# US 8,465,377 B1 · Golf putting training aid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,377 B1 - Document ID: US8465377B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/091,706 - Filed: 2011-04-21 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-22 - Assignees: Joseph A. Kamnikar - Applicants: Joseph A. Kamnikar; Lyle Chamberlain - Inventors: Joseph A. Kamnikar; Lyle Chamberlain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465377B1 ## CPC - A63B 69/3682: {Visual means not attached to the body for aligning, positioning the trainee's head or for detecting head movement, e.g. by parallax} - A63B 69/3661: {Mats for golf practice, e.g. mats having a simulated turf, a practice tee or a green area} - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B 2220/805: Optical or opto-electronic sensors - A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement - A63B 2225/74: with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A putting training device includes a base having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface for placing on a putting surface. The top surface is a tapered surface tapering to the putting surface. A ball receiving recess can be defined on the top surface. The device also includes a ball positioning sensor positioned adjacent to the ball receiving recess and a light source for transmitting light visible from the top surface of the base. The light source is in operable communication with the ball positioning sensor to respond to a signal from the ball positioning sensor that a ball has been impacted from the ball receiving recess. When the light source receives the signal from the ball positioning sensor, the light source will transmit light for a finite predetermined period of time after the ball is impacted from the ball receiving recess. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A putting training device comprising: a base having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface for placing on a putting surface, at least a portion of the top surface tapering to the putting surface; a ball receiving recess defined on the top surface; a ball positioning sensor positioned adjacent to the ball receiving recess; and a light source for transmitting visible light above the top surface of the base, the light source being in operable communication with the ball positioning sensor to respond to a signal from the ball positioning sensor that a ball has been impacted from the ball receiving recess to transmit light for a finite predetermined period of time after the ball is impacted from the ball receiving recess and moved across the tapering top surface to the putting surface, wherein, in use, a user can maintain focus on the transmitted light for the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The putting training device of claim 1, further comprising a ball receiving mount positioned in the base, the ball mount defining the ball receiving recess, wherein the ball receiving mount is flush with the top surface, and wherein the light source and the ball positioning sensor are positioned in the ball receiving mount. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The putting training device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base comprises a translucent material, with the light source being contained within the translucent material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The putting training device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of lights. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The putting training device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of lights comprises a plurality of LED lights. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The putting training device of claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged perimetrically around the ball receiving recess. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The putting training device of claim 6, wherein the light source is arranged in a circular pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The putting training device of claim 7, wherein the circular pattern defines a diameter, such that when a ball is received within the ball receiving recess, the light source is not visible from the user's perspective. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The putting training device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a circular base, and wherein at least a portion of the top surface is tapered to the putting surface about the entire perimeter of the base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The putting training device of claim 1, wherein the transmission of light from the light source for a finite predetermined period of time comprises a series of flashes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The putting training device of claim 10, wherein the series of flashes comprises three flashes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The putting training device of claim 10, wherein the predetermined period of time ranges between 1-3 seconds. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The putting training device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time ranges between 1-3 seconds. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The putting training device of claim 1, wherein the ball positioning sensor comprises two spaced apart positioning sensors in operable communication with the light source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The putting training device of claim 14, wherein the two positioning sensors comprise first and second light sensors to measure light differentials in ambient light between the two light sensors to determine whether a ball has been impacted from the ball receiving recess. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The putting training device of claim 14, wherein the light source is arranged in a circular pattern around the ball receiving recess defining a light source circumference, wherein a first positioning sensor is positioned on an axis defined through the ball receiving recess, and a second positioning sensor is positioned on the light source circumference. ### Claim 17 A putting training device comprising: a substantially circular base comprising a ball receiving mount positioned in a top surface of the base defining a ball receiving recess, wherein the top surface is tapered to a putting surface; first and second spaced apart light sensors positioned in the ball mount and in operable communication with each other to measure light differentials in ambient light between the two light sensors; and a plurality of lights for transmitting visible light from the top surface of the pad arranged in a circular pattern around the ball receiving recess defining a light emitting circumference, such that when a ball is received within the ball receiving recess, the LED lights are not visible from a user's perspective; wherein the first light sensor is positioned on an axis defined through the ball receiving recess, and the second light sensor is positioned on the light emitting circumference; and wherein the lights are in operable communication with the light sensors to respond to a signal that a ball has been impacted from the ball receiving recess to transmit a series of light flashes for a finite predetermined period of time after the ball is impacted from the ball receiving recess and moved across the tapered top surface to the putting surface, when the light sensors measure an ambient light differential having a value indicating that the ball has been impacted from the ball receiving recess, wherein, in use, a user can maintain focus on the transmitted light for the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 18 A method of putting training comprising the steps of: receiving a ball within a ball receiving recess of a putting training device having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is tapered to the bottom surface; detecting the presence of the ball within the ball receiving recess; detecting that the ball has been impacted from the ball receiving recess; sending a signal to a light source perimetrically positioned around the ball receiving recess in response to detecting that the ball has been impacted; transmitting light from the light source for a predetermined period of time in response to the light source receiving the signal that the ball has been impacted; ceasing to transmit light after the predetermined period of time has lapsed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the step of detecting the presence of the ball within the ball receiving recess comprises measuring a differential in ambient light between two light sensors; and wherein the step of detecting that the ball has been impacted from the ball receiving recess comprises measuring a second differential in ambient light between the light sensors corresponding to a value indicating that the ball has been impacted from the ball receiving recess. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the step of transmitting light comprises initiating a series of light flashes for the predetermined period of time.