Abstract:
A putting training device for improving consistency of body position, putter path, putter face angle, and timing during a putting stroke. A body alignment target within a putter data module helps position the golfer&#39;s head directly over the ball for shoulder joint consistently relative to the ball. A magnet is securable to the C.G. of the putter head which is tracked by sensors within the module to help insure that the putter travels in a straight line on approach to ball strike. Optical sensors determine the putter face angle at ball impact. A metronome is also provided to practice swing timing. An end-of-swing delay indicator helps to hold the golfer&#39;s body in the correct position until the follow-through is complete. A series of lights and tones provides feedback indicating putter path to the ball and the putter face angle at ball impact.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to the game of golf and particularly to a device for training a golfer to improve the consistency and accuracy of the putter stroke. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,327 to Smith discloses a golf putting practice device which provides visual feedback to the user, comprising a head position indicator and a device for determining that that the putter has been maintained in the proper position. 
     Whelan teaches a golf swing training device that assists in the control of head and body position during a golf swing in U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,937. A golf club and target practice apparatus that facilitates development of proper club head aiming techniques is disclosed by Marnocha in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0281579. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,006 to Teitell et al. discloses a magnetic golf club swing sensor and simulation system for golf game. An electronic golf training device is taught by Yasuda et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,526. 
     Blankenship teaches golf club swing analyzers and golf swing analysis methods in U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,984. A putter training device is taught by Norwood in U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,864. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,745 to Kobayashi discloses an electronic device for practicing a golf swing which can be used to measure a speed of a golf club head, a degree of inclination of a face of the golf club head, and a degree of inclination of an axis of a swing of a golf club with respect to a golf ball at any location. 
     An apparatus and method for measuring head speed and an opening angle are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,823 to Katayama et al. A golf club head attitude detecting device is taught by Weeks et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,139. 
     The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a putting training device for improving consistency of body position, putter path, putter face angle, and timing during a putting stroke. A body alignment target within a device module helps position the golfer&#39;s head directly over the ball for shoulder joint consistently relative to the ball. A magnet is securable to the C.G. of the putter head which is tracked by sensors within the module to help insure that the putter travels in a straight line on approach to ball strike. Optical sensors determine the putter face angle at ball impact. A metronome is also provided to practice swing timing. An end-of-swing delay indicator helps to hold the golfer&#39;s body in the correct position until the follow-through is complete. A series of lights and tones provides feedback indicating putter path to the ball and the putter face angle at ball impact. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a putter trainer which is easily deployable for putting practice in conjunction with virtually any level surface including carpet and grass. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a putter trainer which strengthens consistent putter swing movement for enhanced putting accuracy. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a putter trainer which provides viewable and/or audible indicia of the accuracy of body positioning, putter back swing and follow-through, and club head squareness and path for each practice stroke. 
     The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative and not limiting in scope. In various embodiments one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the putter trainer in conjunction with a putter and a golf ball in the in-use position. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the putter data module. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the putter data module. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1  including the golf putter, a golf ball after being struck by the putter, and the correct direction of movement of the golf putter head and the golf ball and proper club face orientation. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of  FIG. 5  wherein the golf putter face is improperly oriented to the left of the desired orientation causing the golf ball to move to the left of the desired path. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of  FIG. 5  showing the golf putter face oriented to the right of a proper orientation and moving in a direction to the right of the desired path. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the data module. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the printed wiring board of the data module. 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the golf putter with the magnet and magnet retainer attached to the bottom of the putter head. 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of area  12  in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the base and printed wiring board of the data module. 
         FIG. 15  is a simplified view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 16  is a section view in the direction of arrows  16 - 16  in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a view of  FIG. 5  just prior to ball strike. 
         FIG. 18  is a section view in the direction of arrows  18 - 18  in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 18A  is an enlargement of area  18 A in  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 19  is a reproduction of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 20  is a section view in the direction of arrows  20 - 20  in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIGS. 21 to 24  are top plan views of the data module and a golf ball positioned thereatop ready for ball strike and indicating the golfer&#39;s line of sight view of the target  22  when the positioning of the golfer&#39;s head and body is correctly positioned in  FIG. 21  or incorrectly positioned in  FIGS. 22 to 24 . 
         FIG. 25  is a flow diagram of the circuit logic of the data module. 
         FIG. 26  is a block diagram of the microprocessor, the sensors, control switches and audible and viewable indicia depicting the results and accuracy of each putting stroke. 
     
