Putting stroke training device
First Claim
1. A putting stroke training device comprising a golf putter includingan elongated shaft and a head having a sole plate, a top and a golf ball striking face substantially perpendicular to said sole plate;
- a module operably attached to said putter;
Y-axis sensor means disposed in a Y-plane that is perpendicular to an X-plane and to said ball striking face for giving a visual signal to the user when said face does not strike a golf ball perpendicular to the path of said head, and comprises first and second light emitting diodes connected in an electronic circuit, and an impact detecting means for interpreting the magnitude of vibrations depending on whether said striking face of said putter is in an open position, a closed position, or the proper position, said impact detecting means mounted within said module includes an energy absorber for absorbing mechanical energy, a pair of terminals operably connected to said electronic circuit, converter means for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy by generating an electrical signal across said pair of terminals in response to such vibrations, whereby, when said striking face is in the proper position and the ball hits against said striking face along the X-axis creating mechanical energy, said mechanical energy absorbing material absorbs and attenuates the mechanical energy and said electronic circuit maintains said first light emitting diode in an on-position and, when said striking face is in an open or a closed position and the ball does not hit against the striking face along the X-axis creating excess mechanical energy, said absorbing material fails to absorb an excess of mechanical energy and vibrations are generated in said converter means to be converted into sufficient current to cause said second light emitting diode to be in the on-position; and
X-axis sensor means for detecting and signalling any abnormal acceleration or deceleration of said putter head, said X-axis sensor means being disposed in an X plane that is in the same plane as said shaft.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The critical features of the improved putting stroke training device of the present invention includes a Y-axis sensor means using a convertor for converting mechanical energy to electric energy for detecting and signalling whether the face of a putter strikes a golf ball perpendicular to the path of the putter head and X-axis sensor means for detecting and signalling any abnormal acceleration or deceleration of the putter head. The Y-axis sensor means is disposed in a Y plane that is perpendicular to the golf ball striking face. The X-axis sensor means is disposed in an X plane that is perpendicular to the Y plane and is in the same plane as the shaft. This putting stroke trainer will assist the golfer in striking the ball with the club face perpendicular to the path of the putter head, and in developing a smooth pendulum swing and avoiding the "yips".
146 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A putting stroke training device comprising a golf putter including
an elongated shaft and a head having a sole plate, a top and a golf ball striking face substantially perpendicular to said sole plate; -
a module operably attached to said putter; Y-axis sensor means disposed in a Y-plane that is perpendicular to an X-plane and to said ball striking face for giving a visual signal to the user when said face does not strike a golf ball perpendicular to the path of said head, and comprises first and second light emitting diodes connected in an electronic circuit, and an impact detecting means for interpreting the magnitude of vibrations depending on whether said striking face of said putter is in an open position, a closed position, or the proper position, said impact detecting means mounted within said module includes an energy absorber for absorbing mechanical energy, a pair of terminals operably connected to said electronic circuit, converter means for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy by generating an electrical signal across said pair of terminals in response to such vibrations, whereby, when said striking face is in the proper position and the ball hits against said striking face along the X-axis creating mechanical energy, said mechanical energy absorbing material absorbs and attenuates the mechanical energy and said electronic circuit maintains said first light emitting diode in an on-position and, when said striking face is in an open or a closed position and the ball does not hit against the striking face along the X-axis creating excess mechanical energy, said absorbing material fails to absorb an excess of mechanical energy and vibrations are generated in said converter means to be converted into sufficient current to cause said second light emitting diode to be in the on-position; and X-axis sensor means for detecting and signalling any abnormal acceleration or deceleration of said putter head, said X-axis sensor means being disposed in an X plane that is in the same plane as said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A putting stroke training device comprising a golf putter including
an elongated shaft and a head having a sole plate, a top and a ball striking face substantially perpendicular to said sole plate; -
