Patent Publication Number: US-6213887-B1

Title: Apparatus for practicing the game of golf

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to apparatus for practicing the game of golf and more particularly to a target device which provides a laser beam enabling a user to properly aim and align the face of a putter thereby optimizing the practice of putting. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Apparatus employed by golfers for the practice of putting are well known in the art. A variety of target devices which simulate golf course holes are commercially available and offer golfers an opportunity to practice putting indoors. Such devices are usually placed on an adjacent floor that is covered by a carpet or other suitable material providing the golfer with a target and a surface upon which to practice putting without having to go out on a golf course. 
     Typically, simulated holes placed on carpeted floors are utilized to practice relatively short straight putts, for example, between one and ten feet. The correct execution of this type of putt necessitates proper club face alignment and proper club face speed. A successful short straight putt requires that the club face, at the moment of impact, is perpendicular to the intended path of the ball and that the club speed is sufficient to propel the ball to the hole. If the club face is not aligned perpendicularly to the intended path of the ball, the ball is directed either to the right or to the left of the hole depending on the golfer&#39;s alignment error. If the ball is not struck with the correct club head speed, the putt may not reach the hole because it is travelling too slowly or it may fly over the hole because it is travelling too quickly. 
     Club alignment is an eye-hand coordination skill that is usually enhanced by repeatedly aiming practice putts at the hole and by noting the actual directions of the attempted putts. Club head impact velocity is a matter of feel that may be perfected by a golfer judging the so called speed or condition of the putting surface and by observing the actual speed and/or distance of putted balls. When instructing correct club alignment to students on an actual grass practice green, some teaching professionals snap a carpenter&#39;s chalk line on the grass surface such that the line radiates from the target hole thereby marking an optimum path along which to aim practice putts. In addition, teaching professionals often use a flat ball marker pressed into the green to provide the student with a target spot lying on the optimum path of a successful putt. The student aims his or her practice putts at the spot, a technique which some players find improves their putting skills. 
     In order to optimize the practice of putting, it is generally accepted that a golfer train with his or her personal putter. The appearance of a properly aligned club face, the weight of the head and the feel of the club are important factors which influence the development of a successful and repeatable putting stroke. A substantial number of prior art training apparatus require that golfers affix various devices to their putters thereby effecting the feel and the appearance of the club. Therefore, it is desirable if golfers do not have to add any attachments to their putters while practicing putting. 
     As can be seen from the foregoing, there is a need for a putting practice apparatus which may be used indoors and outdoors and which provides not only a practice target hole but also a means by which to easily designate the optimum path of a successful putt. Further, as mentioned above, it is considered advantageous if the practice apparatus may be used without having to affix any devices to the player&#39;s personal putter. 
     The following United States Patents show prior art aiming systems to which the present invention is applicable: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,806 which issued on Mar. 14, 1978 to John R. Brandell discloses a golf practice apparatus embodying a target and a kicker for returning a ball to a person making a putt into the target. His apparatus also includes a mechanism for adjusting the force with which a ball is returned by the kicker. Brandell&#39;s disclosure does not solve the problem of providing a means by which to conveniently designate on the putting surface the optimum path of a successful putt aimed at the target, thus enhancing the practice of putting when using the device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,718 which issued on Nov. 26, 1991 to J. Paul Knox et al discloses a golf putting target for receiving putted golf balls. LED&#39;s across the front of the target may be selectively energized to vary the target area. An infrared transmitter on one side of the target emits energy to two receivers located on the opposite side thereof, thereby providing a means by which a microprocessor mounted in the device calculates and displays the speed and direction of practice putts received therein. The disclosed device also includes an automatic ball return mechanism. However, the apparatus taught by Knox et al does not provide a means by which to easily mark a spot or a line on the playing surface enabling the user to visualize an optimum path of a successful putt aimed at the device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,574, which issued on Dec. 29, 1992 to J. Paul Knox et al is a Division of U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,178, the disclosure of which is summarized above. Knox&#39;s divisional disclosure teaches substantially the same art as his parent patent which does not include a means enabling a user to visualize an optimum path of a successful putt. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,188 which issued on Jul. 19, 1994 to Eric W. Reimers discloses a putter alignment system which, in a first embodiment, includes a putter component and a target component. The putter component comprises a reflector affixed to the face of a user&#39;s putter and the target component includes an emitter generating an electromagnetic signal beam. To practice proper club face alignment, the user aims his or her putter, having the reflector mounted on the face thereof, at the target. The beam emitted by the target component is reflected back at the target by the reflector mounted on the impact surface of the user&#39;s putter. The location of the reflected beam is sensed by a receiver mounted on the target which detects the location of the reflected beam and displays its location by illuminating a light thereover. In a second embodiment, the putter component includes an emitter mounted on the head of the putter rather than on the target component. Reimer&#39;s patent does not solve the problem of providing a means by which to conveniently designate the optimum path of a successful putt aimed at the target hole thus enhancing the practice of putting when using the device. Further, Riemer&#39;s disclosure does not provide the player a practice apparatus which may be employed without having to add a device to his or her personal putter. 
