Method and device for practicing golf putting

A golf putting aid device comprising an alley formed by at least one arm member that extends from a golf hole to a user; and a cup member being capable of being placed in the golf hole.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a device and method for practicing golf putting.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

In golf, a putt typically refers to instances where a player swings a club (typically a putter) to roll a golf ball along a green to put the golf ball in the hole or closer to the hole. The distance of a putt from a golf ball to a hole depending on the course and the shots already played up to that point for that hole can be any distance. Typically, putts range from a few feet to 20 or 30 feet. A long putt, sometimes called a lag, may have a distance up to 60 feet.

The putting performance of a player is important in determining a player's score. For example, on a typical 18-hole course, there are par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s. On a par 3, the hole is supposed to be played in such a way that a player hits the green on his first shot and then uses two putts to hole the ball, which means that putting makes up 66% of the score. On a par 4, the hole is supposed to be played in such a way that a player hits the green on his second shot and then uses two putts to hole the ball, which means that putting makes up 50% of the score. On a par 5, the hole is supposed to be played in such a way that a player hits the green on his third shot and then uses two putts to hole the ball, which means that putting makes up 40% of the score. Indeed, statistics has shown that even professional golfers have used as many as two thirds of their strokes in putting. Common sense suggests that a player should focus his practice time on putting, hoping that his or her putting would be more reliable and more precise. But even the best golfers may not be able to achieve a successful rate of about 60% for a 15-foot putting range.

Putting basics can be broken down to many elements, such as confidence, aim, path, face angle, posture, grip, impact, rhythm, and stability. Many available putting training devices have been designed to assist a player to practice one or more elements, including Z Factor Perfect Putting Machine, EyeLine Golf Putting Sword, Train Eye Golf Putting Trainer, and Path Finder. These devices share a common drawback that they choose to focus on placing the training device in an area that is adjacent to where the golf ball is, but fail to provide a clear alley or path originated from the cup. These devices may help golfers in their grip, posture, or stability, but they are inadequate in training golfers in the elements of aim and path.

SUMMARY

In summary, this application is directed to a training aid for putting and a method thereof. According to an embodiment, the putting aid device, which provides a regulation-sized cup, has two arms that are extendable to provide a user with a visual putting lane or indication or path. The cup fits in a standard golf hole so it can be used on a real golf course. When the device is used outside, the arms are capable of running along a putting surface.

The device as set forth in the present disclosure can also be used indoors. The cup that is inserted into the hole outdoors rotates on swiveling arms capable of forming an inverted hole to allow it to be used indoors (home, office, etc.) with the arms running along the floor. The arms are extendable, such as extending at least 4 feet. Each of the arms is capable of rotating about 360 degrees around a hinge that connects the arms with the cup. Each of the arms is also capable of extending in a horizontal direction, thus making the path/projection/width formed by the two arms adjustable. In this way, the device allows a user to practice putting with a variable width of an aligned path/projection to the cup.

According to an aspect, the present application is directed to a golf putting aid device comprising an alley formed by at least one arm member that extends from a golf hole in a direction toward a user; and a cup member being capable of being placed in the golf hole.

According to some embodiments of the present application, the alley is formed by two parallel arm members; the arm members are configured to have adjustable length, the alley is configured to have adjustable width, and/or the arm member includes a plurality of sections that are coaxially attached with each other.

According to some embodiments of the present application, the cup member is configured to switch between a first position that is underneath the alley to a second position that is above the alley, the first position being used to fit the cup member in a golf hole and the second position being used for simulating a golf hole, the cup member is rotatable around the arm members; the cup member includes a semi-cylinder portion; and/or the cup member includes a full cylinder portion.

According to some embodiments of the present application, the golf putting aid device further comprises a base member that attaches to both the arm member and the cup member. The base member and the cup member are portions of a single part; the cup member is rotatably attached to the base member; the cup member is attached to the base member by a snap on/off mechanism; and/or the base member has a plurality of anti-slippery pads.

According to some embodiments of the present application, the golf putting aid device further comprises an arch member attached to the alley. The arch member includes at least one groove configured to accommodate a predetermined portion of the arm member; the arch member is capable of being folded into the alley; the arch member has a generally semi-circle configuration; the arch member gradually reduces its profile from a bottom part to the top; the arch member is capable of forming a 90° angle with the alley, the arch member is configured to slide along the at least one arm member, the arch member is removable from the at least one arm member, and/or the arm member includes a plurality of sections that are coaxially attached with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is noted that in this disclosure, terms such as “comprises,” “comprised,” “comprising,” and the like can have the meaning attributed to it in U.S. patent law; that is, they can mean “includes,” “included,” “including,” “including, but not limited to” and the like, and allow for elements not explicitly recited. Terms such as “consisting essentially of” and “consists essentially of” have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. patent law; that is, they allow for elements not explicitly recited, but exclude elements that are found in the prior art or that affect a basic or novel characteristic of the invention. Embodiments of the present invention are disclosed or are apparent from and encompassed by, the following description.

FIG. 1(a)shows a perspective view of a putting aid device100according to an embodiment of the present application. The putting aid device100includes an arch member102, two arm members104(a) and104(b), which will be collectively referred to as104, two base members112(a) and112(b), which will be collectively referred to as112, and a cup member106. The arch member102and the arm members104are attached with each other by an attachment mechanism110. The arm members104are attached with the base members112, which are attached with the cup member106.

The putting aid device100uses the two arm members104to form a putting alley114that provides a visible path originating and extending from a golf hole (not shown) to a player (not shown). It is also conceivable that the alley114is formed by only one or more arm members. An arch member102is attached to one end of the alley to provide an additional marking of the location of the alley114. The arch member102is attached to the arm members104in such a way so be removed from the arm members104or alternatively can slide along the arm members104transversely. According to an embodiment, the arch member102is attached to the arm members104by a snap-on mechanism, which allows the arch member to be readily removed from and reattached to the arm member104. The snap-on mechanism also allows the arch member102to slide along the arm member104. Such function allows, for example, the player to use the arch member (102) as a visual aid along the path of the putt (i.e., the alley114) and also reduces the risk of the putter hitting the arch member (102) during the stroke. The arm members104are also made in such a way that allow the player to adjust the alley (114) width (either wider or narrower) depending on the drills being undertaken. The arch member102is also made in such a way as to accommodate the wider or narrower arm members (104). The arch member102may also be used as a handle of the putting aid device100. The arch member102is preferably to have a profile that is substantially about 1 to 8 inches or 2 to 6 inches or 3 to 4 inches. Both the arm members104and the arch member102are preferably to have a color or a color pattern that forms a contrast with the grass, such as orange, yellow, red, black, grey, blue, or green.

When a player uses the golf putting aid device100on a golf course, which is further referred to as an outdoor mode, the cup member106is placed inside a golf cup while the arm members104and the arch member102are laid on the practice surface (typically a green). As a result, the alley114originates and extends from the golf hole to the direction to the player. The length of the alley114may be adjusted according to a user's preference. The alley114may cover the entire distance between the golf ball and the hole. Alternatively, the alley may cover only a partial distance thereof. Such a configuration provides flexibility to a player to practice putting at different distances.

FIGS. 1(b), 1(c), and 1(d)show a side view, a front view, and a top view, respectively, of the golf putting aid device100according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown inFIGS. 1(b) and 1(c), the arm members104are placed at the surface of the green with the arch member102standing up and the cup member106placed inside a golf cup. As shown inFIG. 1(d), the two arm members114are parallel with each other, forming an alley114in a generally rectangular shape, which has a constant width along the longitudinal direction of the alley114. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the width of the arm members114can be adjusted to make the alley (114) either wider or narrower depending on the drills being undertaken. According to some embodiments of the present application, the alley114formed by the two arm members104may be in a plurality of shapes. For example, the two arm members104may form a “V” shaped alley whose width is gradually reduced in a direction from the arch member102to the cup member106. Such a “V” shaped alley further eases the challenge of successfully holing a golf ball. According to an embodiment, the alley114may be formed by a single arm member104, while the other arm member may be detached from the device100or may be moved into a vertical direction.

FIGS. 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), and 1(d)show the golf putting aid device100in an outdoor mode, in which the cup member106is placed inside a golf hole, while the arch member102and the arm members104stand on top of the green. In the outdoor mode, the arch member102and the cup member106are placed at opposite sides of the alley114formed by the two arm members104. According to an embodiment, the golf putting aid device100also has an indoor mode, as shown inFIG. 6, in which the cup member106and the arch member102are placed at the same side of the alley114formed by the two arm members104. A player uses the indoor mode to practice putting on surfaces where golf holes are not practicable. For example, a player may use the indoor mode to practice putting in a house, an office, a shopping mall, or a parking lot. To switch the putting aid device100from an outdoor mode to an indoor mode, the cup member106is moved from the position that is underneath the arm member104to the position that is above the arm member104. The change of positions of the cup member106can be achieved by a plurality of types of mechanisms, including the use of hinges. According to an embodiment, the cup member106is capable of being detached from the base member112from an outdoor position and then reattached to the base member112at an indoor position. A snap on/off mechanism may be used as such a detachable mechanism. According to an embodiment, the cup member106may be swiveled or rotated around an axis to a predetermined indoor or outdoor position, forming the indoor mode or the outdoor mode.

