Patent Grant
11890514
The present invention relates generally to golf gaming systems, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for playing versions of the game of golf on a street or other hard outdoor surface.
Golf, a game popular for centuries, is conventionally played on grass-covered courses. Attempts have been made to play golf in an urban environment. Urban golf is typically played with conventional clubs and foam golf balls or tennis balls. The foam golf balls are light and soft enough to minimize the potential for impact damage to urban objects. The play uses conventional golf iron clubs, and the shots are off grass, sand, or short strips of synthetic grass mat placed on harder surfaces. Tennis balls are sometimes hit directly off a street, with the club head kept above the street surface. Targets are often designated from the urban landscape. However, urban golf is limited by not being able to play clubs directly in contact with the street surface, not having balls that combine damage prevention with reasonable travel distance and controlled rolling resistance and a lack of an improved putting target.
A conventional golf club cover is a slip-on fully enclosing cover to protect a golf club head from random contact with hard surfaces during transport or storage. Most commonly, this is to protect from contact with other golf clubs in a golf bag during bag transport between shots or otherwise during travel. Such covers are typically constructed from flexible material that would not stay firmly fastened to the club head if struck purposely on a hard surface such as a street. Movement would cause undesirable irregularities and inconsistency in both the impact imparted on the ball and in the friction or grab between the cover and the street. These covers are also not designed to withstand the impact and abrasion of golf play on a street.
Some golf club heads have been constructed with special face plates to produce sound or have special pointing devices or other features for practice. Such pointing devices are fastened onto the rear of a specific style of putter for putting aim practice feedback.
There is thus a need for means to protect the golf club head and a hard play surface from damage when attempting to strike a ball off a hard surface such as a street.
Some advancements have been made to develop short flight golf balls soft and light enough to be used for the game of golf in back yards and parks without risk of impact damage to people and objects. However, the most readily accessible open space near where most people live is the roadway or street, and thus further adaptations are required.
Some such existing short flight golf balls are described with short course versions of golf played with foam balls in large yards or other grass covered areas. The lightweight balls have ranges of about 50 to 70 feet. In one version, the ball comprises a core surrounded by foam with reticulated resinous veins to provide aerodynamic drag. Another golf game apparatus describes the use of a large 5-inch diameter foam ball and oversize clubs to play “soft golf” on a special short course. Some other existing balls for golf game include a winged short-flight ball for golf practice and hollow plastic shell golf balls for backyard play.
While suitable for play in limited space grass-covered areas, the balls described and suggested by the prior art may roll too easily on hard surfaces such as the street, which poorly simulates actual golf play. Such balls typically end up rolling off the street into the side gutter and often into drain inlets.
In addition to undesirable roll characteristics, prior art balls do not provide the desired flight characteristics. Balls with outer foam layers have less rebound when struck, do not bounce well and do not have controlled stopping characteristics when rolling. The solution of using lightweight materials comprised entirely of foam yields balls too light to provide a satisfying feel or adequate travel distance when struck. Balls with resinous veins or fibers on the outside tend to gather dirt, sand, and small plant fibers found in streets, changing their characteristics.
Plastic and elastomer balls with spikes are readily available as animal chew toys and for toss style games, however, the current commercially available balls either offer far too little or far too much rolling resistance to be useful for street golf. Most are also too light or too soft to provide the flight distance or hitting sensation appropriate for street golf. Some have spike shapes with edges that are not conducive to smooth directional rolling. There is thus a need for an improved ball for street, roadway or other hard surface use.
Conventional putting targets comprising roll up/tilt over tabs or sloped ramps leading to a dropped hole may be used for playing golf in the street. Such targets provide a less satisfying experience and limited simulation of real golf on grass. Most commercially available putting targets require a certain amount of incline to engage the trapping mechanism for the ball, thereby distorting the roll path of a ball. For a ball that is lighter than a conventional golf ball, conventional putting targets can even cause a backwards rejection style reaction to a putted ball.
There is thus a need for a method and apparatus for playing golf on a hard surface that includes a replaceable striking pad and an improved ball, further enhanced with a ball trap with minimal incline. Such a method and apparatus would provide a replaceable striking pad that would protect a golf club head and a hard play surface from damage when the golf club head is used to strike a ball off the hard surface. Such a striking pad would be firmly attached to the club head and would not cause irregularities and inconsistency on the ball due to the friction between the striking pad and the street. Such an apparatus would provide an improved ball for street, roadway or another hard surface use. Such an apparatus would also provide a ball trap with minimal incline to capture the ball. More accurate simulation of the sequential hole play nature of golf may also include a remotely controlled ball trap. Such a method and apparatus would allow playing forms of golf on streets or other hard surfaces in an urban environment. The present embodiment overcomes shortcomings in the field by accomplishing these critical objectives.
To minimize the limitations found in the existing systems and methods, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon the reading of this specification, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method and an apparatus for playing golf on a hard surface.
The apparatus comprises a replaceable striking pad, a ball optimized for street play, an optional portable ball trap and an optional remotely controlled vehicle. The replaceable striking pad is attached to a conventional golf club head via at least one vertically adjustable attachment means. The at least one attachment means includes a clamp and tightening means. The replaceable striking pad includes a top end, a bottom end, a flat front face, a back face, a small rounded lip at the bottom end on the front face and a bottom end street impact surface/holding ledge extending away from the bottom end of the front face towards the back face and adaptable to wrap laterally around a bottom edge of the golf club head. The replaceable striking pad is firmly coupled to the golf club head to protect the sole of the club head from impact and abrasion damage when used on the hard surface. The ball includes a plurality of spikes on the surface of the ball. The plurality of spikes is designed to provide a lifting of the ball core above the hard playing surface and to provide the desired rolling resistance. The lifting of the ball core above the surface provides space to allow the front lower face and lip of the striking pad to contact the lower portion of the ball core when the golf club is properly swung. The portable ball trap includes a thin flat platform with tapered edges, a central threaded pole positioned on the thin flat platform and a circular frame having a plurality of hinged tabs threaded to the central threaded pole. The plurality of hinged tabs is lightweight and hangs down from the circular frame elevated off the surface of the thin flat platform. The portable ball trap is adaptable to hold and trap the spiked ball and prevents backward motion. The remotely controlled vehicle having a tow strap is configured to remotely position the portable ball trap on the hard surface.
The method for playing golf on a hard surface comprises the steps of: providing an apparatus for playing golf having a replaceable striking pad attached to a conventional golf club head, a spiked ball, a portable ball trap and an optional remotely controlled vehicle. The portable ball trap is positioned on the hard surface utilizing the remotely controlled vehicle and positioning the spiked ball on the hard surface at a suitable distance from the initial tee-off position of the spiked ball. The golf club head with the replaceable striking pad is swung in a manner similar to conventional golf such that the front face of the striking pad hits the spiked ball, with the lip contacting the lower underside portion of the ball core. Trapping the projected spiked ball is by the portable ball trap positioned on the hard surface
A first objective of the present embodiment is to provide a method and an apparatus for playing golf on a hard surface that includes a replaceable striking pad and an improved ball.
A second objective of the present embodiment is to provide a method and an apparatus that provides a replaceable striking pad that protects a golf club head and a hard play surface from damage when the golf club head is used to strike a ball off the hard surface.
A third objective of the present embodiment is to provide a striking pad that is firmly attached to the club head and does not cause irregularities and inconsistency on the ball and in the friction between the striking pad and the street.
A fourth objective of the present embodiment is to provide an improved ball for street, roadway or another hard surface use.
A fifth objective of the present embodiment is to provide a ball trap with minimal entry incline to capture the ball.
Another objective of the present embodiment is to provide a method and apparatus that allows playing golf on a hard surface utilizing a replaceable striking pad, an improved ball and an improved ball trap.
Another objective of the present embodiment is to provide an optional means for moving the ball trap remotely.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.
In order to enhance their clarity and improve the understanding of the various elements and embodiment, elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention. Thus, the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. “And” as used herein is interchangeably used with “or” unless expressly stated otherwise. As used herein, the term ‘about” means +/−5% of the recited parameter. All embodiments of any aspect of the invention can be used in combination, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural and singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “wherein”, “whereas”, “above,” and “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of the application.
The description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. While the specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
Referring to
As best seen in front perspective view
The replaceable striking pad 101 is abrasion-resistant and firmly attached to the conventional iron golf club head 102 to protect the bottom sole 126 of the club head 102 from impact and abrasion damage when used on the hard surface. The shape of the replaceable striking pad 101 including the holding ledge 125 allows the club head 102 to snugly fit therein, yet still allows some side tilt adjustment to better accommodate variability in golf club heads and the golfers' natural contact angle with the ground. The face of the replaceable striking pad 101 further fits the golf club head 102 to provide the correct club face angle for contacting the spiked ball 110.
The replaceable striking pad 101 is preferably made from a material with high toughness, good wear resistance, and relatively low coefficient of friction. In some embodiments, the striking pad is made from a material with high toughness with ISO 179 Charpy notched impact of greater than 10 kJ/m at 23 degrees C., high wear resistance and a dynamic coefficient of friction less than 0.5 when tested on steel. For example, the material of the replaceable striking pad 101 can be selected from a group including, but not limited to, engineering plastics such as impact modified nylon, polypropylene block copolymer, and high molecular weight polyethylene.
The replaceable striking pad 101 is firmly attached to the golf club head 102 via the removable clamps 105 with suitable bolts 103 and nuts 106, or other fasteners can be used. Referring to
The preferred golf club head 102 for street golf is an iron style club. Wood or hybrid style clubs may also be used. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the striking pad 101 for wood or hybrid clubs extends over the top of the clubs and clamps around the back lobe of the clubs in the same manner as the striking pad 101 for iron club clamps around the top and upper back of the face of the iron club head 102 according to the preferred embodiment.
The replaceable striking pad 101 set in this manner resists the drag forces on the bottom end 122 of the striking pad 101 when in contact with the street or hard surface. The striking pad 101 protects the club head 102 and the street from damage when street golf is played. The striking pad 101 is designed to be simple and easy to replace when needed due to wear.
Referring to
A sufficient number of the plurality of spikes 127 oriented as uniformly as reasonably possible consistent with manufacturing limitations around the ball core provides smooth and straight rolling character. Providing spikes with circular cross sections further enhances the smooth rolling characteristics of the ball. When the spiked ball 110 is rolling, the plurality of flexible spikes 127 also absorbs some of the irregularities in the asphalt or other slightly uneven surface to provide smooth rolling character. Thus, in this manner, the spiked ball 110 provides the functionality of both the ball and the grass experienced at a golf course, with the spikes on the ball simulating the effect of grass on the roll and bounce of the ball.
Turning to
Some amount of bounce upon landing is desirable to simulate the typical 0.5 to 3-meter range of first bounce height of golf balls on courses proportioned to flight distance. One embodiment exhibits 25% to 50% rebound when dropped a meter onto a hard surface. In other embodiments less than 25% or more than 50% rebound occurs. For the street golf game, the spiked ball 110 may be swapped in place by players to provide preferred characteristics for each shot in the same manner as clubs are selected for each shot on a conventional golf course.
The spiked ball 110 of the present invention provides an improved travel distance and controlled rolling resistance to lessen the instances of the spiked ball 110 ending up in gutters, drains, and rolling away down sloped streets. The spiked ball 110 has more abrupt stopping from a low velocity to enable better ball placement and gives better bounce and rebound when landing from an airborne trajectory than a foam-covered ball would have. Moreover, the spiked ball 110 provides a straighter rolling direction and less chatter and small scale bouncing when rolling on an uneven surface such as asphalt.
Referring to
The portable ball trap 117 for the street golf game of the present invention provides a preferably portable trap 117 which can be easily positioned on any surface and effectively captures the ball 110 hit into its effective capture diameter. The thin flat platform 112 of the portable ball trap 117 provides a nearly flat approach path, both for level placement of the portable ball trap 117 on the street surface and to impart a minimal effect on the ball trajectory as it nears the portable ball trap 117. The portable ball trap 117 preferably traps the spiked ball 110 using a minimal amount of the ball's translational energy while assuring a secure trapping and also does not distort the ball trajectory or cause a backward rejection style reaction to the entered ball 110.
The optional remotely controlled vehicle 115 allows for ease of playing and simulating the game of golf by positioning the portable ball trap 117 remotely. Using the remotely controlled vehicle 115 for portable ball trap 117 placement allows the players to set the location of the next ball trap 117 at some suitable distance down the street and in conditions with the desired degree of challenge. After the players have completed the game in a particular location, the next location can be set remotely in a like manner without having to walk down the street and back, to place the portable ball trap 117 manually. This allows for unique pathways and course layouts through a neighborhood each time the game is played. Navigating the remotely controlled vehicle 115 with the portable ball trap 117 down the street using the remotely controlled vehicle 115 is fun, sometimes challenging, and adds to the overall enjoyment of the game. The portable ball trap 117 can also be driven onto the sidewalk or other accessible areas to provide more variety.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.
This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 National State Entry of International Application No. PCT/US2020/031757, filed May 7, 2020, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/845,478, filed May 9, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2020/031757 | 5/7/2020 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/227460 | 11/12/2020 | WO | A |
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