Patent Application
20200023250
The field of this invention involves an apparatus for enhancing the training and perfection of an individual's golf game. More particularly, the apparatus is a portable and highly versatile golf hole enlarger/reducer and par enhancement training system.
Various sports are modified based on the different skill levels of players and to accommodate different characteristics of the players. In tennis for example, the Prince® racquet is oversized and has a long body to help beginning tennis players more rapidly improve their tennis skills. Shorter skis are used by beginning skiers to develop greater skiing proficiency. Various sized softballs are used in recreational leagues to make the ball easier to hit and catch. In basketball, a women's basketball is smaller than a men's basketball because on average women's hands are smaller than men's hands. Similarly, various size soccer balls are used for different age groups.
Golf is a sport in which players use various clubs to hit a golf ball into a hole formed in a golf green of a golf course. Golf balls are spherical and standardized to have a diameter not less than 1.68 inches (42.67 millimeters (mm)) and typically have dimples formed in the outside surface. The holes are standardized to have a diameter of 4.25 inches. One of the more difficult and time-consuming aspects of playing golf is the last step of hitting the ball into the hole due to its small size.
In an example embodiment, a golf hole enlargement device and par enhancer is provided. The golf hole enlargement and training device includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of horizontal disks. The different sized horizontal disks have a constant center hole diameter, a constant flange thickness, a constant ridge depth and width, but a varying outside diameter.
Other principal features of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings, the detailed description, and the appended claims.
A further understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reference to a preferred embodiment set forth in the accompanying description. Although the illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary of methods for carrying out the present invention, both the organization and method of operation of the invention, in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the illustrations and the following description. The figures are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention, although different, are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
Furthermore, a feature, structure, or characteristic described herein in connection with one embodiment may be implemented within other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, it is to be understood that the location or arrangement of individual elements within each disclosed embodiment may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the terms “embodiment(s) of the invention”, “alternative embodiment(s)”, and “exemplary embodiment(s)” do not require that all embodiments of the method(s) or apparatus include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or use.
There has thus been broadly outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may be readily utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that any embodiments of the present invention be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the Abstract herein is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of this application nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Referring now to
The flange (101) of each device is circular, round, and rests on the putting green when the device is in use. The flange (101) is thin enough so that a golf ball can roll onto the flange and possibly into a golf hole that is located within the inner area (100) of the flange (101). The thickness of the flange (101) can be uniform throughout the entire area of the flange (101). The flange (101) provides a target for a user to try and have a golf ball land upon. The outer diameter of the flange (101) is larger than that of a standard golf hole, and inner diameter is slightly smaller than that of a standard golf hole. The ridge (102) extends inside the golf hole centering the device when it is placed over and into a golf hole.
The ridge (102) of the device is attached to the bottom side of the flange (101) and is shaped to secure the device into the golf hole.
Devices in the system may have differing outer diameters so that a given device that is being used provides a different level of difficulty for users attempting to drive, pitch, chip, or putt a golf ball onto the device. Devices with a smaller outer diameter provide a higher degree of difficulty than devices with a larger outer diameter. Each device provides a larger target for users than a standard golf hole.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each device has an opening (100) through which a golf ball can pass. The inner diameter of each devices is approximately 37/8″. The overall depth of each device is 3/16″, with the flange (101) thickness being approximately 1/16″ and the ridge (102) depth being approximately ⅛″.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, five devices are provided of varying outside diameters. The outer diameters of each device can be 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″, and 14″. Other embodiments may have a different number of devices, or different outer diameter measurements.
Individual devices may be color-coded so that users can easily distinguish between devices of different target difficulty and improve their sight line.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that this description be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Although certain example methods, apparatus, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this application is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this application covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the invention either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of a method for creating assignments in an incident command system. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the method for creating assignments in an incident command system to the exact construction and operation described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the present invention. While the above description describes various embodiments of the present invention, it will be clear that the present invention may be otherwise easily adapted to fit other configurations.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/709,755 filed on Jan. 25, 2018 entitled “Temporary Golf Hole Enlarger & Par Enhancement Device”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
