Putting stroke analyser

Claim 2

A putting stroke analyser, comprising: means including first and second sensors laterally spaced in the putting stroke analyser for sensing putter face angle and for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter face angle when the putting analyser is addressed by a putter; means for indicating, resPectively, proper and actual putter stroke direction when the putting analyser is stroked by a putter; and means including a freely movable carriage mounting all parts of said putting stroke analyser for movement with the carriage for yieldingly supporting all said means for sensing and indicating putter face angle and putter stroke direction.

Claim 3

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 1, wherein said putting stroke analyser includes a linkage between said laterally spaced first and second sensors, and a simulated golf ball positioned to be struck at the rear of the yielding support means.

Claim 4

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second sensors protrude in position for putter face contact at the rear of the simulated golf ball.

Claim 5

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 3, wherein the means for indicating putter face angle has a display portion, wherein the means for indicating putter stroke direction has a display portion, and wherein both the first said and the second said display portions face upwardly, thereby being visible from above at all times.

Claim 6

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 4, wherein each display portion includes a pointer and a scale, wherein the means for indicating proper putter face angle includes an indicated predetermined relation of the pointer and scale of the first said display portion, wherein the means for indicating proper putter stroke direction includes an indicated predetermined relation of the pointer and scale of the second said display portion, and means fixing the scale of the first said display portion in spaced relation to the scale of the second said display portion.

Claim 7

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 5, wherein all said pointers and scales are displayed forward of the simulated ball and wherein the pointers point away from the simulated ball.

Claim 8

A putting stroke analyser comprising: means for sensing putter face angle and for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter face angle when the putting analyser is addressed by a putter; means for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter-stroke direction when the putting analyser is stroked by a putter; means for yieldingly supporting all said means for sensing and indicating putter face angle and putter stroke direction, and a simulated golf ball positioned to be struck at the rear of the yielding support means, the yielding support means including a wheeled carriage, the wheel orientation with respect to the carriage being such as to adapt the carriage for movement in the direction indicated by the means for indicating proper putter stroke direction.

Claim 9

A putting stroke analyser comprising: means for sensing putter face angle and for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter face angle when the putting analyser is addressed by a putter; means for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter-stroke direction when the putting analyser is stroked by a putter; means for yieldingly supporting all said means for sensing and indicating putter face angle and putter stroke direction, and a simulated golf ball positioned to be struck at the rear of the yielding support means, the yielding support means including a wheeled carriage, the wheel orientation with respect to the carriage being such as to adapt the carriage for movement in the direction indicated by the means for indicating proper putter stroke direction.

Claim 10

A putting stroke analyser comprising: means for sensing putter face angle and for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter face angle when the putting analyser is addressed by a putter; means for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter-stroke direction when the putting analyser is stroked by a putter; means for yieldingly supporting all said means for sensing and indicating putter face angle and putter stroke direction, and a simulated golf ball positioned to be struck at the rear of the yielding support means, the means for sensing putter face angle being positioned for putter face contact at the rear of the simulated golf ball, and comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, said sensors protruding rearwardly of the simulated golf ball, and structure mounting said sensors movably in relation to the simulated golf ball, whereby on address by a putter the sensors are adapted to indicate said actual putter face angle, and whereby on stroke by a putter, the sensors are adapted to yield, allowing the simulated ball to receive direct putter contact.

Claim 11

A putting stroke analyser comprising: means for sensing putter face angle and for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter face angle when the putting analyser is addressed by a putter; means for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter-stroke direction when the putting analyser is stroked by a putter; means for yieldingly supporting all said means for sensing and indicating putter face angle and putter stroke direction, and a simulated golf ball positioned to be struck at the rear of the yielding support means, the means for sensing putter face angle being positioned for putter face contact at the rear of the simulated golf ball, and comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, said sensors protruding rearwardly of the simulated golf ball, and structure mounting said sensors movably in relation to the simulated golf ball, whereby on address by a putter the sensors are adapted to indicate said actual putter face angle, and whereby on stroke by a putter, the sensors are adapted to yield, allowing the simulated ball to receive direct putter contact.

Claim 12

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 8, wherein the means for sensing putter stroke direction includes structure mounting the simulated golf ball movably relative the yielding support means, the direction of said relative movement between the simulated golf ball and thE yielding support means being substantially transverse to the direction indicated by the means for indicating proper putter stroke direction, whereby on receiving direct putter contact in a direction misaligned with said proper direction, the simulated ball is adapted to move transversely of said proper direction in response thereto.

Claim 13

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 9, wherein the direction of said relative movement between the sensors and the simulated golf ball is substantially parallel with said proper putter stroke direction, and wherein a connection is provided between the sensors and the simulated golf ball for constraining the sensors to move transversely with the simulated golf ball.

Claim 14

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 10, wherein the structure mounting the simulated golf ball movably relative to the yielding support means includes a pivot on the yielding support means and a member rigidly connecting the simulated golf ball with the pivot, wherein the sensors have extension forwardly, and wherein the structure mounting the sensors movably relative to the simulate golf ball includes a rotative shaft journalled in the member rigidly connecting the simulated golf ball with the pivot and a resilient lever arm affixed to the rotative shaft, with one end of the resilient lever arm affixed to the forward end of the first sensor and the other end of the resilient lever arm affixed to the forward end of the second sensor.

Claim 15

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 11, wherein the means for indicating putter face angle includes a pointer, a scale, and a lever system affixed in rotation at one end to said rotative shaft and terminating at the other end in said pointer, the scale being integral with said member rigidly connecting the simulated golf ball with the pivot and being positioned adjacent said pointer.

Claim 16

A putting stroke analyser as recited in claim 12, wherein the means for indicating stroke direction includes a pointer, a scale, and a lever system, the lever system having a fulcrum in said member rigidly connecting the simulated golf ball with the pivot and being positioned adjacent said pointer.