GOLF TRAINING APPARATUS
A golf training apparatus which includes a circular member, and a support for the circular member that includes a base having substantially coplanar parts for placement on a generally horizontal surface, the support including first and second columns extending from the base, the first and second columns each including a pivot connection at the part thereof most remote from the base that provides a pivoting connection between the circular member and the first and second columns. Each of the columns may be telescopic. Various embodiments of the invention have the columns connected to tubular members in the base by sleeves to permit relative pivotal moment. The telescopic columns may each include a latch to lock respective axial portions of each column in one axial position to prevent axial movement between telescoping parts thereof. The latch may include aligned holes in respective parts of the telescoping column dimensioned and configured for cooperation with a pin.
The invention relates to sporting-goods and particularly to a training device for golfers. While the invention has particular application to assisting a golfer in learning to achieve an optimum swing plane in a drive, it also has application to facilitating a golfer practicing chip shots and pitch shots. It is generally accepted that the movement of the shaft of the club through out the swing in a drive should be in a single plane that is parallel to a line from the ball to the target destination for the ball. Various devices have been suggested.
One such device is shown at www.superswingtrainer.com. The apparatus shown on this web site utilizes a framework to support a circular member that is intended to guide the free end of the golf club when the user is driving a golf ball. The apparatus described there is provided in medium and large sizes to accommodate golfers of different stature. This apparatus is not wholly satisfactory because it does not allow sufficient compensation for the physical characteristics of the golfer using the training device. Stated another way, two sizes do not fit all.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus that will assist the training of a golfer regardless of stature in perfecting and practicing a planar movement in a drive.
In addition it is also an object of the present invention is to provide apparatus that will assist a golfer in training for chip shots and pitch shots.
Still another object invention is to provide apparatus that can be quickly folded so that it is compact to facilitate storage and/or movement between locations.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is now been found that these another object invention may be obtained in a golf training apparatus which includes a circular member, and a support for the circular member that includes a base having substantially coplanar parts for placement on a generally horizontal surface, the support including first and second columns extending from the base, the first and second columns each including a pivot connection at the part thereof most remote from the base that provides a pivoting connection between the circular member and the first and second columns.
The apparatus may further include a third column coupling the base to the circular member. The third column is substantially equidistant from the first and second columns in some embodiments. Each of the first, second, and third columns may be telescopic
Some embodiments of the invention have a base that is constructed of tubular material. Various embodiments of the invention have the columns connected to tubular members in the base by sleeves to permit relative pivotal moment. The telescopic columns may each include a latch to lock respective axial portions of each column in one axial position to prevent axial movement between telescoping parts thereof. The latch may include aligned holes in respective parts of the telescoping column to mention and configured for cooperation with a pin in.
Some embodiments of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention may further include a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with the circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGThe invention better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Referring now to
When the apparatus 10 is deployed for use, as shown in
The telescopic central column 20 may be omitted in some embodiments of the present invention. The preferred embodiment does include this telescopic central column 20.
The lower extremity of the telescopic central column 20 includes a T-shaped fitting 26 that is dimensioned and configured for free rotation about an axial portion of the tubular base 12. The lowest extremity of each of the first and second telescopic side arms 14, 16 includes a T-shaped fitting 26 that is dimensioned and configured for free rotation about respective axial portions of the tubular base 12.
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Various embodiments of the present invention include netting 50 to allow on alternative use of the apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompass other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
Claims
1. A golf training apparatus which comprises:
- a circular member, and
- a support for said circular member that includes a base having substantially coplanar parts for placement on a generally horizontal surface, said support including first and second columns extending from said base, said first and second columns each including a pivot connection at the part thereof most remote from said base that provides a pivoting connection between said circular member and said first and second columns.
2. The apparatus is described in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes a third column coupling said base to said circular member.
3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said third column is substantially equidistant from said first and second columns.
4. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said first and second columns are telescopic.
5. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said first second and third columns are telescopic.
6. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said base is constructed of tubular material.
7. The apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said first and second columns include sleeves coupling the columns respectively to said tubular material of said base whereby relative pivotal moment therebetween may occur.
8. The apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said third column includes a sleeve coupling the column to said tubular material of said base whereby relative pivotal moment there between may occur.
9. The apparatus as described in claim one wherein each column is telescopic and includes a latch to lock respective axial portions of each column in one axial position to prevent axial movement between telescoping parts thereof.
10. The apparatus is described in claim 9 wherein each latch includes aligned holes in respective parts of a telescoping column for cooperation with a pin dimensioned and configured to receive a pin.
11. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
12. The apparatus as described in claim 2 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
13. The apparatus as described in claim 3 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
14. The apparatus as described in claim 4 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
15. The apparatus as described in claim 5 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
16. The apparatus as described in claim 6 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
17. The apparatus as described in claim 7 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
18. The apparatus as described in claim 8 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
19. The apparatus as described in claim 9 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
20. The apparatus as described in claim 10 further including a net dimensioned and configured for engagement with said circular member to provide apparatus for practicing chip shots and pitch shots.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 20, 2005
Publication Date: May 24, 2007
Inventor: ROMEO FIORI (EDGEWATER, NJ)
Application Number: 11/164,361
International Classification: A63B 69/36 (20060101);