    
    
     Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered to be illustrative rather than limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 List of Components 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 putter data module 
               
               
                 2 
                 putter 
               
               
                 3 
                 ball 
               
               
                 4 
                 ball ramp 
               
               
                 5 
                 ball guide 
               
               
                 5a 
                 slotted apertures 
               
               
                 6 
                 ball rest dimple 
               
               
                 7 
                 manual power switch 
               
               
                 8 
                 Magnetic-actuated power switch 
               
               
                 9 
                 metronome on/off switch 
               
               
                 10 
                 metronome frequency adjustment switch 
               
               
                 11 
                 base 
               
               
                 12 
                 graphics panel 
               
               
                 13 
                 indicator arrows 
               
               
                 14 
                 club face 
               
               
                 15 
                 magnet 
               
               
                 16 
                 magnet retainer 
               
               
                 17 
                 adhesive pad 
               
               
                 18 
                 center line plane 
               
               
                 19 
                 left club face sensor 
               
               
                 20 
                 right club face sensor 
               
               
                 21 
                 ball sensor 
               
               
                 22 
                 target 
               
               
                 23 
                 reflective left target wall 
               
               
                 24 
                 reflective right target wall 
               
               
                 25 
                 left target LED illuminator 
               
               
                 26 
                 right target LED illuminator 
               
               
                 27 
                 center line LED indicator 
               
               
                 28 
                 error left LED indicator 
               
               
                 29 
                 error right LED indicator 
               
               
                 30 
                 speaker 
               
               
                 31 
                 microphone 
               
               
                 32 
                 printed wiring board 
               
               
                 33 
                 microprocessor 
               
               
                 34 
                 battery 
               
               
                 35 
                 battery charger connector 
               
               
                 36 
                 system block diagram 
               
               
                 37 
                 charge indicator LED 
               
               
                 38 
                 printed wiring board assembly 
               
               
                 39 
                 putter center of gravity indicator 
               
               
                 40 
                 feet 
               
               
                 41 
                 screw 
               
               
                 42 
                 ball path 
               
               
                 43 
                 putter path 
               
               
                 44 
                 embedded magnetic sensor 
               
               
                 45 
                 Hall effect device 
               
               
                 46 
                 deck plate 
               
               
                 47 
                 infrared transmitter 
               
               
                 48 
                 infrared receiver 
               
               
                 49 
                 reflective surface 
               
               
                 50 
                 magnetic flux lines 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the putter training device includes a putter data module  1  in conjunction with a magnet  15  and magnet retainer  16  adhesively attached to a lower surface of a head of a golf putter  2 . When ball  3  is struck, the putter data module  1  collects data on the position of the putter club face  14  and putter path  43  to the ball. 
