TEEING GROUND PROTECTIVE MAT

Abstract

A golf mat for protecting a grass surface and a method that reduces damage to a grass surface during a tee shot. The golf mat includes a planar body for protecting the grass surface by absorbing and/or deflecting an impact of a golf club head. The planar body includes a plurality of gaps in the planar body for allowing access to the grass, at least one tee opening for receiving a golf tee, and a plurality of ground engagement members connected to the planar body for limiting movement of the golf mat from an impact of the golf club head and maintaining the planar body in contact with the ground surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to protective mats, and in particular to devices and methods for covering and protecting a grass surface during tee shots while allowing the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface and allowing the ground to evapotranspirate.

INTRODUCTION

The performance of tee shots can result in damage to the grass surface in proximity of the tee due to errant swings causing a golf club head to impact the grass surface and form divots. This is particularly true for novice golfers performing tee shots.

Existing protective mats, and the like, may substantially cover the grass surface and may deprive the grass of water, nutrients, air and sunlight. These protective mats must be removed, at least periodically, to allow the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface and to allow for evapotranspiration of the ground. Furthermore, existing protective mats are relatively large, heavy, not easily portable and time consuming to construct and install.

Accordingly, there is a need for a protective mat that can be easily transported and installed on a grass surface while allowing the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface when the grass surface is covered by the mat.

SUMMARY

A mat is disclosed for covering and protecting a grass surface to withstand an impact of a golf club head during the performance of tee shots. The mat comprises a planar body rectangular in shape. The mat comprises at least one tee opening for receiving a golf tee. The at least one opening is positioned on a longitudinal center line of the planar body.

The planar body includes a plurality of gaps in the planar body for allowing access to the grass surface. Allowing access to the grass surface includes allowing evapotranspiration and the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface. The plurality of gaps may be elliptical in shape or polygonal in shape having either three or four sides. The plurality of gaps form a lattice. The lattice provides structural integrity to the planar body. The lattice may cover approximately 30% to 50% of the grass surface beneath the mat.

The mat comprises a plurality of ground engagement members connected to the planar body for limiting movement of the golf mat from an impact of the golf club head and maintaining the planar body in contact with the grass surface. The ground engagement members may be contiguous with a bottom surface of the planar body. The ground engagement members may be contiguous with a subset of the plurality of gaps. The ground engagement members may include a spike, and may be driven into the grass surface to maintain the mat in substantially immovable contact with the grass surface.

The mat may be constructed of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fortified with UV stabilizers, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fortified without UV stabilizers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), acrylic, vinyl, Kevlar, or metal laminated in plastic. The mat may be manufactured by injection molding. The plurality of gaps, the at least one opening and the ground engagement members may be formed by a cutting process.

A method is disclosed to reduce damage to a grass surface during the performance of tee shots. The method comprises partially covering a grass surface while allowing the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface. The grass surface may be partially covered by the mat described herein. The partially covered grass surface is substantially rectangular in shape. The longitudinal axis of the partially covered grass surface is oriented in the desired direction of the flight of the ball.

The method further comprises placing a tee within the partially covered grass surface and placing a golf ball on the tee. The method comprises standing adjacent to the partially covered area of grass. The method further comprises swinging a golf club to strike the ball off the tee such that the path travelled by the golf club head immediately prior to striking the ball is within the partially covered grass surface. The golf club is swung in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the partially covered grass surface.

Other aspects and features will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification. In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a mat for protecting a grass surface, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side end view of the mat of FIG. 1, shown in relation to a grass surface, a golf tee and a golf ball;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of the mat of FIG. 1, shown in relation to a grass surface, a golf tee and a golf ball; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method to prevent damage to a grass surface during the performance of tee shots.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of each claimed embodiment. No embodiment described below limits any claimed embodiment and any claimed embodiment may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed embodiments are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below.

Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated therein is a mat 100 for protecting a grass surface (shown shaded) 102 during the performance of tee shots, in accordance with an embodiment. The grass surface 102 may be a driving range, a tee box, a golf green, a lawn at home, or a park.

