PORTABLE PUTTING GREEN

Abstract

A practice putting device that includes a putting mat, a housing, and ball return arrangement.

Claims

1. A practice putting device that includes a putting mat, a housing, and a ball lift return arrangement; said putting mat configured to be connected to said housing; said putting mat including a golf hole opening to enable a golf ball to pass through said golf hole opening and into a ball well of said housing; said ball lift return arrangement includes a ball unit and a drive mechanism; said drive mechanism configured to cause said ball lift to lift a golf ball from said ball well in said housing and to deposit the golf ball on a top surface of said putting mat.

2. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein a top surface of said putting mat includes markings to provide information to a user; said marking include one or more of distance markings, one or more lines along the longitudinal length of the putting mat to inform a user how straight a putted golf ball travels along said putting mat, and/or markings to indicate one or more targets on the putting mat.

3. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein a front-end portion of said putting mat includes a weighted device to facilitate in maintaining the flatness of said front end portion of said putting mat on a floor surface.

4. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said ball well that is configured to receive a golf ball that has moved past a back end of said putting mat or has fallen through a golf ball opening located at or near a back-end portion of said putting mat; said ball well is configured to a) temporarily retain golf balls that have fallen into said ball well, or b) cause the golf ball in said ball well to be fed said ball lift return arrangement.

5. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said ball well includes a) a bottom sloped surface to cause the golf ball to roll toward said ball lift return arrangement, and/or b) a channel to cause the golf ball to roll toward said ball lift return arrangement.

6. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said ball lift return arrangement includes a return opening; said return opening configured to enable a golf ball to exit said ball well and to move into an interior of said ball lift return arrangement.

7. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said putting mat includes a plurality of edge rails on one or both side edges of said putting mat; said plurality of edge rails used to a) facilitate in folding of the putting mat, 2) facilitate in forming a flat putting surface when said putting mat is in the open and fully installed arrangement, and/or 3) facilitates in limiting movement of said putting mat on a floor surface when said putting mat is in the open and fully installed arrangement.

8. The practice putting device as defined in claim 7, wherein said edge rails one or more side edges of said putting mat are spaced from one another so as to facilitate in folding of said putting mat between two adjacently positioned edge rails.

9. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a first side panel, a second side panel, and one or more of a ramp, a back panel, and a spacer.

10. The practice putting device as defined in claim 9, wherein an inner surface of one or both of said first and second side panels includes one or more ramp supports to support one or both sides of said ramp when said ramp is positioned between said first and side panels.

11. The practice putting device as defined in claim 10, wherein said ramp includes a front lip used to engage one or more of said ramp supports to inhibit or prevent said ramp from sliding down on said ramp supports.

12. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said ball lift includes a first side face, a second side face, and a lift system that is moveable between said first and second side faces; said lift system includes one of more lift arrangements that are each configured to receive a golf ball that has passed through a return opening in said ball lift and to carry a golf ball up to or above a top surface of said putting mat.

13. The practice putting device as defined in claim 12, wherein said lift system is rotatable between the first and second side panels of the ball lift.

14. The practice putting device as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said lift arrangements include a ball base portion and a ball ramp portion; a portion of said ball base portion includes a curved surface; a longitudinal length of said ball ramp portion is longer than a longitudinal length of said ball base portion.

15. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, further including a golf hole adjustment arrangement configured to adjust a size of a golf opening in said putting mat.

16. The practice putting device as defined in claim 15, wherein said golf hole adjustment arrangement includes a handle, a size ring, and a body that extends between said handle and said size ring; said size ring configured to be removably positioned in said golf hole opening to adjust said size of said golf hole opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0079] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one non-limiting practice putting device in the open and operational position in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0080] FIGS. 2-5 are enlarged front perspective views of the housing and rear portion of the putting mat of FIG. 1;

[0081] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the front portion of the housing and rear portion of the putting mat of FIG. 1;

[0082] FIG. 7 is an enlarged front perspective view of the front portion of the putting mat of FIG. 1;

[0083] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the housing and rear portion of the putting mat of FIG. 1; and

[0084] FIG. 9 illustrated the practice putting device in the stored position.

DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

[0085] A more complete understanding of the articles/devices, processes and components disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

[0086] Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

[0087] The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0088] As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” may include the embodiments “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the named ingredients/steps and permit the presence of other ingredients/steps. However, such description should be construed as also describing compositions or processes as “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” the enumerated ingredients/steps, which allows the presence of only the named ingredients/steps, along with any unavoidable impurities that might result therefrom, and excludes other ingredients/steps.

