US20120202613A1

US20120202613A1 - Collapsible Putting Practice Apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20120202613A1
Application number: US13/368,794
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory Carl Finch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-08
Filing date: 2012-02-08
Publication date: 2012-08-09

Abstract

A collapsible putting practice apparatus designed to perfect a golfer's putting stroke, while being easily collapsible and portable. The collapsible putting apparatus incorporates multiple user positions, and includes design elements to conform the user's putting stroke to the apparatus's arced features.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/440,502, filed Feb. 8, 2011, hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to putting in the game of golf, in particular, an apparatus designed for use in putting practice and enhancing a golfer's putting abilities.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In the game of golf, putting is highly important to the overall skill and score of a golfer. Putting is the portion of golf that involves short shots, with a putter, in an attempt to get a player's ball into the cup. Any golfer who wishes to improve his or her golf score spends significant time practicing putting. Many golfers invest significant amounts of money in golf lessons and enhanced putters in an attempt to improve their golf game. While these efforts can assist in putting performance, the most important element to being skilled in putting is the putting stroke. Muscle memory, or the ability for a golfer to reproduce the same putting stroke the majority of the time, is a highly important aspect in being a skilled putter. Some have attempted to enhance putting stoke by creating putting guides or practice apparatuses. All putting practice apparatuses on the market today are seriously flawed for a number of reasons.
Many putting guides are too large or incapable of being placed in a golf bag. Golfers primarily practice putting on a putting green, often before playing a round of golf. A putting practice apparatus that is incapable of being fit easily in a golf bag is undesirable for a golfer to take to a round of golf. A putting practice apparatus that could fit easily in a golf bag would be highly desirable. A golfer would be able to work on putting stroke on a putting green, using a putting practice apparatus, and then easily place the apparatus in their bag and begin their game.
Another issue with putting practice apparatuses on the market is that none of these products have the optimal design for perfecting the putting stroke. Every putting practice apparatus trains the golfer to take the putter straight back and straight forward. This is not the most effective putting stroke. To maximize putting accuracy, a putting stroke should have a subtle backward curve. No current putting practice apparatus promotes this stroke.
What is needed, therefore, is a putting practice apparatus that is collapsible and capable of being fit in a golf bag; combined with a putting practice apparatus that is designed to promote the subtle curves of the optimum putting stroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is a collapsible putting apparatus comprising a front extrusion arc piece; at least one extension arm pivotably attached to the front extrusion arc piece; and a base piece pivotably attached to at least one extension arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an orthographic projection of an embodiment in the extended position.

FIG. 2 is an orthographic projection of an embodiment in the collapsed position.

FIG. 3 is an auxiliary projection of an embodiment in the extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

