US3166326A

US3166326A - Device for indicating an improper putting stroke

Info

Publication number: US3166326A
Application number: US222161A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iii John E Mundy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-09-07
Filing date: 1962-09-07
Publication date: 1965-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1965 J. E. MUNDY in 3,156,326

DEVICE FOR INDICATING AN IMPROPER PUTTING STROKE Filed Sept. 7, 1962 INVENTOR. ./0///v Ella/v0 ,5 l2

ATTOKPA/EYJ United States Patent 3,166,326 DEVICE FOR INDICATING AN IMPROPER PUTTING STROKE John E. Mundy III, Liberty St., Waynesboro, Ga. Filed Sept. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 222,161 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-186) This invention relates to golf practice devices, and more particularly to a device for aiding a golfer to increase his skill in putting.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved golf practice device for aiding a golfer to increase his skill in putting, said device being relatively simple in construction, being easy to set up for use, being relatively compact in size, and serving to guide the strokes of the golfer to insure trueness of direction thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved putting practice device which may be used in any location where there is a fiat surface on which to place same, either indoors or outdoors, the device being inexpensive to fabricate and assemble, being durable in construction, and enabling a golfer to greatly increase his skill in putting in a relatively short time.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved golf practice device constructed in accordance with the present invention. 7

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIGURE 1, showing the relative positions of the golf ball employed with the device and the putter head as it moves through the upstanding guide pin elements of the device.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view, similar to FIGURE 3, showing in detail the manner of securement of one of the upright pin elements forming part of the device.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates a golf practice device constructed according to the present invention. The device 11 comprises a generally U-shaped fiat base member 12, formed of thin metal, or the like, and preferably being of relatively heavy gauge so as to have substantial stiffness. As shown, the device has square corners .and is open at one side so as to receive a golf ball, shown at 13 in dotted view in FIGURE 1, between the forward portions of the side arms, said side arms being spaced apart by a distance somewhat greater than the length of the head 15 of a conventional golf putter. The spacing between the side arms of the base 12 is preferably such that there will be approximately an inch of extra space between each arm and the adjacent end of the putter head 15 when the putter is disposed substantially in the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Rigidly secured to the forward portions of the respective side arms, designated at 20, 20, of the base 12 are the upstanding

vertical pin elements

14, 14. Rigidly secured in a similar manner to the rear corners of the body 12 are the additional

upstanding pin elements

14, 14, the

pin elements

14, 14 at each side of the body 12 being disposed in vertical planes which are parallel to each other, and which are parallel to the longitudinal vertical center line of the body 12, as will be apparent from FIGURE 2. The pins 14, 14' are of substantial length and are secured to the base 12 in any suitable manner, for example, in a manner illustrated in FIGURE 4. Thus, each

14 or 14 may be provided with a reduced end portion 16 which is insertable through an aperture provided therefor in the body 12 and which is held therein by flaring its bottom end portion outwardly, as shown at 3,166,326 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 "ice 17, thus preventing the pin element from being pulled out of the base 12.

Base 12 may be made of any suitable material, such as thin metal, as above mentioned, or alternatively, of plastic material, hard rubber, or any other durable, substantially rigid material. Likewise,'the

pins

14, 14 may be made of any suitable material, for example, may be made of suitable metal, in which case, the bottom ends of the pin members may be secured in place in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 and above described.

Where the base 12 is metal and the

pin elements

14, 14 are of similar metal, the pin elements may be welded or riveted in .place. If the base 12 is of plastic material, the bottom end portions of the pin elements may be molded therein. Various other methods of securing the pin elements in place will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

The length of the pin elements 14, 14' is preferably somewhat greater than the diameter of a standard golf ball 13, so that the putter head 15 will move in an enclosure whose sides are defined by the respective pairs of pin elements 14, 14'. Thus, in using the device, the golf ball 13 is placed in a position substantially midway between the

forward pin elements

14, 14, inwardly adjacent the open side of the generally U-shaped base 12, in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. The putter is then held so that the head thereof is behind the ball in a position such :as that illustrated in FIGURE 2 and aligned with the intended destination of the golf ball, the golf ball being disposed on a line substantially perpendicular to the mid point of the putter head and terminating at the destination of the golf ball, for example, at the hole into which the ball is to be directed. The putter is first brought back slightly and then moved forwardly to strike the ball, the object being to move the putter head in a path of movement intermediate and parallel to the respective vertical planes of the upstanding pin elements 14, 14' at each side of base 12. If the putter head 15 contacts any of the pins 14 or 14' during any part of its stroke, this is an indication to the golfer that his swing is untrue and should be adjusted to avoid any contact with the pins 14, 14'. With continued practice, using the device, the skill of the golfer will be quickly developed so that he will be able to strike the ball with a straight and true swing and will thus be able to accurately propel the ball to its intended destination, namely, the hole into which the ball must drop.

While a specific embodiment of an improved golf practice device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a golf putter, an outdoor golf ball, and a golf putting practice device, said practice device comprising a generally U-shaped flat rigid base of generally rectangular shape defining an open-ended enclosure of sufficient width to receive said outdoor golf ball, said base having opposed parallel side arms spaced apart by a distance greater than the diameter of said golf ball, a pair of upstanding pin elements secured respectively to the forward and rear end portions of each side arm, said pin elements being of substantially uniform height and being substantially greater in height than the diameter of said outdoor golf ball, whereby the top ends of the pin elements are located a substantial distance above the head of said golf putter when the putter head is engaged against said outdoor golf ball received in the enclosure, the side arms being separated by a distance such that there is approximately an inch of extra space between each arm and the adjacent end of the head of said putter disposed transversely therebetween, said pairs of upstanding pin elements being located in parallel vertical planes spaced apart by a distance only a relatively small amount greater than the length of said head of the golf putter, whereby to define an unimpeded guide path for said putter head when said head is swung correctly during a full putting stroke commencing in back of the base and continuing until the head comes into contact with said golf ball dis posed in the forward portion of said enclosure, the bottom ends of the pin elements being substantially flush with the bottom surface of said flat rigid base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 10/25 Switzerland.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.