TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to training devices for the sport of golf.

BACKGROUND ART

In the sport of golf, putting is a critical skill. It requires excellent control of the golf club (putter) including the direction of the swing, the speed or weight of the swing, and the angle of the club face. Many different training devices have been developed to help golfers improve their putting skill. However, devices may not provide sufficient visual or tactile feedback to a user on the various aspects of the skill noted above.

It is an aim of the present disclosure to at least partially address the above problems

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the disclosure there is provided a golf training device, comprising: one or more guide rails; one or more carriages respectively configured to engage with the one or more guide rails and configured to travel along said guide rails when struck with a golf club.

Optionally, the device comprises two guide rails and two carriages. Optionally, the guide rails and the carriages are configured such that a gap is provided between the two carriages, when located adjacent each other on the respective guide rails, the gap being narrow enough such that the carriages can be struck simultaneously by a golf club. Optionally, the guide rails are substantially parallel. Optionally, the guide rails are substantially the same length and their respective ends are substantially aligned with each other perpendicular to their length.

Optionally, each carriage comprises a carriage base configured to engage with the guide rails and an impact member extending from the carriage base and configured to be struck by the golf club. Optionally, the impact member comprises a substantially flat impact face configured to be struck by the golf club, wherein the impact face faces in direction substantially parallel to the guide rails. Optionally, the impact member comprises a relatively soft outer layer. Optionally, the outer layer is a removable cover.

Optionally, the guide rails and the carriages respectively comprise mutually shaped engaging portions. Optionally, a guide rail engaging potion has a T-shaped cross-section and a carriage engaging portion comprises a slot having a T-shaped cross-section.

Optionally, the device further comprises a substantially flat base member, adjacent the guide rails. Optionally, the base member extends substantially parallel to the one or more guide rails. Optionally, the base member is substantially the same length as the guide rails. Optionally, the base member comprises distance indicators at intervals along the length of the base.

Optionally, the device further comprises a ball positioning member comprising a substantially flat base for receiving a golfball and configured to engage with the one or more guide rails. Optionally, the ball positioning member is configured to engage with two adjacent guide rails. Optionally, the ball positioning member comprises one or more engaging portions mutually shaped to engage with the guide rails. Optionally, the one or more engaging portions are located at edges of the flat base of the ball positioning member

Optionally, the ball positioning member is configured to abut the one or more carriages, to position said carriages relative to the flat base of the ball positioning member. Optionally, an end of the one or more engaging portions is configured to abut the one or more

Optionally, a portion of the flat base of the ball positioning member extends beyond the one or more engaging portions, such that the ball can be positioned on said portion of the flat base and be adjacent the one or more carriages.

Optionally, the flat base of the ball positioning member comprises one or more ball positioning indicators for positioning the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the disclosure are described below by way of nonlimiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an example golf training device;

Fig. 2 shows the example golf training device; and

Fig. 3 shows and exploded view of the parts of the example golf training device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows an example golf training device 1 according to the disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the device 1 comprises two guide rails 2 and two carriages 3 respectively configured to engage with the two guide rails 2 and configured to travel (e.g. slide) along said guide rails 2 when struck with a golf club (not shown). In alternative example devices, one or more guide rails 2 and carriages 3 may be provided instead. However, two guide rails 2 and respective carriages 3 is preferable for reasons explained further below.

As shown in Fig. 1, the guide rails 2 and the carriages 3 may be configured such that a gap G is provided between the two carriages 3, when located adjacent each other on the respective guide rails 2. The gap G is preferably wide enough for accommodating all, or at least a portion of, a golfball. The gap G is preferably narrow enough that the carriages 3 can be struck simultaneously by a golf club (not shown). Preferably, the gap G is slightly larger than the diameter of a golfball (the regulation diameter being about 43 mm) e.g. about 40 mm to 60 mm.

It is intended that the user of the device 1 positions a golfball (not shown) adjacent the carriages 3 in a direction perpendicular to the guide rails 2. It is intended that the user then strikes the golfball with a golf club in substantially in a direction parallel to the guide rails 2. It is intended that the user strikes the carriages 3 substantially simultaneously with striking the ball, thus causing the carriages to travel along the guide rails 2. This provides the user with visual and tactile feedback on their golf stroke. However, it should be noted that the presence of a golfball is not essential. The device 1 may be used in exactly the same way without a golfball.

In an alternative intended use, the user may form a gate with the carriages 3 and aim to strike the golfball through the gate. For example, with the golfball positioned near to one end of the device 1, the carriages 3 may be positioned near the opposite end of the device 1 (or somewhere between the ball and the opposite end of the device to reduce the difficulty level).

Feedback on the weight of the strike is provided by noting how far the carriages 3 travel along the guide rails 2. Feedback on the direction of the strike and/or the angle of the face of the golf club is provided by noting the difference between how far different carriages 3 travel along the guide rails 2. The former requires only one guide rail 2 and respective carriages 3, while the latter requires at least two guide rails 2 and respective carriages 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, the device 1 may further comprise a substantially flat base member 4. As shown, the base member is provided substantially adjacent the guide rails 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the base member 4 may extend substantially parallel to the guide rails 2 and may be substantially the same length as the guide rails 2. The base member 4 may provide a surface on which a ball golfball may travel when struck. Further, the base member 4 may comprises distance indicators 41 at intervals along the length of the base member 4 to provide more accurate visual feedback as to the position of the carriages 3.

As shown in Fig. 3 the base member 4 and the guide rails 2 may be connected. Accordingly, the base member 4 acts as a connecting member between guide rails 2 that fixes the relative positions of the guide rails 2. In other examples, the device 1 may comprise alternative or additional connecting members, such as one or more narrow strips extending horizontally between guide rails 2 or one or more arches extending between guide rails, up and over a channel down which a golfball may travel.

As shown in Fig. 1, in this example, the guide rails 2 may extend upward from the base member 4. As shown, the guide rails may be provided substantially at opposing edge portions of the base member 4. As shown in Fig. 3 the guide rails 2 and the base member 4 may be integrated as a single component of the device 1. The base member 4 and guide rails 2 may be formed by extrusion, injection moulding or 3D printing. The base member 4 and guide rails 2 may be formed from plastic or metal, for example.

As shown in Fig. 1, the guide rails 2 may have a substantially T-shaped cross-section.

However, the guide rails 2 need not have a T-shaped cross-section along their full length. For example, portions of the guide rails 2 may have a cross-section corresponding to the horizontal part of the-T-shape only, e.g. a horizontal rectangle. A vertical part of the T- shaped cross-section may connect the guide rail 2 to the base member 4 at intervals along the length of the guide rail 2.

As shown in Fig. 3, the carriages 3 may comprise a carriage base 31. The carriage base 31 is configured to engage with the guide rails 2. As shown, the carriage base 31 comprises a slot 32 having a T-shaped cross-section configured to engage with the T-shaped crosssection of the guide rails 3.

In alternative example devices, the guide rails and carriages may have different shaped engaging portions, the engaging portions being portions of the guide rails 2 and the carriages 3 that engage with each other, such as the outer surface of the guide rail 2 and the slot 32 described above. Generally, the guide rails 2 and the carriages 3 may respectively comprise mutually shaped engaging portions.

As shown in Fig. 3, the carriages 3 may comprise a an impact member 33. The impact member 33 is configured to be struck by the golf club. As shown, the impact member 33 may extend upward from the carriage base 31. As shown, the impact member 33 may comprise a substantially flat impact face 34 configured to be struck by the golf club. Preferably, the impact face 34 faces in direction substantially parallel to the guide rails 2.

As shown Fig. 3, the impact member 33 may have a substantially uniform width to provide a consistent impact surface independent of the height at which the club strikes the impact member 33. As shown in Fig. 3, the impact member 33 may have rounded corners to prevent damage to the golf club. Preferably, the height of the impact member 33 is at least around half the diameter of a golfball (the regulation diameter being about 43 mm) e.g. about 20 mm to 30 mm.

The impact member 33 may comprises a relatively soft outer layer, e.g. as compared to an inner layer. As shown, the outer layer may be a soft cover 35. The relatively soft layer may prevent damage to the golf club. As shown in Fig. 3 the soft cover 35 may substantially cover the entirety of the impact member 33. As shown in Fig. 3, the soft cover may be removable. The soft cover may be formed from a fabric or an elastomer, for example.