These and further features of the present invention are better understood by reading the following Detailed Description, taken together with the Drawings, wherein,
FIG. 1 is an orthographic projection of an embodiment in the extended position. The collapsible putting apparatus 100 is comprised of an extrusion arc piece 102. In an embodiment, there are two extrusion arc pieces 102, which are incorporated in a front portion and a back portion of the collapsible putting apparatus 100. The extrusion arc piece 102 has a groove 104 running throughout. The groove 104 can run through all or part of extrusion arc piece 102. The front and back extrusion arc pieces 102 are joined by extension pieces 112. Extension pieces 112 are coupled to extrusion arc pieces 102 by a rivet 116. Rivet 116 can be comprised of any mechanically suitable attachment mechanism, such as a screw, pin, or bolt. A portion of extension piece 112 has a slot 108. The slot 108 permits movement of extension arms 112, such that the arms can be positioned according to user preference and selectively engaged by friction lock knobs 110. Friction lock knobs 110 may be a screw or nut and bolt mechanism capable of locking extension pieces 112 in a desired position through the use of friction or mechanical engagement.
At the terminal ends of extrusion arc pieces 102 are end caps 106. In an embodiment, end caps 106 are made of an injection molded or thermoformed plastic. End caps 106 can have a spiked, textured, or ribbed bottom surface, such that they can grip the surface of a putting green and prevent collapsible putting apparatus from movement during use. In an embodiment, the back extrusion arc piece 102 has foot spacers 114 slideably attached to groove 104. Foot spacers 114 may be made of molded plastic, rubber, or stamped or formed metal, and may have a textured top and bottom surface. The textured bottom surface of foot spacer 114 may be used to prevent movement of collapsible putting apparatus 100 during use on a putting green. Foot spacers 114 may be locked in a desired user position by friction lock knobs 110.
In an embodiment, the extended position as illustrated by FIG. 1 is utilized during use of the apparatus. The user places his or her feet on or outside the molded plastic, rubber, or metal foot spacers to align themselves with the device. The spacing of the foot spacers can be adjusted by the user depending upon the user's height and/or stance. In the preferred embodiment, the foot spacers are fastened in place by friction lock knobs. However, other methods for fastening the foot spacers in place could be used, such as clamps or interlocking grooves. Furthermore, the apparatus could deliver the desired results without the inclusion of the foot spacers. The foot spacers are slideably attached to a base piece. In the preferred embodiment, the foot spacers are slideably attached to the base piece through a grove that runs substantially through the length of the base piece. In the preferred embodiment the base piece is slightly arced. This promotes the proper putting stance and enhances ergonomic design. The base piece can be made from aluminum, plastic, and the like.
FIG. 2 is an orthographic projection of an embodiment in the collapsed position. The collapsible putting apparatus has two basic positions; however the apparatus can be configured to multiple positions therebetween. The primary position is the extended position, as best illustrated by FIG. 1, and the secondary position is the collapsed position, as illustrated by FIG. 2. The apparatus is configured to the collapsed position when not in use. This allows the apparatus to be easily stored in a compartment of a golf bag. The collapsed position also allows for easy transport of the apparatus.
In an embodiment, the base piece is pivotably attached to two extension arms, although alternate embodiments could incorporate one extension arm or more than two extension arms. In the embodiment, the extension arms have a scissor-pivot and are slotted for distance adjustability. The extension arm comprises two pieces, a slotted piece and a solid piece. The solid piece can be repositioned within the slotted piece. The solid piece and the slotted piece can be locked in place by friction lock knobs. Alternate embodiments could accomplish this adjustable positioning through various means, such as clamps or interlocking grooves.
In the embodiment, as best illustrated by FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, the extension arms are pivotably attached to a front extrusion arc piece. The front extrusion arc piece and the base piece should be of substantially exact measurements to promote the space concerns of the collapsible position, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. The front extrusion arc piece can be made from aluminum, plastic, and the like. The user places a golf ball at a designated portion of the front extrusion arc piece. Then using the front extrusion arc piece as a guide, attempts to duplicate the same putting stroke every time a golf ball is struck.
In an embodiment, the front extrusion arc piece incorporates a groove substantially through the length of the piece. Molded plastic or metal end caps are coupled to the ends of the front extrusion arc piece and the base piece. These end caps cover any rough edges that may be at the ends of either the front extrusion arc piece or the base piece, and prevent the foot spacers from coming unattached from the base piece.
These and further modifications and substitutions made by one of ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the present invention, which is not limited.

Claims

1. A collapsible putting apparatus comprising:

a front extrusion arc piece;

at least one extension arm pivotably attached to the front extrusion arc piece; and

a base extrusion arc piece pivotably attached to the at least one extension arm.

2. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one foot spacer, the at least one foot space being slideably attached to the base extrusion arc piece.

3. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one locking mechanism, the at least one locking mechanism being selectively engaged with the at least one extension arm.

4. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one locking mechanism, the at least one locking mechanism being selectively engaged with the base extrusion arc piece.

5. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one end cap.

6. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a groove running substantially throughout a central portion of the base extrusion arc piece.

7. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 2 further comprising at least one locking mechanism, the at least one locking mechanism being selectively engaged with the base extrusion arc piece and the at least one foot spacer.

8. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 5 wherein a bottom portion of the at least one end cap is textured.

9. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 6 further comprising at least one foot spacer being slideably engaged with the groove.

10. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 9 further comprising at least one locking mechanism, the at least one locking mechanism being slideably attached to the groove and selectively engaged with the at least on foot spacer.