Abstract:
A training device to improve a golfer&#39;s putting ability. The device includes a guide rod supported by legs. An arm rotates about a longitudinal axis of the rod. The arm includes a targeting device (laser), which allows the golfer to align the training device and golf ball with the hole. The golfer establishes club head and ball position relative to the rod suitable to his/her putting stance and putter type. The device is aligned with the hole by moving the rod based on the direction of the light emitted from the laser. When properly aligned movement of the putter along the rod sends the ball towards the hole.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to devices used to improve putting in the sport of golf. 
     Description of the State of the Art 
     Various devices have been proposed over the years for training someone to putt in golf. The devices are often cumbersome to use, not intuitive and do not offer the golfer a simple manner for training muscles and hand/eye coordination so that the face of the putter moves consistently along a desired target line at impact with the golf ball. Examples of putting training devices are described in US2008068976, US20060128492 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,429,222. What is still needed is a golf training device that offers a simple way of training someone on the basic stroke needed to putt a golf ball towards a hole. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a method and apparatus for putting training. The device includes a rod, a targeting or alignment device, legs that support the rod, and an arm that attaches the alignment device to the rod. The device further includes a coupling that couples the arm to the rod and/or leg. The coupling enables the arm to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the rod, which enables a golfer to adjust the alignment device according to his or her putter type and/or putting style. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     All publications and patent applications mentioned in the present specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. To the extent there are any inconsistent usages of words and/or phrases between an incorporated publication or patent and the present specification, these words and/or phrases will have a meaning that is consistent with the manner in which they are used in the present specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a rear perspective view depicting a golfer using a device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a partial side perspective view of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  is a first perspective view of first and second legs and rod portions of the device shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2B  is a second perspective view of the first and second legs and rod portions of the device shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the device shown in  FIG. 2B . This view shows a coupling according to a preferred embodiment. Other assemblies are contemplated, as are other embodiments of a coupling according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the description like reference numbers appearing in the drawings and description designate corresponding or like elements among the different views. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a golfer is depicted holding a putter  1 . The head  1   c  of the putter is positioned behind a golf ball  2 . The putter shaft  1   b  is in sliding contact with a surface  12   a  of a rod  12  portion of a training device  10  according to an embodiment. The training device  10  includes a laser  50 , first and second legs  14 ,  15  that support the rod  12 . An arm  18  is attached to the rod  12 . An alignment device in the form of a laser light, or laser  50  is attached to an end of the arm  18 . A laser that can be used for this purpose is a laser sight, e.g., FSM-00QD-140, available from LaserLyte, 30 N Alamos Drive, Cottonwood, Ariz. 86326. The arm  18  can rotate about the attachment of the leg  14  and rod  12 . 
     The device  10  helps train a golfer to move the head  1   c  towards the golf hole, thereby striking the golf ball properly so that the ball moves towards the hole  3 . The device may be used in the following manner. The device is positioned relative to the golf hole so that laser light  50   a  points at the golf hole  3 . When the laser light points at the hole  3  a longitudinal axis A of the rod  12  (see  FIG. 2A ) extends along a line parallel to the laser light  50   a . The ball  2  is positioned so that the laser light  50   a  passes over the golf ball. In this orientation the putter  1  swung with the shaft  1   b  sliding over the rod  12  through impact with the ball  2  will cause the ball  2  to move towards the hole  3  (assuming no break in the putt). Additionally, the distance between the light  50   a  and rod  12  is adjusted to account for the golfer&#39;s swing and putter type. 
     Putters come in different varieties and golfers have a variety of putting styles. Some golfers have upright swings (feet closer to ball), while others have flatter swings (feet further away). Additionally, there are blade or tow putters, or central shaft putters. To accommodate different golf swings and/or putter types the device  10  has two features. First, the legs  14 ,  15  have an overhang L (see  FIG. 2B ) that accommodates a central shaft-type putter, which may have a portion of the putter head  1   c  to the left of the rod  12  in  FIG. 1A  (a toe putter, by contrast, has the entire head  1   c  to the right of the rod  12  in  FIG. 1A . This is the putter type drawn in  FIG. 1A ). Second, the arm  18 , which holds the laser  50 , is rotated to accommodate a ball position relative to the rod  12 . For more upright swings the ball  12  is closer to the rod  12  and further away from the rod  12  for flatter swings. Thus, by providing a rotating arm  18  and overhang the setup shown in  FIG. 1A  (i.e., ball  2  and putter head  1   c  in line with laser light  50   a  and shaft  1   b  slides on rod  12 ) can be achieved for different putter types and golf swings. 