The putting aid device100is configured to have a plurality of mechanisms that reduce the overall configuration of the device when the device is in transportation or storage. According to an embodiment, the arm members104are extendable and retractable, thus being capable of reducing the overall length of the device. According to an embodiment, the arch member102includes grooves108whose size and shape conform to the arm members104. As shown inFIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), the arch member102is capable of being rotated around the attachment mechanism110and may be folded into the alley114or outside of the alley114, thus reducing the overall height of the device. When the arch member102is folded in to the alley114, the grooves108accommodate the arm members104, thus forming a compact storage configuration.

FIG. 2shows a front view of an arch member102according to an embodiment of the present application. It is noted that the grooves108are not seen inFIG. 2because they are at the opposite side of the arch member102. The arch member102shown inFIG. 2has a semi-circular shape with its profiles gradually reduced from the bottom part204to the top206. At the bottom part204, a plurality of anti-slippery mechanisms204are used to help the putting aid device100to be stabilized at a preferred location. The anti-slippery mechanisms204may be anti-slipper pads, tees, or spikes that can be pushed into the green. According to an embodiment, the arch member102is not limited to a semi-circular shape. The arch member102may be in any shape, such as triangular, rectangular, circular, or elliptical shapes, as long as it provides adequate visibility to a player. According to an embodiment, the arch member102may even be formed by two upstanding poles or spikes that are attached to the arm member104. The two upstanding poles or spikes are not needed to be connected with each other. The arch member102preferably has a relative high profile compared to the green so that the arch member102stands sufficiently above the green when used in the outdoor mode. According to an embodiment, the arch member102is about 4 inches tall. The arch member102may be made of any flexible or rigid materials as long as the strength of the material is capable of maintaining the shape of the arch member102. According to an embodiment, the arch member102is preferably made of light weight materials such as plastics or wood.

FIG. 3shows a side view of the arm members104according to an embodiment of the present application. The arm members104are designed to provide a visible alley114with variable length and/or width to a player. According to an embodiment, the arm members104are made of a flexible structure such as plastics, rubbers, woods, metals, strings, and ropes. Using arm members that are more flexible allows a player to use the device on a contoured surface (e.g., on an outdoor putting green that has one or more breaks). According to an embodiment, the arm members104include an extendable or retractable mechanism. As shown inFIG. 3, the arm members104include a plurality of sections302,304, and306that are coaxially attached with each other and are slidable within each other, forming an extendable and retractable mechanism. According to an embodiment, the arm members104are implemented as an antenna-like structure. At one end, the arm members104are attached to the arch member102by a rotatable mechanism110. At the other end, the arm members104are attached to the base member112or the cup member106via an attachment mechanism308. The arm members104preferably have a height that is tall enough to prevent the golf ball from rolling over the arm members104. According to an embodiment, the height of the arm members104may be between 5% and 100% of the diameter of a golf ball or between 20% and 80% of the diameter of a golf ball. According to another embodiment, the arch member102is attached to the arm members104in such a way so it can be easily removed from the arm members104or alternatively can slide along the arm members104transversely (e.g., closer or farther away from the hole).

FIG. 4shows a top view of a base member112according to an embodiment of the present application. The base member112is connected with both the arm member104and the cup member106. It is noted that the base member112, the arm members104, and the cup member106may be formed by separate and independent parts or may represent different functional portions of a single part. For example, the base member112and the cup member106may be made from a single part made of polymeric materials and formed by a molding or extruding process.

According to an embodiment, the attachment mechanism404between the arm member104and the base member112is configured to allow the arm member104to move along a lateral direction of the golf alley114, thus providing an alley with variable width. The attachment mechanism404is also configured to allow the arm member104to rotate about the base member112along a vertical axis, thus forming a wide range of angles between the arm member104and the base member112. It is noted that the arm member104is not limited to be attached inside the base member112as shown inFIG. 4. The arm members104may be attached to the sides and surfaces of the base member112.

According to an embodiment, the attachment mechanism406between the base member112and the cup member106may be a permanent attachment mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. A permanent attachment mechanism includes glue, screws, and fusion. According to an embodiment, the cup member106and the base member112represent integral parts of a signal piece of material. For example, the cup member106and the base member112may be formed by polymeric materials through a molding or extruding process. When a permanent attachment mechanism is used between the base member112and the cup member106, the attachment mechanism404between the base member112and the arm member104is preferably to be rotational that allows both the base member112and the cup member106to rotate along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the arm member104.

