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  Golf swing training apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20070191128Title: Golf swing training apparatus Abstract: A golf training apparatus for practicing golf strokes using either irons or woods and from both even and uneven lies with training apparatus including a base coupled to a selectively tiltable platform having a standing section adjacent a striking section covered with a replaceable striking mat defining an uppermost and further including a tee with a neck projecting at least partially through the mat and terminating in an uppermost incline rim operable to releasably hold a golf ball in a pre-strike position with the platform in a tilted orientation. (end of abstract)
Agent: AdvantageIPLaw Firm - Seal Beach, CA, US Inventor: Francisco T. Tirol USPTO Applicaton #: 20070191128 - Class: 473150000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Projectile Addressing Surface And Target, Or Distance Marker (e.g., Course, Putting Green With Cup, Driving Range, Miniature Golf Course, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070191128. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention: [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for practicing golf strokes and more specifically to an apparatus for supporting a golfer during the striking of a golf ball from a variety of lies. [0003] 2. General Background and State of the Art: [0004] The game of golf is enjoyed around the world, both leisurely and as a serious competitive sport. Both dedication and practice are necessary to obtain consistency and improve one's score. To gain an edge, many golfers seek the assistance of a golf professional or instructor. A typical practice session involves striking a large quantity of golf balls one at a time directly off of a level practice mat constructed of a rubber pad covered by an artificial turf material or off of a tee projecting through the mat at a driving range. The tee typically includes an enlarged circular base flange and a cylindrical neck that terminates at its height in a level rim parallel with the base flange. The practice mat includes a hole through which the neck of the tee is inserted and the base flange is placed underneath the mat. The base flange prevents the tee from being ejected out of the mat when struck. The tee is typically constructed of a rubber material rigid enough to support a golf ball under compressive forces but flexible enough in the shear direction to minimize its impediment to a golf club head during contact with the ball and tee during the golfer's swing. At some ranges, golf balls may be struck off real grass instead of a mat and a conventional wooden tee may be used to practice tee shots. [0005] During the practice session, the professional watches the golfer strike golf balls and provides tips to improve the golfer's swing and striking motions. While such practice sessions may help considerably, many on course scenarios are omitted from such a training session. For instance, while a typical initial drive from the tee box occurs with the ball placed at a particular height above the ground on a tee or on a flat patch of short cut grass, most of the shots occurring during a round after the tee shot require the golfer to strike the ball from an uphill, downhill, or sidehill lie, such lies being commonly referred to as an uneven lie. Even more difficult uneven lies resulting from a combination of an uphill/sidehill lie or a downhill/sidehill lie are also frequently encountered during play. However, the conventional practice mat only allows the golfer to practice shots from an even lie or tee shots and does not allow the golfer to simulate difficult shots from an uneven lie. To address these more difficult but commonly occurring scenarios, a number of golf training devices have been developed. [0006] Examples of tilting platforms used for practicing golf strokes from difficult uneven lies may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,498 to Stipan; U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,881 to. Lee; U.S. Pat. No. 6,033, 317 to Beam; U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,615 to Lee; U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,478 to Wood et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,522 to Chang; U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,042 to Spriddle; U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,074 to Hotchkiss et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,379 to Cleland; U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,251 to Ashton; U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,111 to Froelich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,837 to Urra Martinez; U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,684 to Benilan; U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,918 to Smiley; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0128084 to Lee et al. The tilting platforms are typically covered with an artificial turf material. While the mechanisms for tilting the platforms are generally the focus of each patent and vary somewhat from patent to patent, in general, the golfer may alter the slope of the hitting surface by either shifting his or her own weight while standing on the platform, manually lifting or sliding the platform to the desired tilt and locking it into place, or using a hydraulic or pneumatic lift actuated by a control panel or foot switch. The golfer then will stand upon the tilted surface to strike the golf ball from an uneven lie. Of course, the respective platforms may be leveled so as to strike the ball from a flat or even lie as well and thus provide the same functionality as the conventional practice mat. [0007] As for the mechanism for holding the golf ball after the platform is tilted or as the platform is tilted, this varies from patent to patent as well, that is, when such feature is even addressed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,317 to Beam or FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,478 to Wood et al., the golf ball is struck from a raised tee and thus does not accurately simulate an iron shot from an uneven grass lie. Similar raised tee shots are illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,522 to Chang; FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,042 to Spriddle; and FIG. 20 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,074 