     Ref.  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  8 ,  9 ,  14 ,  15  &amp;  16  and  26 , the putter data module  1  (shown in  FIGS. 9 and 14  with graphics panel  12  and deck plate  46  removed) includes a printed wiring board assembly  38  to collect and display data to the golfer. This assembly  38  is captured between the deck plate  46  and the base  11  using a plurality of screws  41 . The deck plate  46  is covered with a graphics panel  12  with a printed graphic line to indicate center line plane  18  and various labels for the controls and indicators. The device  1  is placed on the floor or ground (the natural position for putting) and is prevented from slipping by rubber feet  40 . The printed wiring board assembly  38  includes a printed wiring board  32  which electrically connects and constrains the system battery  34 , a microphone  31 , a speaker  30 , a microprocessor  33 , a left club face sensor  19 , a right club face sensor  20 , a ball sensor  21 , a left target LED illuminator  25 , a right target LED illuminator  26 , a center line LED indicator  27 , an error left LED indicator  28 , an error right LED indicator  29 , three embedded magnetic sensors  44 , a magnetic-actuated power switch  8 , a manual power switch  7 , various other electronic components (not shown), a battery charger connector  35 , and a combined switch made from the metronome on/off switch  9  and metronome frequency adjustment switch  10 . 
     Ref.  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 ,  8  &amp;  12 , the ball  3  placement is fixed by a ball rest dimple  6  on the deck plate  46 . An aperture in the graphics panel  12  exposes the ball rest dimple  6  to the bottom of ball  3 . A ball guide  5  is molded into deck plate  46  and extends through slotted apertures  5   a  in graphics panel  12 . This allows the ball  3 , using putter  2 , to be pushed onto the putter data module  1  via ball ramp  4  and then further guided by ball guide  5  to ball rest dimple  6 . 
     Ref.  FIGS. 2 ,  9 ,  14  and  16 , to detect when a ball  3  is present and to start system functions as per  FIG. 25  flow chart, the ball sensor  21  detects the ball  3  by means of an infrared transmitter  47  illuminating the ball  3  surface and an infrared receiver  48  detecting this illumination. This sends a signal to the microprocessor  33  on printed wiring board  32  that enables target  22  and the metronome, a software function in microprocessor  33  as shown in  FIGS. 25 and 26 . This metronome produces a rhythmic tone from speaker  30  on printed wiring board  32 . This metronome is adjusted and enabled from a ganged switch including a metronome on/off switch  9  and metronome frequency adjustment switch  10 . The metronome sets a tempo for the golfer&#39;s back swing to develop a more consistent putt. 
     The golfer&#39;s proper head position directly over the golf ball  3 , and therefore body position, is established by maintaining sight of target  22 . This fixes the golfer&#39;s body position for every putt. This target  22  is illuminated by means of left target LED illuminator  25  and right target LED illuminator  26  reflecting off reflective left target wall  23  and reflective right target wall  24 . Target wall  23  and reflective right target wall  24  are constructed as two wall segments at a fixed angle relative to the center line plane  18 . This allows 360 degree target acquisition based on reflective light. 
     Ref.  FIGS. 21 ,  22 ,  23  &amp;  24 , as the golfer&#39;s head moves from the desired position a light feedback system provides viewable indicia of inconsistent head and body positioning.  FIG. 21  shows what the golfer sees when in the correct position directly over the ball with no light visible due to reflective left target wall  23  and reflective right target wall&#39;s  24  perpendicular plane relative to the visual plane.  FIG. 22  shows the golfers head north of desired position, (ref. compass rose  FIG. 22 ), which allows reflective left target wall  23  to come into the golfer&#39;s view. The visible light indicates off-target to the north.  FIG. 23  shows the golfer&#39;s head north and west of desired position, (ref. compass rose  FIG. 23 ), which allows east half of reflective left target wall  23  to come into the golfer&#39;s view. The visible light indicates off target to the northwest.  FIG. 24  shows the golfer&#39;s head north and east of desired position, (ref. compass rose  FIG. 24 ), which allows west half of reflective left target wall  23  to come into the golfer&#39;s view. The visible light indicates off-target to the northeast. As the golfer&#39;s head moves southward, the same light feedback as describe is indicated using right target wall  24 . This feedback allows the golfer&#39;s head to center on target  22 , regardless of the golfer&#39;s standing position for a right- or left-handed golfer. 
     Ref.  FIGS. 2 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 , &amp;  18 , the putter path  43  for the last 150 mm before the putter  2  club face  14  impacts ball  3  is determined by three embedded magnetic sensors  44  placed at equal intervals along the centerline plane  18 . The embedded magnetic sensors  44  include two hall effect devices  45  located under the graphics panel  12 , one on the right and one on the left of center line plane  18 . 
     Ref.  FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  12 , &amp;  13 , the putter  2  is configured with a magnet  15  molded into magnet retainer  16  that is affixed to the putter  2  by means of an adhesive pad  17 . The magnet  15  is placed at the on putter  2  opposite the putter center of gravity indicator  39 . This center of gravity indicator  39  is typically marked on most putters to indicate the sweet spot (center of gravity) and is the desired ball impact zone for consistent putts. Ref.  FIG. 5 , during the forward stroke, for 150 mm (or some pre-defined distance) before ball  3  impacts, the putter travels exactly down putter path  43  coincidental to center line plane  18  to putt the ball  3  in the desired ball path  42 . 
     Ref.  FIG. 18A , in the desired putt stroke, the putter  2  travels along center line plane  18  and magnet  15  travels directly between the two hall effect devices  45  that comprise each of the embedded magnetic sensors  44 . In this relationship, the magnet  15  imparts magnetic flux lines  50  to each hall effect device  45  equally. The hall effect device  45  output voltage is controlled by the magnet flux acting on the device  45 . This information is sent to microprocessor  33 . If all three embedded magnetic sensors  44  show the putter path  43  to track down the center line plane  18 , the microprocessor  33  commands center line LED indicator  27  to illuminate. Ref.  FIG. 7 , if the putter 2 center of gravity indicator  39  and magnet  15  is not coincidental to center line plane  18 , (in this case left of the center line plane  18 ) the magnet  15  imparts magnetic flux lines  50  more to the left hall effect device  45  and less to the right hall effect device  45 . The microprocessor  33  reads this voltage and commands error left LED indicator  28  or error right LED indicator  29  to illuminate based on the side of the center line plane  18  before impact with ball  3 . 
     Ref.  FIGS. 2 ,  8 ,  9 ,  14 , &amp;  19 , as the club face  14  on putter  2  impacts ball  3 , microphone  31  detects the impact and sends this information to microprocessor  33 . At this point in time, the club face  14  on putter  2  passes over the left club face sensor  19  and right club face sensor  20 . Ref.  FIG. 20 , the club face sensor  19  and right club face sensor  20  include an infrared transmitter  47  and an infrared receiver  48  pair. Ref.  FIG. 5 , upon impact as detected by microphone  31 , the microprocessor  33  interrogates each sensor  19  and  20  to determine when the time a signal was received from reflective surface  49  on putter  2 . If left club face sensor  19  and right club face sensor  20  signals were coincident in time, the microprocessor  33  sends three beeps to speaker  30  indicating to the golfer that the club face  14  was perpendicular to center line plane  18 . In this case ball  3  follows ball path  42  along center line plane  18 , hopefully to the hole. Ref.  FIG. 6 , if right club face sensor  20  signal was detected before left club face sensor  19 , the microprocessor  33  sends two beeps to speaker  30  indicating to the golfer that the club face  14  was not perpendicular to center line plane  18  and the ball path  42  will be left of desired path to hole. Ref.  FIG. 7 , if left club face sensor  19  signal was detected before right club face sensor  20 , the microprocessor  33  sends one beep to speaker  30  indicating to the golfer that the club face  14  was not perpendicular to center line plane  18  and the ball path  42  will be right of desired path to hole. 
     Ref.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  8 ,  9 ,  25  &amp;  26 , in normal operation, ball  3  is placed on the putter data module  1 , the putter  2  with the magnet  15  attached moves over magnetic actuated power switch  8 , (or manually switched on with manual power switch  7 ), to wake up the system, activate the body alignment target  22  and start the metronome. The golfer aligns his head with target  22  base on not seeing any light from reflective left target wall  23  or reflective right target wall  24 . The putter  2  is swung back, in time with the metronome, and then forward to strike ball  3 . 
     Microphone  31  detects the impact of putter face  14  and ball  3 . After a short delay, the end-of-swing indicator, including flashing left target LED illuminator  25  and right target LED illuminator  26  and a short beep from speaker  30 , completes the putting stroke. At this time the golfer has had full body follow-through and can move out of the constraint of the body alignment target  22 . Based on time signals from left club face sensor  19  and right club face sensor  20 , the putter face  14  angle at impact with ball  3  is reported to the golfer using tones from speaker  30 . The golfer also receives the putter path  43  feedback based on putter center of gravity indicator tracking the center line plane  18 . Tracking down the center of center line plane  18  will illuminate center line LED indicator  27 . Otherwise the error left LED indicator  28  or error right LED indicator  29  will illuminate based on the side of the error. When ball  3  is replaced on putter data module  1  the cycle is repeated. Otherwise, if an expected act is not initiated by the golfer in a predetermined time, the device falls asleep to conserve battery power. 
     While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permeations and additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permeations, additions and subcombinations that are within their true spirit and scope.