WO2008080950A1

WO2008080950A1 - Training device for golf strokes

Info

Publication number: WO2008080950A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/064583
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erwin Willsch; Manfred Miller
Original assignee: Erproma Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-01-04
Filing date: 2007-12-27
Publication date: 2008-07-10
Also published as: DE102007047296A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for golf stroke training, comprising a standing base provided with a base body (10) for a practicing person, and a support surface (18) for a golf ball. In order to be able to simulate a wide variety of positions of a user in relation to the ball position, according to the invention at least one holding device (12) is provided for the support surface (18) for the golf ball, wherein the device is disposed on the base body (10) and variable in the height and/or inclination thereof in relation to the body or the standing base.

Description

Training device for golf strokes

description

The invention relates to a device for Golfschlagübungen, with a provided on a base body surface for a practicing person and a support surface for a golf ball.

Certain techniques of playing and playing situations are also trained by golfers outside the actual game. For this purpose, different training devices or devices are known. For example, so-called driving ranges are known in which the tee is trained. Furthermore, there are different devices to practice the putting. However, many of these devices or arrangements are of planar geometry. This is unsatisfactory in that a golf course is usually not flat terrain. For example, the player stands on an inclined plane, or the golf ball has a height offset to the footprint. By way of example, a ball lying in a trench and a player standing elevated relative to the ball are mentioned. Another variant would be the so-called Bunker, where the player is generally a bit lower than the ball when it is outside the bunker. The possible different geometry situations are ultimately limited. In order to be able to approach the real game situation while practicing, practice devices are known which form an inclined plane on which player and ball are located. However, these solutions, which are known for example from US Pat. No. 5,820,478, JP 2006102470 A, JP 2006015091 A, JP 05285243 A, JP 08257192 A or JP 11164921 A, represent only a first approximation to the problem.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a device for golf impact exercises, with which a wide variety of ometries situations between player position and golf ball position are represented.

To solve this problem, the feature combination specified in claim 1 is proposed. Advantageous developments and refinements of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The invention is based primarily on the idea that an independent adjustment of the footprint and the ball support is required for a simulation of a wide variety of impact situations. According to the invention, therefore, a device of the type mentioned is proposed which has at least one arranged on the base body, with respect to this or the footprint in their height and / or inclination variable holder means for the support surface of the golf ball.

Preferably, a plurality of receiving openings or pins for receiving a base body-side end of the holder device is provided on the outer circumference of the base body. As a result, the holding device can be arranged in different positions with respect to the inclining direction of the standing surface. This allows within the given angle of inclination of the base and the possible settings of the support surface for the ball an almost unlimited number of different relative positions and thus different striking situations.

Preferably, the receiving openings or pins are arranged in or on a substantially vertically aligned peripheral surface of the base body, although in principle also an obliquely extending to the bottom peripheral surface is possible. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main body is a spherical cutout with flat bottom and top surfaces, wherein the top surface may have a horizontal inclination between about 5 ° and 25 ° to provide a secure footing for the user. With a very steeply inclined footprint there would be a risk of slipping off the stand surface. The base body may have a thickness of about 15 to 40 cm and a diameter of about 70 to 150 cm. The main body can be made of different materials such as plastic, concrete, light metals u. Like. Exist.

In a particularly easy to manufacture and use embodiment of the invention, the holder device is hooked with a hook device in an opening in the peripheral surface of the body. The hook element is supported inside or outside on the peripheral surface, whereby the holder is held in its desired position by the force of gravity. A change in inclination of the holder device with respect to the base surface is achieved in that, on the one hand, the base surface is oriented obliquely to the horizontal and, on the other hand, several suspension openings are distributed over the circumference of the base body. Thus, the user results in a different inclination with respect to the stand surface due to its orientation relative to the holder device, in each case with the same relative position of the holder device relative to the circumferential surface for the various suspension openings.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the base body has two mutually rotatable, wedge-shaped base body halves. By rotating the basic body halves against each other, the angle of inclination of the base can be varied between 0 ° and twice the wedge angle. Furthermore, the main body can be formed by a wedge-shaped insert as a replacement body for artificial turf surfaces in already existing exercise facilities. The support surface for the golf ball is preferably formed by a arranged on the holder bristle field, wherein the bristle field may have a height of about 5 to 12 cm. The stiffness and surface density of the bristles suitably corresponds approximately to that of a painter's tassel, so that the ball on the one hand sinks slightly into the bristle field and can not roll away and on the other hand immersed too deep an impact in the bristle field and in contrast to the known artificial turf surfaces not painful injuries can lead. Furthermore, the relatively long bristles have the advantage that, for example, in the case of a test application, the impact location is clearly visible due to the restoring period of the bristles lasting for a few moments. The bristle field can be removably arranged in the holder device, so that different hard and deep bristle fields can be used. A bristle field can also be formed from two areas of different hard bristles. A marking line extending transversely to the direction of impact can mark different areas of different bristle hardness and serve as a positioning aid for the ball. The area of the bristle field can practically be about 30 cm by 30 cm. A plurality of balls can advantageously be stored in a cup-shaped storage magazine arranged detachably on the holding device. The shell is expediently arranged such that in each case a ball can be pulled with the racket on the bristle field to allow a quick impact sequence.

In the arrangement of the holder device described above, a free space remains between the base body and the holder device. This can be irritating, especially for beginners. In addition, there is a risk of damage to the connecting parts between the main body and the holder device in a poorly executed shock. According to an advantageous development of the invention, therefore, there is provided a passage opening adapted to the holding device, provided on the holder means plate which covers at least partially the free space between the base body and the holder device. The plate should be mechanically stable and have the lowest possible weight. It can be in the form of a multi-layered structure with a few millimeter thick support plate, preferably a solid plastic, light metal, plywood or the like, a layer applied thereon of a resilient material, preferably an insulating material with a thickness of 10 to 25 mm, and a cover layer made of artificial turf. It has proven to be advantageous and practical if the plate has an approximately round shape with a diameter of 70 to 150 cm, that is to say has approximately the shape and the diameter of the main body. When not using the plate or for transport purposes, this can for example be stored in a recess in the body. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the plate has a part-circular edge recess whose radius corresponds to that of the main body. It can then be brought into approximately gap-free contact with the body.

In order to enable a quick and secure adjustment of the holder device with respect to the base body, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one ball joint and / or pivot joint is arranged between the base body and the holder device. A ball joint offers two degrees of freedom of adjustment, while a pivot joint allows a degree of freedom of adjustment. A pivot joint can be fixed after adjustment, for example, by complementarily toothed and pressed by a screw against each other contact surfaces, while a ball joint for this purpose, for example, can have a clamping device with an exciting clamping nut with an exciting. Basically, several such ball and / or swivel joints can be used in series, but this increases the distance between the base and the ball support surface and thereby reduces the static Loading capacity of the holder device. The one or more joints may be made of plastic and / or metal.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, at least one bushing with an internal toothing having passage opening is provided on the outer circumference of the base body. Preferably, however, a plurality of such sockets is distributed over the outer circumference of the main body at equal angular intervals. The bushing can have a cylinder section with the passage opening and a flange section enclosing the cylinder section and forming an abutment surface. In addition, then, the holder device has a main body side plug with an external toothing for insertion into the socket, wherein the plug expediently has a cylinder portion with the external teeth and a cylinder portion enclosing flange, which forms a stop and support surface together with the flange of the socket. The facing surfaces of the Flanschpartien the socket and the connector may have a complementary curvature. Such a connector is particularly simple and stable. The interlocking cylinder parts have a length of a few centimeters, so that together with the flange by simple positive locking a secure hold of the holder device is ensured on the body. Depending on the graduation of the toothing, the holder device can be rotated in steps of a few degrees about the plug axis, which is perfectly adequate in practice. A change in the setting of the holder device can be performed in a few moments without tools or special effort.