[0089] Numerical values in the specification and claims of this application should be understood to include numerical values which are the same when reduced to the same number of significant figures and numerical values which differ from the stated value by less than the experimental error of conventional measurement technique of the type described in the present application to determine the value.

[0090] All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the recited endpoint and independently combinable (for example, the range of “from 2 grams to 10 grams” is inclusive of the endpoints, 2 grams and 10 grams, and all the intermediate values).

[0091] The terms “about” and “approximately” may be used to include any numerical value that can vary without changing the basic function of that value. When used with a range, “about” and “approximately” also disclose the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints, e.g., “about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.” Generally, the terms “about” and “approximately” may refer to plus or minus 10% of the indicated number.

[0092] Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 a practice putting device in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0093] The practice putting device 100 in accordance with the present disclosure includes a rollable putting mat 110, a housing 200, and ball return arrangement 300. The practice putting device is used by a user to practice putting of a golf ball GB by use of a golf club GC such as a putter.

[0094] The putting mat 110 can be formed of any type of flexible material (e.g., fabric, plastic, rubber, polyurethane foam, PVC, etc.). The putting mat 110 is configured to be folded multiples times without damaging the putting mat.

[0095] The putting mat 110 can be formed of a material that has little or no memory so that after the putting mat is unrolled, the putting mat lays flat on a flat floor surface F.

[0096] The length and width of the putting mat 110 is non-limiting. The length of the putting mat is generally 3-15 feet. The width of the putting mat is generally 0.4-3 feet. The thickness of the putting mat is generally 0.05-0.75 inches. The thickness and material used to form the putting mat is generally selected so that the putting mat can be easily rolled on the housing and unrolled from the housing. Generally, the thickness along the 70-100% of the longitudinal length of the putting mat and 70-100% of the width of the putting mat remains constant. The longitudinal sides along the longitudinal length of the putting mat are generally parallel to one another along 70-100% of the longitudinal length of the putting mat. The thickness of the putting mat along the longitudinal length of the putting mat is generally constant along 70-100% of the longitudinal length of the putting mat.

[0097] The top surface 112 of the putting mat 110 can include a texture that simulates the surface of a putting green. In another non-limiting embodiment, the top surface 112 of the putting mat 112 can include one or more colors, images, designs, etc. to enhance the visual appeal of the putting mat. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the top surface 112 of the putting mat can include markings to provide information to the user when practice putting. Such marking can include distance markings 114, one or more lines 116 along the longitudinal length of the putting mat 110 to inform a user how straight the putted golf ball GB travels along the putting mat, markings to indicate one or more targets on the putting mat, etc. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the top surface 112 includes a) distance markings and/or numbering 114 to indicate the distance from the golf hole opening at the end portion of the putting mat, b) two parallel lines 116 that are equal spaced from the center longitudinal axis of the putting mat, and c) a center line 118 (See FIG. 1) along the center longitudinal axis of the putting mat.

[0098] The putting mat can optionally include a weighted device 150 secured to the putting mat to facilitate in maintaining the flatness of the putting mat after being unrolled from the housing and/or to maintain the front portion of the putting mat flat on a floor surface after the putting mat is unrolled from the housing. The weighted device 150 can be a metal, plastic, composite device that is secure to the front edge of the putting mat 110. The weighted device is generally formed of a different material from the putting mat.

[0099] The weighted device 150 generally has a length along the longitudinal axis of the putting mat that generally 1-10% the longitudinal length to the putting mat.

[0100] The weighted device 150 can optionally include a connection arrangement (e.g., adhesive strip, hook and loop fastener, etc.) on the bottom surface of the weighted device to facilitate in releasably securing the bottom surface of the weighted device to a floor surface (e.g., carpet, tile floor, wood floor, ceramic floor, vinyl floor, etc.).

[0101] The top surface of the weighted device can be configured to support golf balls G prior to the placing of the golf balls on the putting mat for practice putting.

[0102] The side edges 120 of the putting mat 110 includes a plurality of edge rails 130 that are used to 1) facilitate in the folding of the putting mat, 2) facilitate in forming a flat putting surface when the putting mat is in the open and fully installed arrangement, and/or 3) facilitates in limiting the movement of the putting mat on a floor surface when the putting mat is in the open and fully installed arrangement.

