Patent Publication Number: US-6659881-B2

Title: Golf exerciser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of the present invention 
     The present invention relates to a golf training apparatus, and more particularly, to a golf training apparatus capable of realizing an inclined plane an inclination angle of which can be adjusted in an unpowered manner thereby allowing a golfer to have optimum golf training. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, golf training apparatuses are provided to allow golfers to have indoor or outdoor practice in limited places. Such golf training apparatuses are generally used by those who rarely go out to fields or need practice to improve their skill. 
     A golf training apparatus generally includes a flat upper plate and a rubber plate or an artificial turf plate layered on the upper plate. However, this type of golf training apparatus simply provides golf practice such as driving and putting on the ground. Such plate is restricted compared to fields having variously inclined planes. 
     Therefore, when a golfer goes out to fields after practicing driving or putting using a planar golf training apparatus, frequently the golfer adopts himself/herself to the fields later regarding the amount of practice, thereby failing to show his/her ability in golf. Under this circumstance, there is a noneconomic problem in that the golfer frequently goes out to fields consuming time and money by a large amount in order to get familiar to the fields. 
     In order to solve the above problems, golf training apparatuses are disclosed which are so constructed that a user can have practice in a limited place without moving to other place. In one of the most typical examples, a motor and a decelerator are provided in an intermediate portion of a lower plate having a leveling device and a lower plate roller. A coupling is disposed over the decelerator and connected to an angle-adjustment plate via a ball joint, with the plate functioning to adjust the angle of an inclined plane and having a joint-inserting hole. The angle-adjustment plate is contacted at an upper portion to upper plate rollers different from one another in length and at a lower portion to lower plate rollers so that a joint shaft is connected to an upper plate-fixing body under the upper plate which has a fitting projection and a reinforcing member. The upper plate has spring supports connected to the lower plate at both sides, and an external bellows housing is disposed. 
     However, the conventional golf training apparatus constructed as above has the following drawbacks: The golf training apparatus cannot be installed if there is no power source since it internally contains a motor and a mechanical device for transmitting power from the motor. Also, a drive unit occupies a large area thereby excessively increasing the height of the apparatus. 
     Also the golf training apparatus is not installed indoor if the ceiling is low, and treatment thereof is difficult since it is heavy. 
     Furthermore, since an angle-adjustment plate is rotated to determine the angle of inclination, a long time period is needed for movement to an opposed position. Mechanical drive creates sway and noise by a large amount during the adjustment of angle, and the range of the angle of inclination is limited. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a golf training apparatus capable of realizing an inclined plane in an unpowered manner, in which a user can have practice in a fixed limited place without moving to other place by adjusting an upper plate at a desired angle. The golf training apparatus can be readily installed indoor or outdoor without restriction in installation since it is driven in an unpowered manner. Further, the upper plate is adjusted at a desired inclination angle in a short time period without making sway or noise. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention to obtain the above objects, it is provided a golf training apparatus capable of realizing an inclined plane an inclination angle of which can be adjusted in an unpowered manner in a support plate on which a user stands, comprising: an upper plate for supporting the user standing thereon to have practice; a lower plate for fixing the apparatus to a bottom; a ball-feeding unit for automatically feeding balls; a support frame for supporting the ball-feeding unit in a detachably attached manner; an inclination adjustment valve for adjusting the inclined plane at a desired angle; a buffer unit for hydraulic flow rate for compensating both sway owing to differential pressure of hydraulic passages and bubbles occurring during the adjustment of the inclined plane and variation in volume of hydraulic oil owing to seasonal variation and temperature difference; a plurality of manipulation levers for allowing the user to manipulate the inclined plane on the upper plate; a hydraulic oil-piping unit for regulating and piping the hydraulic oil; a plurality of free hydraulic cylinders having a free vertical movement distance for allowing adjustment of the inclined plane; a shaft center-fixing unit for preventing release of a central shaft during the adjustment of the inclined plane; an upper plate-stabilizing unit for preventing rotation of the free hydraulic cylinders while allowing vertical movement thereof; and a leveling unit for leveling the golf training apparatus and maintaining the same in a leveled position when the user wants to have practice in the leveled position rather than on the inclined plane. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf training apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating an upper frame of the golf training apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view illustrating a lower frame of the golf training apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A′ of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B′ of FIG. 2; 
     FIG.  6 . is a cross-sectional view taken along a line C-C′ of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a buffer unit for hydraulic flow rate and a hydraulic oil-piping unit of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a manipulation lever of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9A is a plan sectional view of an inclination-adjustment valve of the present invention, with passages being closed; 