The mat 100 may be constructed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fortified with or without UV stabilizers. HDPE construction allows for the mat 100 to be relatively light-weight and easily portable while still being resilient in absorbing and/or deflecting the impact of a golf club head thereby preventing damage to the grass surface 102 that is covered by the mat 100. A further advantage of HDPE construction is the mat 100 will not rust from moisture in the grass surface 102 and/or rain. The mat may also be constructed of other materials not limited to ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), LDPE, acrylic, vinyl, Kevlar, or metal laminated in plastic.

The mat 100 includes a planar body 104. The planar body is rectangular in shape and includes a first side 106, a second side 108, a third side 110 and a fourth side 112. The first side 106 and the third side 110 are opposable, and span the length of the planar body 104. The second side 108 and the fourth side 112 are opposable, and span the width of the planar body 104. The planar body 104 has dimensions of approximately 16 by 12 inches. The size of the planar body 104 ensures that only the area of the grass surface 102 that is likely to be struck by a golf club head during the performance of tee shots (i.e., the area of the grass surface 102 immediately behind and to either side of a tee relative to the direction of the tee shot) is covered by the mat 100.

The planar body 104 includes a plurality of gaps, of which, a triangular gap 114a and a rhomboid gap 114b are shown in FIG. 1. The plurality of gaps 114a, 114b form a two-dimensional lattice 116 in the planar body 104. It is advantageous for the planar body 104 to include a lattice 116, as opposed to being solid, in order to minimize the surface area of the mat 100, and allow access to the grass surface 102 on which the mat 100 is placed. Allowing access to the grass surface 102 includes allowing the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface 102. Water, nutrients, air and sunlight access the grass surface 102 via the plurality of gaps 114a, 114b in the lattice 116. Thus, the mat 100 may be left covering the grass surface 102 for an extended period of time without starving the grass surface 102 of water, nutrients, air and sunlight. The plurality of gaps 114a, 114b further allow for evapotranspiration of the ground, thereby preventing the formation of condensation under the mat 100.

Triangular gaps 114a in the planar body 104 result in the lattice 116 having repeating triangular units (i.e., a triangular unit is the portion of the lattice 116 that surrounds a triangular gap 114a). Triangles are an advantageous shape that provide structural integrity to the planar body 104. The planar body 104 also includes rhomboid gaps 114b. The rhomboid gaps 114b are approximately twice the size of triangular gaps 114a. The use of rhomboid gaps 114b to supplement triangular gaps 114a reduces the overall surface area of the planar body 104 than if triangular gaps 114a are used solely. The reduction in surface area of the planar body 104, promotes access to the grass surface 102 as described above. According to another embodiment, the planar body 104 may include only triangular gaps 114a forming a two-dimensional lattice (not shown). The plurality of gaps may have any appropriate shape. In certain embodiments the plurality of gaps may form a repeating pattern. The plurality of gaps may be elliptical in shape or polygonal in shape having either three or four sides.

Each of the plurality of gaps 114a, 114b are smaller than 1.5 square inches to prevent a golf club head from passing through the lattice 116 of the planar body 104 to contact the grass surface 102 during the performance of tee shots. Further, the plurality of gaps 114a, 114b are sufficiently small to prevent a golf club head from catching an edge of the gaps 114a, 114b and displacing the mat instead of absorbing and/or deflecting the energy imparted by a golf club head contacting the mat 100.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the planar body 104 includes at least one opening 118 for receiving a tee (not shown). The opening 118 is positioned on a longitudinal center line 120 of the planar body 104 and adjacent to the second side 108 and/or the fourth side 112 of the planar body 104.

The planar body 104 may include two openings 118 for receiving tees. This double-ended arrangement may allow for further use of the mat, where one opening 118 for the tee is worn, the opposite opening 118 may be used.

According to another embodiment, the opening 118 may be equidistant from the second side 108 and the fourth side 112 and positioned in the center of the planar body 104 (not shown). The opening 118 is approximately the size of 5 rhomboid gaps 114b (or 10 triangular gaps 114a) but sufficiently small to prevent a golf club head from passing through the opening 118 to contact the grass surface 102 during the performance of tee shots.

The opening 118 is shaped as an elongated hexagon. The opening 118 allows for the mat 100 to move slightly in the event the mat 100 is struck before the ball without the mat 100 contacting the tee. If the opening 118 is too small, the mat 100, when the ball/tee is struck, may contact the tee and may alter the tee shot.

The lattice 116 of the planar body 104 covers approximately 50% of the grass surface 102 beneath the mat 100 (and approximately 50% of the grass surface 102 beneath the mat 100 is within the plurality of gaps 114a, 144b and the opening 118). The size of the opening 118 and gaps 114a, 114b may be increased to the extent where the lattice 116 of the planar body 104 covers approximately 30% of the grass surface 102 beneath the mat 100. This allows for further reduction in the surface area of the planar body 104 and increased access to the grass surface 102 while still maintaining the structural integrity of the planar body 104.

The mat 100 includes a plurality of ground engagement members 122 connected to the planar body 104. The ground engagement members 122 limit the movement of the mat 100 from an impact of a golf club head, and maintain the planar body 104 in contact with the grass surface 102, as will be discussed in more detail below. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wherein the mat 100 is manufactured by a cutting process, the ground engagement members 122 are contiguous with the rhomboid gaps 114b adjacent to the opening 118. The cutting process may be performed by a die cutter, a waterjet cutter, or a laser cutter. According to other embodiments wherein the mat 100 is manufactured by an injection molding process, the ground engagement members 112 are contiguous with a bottom surface of the mat 100 (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is the mat 100 of FIG. 1, as seen facing the second side 108 of the planar body 104. The grass surface 102 includes a top 124 and a bottom 126. The planar body 104 includes a bottom surface 128. The bottom surface 128 of the planar body 104 rests on the bottom 126 of the grass surface 102. The grass surface 102 may protrude through the gaps (i.e., gaps 114a, 114b in FIG. 1) and the openings (i.e., openings 118 in FIG. 1) in the planar body 104 so that the top 124 of the grass surface 102 may extend above the planar body 104 when the mat 100 is placed on the grass surface 102.

The ground engagement members 122 are connected to the bottom surface 128 of the planar body 128 and extend downward away from the bottom surface 128. The ground engagement members 122 may penetrate the bottom 126 of the grass surface 102 to become embedded in a ground 130 underlying the bottom 126 of the grass surface 102. The frictional force of the ground 130 on the embedded ground engagement members 122 effectively anchors the mat 100 to the ground 130 and limits the movement of the mat 100 from the impact of a golf club head during tee shot performance. The ground engagement members 122 may be driven into the ground 130 by the application of a downward force 138 on the planar body 104. To aid in ground penetration, the ground engagement members 122 may include a spike 132.

For reference, the mat 100 is shown in relation to a golf ball 140 and a tee 142. The tee 142 is positioned within the opening (i.e., opening 118 in FIG. 1) in the planar body 104 and driven through the glass surface 102 and into the ground 130. The tee 142 and the golf ball 140 may be positioned anywhere within the opening (i.e., opening 118 in FIG. 1), but it is preferable to position the tee 142 along the longitudinal center line (i.e., longitudinal center line 120 in FIG. 1) to minimize the potential for contact of the mat 100 against the tee 142 if a golf club (not shown) impacts the mat 100 prior to striking the ball 140. During the performance of tee shots, a user (not shown) stands on an area 144 adjacent to the mat 100 to swing a golf club (not shown) to strike the golf ball 140 off the tee 142. The area 144 may be adjacent to the first side (i.e. the first side 106 in FIG. 1) or the third side (i.e., third side 110 in FIG. 1) depending on the handedness of the user and the desired direction of the tee shot.

Referring to FIG. 3, illustrated therein is the mat 100 of FIG. 1 as seen facing the first side 106 of the planar body 104. Each ground engagement member 122 is connected to the bottom surface 128 of the planar body 104 at a point of connection 134. The ground engagement members 122 extend downward from the point of connection 134 by initially curving toward a transverse center line 136 of the planar body 104, and then curving downward away from the bottom surface 128 of the planar body 104. Being curved, the ground engagement members 122 enter the ground 130 in a curved path thereby making it more difficult for the ground engagement members 122 to disengage from the ground 130 upon impact of a golf club head on the mat 100.

The planar body 104 and the ground engagement members 122 are constructed together and then the ground engagement members 122 are bent into position. The ground engagement members 122 are connected to the bottom surface 128 of the planar body at the point of connection 134. The ground engagement members 122 are formed into place, for example, by heating the ground engagement member 122 to a temperature close to the melting temperature of LDPE and then stamping or pressing the ground engagement member 122 down from the bottom surface 128 of the planar body 104 at the point of connection 134.

According to an embodiment, the ground engagement members 122 may be perpendicular to the bottom surface 128 of the planar body 104 extending straight downward from the point of connection 134. In another embodiment, the ground engagement members 122 may be one member, connected to one or more points of connection, that engages with the ground 130.

There may be a plurality of ground engagement member 122 positioned proximate to the opening 118. When the golfer takes a shot and impacts the mat 100, the plurality of ground engagement members 122 may prevent twisting of the mat 100, thereby still allowing for a possible shot.

Still referring to FIG. 3, during the performance of tee shots, the tee 142 and the golf ball 140 are positioned within the opening (i.e., opening 118 in FIG. 1) that is adjacent to the side (i.e., the second side 108 or the fourth side 112 in FIG. 1) of the planar body 104 that is closest to the desired direction of the tee shot. For example, if the desired direction of the tee shot is in the direction of arrow 146, then the tee 142 and the ball 140 are accordingly positioned within the opening (i.e., opening 118 in FIG. 1) adjacent to the right side (i.e., the second side 108 in FIG. 1) of the planar body 104 as depicted. By positioning the tee 142 and ball the 140 as described, the mat 100 substantially covers the ground surface 102 that is immediately behind (relative to the desired direction of the tee shot) and to either side of the tee 142 that is most likely to be impacted by an errant swing. Further, the mat 100 may absorb the impact of an errant swing and deflect and/or disperse the forces of the club head across the mat 100 and away from the ground 130, thereby maintaining the integrity of the grass surface 102 and reducing damage to the ground 130.

Referring to FIG. 4, illustrated therein is a flow chart of a method 200 for preventing damage to a grass surface during the performance of tee shots, in accordance with an embodiment. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the illustrated order is shown for exemplary purposes and may change in alternative embodiments. The method 200 may be implemented using the mat 100 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The elements from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are identified in parenthesis for reference.

At 202, a grass surface (102) is partially covered while allowing the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface (102). The grass surface (102), may be partially covered by a mat (100) comprising a plurality of ground engagement members (122) and a planar body (104) including a plurality of gaps (114a, 114b). Water, nutrients, air and sunlight may access the grass surface (102) via the gaps (114a, 114b) in the planar body (104) of the mat (100) when the mat (100) is placed on the grass surface (102). Thus, the planar body (104) of the mat (100) partially covers the grass surface (102).

The mat (100) may be anchored to the grass surface (102) by driving the ground engagement members (122) through the grass surface (102) and into a ground (130) underlying the grass surface (102). The longitudinal center line (120) of the planar body (104) should be oriented in the desired direction of the tee shot.

At 204, a tee (142) is placed within the partially covered grass surface. The tee (142) is placed within an opening (118) in the planar body (104) that is adjacent to a side (108 or 112) of the planar body (104) that is closest to the desired direction of the tee shot. For example, if the desired direction of the tee shot is in the direction of arrow 146 in FIG. 3, then the tee (142) is placed within the opening (118) that is adjacent to the right side (108) of the planar body (104). Preferably, the tee (142) is placed on the longitudinal center line (120) of the planar body (104) within the opening (118) to minimize the potential for contact of the mat (100) against the tee (142) if a golf club impacts the mat (100) prior to striking the golf ball (140).

At 206, a golf ball (140) is placed on the tee (142).

At 208, a user stands adjacent to the partially covered grass surface. The user may stand on an area (144) that is adjacent to either a first side (106) or a third side (110) of the mat (100) depending on the desired direction of the tee shot and the handedness of the user. For example, if the desired direction of the tee shot is in the direction of arrow 146 in FIG. 3, a right-handed user will stand adjacent to the third side (110), while a left-handed user will stand adjacent to the first side (106) in order to strike the ball (140) in the direction of arrow 146.

At 210, the user swings a golf club to strike the ball (140) off the tee (142) such that the path travelled by the golf club head immediately prior to striking the ball (140) is within the partially covered grass surface (102). As described above, the positioning of the tee (142) and the ball (140) are within the opening (188) that is adjacent to the side (108 or 112) of the planar body (104) that is closest to the desired direction of the tee shot. Thus, the planar body (104) substantially covers the ground surface 102 that is immediately behind and to either side (relative to the desired direction of the tee shot) of the tee 142 that is most likely to be impacted by an errant swing. The path travelled by the golf club head immediately prior to striking the ball (140) is within the planar body (104) of the mat (100) that is partially covering the grass surface (102).

An errant swing that does not strike the ball (140) will most likely impact the planar body (104) behind or to either side of the tee (142), relative to the direction of the tee shot. Thus, the grass surface (102) under the planar body (104) is protected from damage.

While the above description provides examples of one or more apparatus, methods, or systems, it will be appreciated that other apparatus, methods, or systems may be within the scope of the claims as interpreted by one of skill in the art.

Claims

1. A mat for covering a grass surface, the mat comprising: a planar body for protecting the grass surface by withstanding an impact of a golf club head, the planar body comprising: a plurality of gaps in the planar body for allowing access to the grass surface;at least one tee opening for receiving a golf tee; anda plurality of ground engagement members connected to the planar body for limiting movement of the golf mat from an impact of the golf club head and maintaining the planar body in contact with the grass surface.

2. The mat of claim 1, wherein allowing access to the grass includes allowing evapotranspiration and the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface.

3. The mat of claim 1, wherein the planar body is rectangular in shape.

4. The mat of claim 3, wherein the at least one tee opening is positioned on a longitudinal center line of the planar body.

5. The mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of gaps are polygonal in shape having either three or four sides.

6. The mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of gaps are elliptical in shape.

7. The mat of claim 1, where in the plurality of gaps form a lattice, the lattice providing structural integrity to the planar body.

8. The mat of claim 7, wherein the lattice covers approximately 30% to 50% of the grass surface beneath the mat.

9. The golf mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ground engagement members are contiguous with a subset of the plurality of gaps.

10. The mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ground engagement members are contiguous with a bottom surface of the planar body.

11. The mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of engagement members include a spike.

12. The mat of claim 11, wherein the plurality of ground engagement members are driven into the grass surface to maintain the mat in substantially immovable contact with the grass surface.

13. The mat of claim 1, wherein the mat is constructed of a material selected from the group of: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fortified with UV activated stabilizers, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fortified without UV activated stabilizers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), acrylic, vinyl, Kevlar, or metal laminated in plastic.

14. The mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of gaps, the at least one opening and the plurality of ground engagement members are formed by a cutting process.

15. The mat of claim 1, wherein the mat is manufactured by injection molding.

16. A method to reduce damage to a grass surface during performance of tee shots, the method comprising: covering a grass surface partially while allowing the access of water, nutrients, air and sunlight to the grass surface;placing a tee within the partially covered grass surface;placing a golf ball on the tee;standing adjacent to the partially covered grass surface; andswinging a golf club to strike the ball off the tee such that the path travelled by the golf club head immediately prior to striking the ball is within the partially covered grass surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the grass surface is substantially rectangular in shape.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the longitudinal axis of the grass surface is oriented in the desired direction of the flight of the ball.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the club is swung in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grass surface.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein a mat partially covers the grass surface, the mat comprising: a planar body for protecting the grass surface by withstanding an impact of a golf club head, the planar body comprising: a plurality of gaps in the planar body for allowing access to the grass surface;at least one tee opening for receiving a golf tee; anda plurality of ground engagement members connected to the planar body for limiting movement of the golf mat from an impact of the golf club head and maintaining the planar body in contact with the grass surface.