a module operably attached to said putter; Y-axis sensor means disposed in a Y-plane that is perpendicular to an X-plane and to said ball striking face for giving a visual signal to the user when said face does not strike a golf ball perpendicular to the path of said head, and comprises first and second light emitting diodes connected in an electronic circuit, and an impact detecting means for interpreting the magnitude of vibrations depending on whether said striking face of said putter is in an open position, a closed position, or the proper position, and a mounting block mounted within said module, said impact detecting means mounted to said mounting block includes a holder having first and second ends, an energy absorber affixed to the first end, a pair of terminals operably connected to said electronic circuit, a piezo-electric substrate partially within said holder for generating an electrical signal across said pair of terminals in response to the magnitude of vibrations generated when said ball striking face is in an open or a closed position, whereby when said striking face is in the proper position and the ball hits against said striking face along the X-axis creating mechanical energy, said mechanical energy absorbing material absorbs and attenuates the mechanical energy and said electronic circuit maintains said first light emitting diode in an on-position and, when said striking face is in an open or a closed position and the ball does not hit against the striking face along the X-axis creating excess mechanical energy, said absorbing material fails to absorb an excess of mechanical energy and vibrations are generated in said converter means to be converted into sufficient current to cause said second light emitting diode to be in the on-position; and said X-axis sensor means comprises an X-axis sensor electrical switch operably connected to an IR light pulse emitter, a signaling means connected in said electronic circuit to give an audible signal to the user whether said head is accelerating or decelerating abnormally, IR light pulse detector operably connected to said X-axis sensor electrical switch, a pendulum positioned within the path of light pulses between said emitter and said detector, and a fulcrum fixedly attached to said pendulum and rotatably mounted within said module, whereby an internal circuit of said electrical switch is completed when said pendulum moves out of the path of said pulses as a result of the user causing said putter head to move in other than a smooth pendulum-like stroke and activates said signaling means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A putting stroke training device comprising a golf putter including an elongated shaft and a head having a sole plate, a top and a ball striking face substantially perpendicular to said sole plate;
-
a module operably attached to said putter; Y-axis sensor means disposed in a Y-plane that is perpendicular to an X-plane and to said ball striking face for giving a visual signal to the user when said face does not strike a golf ball perpendicular to the path of said head, and comprises first and second light emitting diodes connected in an electronic circuit, and an impact detecting means for interpreting the magnitude of vibrations depending on whether said striking face of said putter is in an open position, a closed position, or the proper position, and a mounting block mounted within said module, said impact detecting means mounted to said mounting block includes a holder having first and second ends, an energy absorbing material affixed to the first end, a pair of terminals operably connected to said electronic circuit, a piezo-electric substrate partially within said holder for generating an electrical signal across said pair of terminals in response to the magnitude of vibrations generated when said ball striking face is in an open or a closed position, whereby, when said striking face is in the proper position and the ball hits against said striking face along the X-axis creating mechanical energy, said mechanical energy absorbing material absorbs and attenuates the mechanical energy and said electronic circuit maintains said first light emitting diode in an on-position and, when said striking face is in an open or a closed position and the ball does not hit against the striking face along the X-axis creating excess mechanical energy, said absorbing material fails to absorb an excess of mechanical energy and vibrations are generated in said converter means to be converted into sufficient current to cause said second light emitting diode to be in the on-position; and said X-axis sensor means disposed in an X-plane that is perpendicular to the Y-plane and is in the same plane as said shaft, and said X-axis sensor means comprises an X-axis sensor electrical switch operably connected to an IR light pulse emitter, a signaling means connected in said electronic circuit to give an audible signal to the user whether said head is accelerating or decelerating abnormally, IR light pulse detector operably connected to said X-axis sensor electrical switch, a spring having a weight at one end thereof positioned within the path of light pulses between said emitter and said detector, and a stationary arm fixedly attached to the other end of said spring and mounted within said module, whereby an internal circuit of said electrical switch is completed when said spring moves out of the path of said pulses as a result of the user causing said putter head to move in other than a smooth pendulum-like stroke and activates said signaling means.
-
Specification