     FIG. 9B is a plan sectional view of the inclination-adjustment valve of the present invention, with the passages being opened; 
     FIG. 10A is a side sectional view of the inclination-adjustment valve of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10B is a side elevation view of the inclination-adjustment valve of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a detailed view of a shaft center-fixing unit of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a free hydraulic cylinder of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an upper plate-stabilizing unit of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the upper plate-stabilizing unit of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15A is a side elevation view of a leveling unit of the present invention in a folded position; 
     FIG. 15B is a side elevation view of the leveling unit of the present invention in an unfolded position; and 
     FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the leveling unit of the present invention in the unfolded position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description will disclose technical features of the present invention in reference to the accompanying drawings, but with illustrative purposes only. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf training apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating an upper frame of the golf training apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view illustrating a lower frame of the golf training apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A′ of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B′ of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line C-C′ of FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a buffer unit for hydraulic flow rate and a hydraulic oil-piping unit of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a manipulation lever of the present invention, FIG. 9A is a plan sectional view of an inclination-adjustment valve of the present invention with passages being closed, FIG. 9B is a plan sectional view of the inclination-adjustment valve of the present invention with the passages being opened, FIG. 10A is a side sectional view of the inclination-adjustment valve of the present invention, FIG. 10B is a side elevation view of the inclination-adjustment valve of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a detailed view of a shaft center-fixing unit of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a free hydraulic cylinder of the present invention, FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an upper plate-stabilizing unit of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the upper plate-stabilizing unit of the present invention, FIG. 15A is a side elevation view of a leveling unit of the present invention in a folded position, FIG. 15B is a side elevation view of the leveling unit of the present invention in an unfolded position, and FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the leveling unit of the present invention in the unfolded position. 
     In the drawings, a flat rectangular upper plate of an upper fame designated with the reference number  11  stably supports a golfer or user while he/she has practice on an upper rubber plate overlying the upper plate  11 . The upper plate  11  also serves to support other components which are mounted thereon to constitute the present invention. The components mounted on the upper plate  11  include an inclination-adjustment valve  20 , an artificial turf  14 , an upper rubber plate  15 , a ball feeder support frame  17 , a buffer unit  40  for hydraulic flow rate, a manipulation lever  50 , a hydraulic oil-piping unit  60 , free hydraulic cylinders  70 , a shaft center-fixing unit  80 , an upper plate-stabilizing unit  90  for preventing sway of the upper plate and so on. 
     Lower plates of a lower frame designated with the reference number  12  are flat rectangle-shaped, and define a frame structure of the golf training apparatus. The lower plates  12  fix the golf training apparatus on a bottom when the golf training apparatus is practically installed, and are configured to support other components which are mounted thereon to constitute the present invention. The components mounted on the lower plates  12  include a protective bellows  13 , the free hydraulic cylinders  70 , the shaft center-fixing unit  80 , the upper plate-stabilizing unit  90  and so on. 
     The bellows designated with the reference number  13  is disposed between the upper plate  11  and the lower plates  12 , and made of a material and into a structure for preventing penetration of any foreign materials or dust so that internal devices are not polluted. 
     The upper rubber plate designated with the reference number  15  is made of a material having a proper degree of flexibility and rigidity so that the user can have practice with his/her feet treading thereon. 
     The artificial turf designated with the reference number  14  provides a place in the form of an artificial turf mat where a golf ball is positioned when the user actually has practice, in which both ends of the mat provides spaces for aligning golf balls, and an indicator is attached at a portion of the mat to indicate the inclination angle of the upper plate and the present position on a plane of the mat. 
     A ball feeder designated with the reference number  16  is a device for automatically feeding balls used in golf training to a predetermined position. The ball feeder  16  may have an unpowered ball feeding unit or an electric ball-feeding unit. 
     The ball feeder support frame designated with the reference number  17  serves to mount the ball feeder  16  thereon, and is flat rectangle-shaped. The ball feeder support frame  17  is detachably attached to a side of the upper plate  11  adjacent to the artificial turf  14 . 
     The inclination-adjustment valve designated with the reference number  20  opens/closes the free hydraulic cylinders  70 . The inclination-adjustment valve  20  is connected to all of hydraulic oil passages in the four free hydraulic cylinders  70 , and adjusted by adjustment levers  51 . 
