US1633527A - Mechanical golf instructor and exerciser - Google Patents

Description

June 21 1927. 1,633,527.

J.HANSEN v MECHANICAL cow ms'raucmon AND nxzncrsna FiledOct. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 IN VENTOR.

M A TTORNE Y.

J. HANSEN MECHANICAL GOLF INSTRUCTEDR AND EXERCISER File Oct. 25. 192 2-Sheets-Sheet M (\2 7 III! Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HANSEN, OF BETTENDORF, IOWA, ASSIGNOB OF FOUR TWENTY-FIFTHS TO'WIL- LIAM H. MARTIN, TEN TWENTY-FIFTHS TO T. S. GUNN IN GHAM, AND ONE TWENTY- IEIFTH TO THOMAS MoQUABRIE, ALL OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

MECHANICAL GOLII INSTRUCTOR AND EXEBCISEB.

Application filed October 25, 1926. Serial No. 148,977.

' in character to the machine for which I have filed an application for Letters Patent of the United States under date of October 14, 1926, Serial No. 141,438. In said former device attention was paid to the fact that in the customary stroke of a golf club,

as in making a drive, there is an axial movement of the stick, amounting to a half rotation in the lower part of the sweep of the club. Said device was so constructed and arranged as to offer no interference to this movement. In the present invention special mechanism is provided whereby the axial movement referred to is compulsory, the club being controlled and guided in such a manner that it will follow the desired move-- ment. By this means a novice at the game can become accustomed to the established swing of the club in much less time than by the usual means for practice, and the more seasoned player can perfect his swing, and reduce the number of strokes which it is necessary to take in actual play.

The present invention has the same advantages as to use for indoor practice and exercise and the like which have been specified for the device set"out.in said prior application. I

In the drawin s;-

Fig. 1 shows t e invention in front elevation.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 show fragmentary sections of the rail with the traveller mechanism shown thereon in progressive positions. A v

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the rail and traveller mechanism, on approximately the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the traveller with the top of the rail broken away.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal view of a fragmentary part of two rail sections at the joint thereof. p v

Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the rail sections, with the splice 11 shown in section.

The reference number 1 indicates a base or platform, suitable for the support of a erson that is making use of. the machine, from one side of which platform. is erected a frame 2, the side-pieces of which are united by cross-pieces 3 and 4, and the lower part of the frame is further secured by braces 5.

Mounted on. the other side of the base from the frame 2 is a rail of oval formation constructed of sectional arcuate pieces 6, 7,

8, 9, and 10. The upper part of said rail.

is attached to the frame 2, the rail and frame being inclined toward each other and meeting at a point above the base. The'end sections 6 and 10 overlap each other, and the general conformation of the rail is the same as that of the movement of the head" of a golf club in makin astroke. At the joints of the several rai sections are splice plates 11 on the inner face of the rail, said plates being of channel-plate formation, and held in place by bolts 12. Pins 13 fixed in the rail sections enter openings in the splice and relieve the bolts from lateral strain. The ends of the sections are also provided with pairs of pins 14, which prevent such ends from getting out of alignment.

A traveller is provided for movement along the inner edge of the rail, consisting of a rectangular frame 15, in the corners of which are pins 16 and 17 upon which are mounted rollers 18, provided with antifriction bearings, and operable in channels 19 in opposite faces of the rail,'near the inner edge thereof. The peripheries of said rollers are preferably of an arcuate formation, as shown, and the channels are of a corresponding formation, whereby thesurface friction between the roller and rail is reduced to a minimum.

Fixed to the upper end of the in 17 is a swivel coupling 20, one part 0 ada ted for attachment to the head 21 of a gel stick- 22, such stick being of suitable length for use by aperson standing on the base 1, at a central point of the rail. Projected downwardly from the frame 15 on the outer side of the rail is a bracket 23,in the lower end of which is journalled a shaft 24,

which is to the inner end of which is fixed a bevel end of the arm 29 is ptrovided with a roller. 31, operat ng in a trac 32, in the outer face of the rail. Supported from the base 1 is a frame 33, serving as a support for a olf ball shown at 34, in the pat of the bee 21 of the golf club.

In the operation of the machine the player track 32 is near, the inner edge thereof, ad-

jacent to the channel 19, but at a point at the players right said track. is carried graduall outwardly, until at a point at the leftoft e player sa1d track is at the outer edge of the rail, as shown on section 9, and continues in that position to the outer end of the section 10. In the first-named position the arm 29 is held with the segment 28 turned outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, which results I in the pinion 26 and coupling 20 being turned to bring the club into position with the face thereof toward the front, as shown in Fig. 1.

This is the natural position of the club for the first part of the stroke. As the traveller approaches the lower part of the rail the rack 28 is moved into a neutral position, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the face of the head 21 of the club is toward the ball, as in Fig. 5. As the traveller isbrought upwardly again at the left-of the pla er the track 32 carries the roller 31 gradua ly outwardly, turning the. rack 28- inwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, the consequent movement of the segment 25 and pin 17 turning the stick 22 until the face of the head 21 is tothe rear, in which position it continues for the balance of the stroke. As aresultthe golf club is not only compelled to follow the usual course .for a perfect stroke, but the stick is turned automatically into the prescribed positions for accompanying such stroke. The beginner soon becomes accustomed to the movement, and will follow it naturally, without the use of the machine. The more seasoned player will be able to improve 'and perfect the style of his swing, and reduce the number of strokes required in actual practice.

In carrying the club backwardly again to the starting point the rotary movement of the stick will be reversed, until the face of the head is again toward the front for the initial part of the stroke.

The guiding mechanism for the stick, as shown in the drawings, is greatly out of proportions, such mechanism being of comparatively small and light construction, so as to offer little resistance to the movement 'of'the stick. By reason of the rail being formed in sections, as set forth, it can bereadily taken apart for transportation.

. What Lclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a railand support therefor, a tra vel ler movable along said rail, and adapted for connection with the head end of a golf club, and mechanism associated with sa1d traveller for giving a gradual rotation to the stick of a golf club connected therewith during the movement of said traveller along the rail, conforming to the usual movement of the stick in making a stroke.

2. A device of the class described, comrising a suitably mounted rail of eccentric ormation, conforming to the movement of a golf club head in making a customar stroke, a stick guiding mechanism slidab e along said rail and provided with a swivel coupling for connection with the head end of a stick, and means for imparting a rotary movement to said coupling during a portion of the movement of said guiding mechamsm corresponding with the rotary movement of the stick of a golf club in making a stroke.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a suitably mounted rail conformin in shape to the movement of a golf (lu head in making a customary stroke, a traveller movable along said rail, provided with means for connection with the end of a stickpermitting an axial rotation of said stick,

a cam track in said rail, and a follower for said cam track operatively connected with said stick connecting means so as to impart a desired rotation to a stick connected therewith during a portion of the movement of the traveller along said rail.

1 4. In combination with a rail and traveller movable thereon, a coupling device carried by the traveller, capable of a pivotal rotation, a stick connected with said coupling device, and axially rotatable thereby, gearing operatively connected -with' sa1d coupling device, and means carried by said rail for actuating said gearing to give a desired rotary movement to said stick in making a stroke.

5. In combination with a suitably mounted rail and cam track thereon, a traveller movable along said rail, a pivotal member in said traveller adapted for connection with the end of a golf club, gearing connected with said pivotal member capable of imparting rotation thereto, a follower for said cam track also carried by said traveller, and gearing operatively connecting said follower with said first-named gearing, and actuating the same during a portion of the movement of said traveller along said rail. 6. In a device of the class described, a suitably mounted rail conforming in shape to the usual movement of the head of a golfclub in making a drive, and rovided with a cam device on one of its aces, a frame provided with friction reducing mechanism bearing on opposite sides of said rail, a connecting means carried b said frame for the attachment of the end 0 a 01f stick thereto,

permitting axial rotation 0 such stick, gearing operatively connected with said stick connecting means, and means-connected with said gearing for engagement with said cam 10 device, to glve a partial axial rotation to a stick connected with said frame during a partial movement of the frame along said rail.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN HANSEN.

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