     A more detailed description of the device in  FIGS. 1A-1B  is now provided with reference to  FIGS. 2A-2B , and  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows the rod  12  supported by first and second legs  14 ,  15 . The legs are mirror images of each other, each one having a base  14   b ,  15   b  and a supporting portion  14   a ,  15   a . The rod has a first end  12   a  connected to the first leg  14  and a second end  12   b  connected to the second leg  15 . The rod  12  and legs  14 ,  15  are preferably made from a metal material. A polymer sleeve or sheath  13  may be placed over the putter shaft  1   b  so that the metal surface of the rod  12  does not scrape against the putter shaft. 
     An arm  18  has an attachment end  18   a  and alignment end  18   b . The arm  18  is attached at its attachment end  18   a  to the first leg supporting portion  14   a  and rod first end  12   a  by a coupling  30  (a detailed view of the coupling  30  is provided in  FIG. 3 ). The coupling  30  enables the arm  18  to rotate about axis A of the rod  12  while restraining all motion in three translational directions and the other two rotational directions (i.e., there is one degree of freedom—rotation about axis A—for arm  18  relative to rod  12 ). The rod  12  longitudinal axis A passes through attachment end  18   a . The coupling  30  also connects the first leg  14  to the rod  12  first end  12   a . The alignment end  18   b  includes a hole  51  for holding the laser  50 . Rotation of the arm (as indicated in  FIG. 2B ) allows the golfer to position the laser  50  at a variety positions relative to the rod  12  to accommodate putter and/or swing types, as explained earlier. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , according to this particular embodiment, the coupling  30  may include two washers  32   a ,  32   b , two flat head nuts  34   a ,  34   b , and a threaded bolt  33  (having a shank and head as shown). Other fastener types are envisioned. The coupling  30  further includes a hole  35   a  formed in the attachment end  18   a  of the arm  18 , a hole  35   b  formed in the supporting portion  14   a  of the leg  14  and a bore  31  formed at the first end  12   a  of the rod  12 . The assembly order of these pieces is shown in the assembly view of  FIG. 3 . The shank of the bolt  33  passes through holes  35   a ,  35   b  and threads with mating threads formed in the bore  31  of the first end  12   a . Washers  32   a  and  32   b  and nuts  34   a ,  34   b  provide a frictional engagement during rotation about axis A. With this assembly the arm  18  can rotate about axis A while also providing a modest degree of frictional resistance to rotation so that the arm can be placed at different locations when the device is adjusted to accommodate different golf swings or putter types.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show the arm  18  rotated to a position forward of the rod  12  or base  14   b  and  FIG. 2B  shows the arm  18  rotated to a position rearward of the rod  12 . 
     As mentioned earlier, legs  14  and  15  are mirror images of each other. The following description of leg  14  applies to leg  15 . Leg base  14   b  is a flat plate with a hole to receive a tee for holding the device  10  in place during use. A supporting portion  14   a  extends upwardly from the base  14   b  at a 90 degree angle. The flat plate provides support for the (rod) supporting portion  14   a  in an upstanding manner (see  FIG. 1A ) sufficient so that when the rod  12  is connected to legs  14 ,  15  the device is stable. The supporting portion  14   a  is curved so that an upper end of the supporting portion  14   a  (where hole  35   b  is formed) extends at a right angle to the lower end near the base  14   b . The supporting portion  14   a  is curved and right-angled and provides the overhang L as indicated in  FIG. 2B . The overhang L (measured from the forward edge of the plate to the rod  12  outer surface is between 2 and 6 inches) accommodates different putter heads, including those where the shaft is centrally located. 
     A method for putting a golf ball towards a target includes the steps of using a putter having a shaft, a rod having a rod axis, a laser and an arm connecting the laser to the rod, wherein a coupling between the rod and the arm permits rotation of the laser about the rod axis, adjusting a distance between the golf ball and the rod by rotating the laser about the rod axis, such that a light from the laser passes over the golf ball when the putter is positioned to strike the golf ball and the putter shaft rests on the rod, aligning the laser with the target, and putting the golf ball while the shaft of the putter slides along an outer surface of the rod. 
     The above description of illustrated embodiments of the invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. 
     These modifications can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification.