Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Target or obstacle
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-29
2004-03-23
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Target or obstacle
Reexamination Certificate
active
06709342
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to the art of golf, and more particularly to a accessory that is placed about the golf hole to obstruct the opening in the golf hole.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many devices have been developed for the game of golf to improve a players skill level and to increase the level of enjoyment of the game. Much of the focus of golf occurs at the putting green, since the principle object of the game is to sink a golf ball into a golf hole with the least amount of strokes. Several devices have been developed to improve the players ability to put a golf ball into a golf hole.
One group of these devices is designed to reduce the diameter of the golf hole to improve the aim of a player hitting a golf ball into the center of the golf hole. Typically, these devices are inserted into the golf hole so as not to obstruct the ground surface around the golf hole. The golfer, after putting the golf ball into the golf hole, is required to remove the insert from the golf hole prior to retrieving the golf ball. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,397. The golf hole insert has an outer diameter the same as a regulation golf hole and includes a tapered edge to allow the insert to be inserted into the golf hole. The top of the device has an opening with a diameter less than the diameter of the golf hole, but greater than the diameter of a golf ball so as to allow the golf ball to drop through the opening and into the golf cup. A modifications to this device accommodates an insert to be placed in the opening to further reduce the diameter of the opening and make it more difficult to sink the golf ball in the smaller opening.
Another group of devices incorporate the use of visual markers to visually enhance the area in and around the golf hole. These devices include colored markings and are positioned about the perimeter of the golf hole to focus the players attention on the golf hole. These devices may also include advertising and other informational marking to provide various types of information to a player during play.
A further group of devices are designed to eject a golf ball from a golf hole after the golf ball falls into the golf hole. These ejectors incorporate mechanical, hydraulic and/or electrical components to eject the golf ball. These devices are typically designed to eject upon being activated by a player. However, other devices are designed to automatically eject the golf ball when the golf ball contacts the device or after some period of time after the golf ball contacts the device. These ejectors typically are designed to provide convenience to a player so that the player does not need to bend down and retrieve the golf ball from the golf hole. However, the device designed to immediately eject the golf ball from the golf hole may have some novelty aspects, especially when the golfer is not aware of the placement of the device in the golf hole. One such golf hole device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,131.
Golf cup inserts which reduce the diameter of a golf hole traditionally require the player to remove the insert prior to being able to remove the ball from the golf hole thus making such devices inconvenient for practice. These golf cup inserts are designed to fit into officially cut golf holes having a diameter of about 4.25 inches. Golf holes that have a smaller diameter or a substantially larger diameter than regulation golf holes cannot properly accommodate these devices thus causing the insert not to fit into the golf hole or dropping through the hole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a golf hole insert to reduce or obstruct the opening of a golf hole to prevent a golf ball from fully passing through the opening and into the golf cup. The golf hole insert may be used as a practicing tool to increase the skill of a player and/or a novelty item which creates an obstruction in the golf hole to prevent an unknowing player from hitting the golf ball into the golf hole.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a golf hole insert that is placed about a golf hole. The insert includes a cover that is shaped to prevent the golf ball from fully passing through the opening of a golf hole. The cover can have a variety of shapes to obstruct the path of the golf ball into the golf hole. These shapes include, but are not limited to, a circle, an oval, or a polygonal shape such as a square, rectangle, rhombus, pentagon, hexagon, octagon or the like. In one preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the cover along its horizontal axis is a generally circular shape. Preferably, the cover has a cross-sectional shape to enable the insert to be positioned within the golf hole. For covers having a generally circular cross-sectional shape, the diameter of the cover is preferably selected to be equal to or slightly less than the diameter of 4.25 inches regulation golf hole. To accommodate a variety of different golf holes, the diameter of a generally circular cover is at least about 3.0 inches, and preferably about 3.5 to 4.75 inches in diameter. As can be appreciated, the cover can be designed so that one or more portions of the cover overlie the ground around the golf hole. For a generally circular shaped cover, the diameter of the cover would be greater than the diameter of the golf hole. Cover designs having shapes to allow the cover to be inserted into the golf hole can be mounted such that at least a portion of the cover is positioned level with the ground surface about the golf hole, positioned below the ground surface around the golf hole, and/or positioned above the ground surface of the golf hole. The positioning of the cover with respect to the ground surface is dependent on the particular application and use of the golf insert.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the golf hole insert can be designed to draw attention to the golf hole insert or to reduce detection by a player. The selection of whether to use or not to use golf hole inserts that draw attention to itself depends upon the intended use of the golf hole insert. When the golf insert is used to improve a player's golf skills, the insert preferably includes one or more markings to draw attention to the golf hole insert. These markings can include coloring which enable a player to easily identify the location of the insert. In one preferred embodiment, the markings include colored visual aids positioned on the top surface of the cover such as a colored stripe. In another preferred embodiment, the visual markings include advertisement material and/or other informational markings to provide the player with information. When the golf hole insert is designed to not draw a player's attention, the cover may include camouflaged markings and/or transparent materials. Typically, such a cover is used as a novelty item to surprise a player upon seeing the golf ball roll toward the golf hole being deflected from the golf hole or not passing fully into the golf hole. When camouflaged markings are used, the markings are preferably included on the top and/or bottom surface of the cover to visually emulate the appearance of a golf hole.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the top portion of the cover can be designed to have a variety of shapes. The shape of the top of the cover will generally depend on the intended use of the golf insert. In one preferred embodiment, the top portion is substantially planar or flat. The flat surface allows the golf ball to roll across the top portion without any obstruction. In another preferred embodiment, the top portion includes one or more concave and/or convex dimples or bulges. These dimples and bulges produce obstructions and/or traps as the golf ball rolls across the top portion of the cover. In still another preferred embodiment, the top portion is generally concave or domed shape. The dome shape causes the golf ball to reduce speed and/or to alter its course as it moves along the dome. In a further preferred embodiment, the top portion is genera
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee
Graham Mark S.
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