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Golf putting training aid with glide railRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Practice Swingable Implement Or Indicator Associated With Swingable Implement, Swingable Implement Swing Path IndicatorGolf putting training aid with glide rail description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060116214, Golf putting training aid with glide rail. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC .sctn.119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/657,473, filed 1 Mar. 2005; U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/643,914, filed 10 Jan. 2005; and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/632,299, filed 1 Dec. 2004, all three of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention is directed to a training device for the game of golf and more particularly to a training device for assisting a golfer in practicing and improving golf putting skills. BACKGROUND [0003] In the game of golf, a large proportion of a golfer's total score comes from putting the golf ball. In an 18-hole round of golf, if a player can make the ball into the cup with an average of only 2 putts per green, putting will still account for 36 strokes of the total score. That's exactly half of par for a par-72 course. In contrast, in that same 18-hole round of golf, driving from the tee box will always account for only 18 strokes of the total score (for both professionals and amateurs alike). Thus the old adage "drive for show, putt for dough [e.g. money]," is clearly true. Many are the weekend golfers and would-be professional golfers who can drive the ball a prodigious distance, with good accuracy, only to have their scores balloon due to poor putting skills. Therefore, a crucial part of the game of golf, for amateurs and professionals alike, is to master a natural, consistent, accurate, and precise putting stroke. A successful putting stroke reproducibly directs the ball along the path intended by the golfer. A successful putting stroke imparts a smooth forward spin to the ball, the spin following the path of travel of the ball. In short, the putting stroke of every successful golfer shares one common denominator: the stroke quite literally rolls the ball smoothly into the cup. [0004] The prior art is replete with different putting stroke training devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,669 describes a golf practice putting track contoured to follow a putter head during a putting stroke. The track includes a pair of rails which may be adjusted with respect to each other, insuring that the putter maintains a straight path. U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,077 describes an electronic target alignment system using a mirror and reflected light to ensure that the angle of the putter face remains square during the execution of a stroke. U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,282 describes a putting system using a practice insert which ensures that the ball is hit precisely on its center. [0005] In other devices, two parallel golf clubs or parallel sticks are placed roughly in parallel with a space for a golf putter head to be placed between the clubs or sticks. The clubs or sticks are then aimed toward the practice ball cup. The golfer practices stroking the golf ball toward the ball cup with the clubs or sticks being used as an alignment guide. [0006] However, each of these training devices has disadvantages. For instance, these training devices give the golfer ample room for error, thus teaching the golfer an incorrect or improper putting stroke. Still other training devices teach poor muscle movement, leaving the golfer dependent on the training device. Thus, a need exists for a simple and easy to use putting aid that helps a golfer master a proper and consistent putting stroke. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The invention is directed to a golf swing training apparatus. The apparatus comprises a base, at least one curved rail attached to the base, and a carriage movably attached to the curved rail. The invention further comprises, in combination, a fastener having a first end and a second end. The first end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage the carriage, and the second end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage a golf club. [0008] The carriage preferably comprises a substantially hollow cylinder dimensioned and configured to movably engage at least a portion of the curved rail. The first end of the golf club fastener preferably comprises a magnet and releasably engages the carriage (and/or the golf club) via magnetic forces. Alternatively, the golf club fastener may releasably engage the carriage and putter using connectors, such as hook-and-loop type connectors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is a top plan schematic view of an idealized putting stroke [0010] FIG. 2 is a front elevation schematic view of an idealized putting stroke [0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the swing trainer according to the present invention. [0012] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. [0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the swing trainer according to the present invention. [0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view as shown in FIG. 5, with the addition of a golf club 30. [0015] FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the rail 14 and carriage 16. [0016] FIG. 8 is another cutaway view of the rail 14 and carriage 16, showing a ball-bearing assembly disposed within the carriage. [0017] FIG. 9 is yet another cutaway view of the rail 14 and carriage 16, showing a fastener disposed on the carriage. [0018] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the head of a putter (the shaft has been omitted for clarity) attached to a fastener. [0019] FIG. 11 is a front elevation cross-section of a putter operationally linked to the invention. Continue reading about Golf putting training aid with glide rail... Full patent description for Golf putting training aid with glide rail Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf putting training aid with glide rail patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Golf putting training aid with glide rail or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Resin joint boot Next Patent Application: Shock-absorbable grip Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf putting training aid with glide rail patent info. 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