Golf putter training device incorporating processor and counter mechanism

• US 6,540,620 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Consiglio
• Original Assignee: Joseph Consiglio
• Inventors: Consiglio, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Enatsky, Aaron L.
• Application Number:
  US09/661,870
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 473/150, 473/151, 473/152, 473/153, 473/155, 473/157, 473/158, 473/173, 473/190, 473/192, 473/195, 473/196, 473/198, 473/199, 473/405, 434/252
• US Class Current: 473/150
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/02 Special golf games, e.g. miniature golf or golf putting games played on putting tracks; putting practice apparatus having an elongated platform as a putting track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3621 Contacting or non-contacting mechanical means for guiding the swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3676 for putting A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence

Abstract

A putter training device for judging a speed of impact of a golf club head upon a golf ball and including an elongated structure with a first guide wall and a second spaced apart and substantially parallel extending guide wall. A golf ball placement position is located at a first interconnecting end of the spaced apart guide walls. An adjustable and cross wise extending passageway with pivoting flaps is located proximate a second interconnecting end and determines a selected width for allowing passage therethrough of a golf ball which is struck at said placement portion and travels along the elongated structure between the first and second guide walls. A sensor circuit includes first and second pairs of spaced apart sensors mounted in opposing fashion and at spaced apart locations to the first and second guide walls. A counter assembly including a logic circuit interfaces with the sensor circuit to signal start and stop positions of the sensor circuit dependent upon first and second travel positions of the golf ball. A digital to analog converter is communicable with the logic circuit and converting an incremented output from the sensors for subsequent presentation on a display circuit. A power supply communicates with the sensor circuit, counter assembly, digital to analog converter and display circuit for supplying an electrical power input.

Claims

1. A putter training device for judging a speed of impact of a golf club head upon a golf ball, comprising:

an elongated structure including a first guide wall and a second spaced apart and substantially parallel extending guide wall, said first and second guide walls being interconnected at first and second interconnecting ends;

a golf ball placement position located proximate said first interconnecting end;

a cross wise extending and adjustable mechanism located proximate to said second interconnecting end and determining a selected passageway width for allowing passage therethrough of a golf ball traveling along said elongated structure and between said first and second guide walls, said cross wise extending and adjustable mechanism further comprising;

a housing secured in extending fashion between said first and second guide walls, said housing including an open interior;

first and second spaced apart and adjustable racks slidably secured, against associated first and second cross wise extending and facing surfaces of said housing interior, each of said racks including an opposing and toothed edge which is meshingly engaged by a rotary gear, said rotary gear in turn connected to a knob extending upwardly from said housing;

first and second adjustable flaps extending downwardly from said associated first and second racks, said flaps each further including opposing and arcuate shaped configurations defining in combination a ball passageway;

a sensor circuit including first and second pairs of spaced apart sensors mounted in opposing fashion and at spaced apart locations to said first and second guide walls, a counter assembly including a logic circuit interfacing with said sensor circuit to signal start and stop positions of said sensor circuit dependent upon first and second travel positions of the golf ball, a digital to analog converter being communicable with said logic circuit and converting an incremented output from said sensors for subsequent presentation on a display circuit; and

a power supply communicable with said sensor circuit, counter assembly, digital to analog converter and display circuit for supplying an electrical power input.

2. The putter training device according to claim 1, said power supply further comprising at least one battery mounted to a battery PCB and which is communicable with a main PCB for issuing a power signal to said counter assembly.

3. The putter training device according to claim 2, further comprising a battery charger and power supply PCB interconnecting said battery PCB and said main PCB, an external jack communicating with an input port of said battery PCB to provide, alternate to said at least one battery, an AC power input.

4. The putter training device according to claim 3, said power supply further comprising an on/off switch, a power LED indicator, and a counter assembly reset button.

5. The putter training device according to claim 1, said first and second pairs of sensors each further comprising an infrared light emitting diode operating as a photo transmitter and a photo transistor, said start position of said counter assembly occurring upon the golf ball interrupting at said first travel position a light beam extending between said first opposing pair of sensors, said stop position occuring upon said golf ball interrupting at said second travel position a light beam extending between said second pair of opposing sensor.

6. The putter training device according to claim 5, said logic circuit further comprising a microprocessor operatively communicating with first, second and third counter circuits.

7. The putter training device according to claim 1, said digital to analog converter providing an analog output voltage corresponding to a digitally inputted value from said counter assembly.

8. The putter training device according to claim 1, said display circuit including a digit panel meter having four digits of liquid crystal display.

9. The putter training device according to claim 8, said digital panel meter further comprising a low battery display output from said power supply.

10. The putter training device according to claim 1, further comprising said first and second flaps each being pivotally secured to said associated and cross wise adjustable racks and facilitating a visual perception of moving ball alignment.