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  Golf trainerUSPTO Application #: 20060128492Title: Golf trainer Abstract: A golf trainer (1) has a ground-engaging base (2) supporting a rail assembly (3) and a carriage (50) for guiding a golf club (typically a putter). Foot guides (12, 13) are of thin planar construction, having curved front edges and are configured and located to both indicate a good playing stance and provide support for the trainer (1) while the fronts of the player's feet are on them. The rail assembly (3) comprises a central post (25), and left and right side posts (26, 27). The base (2) comprises a central socket (30) for the central post (25), a left pair of sockets (31) for the post (26), and a right pair of sockets (32) for the post (27). The rail assembly (3) is secured to the base (2) by inserting the central post (25) in the socket (30), and simultaneously inserting the left post (26) in one of the sockets (31), and inserting the right post (27) in one of the sockets (32). By choice of socket, the user can secure the assembly (3) so that the stiffening web (21) is in a vertical plane, or has a configuration which is generally cylindrical about a vertical axis. A club carriage (50) comprises an elastomer grip (51) and a and a wheel (55) for rotation on the axle (54). The elastomer grip (51) comprises a central through-hole (56) for gripping the shafr, and the shape of the gripping element and of a connector (52) allow self-tightening in use. (end of abstract) Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC - Washington, DC, US Inventors: James Hourihan, Francis Moloney, Brian Mooney, Christopher Walsh USPTO Applicaton #: 20060128492 - Class: 473257000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Practice Swingable Implement Or Indicator Associated With Swingable Implement, Swingable Implement Swing Path Indicator The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060128492. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to golf trainers, particularly for training of players for putts or other short swing shots. PRIOR ART DISCUSSION [0002] Putting is one of the most important strokes in the game of golf. It is a simple stroke, requiring the player to strike the ball in a smooth continuous arc with good "follow through". It is also important that the player strike the ball `squarely`, with the putter face at right angles to the. direction of movement. The -player should be able to replicate consistently a good putting stroke in order to score well. [0003] US Patent Specification No. U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,131 (Vella et al) describes a putting trainer having an arc-shaped rail supported on a support structure. The rail is supported at each end by a mechanism having a wing nut pressing against a component for changing the orientation of the rail. Adjustment of the radius of the rail's arc is achieved by adjusting the tension applied by a wing nut to a link which in turn levers the end of the guide rail so as to produce a bow in the guide rail between two supports of rigid frame. [0004] It appears that the Vella et al trainer would not be particularly reliable or easy to use as large forces are required to lever the end of the rail, and it would be difficult for the player to achieve a consistent orientation of the rail throughout its length. [0005] Also, EP312287, U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,701, U.S. Pat. No. 2,653,025, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,960,787 describe golf trainers. However these trainers appear to be quite complex and bulky. [0006] The invention is therefore directed towards providing an improved golf putting trainer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] According to the invention, there is provided a golf trainer comprising a base, a guide rail supported on the base, and a carriage for gripping a golf club and for running on the rail. [0008] In one embodiment, the rail is of non-uniform construction in cross-section, having different stiffness characteristics in different rail radial directions. [0009] In one embodiment, the rail comprises a flange or web extending in one direction only. [0010] In one embodiment, the web or flange extends in a general direction towards the base. [0011] In another embodiment, the carriage comprises a guide for running on the rail. [0012] In one embodiment, the guide is a wheel. In an alternative embodiment, the guide is non-rotating and has a low-friction rail-contacting surface. The guide may be interchangeable. [0013] In one embodiment, the carriage comprises a shaft gripping element having a through hole and a slot to allow it to be placed on a shaft with the shaft extending through the through-hole. [0014] In one embodiment, the gripping element is resilient and the through-hole has a smaller cross-section than that of a golf club when unstressed so that it is deformed and its resilience causes it to grip a shaft extending through it. [0015] In one embodiment, the gripping element is of a high friction material, in one embodiment being an elastomer. [0016] In one embodiment, the gripping element is tapered. inwardly and downwardly, and the connector comprises a sleeve to surround and engage the gripping element whereby the gripping element and the sleeve are self-tightening in use. The gripping element may have the outer configuration of the frustum of a cone. [0017] In one embodiment, the carriage comprises a guide for running on the rail, and a connector linking the gripping element to the guide. [0018] In one embodiment, the guide is a wheel, the connector comprises a wheel axle, and the axle is longitudinally bifurcated to deform radially when it engages the wheel. [0019] In one embodiment, the trainer comprises a rail adjustment means. The rail adjustment means may allow connection of the rail to the base at different alignments to retain the rail at a desired orientation. [0020] In one embodiment, the adjustment means comprises a plurality of posts secured to the rail or the base and a greater number of sockets in the other of the base or the rail, whereby user selection of post-socket engagement sets rail orientation. In one embodiment, the base comprises the sockets. [0021] In a further embodiment, a plurality of the sockets are aligned, and there are additional sockets so that there may be rail curvature about a vertical axis. In one embodiment, there is one socket located under a central portion of the rail and a plurality of sockets located under each end portion of the rail. Continue reading... Full patent description for Golf trainer Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf trainer 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 trainer or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Golf course Next Patent Application: Divot indicating golf practice devices Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf trainer patent info. 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