The present invention relates to a golf practice device. In particular, the device in question fits into the technical sector which includes devices known as “stimpmeters”, which are devices provided with an inclined ramp on which to place a golf ball to determine its rolling in order to measure the speed of a green.
The green is the landing area of each hole, characterized by a usually uniform and well-maintained turf. It is known that the “putt” (i.e. a shot performed in the green area) is considered by many golfers to be one of the most important shots in golf, also because according to statistics, it is possible to state that the putt represents a part of about 40% of all shots taken, at virtually all levels of play. As an example, in 2016, the average PGA Tour player needed 29 putts to achieve an average score of 70.85 (41% of strokes), while the average player with an index 17 handicap needs 34 putts to achieve the average score of 89 (38% of hits).
Differently configured stimpmeters are known. Patent documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,277,339B2, 6,227,981, US2003/0226393, US2005/0145011 and GB2267039 describe devices which can be used for this purpose. Some of the devices described in the prior art documents are characterized by a relatively high constructive complexity, while others are bulky and not easily transportable.
Among the aims of the present invention is that of providing a new device for practicing golf capable of eliminating or at least reducing the drawbacks of the prior art.
This result is obtained by means of a device having the features of claim 1. Other advantageous characteristics of the invention are described in the dependent claims. Among the advantages of the present invention the following can be listed: the device has optimal structural and functional characteristics even though it is made in a relatively simple and economical way since it does not require particular processes such as, for example, the creation of moulded curved portions or in any case with a complex shape; thanks to its relative constructive simplicity it can also be made by non highly specialized personnel; the device provides correct acceleration to the ball thanks to the presence of a straight ramp; the device is made up of hinged or removable portions which allow it to be positioned in a compact rest and transport configuration; the device can be provided with support portions provided with holes for its anchoring to the ground through one or more “tees” or can be used without anchoring on hard ground, for example for indoor use; in an alternative embodiment the perforated portions can be replaced by pointed ends which can be driven into the ground; the device keeps its features unaltered over time, making it resistant to wear.
In practice, the device in question, which has some analogies with a “stimpmeter”, is a device for training in the practice of the game of golf and specifically in the practice of putting.
In particular, the device allows the repetitive rolling of the golf ball with reference to a given position of the same on the green. In use, after having identified the position of the device on the green which effectively moves the ball from a starting point to an arrival point (in the hole), each ball successively thrown/hit will follow the same path and enter the hole (with same path and speed). The position of the device identifies the player's training station since with it it is possible to verify that, from a given starting point, if the ball is hit with the correct force, and with the face of the putt positioned at a given angle, the ball reaches the pre-established point of arrival, i.e. the hole on that green.
These and further advantages and features of the present invention will be more and better understood by any person skilled in the art from the following description and with the help of the annexed drawings, given as a practical exemplification of the invention, but not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which:
With reference to the figures of the attached drawings, the invention relates to a device for playing golf, identified by (1) in its entirety.
As previously expressed, the device (1) is of the type provided with an inclined ramp on which to place a golf ball to determine its rolling in order to measure the speed of a green.
Advantageously, the device (1) comprises a main body (2), a base body (3) and a support element (4), connected to each other as indicated below.
Referring initially to the example of
In a possible embodiment, the main body (2) can consist of a profile, for example in metal or plastic material, having a “U”-shaped cross section, with the two arms of the U defined by the first pair of rails (20).
The base body (3) is also provided with a second pair of rails (30) spaced apart by a predetermined value so as to define a guide for rolling the ball and hinged to said main body (2) so as to vary the its configuration with respect to the latter to assume an open or use configuration in which it defines an obtuse angle with the main body (2) and a closed or rest configuration in which it is rotated so as to overlap the main body (2).
Also the base body (3), similarly to the main body (2) can be made up of a profile, for example in metal or plastic material, having a cross section shaped like a “U”, with the two arms of the U defined by the rails (30).
The base body (3), seen from the side, substantially has the shape of a right triangle; in particular, the right triangle has a major cathetus (71) which defines the support on the ground, a minor cathetus (72) arranged vertically, and a hypotenuse (73) which has an arcuate profile and defines the terminal part of the rolling ramp for the ball (5). Two notches (38) which house the body of the wings (39), which will be described later, extend orthogonally to said major cathetus (71), i.e. they are parallel to the minor cathetus (72).
In the two possible embodiments of the device (1) represented, respectively, in
The support element (4) is hinged to the main body (2) so as to vary its configuration with respect to the latter to assume an open or use configuration in which it defines an angle with the main body (2) and one of its free ends (44) defines a support point and a closed or rest configuration in which it is rotated so that said main body (2) is superimposed on it. It is possible to vary the inclination of the main body (2) with respect to the ground (G) by varying the point at which the end (44) rests on the ground. With reference to
As in the attached drawings, the base body (3) can be hinged to the main body (2) around an axis (23) placed transversally with respect to the direction of development of the rails (20, 30).
Also the support element (4) can be hinged to the main body (2) around an axis (24) placed transversally with respect to the direction of development of said rails (20). For the hinging of the main body (2) around the axis (23) with the base body (3) and around the axis (24) with the support element (4) pins, bolts or the like can be used fastening members that define a hinge.
In the embodiments illustrated in
The support element (4) is provided in its lower free end (44) with a pair of wings (45), provided with holes (46) in which a pointed rod-shaped element (7) can be inserted, suitable for being inserted into the ground to secure the device (1). The wings (45), which can have an “L” profile, are hinged to the lower end (44) of the support element (4) by means of two pins (49) which allow the rotation of the same wings (45) with respect to to the support element (4). The pointed elements (7) will be used when the device (1) is used on suitable penetrable/traversable terrain such as, for example, outdoors. On the contrary, for use also extended to indoor activities (i.e. on non-penetrable ground) the device will rest on the wings (45) and (39).
With reference to the schematic drawing of
Furthermore, the width (D2) of the main body (2) is smaller than that (D4) of the support element (4); in this way the support element (4) houses the main body (2) inside it when the device (1) is in the closed or rest configuration. In practice, when the device (1) is closed, the “U” of the profile of the support element (4) houses the main body (2) inside it. In
In practice, the width (D3) of said base body (3) is greater than that (D2) of said main body (2) so as to accommodate the main body (2) inside the base body (3) when the device (1) is in the closed or rest configuration and the width (D4) of said support element (4) is greater than the width (D2) of said main body (2) so as to accommodate the main body (2) inside the support element (4) when the device (1) is in the closed or rest configuration.
In another possible embodiment, the ratios between the widths (D2), (D3) and (D4) can be different. For example, the width (D3) of said base body (3) can be greater than that (D2) of said main body (2) so as to accommodate the main body (2) inside the base body (3) when the device (1) is in the closed or rest configuration and the width (D4) of said support element (4) is instead smaller than the width (D2) of said main body (2) so that it is the main body (2) to house the support element (4) inside it when the device (1) is in the closed or rest configuration.
The device (1) can advantageously be provided with an extension element (6) of the main body (2), connected to the same main body (2) in the opposite end with respect to that in which the hinge (23) is arranged which connects the main body (2) to the base body (3). The extension element (6) is also provided with a third pair of rails (60) able to define a guide for the rolling of the golf ball (5).
In the solution of
The embodiment illustrated in
In this solution, the device (1) is provided with a hinge (26) which connects the main body (2) with the extension element (6). Similarly to what is foreseen for the hinges (23) and (24), the revolving connection between the main body (2) and the extension element (6) can be realized by a pair of pins which can be inserted in corresponding seats provided on the superimposable edges presented by the same main body (2) and by the extension element (6).
As for the examples previously described, in
In
As visible also from the configurations represented in
In this embodiment of the invention, the base body (3) and the support element (4) are provided with perforated portions which can be crossed by tees or similar pointed rod-like elements (7) for fixing to the ground.
In particular, the base body (3) is formed by a shaped body to which two wings (31) can be fixed, which in the example are formed by a single laminar element (31), having an “L” profile.
The shaped body (3) is formed by a flat central portion from which two parallel lateral portions extend having the free edges (30) in a curved shape so as to define the lower end part of the ramp for launching the ball (5).
The laminar element (31) which defines the support wings for the base element (3) has two vertical portions (32) which can be reversibly inserted into corresponding notches (34) provided on the shaped body (3). The laminar element (31) has a substantially L-shaped cross section with a base portion intended for resting on the ground.
The holes for the passage of the tees can be provided both on the lower part of the shaped base body (3) and on the base portion of the laminar element (31).
In the embodiment of
Similarly to the previous examples, the support element (4) has a body with longitudinal development which substantially has the function of a strut which is fixed to the main body (2) at the top and which is joined to the wings (41) at the bottom by means of a connection which allows the rotation of the same wings (41) with respect to the strut.
In all embodiments, the support element (4) may not be provided with support wings but have its own end shaped so as to constrain the device (1) to the ground. For example, the support element can have a tapered end adapted to be inserted into the ground or a flat end to define a support.
In all possible embodiments of the invention, the edges of the main body (2), as well as those of the possible extension element (6) and those of the base body (3), intended for contact with the ball (5), they are coated in a material with a relatively high coefficient of friction such as, for example, rubber or silicone. The coating can be made by applying rubber or other suitable material, for example by gluing or interference fit. Rubber gaskets or suitable material can also be made to fit on the edges of the main body (2) and/or the base body (3) and/or the extension element (6). In practice, the edges of the “U” profile of the extension element (6), of the main body (2) and of the base body (3) define the rails (60, 20, 30) which form the rolling guide for the ball (5) and their interaction with the ball (5) may involve the use of a material or treatment that improves the friction between the rails and the ball. In other words, the treated rails are anti-slip.
In a possible example of use, once a trajectory with which the golf ball goes from a given starting position to a given finish position has been identified, the ball will be positioned (and the position will be marked with a reference element for subsequent trials) at the end of the ramp onto the green. Then the device will be removed and the golfer will be in a parallel position with respect to the previous position of the device (i.e. with the face of the putt which in turn will be perpendicular to the previous position of the device 1) and will do many repetitions with the ball to train speed to be imprinted on the ball itself to reproduce the effective path previously identified by the device.
In other words, the aim of using the device is to improve the performance of the putt, training the speed that the latter will have to give to the ball itself in the presence of any slope of the ground of the green and with any speed of the green. In practice, the execution details can in any case vary in an equivalent manner in the shape, dimensions, arrangement of the elements, nature of the materials used, without however departing from the scope of the adopted solution idea and therefore remaining within the limits of the protection granted by the present patent as determined by the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10202000007958 | Apr 2022 | IT | national |