Golf training aid assembly

Abstract

A golf training aid assembly comprising a base plate with a U-shaped recess, a vertical leg with hinges at both ends, and an L-shaped top shield. The base and top hinges use pins and flexible clips or knuckles that snap into place for secure attachment. The vertical leg features anchor holes for golf tees and a recess to house the base plate and top shield flush with its surface. The top shield includes a reference mark aligned with the base's U-shaped recess to aid alignment. The assembly may include embedded sensors in the leg and attachable sensors for golf clubs to measure face angle and provide real-time feedback via tones or a mobile app. Components are designed to be replaceable and reversible, and the device can be made from plastic, metal, or wood using 3D printing, injection molding, or laser cutting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf training aid assembly comprising:
 (a) a vertical leg comprising
 (i) a base hinge at a base end, 
 (ii) a top hinge at a top end that is opposite the base end, and 
 (iii) a height that extends along a vertical axis from the base end to the top end; 
   (b) a base plate coupled to the vertical leg by the base hinge, wherein
 (i) the base plate comprises a first hinged end proximate to the base hinge, a first free end opposite the first hinged end, a first base edge that extends from the first hinged end to the first free end, and a second base edge that extends from the first hinged end to the first free end, 
 (ii) the first base edge comprises a ball-catch recess, 
 (iii) the base plate is moveable about the base hinge from a stowed position to a deployed working position, 
 (iv) when the base plate is in the deployed working position, the base plate extends away from the vertical leg along a first axis perpendicular to the vertical axis, 
 (v) when the base plate is in the stowed position, the base plate is proximate to the vertical leg and extends in a direction along the vertical axis; and 
   (c) a planar top shield coupled to the vertical leg by the top hinge, wherein
 (i) the top shield comprises (A) a second hinged end proximate to the top hinge, (B) a second free end opposite the second hinged end, (C) a first top shield edge that extends from the second hinged end to the second free end, (D) a second top shield edge that extends from the second hinged end to the second free end, (E) a top outer surface, and (F) a bottom surface, 
 (ii) the top shield is moveable about the top hinge from a stowed position to a deployed working position, 
 (iii) when the top shield is in the deployed working position, the top shield extends away from the vertical leg along a first axis perpendicular to the vertical axis, and 
 (iv) when the top shield is in the stowed position, the top shield is proximate to the vertical leg and extends in a direction along the vertical axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) the vertical leg further comprises
 (i) a hollow tubular base joint fixed to the base end, and 
 (ii) an elongated first pin that extends at least partially through the base joint; and 
   (b) the base plate further comprises a clip disposed on the first hinged end, wherein the clip is coupled to the first pin to secure the base plate to the vertical leg.   
     
     
         3 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (a) the clip comprises a flexible arm that elastically deforms outward when pressed against the pin to accommodate the pin passing through the clip; and   (b) the flexible arm is configured to deform inward to secure the first pin.   
     
     
         4 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the top hinge comprises
 (a) a knuckle disposed on the second hinged end of the top shield;   (b) a hollow tubular top joint fixed to the top end of the vertical leg; and   (c) a second pin that extends at least partially through the top joint, wherein the knuckle is fixed to the pin to secure the top shield to the vertical leg by the top hinge.   
     
     
         5 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 (a) the knuckle is configured to elastically deform outward when the second pin is pressed against the knuckles to allow the second pin to pass over the knuckle; and   (b) the knuckle is configured to deform inward to secure the second pin.   
     
     
         6 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical leg comprises an anchor hole at the base end, wherein a hollow portion of the anchor hole extends along the vertical axis. 
     
     
         7 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the anchor hole is sized to accommodate a golf tees. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a sight line disposed on the top outer surface, wherein (a) the sight line extends along a second axis that runs from the first top shield edge to the second top shield edge, and (b) the sight line extends at least partially along a width of the top shield that extends from the first top shield edge to the second top shield edge. 
     
     
         9 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 8 , wherein
 (a) the sight line is formed a distance from the second hinged end;   (b) a center point of the ball-catch recess is formed the distance from the first hinged end such that the sight line and the ball-catch recess are at least partially aligned when the top shield and the base plate are in the deployed working position.   
     
     
         10 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical leg further comprises a compartment sized to house the top shield and the base plate when the top shield and the base plate are in the stowed position. 
     