A shown, in Fig. 3, the slots 32 of the carriages 3 may displaced with respect to the centres of the impact members 33. As shown in Fig. 3 the two carriages are mirrored left to right such that the respective displacement of the slots 32 are in opposite directions. This allows the size of the gap G between the carriages to be adjusted by swapping the left and right carriages 3. In the alternative intended use of the device 1 described above, where the carriages 3 are used to form a gate for the golfball, adjustment of the gap G allows the difficulty level to be adjusted.

The carriages 3 (possibly excluding the soft cover 35) may be formed by injection moulding or 3D printing for example. The carriages 3 (possibly excluding the soft cover 35) may be formed from plastic or metal, for example.

As shown in Figs 2 and 3, the device 1 may further comprise a removable protective cover 36 configured to cover at least one, but preferably two, of the impact members 33 to protect the impact members 33 when not in use.

As shown in Fig. 1, the device 1 may further comprise a ball positioning member 5. The ball positioning member 5 is configured to receive a golfball. As shown in Fig. 3, the ball positioning member 5 comprises a substantially flat base 51 for receiving a golfball. As shown in Fig. 1 the ball positioning member 5 is arranged adjacent the guide rails 2 (whereas the carriages 3 are arranged on the guide rails 2).

A shown in Fig. 1, the ball positioning member 5 may be configured to engage with the guide rails 2 and travel along the guide rails 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the ball positioning member 5 may comprise engaging portions 52 mutually shaped to engage with the guide rails 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the engaging portions 52 may be located at edges of the flat base 51 of the ball positioning member. In the present example, the engaging portions 52 comprise a flange corresponding to the T-shaped cross-section of the guide rails 2.

As shown in Fig. 1, the ball positioning member 5 is configured to abut the carriages 3, to position the carriages 3 relative to the flat base 51 of the ball positioning member 5. As shown in Fig. 1 respective ends 52A of the engaging portions 52 may be configured to abut the carriages 2.

As shown in Fig. 1 portion 51 A of the flat base 51 of the ball positioning member 5 may extend beyond the ends 52A of the engaging portions 52, such that a golfball can be positioned on the portion 51 A of the flat base 51 and be adjacent the carriages 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the flat base 51 (e.g. the portion 51 A) of the ball positioning member 5 may comprise one or more ball positioning indicators 53 for positioning the golfball.

The ball positioning member 5 may be configured to be stowed away in the base member 4 by sliding the ball positioning member 5 along the guide rails 2 such that both ends of the ball positioning member 5 are on the base member 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the device 1 may further comprise end stops 6. The end stops 6 are configured to prevent the carriages 3 leaving the guide rails 2. As shown, the end stops 6 may be configured to attach to respective corners of the base member 4. As shown in Fig. 3, the end stops 6 may comprise a series of soft fins 61 on an edge adjacent the guide rails configured to slow the carriages when the carriage contact the fins 61. The end stops 6 may be formed from a relatively soft material, e.g. as compared to the base member 4. The end stops 6 may be formed from an elastomer, for example. The end stops 6 may also protect the corners of the base member 4. The end stops 6 may be injection moulded or 3D printed.

As shown in Fig. 1, the end stops 6 may comprise a hole 62 configure to accommodate a golf tee, for fixing the device 1 to the ground. In alternative example device 1, a hole may be provided in the base member 4 instead, for example

As shown in Fig. 3, the sides of the base member 4 may comprise an engaging portion 42. The engaging portions 42 may be configured to engage with respective engaging portions 63 (e.g. mutually shaped slots) of the end stops 6. The engaging portions 42 may also be configured to engage with joining members (not shown) for joining multiple base members 4 together end-to-end, to form a longer base member. It should be understood that variations of the above described examples are possible in light of the above teachings, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclose as defined by the claims. For example, features described with reference to one example may be combined with features described with reference to another example.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 device

2 guide rail

3 carriage

31 carriage base

32 slot

33 impact member

34 impact face

35 soft cover

36 protective cover

4 base member

41 distance indicators

42 engaging portion

5 ball positioning member

51 base

52 engaging portion

53 positioning indicator

6 end stop

61 fins

62 hole

63 engaging portion