Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Projectile addressing surface and target – or distance marker
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-22
2001-01-30
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Projectile addressing surface and target, or distance marker
C473S171000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179721
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to golf putting devices having a surface which can be selectively altered by the user to create undulations or variable breaking speeds in the surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Golf putting devices having a selectively variable surface are well known. Numerous kinds of means for selectively varying the surface of these devices have been developed over the years. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,761,039 issued to Hazeltine and U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,917 issued to MacLean disclose variable contour golf putting devices with hinged panels and pegs for propping up various sections of the putting surface at the hinge joints; U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,673 issued to Occhipinti and U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,412 issued to Koo disclose variable contour golf putting devices with inflatable air sacs disposed at various locations under the putting surface; U.S. Pat. No. 1,582,183 issued to Maurer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,170,694 issued to Dolce, U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,568 issued to Russo and U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,538 issued to Gettelfinger disclose variable putting surfaces using a variety of gears, shafts, cams and levers to distort the putting surface; U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,581 issued to Andersen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,343 issued to Rogers and U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,112 issued to Del Raso disclose variable putting surfaces using a series of jacks to prop up various sections of the putting surface; U.S. Pat. No. 2,118,084 issued to Heinzelmann, U.S. Pat. No. 2,334,540 issued to Buffham, U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,407 issued to Lorrance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,027 issued to Simjian, U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,280 issued to Hines and U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,914 issued to Primerano disclose variable putting surfaces which use a variety of levers and rods to push up on the underside of the putting surfaces; U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,661 issued to Korff which discloses a kidney shaped putting green under which an angled panel is swiveled to raise portions of the putting green; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,637 issued to Cross which discloses a coin operated putting apparatus which is tilted using a crank shaft which communicates with a threaded bolt around which a nut affixed to the putting surface is rotated thus increasing or decreasing the elevation of the putting surface. However, these designs for varying the contour of the putting surface are unwieldy, require numerous interlocking parts and are costly to manufacture and assemble. In contrast, there are a few relatively simple designs which are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,303 issued to Kim discloses a hinged putting surface and a canopy from which strings with hooks are hung to selectively engage and hold up the panels; U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,756 issued to Bedford discloses a flexible horizontal putting surface, suspended by loops under tension between vertical arms, which is contoured by raising and lowering the loops on the arms causing the surface to torque; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,417 issued to Brown and U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,106 issued to Coonrod disclose a putting surface which is contoured by pushing a wedge-shaped device under the bottom of the putting surface. However, these simplistic designs do not provide the user with potential surface variations adequate to recreate actual putting conditions encountered on the golfing green.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,522, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a variable golf putting surface which the present invention improves over.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide a golf putting device with a selectively variable contoured surface that is inexpensive to manufacture.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf putting device with a selectively variable contoured surface that can be adjusted quickly and easily.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf putting device with a selectively variable contoured surface capable of fine adjustment.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf putting device which is lightweight.
The preferred embodiment of the invention features a golf putting device having a selectively contourable putting surface over which a golf ball is putted towards a hole, comprising: a plurality of helical springs having an outside diameter; a flexible panel supported by said springs, the panel comprising a periphery, a plurality of panel bores having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the springs and provided proximate the periphery, and hole having a diameter larger than the golf ball; a plurality of receiving members; a plurality of connecting members adapted to be inserted into the receiving members, the receiving members being provided first through one panel bore then through one support spring and then into one receiving member, compression and rotation of any connecting member causing a change in the compressed state of its associated spring, which change causes variations in the relative height of the surface of the flexible panel. The bores in the panel are of a larger dimension than the penetrating connecting members, allowing lateral and longitudinal movement of the panel with respect to the connecting member as the panel contour is modified.
The golf putting device may further feature a flexible panel which is reversible and further comprises a top surface having a top surface speed and a bottom surface having a bottom surface speed that is faster or slower than the top surface speed. The flexible panel may also include an extension panel removably fixed to the flexible panel or foldable with respect thereto to selectively vary the overall length of the flexible panel.
The connecting members of the preferred embodiment may be threaded, ratcheted or keyed.
This invention is the result of efforts to design a golf putting device with a selectively variable contoured surface that is cost effective to make and has an adjusting mechanism that is quickly and easily manipulated by the user.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5002280 (1991-03-01), Hines
patent: 5087045 (1992-02-01), Kim
patent: 5102141 (1992-04-01), Jordan
patent: 5172914 (1992-12-01), Primerano
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patent: 5318303 (1994-06-01), Kim
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patent: 5445381 (1995-08-01), Van Ert
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Graham Mark S.
Nields & Lemack
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