     In summary, the prior art cited above has neither addressed nor solved the problem of providing the user an arrangement by which to easily mark on the playing surface the ideal line of a successful putt for optimizing the practice of putting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the aforementioned problems and disadvantages and provides a putting practice apparatus which projects an illuminated reference line for enhancing the practice of putting. 
     In a first embodiment, a laser aiming device comprises a housing simulating a generally circular golf hole defining an axially extending diameter. The housing is positioned on an adjacent floor. The floor provides a surface for putting a golf ball thereon and the golf hole provides a target for putting thereto. The housing includes a bore wherein the axis of the bore lies in the vertical plane parallel to and passing through the diameter. A laser module mounted in the bore is adapted to emit a laser beam coincident with the axis thereof. The laser beam projects an illuminated mark on the surface forwardly of the target thereby providing a reference means defining an optimum path of a successful putt aimed at the target. 
     In a second embodiment, a laser aiming device is removably affixed to a putting apparatus. The apparatus simulates a generally circular golf hole defining an axially extending diameter. The apparatus is positioned on a surface for putting thereon and the golf hole provides a target for putting thereto. The laser aiming device comprises a casing forming a bore therein and a laser module is mounted in the bore. The laser module is adapted to emit a laser beam coincident with the axis of the bore. The device also comprises a base including means for removably affixing the base to the apparatus. The casing is adjustably mounted on the base providing means for adjusting the laser beam in the vertical plane parallel to and passing through the diameter so that the beam may be projected onto the surface at selected distances forwardly of the apparatus along the line formed by the intersection of the vertical plane and the surface. The beam provides a reference means defining an optimum path of a successful putt aimed at the target. 
     In a third embodiment, an apparatus providing means for practicing proper alignment of a face of a putter with respect to an optimum path of a properly impacted golf ball comprises a target placed on a surface for putting thereon. The target simulates a golf hole for putting thereto. A laser emitter is positioned adjacent the target and projects a laser beam forwardly thereof. The laser beam defines an illuminated reference line for aligning the putter with respect thereto. The golf ball to be putted is placed on the path and the face of the putter is positioned adjacent the golf ball. The face is aligned perpendicularly to the reference line such that a properly aimed putt rolls along the reference line toward the target. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention employed by a golfer for the practice of putting. 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line  2 — 2  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded fragmentary view of the laser module included in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the laser module taken along the line  4 — 4  in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded partial front view of the alternate embodiment taken along the line  6 — 6  in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation, shown partially in section, of the power supply which provides a D.C. voltage to the embodiment shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the embodiment of the present invention illustrating a golf ball to be putted placed in the thin plane of light emitted by the device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the present invention comprising a device generally referred to by reference number  20  employed by a golfer for the practice of putting. Placed on an adjacent floor  22  usually covered by carpeting  24  or other suitable material for putting thereon, the device  20  includes a target portion  28  defining a golf hole  30 , a front ramp portion  32  over which a golf ball  34  travels from the carpeting  24  to the target portion  28  and a rear portion  36  which provides a backstop  38  to prevent a practice putt from rolling past the device  20 . Also included in the rear portion  36  is a bore  42  mounting a laser module  44  therein. 
