Patent Publication Number: US-6981921-B2

Title: Training device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention generally relates to the game of golf, and in particular, to a training device for teaching an individual the mechanics and skills associated with the putting of a golf ball with a putter. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   As is known, the putting of a golf ball is a vital aspect of the game of golf. A golfer who consistently uses the proper fundamentals when putting greatly increases the probability that each putt taken by the golfer will end up in the cup. It can be appreciated that there are many aspects to a proper putting stroke. For example, the proper length of the backswing and the follow through of a putter in relation to the distance of the putt to be taken, the speed of the putting surface, and the contours in the putting surface is imperative for an accurate putt. Further, the development of a consistently fluid, pendulum-like putting stroke that is easily repeatable greatly increases the likelihood of an accurate putt. Likewise, the development of the skill of reading the correct and accurate line of a putt in relation to the putt distance, the speed of putting surface, and the contours in the putting surface also increases the putting ability of a golfer. 
   Heretofore, the options available to a golfer to learn the proper fundamentals for putting a golf ball have been limited. For example, the golfer may hire an instructor to teach him or her the finer points of a proper putting stroke. However, it can be appreciated that the instructions provided by the instructor may be forgotten after completion of the golf lesson. In addition, a golf lesson is often time consuming and very expensive. Alternatively, golfers often purchase new putters in an attempt to improve the accuracy of their putts. However, without the development of the fundamental skills necessary to accurately putt a golf ball, the change of equipment will yield minimal results. 
   Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a training device that teaches the fundamentals necessary for developing an easily repeatable pendulum-like putting stroke. 
   It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a training device that teaches a golfer the proper eye and hit positions relative to the proper roll path of a putt. 
   It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a training device that teaches a golfer the proper length of the backswing and follow through necessary in relation to the distance of a putt, the speed of the putting surface, and the contours in the putting surface. 
   It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a training device that teaches a golfer the skill of reading the correct and accurate line of a putt in relation to the distance of the putt, the speed of the putting surface, and the contours in the putting surface. 
   In accordance with the present invention, a training device is provided for teaching the putting of a golf ball with a putter. The putter has a head with a length, width and a ball striking surface. The training device including a putting surface having an opening therein for receiving the golf ball. The opening has a predetermined diameter. A tee box is provided on the putting surface. The tee box has ball placement indicia for positioning the golf ball thereon and a length generally equal to the desired length of a stroke of a putter necessary to putt the golf ball from the ball placement indicia to the opening in the putting surface. 
   The tee box has a width generally equal to the width of the putter. First and second tee receiving openings may be positioned on the opposite sides of the tee box. Tees are receivable in corresponding tee receiving openings for defining a putter path therebetween. A reflective surface may be affixed to the tee box at a location axially spaced from the ball placement indicia by a predetermined length. The predetermined length between the reflective surface and the ball placement indicia is generally equal to the width of the putter head. 
   A cup may be inserted in the opening in the putter surface. The cup has an outer diameter generally equal to the diameter to the opening in the putting surface. The cup defines a cup opening for receiving the golf ball therein. In addition, a pad may be positioned under the putting surface to provide a contour in the putting surface. The contour has an upslope and a downslope. The upslope of the contour may be indicated by upslope indicia on the putting surface and the downslope of the contour may indicated by downslope indicia on the putting surface. Roll path indicia may be provided on the putting surface for defining a roll path for the golf ball between the ball placement indicia and the opening in the putting surface. A border may extend along at least a portion of the outer periphery of the putting surface to maintain the golf ball thereon. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a training device is provide for teaching the putting of a golf ball with a putter. The putter has a head with a length, a width and a ball striking surface. The training device includes a putting surface having an opening therein for receiving the golf ball. The opening has a predetermined diameter. A tee box is provided on the putting surface. The tee box has a ball placement indicia for positioning the golf ball thereon. A reflective surface is positioned a predetermined length behind the ball placement indicia. 
   The tee box has first and second sides and a length generally equal to a desired length of a stroke of the putter necessary to putt the golf ball from the ball placement indicia into the opening in the putting surface. The tee box also includes a width generally equal to the width of the putter. 
   A cup insert is receivable in the opening in the putting surface. The cup insert has an outer diameter generally equal to the diameter of the opening in the putting surface and defines a cup opening for receiving the golf ball therein. The putting surface also includes a contour therein. The contour has an upslope and a downslope. A plurality of roll path indicia is provided on the putting surface. The roll path indicia is spaced along a roll path between the ball placement indicia and the opening in the putting surface. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a training device is provided for teaching the putting of a golf ball with a putter. The putter has a head with a length, a width and a ball striking surface. The training device includes a putting surface having a contour and an opening therein. The contour has an upslope and a downslope. The opening is capable of receiving the golf ball and is of a predetermined diameter. The training device further includes a tee box on the putting surface. The tee box has a ball placement indicia for positioning the golf ball thereon, a length generally equal to a desired length of a stroke of the putter necessary to putt the golf ball from the ball placement indicia into the opening in the putting surface, and a width generally equal to the width of the putter. Roll path indicia is provided on the putting surface for identifying a roll path for the golf ball between the ball placement indicia and the opening in the putting surface. A reflective surface is positioned a predetermined length behind the ball placement indicia. 
