PORTABLE PUTTING GREEN

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A practice putting device that includes a rollable putting mat, a housing, and a side ball return arrangement; said rollable putting mat configured to be rolled and unrolled from said housing; said side return arrangement including a side return mat; said side return mat configured to be rolled and unrolled from said housing; said side return mat is a separate mat from said putting mat.

2. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein side return mat has a) a width that is less than the width of the putting mat, b) a that is the same or different from a length of said putting mat, and/or c) a thickness that is less than a thickness of said putting mat.

3. 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.

4. 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 after being unrolled from said housing.

5. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein a front-end portion of said putting mat includes a connector used to releasably connect a top surface of said front end portion to a bottom surface of said putting mat when said putting mat is rolled onto said housing.

6. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a midportion, a first end portion connected to one side of the midportion and second end portion connected to the opposite side of the midportion; a maximum cross-sectional area of said midportion is less than a maximum cross-sectional area of one or both of said first and second portions; a spacing between and interior surface of said first and second end portions is the same or greater than a width of said putting mat so that said putting mat can be rolled about said midportion and be partially or fully located between said first and second end portions when said putting mat is fully rolled up on said housing.

7. The practice putting device as defined in claim 6, wherein said first and second end portions have a generally circular or oval shape so that said housing can be rolled on a floor surface; at least one of said first and second end portions includes a floor orientation arrangement that facilitates in proper orientation of said housing relative to said putting mat and a floor once said putting mat is fully unrolled from said housing on to the floor; said floor orientation arrangement configured to limit or prevent rocking of said housing on the floor surface.

8. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said midportion includes first and second arcuate landings that are located above and/or rearwardly of a location that said putting mat is connected to said midportion; said first and second arcuate landing extend inwardly toward a mid-region of said midportion; said first and second arcuate landings configured to facilitate in winding said putting mat about said midportion when said putting mat is rolled up onto said housing.

9. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said midportion includes an arcuate rear flange; said arcuate rear flange extends to and between two interior sides of said midportion or to first and second arcuate landings; said arcuate rear flange used to facilitate in said winding of the putting mat about said midportion when said putting mat is rolled up onto said housing.

10. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said midportion includes a flat mount surface that supports an end portion of said putting mat when said putting mat is secured to said housing; said flat mount surface includes an opening that is configured to allow a golf ball to pass therethrough.

11. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a 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, orb) cause the golf ball in said ball well to be fed said side ball return arrangement.

12. The practice putting device as defined in claim 6, wherein said housing includes a 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, orb) cause the golf ball in said ball well to be fed said side ball return arrangement.

13. The practice putting device as defined in claim 11, wherein said ball well includes a bottom sloped surface to cause the golf ball to roll toward said side ball return arrangement.

14. The practice putting device as defined in claim 12, wherein said side ball return arrangement includes a return opening located in one of said first or second end portions; said return opening configured to enable a golf ball to exit said ball well and to move on to said side return mat.

15. The practice putting device as defined in claim 12, wherein a front portion of the side ball return arrangement is elevated above a floor surface when said housing is positioned on a floor surface and said putting mat is fully unrolled from said housing; said front end portion of said side ball return arrangement forms a downward ramped portion of said side return arrangement to cause a golf ball to roll downwardly toward the floor surface on said downward ramp portion.

16. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein an end portion of said side return mat has a) a side return mat weight, and wherein said side return mat weight is configured to facilitate in maintaining the flatness of said end portion of said side return mat after being unrolled from said housing, b) a ball stop, and wherein said ball stop is configured to inhibit or prevent a golf ball from rolling off a back end of said side return mat, and/or c) a connection arrangement, and wherein said connection arrangement is configured to releasably connect a top surface of said end portion of said side return mat to a bottom surface of said side return mat when said side return mat is rolled onto said housing.

17. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said side return mat includes a) a center groove to facilitate in maintaining a golf ball on side return mat as the golf ball rolls along said side return mat, and/or b) one or more side walls to facilitate in maintaining a golf ball on side return mat as the golf ball rolls along said side return mat.

18. The practice putting device as defined in claim 6, wherein one of said first and second end portions incudes first and second flanges; a spacing between said first and second flanges is the same as or greater than a width of said side return mat so that said side return mat can be easily rolled on to and rolled off one of said first and second end portions.

19. The practice putting device as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of said first and second end portions includes one or more golf ball slots and/or cavities that can be used to store one or more golf balls on said at least one of said first and second end portions.

20. The practice putting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a bubble level used to indicate to a user whether said housing is sitting on flat, level on a ground surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0102] 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:

[0103] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one non-limiting practice putting device in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0104] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the practice putting device of FIG. 1.

[0105] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the practice putting device of FIG. 1.

[0106] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the practice putting device of FIG. 1.

[0107] FIG. 5 is another front perspective view of the practice putting device of FIG. 1.

[0108] FIG. 6 is enlarged end portion view of the practice putting device of FIG. 1.

[0109] FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the practice putting device that illustrates a modified shape of the housing of FIG. 1.

[0110] FIG. 8 is another enlarged side view of a portion of the practice putting device that illustrates a modified shape of the housing of FIG. 7.