     As will be explained in more detail below, the laser module  44  may be selectively adapted by a user to emit either a laser beam  46  projecting an illuminated spot  50  on the surface  24  or a thin vertical plane of light  51  projecting an illuminated line  52  on the surface  24  enabling the user to visualize an optimum path  48  of a successful putt. The user practices putting by positioning the golf ball  34  on the path  48  and by employing either the illuminated spot  50  or the illuminated line  52  as a visual reference by which to align a face  54  on a head  55  of a putter  56  perpendicularly to the path  48  such that a successful putt is aimed along the path  48  toward the hole  30 . 
     In FIGS. 1 and 2, a housing  58  is shown in which the components comprising the device  20  are affixed. Preferably, the housing  58  is formed as a plastic molding from any one of a number of well known resinous plastic molding materials. It is also well known in the art that the molded housing  58  may be formed with cavities specifically shaped to closely receive and align the components mounted therein. Included in the housing  58  is the front ramp portion  32  extending from the carpeting  24  to a target portion  28  which simulates the golf hole  30  defined by a circularly shaped target marker  60 , the diameter of which is approximately the same diameter as that of an actual golf hole. In addition, a receiving portion  62  is formed in the rear portion  36  of the housing  58  behind the target  60  and is adapted to receive a successfully aimed putt thereby preventing it from rolling past the device  20 . 
     Typically, prior art devices also include well known electrically operated ball return mechanisms such as a spring loaded solenoid  64  located in a mounting cavity  66  formed adjacent the receiving portion  62 . The solenoid  64  provides a plunger  68  extending into the receiving portion  62  which, when activated, impacts the ball  34  returning it to the golfer. Prior art ball returns also include a sensor  70  located in the receiving portion  62  which responds to the presence of the ball  34  therein thereby activating the solenoid  64 . Unlike prior art devices that simply offer the golfer a target  60  at which to aim, the present invention provides not only the target  60  but also either a laser generated spot  50  or a laser generated line  52  on the practice surface  24  enabling the golfer to better visualize the location of the target  60 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , the laser module  44 , available from any one of a number of well known sources such as Lyte Optronics, Santa Monica, Calif., comprises a cylindrical housing  74  mounting therein a solid state semi-conductor laser diode  78  emitting a laser beam  80 , a collimating lens  82  focusing the laser beam  80  along the axis  83  of the cylindrical housing  74  and an electrical circuit  85  regulating the voltage applied to the laser diode  78 . A first conductive insulated wire lead  87  and a second lead  88  connect the laser module  44  to a D.C. voltage supply  90 , preferably providing between 3.0 and 4.5 volts, as required to illuminate the laser diode  78 . The D.C. voltage supply  90  comprises a transformer/rectifier available from any one of a number of companies such as LZR Electronics, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md. which receives its input from a line cord  92  and produces the appropriate D.C. output voltage to energize the laser module  44 . The line cord  92  may also be used to supply a voltage to the ball return solenoid  64 . In addition, a switch  96 , well known in the art, may be provided to offer the user the option of either turning on or turning off the laser module  44 . 
