Amusement devices: games – Surface projectile game; game element – Simulated game
Patent
1994-06-15
1995-11-21
Marlo, George J.
Amusement devices: games
Surface projectile game; game element
Simulated game
A63B 6936
Patent
active
054679931
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is application is a U.S. national patent application, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.371, of PCT Application GB91/01454 filed Aug. 29, 1991, and claims priority from that application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to golf training apparatus.
Everyone familiar with the game of golf appreciates the importance of proficient and consistent swinging of a golf club for achieving drives of long distance and hence success in the game. A good swing depends on several factors including the initial posture of the golfer's body, the movement of the body during the swing and the path of the golf club itself.
BACKGROUND ART
Apparatus enabling a golfer to become familiar with an ideal swing path and proficient at performing same has been proposed which comprises a rail or track held in a looped configuration representing an ideal golf club swing path, and a carriage-slidably mounted on the rail for attachment of the shaft of a golf club.
When a golfer fastens his club to the carriage and stands centrally within the area defined by the looped rail and swings the club, the carriage should slide freely along the rail with the club attached thereto following the path set by the position of the rail.
Many variations of this concept have been disclosed in prior patent specifications, such as GB 1174773, GB 1258446, U.S. Pat. No. 2,653,025 U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,329, U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,701 and WO82/01471, as well as the applicant's own prior specification GB 2210798, but such apparatus, if ever commercially available, has never proved successful. This may be accounted for by practical difficulties in two areas, namely the ease and speed of adjustment of the rail or track to suit users of different stature, and the smooth running of the carriage on the rail or track, the latter sometimes also being affected (possibly adversely) upon adjustment of the rail or track. In this respect, since the high cost of such apparatus dictates that it will mainly be used by golf instructors at clubs its rapid ajustability to suit different players under tuition is essential, as is its reliable functioning.
OBJECT OF INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus of this type wherein both the inclination of the plane of the looped rail or track and its overall height can be adjusted through a wide range, to suit all possible statures, in a matter of minutes, and wherein free sliding of the carriage on the rail is assured.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the present invention golf training apparatus comprises spaced side support means, which are height adjustable relative to base elements, a guide track in the form of a flat or angled strip of looped configuration, representing a golf club swing path, which is pivotally mounted between the side support means for pivotal adjustment relative thereto, independent of their height adjustment, and a carriage which is slidably mounted on the track, having bearing means for contacting opposing surfaces of the guide track, and which is provided with means for attachment of a golf club shaft including an elongate shaft-connecting member, which is axially adjustable relative to the carriage in a direction transverse to the track.
The track most conveniently consists of a flat strip, as that is simplest to manufacture and minimises complexity of carriage construction, and most importantly is less likely than any other form of track to result in problems of distortion or unevenness which could hinder free sliding of the carriage. However, a track of angular cross-section, may also prove suitable.
Furthermore, the track advantageously consists of a continuous closed loop configuration in one plane. Again, that simplifies manufacture and minimises complexity which could give rise to problems, upon adjustment, in free running of the carriage. Moreover, it results in a particularly robust construction, with potential for mechanical faults minimised. It has been found that such configuration is in no way detrimental to simulation of an ideal sw
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patent: 1567530 (1925-12-01), MacNaughton et al.
patent: 1960787 (1934-05-01), MacStocker
patent: 3319963 (1967-05-01), Corkburn
patent: 3730531 (1973-05-01), Zega
patent: 3794329 (1974-02-01), Wilson
patent: 3795399 (1974-03-01), Beckish
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