     The manipulation lever designated with the reference number  50  regulates the inclination-adjustment valve  20  to open or close the free hydraulic cylinders  70  so that the user can adjust the angle of inclination of the golf training apparatus of the present invention. The manipulation lever  50  is operated as follows: 
     As shown in FIGS. 8 to  9 B, when the user presses down any of the adjustment levers  51  with a golf club or foot, two mutually connected rotating links  54  and  57  are actuated to rotate an passage opening/closing spool  28  of the inclination-adjustment valve  20 . Then, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, when a cross-shaped groove in the passage opening/closing spool  28  matches four holes in an adjustment valve body  30 , the oil passages of the four free hydraulic cylinders  70  are simultaneously opened so that flow between hydraulic oil properly causes the upper plate  11  to make an inclined plane even though it is inclined at any angle. 
     Also, in order to fix the inclination angle which was tilted at an angle at his/her desire, the user releases the adjustment lever  51  so that the passage opening/closing spool  28  of the inclination-adjustment valve  20  returns to its original position to close flow between hydraulic oil thereby fixing the inclined plane. 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B show a detailed construction of the inclination-adjustment valve  20 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 9A to  10 B, the inclination-adjustment valve  20  of the present invention includes a stopper  21  for stopping the rotating link  57 , a ball bearing  22  for softening operation of the passage opening/closing spool  28  and fixing the center of the spool  28 , an inclination-adjustment valve housing  23  for furnishing and protecting valve parts, a first O-ring  24  for preventing leak of oil to the outside, an adjustment valve rotary shaft  25  for driving the passage opening/closing spool  28 , a trust bearing  26  for supporting the pressure of a wave spring, the wave spring  27  for pressing the passage opening/closing spool  28  under a proper pressure so that hydraulic oil may not leak when the oil passages are closed, the passage opening/closing spool  28  for opening/closing the oil passages of hydraulic oil, a second O-ring  29  for preventing leak of oil to the outside, the adjustment valve body  30  configured to mount four hoses  63  for feeding/discharging hydraulic oil, the hydraulic flow rate buffer unit  40  and the hydraulic oil-piping unit  60  as well as fixable to the upper plate  11 , a connector unit  31  for the hydraulic flow rate buffer unit and functioning to compensate sway owing to bubble creation in hydraulic oil as well as expansion and contraction of hydraulic oil owing to seasonal temperature variation, four hydraulic hose connector units  32  and a hydraulic oil inlet unit  33 . 
     In the inclination-adjustment valve  20  constructed as above, the operation of the manipulation lever  50  for regulating passage opening/closing of the valve  20  will be described in detail as follows: 
     The golf training apparatus of the present invention has two adjustment levers  51  mounted respectively on both sides of the upper plate  11  and four manipulation plates, with two of them for each adjustment lever. When the user presses any of the manipulation plates at ends of the manipulation levers with the golf club or foot, standing on the upper plate opposed to the inclined plane to which he/she wants to move, the inclined plane can be adjusted with the weight of the user. In order to fix the adjusted inclined plane, the user releases the pressed manipulation plate so that a return spring  56  returns the manipulation plate to its original position fixing the inclined plane. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a detailed construction of the above manipulation lever  50 . 
     The manipulation lever  50  of the present invention includes the adjustment levers  51  connected to the manipulation plates which can be operated by the user, neutral positioning plates  52  and  53  capable of recovering their neutral positions to close the hydraulic passages when it is needed to fix the upper plate at any desired position of the inclined plane, the rotating links  54  and  57  for transmitting the motion of the adjustment levers  51 , a neutral positioning shaft  55  capable of fixing the neutral positioning plates  52  and  53  and regulating a track of the inclination-adjustment valve  20 , and the return spring  56  for automatically returning the adjustment levers  51  to their original position when the adjustment levers  51  are released from their operative positions. 
     According to the operation of the manipulation lever  50  and the inclination-adjustment valve  20 , the inclined plane of the golf training apparatus of the present invention is actually regulated by the free hydraulic cylinders designated with the reference number  70 . The following detailed description will discuss a construction and operation of each of the free hydraulic cylinders  70  in reference to FIG.  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the free hydraulic cylinder  70  includes an upper ball joint-fixing plate  71  for fixation with the upper plate  11 , an upper ball joint  72  capable of rotating along a track in an upper portion of the cylinder  70 , a cylinder rod  73  for carrying out a piston movement during the upward and downward movement, a cylinder body  74  for supporting and guiding the cylinder rod  73 , a lower ball joint  75  capable of rotating along a track in a lower portion of the cylinder  70 , and a lower ball joint-fixing plate  76  for fixation with the lower plates  12 . 
