System and device for golf putting practice

• US 8,066,582 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frogger LLC
• Original Assignee: Frogger LLC
• Inventors: Hauser, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US13/183,283
• Time in Patent Office: 138 Days
• Field of Search: 473/218, 473/219, 473/257, 473/258, 473/261, 473/264, 473/265, 473/266, 473/282
• US Class Current: 473/257
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/10 Stands for golf clubs , e.g. for use on the course ; Golf club holders, racks or presses
• 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 system and device for golf putting practice, in which the device includes a first leg, a slider element attached to the first leg for grasping a shaft, and a shorter second leg pivotable to the first leg. The second leg is released and squeezed against the first to expose an opening in the slider element to receive the shaft therein, the second leg then released to pivot outward, causing the slider element to move down relative to the upper end of the first leg, closing down on the opening and seating the shaft. A second support device is installed in spaced relation on the shaft to achieve the level horizontal position of the shaft as a guide for a golfer practicing putting strokes with a golf putter.

Claims

1. A system for golf putting practice, comprising:

an elongate, straight shaft, and

a pair of shaft support devices configured for attachment to the shaft in spaced relation so as to hold the shaft in a level horizontal position above the ground, each shaft support device including;

an elongate main support having an upper end and lower end,

a top slider slidably attached to the upper end, the top slider having a crescent-shaped opening on a top, side surface that is configured to grasp the shaft,

an elongate angled leg shorter relative to the main support and having its upper end attached to an approximate midpoint of the main support, the angled leg pivotable at its attachment point to the main support and biased under spring pressure, and

a loop hook for securing the angled leg alongside the main support,

wherein the loop hook is unhooked and the angled leg is released and squeezed against the main support to expose the crescent-shaped opening to attach the shaft support device to the shaft, the angled leg then released to pivot outward under spring action, causing the top slider to move down relative to the upper end of the main support, the main support upper end seating against the shaft, the spaced-apart lower ends of the angled leg and main support forming legs of the shaft support device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

with the shaft support devices in spaced relation on the shaft to achieve the level horizontal position of the shaft, the shaft becomes a guide for a golfer practicing putting strokes with a golf putter, and

as long as the golfer maintains the putter shaft in light contact with the horizontal shaft resting on the two support devices, the putting motion is a perfect pendulum.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising overmold grip portions covering part of the main support and angled leg.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein

the main support includes a bumpout having a central recess,

the angled leg'"'"'s upper end terminated in a flange part configured to seat in the recess, and

each of the bumpout and recess have alignment holes secured by a fastener that serves as an attachment point of the angled leg to main support, enabling pivotable movement of the angled leg to and from the main support.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein

the main support is hollow, the main support including an end cap at the lower end thereof,

an internal spring provided within the main support, the spring having a lower end attached within the end cap,

the top slider lower end terminating in an elongate internal piston connected to the spring upper end, and

a link provided within the main support and having its upper end connected to the piston lower end and attached to the spring upper end, the link lower end attached to the angled leg so that the angled leg pops open under action of the spring unless held to the main support or secured by the loop hook, wherein

squeezing the angled leg to the main support expands the spring upward to push up the piston so as to raise the top slider relative to the main support to expose the opening, and

releasing the angled leg causes the spring to compress the spring to force the angled leg outward, pulling the piston down to lower the top slider relative to the main support to shut down the opening in the top slider.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein in a closed configuration, the angled leg is shorter than the main support, so that in an opened configuration when the pair of shaft support devices has been installed in spaced relation on the shaft, the shorter legs cause the devices to lean forward, permitting and allowing a golfer'"'"'s putter to move along the shaft without a heel of the putter hitting either of the attached devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein lower ends of the angled legs includes a hole configured to receive a golf tee there through to secure the shaft support devices to a putting green or ground surface, when the legs are spread apart so the devices are configured to support the shaft thereon.

8. A support device configured for attachment to a golf club shaft to hold the shaft in a level horizontal position above the ground for use as a guide in putting practice, comprising:

a first leg having an upper end and lower end,

a slider element slidably attached to the upper end and configured to grasp the shaft,

a second leg shorter relative to the first leg and having its upper end attached to an approximate midpoint of the first leg, the second leg pivotable at its attachment point to the first leg and biased under spring pressure, and

a loop hook for securing the second leg alongside the first leg, wherein

the loop hook is unhooked and the second leg is released and squeezed against the first leg to expose an opening in the slider element configured to receive the shaft therein, the second leg then released to pivot outward under spring action, causing slider element to move down relative to the upper end of the first leg, closing down on the opening and seating the shaft within the opening against the first leg upper end, and

a second support device is installed in spaced relation on the shaft to achieve the level horizontal position of the shaft as a guide for a golfer practicing putting strokes with a golf putter.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein as long as the golfer maintains the putter shaft in light contact with the horizontal shaft resting on the two support devices, the putting motion is a perfect pendulum.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising overmold grip portions covering part of the first and second legs.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein

the first leg is hollow and includes:

an end cap at the lower end thereof,

an internal spring within, the spring having a lower end attached within the end cap,

an elongate internal piston within that forms a lower part of the slider element and having its lower end attached to the spring upper end, and

a link within, the link having its upper end connected to the piston lower end and attached to the spring upper end, the link lower end attached to the second leg so that the second leg pops open under action of the spring unless held to the first leg or secured by the loop hook.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein

squeezing the second leg to the first leg expands the spring upward to push up the piston so as to raise the slider element relative to the first leg to expose the opening, and

releasing the second leg causes the spring to compress to spring to force the second leg to pivot outward, pulling the piston down to lower the slider element relative to the first leg to shut down the opening in the slider element.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein in a closed configuration, the second leg is shorter than the first leg, so that in an opened configuration when the two support devices are installed in spaced relation on the shaft, the shorter legs cause the devices to lean forward, permitting the putter to move along the shaft without a heel of the putter hitting either of the attached devices.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the lower end of the second leg includes a hole configured to receive a golf tee there through to secure the device to a putting green or ground surface.

15. A pair of devices configured for attachment to a shaft to hold the shaft in a level horizontal position above the ground for use as a guide in putting practice, each device of the pair comprising:

a first leg,

a slider element attached to the first leg for grasping the shaft,

a shorter second leg pivotable to and from the first leg, wherein

the second leg is squeezed against the first to expose an opening in the slider element to receive the shaft therein, the second leg then released to pivot outward, causing the slider element to move down relative to an upper end of the first leg, closing down on the opening and seating the shaft, each device installed in spaced relation on the shaft to achieve the level horizontal position of the shaft as a guide for a golfer practicing putting strokes with a golf putter.