a dedicated target detector spaced above said non-coherent light source along said vertical axis thereof for receiving reflected light from said specular surface and for receiving extraneous reflected light, said target detector producing a first output signal responsive to the sum of the reflected light from said specular surface and the received extraneous reflected light;

a dedicated reference detector spaced from said target detector for receiving the extraneous reflected light, said reference detector producing a second output signal responsive to the received extraneous reflected light;

circuitry for comparing said first output signal and said second output signal and providing a differential signal;

a target mounted in said housing and laterally spaced from said target detector a first distance equal to said lateral predetermined distance for aligning said putter face in proper orientation for putting a golf ball toward said target;

a signal means responsive to said differential signal indicating when the putter face is properly aligned with said target; and

said housing is positioned for orienting said specular surface such that said specular surface is located on the putter face at said lateral predetermined distance away from the golf ball impact point on either the distal end or proximal end of said putter face.

2. The golf putting training device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal means comprises:

a signal light aligned with said target in said housing.

3. The golf putting training device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal means comprises:

an auditory device creating an auditory signal when the putter face is properly aligned with said target.

4. The golf putting training device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specular surface comprises:

a mirror having a convex curvature shape with respect to a vertical orientation and a flat shape with respect to a horizontal orientation, said convex curvature shape compensating for variations in vertical alignment of said putter face with respect to said target.

5. The golf putting training device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said non-coherent light source generates an encoded infrared optical signal; and

said target detector and said reference detector decode said optical signal to differentiate said optical signal from the extraneous reflected light.

6. A method of improving a golf putter alignment comprising the steps of:

placing a light projecting and receiving device on a putting surface, the light projecting and receiving device having a centerline, a light source for projecting a light beam from the light projecting and receiving device across the putting surface, and a receiver spaced from the centerline a predetermined lateral distance;

positioning a golf putter having a putter face near the putting surface at a remote location from the light projecting and receiving device, the golf putter having a desired golf ball striking point on the putter face;

positioning a mirror on the putter face and spaced from the desired golf ball striking point said predetermined lateral distance, the mirror provided for reflecting the projected light beam back to the receiver when the putter face is correctly aligned;

providing a target on the light projecting and receiving device as an alignment point;

moving the golf putter through a normal putting swing so that the golf putter impacts a golf ball placed in alignment with the desired golf ball striking point;

receiving the reflected light beam by a dedicated target detector in the receiver;

receiving extraneous reflected light by the dedicated target detector and by a dedicated reference detector in the receiver; and

producing a signal, responsive to the reflected light beam and the continuously received extraneous reflected light striking the dedicated target detector and dedicated reference detector, which is indicative of proper alignment of the putter face with the target as the putter impacts the golf ball.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 6, including the further step of:

encoding the light source by endowing the light source with a pulsing characteristic and limiting the light source to a specified wavelength band; and

decoding the encoded light to produce the signal.

8. A method of improving a golfer'"'"'s putting alignment with a golf hole, said method comprising the steps of:

placing a light projecting and receiving device on a putting surface;

placing a putter on a putter surface, the putter having a putter face including a proximal end and a distal end;

determining a golf ball impact point which is positioned between the proximal end and the distal end of the putter face;

placing a golf ball adjacent the putter face in alignment with the golf ball impact point;

placing a reflective surface on the putter face at either the proximal or distal end of the putter face, the reflective surface being spaced a predetermined lateral distance from the golf ball impact point;

determining a target point on the light projecting and receiving device;

projecting a beam of light from a light source on the light projecting and receiving device to the reflective surface on the face of the putter head;

reflecting the light beam from the reflective surface back to the light reflecting and receiving device;

receiving the reflected light beam when the golfer'"'"'s putter alignment is correct and receiving background light from the environment by means of a dedicated target detector spaced from the target point said predetermined lateral distance;

receiving the reflected light beam when the golfer'"'"'s putter alignment is misaligned, and receiving background light from the environment by means of a dedicated reference detector;

comparing a target signal produced by the target detector due to the received reflected light beam and the received background light with that of a reference signal produced by the reference detector due to the received reflected light beam and the received background light; and

producing an alarm signal responsive to the comparison of the target signal and reference signal which is indicative of alignment of the putter face with the target point.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 8, including the further steps of:

encoding the light source by endowing the projected light beam with a pulsing characteristic and limiting the projected light beam to a specified wavelength; and

decoding the encoded light source by matching the target detector and reference detector to the frequency of the encoded light source and filtering out received background light not having the specified wavelength.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 8, including the further step, once alignment has been achieved, of:

moving the putter through a normal putting swing so that when the putter impacts the golf ball, the putter face is aligned with the target point to produce the alarm signal indicating alignment.