     
         11 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to measure an angular position of a golf club head, wherein:
 (a) the sensor generates an output signal when the golf club head angular position crosses a specified threshold; and   (b) the output signal is received by an output device comprising one of a vibrator, a buzzer, a light, and a computing device that displays a notification on an electronic display.   
     
     
         12 . A golf training aid assembly comprising:
 (a) a vertical leg comprising a bottom end and a top end;   (b) a base plate coupled to the vertical leg at the bottom end, wherein the base plate comprises a first fixed end proximate to the vertical leg bottom end, a first free end opposite the first fixed end, a first base edge that extends from the first hinged end to the first free end, and a second base edge that extends from the first hinged end to the first free end, and
 (i) the first base edge comprises a ball-catch recess with a mid-point spaced a distance from the vertical leg, 
   (c) a planar top shield coupled to the vertical leg at the top end, wherein the top shield comprises
 (i) a second fixed end proximate to the vertical leg top end, 
 (ii) a second free end opposite the second fixed end, 
 (iii) a first top shield edge that extends from the second fixed end to the second free end, 
 (iv) a second top shield edge that extends from the second fixed end to the second free end, 
 (v) a top outer surface, 
 (vi) a bottom surface, and 
 (vii) a sight line disposed on the top outer surface, wherein the sight line extends at least partially between the first top shield edge and the second top shield edge, and the sight line is located the distance from the vertical leg. 
   
     
     
         13 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 12 , wherein
 (a) the vertical leg further comprises
 (i) a hollow tubular base joint fixed to the base end, and 
 (ii) an elongated first pin that extends at least partially through the base joint; and 
   (b) the base plate further comprises a clip disposed on the first hinged end, wherein the clip is coupled to the first pin to secure the base plate to the vertical leg.   
     
     
         14 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 (a) the clip comprises a flexible arm that elastically deforms outward when pressed against the pin to accommodate the pin passing through the clip; and   (b) the flexible arm is configured to deform inward to secure the first pin.   
     
     
         15 . A golf training aid assembly comprising:
 (a) a vertical leg comprising a bottom end, a top end, and a height that extends along a first axis from the base end to the top end;   (b) a base plate coupled to the vertical leg at the bottom end, wherein
 (i) the base plate comprises a first fixed end proximate to the vertical leg bottom end and a first free end opposite the first fixed end, and 
 (ii) the base plate extends outward from the vertical leg along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; a top outer surface, and 
   (c) a planar top shield coupled to the vertical leg at the top end, wherein
 (i) the top shield comprises a second fixed end proximate to the vertical leg top end, a second free end opposite the second fixed end, and a sight line disposed on the top outer surface, 
 (ii) the top shield extends outward from the vertical leg along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; a top outer surface, and 
 (iii) the sight line extends along the top shield outer surface along a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis. 
   
     
     
         16 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 (a) the base plate is coupled to the vertical leg by a first hinge, wherein the base plate is movable about the hinge from a deployed position to a stowed position; and   (b) the top shield is coupled to the vertical leg by a hinge, wherein the top shield is movable about the hinge from a deployed position to a stowed position.   
     
     
         17 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the base plate further comprises
 (a) a first edge extending from the first fixed end to the first free end;   (b) a second edge extending from the first fixed end to the second fixed end; and   (c) a ball catch recess formed in the first edge, wherein the ball catch recess is formed as a cutout from the base plate.   
     
     
         18 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 (a) the vertical leg is formed as a hollow body having an interior compartment and an opening; and   (b) the base plate and the top shield are housed within the interior compartment when in the stowed position.   
     
     
         19 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to measure an angular position of a golf club head, wherein:
 (a) the sensor generates an output signal when the golf club head angular position crosses a specified threshold; and   (b) the output signal is received by a computing device comprising a processor, an integrated display device, and a storage device storing executable software code that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 (i) receive the output signal, 
 (ii) generate a graphical user interface, 
 (iii) display the graphical user interface on the integrated display device, and 
 (iv) convert the output signal to a graphical element that is displayed on the graphical user interface as a numerical angle or as a threshold indicator that changes when the angular position crosses the specified threshold. 
   
     
     
         20 . The golf training aid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical leg comprises an anchor hole at the base end, wherein a hollow portion of the anchor hole extends along the vertical axis.