Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice projectile addressing surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-12
2001-11-06
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice projectile addressing surface
C473S279000, C473S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312345
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf practice apparatus. More particular, the invention relates to a golf ball hitting platform having a variety of interchangeable practice and training devices used therewith.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are a wide variety of prior art golf practice mats designed to enable a golfer to practice his swing and to simulate various playing situations and conditions encountered on a golf course during the playing of a game of golf.
Specific examples of prior art golf ball hitting mats are disclosed in a variety of U.S. patents. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,348,847 to Fischl and 4,932,663 to Makar disclose golf mats including structure for simulating the taking of a divot during a golf swing. The Makar patent includes a rigid frame and an artificial turf structure attached to the frame. The turf structure is held under tension in such a way that the turf moves downward upon impact with a golf club to simulate conditions found on a natural golf course.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,630,828 to Lovin and 5,803,820 to McCarty are both directed to portable sand trap devices including a receptacle which is filled with sand to enable the golfer to practice sand shots.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,243 to Dlouhy shows a golf practice mat including a base having a cavity to position and support a removable tee pad formed of a polyfoam material. The tee pad is capable of removably receiving and supporting a conventional golf tee at any selected depth. The patent further teaches that an artificial turf sheet may also be used to allow fairway type shots to be practiced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,685 to Ballinger et al. shows a golf practice apparatus including a main frame platform and a fairway turf component. The apparatus includes a removable continuous belt having a turf simulating surface.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,033,747 to Young, 5,354,064 to Toikka and 5,803,826 to Perrine disclose golf swing practice mats having a variety of different simulated ball striking surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,896 to O'Brien shows a golf practice mat having a slidable synthetic grass hitting surface within a rectangular frame to provide a more natural feel to the golfer. The mat simulates the action that natural turf assumes as a divot is taking when the club head strikes the grass surface.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,263,719 to Bunn, 5,346,220 to Cooper et al., 5,478,082 to De Knight et al. and 5,676,604 to McCormick disclose a variety of guides for preventing an improper swing path as a golfer strikes a golf ball. Each guide includes a barrier which extends above the support surface for guiding the golf club, whereby the golf club will contact the barrier if an improper swing path is made.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,659,084 to Vuick, 4,895,372 to Muller, 5,591,090 to Kauffman, Jr., 5,616,085 to LaCoste, Jr. et al. and 5,634,858 to Bellagamba all disclose a variety of barrier devices to be positioned adjacent a golfer's forward knee to form a barrier against improper or unwanted movement during the execution of a golf swing.
While a variety of golf training devices are disclosed above, a need continues to exist for improved training devices. The present invention provides such an improved training device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a golf ball hitting platform including a base frame upon which the golfer stands and interchangeable teeing panels located at an adjacent teeing area. The interchangeable teeing panels include a fairway teeing panel, a rough teeing panel, a bunkerboard panel, a bunker panel and a special fairway panel for use with sloped platform settings. In addition, the platform may include elevating blocks allowing the platform to be positioned in various orientations simulating, for example, a downhill lie, an uphill lie, a side hill lie with the ball above the golfer's feet or a side hill lie with the ball below the golfer's feet.
Training attachments are also provided to give a golfer feedback in response to a number of common swing faults. One training attachment available in accordance with the present invention is an upright wall positioned adjacent the teeing area which prevents a golfer from extending the club head beyond the golf ball during the execution of a swing to prevent a shanked shot.
Another training attachment is a knee brace positioned on the platform. The knee brace prevents the golfer's knee from laterally sliding toward the target, a common swing error.
Still another training attachment is a swing limiter which attaches to the hitting area of the platform to limit the length of a golfer's backswing by providing feedback to the golfer. The swing limiter is adjustable along the backswing path.
A further training attachment is a swing plane guide which forces a proper take-away and defines the inside plane of a golfer's swing through the impact area where the golf ball is struck.
It will be appreciated that the various teeing panels and training attachments may be used interchangeably to simulate a number of golf shots found on a golf course during the playing of a game of golf. Initially, a golfer may use the training device of the present invention oriented in a flat planar configuration with a teeing panel having a simulated grass, mat surface and/or a conventional tee for use with golf clubs used to hit golf shots when the ball is teed up. A golfer may use the elevating blocks in combination with a simulated grass panel teeing attachment to produce an uneven lie with the ball above his feet, below his feet, on a downhill slope, and on an uphill slope.
Another use of the training device of the present invention allows a golfer to prevent the shanking of a golf shot by the addition of an upright wall adjacent the end of the teeing surface. This enables golfers who often shank to acquire the feel of a correct golf swing where the golf club head does not extend outwardly past the ball. This results in the ball being hit on the center of the club face rather than on the shank or hosel of the club head.
Still another use of the training device of the present invention, allows a golfer to practice his swing against a knee brace. The knee brace prevents a golfer from sliding his knee toward the target, a common swing error. The training device of the present invention also includes interchangeable teeing panels for practicing sand or bunker shots. Another attachment is a bunker board, having a slightly concave upper surface filled with sand to enable a golfer to practice sand shots. A similar attachment is a bunker tray which may be filled with sand to also allow a golfer to practice sand or bunker shots.
It will be appreciated that a wide variety of teeing panel attachments may be provided for simulating various turf and rough conditions normally found on the golf course during the playing of a game of golf.
Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a golf practice platform which simulates a wide variety of conditions found on a golf course during the playing of a game of golf.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice platform having a plurality of training attachments which train a golfer to swing a golf club along a predetermined swing path for optimum ball contact and energy transfer.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a golf teeing platform having a plurality of interchangeable attachments to simulate various conditions found on a golf course.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 312117 (1990-11-01), Duncan
patent: 3348847 (1967-10-01), Fischl
patent: 3735988 (1973-05-01), Palmer et al.
patent: 3753563 (1973-08-01), Previte, Jr.
patent: 3994501 (1976-11-01), O'Donnell
patent: 4279420 (1981-07-01), Bay et al.
patent: 4387896 (1983-06-01), O'Brien
patent: 4630828 (1986-12-01), Lovin
patent: 4659084 (1987-04-0
Chapman Jeanette
Hunter, Jr. Alvin A
Welsh & Flaxman
LandOfFree
Golf practice platform for a variety of golf shots does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Golf practice platform for a variety of golf shots, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Golf practice platform for a variety of golf shots will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2616168