     The above free hydraulic cylinder  70  is in the form of a single-acting cylinder, and has two oil passages  77  in a lower portion, with one being connected to the inclination-adjustment valve  20  and the other one being connected to a check valve  61 . The free hydraulic cylinder  70  is operated as follows: 
     The upper plate  11  is inclined owing to the difference between heights of the cylinder rods, in which the four cylinders have different heights according to the inclined plane. 
     Although the free hydraulic cylinder  70  of the present invention is fixed to the upper and lower plates, upper and lower ends of the cylinder can be rotated along endless tracks since they are connected via the ball joints  72  and  75 . As a result, the free hydraulic cylinder  70  can rotate along an endless track according to the inclined plane about the shaft center-fixing unit  80 . The body of the cylinder is also inclined depending upon the inclined plane, in which the cylinder has an angle of inclination which is varied depending upon the angle of inclination of the inclined plane of the upper plate. After forming the inclination angle owing to the difference of height to set the inclined plane, the endless free hydraulic cylinder is fixed in a position as the hydraulic circuit is closed in a fixing process. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the buffer unit  40  for hydraulic flow rate and the hydraulic oil-piping unit  60 . The buffer unit  40  for hydraulic flow rate will be described in detail in reference to FIG. 7 as follows: 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the buffer unit  40  for hydraulic flow rate includes a gas compression chamber  41  capable of compressing and filling inert gas, a hydraulic oil storage chamber  42  capable of storing and feeding hydraulic oil, and a diaphragm spool  43  for forming a diaphragm in response to a differential pressure owing to the volume change of hydraulic oil. The operation of the buffer unit  40  will be described as follows: 
     As the free hydraulic cylinders  70  of the present invention continue upward and downward movement at desired heights, flow rate in a cylinder may not correctly correspond to that in another cylinder so that bubbles in hydraulic oil may gather in one of the four free hydraulic cylinders, potentially swaying the upper plate. That is, hydraulic oil can malfunction if seasonal temperature variation and temperature difference between day and night are continued. 
     The buffer unit  40  for hydraulic flow rate serves to solve the above problem, in which inert gas such as nitrogen gas and carbonic acid gas is filled into the gas compression chamber  41  under a pressure lower than the filling pressure of hydraulic oil so that hydraulic oil in the storage chamber  42  feeds the free hydraulic cylinders  70  when the oil passage of the inclination-adjustment valve  20  is closed. This overcomes the problem of bubble creation. Also the diaphragm spool  43  moves due to the differential pressure to overcome contraction and expansion of hydraulic oil owing to the temperature difference. 
     The training apparatus of the present invention is so designed that hydraulic oil can smoothly move since a slight amount of differential pressure exists between the inside of the training apparatus and hydraulic oil of the free hydraulic cylinders  70 . 
     Also in the present invention, the hydraulic oil passages are closed simultaneously with the inclination-adjustment valve  20 . 
     Hereinafter the hydraulic oil-piping unit  60  will be described in detail in reference to FIG. 7 as follows: 
     As shown in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the hydraulic oil-piping unit  60  is a combination including: four check valves  61  for preventing backflow of hydraulic oil in opening the oil passages of the four free hydraulic cylinders  70  and a piping system, the inclination-adjustment valve  20 , the manipulation lever  50 , the buffer unit  40  for hydraulic flow rate, a hydraulic oil feed valve  64 , a passage opening/closing valve  65 , a vent valve  66  and so on. 
     Describing this in more detail, the hydraulic oil-piping unit  60  includes the check valves  61  for preventing backflow of hydraulic oil toward the inclination-adjustment valve  20  when the passages of the free hydraulic cylinders  70  are opened as well as compensating hydraulic oil from the hydraulic flow rate buffer unit  40  toward the hydraulic cylinders  70  when the passages of the hydraulic cylinders  70  are closed to perform a buffering action, buffer hoses  62  for hydraulic flow rate used in buffering flow rate, feed and discharge hoses  63  for hydraulic oil used in opening the passages of the free hydraulic cylinders  70 , the hydraulic oil feed valve  64  for filling hydraulic oil, the passage opening/closing valve  65 , and the vent valve  66  for exhausting air out of a hydraulic circuit. The passage opening/closing valve  65  is closed when hydraulic oil filled into the hydraulic circuit. Then, hydraulic oil is discharged into the free hydraulic cylinders  70 , the inclination-adjustment valve  20 , the buffer unit  40  for hydraulic flow rate and the vent valve  66 , and used in filling hydraulic oil. The passage opening/closing valve  65  is opened during the operation of the golf training apparatus. 
