Amusement devices: games – Surface projectile game; game element – Simulated game
Patent
1988-03-31
1990-04-10
Coven, Edward M.
Amusement devices: games
Surface projectile game; game element
Simulated game
273200R, A63B 6936
Patent
active
049153889
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a golf training apparatus.
Golf training apparatus are already known which enable a player to practice the different moves of golf such as the swing for long shots and approach shots, or putting for the small final strokes. Such apparatus are described for example in U.S. Pats. 1 761 039, 3 892 412, 3 936 055 and 4 222 568. Another known apparatus, which is described in U.S. Pat. 4 125 230, is equipped with means for automatically returning a golf ball to the starting position. This apparatus comprises, under an upper plate constituting a throwing base for the ball, a mechanism with an electric motor and a drum for winding a cable of which the free end is tied to the ball. The ball returning mechanism which is described in this patent, is particularly complicated, hence expensive and subject to breakdowns. In addition, the apparatus equipped with such a mechanism can only be used for practicing the swing and is not readily adaptable to putting practice.
It is the object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks by proposing an apparatus of particularly simple design, requiring little maintenance, of low cost and permitting golf training in the best conditions.
To this effect, said golf training apparatus which comprises a substantially rectangular casing of reduced thickness, which rests on the ground and of which the upper face is provided with an opening through which passes a cable fixed to a golf ball which can rest on the upper face of the casing in order to be hit by the player, and, inside the casing, a mechanism driven by an electric motor for returning the cable and storing it in accumulated form, by actuating a switch controlling the power supply to the electric motor, which switch is actuatable by the player, is characterized in that the cable returning mechanism comprises means for allowing the free unrolling of the cable backwardly when the latter is pulled forward by the ball hit by the player, and on the contrary for forcing the cable forwardly, in the direction of a magazine housed in the casing and inside which the cable is stored by freely coiling up on itself, at random, when the player presses the switch.
The following is a description given by way of example and non-restrictively of one embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf training apparatus according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a vertical and longitudinal cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of the mechanism for returning the golf ball on the tee, with a view to performing a swing.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism for returning the golf ball illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a partial vertical and longitudinal section along line V--V of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus adapted for putting practice.
The golf training apparatus according to the invention comprises a casing 1 for practicing long and short shots. Said casing 1, of rectangular shape, is constituted of two parallelepipedal parts, a front part 2 and a rear part 3 of identical dimensions, which are articulated, along two small adjacent sides, about a transversal hinge 4. The two articulated parts 2 and 3 of the casing 1 are, advantageously, entirely or partly covered with a layer of synthetic turf applied on their upper horizontal faces, when the casing is opened out and the two parts 2 and 3 are in horizontal alignment with each other on the ground, said two faces being brought into contact one over the other when the casing 1 is folded over. The front part 2 carries a tee 7, constituted by a length of tube, rising vertically above the upper face 2a of said part, on which tee a golf ball 8 can be placed in such a way as to be in a raised position with respect to the upper face 2a of the front part 2 of the casing.
The apparatus according to the invention further comprises a stepping board 9 which is necessary for the player to be sit
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patent: 3936055 (1976-02-01), Scott
patent: 4125230 (1978-11-01), Fischer
patent: 4489941 (1984-12-01), Shieh
Coven Edward M.
Szczepanik Valerie
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