Golf Training Device

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/655,943 filed on Jun. 4, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates in general to golf training devices, and more particularly, to golf training devices that aid in training putting and executing other strokes around a green.

None.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with particular embodiments of the present invention that attach to a putter and to one arm of a user.

The act of putting is arguably the most important process in the game of golf. Normally, half the golfer's score is devoted to the task of putting. Golf courses always allow two strokes on every hole for putting while defining the score of par. Any activity geared towards perfecting the art of putting has enormous effects on a golfer's overall score. All golfers strive for total perfection in this area.

Golf is a game of motion. When a golfer begins play on a golf hole, the objective is clear. The ball must be advanced into a small cup a great distance away. The process of striking the golf ball and carrying it great distances requires a great deal of body motion, but eventually that motion must cease. As the golfer moves closer to the cup, precision in distance and direction must be improved or the goal will not be achieved. Because putting is generally the last swing motion, it is considered the most precise activity.

A number of golf training or instructional devices have been suggested for the improvement of strokes around the green. Some of them connect a golfer's arm or wrist to the club with a linkage to prevent wrist movement or “breaking” during the stroke. Many of the best putters advocate the use of only the arms during the putting stroke to prevent the errant putts that result from breaking the wrist near the point of impact.

One instructional device is disclosed by Norwood in his U.S. Pat. No. 2,273,416. He used a retaining member that fit against the grip of a golf club to be held by the golfer below the end of the shaft and grip. The retaining member has a pivotable link with an arm or wrist band through a spacer to prevent wrist breakage during a stroke. This device interferes with normal hand position while gripping the club. He uses a strapped pad that creates a static angle that may not be comfortable to different size golfers. Also, the left wrist (of a right-hand player) is ignored although it provides all the directional motion involved in a stroke or swing.

Another instructional device is disclosed by Bickler in his U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,516, which uses a J-hook shaped member designed to engage a hole found in the top of a standard putter grip. An angled attachment member extends upwardly from the J-hook member to support an arm or wrist guide. This device has the same disadvantages found in Norwood.

Previously known golf training or instructional devices have focused on only a segment of the putting function. These devices were attached to the putter or engaged the golfer in such a manner as to compromise feel and posture. To use these devices, a golfer must adapt to unusual or unnecessary positions.

An improved golf instructional device is disclosed by Vasquez in his U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,568, having a support member adapted to be held against a conventional or standard golf club, a coupler secured to the support member, and a link of adjustable length. An arm pad is supported on one end of the adjustable link so that the trainer may be used by any size golfer. A threaded coupler is used at the top of the support member and the adjustable link, and a threaded bolt used to support the arm pad for case of assembly and disassembly. A second arm pad is located on the end of a second adjustable link so that both arms are properly and unalterably positioned relative to the grip and the club.

For a training device to be helpful it must allow the user to complete the task without constraints, if the task is properly performed. Only when an incorrect action is performed should the user be confronted.

Every golfer has a different approach to putting. The motion is acutely affected by each player's physical characteristics. The ideal training or instructional device for putting, chipping, or pitching is adjustable to enable each golfer to assume a normal putting position. The golfer's normal grip, posture and feel should not be affected by the training or instructional device. Yet the overall goal of limiting body motion should be controlled by the design of the device.

The position of the training device above and beside the putter grip should make it comfortable for the golfer to use during a practice session.

Since travel is a part of the sport and the golfing public is a mobile group, the ideal training or instructional device should be capable of convenient disassembly and re-assembly.

Training apparatuses that promote holding a user's arms stationary relative to a putter gripped by the user are desirable.

As embodied and broadly described herein, an aspect of the present disclosure relates to a golf training device comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a support member comprising two or more attachment straps and adapted to be attached to a grip of a golf club; a coupler secured to the support member; a first link with one end connected to the coupler and another end extending from the coupler a selected distance transversely from the support member; a first arm pad secured to the first link to position one of a user's lower arms relative to the grip and the golf club in an unalterable position, comprising a first cushion; a second link with one end connected to the coupler and another end extending from the coupler a selected distance transversely from the support member and opposite the first link; a second arm pad secured to the second link to position another of the user's lower arms relative to the grip and the golf club in an unalterable position, comprising a second cushion; and one or more arm straps, each arm strap connected to a respective arm pad and adapted to secure the respective arm pad to the user's respective arm. In one aspect, each of the first link and the second link has an adjustable length. In another aspect, the support member comprises a gripper plate to extend from a mid-region of the grip to an upper end of the grip. In another aspect, the support member comprises plastic or metal. In another aspect, the first link or the second link comprises plastic or metal. In another aspect, the first arm pad or the second arm pad comprises plastic or metal. In another aspect, the attachment straps comprise hook-and-loop fasteners. In another aspect, the arm straps comprise hook-and-loop fasteners.

