Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Target or obstacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-09-11
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Target or obstacle
C473S186000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287213
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates generally to a putting training device and more particularly to a putting training apparatus which consists of a golf ball receiver cup which is defined within a putting surface having a flat horizontal surface wherein the golf ball receiver cup includes a force absorption member.
Many people enjoy the game of golf and indeed practice their golf swing. One particular swing practiced is the putting stroke which entails hitting a golf ball with a putter over a horizontal surface into a cup. Typical portable putting cups have been designed. A common problem with portable putting cups is that they do not correctly simulate actual putting conditions. For instance, golf holes extend into the earth and accordingly have a lip which is generally horizontal. However, in order to create a golf ball receptacle on a flat surface, the walls surrounding the receptacle must be sloped upward to define a cavity. This construction requires more force to be exerted onto the golf ball in order for the golf ball to enter the golf ball receptacle than would actually be required on an actual putting green. Many such designs have been created for portable golf putting cups.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,545 discloses a portable golf putting cup which includes a circular base and having upwardly curved outer walls that graduate the golf ball into a circular central depression. The putting cup includes an angled shock absorbing lip and golf ball gripping teeth in addition to shock absorbing material at the bottom of a cavity. However, the shock absorbing material is horizontally located in the base of the cavity which may inadvertently bounce a ball out of the cavity.
Design Patent No. Des. 273,126 discloses a horseshoe-shaped cup. While this cup is suitable for its intended purpose, should the ball not find the target of the cup, the ball is out of play and the ball or cup must be repositioned since the horseshoe cup only has one target line which will enable the ball to roll into the cup.
Another disadvantage with such designs is that if one hits the ball with enough pace to decisively sink the putt, the golf ball may kick out of the cup because the vertical inner walls are not of sufficient height to hold the ball. To counteract this dilemma, vertical inner walls have been proposed which are high enough to hold the ball but result in either making the cup larger than realistically possible, or including inner walls which are so high that the amount of energy required to hit the ball over the graduated wall is not replicative of actual putting conditions which have a non-angled positional area which leads into a cup.
Another common design includes a long length of a carpet-like surface such as Astroturf utilized as a simulation of a putting green with a hole cut into one end of the surface. A disadvantage of this design is that the carpet-like surface is required to be of a certain thickness which is sufficient to provide a hole a certain depth to retain a golf ball. This thickness requirement provides for a more costly putting green simulator since materials are wasted merely to provide a thickened carpet in order to define a hole. Additional designs include an elevated ramp located at one end of the carpet-like surface which is utilized to provide sufficient thickness for defining a putting cup.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved putting training device which includes a golf ball receiver that will effectively reproduce an accurate representation of a regulation putting cup.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved putting training device which includes a golf ball receiving cup that will effectively reproduce an accurate representation of a regulation putting cup by providing a horizontal putting surface of minimal height with a ball receiver;
Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved putting training device which effectively reproduces an accurate representation of a regulation putting cup while minimizing the costs of materials required to reproduce a putting surface;
Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable putting training device which includes a force absorbing member which is located within the receiving cup for decelerating a golf ball enabling the putting cup to be of a minimal height.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a putting surface having a ball receptacle having a cup wall of a predetermined height defined within the putting surface for receiving a moving ball. A force absorbing member extends vertically within the ball receptacle to a height at least equal to the cup wall for absorbing the force of a moving ball. The force absorbing member has a first undeformed position prior to engaging a moving ball and a second deformed position when engaging a moving ball within the force absorbing zone for absorbing the force of a moving ball. Additionally, the force absorbing member is offset from the cup wall enabling a golf ball to enter the ball receptacle prior to engaging the force absorbing member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1101203 (1914-06-01), Lueder
patent: 1544380 (1925-06-01), Edmonston
patent: 1829283 (1931-10-01), Kip
patent: 2475763 (1949-07-01), Vandal
patent: 2515847 (1950-07-01), Winkler
patent: 3909007 (1975-09-01), Wuertemburg et al.
patent: 5997406 (1999-12-01), Selton
Boss Gerald R.
Graham Mark S.
Troutman Sanders LLP
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