[0111] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the practice putting device of FIG. 7.

[0112] FIG. 10 is front perspective view of the practice putting device that illustrates a modified shape of the housing of FIG. 1.

[0113] FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the practice putting device of FIG. 10.

[0114] FIG. 12 illustrates front perspective view of two non-limiting practice putting device in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0115] FIG. 13 illustrated the practice putting device in a stored position wherein that the putting mat and the side return mat have been rolled up on the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

[0116] 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.

[0117] 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.

[0118] The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0119] 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.

[0120] 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.

[0121] 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).

[0122] 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.

[0123] 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. 1-13 a practice putting device in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0124] The practice putting device 100 in accordance with the present disclosure includes a rollable putting mat 110, a housing 120, and ball return arrangement 200.

[0125] 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 rolled and unroller multiples times without damaging the putting mat.

[0126] 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.

[0127] 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.

[0128] 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 G 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. 5) along the center longitudinal axis of the putting mat.

[0129] 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.

[0130] 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.

[0131] 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.).

[0132] 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.

[0133] The top surface of the weighted device can optionally include one or more connectors 152 (e.g., adhesive strip, hook and loop fastener, snap, etc.) that can be used to releasably connect the weighted device to the bottom surface 111 of the putting mat 110 when the putting mat is rolled onto the housing.

[0134] The housing 120 is configured to enable the putting mat 110 to be rolled about a portion of the housing so that the putting mat can be stored on the housing as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0135] Referring again to FIG. 1, the practice putting device 100 wherein the housing 120 includes a midportion 122, a first end portion 130 connected to one side of the midportion and second end portion 140 connected to the opposite side of the midportion.

[0136] The maximum cross-sectional area of the midportion is generally less than the cross-sectional area of one or both the first and second portions.

[0137] The midportion 122 include one or two arcuate landings 124, 125 that are located above and/or rearwardly of the location that the putting mat 110 when the putting mat is connected to the midportion and fully rolled out.

[0138] The arcuate landings 124, 125 are used to facilitate in the winding of the putting mat about the midportion when the putting mat is rolled up onto the housing.

[0139] Generally, the two arcuate landings 124, 125 have the same shape and/or size. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the arcuate landings 124, 125 extends inwardly from the side of the midportion.

[0140] The two arcuate landings generally have a constant radius of curvature. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the arcuate landings generally to not fully encircle the central axis of the midportion.

[0141] The midportion also includes an arcuate rear flange 160 that extends to and between the two interior sides of the midportion, or to the one or two arcuate landings. The arcuate rear flange 160 can also be used to facilitate in the winding of the putting mat about the midportion when the putting mat is rolled up onto the housing.

[0142] As with the arcuate landings, the arcuate rear flange can be spaced from the putting mat when the putting mat is fully unrolled from the housing.

[0143] The radius of curvature of the arcuate rear flange can optionally be the same as the radius of curvature of the two arcuate landings.

[0144] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the arcuate rear flange and two arcuate landings are spaced downwardly from the outer edge of the first and second end portions. When the putting mat is wrapped about the midportion and is fully rolled-up, 60-100% of the rolled-up putting mat is located between the first and second end portions as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0145] The midportion of the housing includes a flat mount surface 170 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 flat mat mount and/or other portion of the housing.

[0146] The flat mount surface includes an opening that is configured to allow a golf ball to pass therethrough. When the putting mat is secured to the housing the opening 113 in the putting mat overlies and/or encircles the opening in the flat mount surface. As can be appreciated, the size and/or shape of the opening in the putting mat and the opening in the flat mount surface can be the same. The opening in the putting mat and/or the flat mount surface is configured to receive a golf ball. The opening can be designed as a target for a user when putting. The opening is also used to allow a golf ball that passes through the opening to pass into the ball well 162.

[0147] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the back end of the putting mat and/or the back end of the flat mount surface form a rear a ball ledge that allows a ball that rolls past the ball ledge to fall into the ball well 162. The flat mount surface is illustrated as spaced from the arcuate rear flange such that a golf ball can drop between the back end of the flat mount surface and an inner surface of the arcuate rear flange.

[0148] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, 7, and 8, the first and second end portions 130, 140 have a generally circular or oval shape so that the housing can be rolled on a floor surface.

[0149] The first and second end portions 130, 140 can optionally include a floor orientation arrangement 132, 142 that facilitates in the proper orientation of the housing relative to the putting mat and floor once the putting mat is fully unrolled from the housing. Such floor orientation arrangement can be used to limit or prevent the rocking of the housing on a floor surface when the end portions have a circular or oval shape. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the orientation arrangements 132, 142 are in the form of a flat portion on an outer peripheral surface of the first and second end portions 130, 140.

[0150] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the flat mount surface 170 has an upward angled orientation when the putting mat is fully unrolled from the housing and the housing is properly situated on a floor surface. Such upward angled orientation causes the rear end portion of the putting mat that is positioned on and/or secured to the flat mount surface to also have an upward angled orientation when the putting mat is fully unrolled from the housing and the housing is properly situated on a floor surface. In such a configuration, when the golf ball is caused to roll partially up the angled end portion of the putting mat, but the golf ball does not pass through the opening in the putting mat or pass over the back end of the putting mat and fall into the ball well, the golf ball is caused to roll downwardly the sloped region of the putting mat by the force of gravity and to cause the golf ball to be partially or fully fed back to the front end of the putting mat.

[0151] As discussed above, the ball well 162 is configured to receive a golf ball that has moved past the back end on the putting mat or a golf ball that has fallen through the golf ball opening that is located at or near the back-end portion of the putting mat. The ball well is configured to feed golf balls that have fallen into the ball well to the side ball return arrangement 200. The ball well generally includes a bottom sloped surface to cause a ball that has fallen into the well to roll away from the second end portion 140 and toward the first end portion 130.

[0152] The ball well includes a return opening 164 that allows the golf ball to pass through the return opening and into the side ball return arrangement 200. As discussed above, the side ball return arrangement 200 is configured to cause the golf ball to roll toward a user that is located at or near the front portion of the putting mat.

[0153] The side ball return arrangement 200 includes a side return mat 210. The front-end portion of the side return mat is connected to the first end portion 130. The return opening 164 allows the golf ball to move from the ball well 162 and onto the front portion of the side return mat. After the golf ball pass through the return opening 164, the golf ball can immediately roll onto the side return mat, or roll onto a transition region formed by the first end portion and then subsequently roll onto the side return mat. The first end portion can include a side retention flange 134 that is used to inhibit or prevent the golf ball from exiting the side of the first end portion after the golf ball passes through the return opening. The side retention flange can also be used to facilitate in guiding the golf ball onto the front portion of the side return mat.

[0154] As illustrated in FIG. 1, front portion the side ball return arrangement is elevated above a floor surface when the housing is positioned on the floor surface and the putting mat is fully unrolled from the housing. As also illustrated in FIG. 1, the front-end portion of the side ball return arrangement forms a downward ramped portion to cause the golf ball to roll downwardly toward the floor surface on the downward ramp portion. As the golf ball moves downwardly on the downward ramp portion, the golf ball increases in speed due to gravity. Once the golf ball rolls to the end of the downward ramp portion, the golf ball obtained sufficient speed to continue roll the partial of full remaining length of the side return mat.

[0155] The side return mat 210 is generally made of a flexible material. The material of the side return mat can be the same as the putting mat; however, this is not required.

[0156] The side return mat has a width that is less than the width of the putting mat. Generally, the width of the side return mat is at least 50% less than the width of the putting mat.

[0157] The length of the side return mat can be the same or less than a length of the putting mat.

[0158] The end of the side return mat can optionally include a side return mat weight and/or a ball stop 212. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, two different non-limiting configurations of the weight and ball stop 212 are illustrated. FIG. 1 illustrates the ball stop having a curved-up portion to stop of the golf ball. FIG. 5 illustrates the ball stop having a ball bumper type configuration to stop the golf ball. Both of these ball stops can optionally also function as a weight if the material used is heavier than the material used to form the side return mat.

[0159] The side return mat can include a center groove 214 and/or one or more side walls 216, 218 that form a channel 219 between the side wall to facilitate in maintaining the golf ball on the side return mat as the golf ball rolls along the side return mat. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the side return mat includes a center groove. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the side return mat includes first and second side walls 216, 218 that form a central channel 219.

[0160] The thickness of the side return mat is illustrated as less than thickness of the putting mat; however, this is not required.

[0161] The side return mat is illustrated as a separate mat from the putting mat. The side return mat can be optionally releasably connected to the putting mat.

[0162] Referring again to FIG. 1, the first end portion 130 includes first and second flanges 136, 138. The spacing between the first and second flanges is the same as or greater than a width of the side return mat such that the side return mat can be easily rolled on to and rolled off the first end portion as illustrated in FIG. 13. When the side return mat is wrapped about the first end portion and is fully rolled-up, 60-100% of the side return mat is located between the first and second flanges. When the putting mat and the side return mat are fully rolled up on the housing, the putting mat and the side return mat are spaced from one another as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0163] The end portion of the side return mat can optionally include one or more connectors (e.g., adhesive strip, hook and loop fastener, snap, etc.) that can be used to releasably connect the end portion of the side return mat to the bottom surface of the side return mat when the side return mat is rolled onto the housing.

[0164] The practice putting device can optionally include one or more visual devices and/or audible devices 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.

[0165] The first end portion 130 can includes one or more golf ball slots and/or cavities 139 configured to releasably store one or more golf balls on the first end portion. The configuration of the one or more golf ball slots and/or cavities, when used, is non-limiting. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the golf ball slots and/or cavities 139 are located in a central region of the first end portion and spaced inwardly from the outer side of the first end portion.

[0166] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first and second end portions can include side cavities 135, 145 that can be used to facilitate in the grasping of the housing during the rolling and unroll of the putting mat and/or side return mat.

[0167] 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.

[0168] Additional features and methods of operation of the practice putting device are included in the figures.

[0169] 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.

[0170] 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.

[0171] 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.