     The laser module  44  is mounted in the rear portion  36  adjacent the target portion  28  above and behind the target  60  such that the laser beam  80  emitted by the module  44  is aimed parallel to an axially extending diameter  98  of the target hole  60  projecting forwardly thereof. The bore  42  in which the laser module  44  is mounted is formed such that the axis  84  thereof and the axis  83  of the laser module  44  are coincident and aimed at an angle  86  with respect to the surface  24  so that the laser spot  50  is projected on the surface  24  at a distance of approximately three to five feet in front of the target providing the spot  50  at an optimum distance forward of the device  20  for the practice of aiming short straight putts. As was previously mentioned, and as will be explained in more detail below, the laser beam  80  may be diffused into the thin plane of light  51  extending a substantial distance, up to at least 25 feet, in front of the target projecting a laser generated line  52  on the surface  24  defining the optimum path  48  for the practice of long putts. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a generally cylindrical lens holder  106  having mounted therein a cylindrical lens  108  is threadedly affixed to the housing  58  adjacent the collimating lens  82 . The cylindrical lens  108  is positioned to intercept the laser beam  46  in order to optically defuse it into the thin plane of light  51 . Preferably, the cylindrical lens  108  is formed from commercially available clear plexiglas rod having a diameter of approximately 0.187 inch cut to a length of 0.250 inch such that the lens  108  fits snugly into a lens cavity  110  formed in the lens holder  106 . The plexiglas rod may be purchased from any one of a number of well known suppliers such as Commercial Plastics Corp., Farmingdale, N.Y. Alternatively, commonly available glass rod may be formed to the aforementioned dimensions and fit into the lens cavity  110  to difuse the laser beam  46 . 
     Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the longitudinal axis  112  of the cylindrical lens  108  extends in a substantially horizontal direction perpendicularly to the axis  84  of the bore  42  difusing the laser beam  46  into the thin plane of light  51  disposed in a substantially vertical direction. The golfer may use the device  20  to practice putting without threadedly engaging the lens holder  106  thus utilizing the laser spot  50  as a training aid or the golfer may use the device  20  with the lens holder  106  affixed thereto thereby utilizing the laser line  52 . 
     Laser modules of the type mentioned above typically project a red illuminated spot  50  having a diameter of approximately 0.250 inch. At a given output power level, the color and intensity of the illuminated spot  50  depend on a number of factors two of which are the wavelength of the laser and ambient lighting conditions. A laser having an output of at least four milliwatts emitting a 670 nanometer wavelength beam is preferred for projecting the above described red spot  50  or red line  52  onto the surface  24  indoors in a normally lit room. In a brightly lit room or outdoors in sunlight, preferably, a four milliwatt laser having a 635 nanometer wavelength laser beam may be used. 
     It is well known that a significant number of golfers have difficulty visualizing the proper alignment of the club face with respect to the intended line of the putt. Physicians, specializing in sports medicine, recognize that many players misaim putts because their brain “sees” the target  60  in one place when it is actually in another. Two-eyed or binocular vision works best when an individual&#39;s head is level and looking straight ahead as when aiming a rifle or a pool que. When putting, the golfer is standing to the side of the ball  34  and looking down at it thereby making it difficult for the brain to use binocular vision. The present invention provides an illuminated reference mark or point on the playing surface  24  between the ball  34  to be putted and the target  60  enabling the golfer to train his or her brain to visualize the actual location of the target  60 . 
     When employing the apparatus  20  of the present invention to practice putting, the user stands adjacent the optimum path  48  and places the golf ball  34  to be putted on the carpeting  24  such that it is visually centered on the optimum path  48 . Employing either the illuminated spot  50  or the illuminated line  52  as an aiming guide, the user visually aligns the face  54  of the putter  56  perpendicularly to the optimum path  48  such that when he or she correctly impacts the ball  34 , the putt is aimed to travel either over the spot  50  or along the line  52  to the target. Both provide the user a means by which to “see” the target in its actual position relative to the location of the ball  34  to be putted. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the drawings there is illustrated a second embodiment of the present invention offering certain variations over the previous embodiment. Principally, the laser source in the second embodiment is adapted to be removably affixed to the target portion providing the player who posesses a prior art device the opportunity of adding the laser source thereon. Further, as will be explained in more detail below, the alternate embodiment includes a laser source which is angularly adjustable in a vertical plane and, at the user&#39;s option, may be aimed at the putting surface at selected distances from the target portion. 