   It is contemplated to provide a cup insert that is receivable in the opening of the putting surface. The cup insert has an outer diameter generally equal to the diameter of the opening in the putting surface. The cup insert defines a cup opening for receiving the golf ball therein. Upslope indicia may be provide on the upslope of the contour of the putting surface and downslope indicia may be provided on the downslope of the contour of the putting surface. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings furnished herewith illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed. Other advantages and features will also be apparent from the following detailed description. 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the putting device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the putting device of the present invention taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the training device of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, top plan view showing a portion of the training device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the training device of the present invention taken along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view showing an alternate embodiment of a portion of the training device of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a training device in accordance with the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . It is intended that training device  10  be used in conjunction with the golf ball and the putter fully described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/143,587, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,980, entitled “Golf Aiming And Alignment System and Method” that is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,980, the training device may be used with a golf ball bearing a pattern of directional indicia laid out in a straight line along the circumference of the golf ball around its equator. A putter also bears directional indicia. In this case, the indicia are located on the head of the putter so they are visible during putting. Indicia are placed so that they point to the proper impact zone on the putter face, i.e. the ball striking surface. However, it can be appreciated that training device  10  may be used with a conventional golf ball  13  and/or a conventional putter  15  without deviating in scope of the present invention. 
   Training device  10  includes base  12  having an upper and lower surfaces  14  and  16 , respectively,  FIG. 2 . It is intended that lower surface  16  of base  12  be positioned on a supporting surface such as the ground, a floor or the like. Upper surface  14  of base  12  is generally planar and is adapted for receiving putting mat  18  thereon. Putting mat  18  includes a lower surface  20  that may be affixed to upper surface  14  of base  12  in any conventional manner and an upper surface  22  for receiving golf ball  13  thereon. Border  24  extends about at least a portion of the outer peripheries of base  12  and putting mat  18  to maintain a putted golf ball  13  on upper surface  22  of putting mat  18  during use of training device  10 . Border  24  includes an upper portion  26  that projects vertically from upper surface  22  of putting mat  18  and a lower edge  28  that is generally co-planar with lower surface  16  of base  12 . It is contemplated that border  24  be removable from the outer peripheries of base  12  and putting mat  18  if so desired by the user. 
   Pad  30  may be positioned between upper surface  14  of base  12  and lower surface of putting mat  18  so as to form contour  32  in upper surface  22  of putting mat  18 . Pad  30  may be formed from a resilient loam or similar type of material. It can be understood the shape of contour  32  in upper surface  22  of putting mat  18  corresponds to the shape of pad  30 . Further, it can be appreciated that additional pads may be used to form other contours  34  and  36  in upper surface  22  of putting mat  18 . The shapes of pads  30  may differ in order that contours  32 ,  34  and  36  in upper surface  22  of putting mat  18  may provide various slopes and breaks in upper surfaces  22  of putting mat  18 . 
   Upslope indicia  38  may be provided of the upslopes in upper surfaces  22  of putting mat  18  to provide a visual representation of the upslope of contours  32 ,  34  and  36  for the user. Similarly, downslope indicia  40  may be provided on the downslopes of contours  32 ,  34  and  36  in upper surfaces  22  of putting mat  18  to provide a visual representation of the downslopes for the use of contours  32 ,  34  and  36  of training device  10 . By way of example, upslope indicia  38  and downslope indicia  40  may take the form of arrowheads. It is contemplated that the spacing, between the arrowheads provided in upslope indicia  38  be less than the spacing between the arrowheads in downslope indicia  40  so as to allow a user to quickly visualize the upslopes and downslopes of contours  32 ,  34  and  36 . It can be appreciated that other types of symbols and/or spacing may be used for upslope indicia  38  and downslope indicia  40  on contours  32 ,  34  and  36 , without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
   Training device  10  further includes cup  42  that is receivable in opening  44  through putting mat  18 . Cup  42  includes a first closed end  46  seated within recess  48  formed in upper surface  14  of base  12 . Vertical wall  50  of cup  42  includes an outer surface  52  and an inner surface  54  that defines cylindrical ball receiving volume  56 . The outer diameter of vertical wall  50  is generally equal to the diameter of opening  44  in putting mat  18  and the inner diameter of vertical wall  50  is generally equal to the diameter of a conventional cup in the green of a golf hole. Upper edge  54   a  of inner surface  54  of vertical wall  50  defines an opening for allowing golf ball  13  to roll off of upper surface  22  of putting surface  18  into ball receiving volume  56  in cup  42 . Cup insert  58  may be inserted into ball receiving volume  56  defined by cup  42 . Cup insert  58  includes a closed end  60  and a vertical wall  62  projecting therefrom. Vertical wall  62  of cup insert  58  includes an outer surface  64  that forms a mating relationship with inner surface  54  of vertical wall  50  of cup  42  and an inner surface  66  that defines a golf ball receiving void  68 . Golf ball receiving void  68  in cup insert  58  has a diameter less than the diameter of a regulation cup in a green of a golf hole but greater than the diameter of golf ball  13 . It can be appreciated that additional cup inserts having smaller diameters may be positioned within cup insert  58  to further reduce the size of golf ball receiving void  68 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , training device  10  further includes tee mat  70  on upper surface  22  of putting mat  18 . Tee mat  70  may be imprinted on upper surfaces  22  of putting mat  18  or may be affixed to upper surfaces  22  of putting mat  18 . Tee mat  70  includes ball placement indicia  72  that identifies a position for placement of golf ball  13 . Tee mat  70  has a length L generally equal to the length of a putting stroke necessary to putt golf ball  13  positioned on ball placement indicia  72  to ball receiving volume  56  in cup  42  given the distance of the putt, the speed of upper surface  22  of putting mat  18 , and contours  32 ,  34  and  36  in upper surface  22  of putting mat  18 . A putting stroke is defined by the length of a backswing and the length of the follow through required. The width W of tee mat  70  is generally equal to the length of conventional putter  15 . 
   Tee mat  70  further includes aiming indicia  74  that indicate the proper direction golf ball  13  must be putted for such golf ball to roll along upper surface  22  of putting mat  18  into ball receiving volume  52  in cup  42 . Reflective surface  76  is positioned a predetermined distance behind ball placement indicia  72  and may take the form of an element removably positioned on putting mat  18 , fixed to putting mat  18 , or incorporated into putting mat  18 . It is contemplated that reflective surface  76  be positioned behind ball placement indicia  72  a distance generally equal to the width of conventional putter  15 . Reflective surface  76  includes a eye-shaped reflecting portion  78  that allows a user to have a visual indication that the user&#39;s eyes are in proper position for putting golf ball  13  towards cup  42 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 5 , tee receiving recesses  80  and  82  extend an upper surface  22  of putting mat  18  into upper surface  14  of base  12 . Tee receiving recesses  80  and  82  are positioned on opposite sides  84  and  86 , respectively, of tee mat  70  and are adapted for receiving corresponding shafts  88  of conventional golf tees  90 . With shafts  88  of golf tees  90  inserted in corresponding tee receiving recesses  80  and  82 , golf tees  90  define a gate therebetween for providing a swing path for putter  15  when putting golf ball  13  from ball placement indicia  72  to cup  42 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , it is contemplated to replace tee receiving recesses  80  and  82  with stripes  92  and  94  that extend along the entire length of sides  84  and  86 , respectively, of tee mat  70  so as to define the proper swing path necessary to putt golf ball  13  from ball placement indicia  72  to cup  42  using putter  15 . Roll path indicia  96  may be provided on upper surface  22  of putting mat  18  between ball placement indicia  72  on tee matt  70  to cup  42  to provide a visual representation of the roll path on which golf ball  13  travels between ball placement indicia  72  and cup  42 . 
   In operation, a user stands on upper surface  22  of putting surface  18  and aligns putter  15  such that ball striking surface  15   a  is positioned behind golf ball  13 . The user bends over golf ball  13  such that the user sees a reflection of their eye in the reflecting portion  78  of reflecting surface  76 . In such position, the user&#39;s eyes are properly positioned behind golf ball  13  over the intended roll path for golf ball  13 . As described, the head of the user is in proper position relative to the desired beginning of the roll path and at a correct angle to putting mat  18  for putting. Putter  15  is drawn back to a backswing position wherein the rearward surface  15   d  of putter  15  is generally co-planar with rear edge  70   a  of tee mat  70 . The putter  15  is brought forwardly such that ball striking surface  15   a  engages golf ball  13  and urges golf ball  13  along a roll path visually represented by roll path indicia  96  on upper surface  22  of putting mat  18 . It is intended that putter  15  travel along a swing path that passes between tees  90  in tee receiving recesses  80  and  82  or between stripes  92  and  94  along sides  84  and  86 , respectively, of tee mat  70 , depending upon the configuration of training device  10 . The follow through of the putting stroke terminates at a location wherein ball striking surface  15   a  of putter  15  is generally co-planar with forward edge  70   b  of tee box  70 . By repeatedly putting golf ball  13  from ball placement indicia  72  to cup  42 , a user will develop a repeatable, generally pendulum-like putting stroke. 
   It is contemplated as being the scope of the present invention to provide a plurality of training devices  10  having alternate contours  32 ,  34  and  36 , cup positions and tee box placements on upper surfaces  22  of corresponding putting mats  18  so as to allow a user to develop the skills of reading the correct and accurate line of a putt in relation to the distance of a putt, the speed of the putting surface, and the contours in the putting surface. In addition, it is contemplated that multiple users play a game using multiple training devices  10 . Each user could be allowed to putt on each training device  10  in succession and the total of number of putts made would be calculated. Alternatively, as in regular golf, the number of putting strokes required for each player to putt their golf ball  13  in each cup  42  would be recorded. Players would compete for the best score on an individual training device  10  or on a collection of training devices  10 . It is further contemplated that each training device could have a par rating. The par rating would increase with the placement of cup insert  58  within cup  42  thereby making it more difficult for a user to putt golf ball  13  into golf ball receiving void  68  within cup insert  58 . 
   Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.