Patent US3899180A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3899180A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Putting practice gage
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-02-19
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1994-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A putting practice gage is constructed to place a golf ball on a normal putting surface such as a green and to gage the length, straightness and direction of the putter stroke and position of the ball for various stroke lengths and putter sizes. The gage has a backstop platform that lies on the green for arresting the putter position and determining the putter stroke starting point. Extending from the platform is a pair of parallel telescopic guide bars with distance indicia thereon for gaging straightness, lateral movement or twist of an unrestricted forward putter stroke. The ball is positioned at the end of the guide bars and intermediate them at a lateral position designated by a movable visual guide matching a mark on the putter. The visual guide may include a direction finder light beam which shines on the ball and serves to determine the direction of the shot toward a cup or target.
Inventors
- 👤 John J Rodman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:13
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3676; A63B69/3621; A63B69/36211; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B2071/0694; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/09; A63B69/3614
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
366 words
A putting practice gage for relatively positioning a golf ball and putter on an external green putting surface adjacent a hole for judging variable stroke lengths and for guiding the direction of the stroke to improve skills in putting stroke and touch, comprising in combination, a backstop member to be placed on said green putting surface with structure enclosing an unobstructed portion of the green surface upon which the ball is to be placed near the hole for a full putting stroke into contact with the ball, the backstop being positioned for arresting movement of the putter stroke adjacent said green putting surface at the back end of a stroke, said structure including gage structure including a pair of parallel guides extending from the backstop member which constitutes the sole connection member therebetween in contact with the green and the guides located on opposite sides of the putter thereby to receive the ball therebetween in contact with the green for impact by a stroke from the putter adjacent the green surface being confined only to a normal position between the two guides to gage the putter stroke through a straight putting stroke of predetermined length with unrestricted view along the green in front of the putter while stroking and impacting the ball in the putter path along and substantially parallel to said green putting surface, and indexing means on said guides to mark the position of the ball to be placed on the putting surface intermediate the ends of said guides at a predetermined distance from the backstop member thereby to establish a stroke length gage, whereby the ball is placed on said green putting surface, said gage structure establishing the putter placement position at said backstop and confining the putter movement only at the backstop and sides along said guides to establish the direction of the stroke and gaging the length of the stroke along the green surface from the backstop to the ball placement impact position by said indexing means at a marked position whereby a person can use the gage to establish and repeat proper putting stroke lengths and impact positions with the putter and ball normally positioned on the actual green surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
366 words
A putting practice gage for relatively positioning a golf ball and putter on an external green putting surface adjacent a hole for judging variable stroke lengths and for guiding the direction of the stroke to improve skills in putting stroke and touch, comprising in combination, a backstop member to be placed on said green putting surface with structure enclosing an unobstructed portion of the green surface upon which the ball is to be placed near the hole for a full putting stroke into contact with the ball, the backstop being positioned for arresting movement of the putter stroke adjacent said green putting surface at the back end of a stroke, said structure including gage structure including a pair of parallel guides extending from the backstop member which constitutes the sole connection member therebetween in contact with the green and the guides located on opposite sides of the putter thereby to receive the ball therebetween in contact with the green for impact by a stroke from the putter adjacent the green surface being confined only to a normal position between the two guides to gage the putter stroke through a straight putting stroke of predetermined length with unrestricted view along the green in front of the putter while stroking and impacting the ball in the putter path along and substantially parallel to said green putting surface, and indexing means on said guides to mark the position of the ball to be placed on the putting surface intermediate the ends of said guides at a predetermined distance from the backstop member thereby to establish a stroke length gage, whereby the ball is placed on said green putting surface, said gage structure establishing the putter placement position at said backstop and confining the putter movement only at the backstop and sides along said guides to establish the direction of the stroke and gaging the length of the stroke along the green surface from the backstop to the ball placement impact position by said indexing means at a marked position whereby a person can use the gage to establish and repeat proper putting stroke lengths and impact positions with the putter and ball normally positioned on the actual green surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as defined in claim 1 including optical gaging means positioned on said backstop member containing structure for passing a line of sight visible to a person putting a ball between the backstop member and a ball placed on said green for aligning the position and path of the ball intermediate said guides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the optical gaging means comprises a visible sight extending upwardly from said backstop for aligning with a guide line on the putter when positioned at said backstop member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the optical gaging means comprises a lens for sighting a line along the projected path of a putted ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for sighting a line comprises an optical sight with a reflection surface and two passageways disposed to reflect optical images therefrom into directions respectively toward a ball positioned on said green surface and in the view of a person using the gage, whereby The alignment of the ball may be viewed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the optical gaging means comprises a lamp with a light ray beam therefrom projected along a line designating the projected path of a putted ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said optical gaging means is selectively laterally movable between said guides.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |