LASER GOLF TRAINING APPARATUS

APPAREIL LASER D'ENTRAINEMENT AU GOLF

English Abstract

The laser golf training apparatus is a device for training golfer in alignment, stance and swing. It comprises laser pointer, rack and clamp. The whole device is mounted on the shaft of a golf putter by the clamp, and the laser pointer is hung on the rack over the putter head. The laser pointer consists of laser generator unit, function units, control units and power source. Laser generator unit projects a laser beam perpendicular with the hitting face of putter head, by which a golfer can get accurate alignment. The function units contain pulse circuit and delay circuit to drive blinking LED or laser generator unit, with which a golfer can get a sense of swing tempo. The control units are a general switch and a leveling component embedded within the laser pointer, and it indicates the putter head in a desired square position. By which a golfer can build up a solid stance. The rack consists of two coupled sections, arm section and flexible section, which links up the laser pointer for accurately initial adjustment on laser beam.

French Abstract

L'appareil d'apprentissage du golf laser est un dispositif pour entraîner un golfeur en ce qui concerne son alignement, sa position et son balancement. Il comprend un pointeur laser, un support et une pince. L'ensemble du dispositif est monté sur l'arbre d'un club de golf par la pince, et le pointeur laser est accroché sur le support au-dessus de la tête du club. Le pointeur laser est constitué de l'unité de générateur de laser, d'unités fonctionnelles, d'unités de commande et d'une source d'alimentation. L'unité de générateur laser projette un faisceau laser perpendiculaire à la face de frappe de la tête du club, grâce auquel un joueur de golf peut obtenir un alignement précis. Les unités fonctionnelles contiennent un circuit d'impulsion et un circuit de retard pour commander une D.E.L. clignotante ou une unité de génération laser, avec laquelle un golfeur peut acquérir un sens du swing. Les unités de commande sont un interrupteur général et un composant de mise à niveau intégré dans le pointeur laser, et il montre la tête du club dans une position carrée souhaitée, par l'intermédiaire de laquelle un golfeur peut adopter une position solide. Le support est constitué de deux sections couplées, une section de bras et une section flexible, qui relie le pointeur laser pour le réglage de précision initial du faisceau laser.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OF PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A laser golf training apparatus comprises:

(1) a laser pointer for pointing at an intended target, said laser pointer
contains
a laser generator unit, a function unit driving a blinking LED and said
laser generator unit to indicate a swing tempo, control units including a
general switch and a leveling component, and power source.

(2) an adjustable rack being consisted of an arm section and a flexible
section
which links up with said laser pointer for initial adjustment.

(3) a removable clamp with a thumbscrew linking up with said arm section for
the laser golf training apparatus being attached onto the shaft of a golf
putter.

2. The laser golf training apparatus of claim 1, wherein said laser generator
unit can
either be to emit invisible laser beam or be to emit visible laser beam.

3. The laser golf training apparatus of claim 1, wherein said function unit
consists of
a pulse circuit and a delay circuit for driving the blinking LED and the laser
generator unit.

4. The laser golf training apparatus of claim 1, wherein said general switch
controls
the power source on / off.

5. The laser golf training apparatus of claim 1, wherein said leveling
component
controls the laser generator unit on / off when the laser pointer points down
/ up.

6. The laser golf training apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power source is
a set of
batteries to supply energy to the laser generator unit, the blinking LED and
the
function unit.

