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Integrated putting training and green speed measuring apparatus and method of use thereofRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, GolfIntegrated putting training and green speed measuring apparatus and method of use thereof description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060287119, Integrated putting training and green speed measuring apparatus and method of use thereof. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/691,639, entitled INTEGRATED PUTTING TRAINING AND GREEN SPEED MEASURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF, filed Jun. 17, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD [0002] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for golfers to practice putting and to assess the speed of a green. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method of using the apparatus that allows golfers to practice control of putting distance on a variety of surfaces as well as allowing for the determination of the speed of a green. BACKGROUND [0003] In order to improve putting performance, golfers need to improve both aim and distance control. The distance a ball travels is, of course, controlled both by the golfer, and the green speed. When practicing indoors golfers will normally be putting on surfaces that have completely different speeds than found on golf greens. The golfer therefore cannot accurately practice distance control on such surfaces. [0004] Several putting training devices have been patented that relate to practicing distance control. Some assess the movement of the putter club head in the absence of a target. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,583 discloses the use of optical sensors to determine the speed of the putter club head. This value is then used to determine the distance a ball would have rolled had it been struck. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,270 uses sensors to determine the speed and orientation of the putter club head during the stroke. As putter club heads come in a range of different masses a given club head speed does not translate directly to a given ball roll distance. [0005] Other devices have been developed that are supposed to indicate the distance that a golf ball would roll on a real green. U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,283 discloses a device where the golfer strikes a putting target that is free to rotate about an axis. The force that the putter strikes the target is measured and this value along with the input stimpmeter reading is used to calculate the distance that the ball would have traveled. While this device can readily be used in locations such as an office or at home, and is readily portable, it suffers from the fact that is does not provide the look and feel obtained with putting a real golf ball. Consequently, whereas a ball can bounce and spin differently when struck by a club head, for example, the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,283 does not account for this. [0006] Both the green speed and the interaction between the club and the ball are taken into consideration in U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,941. Disclosed is the use of an inclined track of length 6 to 7 feet that can be adjusted for height to simulate various golf distances. Further, the surface of the track can be altered to simulate putting on a dry and a wet green. The golfer putts a golf ball down the track and determines the distance that the ball travels. This device is relatively bulky and is not very accurate in that it does not allow for the range of various green speeds found on real golf courses. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,687 uses photogates to determine the ball speed and allows the user to input stimpmeter reading. However, as the device has the user putting the ball from an attached flexible surface and the ball is stopped at the back of the unit, the device cannot be used by the golfer to determine green speed on various greens of interest and then practice using those settings. [0008] Knowledge of the green speed is crucial with any training device if golfers are to be able to practice distance control when putting. The stimpmeter, invented in 1937 by Mr. Edward Stimpson, is the standard instrument used in determining green speed. [0009] The stimpmeter is a long V-shaped aluminum bar with a notch at one end. The bar is laid flat on the ground with a ball placed in the notch. The stimpmeter is then raised and when it reaches an angle of 20.degree. the ball rolls out of the notch and down the trough and onto the putting surface. The distance the ball rolls is referred to as the stimpmeter reading of the green. This value can range from 5 feet for a very slow green to 12 feet for a very fast green. [0010] The design of the stimpmeter often produces a number of inaccuracies in green-speed measurement. The release height of a golf ball placed in the notch in the V-shaped channel depends upon the dimple configuration and exact placement position of the golf ball relative to the edge of the notch. This causes errors in the initial speed of release of balls onto the green surface, which in turn, cause direct errors in green-speed measurements. Operator error, such as lifting or raising the bar in a jerky motion or not holding the bar steady as the ball rolls during a test may also cause a relatively large variation in roll distance. Further, because balls impact the green surface at the lower end of the stimpmeter at a 20-degree angle, they may bounce, thereby creating further variables in roll distance. [0011] A number of approaches have been developed to overcome the deficiencies in the stimpmeter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,527 discloses a collapsible, portable green-speed meter that differs from the original stimpmeter in that it is more stable. The angle is about 30 degrees incline for the ball route while the original stimpmeter is 20 degrees. This apparatus would be fraught with all the deficiencies noted above, with the exception that it is portable and arguably more stable. [0012] The green-speed measuring apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,139 includes a three-track ramp for rolling three golf balls along parallel, but distinct tracks over the surface of a green being tested. The ramp is raised above the putting surface to a precise 20.2-degree angle relative to the local horizontal using a preconfigured angled level-vial and an adjustable-length leg structure that mechanically supports the upper start end of the ramp at a fixed position. The local horizontal is defined as a plane perpendicular to the local gravitational vertical vector. Each golf ball sits in a radiused rolling groove against a radiused ball stop and is held in a pre-release starting position by a release trigger holding plate, which is also radiused to hold golf balls in a repeatable position, regardless of ball surface dimple location or size. The ramp has three ball-radiused rolling grooves that reduce golf ball chatter when a dimpled surface ball rolls down the grooves. The end of the ramp is curved in order to release golf balls horizontally so as to be essentially parallel to the putting green surface thereby minimizing or totally eliminating ball bounce as the ball impacts the surface of the green. This apparatus does overcome some of the deficiencies noted in the original stimpmeter, but it is relatively bulky. [0013] Regardless of the stimpmeter design, stimpmeters only provide information on green speed. They are not used to determine putting performance. [0014] There is a need for a compact integrated device that will allow golfers to practice control of putting distance on any surface and that can accurately assess green speed. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art. SUMMARY [0015] In one disclosed embodiment, an integrated stimp-putt meter for use with a golf ball, putter and distance measure, for assessing golf ball speed along a given path is provided. The stimp-putt meter comprises: at least two transmitter/receiver pairs, for transmission and reception of an electromagnetic beam; a microcontroller in electronic communication with the transmitter/receiver pairs; a display in electronic communication with the microcontroller; and a housing. The transmitter/receiver pairs are located along a given path, and the transmitter and receiver of each pair are separated by a predetermined distance sufficient for a golf ball to pass through and positioned such that the beam is interrupted by the passage of a golf ball. [0016] In another aspect, the transmitter/receiver pairs are photo transmitters/sensors. [0017] In another aspect, the microcontroller comprises a calculator to calculate golf ball speed and projected ball roll distance. [0018] In another aspect, the housing comprises a top and two sides. [0019] In another aspect, the transmitter/receiver pairs are approximately 6 inches apart along a given path. [0020] In another aspect, the integrated stimp-putt meter further comprises a set of switches, and the switches are in communication with the microcontroller and the display, to permit switching from one mode to another mode. 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