     Certain elements of the alternate embodiment are similar to and cooperate in substantially the same way as elements employed in the principle embodiment. These elements are referred to in the disclosure of the alternate embodiment by the same reference numbers used in the disclosure of the first embodiment. Further, to avoid needless repetition, the description and method of cooperation of such elements are not delineated again in the disclosure of the alternate embodiment. 
     In FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a putting apparatus  200  having removably affixed thereto a laser aiming device generally referred to by reference number  202 . Positioned on the surface  24  for practicing putting thereon, the apparatus  200  incorporates certain elements which are similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1 such as the generally circular target  60  simulating the golf hole  30  defining an axially extending diameter  98 . The laser aiming device  202  comprises a casing  206  forming a module bore  208  mounting therein the laser module  44  adapted to emit the laser beam  46  coincident with the axis  210  of the module bore  208 . 
     The laser aiming device  202  also includes a base  212  which may be removably affixed to the putting device  200 . A first strip of hook and pile  216  is affixed to a bottom surface  218  of the base  212  by means of a first strip of double sided adhesive tape  220  and a second strip of hook and pile  222  is affixed to the top surface  224  of the putting apparatus  202  by a second strip of double sided adhesive tape  226 . The user engages the first  216  and second  222  strips of hook and pile thereby removably affixing the laser aiming device  202  to the putting device  200 . As described above, the laser module  44  may be adapted by the user to project either the illuminated spot  50  or the illuminated line  52 . Preferably, the user employs the illuminated line  52  when affixing the laser aiming device  202  to the device  200  in order to visually align the laser aiming device  202  with respect to the diameter  98  such that the illuminated line  52  is projected parallel to the diameter  98  in the vertical plane passing therethrough. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the casing  206  is pivotably affixed to the base  212  by first  228  and second  230  pivot arms which communicate with first  232  and second  234  sides, respectively, of the casing  206 . The user may adjust the direction of the device  200  in the vertical plane so that the laser beam  46  is projected toward the surface  24  at selected distances forwardly of the device  200  along the theoretical line formed by the intersection of the vertical plane passing through the diameter  92  and the generally planar surface  24 . 
     In the alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the D.C. voltage supply  90  may be mounted in a voltage supply housing  238  and positioned on the playing surface  24 . The supply  90  receives its input voltage through a line cord  240  and, as previously explained, transforms and rectifies the A.C. input voltage to a D.C. output voltage supplied to the laser module  44  (FIG.5) through a two conductor cord  242  having contained therein first  87  and second  88  insulated wire leads. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 8, if the thin plane of light  51 , bounded by an upper ray  252  and a lower ray  254 , is aimed such that the ball  34  to be putted is positioned therein, a visible laser line  246  is projected on that portion  248  of the spherical surface  250  of the ball  34  which faces the laser module  44 . The laser line  246  “wraps around” the ball  34  and when the vertical diametral plane of the ball  34  is coincident with the vertical plane of light  51 , the laser line  246  subtends an arc (a,c) of approximately 180 degrees on the spherical surface  250  as determined by a first ray  256  and a second ray  258  contained within the thin plane of light  51  wherein the first ray  256  is tangent to the surface  250  at the point (a) and the second ray  258  is tangent at the point (c). A portion (a,b) of the arc (a,c) is clearly visible to the player addressing the ball  34  and provides an illuminated reference on the top of the ball  34  for aligning the face  54  of the putter  56  with respect to the ball  34  and with respect to the optimum path  48  which is also projected on the playing surface  24  by the plane of light  51 . In addition, depending on the shape of the head  55 , the thin plane of light  51  may project an illuminated centering line  262  thereon. The centering line  262  extends laterally from a point (d) on the face  54  to a point (e) on a top portion  264  which faces, without obstruction, the laser module  44 . The centering line  262  further enhances the user&#39;s visualzation of a properly aligned club face  54 . 
     It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.