U.S. patent application number 10/920178 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for training device fitted with a wheel for a golfer.
Invention is credited to Montalembert, Bernard De.
Application Number | 20050059505 10/920178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34112814 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050059505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Montalembert, Bernard De |
March 17, 2005 |
Training device fitted with a wheel for a golfer
Abstract
A training device for a golfer includes a club having a shaft
and a head in which the head extends laterally from a lower end of
the shaft and a wheel, having a convex arc-shaped profile, mounted
on the head about a substantially horizontal axis, the wheel
projecting downwards relative to the head and structured and
arranged to roll on a substantially flat horizontal receiving
surface during a movement of the club simulating a movement of
hitting a golf ball. Moreover, the wheel is structured and arranged
to make contact with the receiving surface substantially at a
single point progressively movable along the arc-shaped profile
when an angle of inclination of the axis relative to the receiving
surface varies. The instant abstract is neither intended to define
the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit
the scope of the invention in any way.
Inventors: |
Montalembert, Bernard De;
(Fontainebleau, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Family ID: |
34112814 |
Appl. No.: |
10/920178 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/230 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0433 20200801;
A63B 60/52 20151001; A63B 69/3623 20130101; A63B 69/3632 20130101;
A63B 53/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/230 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 19, 2003 |
FR |
03010015 |
Claims
1-4. (Canceled).
5. A training device for a golfer, comprising: a club having a
shaft and a head in which the head extends laterally from a lower
end of the shaft; and a wheel, having a convex arc-shaped profile,
mounted on the head about a substantially horizontal axis, the
wheel projecting downwards relative to the head and structured and
arranged to roll on a substantially flat horizontal receiving
surface during a movement of the club simulating a movement of
hitting a golf ball, wherein the wheel is structured and arranged
to make contact with the receiving surface substantially at a
single point progressively movable along said arc-shaped profile
when an angle of inclination of the axis relative to the receiving
surface varies.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the wheel is
substantially spherical.
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the wheel is
approximately 40 mm in diameter.
8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the wheel comprises a
material structured and arranged to reduce the shock of impact with
a hard surface.
9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the wheel comprises an
elastomer.
10. The device according to claim 5, wherein the head includes a
cutout and the wheel is partially arranged in the cutout.
11. The device according to claim 5, wherein the wheel is
substantially spheroidal.
12. A golfing device comprising: a club having a shaft and a head
in which the head extends from a lower end of the shaft; and a
wheel having a varying diameter that projects from the head and
that is structured and arranged to rotate about an axis and to roll
on a substantially flat receiving surface during a movement of the
club simulating a swing.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the wheel comprises a
material structured and arranged to reduce the shock of impact with
a hard surface.
14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the wheel comprises
an elastomer.
15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the head includes a
cutout and the wheel is partially arranged in the cutout.
16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the wheel is
structured and arranged to make contact with the receiving surface
substantially at a single point progressively movable along a
profile of the wheel when an angle of inclination of the axis
relative to the receiving surface varies.
17. The device according to claim 12, wherein the wheel is
substantially a spheroid.
18. A golfing device comprising: a club having a shaft and a head
in which the head extends from a lower end of the shaft and a wheel
having a non-uniform diameter that projects from the head and that
is structured and arranged to rotate, wherein the head includes a
cutout and the wheel is partially arranged in the cutout.
19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the wheel comprises a
material structured and arranged to reduce the shock of impact with
a hard surface.
20. The device according to claim 18, wherein the wheel comprises
an elastomer and is structured and arranged to make contact with a
receiving surface substantially at a single point progressively
movable along said a profile of the wheel when an angle of
inclination of the axis relative to the receiving surface
varies.
21. The device according to claim 18, wherein the wheel comprises
an elastomer.
22. The device according to claim 18, wherein the wheel comprises a
substantially spheroidal shape.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 of French Patent Application No. 03010015 filed Aug. 19,
2003, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a training device for a golfer. The
training device includes a club having a shaft and a head, the head
extending laterally from the lower end of the shaft, and a wheel or
castor mounted on the head. The wheel or castor being mounted about
a substantially horizontal axis, projecting downwards relative to
the head so as to roll on a substantially flat, horizontal
receiving surface during a movement of the club simulating the
movement of hitting a golf ball.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information
[0005] International publication number WO 99/56838 describes a
device of this kind where the wheel is in the form of a cylindrical
roller which makes contact, along a generatrix, with the receiving
surface of an evaluation platform when a rotation axis of the
device is parallel to this surface, and makes contact at only one
point when this axis is oblique relative to the receiving surface.
Obviously, the result of this is that the reaction of the
evaluation platform is influenced by any tilting of the axis of the
wheel, even if this tilt is slight and does not affect the quality
of the hitting movement. Moreover, a point of impact of this kind
may damage the wheel and/or is stressful to the joints in the
player's arm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The aim of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks.
[0007] Two parameters play a decisive role in the movement (known
as the swing) to be performed by a golfer in order to hit a ball:
the swing plane and the swing arc. The swing plane is the plane in
which the head of the club travels. This plane must be oriented so
as to send the ball in the right direction. The swing arc is the
trajectory described by the club head in the swing plane. It should
be such that the head hits the ball and the ground at a precise
point. It is wrong if the head hits the ground before the ball.
[0008] One aspect of the device according to the present invention
is to enable the player to train daily so as to perfect his swing
without having to have access to a golf course. In this regard, in
order to hit a ball correctly over and over again it is essential
to master the swing completely, which takes a great deal of
practice on the part of the golfer.
[0009] The invention relates particularly to a device of the kind
described hereinbefore, and specifies that the wheel or castor
should have a convex arc-shaped profile so as to make contact with
the receiving surface substantially at a single point which moves
progressively along the profile when the angle of inclination of
the axis relative to the receiving surface varies.
[0010] Optional additional or alternative features of the invention
are recited hereinafter:
[0011] The castor or wheel is substantially spherical.
[0012] The castor or wheel is about 40 mm in diameter.
[0013] The castor or wheel is made of a material adapted to reduce
the shock of any impact with a hard surface.
[0014] One aspect of the invention includes a training device for a
golfer. The training device includes a club having a shaft and a
head in which the head extends laterally from a lower end of the
shaft and a wheel, having a convex arc-shaped profile, mounted on
the head about a substantially horizontal axis, the wheel
projecting downwards relative to the head and structured and
arranged to roll on a substantially flat horizontal receiving
surface during a movement of the club simulating a movement of
hitting a golf ball. Moreover, the wheel is structured and arranged
to make contact with the receiving surface substantially at a
single point progressively movable along the arc-shaped profile
when an angle of inclination of the axis relative to the receiving
surface varies.
[0015] In a further aspect of the invention, the wheel can be
substantially spherical. Moreover, the wheel can be approximately
40 mm in diameter. Furthermore, the wheel can include a material
structured and arranged to reduce the shock of impact with a hard
surface. Additionally, the wheel includes an elastomer. Moreover,
the head can include a cutout and the wheel is partially arranged
in the cutout. Furthermore, the wheel can be substantially
spheroidal.
[0016] Another aspect of the invention includes a golfing device
having a club having a shaft and a head in which the head extends
from a lower end of the shaft and a wheel having a varying diameter
that projects from the head and that is structured and arranged to
rotate about an axis and to roll on a substantially flat receiving
surface during a movement of the club simulating a swing.
[0017] In a further aspect of the invention the wheel can include a
material structured and arranged to reduce the shock of impact with
a hard surface. Moreover, the wheel can include an elastomer.
Furthermore, the head can include a cutout and the wheel can be
partially arranged in the cutout. Additionally, the wheel can be
structured and arranged to make contact with the receiving surface
substantially at a single point progressively movable along a
profile of the wheel when an angle of inclination of the axis
relative to the receiving surface varies. Moreover, the wheel can
substantially be a spheroid.
[0018] Yet another aspect of the invention includes a golfing
device including a club having a shaft and a head in which the head
extends from a lower end of the shaft and a wheel having a
non-uniform diameter that projects from the head and that is
structured and arranged to rotate. Furthermore, the head includes a
cutout and the wheel is partially arranged in the cutout.
[0019] In a further aspect of the invention the wheel can include a
material structured and arranged to reduce the shock of impact with
a hard surface. Moreover, the wheel can include an elastomer and is
structured and arranged to make contact with a receiving surface
substantially at a single point progressively movable along the a
profile of the wheel when an angle of inclination of the axis
relative to the receiving surface varies. Furthermore, the wheel
can include an elastomer. Additionally the wheel can include a
substantially spheroidal shape.
[0020] The features and advantages of the invention will be
described in more detail in the description that follows, referring
to the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The single FIGURE is a partial elevation of a club according
to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0022] The club 1 shown in FIG. 1 has the general shape of a
conventional iron-type golf club and has a substantially straight
elongated shaft 2 and a head 3. The shaft 2 is shown approximately
in the position corresponding to the position of a conventional
club when the head 3 is hitting a ball.
[0023] According to the invention a substantially semi-circular
cutout 8 is formed in the head 3, from the lower edge 4 thereof,
formed by the face and the bottom, so as to partially accommodate a
spherical castor or wheel 9. The castor or wheel 9 is mounted on
the head 3 so as to rotate about an axis A1 substantially parallel
to the edge 4 and located slightly above the latter. The axis A1
also being substantially horizontal. In the embodiment shown, the
castor or wheel 9 is integral with a hub 5 rotatably mounted on a
spindle 6 fixed to the head 3. The castor or wheel 9 is hollow and
may also be made of a material adapted to reduce the shock of
impact such as an elastomer. The castor or wheel 9 projects by a
height of about 0.5 mm relative to the edge 4.
[0024] In the position of the club 1 shown, the castor or wheel 9
may travel over a substantially horizontal receiving surface while
being in contact with the surface at virtually only one point. This
is still true, within certain limits, when the orientation of the
shaft 2 moves towards or away from the vertical direction, the axis
A1 being inclined in one direction or the other relative to the
horizontal plane, and the point of contact between the receiving
surface and the castor or wheel 9 moving along the generatrix
thereof. During a swing, the castor or wheel 9 thus hits the
receiving surface and is able to roll along it while tolerating,
with no damage or effect on the quality of the swing, a variation
of about .+-.3.degree. in the orientation of the shaft 2 or head 3
relative to the horizontal plane.
[0025] The club according to the invention has, in particular, the
following advantages compared with the club with a cylindrical
roller according to WO 99/56838:
[0026] It avoids the risk of a contact which would be destructive
to the club or to the platform in the event of a severe impact.
[0027] It tolerates substantial variations in the tilt of the club
head relative to the horizontal playing surface which occur during
the swing.
[0028] Its larger diameter allows it to be hollow or to be made of
a soft material in order to deaden impact and thereby protect the
player's joints.
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