to Hotchkiss et al. In Hotchkiss, the golf ball is supported on a conventional, cylindrical, rubber driving tee and doesn't even contact the surrounding turf again removing the capability of practicing iron shots directly off the turf from an uneven lie. These golf ball holding devices defeat the purpose of simulating real golf conditions. More specifically, when using a tee to elevate the golf ball off the surrounding turf, such turf is typically level and thus striking a golf ball off of a tee from an uneven lie is not an accurate game scenario. The converse of this is also true. Should an uneven lie be presented to the golfer, a tee will not be used to elevate the golf ball off the ground prior to striking the golf ball. [0008] Another method of holding a golf ball in place on a tiltable platform is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,837 to Urra Martinez. In that patent, the golf ball is purportedly held in place by a dimple in the mat. A set of dimples is situated in a circle around the outer perimeter of the platform so the golfer has some options in placing the golf ball relative to the platform tilt. However, the material defining the dimples is not flexible and does not allow the golfer to strike down through the ball. Furthermore, should the dimples be too large, the true flight of the golf ball once struck is impacted and, conversely, should the dimples be too shallow or too small in diameter, this leads to a dimple with poor retention capacity and the golf ball will roll off the platform when tilted. [0009] Others of these patents simply rely on the mat itself to purportedly hold the ball in place when the platform is tilted. Examples of such mats are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,460,379; 5,340,111; and 4,875,684. However, from a review of these constructions, it is apparent that if the simulated grass or artificial turf is short as for simulating a fairway shot, the golf ball will roll off the mat when the platform is tilted. It is telling in U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,379 that a retaining ledge is used to prevent the ball from rolling completely off the tilted platform. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,478 to Wood, a deep pipe fiber matting is used to purportedly hold the golf ball in place. However, this precludes a true simulation of short fairway grass and also remains susceptible to releasing the ball when the platform is tilted severely as when simulating a steep uneven lie. Some of the patents listed above do not even address how the ball is maintained in place on the tilted platform. As discussed above, merely placing a golf ball directly on a practice mat has drawbacks. [0010] In Patent Application Publication No. US2002/0128084, a variable height tee is described to allow the user to practice both tee shots and iron shots and putting from an angled platform. However, it has been found that a standard rubber tee with a level upper rim is inadequate to inhibit a golf ball from rolling off a practice mat as the underlying platform is tilted through a wide range of angles. Thus, the use of such a standard tee reduces the range of shots the golfer can practice. [0011] Thus, there exists a need for a platform capable of simulating a wide variety of golf shots commonly encountered during play for both woods and irons in conjunction with a holding device for maintaining a golf ball on an uneven lie while imparting no adverse effects on the flight of the ball. INVENTION SUMMARY [0012] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a golf swing training apparatus has a base coupled to a platform by a selectively operable angle adjusting element with the platform including a standing section operable to support a golfer and a striking section for positioning a golf ball and at least partially covered by a replaceable striking mat that defines an uppermost grass line and further includes a tee having a neck projecting at least partially through the mat and terminating in an uppermost inclined rim operable to releasably hold a golf ball in a pre-strike position. With such training apparatus, a user may stand on the platform within the standing section, place a golf ball on the inclined rim and selectively actuate the adjusting element to tilt the platform through a range of slopes and then strike the golf ball once a desired tilt angle is set without the golf ball inadvertently falling off the tee prematurely. [0013] Another feature of the present invention is that the striking section and standing section are interchangeable to accommodate both left handed and right handed golfers. [0014] Yet another feature of the present invention is that the adjusting element is selectively operable to tilt the platform into an uneven lie orientation including an uphill lie, downhill lie, sidehill lie, or a combination of a downhill/sidehill lie or an uphill/sidehill lie. [0015] Another aspect of the present invention is that the adjusting element comprises a hydraulic pump and electric motor coupled to a set of telescoping cylinders to control the angle of the platform. [0016] Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent with further reference to the following drawings and detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a right handed golfer standing upon a simplified representation of a golf swing training apparatus in accordance with the present invention while preparing to strike a golf ball from a sidehill lie with the golf ball releasably retained above the golfer's feet; [0018] FIG. 2 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 1 with the golfer preparing to strike a golf ball from a sidehill lie with the golf ball releasably retained below the golfer's feet; [0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a golf tee according to the present invention; [0020] FIG. 4 is a side view of the tee shown in FIG. 3; [0021] FIG. 5 is a top view of the tee shown in FIG.3; Continue reading... Full patent description for Golf swing training apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf swing training apparatus 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 swing training apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Golf aid Next Patent Application: Golf swing training aid Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf swing training apparatus patent info. 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