[0103] The edge rails 130 are illustrated as spaced from one another so as to facilitate in the folding of the putting mat 110 between two adjacently positioned edge rails as illustrated in FIG. 9. The spacing of the adjacently positioned edge rails along the side edge 120 of the putting mat 110 can be the same. Each side of the putting mat generally includes the same number of edge rails. The longitudinal length of the edge rails on each side of the putting mat is generally the same, and the positioning of the edge rails on each side of the putting mat are the same such that the edge rails are positioned opposite from one another along the longitudinal length of the putting mat. In such an edge rail arrangement, sections of the putting mat can be folded at the region between the spacing of the edge rails and then stacked upon one another so as to position the putting mat in storage position as illustrated in FIG. 9. A storage bag or container SB can be optionally used to store the components of the practice putting device 100. The spacing of the adjacently positioned edge rails from one another can be about 0.1-0.5 inches; however, other spacing can be used. The width of the edge rails is generally about 0.1-1 inches (and all values and ranges therebetween) or about 0.2-5% the width of the putting mat. The cross-sectional shape, length and/or size of each of the edge rails is generally the same and are constant along a longitudinal length of the edge rail; however, this is not required. The material used to form the edge rails is generally a different material from the material used to form the putting mat. The material used to form the edge rails is generally not non-rollable or non-foldable material, and is generally less flexible and less bendable than the material used to form the putting mat.

[0104] The housing 200 is configured to enable the rear end portion of the putting mat 110 to be connected to the housing. The putting mat can be permanently or removable connected to the housing.

[0105] Generally, the housing has a size, shape and weight that makes is easily portable by an individual (e.g., can be lifted and carried by a single hand of a user). Generally, the weight of the housing is less than 20 lbs. Generally, the volume of the housing is less than 3000 in..sup.3. Generally, the housing can be easily partially or fully disassembled and reassembled multiple times.

[0106] As best illustrated in FIG. 8, the housing 200 includes a first side panel 210, a second side panel 220, a ramp 230, a back panel 240, and a spacer 250. The housing can be configured to be partially or fully disassembled when the practice putting device is to be stored; however, this is not required. The materials used to form one or more components of the housing are non-limiting. The first side panel 210, second side panel 220, back panel 240, and/or spacer 250 can optionally include one or more connection openings 202 and/or slots 204 to facilitate in the connection of the parts together during the assembly of the housing.

[0107] The inner surface of each of the first and second side panels 210, 220 include one or more ramp supports 212 to support the sides of ramp 230 when the ramp is positioned between the first and side panels when the housing is fully assembled.

[0108] The back panel 240 and the spacer 250 are configured to be connected to the first and second side panels to provide support and rigidity to the housing when the housing is fully assemble. The type of connection is non-limiting (e.g., (e.g., adhesive, clamp arrangement, screws, rivet, staples, slot connection, hook and loop fastener, etc.).

[0109] The ramp 230 includes a flat mount surface 232 wherein an end portion of the putting mat is supported thereon when secured to the housing. The end portion of the putting matt can be permanently connected or removably connected to the ramp and/or other portion of the housing. The type of connection is non-limiting (e.g., adhesive, clamp arrangement, screws, rivet, staples, hook and loop fastener, etc.).

[0110] The ramp 230 generally has a width that extends 80-100% the width between the inner surface of the first and second side panels when the housing is fully assembled.

[0111] The ramp can include a front lip 234 that is used to engage one or more ramp supports 212 to inhibit or prevent the ramp sliding down on the ramp supports. The size and shape of the front lip is non-limiting. Generally the lip angles downward from a top surface of the ramp at an angle of about 45-160° (and all values and ranges therebetween; 80-110°, etc.). The length of the front lip is generally at least 0.1% (e.g., 0.1-10% and all values and ranges therebetween) the longitudinal length of the ramp.

[0112] The ramp is illustrated as including a front portion 236 and a rear portion 238 that are angled to one another (e.g., an angle of 1-30° and all values ad ranges therebetween); however, this is not required. The front portion is illustrated as having a shorter longitudinal length than the rear portion; however, this is not required.