As embodied and broadly described herein, an aspect of the present disclosure relates to a golf training device kit comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a support member comprising two or more attachment straps and adapted to be attached to a grip of a golf club; a coupler secured to the support member; a first link with one end connected to the coupler and another end extending from the coupler a selected distance transversely from the support member; a first arm pad secured to the first link to position one of a user's lower arms relative to the grip and the golf club in an unalterable position, comprising a first cushion; a second link with one end connected to the coupler and another end extending from the coupler a selected distance transversely from the support member and opposite the first link; a second arm pad secured to the second link to position another of the user's lower arms relative to the grip and the golf club in an unalterable position, comprising a second cushion; one or more arm straps, each arm strap connected to a respective arm pad and adapted to secure the respective arm pad to the user's respective arm; and one or more tools to manipulate the golf training device in disassembly or reassembly. In one aspect, In one aspect, each of the first link and the second link has an adjustable length. In another aspect, the support member comprises a gripper plate to extend from a mid-region of the grip to an upper end of the grip. In another aspect, the support member comprises plastic or metal. In another aspect, the first link or the second link comprises plastic or metal. In another aspect, the first arm pad or the second arm pad comprises plastic or metal. In another aspect, the attachment straps comprise hook-and-loop fasteners. In another aspect, the arm straps comprise hook-and-loop fasteners.

While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, the numeralsandindesignate the left and right forearms of a golfer gripping with hands,. Also shown are a golf club, a conventional grip, and a golf training devicethat is constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.

As best seen in the perspective view of, the training device has a support memberin the form of an arcuate gripper plate adapted to be held against and parallel to the gripof the clubby a practicing golfer.

A coupleris secured to a capthat extends laterally from the upper end of the support memberto engage the upper end of the grip. The couplerin this instance, has upper and lower hexagonal collars,(see), each with a threaded opening (not shown). Threaded into each hexagonal,is a respective link,of adjustable length, each being threaded for rotation to a selected position in the threaded opening of the receiving collar. Secured to respective ends of the links,is an arm pad,to engage and position, as shown in, the forearms, wrists, and hands of the golfer.

Thus, the support memberis adapted to be held against and parallel to the gripof the clubby the practicing golfer. The coupleris secured to the upper end of the support member, and the first link has one end connected to the coupler and the other end extending from the coupler a selected distance transversely from the support member. A first arm padis secured to the first linkto position the golfer's left arm, wrist and hand to the grip and club in an unalterable position.

A second linkhas one end connected to the couplerand the other end extending from the coupler a selected distance transversely from the support member opposite the first link. A second arm padis secured to the second linkto position the right arm, wrist and hand of the golfer relative to the grip and club in an unalterable position.

Each of the links,has an adjustable length because of the threaded connection with the interior threaded opening of the upper and lower hexagonal nuts,of the coupler. In the embodiment shown, a jam nut, here in the form of a wing nut,is used to fix the position and length of the associated link once the selected length is established.

Before practice, the length of each link,is adjusted to match the physical characteristics of the golfer. The arm pads,extend transversely from the upper end of the gripper platewhen the hands are used to hold the gripper plateagainst the gripto establish an unalterable position of the forearms, wrists and hands with respect to the gripand club. This necessitates the use of only arm movement during a putting stroke, and further, establishes one relationship of both arms with respect to the gripand club. This eliminates wrist movement and relative movement between the arm, with increased accuracy.

illustrate the use of an embodiment of the invention used as a chipping trainer. Inis illustrated the left forearmof a golfer and the left hand. The left hand is shown with three fingers grasping the support member or gripper platein a parallel relationship with respect to the gripof club. In the embodiment shown, extending from the upper end of gripper plateis a couplerhaving an interior threaded opening (not shown) to receive a threaded bolt. The length of the threaded boltcan be adjusted by rotation of the bolt and fixed by the wing nut. The opposite end of the wing nut is secured to an arm pad, which has a strapthat extends through a plurality of slotsto be secured around the wrist of the golfer and held with VELCRO® or some other suitable fastener.