Often when practicing a certain tee direction is given. In this case, the base body must be aligned with a change in the inclination of the base surface with respect to the teeing-off field on the holder device in the direction of the teeing-off direction. To facilitate this, it is provided in a further preferred embodiment of the invention that centrally in the floor the body of a lifting device is arranged, which allows its rotation without effort in the raised state of the body. The lifting device may for example have a base body-side turntable and a bottom-acting on the turntable, preferably designed as a helical spring compression spring. Spring force and length are dimensioned such that the body in the unloaded state, so if no person is standing on the floor, lifted by a few millimeters from the ground and is freely rotatable about the turntable and an axis of the lifting device.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawing. Show it

1a is a side view of an embodiment of the device with various possible positions of a player to the ball;

Fig. 1 b is a plan view of the device of Figure 1 a with six arranged at different points of the body holder means, with two of which serving as a screen and impact protection plate is placed;

2a to c are side views of the apparatus of Figure 1 a and b in an enlarged view.

3a and b are side views of embodiments of the connecting elements between the main body and the holder device;

4a to d top and side views of the holder device and the

Connecting elements according to Figures 1 to 3. 5a to e show a further embodiment of the device with a variant of the connection between the base body and the holder device;

6a and b show an enlarged view of the connecting elements between the base body and the holder device according to FIG. 5; and

7a to c show the basic body of the device with a lifting and rotating device.

The illustrated in the drawing device for practicing golf strokes consists essentially of a standing surface for the user having body 10 and a holder 12 for a support surface 14 for a golf ball 14, wherein the base body 10 and the holder 12 by at least one connecting element 16 are interconnected.

As shown in FIG. 1 a, the main body 10 has an inclined top surface, which serves as a footing for the user and simulates a frequently encountered terrain situation. The ball to be hit is located on a bristle field 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) on the holding device 12, which can be adjusted as shown in different heights and inclinations with respect to the base body. Twelve internally threaded receiving openings 20 are present around the circumference of the base body 10, into which threaded studs 22 (FIG. 3) of base-body-side socket parts 24 of joint connecting elements between the base body and the holder device can be screwed. The hinge part 24 has a flange 26 which forms a stop when screwed into the opening 20 and increases its flat contact the stability of the connection between the socket part and the body. The top view Fig. 1 b shows a plurality of opposite the receiving openings in the base body 10 arranged holding means 12, in practice, however, not all holding means will be used simultaneously, for example, in Fig. 1 a find two of the holder means 12 use.

1 b (and FIGS. 2 a to c) furthermore shows a plate 42, which has approximately at its center a rectangular opening 44, with which it is placed on the holder device 12 such that at least the bristle field 18 passes through the opening 44. The plate 42 covers the space between the base body 10 and the bristle field 18 and thus on the one hand creates an optically harmonious transition from the body to the bristle field and on the other hand acts as impact protection for the connecting parts of the holder device 12 in poorly executed punches. The plate 42 consists in a manner not shown of several layers. A thin base plate made of a light but stiff material, such as plastic, light metal or wood, provides the necessary mechanical stability. An approximately 10 to 30 mm thick layer of insulating material is applied to it which absorbs failures. As a top layer artificial turf is provided, especially for aesthetic reasons. The plate 42 also has a part-circular edge recess 46, whose radius corresponds to that of the base body 10, so that the plate 42 can connect with an appropriate setting of the holder device 12 approximately gap-free to the main body.

