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The disclosure relates to golf training devices and more particularly pertains to a new golf training device for improving a putting stroke of a user.
The prior art relates to golf training devices. Prior art golf training devices intended to improve a putting stroke may comprise a frame that is used to guide or position at least one of a shaft of a putter, a user's head, knees, and shoulders, but which do not provide a curved surface that guides a path of the shaft of the putter or a means to prevent the knees of the user from moving outwardly during a putting stroke.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base that is configured to be positioned on a surface. A pair of posts is coupled by lower ends to the base. Each post is positioned proximate to a respective opposed side of the base so that the pair of posts defines a reference plane that is perpendicular to the base. A guide unit engaged to and extends from the base in a guide plane that is parallel to the reference plane. The guide unit is configured to guide a shaft of a putter during a putting stroke. A constriction unit that is engaged to the posts is selectively positionable in abutment to outer faces of knees of a user. The constriction unit is configured to prevent outward motion of the knees during the putting stroke. A stance governing unit that is engaged to upper ends of the posts is configured to template a posture of the user during the putting stroke.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A guide unit 24 that is engaged to and which extends from the base 12 in a guide plane 26 that is parallel to the reference plane 20 is configured to guide a shaft of a putter during a putting stroke. The guide unit 24 is positioned adjacent to a front 28 of the base 12 and the posts 14 are positioned proximate to the guide unit 24. The guide unit 24 is selectively extendable from the base 12 within the guide plane 26. As such, the guide unit 24 can be adjusted to accommodate users of various heights.
The guide unit 24 comprises a pair of endplates 30 and a guide plate 32. Each endplate 30 is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from a respective elongated plate 22. The endplate 30 has a slot 34 positioned longitudinally therethrough so that the slot 34 is perpendicular to the respective elongated plate 22. The guide plate 32 extends between the endplates 30 and is configured to be extended from the base 12 within the guide plane 26.
The guide plate 32 has an upper edge 36 that is concavely arcuate. As such the upper edge 36 of the guide plate 32 is configured to guide the shaft of the putter during the putting stroke. The guide plate 32 has opposed ends 38, each of which has a connector 40 engaged thereto. The connector 40 extends through a respective slot 34 and is configured to selectively engage the endplate 30 in which the respective slot 34 is positioned to fixedly position the guide plate 32 relative to the base 12.
A constriction unit 42 is engaged to the posts 14 so that the constriction unit 42 is selectively positionable in abutment to outer faces of knees of a user. The constriction unit 42 is configured to prevent outward motion of the knees during the putting stroke. The constriction unit 42 is selectively positionable on the posts 14 relative to the base 12 so that it can be selectively positioned at a height corresponding to the knees of the user, as shown in
The constriction unit 42 comprises a frame 44 that is engaged to the posts 14 and which extends toward a rear 46 of the base 12. The frame 44 is parallel to the base 12 and is configured to slide on the posts 14. The frame 44 comprises a first rod 48 that has opposed termini 50. Each opposed terminus 50 has a second rod 52 engaged thereto and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The second rod 52 is engaged to an associated post 14 and extends toward the rear 46 of the frame 44 and parallel to the frame 44. The second rod 52 has a coupling 80 engage thereto and configured to engage the associated post 14 to fixedly position the constriction unit relative to the base 12.
The second rod 52 has a slider tube 54 positioned and slidable thereupon. The first rod 48 is coupled to and extends between the slider tubes 54. The slider tube 54 has a fastener 56 engaged thereto and configured to selectively engage the second rod 52 to fixedly position the first rod 48 relative to the reference plane 20.
A pair of brackets 58 that is engaged to the frame 44 and is configured to be slid on the frame 44 relative to the posts 14, as shown in
A stance governing unit 68 that is engaged to upper ends 70 of the posts 14 is configured to template a posture of the user during the putting stroke. The stance governing unit 68 comprises a first tube 72 that has opposed endpoints 74. Each opposed endpoint 74 has a second tube 76 coupled thereto and extending therefrom. The second tube 76 is engaged to an upper end 70 of an associated post 14 so that the second tube 76 is transverse to the reference plane 20 and so that the first tube 72 is parallel to and positioned past the guide plane 26.
The first tube 72 has a pad 78 engaged thereto. The present invention also anticipates the second tube 76 being pivotally engaged to the upper end 70 of the associated post 14 so that the stance governing unit 68 is selectively pivotable relative to the reference plane 20.
In use, the base 12 is positioned on the surface, such as a practice green. The constriction unit 42 is adjusted to a height to match that of the knees of the user and the brackets 58 are positioned in abutment to the knees to prevent their outward motion during the putting stroke. The user bends at their waist, positioning their forehead proximate to or on the first tube 72 to enter the posture required for putting. The guide plate 32 is extended from the base 12 to a height required for the user. The upper edge 36 of the guide plate 32 guides the shaft of the putter during practicing of the putting stroke. Repeated practicing of the putting stroke with the device 10 instils muscle memory, allowing the user to assume proper posture and to execute a proper putting stroke without use of the device 10.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210197060 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |