BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a golf practice apparatus of the present invention in a disassembled state;
FIGS. 2A-C are side elevational views of the apparatus in the vicinity of golf ball-supporting area shown in partial cross-section, these views showing the successive action of the artificial turf, intermediate layer and deflective beam of the apparatus in response to a load applied by a swinging golf club head; and
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the deflective beam and base component of the apparatus, shown in partial cross-section, the base component having a void area formed by a tapered concaved trough.
FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the base component of the apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In accordance with the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a golf practice apparatus, designated as 1, which comprises a base mat 10, a deflectable beam 20, an intermediate sheet 30, an artificial turf 40 and a ball tee 50. The base mat 10, preferably, is an approximately 4-inch thick slab of recycled rubber that, along with the overlying intermediate sheet 30 and turf 40, is capable of being rolled into a large coil when the apparatus 1 is not in use. However, the base 10 could alternatively be fabricated of a rigid material such as a hard plastic or wood.
As shown in FIG. 4, projecting from the bottom surface of the base mat 10 are a plurality of short studs 8 which inhibit the apparatus 1 from sliding along the ground. Cut into its top surface is a void space 12 which transverses much of an end portion of the base 10. As depicted in FIGS. 2A and 3, the void 12 may be defined by a tapered trough cut into the base 10.
Alternatively, as it is depicted in FIG. 1 the void space 12 can be simply a generally rectangular hole through the base 10. In any event, lying atop the base mat 10 and traversing and the void space is a single deflectable beam 20. The beam 20 is a rectangular article fabricated of thin sheet metal, such as Grade 301 stainless steel, or composite material. The most important quality of the beam 20 is its high bending modulus of elasticity (ideally, >30,000,000 psi) which allows it to elastically bend without yielding under an anticipatable load which may be applied to it during normal use of the apparatus 1.
The beam 20 is longer, but narrower, than the void space 12. Therefore, opposing end portions 22, 26 of the beam both extend onto and are supported by the base 10 while the intermediary portion 24 and majority of the beam suspends over the void 12 without any direct underlying support from the base 10. This orientation allows the beam 20 to deflect downward into the void space 12 under the vertical load that is applied to the beam 20 when, as shown in the action illustrations of FIGS. 2A-C, a golf club 70 drives down into the turf 40 to properly strike a golf ball 60. Of course, the base 10 must be relatively non-resilient so that when such a force is applied to the beam 20, its middle portion 24 is able to deflect downward relative to the surface areas of the base 10 which support the beam ends 22, 26.
Preferably, the base mat 10 features a pair of recesses 16 for retaining the beam end portions 22, 26. FIG. 3 illustrates such a pair of recesses which, together with the adjacent void space 12, form a shallow pocket within the base mat 10 that is dimensioned to receive the beam 20. The depth of each recess 16 matches the thickness of the beam 20 so that when the beam 20 is in its normal flat profile, its top surface is coplanar with that of the base mat 10, as can be gleaned from viewing FIG. 2A. The beam end portions 22, 26 may be bonded or mechanically attached to the base 10, or alternatively, the beam 20 may simply rest atop the base 10 unattached. In the latter case, the intermediate sheet 30 and/or turf 40 overlying the beam 20 effectively retain the beam 20 within the recesses 16 during use of the apparatus 1. Then, if the beam 20 ever needs replacement, the intermediate sheet 30 and turf 40 can be raised from the base mat 10 and the beam 20 removed therefrom.
Directly above the base mat 10 and deflectable beam 20 is the intermediate sheet 30 which is, preferably, a thin layer of non-slip foam rubber. The sheet 30 is included in the apparatus 1 for the dual purposes of (a) inhibiting the playing surface of the apparatus 1 from sliding relative to the base mat 10 and (b) providing a cushion element underneath the turf 40 so as to approximate the feel of a natural surface and provide greater comfort to a golfer standing atop the apparatus 1. The former quality is especially useful given the torque generated by a club-swinging golfer might otherwise cause the artificial turf 40 to shift from time to time.
Layered over and adhesively bonded to the intermediate sheet 30 is an artificial turf 40 of a type well-known in the art of golf practice devices. The turf 30 is coextensive with the top surface of the mat 10, and it comprises a ball-striking area 46 above the deflectable beam 20 and void area 12 and a standing area(s) 48 defined generally as the portions of turf 40 which are away from the void area 12.
Finally, a ball tee element may also be included in the apparatus 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the disclosed tee 50 comprises a base portion 54 which anchors into the base mat 10 and a stem portion 52 which extends up through small coaxial holes 34, 44 in the intermediate sheet 30 and turf 40, respectively.
Although the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to and illustration of a preferred version, it should be understood that other versions, which are not illustrated, are contemplated as being a part of the present invention. As a mere example, the synthetic playing surface can be permanently fastened to the base element by some means, preventing the synthetic surface from sliding relative to the base, but also rendering the deflectable beam irremovable from the apparatus. As another example, a smaller version of the apparatus can comprise just a ball-hitting portion without a corresponding adjacent portion for the golfer to stand upon.
Patent Application
20080032811