Fig. 2a to c shows the exercise device in a slightly larger view. In the respective left part of the figures, the joint connecting element consists of two parts, the joint socket part 24 (FIG. 3a) and a joint ball part 28 (FIG. 3b). In the right-hand part of the figures, the joint connecting element consists of a joint socket part 24 and two joint ball parts arranged one behind the other. The joint ball part 28 likewise has a joint socket 30 on the holder side a arranged on the holder 12 ball portion 32 serves. The ball parts are respectively engaged in the cup parts and the fixation of the joint adjustment is then carried out by a clamping or union nut 34 which is screwed by means of a threaded portion 36 against the slats of the socket 30 and thereby presses against the joint ball. A greater clamping effect can be achieved if the clamping nut is screwed from the joint ball side against the socket. The arrangement of the threaded portion 36 then changes accordingly with respect to the illustrated. With the joint connection device consisting of two or three parts, a variety of heights and inclinations as well as different distances between the base body 10 and the holder device 12 can be realized. Other connecting elements between the base body and the holder device are of course possible, for example, a propeller shaft ("gooseneck") or in a simpler version a plug connection with a polygonal opening in the base body and a complementary shaped polygonal pin. Furthermore, the base body may have a circumferential C-groove or a circumferential web on which or the holder device is hooked with a hook.

Fig. 4a to d shows top and side views of the holder device 12 and three- or two-piece hinge-connection devices. The holder part 12 here has a bowl-like reservoir 38 for golf balls, which may be formed integrally with the portion carrying the bristle field 18 or is releasably secured thereto as a separate part. Balls can be easily pulled with the golf club over the slope 40 on the bristle field, which can achieve a fast impact sequence. Of course, the ball feed can also be carried out by a ball dispenser arranged separately from the holding device 12.

5a to e show a variant of the device, in which the holder device 12 via a toothed plug connection (cf., Fig. 6a and b) with the Basic body 10 is connected. A change in the relative position between the base body 10 and the support surface for the ball can be understood from the sequence of figures 5a to 5e. Fig. 5a shows an arbitrary starting situation. For the conversion of the bristle field 18 is first lifted together with the impact protection 42 of the retainer 12 and deposited on the base body 10 (Fig. 5b). Then, the holder device 12 is pulled out of the base body 10 and brought into the desired position (Fig. 5c and 5d). Finally, the holding device 12 is inserted into the base body and the bristle field 18 with the impact protection 42 placed on the holding device 12 (FIG. 5e). The device can now be used for further practice. The entire conversion requires due to the connector between body 10 and holder 12 only a few moments and requires no tools.

The elements of the plug connection between the base body 10 and the holding device 12 according to FIGS. 5a to 5e are shown in more detail in FIGS. 6a and 6b. In Fig. 5a to 5e, the sleeve 48 shown in Fig. 6a is arranged on the base body 10 and the connector 50 shown in Fig. 6b on the holder device 12, but also the opposite case is possible. The bushing 48 has a cylinder section 52 with a passage opening 54 and a flange 52 surrounding the cylinder section 52. The passage opening 54 has an internal toothing 58. The plug 50 likewise has a cylinder section 60 and a flange section 62 enclosing it, the cylinder section 60 being provided with external teeth 64. The diameter of the passage opening 54 in the cylinder section 52 of the bushing 48 and the diameter of the cylinder section 60 of the plug 50 are dimensioned so that the plug 50 can be inserted into the socket 48 with at most little play. The mutual flange portions 56, 62 form a stop and support surfaces 66, 68 for torque absorption. The abutting surfaces 66, 68 of the flange parts have a slight Curvature on, concave in the case of the plug 50 and convex in the case of the socket 48th

FIGS. 7a to 7c show the main body 10 with a lifting device 70 arranged in the center of the main body, which facilitates a change in the orientation of the device. The lifting device 70 consists essentially of a base-body turntable 72, acts on the bottom of a compression spring 74, and a holder 76 for the compression spring 74, which has a bottom plate 78 with about 1/5 to 1/3 of the diameter of the base body 10 up , The spring length and hardness are dimensioned so that the base body 10 is easily lifted off the ground in the unloaded state (FIG. 7a). This allows an almost force-free rotation of the base body 10 in order to adapt its base inclination in the direction of impact to the user's request. As soon as the user steps onto the footing, the spring 74 is compressed and the base 10 sits with its underside on the floor to provide a secure footing (Figure 7b).

The main body 10 may be made of plastic, metal or concrete and in the use of plastic or metal non-illustrated reinforcing measures include, for example, radially extending ribs and / or a central recess. Furthermore, the base body may consist of two mutually rotatable wedge parts, whereby the angle of inclination of the base can be varied.

In summary, the following should be noted: The invention relates to a device for Golfschlagübungen, with a provided on a base body 10 standing surface for a practicing person and a support surface 18 for a golf ball. In order to be able to simulate most different positions of a user with respect to the ball position, according to the invention, at least one is arranged on the base body 10 with regard to this or that the standing surface in its height and / or inclination changeable holder device 12 provided for the support surface 18 for the golf ball.

Claims

claims

1. Device for Golfschlagübungen, with one on a base body (10) provided footing for a practicing person and a support surface (18) for a golf ball, characterized by at least one of the base body (10) arranged with respect to this or the footprint in their height and / or inclination variable holder means (12) for the support surface (18) for the golf ball.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that on the outer circumference of the base body (10) has a plurality of receiving openings or -zapfen (20) for receiving a base body-side end of the holder means (12) is provided.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving openings or pins (20) are arranged in or on a substantially vertically aligned peripheral surface of the base body (10).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base body (10) is a spherical cutout with flat bottom and top surfaces, wherein the top surface has a horizontal inclination of 5 ° to 25 °.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base body (10) has a thickness of about 15 to 40 cm and a diameter of about 70 to 150 cm.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized marked, that the base body (10) has two mutually rotatable, wedge-shaped base body halves.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bearing surface for the golf ball is formed by a arranged on the holder bristle field (18).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the bristle field (18) has a height of about 5 to 12 cm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the bristle field (18) has two field halves with different bristle hardness.

10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the bristle field (18) has a marking line as a positioning aid for the golf ball.

11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the bristle field (18) has a base area of about 30 by 30 cm ² .

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that on the holder means (12) is arranged a preferably cup-shaped storage magazine (38) for golf balls.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the holding device (12) by means of at least one ball and / or pivot joint (24, 28) is connected to the base body (10).

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the ball joint (24, 28) by means of a ball portion of the joint übergrei- fende clamping device (30) and a screwed onto the clamping device union nut (34) is fixable.

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that on the outer circumference of the base body (10) at least one bushing (48) with an internal toothing (58) having passage opening (54) is provided.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that a plurality of bushes (48) is distributed at equal angular intervals over the outer circumference of the base body (10).

17. The apparatus of claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the bushing (48) comprises a cylinder part (52) with the passage opening (54) and a cylinder part enclosing, forming a contact surface

Flange part (56).

18. Device according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the holder device (12) has a main body side plug (50) with an external toothing (64) for insertion into the

Socket (48).

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the plug (50) has a cylinder part (60) with the external toothing (64) and a cylinder portion enclosing flange (62), which together with the flange (56) of the sleeve (48 ) forms a stop and support surface.

20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that the surfaces facing each other (66, 68) of the flange (56, 62) of the Bushing (48) and the plug (50) have a complementary curvature.

21. Device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized by a with the holder means (12) adapted passage opening (44) provided on the holding means can be placed plate (42).

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the plate (42) has a multilayer structure with a few millimeters thick support plate, preferably made of a solid plastic, applied thereto layer of a resilient material, preferably an insulating material with a thickness of 10 to 25 mm, and a cover layer made of artificial turf.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the plate (42) has an approximately round shape with a diameter of 70 to 150 cm.

24. Device according to one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that the plate (42) has a part-circular edge recess

(46) whose radius corresponds to that of the main body (10).

25. Device according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized by a centrally in the bottom of the base body (10) arranged lifting device (70).

26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that the lifting device (70) has a base body-side turntable (72) and a force acting from below on the turntable, preferably designed as a helical spring pressure spring (74).