Description

CA 02332659 2002-O1-03
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The laser golf training apparatus relates to improve golfers' skills on
alignment, stance
and putting swing. By which, a golfer can accurately align the hitting face of
golf
putter head being perpendicular with the straight line thraugh a ball to a
target. It is a
means for golfer to build up a routine stance affected by the position of
putter head,
and cultivate a sense of swing tempo by a blinking LED on the apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
In golfing, most golf players are difficult to accurately align the putting
face being
perpendicular with the line through a ball to a target without tool assist.
Consequently,
they are hard to perceive the problem caused by their swing or alignment if
missing a
putting. However, using this training apparatus, a golfer could figure out
that missing
putting could be caused by any other problem except alignment. So, he or she
can
separately do putting exercise step by step and get improvement on putting
skill more
effciently.
Using this means, a golfer can train the judgment of alignment. First, a
golfer tries
to align the hitting face being perpendicular with the line through a ball to
a target.
Then, turn on the laser beam to see if it points to the target. In this way,
the golfer can
improve the accuracy of alignment.
Many golfers neglect that a routine stance is one of the keys to get a
constant putting.
By the present invention, a golfer can figure out if the putter head is in a
desired
square position, and naturally, adapt his or her stance to the putter head.
The present invention has an adjustable blinking LED or intermitted laser
beam. A
golfer can select a rhythm fit for his or her favor. Complying with the rhythm
of the
blinking LED, the golfer can get a constant swing tempo, which fairly affects
the
rolling distance of a stricken ball.
A golfer can practice putting swing with this training apparatus. First, align
the laser
beam upon a straight line. Then, swing the putter to compel the point of laser
beam
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CA 02332659 2002-O1-03
running on the straight line complying with the rhythm of blinking LED. In
this way,
the golfer can acquire constant swing skill.
The laser golf training apparatus is conveniently attachable, removable and
adjustable
on the shaft of any conventional golf club or croquet mallet.
In the similar previous inventions, there are some of the following
disadvantages:
1. The switch is separated from laser emitting device, which causes
inconvenient
installation and extra wires.
2. No flexible section linked up laser pointer, so it is difficult to
accurately adjust
the direction of laser beam.
3. There is no function for swing tempo.
4. There is no function for stance.
5. Too many or heavy components are involved in these devices.
6. Poor compatibility.
In the present invention, a leveling component is embedded within a laser
pointer. So,
with this modification, the laser golf training apparatus gets a significant
improvement
on previous installations. Besides, the leveling component can indicate the
putter head
in a desired square position as the laser beam is just in on-to-off condition,
which
helps golfer to build up a solid stance.
There is a flexible section linked up laser pointer on the rack. The flexible
section is
made of a special metal with PVC. It can be bent and turned without tension
accumulated for accurately initial adjustment on laser beam.
The present invention supplies a blinking LED to cultivate a sense of swing
tempo. If
a golfer can constantly control the swing tempo, it means he or she can well
control
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CA 02332659 2002-O1-03
the rolling distance of a stricken ball.
The present invention is compact and light one, so, less weight affects on the
putter.
The laser golf training apparatus can be applied on almost any conventional
golf club
or croquet mallet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of laser golf training apparatus attached on a
golf
putter.
Figure 2 is the top view of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front view of the laser golf training apparatus.
Figure 4 is inside structure of laser pointer.
Figure 5 is the electronic schematic diagram of laser pointer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the present invention, figure 1
and
figure 2 show a laser golf training apparatus attached on a golf putter:
As to a conventional golf putter 2, it comprises handle 4, shaft 6 and putter
head 8.
There is a hitting face 10 and a mark of hitting line 12 on the putter head 8.
A ball 30
is supposed to be hit at the mark of hitting line 12 on hitting face 10.
The Iaser golf training apparatus 14 comprises a clamp 16, a rack and a laser
pointer
24. The rack is consisted of two coupled sections, arm section 20 and flexible
section
22 which links up a laser pointer 24. There is a blinking LED 26 in the laser
pointer
24. On the ground, there are a target 32 and a pair of perpendicular lines, a
start line
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CA 02332659 2002-O1-03
34 and a perpendicular line 36.
The figure 3 illustrates the laser golf training apparatus, which comprises
clamp 16,
thumbscrew 18, arm section 20, flexible section 22 and laser pointer 24,
The figure 4 illustrates the laser pointer, which consists of laser generator
unit 38,
blinking LED 26, function units 40, control units 42 and power source 44.
The figure 5 illustrates the electronic diagram of the laser pointer.
The laser generator unit can emit either visible or invisible laser beam. The
control
units are a general switch that controls power source on or off, and a
leveling
component that controls laser beam on or off. The function units contain pulse
circuit
and delay circuit, which drive the blinking LED or the laser generator. The
blinking
LED indicates a rhythm for swing tempo.
Installation and adjustment:
1. Attach the laser golf training apparatus 14 onto the shaft 6 by slightly
turning
screw 18.
2. Adjust the height of the laser golf training apparatus 14 to let laser
pointer 24 be a
little higher than a ball 30 by moving clamp 16 along axis-2 showed in
Figurel.
3. Adjust the laser pointer 24 be roughly perpendicular with the hitting face
10 over
the mark of hitting line 12 by turning the arm section 20 around pivot-V and
turning laser pointer 14 around pivot-W showed in Figurel and Figure2.
4. Tighten the screw 18 firmly to have the arm section 20 unmoved.
5. Set the putter head 8 in vertical square position and gently adjust the
laser pointer
24 around pivot-U showed on Figurel to let the laser beam be just in on-to-off
condition.
6. Lay the edge of hitting face 10 on the start line 34 and let the mark of
hitting line
i0 onto the perpendicular line 36.
7. Incline the handle 4 forward the target 32 to switch on the laser beam 28.
8. Adjust the laser beam 28 pointing to the target 32 by turning laser pointer
24
around pivot-W showed on Figure2.
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CA 02332659 2002-O1-03
The requirements of installation are to make the laser beam 28 perpendicular
with the
hitting face 10 over the mark of hitting line 12, and let the laser beam be
jut in on-to-
off condition as the putter head 8 is at the desired square position.
Training Methods:
1. Training on putting swing with tempo:
1. Set a straight thread on the ground.
2. Align the putter head 8 to let laser beam 28 upon the straight line.
3. Swing the putter 2 and compel the point of laser beam 28 running on the
line
complying with the rhythm of blinking LED 26.
2. Training on alignment:
1. Lay the putter head 8 behind a ball 30 and let the mark of hitting line 12
point to
the cent of the ball 30.
2. Try to align the hitting face 10 being perpendicular with the line through
the ball
30 and the target 32.
3. Incline the handle 4 toward the target 32 to switch on the laser beam 28
and check
if it points to the target 32.
3. Training on stance and putting:
1. Lay the putter head 8 behind a ball 30, and incline the handle 4 forward
the target
32 to switch on the laser beam 28.
2. Align the putter head 8 to let the laser beam 28 point to the target 32.
3. Then, slowly return the handle 4 back to switch off the laser beam 28. As
the
laser beam 28 is just in on-to-off condition, the putter head 8 is at the
desired
square position.
4. Adapt the stance to the putter 2.
5. Finally, it's ready to swing the putter 2 following the rhythm of blinking
LED 26
and strike the ball 30.
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Representative Drawing