HOME GOLF PUTTING GAME

Abstract

A simulated golf putting green, including a base having an upper surface, lower surface and opposed side walls. A cup is cut into the base to enable golf balls putted thereto, to drop into the cup. A trough returns the golf ball to the starting position. The base is angularly inclined so that the putting is not “on flat.” A backstop enables an errant ball to be returned to the starting position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to in-home golf games. More particularly, the present invention concerns in-home simulated putting greens. Even more particularly, the present invention concerns in-home practice putting greens and games for use therewith.

2. Prior Art

As is known to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains there have been developed many games relating to golf which are used for in-home purposes which are directed to the players ability to putt. However, in most situations the putting green, itself, lies flush with the floor surface and requires the user to retrieve the balls from the cup. This, of course, is not only tedious but fails to appreciate this in real life most putting greens undulate and/or are elevated. There are other games which only simulate the flag that would be in the cup and the object of the game is to hit the flag. Again, in such a game, the flag lies flat on the surface and requires the user to retrieve the ball.

Such home games can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,497,625 and 6,575,841.

It is to be appreciated that the enjoyment of these home putting games would be greatly facilitated by alleviating the need to retrieve the golf balls as they are used. As described hereinafter the present invention achieves this.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully assembled home putting green in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial end view of the putting green hereof;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the putting green hereof;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment hereof; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the base of the second embodiment hereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now, and with reference to the drawing, and, in particular, FIGS. 1-4, there is depicted therein a simulated golf putting green, generally, denoted at 10. The green 10 comprises a frame or elongated base 12 having an upper surface 14, a lower surface 16, a pair of opposed sidewalls 18, 20, a first end wall 22 and an opposed second end wall 24.

The upper surface 14, preferably, comprises an artificial turf covering 38. Such coverings are well known and commercially available.

The covering 38 can be secured to the upper surface by gluing, tacking and the like.

A line 40 can be provided on the covering as an assist to the user to “line-up” his or her putt.

As shown in the drawing the sidewalls 18, 20 have a gradient or slope associated therewith such that the upper surface 14 is angularly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. This precludes the putting surface from being “flat”.

The lower surface 16 of the base 12 is parallel to the upper surface 14 and is co-extensive therewith.

A cup or opening 26 is formed through the base 12 proximate the second end wall 24. A trap 27 is mounted about the cup 26.

The trap is a curvilinear member partially enshrouding the cup to ensure that a golf ball entering into the volume defined thereby drops into the cup.

In a first embodiment hereof, a trough 28 is disposed intermediate the sidewalls beneath the upper surface and is secured by any suitable means, such as welding, threaded fasteners, clips and the like to the lower surface 16 and in registry with the “cup” 26.

The trough 28 is coextensive with the base 12 and is coplanar with the upper surface 14 such that a golf ball (not shown) dropping into the cup 26 drops into the trough and is fed rearwardly to where the golfer stands proximate the first end wall 22.

A pair of side gutters 30, 32 are secured to the sides of the frame 12. The gutters lie below the upper surface 14. The gutters are secured to the frame optimally by any suitable means for fastening, such as bolts and the like. The gutters may be permanently secured to the base by welding and the like.

As described below, the gutters 30, 32 are used to capture and trap an errant golf ball, i.e., one that misses the cup which fails to make it to a backstop 34 or to the wall 24.

Referring, again, to the drawing, as shown, the present device further includes a back stop 34 and a well 36 defined between the back stop 34 and the end wall 24 for stopping errant golf balls.

As shown in the drawing, a basin 39 is disposed rearwardly of the base 12 behind the first end wall and is in communication with the trough 28 such that golf balls which drop into the cup 26 are transported back into the basin 39.

In use, a stand-on mat 42 having a cover 44 similar to cover 38 is abutted against the base 12 in order to be and is substantially flush therewith by having the same height as the base 12. The mat 42 can be abutted on either the left or right side of the base 12. A user places a golf ball on the upper surface, stands on the mat and putts the ball toward the cup. If the user sinks the putt, the ball enters the trough and is returned to the basin. If the user misses the cup, the ball will ordinarily either go into the one of the opposing gutters, into the well or hit the back stop 34 and then, the ball drops into the well.

If the user fails to make it all the way up the putting surface the ball will slide down toward the basin because of the incline.

In those instances in which the ball goes into the well, the user has to retrieve the ball. Only when the ball goes into the cup will it wend its way into the trough and be returned to the basin.

It should be noted that in constructing the upper surface of the frame or base, it may be provided with undulations such as by varying the thickness of the upper surface by providing a padding of various thicknesses under the covering by any suitable mode.

By providing varying thicknesses to the covering the present device simulates a more realistic approach to what one encounters on the regular green, is provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is depicted therein, an alternate backstop 110 for the device hereof. The alternate backstop includes a back wall 114 and a pair of opposed side walls 116, 118 and a bottom wall 120.

As shown, the sidewalls are shorter in height than the backstop back wall.

A ledge 122 traverses the width of the backwall and is disposed substantially medially thereof. A curvilinear diverter 124 is disposed at a first end of the ledge.

As shown, the ledge is mounted angularly or sloped with respect to the back wall 114, along a horizontal plane.

The ledge can be adhered or fixed to the back wall by any suitable means, such as adhesive, threaded fasteners or the like.

In use, the back wall is disposed and positioned above the terminus of the upper wall 14, such that an errant ball, which fails to hit the cup, will hit the ledge. Due to the angularity thereof and the diverter, the ball will then be released into an associated gutter 30 (FIG. 1).

Further, and as shown in FIG. 6, a grate 150 defines a base 152 overlying a return gutter or trough 154 which is in communication with either gutter 30 or 32 (FIG. 1) such that when a ball drops into the cup 26, the ball enters the gutter or trough 154 from where the ball travels to and enters either gutter 30 or 32 and returns the ball to the user.

In all other respects, this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment.

It should be noted that the present putting game can be provided as a kit. Such kit would include the basin, the gutters, the well and the back stop. Suitable fastening means such as threaded fasteners or the like can be used to assemble the components together and to disassemble them.

Also, it is possible to have the gutters and the well communicate with the trough such that even with errant golf ball shots, the ball will return to the basin.

Although not shown, it is possible to eliminate the trough and provide only a passageway from the cup into the well.

Similarly, latches or similar clasps can be used to fast connect-disconnect the components of the device together.

The present putting device can be fabricated from any suitable materials such as, for example, wood, metal as well as any durable plastic. Where plastic is used any desired undulations, can be directly provided in the mold for the base.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

• 10 Putting Green
• 12 Base
• 14 Upper Surface
• 16 Lower Surface
• 18 Side Wall
• 20 Side Wall
• 22 First End Wall
• 24 Second End Wall
• 26 Cup
• 27 Trap
• 28 Trough
• 30 Side Gutter
• 32 Side Gutter
• 34 Backstop
• 38 Covering
• 39 Basin
• 40 Line
• 42 Stand-on Mat
• 44 Cover
• 110 Alternate Backstop
• 114 Alternate Back Wall
• 116 Alternate Side Wall
• 118 Alternate Side Wall
• 120 Alternate Bottom Wall
• 122 Ledge
• 124 Diverter
• 150 Grate
• 152 Base
• 154 Auxiliary Gutter

Claims

1. A golf putting practice green, comprising: a) an elongated base inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and having an upper surface, a lower surface parallel to the upper surface, a first end wall and an opposed second end wall;b) an artificial turf cover, disposed atop the upper surface;c) a cup formed in the base;d) a trough disposed below the lower surface and in registry with the cup;e) a basin disposed rearwardly of the second end wall and in communication with the trough, and Wherein a golf ball entering the cup drops into the trough and is returned to the basin.

2. The practice green of claim 1 which further comprises: a stand on mat positioned adjacent the base proximate the basin and substantially flush with the base.

3. The practice green of claim 1 which further comprises: a) a back stop disposed rearwardly of the second end wall;b) a wall defined between the back stop and the second end wall; and wherein an errant golf ball going past the end wall is captured in the basin.

4. The practice green of claim 3 which further comprises: at least one gutter secured to the base below the upper surface. The gutter capturing a golf ball which goes past the second wall and fails to reach the backstop.

5. The practice green of claim 4 which further comprises: a) A horizontally angularly inclined ledge secured to the backstop and traversing the width thereof and a diverter; and wherein an errant golf ball landing on the ledge when engaging the diverter is directed into the at least one gutter.

6. The practice green of claim 1 which further includes: a visible line provided on the upper surface and extending from the first end wall to the cup.

7. The practice green of claim 1 which further comprises: at least one gutter secured to the base below the upper surface. The gutter capturing a golf ball which goes past the second wall and fails to reach the backstop.

8. The practice green of claim 6 which further includes: a visible line provided on the upper surface and extending from the first end wall to the cup.