[0113] The front portion 236 of the ramp 230 includes a ramp opening 239 that is configured to allow a golf ball to pass therethrough. When the rear portion of the putting mat is positioned on the ramp 230, the mat opening 119 in the putting mat overlies and/or encircles the ramp opening 239 in the ramp as illustrated in FIG. 1. As can be appreciated, the size and/or shape of opening 119 in the putting mat and ramp opening 239 in the ramp can be the same; however, this is not required. In one non-limiting embodiment, the opening in the putting mat and/or the ramp is configured to receive a golf ball.

[0114] When the housing is fully assembled, the back end of the putting mat 110 and/or the back end of the ramp 230 can form a rear a ball ledge 260 that allows a ball that rolls past the ball ledge to optionally fall into a ball well 270. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ramp and back edge of the putting mat are spaced from the inner surface of the back panel of the housing such that a golf ball can drop between the back end of the ramp and/or back edge of the putting mat and the inner surface of the back panel.

[0115] The ball well 270 that is configured to receive a golf ball that has moved past back end of the ramp and/or back edge of the putting mat or a golf ball that has fallen through the mat opening 119 and ramp opening 230. The ball well can be configured to retain golf balls that have fallen into the ball well, or the ball well can be configured to feed a ball that has fallen into the ball well to the ball return arrangement 300. The ball well is formed by the inner surface of the first and second side panels, the inner surface of the back panel and a base plate 280.

[0116] The ball well can include a bottom sloped surface to cause a ball that has fallen into the well to roll away from the second side panel and toward the first side panel. The base plate can be mounted between the first and second side panels so as to a ball that has fallen into the well and on to a top surface of the base panel to roll away from the second side panel and toward the first side panel; however, this is not required.

[0117] The ball well can be configured to include one or more sloping surfaces at the base of the ball well and/or include one or more ramped and/or sloped structures in the base of the ball well to cause a golf ball that falls into the ball well to move toward the ball lift return arrangement when the housing is fully assembled.

[0118] As illustrated in FIG. 8 the base plate 280 includes a ball channel that is configured to feed a golf ball to a bottom feed opening 320 of the ball lift 310 of the ball lift return arrangement 300. The depth of the ball channel can vary along the longitudinal length of the ball channel. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the ball channel has a straight portion and a curved portion along the longitudinal length of the ball channel.

[0119] A portion or all of the ball lift return arrangement 300 is connected to the first side panel of the housing. The ball lift return arrangement includes a ball lift 310, a motor 330, a power source 340, and sensor and/or activation arrangement 350.

[0120] The ball lift 310 is configured to lift a golf from the ball well 270 and deposit the golf ball onto a top surface of the putting mat 110 that is located on the ramp 230. The ball lift is illustrated as in the form of a wheel that can rotate relative to the housing as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 6; however, other arrangement can be used.

[0121] The motor 330 is configured to cause rotation of the ball lift 310. The motor can be an electric motor. One or gears, belts, screw drives, etc. (not shown) can be used with the motor to facilitate in the rotation of the ball lift.

[0122] The power source 340 is configured to power the motor. The power source can include one or more batteries, a power cord that supplies power from a power outlet, power generator, etc.

[0123] The optional sensor and/or activation arrangement 350 is configured to activate and/or deactivate the motor 330. The activation arrangement includes a manual switch (as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5) that allows the user to manually turn the motor off and/or on. As can be appreciated, the senor and/or activation arrangement can also or alternatively include a) a remote-control switch that can receive a wireless signal from a remote control, smart phone, computer, smart device, etc. to allow a user to turn the motor off and/or on, b) an arrangement configured to detect i) if a golf ball has fallen through the golf hole opening in the putting mat, ii) if a golf ball has fallen into the ball well, iii) is a golf ball has contacted the base plate, and/or iv) if a golf ball is rolling toward or has rolled into the ball lift; and upon detection of any one of i-iv events, causes the motor to be activated and/or deactivated; and/or c) one or more of a motion sensor, weight sensor, movable leveler, pressure switch, contact switch, optical sensor, sound sensor, vibration sensor, etc. that upon detection of a golf ball causes activation and/or deactivation of the motor.

[0124] A motor operation limiter can be used to terminate power to the motor or otherwise stop the motor from further rotating the ball lift after a) a certain time of operation of the motor after activation, and/or b) the ball lift has rotated or otherwise moved for a certain amount.

[0125] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the ball lift 310 includes a return opening 320 that allows the golf ball to move from the ball well and into a portion of the ball lift. The return opening is located on the side face of the ball lift.