The attachment mechanism406between the base member112and the cup member106may also be non-permanent. According to an embodiment, the cup member106and the base member112may be magnetically attached with each other, which allows a manual detachment by forcing the base member112and the cup member106away from each other. According to an embodiment, the attachment between the cup member106and the base member116may be a snap on/off mechanism. The attachment mechanism406may also be a rotational mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. A rotational mechanism allows the cup member106to rotate around the base member112. The rotational mechanism includes hinges and ball bearings.

The base member112also includes a plurality of anti-slippery pads402. The anti-slippery pads402may be placed on the top surface, the bottom surface, or on both surfaces of the base member112. The base member112is not limited to a particular shape or size. According to an embodiment, the size of the base member112is configured to avoid adding unnecessary lateral dimensions to the putting aid device100. For example, the lateral dimension of the putting aid device100as marked by the base member112is substantially the same as that as marked by the arch member102as shown inFIGS. 1(c) and 1(d).

FIG. 5shows a cup member106according to an embodiment of the present application. The cup member106is configured to have a shape and size that is capable of being fit into a golf hole. For example, the cup member106may represents a substantial semi-cylinder as shown inFIG. 1(d). The length L504, which corresponds approximately to the radius of the cup member106, is slightly smaller than that of a standard golf hole. For example, the length L504may be 2.12 inches, 2 inches, 1.9 inches, or even smaller. The height H502of the cup member106may not exceed the depth of a golf hole, such as 4 inches. According to an embodiment, the height H is configured to be substantially the same as the diameter of a golf ball. According to an embodiment, the height H is configured to be substantially the same as the arch member102. The cup member106may also include an attachment portion506that represents an extension that protrudes from the body of the cup member106. The attachment portion506is used as the attachment area with the base member112. The corner508of the cup member106is preferably to have a smooth configuration such as a curve to remove sharp edges and tips. The cup member106may be made of any material that has the mechanical strength to maintain its shape, such as plastics, rubber, wood, and metal.

FIG. 6shows a perspective view of a putting aid device100in an indoor mode according to an embodiment of the present application. The indoor mode is used when the putting aid device is not used on a golf course where golf cups are available. A golf player uses the indoor mode to practice putting in houses, backyards, offices, or on any locations or surfaces that a golf cup is not readily available. The cup member106simulates the function of a golf hole and provides the player a sense of completion when a golf ball is put into the cup member106.

FIG. 7(a)shows a storage configuration of a golf putting aid device according to an embodiment of the present application. The arch member102is folded into the alley114. It is noted that the arm members104fit into the grooves108.

FIG. 7(b)shows another storage configuration of a golf putting aid device according to an embodiment of the present application. The arch member102is folded to an area that is outside of the alley114and is substantially in the same plane as that of the alley114.

FIG. 8(a)shows a perspective view of a putting aid device800according to an embodiment of the present application. The putting aid device800includes an arch member802, arm members804, and a cup member806. The arch member802has a semi-circular shape formed by a band-like plastics with a constant width. The arm members104are attached to the sides of the base member818and are rotatable around the base member818. The cup member806includes an upper part812that represents a full cylinder and a lower part810that represents a semi-cylinder and is formed by cutting off a predetermined portion808from a full cylinder. The predetermined portion808preferably has a dimension greater than a golf ball814. By having a full cylinder portion, the stabilization of the cup member806inside the golf hole is improved. The full cylinder portion also provides a player the real feel of taking a golf ball from the hole while the putting aid device800is used in the indoor mode.FIG. 8(b)shows an example of a reduction to practice of the putting aid device800ofFIG. 8(a).

FIG. 9(a)shows a perspective view of a golf putting aid device900according to an embodiment of the present application. The golf putting aid device900uses two arm members902and904to form a golf alley and does not use an arch member. The length of the two arm members904and902is independently adjustable. The two arm members902and904may also be independently rotated around the base member. For example, as shown inFIG. 9(b), one arm member902is rotated to a direction that is perpendicular to the other arm member904.

FIG. 10shows attachment mechanisms among the arm members, the base members, and the cup member according to an embodiment of the present application. The base member and the cup member are formed by an integral part of a single piece of material. The attachment mechanism1004between the base member and the cup member represents the material that forms the base member and the cup member themselves. The attachment mechanism1002between the arm members and the base member is implemented as a hinge attached to a side of the base member.

According to some embodiments, the putting aid device may include electronic components inside the arch member that provides visual or acoustic responses when a golf ball moves through the arch member. The putting aid device may also include a ball redirecting mechanism that directs the golf ball to the outside of the cup member or even directs the golf ball from the cup member to a player.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the paragraphs below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.