     Hereinafter the shaft center-fixing unit  80  will be described in detail in reference to FIG.  11 . 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the shaft center-fixing unit  80  includes a fixing nut  83  for fixation with the upper plate  11 , a free fixing shaft  82  capable of freely varying its angle according to the variation in angle of the upper plate, and a ball joint  81  for performing central rotation according to the variation in angle of the upper plate. 
     The above shaft center-fixing unit  80  is fixed to the upper plate  11  via a screw structure and integrally incorporated with the lower plate  12  via the ball joint attached thereto so that the upper plate  11  can be inclined at any angle. This functions to prevent that a central portion of the upper plate slips from the shaft center-fixing unit  80  even though the angle of inclination is changed. 
     Hereinafter the upper plate-stabilizing unit  90  will be described in detail in reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, in which FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the upper plate-stabilizing unit  90 , and FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the upper plate-stabilizing unit  90 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the upper plate-stabilizing unit  90  includes: an upper fixing plate  91  for fixation with the upper plate  11 ; a guide shaft  92  for fixing a guide bushing  93  and preventing rotation of the upper and lower plates while allowing vertical motion thereof; the guide bushing  93  capable of moving along a guide plane and rotating at an angle according to the inclined plane of the upper plate; and a lower fixing plate  94  fixed to the lower plate  12  and defining the guide plane. 
     The above upper plate-stabilizing unit  90  is so constructed that the centrally-disposed shaft center-fixing unit  80  adjusts the golf training apparatus of the present invention to have a plane inclined in a desired direction such as a forward, backward or lateral direction. Since support points for supporting both ends of the four hydraulic cylinders  70  are hinge structured in the form of a ball joint and thus the upper plate  11  substantially performs rotation when seen from the plane, the upper plate-stabilizing unit  90  serves to compensate and prevent rotation of the upper plate 
     The upper plate-stabilizing unit  90  is individually fixed to the upper plate  11  and the lower plate  12  and supports vertical motion while disabling rotational circular motion so that the upper plate  11  may not rotate even though rotated at any angle, thereby affording stability to the user while he/she uses the golf training apparatus of the present invention. 
     Hereinafter a leveling unit  100  will be described in detail in reference to FIGS. 15A to  16 , in which FIG. 15A is a side elevation view of the leveling unit of the present invention in a folded position, FIG. 15B is a side elevation view of the leveling unit of the present invention in an unfolded position, and FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the leveling unit of the present invention in the unfolded position. 
     As shown in FIGS. 15A to  16 , the leveling unit  100  includes two supports  101  for supporting the weight of the upper plate  11  and the user standing on the upper plate  11 , a connector bar  102  for integrally connecting the two supports  101  and a hinge  103  for fixing the unit to the lower plate  12  in such a fashion that the unit can be folded/unfolded to/from the lower plate  12 . 
     The leveling unit  100  of the present invention having the above construction is mounted on a portion of the lower plate  12 , and serves to level the golf training apparatus and maintain the same in a leveled position when the user wants to have golf practice on a leveled plane rather than on the inclined plane. 
     When the user switches the golf training apparatus of the present invention from the inclined position to the leveled position, the leveling unit  100  ensures the balance of the golf training apparatus. Also the leveling unit  100  prevents sway of the golf training apparatus as the user moves the center of weight during golf practice in the leveled position. 
     When the user wants to have golf practice on the inclined plane after having practice in the leveled position, as shown in FIG. 15 a , the user may fold the leveling unit  100  via the hinge  103  and incline the upper plate using the manipulation lever  50 . 
     According to the “unpowered inclined-plane golf training apparatus” of the present invention as set forth above, the user can advantageously have practice in a limited place without moving to other place by adjusting the angle of inclination of the upper plate. 
     Further, the golf training apparatus can be easily installed indoor or outdoor where power is not supplied since it can adjust the angle of inclination without power. 
     The upper plate can be rapidly inclined without any sway or noise. 
     The golf training apparatus of the present invention also has advantages in that maintenance cost can be reduced in respect to power consumption, endurance is enhanced and maintenance is made easy. 
     Moreover, since the golf training apparatus of the present invention may not use a power unit, the golf training apparatus has advantages in that the weight can be reduced and the cost can be saved compared to conventional powered golf training apparatuses. Also this may reduce economic burden of consumers.