Inthe golfer is shown with both hands,on the gripof club. The position of the arm padin relation to the gripnecessitates that the golfer uses the left handsuch that grip extends diagonally across the hand and engages the padof the hand, which is the appropriate grip for chipping or pitching. There is only one arm pad used on the left arm and none on the right arm to permit rotational movement of the arm during the swing.

Thus, the use of two pads, one foreach arm as shown incauses the golfer to use the proper putting grip and reduces movements between the arms and movement of the wrists to produce an accurate putting stroke. The use of one pad as shown incauses the golfer to use the grip appropriate for this stroke and eliminates angular movement of the left arm and wrist relative to the grip.

There should be no rotational movement of the arm in a putting stroke, which is eliminated by the use of two arm pads as shown in. Also, as indicated in, the use of the two pads positioned as indicated causes the golfer to grip the club in the life line, which is appropriate for putting.

shows another embodiment of the present invention, the golf training device, which shares features described herein in connection with the golf training deviceof. The golf training deviceis shown including three specific features. Attachment straps,are attached to the golf training deviceand are configured to attach the golf training deviceto the grip of a golf club. There can be more than two such attachment straps, but only two example attachment straps,are shown in. The attachment straps,can use VELCRO® or some other suitable fastener (e.g., a hook-and-loop fastener). The attachment straps,stabilize the golf training deviceagainst the golf club grip to which it is attached and keeps the golf training deviceattached to the golf club when the user lets go of the golf club grip. The golf training devicealso includes cushions,, one for each arm pad of the golf training device. The cushions,make the golf training devicemore secure against the user's arms for posture positioning. The golf training devicealso includes arm strap, which is comparable to the strapof the golf training deviceas described herein. The arm strapis attached to an arm padof the golf training device and uses VELCRO® or some other suitable fastener (e.g., a hook-and-loop fastener). The arm pads,are comparable to the arm pads,of the golf training devicedescribed herein. The arm strapsecures the golf training deviceto the user's arm and provides a secure, comfortable feeling for the user, which promotes the preferred “triangle” putting position for an improved pendulum motion, the best putting motion for consistency. A second arm strap (not shown) can be attached to the arm pad. One arm strapcan be used alone on either arm pad,, or two arm strapscan be used on the arm pads,at the same time.shows the golf training deviceattached to a golf club grip, held by a user, and secured to the user's arm. Any of the relatively rigid components of the golf training device, such as a support member, a connector, a link, or an arm pad can include plastic or metal. The golf training devicecan be disassembled and reassembled and can be embodied in a kit including one of more tools to manipulate the golf training device in disassembly or reassembly.

shows the golf training deviceattached to a golf club grip with the attachment straps,.shows the golf training devicewith the cushion.shows the golf training device with the arm strap.

It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any method, kit, reagent, or composition of the invention, and vice versa. Furthermore, compositions of the invention can be used to achieve methods of the invention.

It will be understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects.

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. In embodiments of any of the compositions and methods provided herein, “comprising” may be replaced with “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of”. As used herein, the phrase “consisting essentially of” requires the specified integer(s) or steps as well as those that do not materially affect the character or function of the claimed invention. As used herein, the term “consisting” is used to indicate the presence of the recited integer (e.g., a feature, an element, a characteristic, a property, a method/process step or a limitation) or group of integers (e.g., feature(s), element(s), characteristic(s), propertie(s), method/process steps or limitation(s)) only.

The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.

As used herein, words of approximation such as, without limitation, “about”, “substantial” or “substantially” refers to a condition that when so modified is understood to not necessarily be absolute or perfect but would be considered close enough to those of ordinary skill in the art to warrant designating the condition as being present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have one of ordinary skilled in the art recognize the modified feature as still having the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature. In general, but subject to the preceding discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation such as “about” may vary from the stated value by at least ±1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 or 15%.

Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 CFR 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Field of Invention,” such claims should not be limited by the language under this heading to describe the so-called technical field. Further, a description of technology in the “Background of the Invention” section is not to be construed as an admission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” to be considered a characterization of the invention(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.

All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

To aid the Patent Office, and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims to invoke paragraphof 35 U.S.C. § 112, U.S.C. § 112 paragraph (f), or equivalent, as it exists on the date of filing hereof unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

For each of the claims, each dependent claim can depend both from the independent claim and from each of the prior dependent claims for each and every claim so long as the prior claim provides a proper antecedent basis for a claim term or element.