Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Accesory device located on projectile addressing surface
Utility Patent
1999-01-29
2001-01-02
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Accesory device located on projectile addressing surface
C473S168000
Utility Patent
active
06168538
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus for separating golfers on a practice range. Specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus for improved safety from errant golf balls as well as “amenities.”
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Golf is widely popular across the country and continues to increase in popularity through new entrants into the golfing community. Recent media events involving young golf professionals has increased the number of novice golfers who want to learn the game and become golfers, some of whom have never previously picked up a golf club. These novice golfers are joining experienced players at golf practice ranges around the country, and are increasing the pressure on practice range operators to provide safe comfortable practice spaces.
A golf range practice area comprises a large open rectangular or semi-circular like area with a hitting area for the golfers on one end thereof. The golfers then hit balls from the hitting area into the open area, i.e., practice hitting their golf shots. Golf practice facilities; usually supply golfers either a grass hitting area, or a synthetic hitting surface such as ASTROTURF. The synthetic hitting surfaces are usually provided in individual square-shaped mats with sides approximately four feet long. Some facilities alternate between the grass and synthetic mats as conditions dictate. It is important for the practice facility operator to ensure that each hitting area is spaced or separated to ensure that the practicing golfers will not be hit by swinging clubs or errant shots from other golfers.
The current art in golf tee separators include merely setting down markers in the grass hitting areas, usually in the form of a sphere approximately six inches in diameter, to outline a individual golfer's hitting area, or merely spacing the synthetic mats to provide space for golfers to swing a golf club without striking their golfing neighbor. None of these methods, however, provides the necessary degree of safety from errant golfing shots which may strike a neighboring golfer.
Other tee separators provide a physical barrier between practicing golfers, however these tee separators are made entirely of materials such as wood, plywood, hard plastic and steel, which will deflect golf balls, but not reduce golf ball velocity. The failure to reduce the velocity of an errant golf ball can result in the ricocheting ball striking a golfer, possibly causing injury. Therefore, there is a need in the field of tee separators to improve safety.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,669 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,942, describe tee separators that require spikes or fasteners to affix the tee divider to the ground or driving range pad. The spikes and fasteners assist in preventing the tee dividers, described therein, from tipping over in windy weather or when struck by an errant golf ball. These tee dividers, however, cannot be moved quickly or easily and provide little assistance to the golf practice range that rotates the teeing area from multiple grass sites and synthetic hitting areas.
In summary, existing golf practice tee separators fail to adequately protect the practicing golfer from errant shots and fail to give the practice range operator flexibility in configuring the tee areas. The golf practice facility industry needs a tee separator which will provided increased safety, while improving the comfort of the golfer and the revenue of the operator. The present invention provides a solution to that need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a tee separator comprising:
(a) a substantially rigid frame having two ends, orientated substantially in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of golf teeing areas, and defining an interior open space where (i) the interior open space is surrounded by rigid frame members on at least three of four sides and (ii) the area of the interior open space defined by the rigid frame members is from about 7,400 cm
2
to about 30,000 cm
2
;
(b) a barrier means composed of a thin and flexible sheet-like material that is substantially similar in size and shape to the interior open space, and where the sheet like material is fastened to the top frame member, and whereby the barrier means functions to absorb the force of moving objects that strike the barrier means and decrease the velocity of such moving objects; and
(c) at least one footer means connected to the bottom frame member and orientated substantially parallel to the ground and which extends in both directions perpendicular from the plane of the interior open space, whereby the footer maintains orientation of the frame substantially perpendicular to the golf teeing area despite the forces of wind and being struck by moving objects.
A further embodiment of the present invention is where the interior open space is defined by (1) a top frame member having an overall length of about 120 cm to about 245 cm; (2) one or two side frame members substantially perpendicular to said golf teeing areas and having an overall height of about 60 cm to about 125 cm; and (3) a bottom frame member oriented substantially in parallel to the top frame member and having a length of about 120 cm to about 245 cm, wherein the top frame member is joined to the side frame member at an end of the side frame member and each side frame member is joined to the bottom frame member at an opposite end of the side frame member.
A further embodiment of the present invention is where the footer means comprises (i) a first footer and (ii) a second footer, in which the first footer is connected substantially at one end of the frame and the second footer is connected substantially at the opposite end of the frame.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is the apparatus described above, and which further comprises:
(d) a support rod orientated substantially in the plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of golf teeing areas, with one end of said support rod connected to the top member and the opposite end of said support rod connected to the bottom member and wherein said support rod is orientated along the length of the top member and the bottom member such that the top member remains substantially parallel to the bottom member;
(e) an elongated bag support member with two ends and which is adapted to receive a golf bag, with one end connected to the side frame member at a point approximate to the top frame member and the opposite end connected to the first footer, such that the elongated bag support member is in a position which provides for supporting a golf bag; and
(f) a cup holder member which is adapted to receive a cup and which is connected to the frame side member at a point approximate to the top frame member.
A further embodiment of the present invention is the apparatus as described above wherein the unitless ratio of the sum of the length of the first footer (e.g., in cm) plus the length of the second footer (e.g., in cm) over the height of the frame (e.g., in cm) is at least about 1.45, and wherein the unitless ratio of the product of the length of the first footer (e.g., in cm) and the length of the second footer (e.g., in cm) over the area of the interior open space (e g., in cm
2
) is at least about 0.18.
Additional preferred embodiments of the present invention are where the frame defines a predominately rectangular shaped or oval shaped interior open space. Also, the frame is constructed from metal or plastic tubing, and the barrier is made from sheets of vinyl or any other resiliently strong and flexible material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5269527 (1993-12-01), Noval
patent: 5482269 (1996-01-01), Scott et al.
patent: 5586942 (1996-12-01), Wittek, Sr. et al.
patent: 5603669 (1997-02-01), Scott et al.
Barss John
Schy Mike
Deagle Brian J.
Fore Safety, Inc.
Graham Mark S.
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