[0126] The ball lift includes a first side face that is connected to the first side panel, a second side face that includes the return opening 320, and a lift system that includes one of more lift arrangements 312 that are each configured to receive a golf ball that has passed through the return opening and to carry a golf ball up to or above a top surface of the putting mat and thereafter allow the golf ball to exit the lift arrangement and roll onto a top surface of the back portion of the putting mat. Each of the lift arrangements include a ball base portion 314 and a ball ramp portion 316. The lift system is rotatable between the first and second side panels of the ball lift.

[0127] The ball base portion of each of the lift arrangements is configured to receive a golf ball as the golf ball passed through the return opening and into the ball lift. As the ball lift moves the golf ball upward and toward the top surface of the putting mat, the golf ball primarily remains in the ball base portion. After the golf ball has been lifted to or above a back portion of the putting mat, the golf ball is cause to move from the ball base portion and on to the ball ramp portion and then to continue to move along the length of the ball ramp portion until the ball exits an exit opening 318 in the ball lift and onto the back portion of the putting mat. A portion of the ball base portion 314 can include a curved surface that accommodates a portion of the golf ball when positioned in the ball base portion. The longitudinal length of the ball ramp portion 310 is illustrated as being longer than the ball base portion (e.g., 1.5-8 times longer and all values and range therebetween).

[0128] The ball lift can be configured such that when the golf ball moves from the ball base portion to the ball ramp portion, the golf ball continues movement along the length of the ball ramp portion (and optionally increases in speed as the golf ball moved along the length of the ball ramp portion) and does not stop movement until after the ball exits the exit opening in the ball lift and on to the putt mat at or near the back edge of the putting mat, and to thereafter allows the golf ball to roll down the ramped portion of the putting mat and toward the front end of the putting, thereby causing the golf ball that has fallen into the ball well to be fed back toward the front end of the putting mat as illustrated in FIGS. 2-6.

[0129] As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the top surface of the back portion of the putting mat, when connected to the fully assembled housing, is illustrated as positioned below a top edge of the first side panel along 10-100% (and all values and ranges therebetween) the longitudinal length of the top edge of the first side panel. Such an arrangement facilitates in maintain the golf ball on the side portion of the putting mat as the golf ball exits the ball lift and rolls down the ramp region of the rear portion of the putting mat.

[0130] The practice putting device optionally include one or more visual and/or audible devices (not shown) to indicate a successful and/or unsuccessful put has occurred. Such visual and/or audible devices can include, but are not limited to, sound generator, light system, mechanical and/or motorized movement device that raises a flag or other indicator when the golf ball passes through the ball opening, etc.

[0131] The practice putting device can optionally incudes a golf hole adjustment arrangement 360 that can be used to adjust the size of the ramp opening 239 and/or mat opening 119. The golf hole adjustment arrangement can be configured to be operated manually, remotely, programming in the practice putting device, a switch in the practice putting device, etc. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the golf hole adjustment arrangement 360 includes a handle 362, a size ring 366, and a body 364 that extends between the handle and size ring. The size of the golf hole opening can be adjusted by positioning the size ring 366 in the golf hole opening. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the movement of the handle to cause the body 364 to side in slot 211 in the first side panel 210 to position the size ring in and out of the ramp opening 239 and/or mat opening 119 so as to adjust the size of the opening.

[0132] In various embodiments disclosed herein, a single component can be replaced by multiple components and multiple components can be replaced by a single component to perform a given function or functions. Except where such substitution would not be operative, such substitution is within the intended scope of the embodiments.

[0133] Additional features and methods of operation of the practice putting device are included in the figures.

[0134] A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

[0135] Disclosed are materials, systems, devices, methods, compositions, and components that can be used for, can be used in conjunction with, can be used in preparation for, or are products of the disclosed methods, systems, and devices. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these components may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. For example, if a device is disclosed and discussed each and every combination and permutation of the device, and the modifications that are possible are specifically contemplated unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Likewise, any subset or combination of these is also specifically contemplated and disclosed. This concept applies to all aspects of this disclosure including, but not limited to, steps in methods using the disclosed systems or devices. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be performed, it is understood that each of these additional steps can be performed with any specific method steps or combination of method steps of the disclosed methods, and that each such combination or subset of combinations is specifically contemplated and should be considered disclosed.

[0136] To aid the Patent Office and any readers of this application and any resulting patent in interpreting the claims appended hereto, Applicant does not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.