US3601406A

US3601406A - Golf-practicing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3601406A
Application number: US18965A
Authority: US
Inventors: Aldo J Giusti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-12
Filing date: 1970-03-12
Publication date: 1971-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-24

Abstract

A golf-practicing apparatus having a panel of fabric material disposed in upright position, the panel being provided with the outline of a fairway and a green removably secured to the fabric of the panel and disposed on the fairway. A self-adhering golf ball may be propelled from a tee on a mat arranged in front of the panel and driven against the panel so as to cling to the latter. An elevation distance scale is provided on the panel and graduated in feet. Moreover, a driving distance-indicating scale is provided on the mat in front of the tee. The green is subdivided into subareas, each being designated by a number for indicating a subsequent putt, using a conventional golf ball, and the mat has a putting distance-designating scale disposed in back of the tee.

Description

United @tates Pateni 3,032,345 5/1962 Leme1son...

Aldo J. Giusti 764 Johnson St, Half Moon Bay, Calif. 94019 18,965

7 Mar. 12, 1970 Aug. 24, 1911 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented GOLF-PRACT ICING APPARATUS 3,411,788 11/1968 Blanding I Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo 10/1968 Pearce 273/199 X Attorney-Joseph F Cole ABSTRACT: A golf-practicing apparatus having a panel of fabric material disposed in upright position, the panel being provided with the outline of a fairway and a green removably secured to the fabric of the panel and disposed on the fairway. A self-adhering golf ball may be propelled from a tee on a mat arranged in front of the panel and driven against the panel so as to cling to the latter. An elevation distance scale is provided on the panel and graduated in feet. Moreover, a driving distance-indicating scale is provided on the mat in front of the tee. The green is subdivided into subareas, each being designated by a number for indicating a subsequent putt, using a conventional golf ball, and the mat has a putting distancedesignating scale disposed in back of the tee.

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K INVENTOR.

ALDO J-GIUSTI 40 ATTORNEY see 1 GOLF-PRACTICING APP I An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that will simulate conditions on a real golf course and afford a golfer an opportunity to increase the skill in playing golf, while providing enjoyment in playing with the apparatus.

Moreover, it is proposed in this invention to provide a fabric panel that is suspended in substantially upright position the panel having a fair way outlined thereon, and a fabric green is removably secured to the fairway. A self-adhering golf ball is provided that may be driven by a golfer from a position on a driving range on a mat arranged in front of the panel, and this golf ball will cling to the panel in the position where it strikes the latter. Initially, the self-adhering ball is driven from a tee on the mat and against the panel, and an elevation distancedesignating scale is provided for subsequent distance to be used by the golfer until this golf ball lands on the green.

Furthennore, the green is subdivided into subareas, each subarea being identified by a putting distance-designating number for indicating a distance on the mat to be used in putting a conventional golf ball along the mat and toward a member on the mat that forms a hole for receiving the latter ball.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail, a panel A of fabric material is suspended from its top 20 in substantially upright position by any suitable means, and it may be placed inside a home, against a building or located in any selected location. For this purpose, a hem 21 has been shown in FIGS. l and 2 for receiving a polelike rod 22, and eyelets 23 have been secured to this rod. Moreover, hooks 24 may be secured to a wall 25 and these hooks engaged with the eyelets. Of course, any suitable frame may be used to constitute a support for the panel.

Moreover, a lower hem 26 is provided at the bottom 27 of the panel A and it has a rod 28 confined in this hem, thus holding the panel taut. However, the panel is free to flex when a golf ball is driven thereagainst, and for this reason the panel is spaced forwardly of the wall 25.

It will be note from FIG. 1 that elevation distance-indicia B is displayed on the front face of the panel A and indicating vertical distances along the height of the panel from the bottom 27 to the top 20 thereof. The indicia B is defined by a scale having the number 0 to 8, inclusive, representing feet, the numbers on the scale progressively increasing from the bottom toward the top of the panel.

As shown in FIGS. l and 3, a piece of fabric material represents a green C and is arranged on a fairway D outlined whereby the green may be spotted on a desired place on the panel.

Also, a permanent green E is provided on the fairway D in an upper portion of the latter, and sandtraps 31 may be associated with this green.

As a part of the golf-practicing apparatus, a self-adhering golf ball F is provided, and it has hooks 32 on its surface that will interengage with and cling to the fabric of the panel A or green C when this ball is propelled thereagainst by a golfer from a position on a driving range located in front of the panel, with the hooks holding the golf ball F at the location where it strikes the panel.

The patches 30 on the green C and strips 33 on the ball F may be made from Velcro," a commercial item of synthetic materials which adhere when pressed together. Actually, loops are provided on the material that are cut to present J- shaped hooks, such as 29 and 32.

The driving range previously mentioned is provided by a mat G laid upon a floor or the ground 34 in front of the panel A, the mat being provided with a tee 35 for supporting the selfadhering ball F, the tee being disposed at a predetermined distance in front of the panel.

Driving distance-designating indicia H is displayed on the upper surface of the mat G and indicating distances along the mat, starting with the tee 35 and progressing toward the bottom of the panel A. This indicia is defined by a scale graduated in numbers 0 to 8, inclusive, representing feet, these numbers progressively increasing from the tee toward the panel.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a reference line 36 extending transversely across the upper surface of the mat G, the indicia H being confined between the tee 35 and the reference line. The latter is spaced a predetermined distance in front of the panel A, for example 4 feet, thus providing a free swinging area 37 for a club being swung by the golfer so that the club will not strike the panel. Moreover, the area 37 allows the golfer to take position further in front of the panel A, and the ball F will take a smaller trajectory angle during a drive, simulating conditions on a regular golf course.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the green C is subdivided into a plurality of endless subareas disposed one within the other. These subareas are identified by the

numbers

8, 10 and 12 for indicating a subsequent putt.

A member 38 is disposed on the mat G at a preselected position in front of the panel A for instance at the reference line 36, this member providing a hole 39 into which a conventional golf ball J may be driven over the mat from a distance from this member as indicated for a putt, when the self-adhering golf ball F lands on the green C.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a putting distance-designating scale K arranged on the mat G between the tee 35 and the rear edge 40 of the mat, this scale being graduated in feet and having

numbers

8, 10 and 12 corresponding with the numbers on the green C.

The structural features of the golf-practicing apparatus having been described, the rules and procedures for the game will now be set forth briefly so that the reasons for the structure will be apparent.

Before starting the game, the movable green C is placed over the permanent green E, as shown by dot-dash lines in on the panel A, and this green may be removably secured to I,

the fairway by a plurality of hooks 29 provided on the underneath face of this material. These hooks are disposed on patches 30 that will interengage with the fabric material of the panel, when the green C is pressed against the panel A,

FIG. 1. Then the golfer stands near the tee 35 and drives the self-adhering golf ball F against the panel A so that it sticks on the latter, for example, at F, the line of flight of this ball being indicated at 41. Assuming that the ball at F position is 4 feet above the bottom of the panel A, as indicated by the scale B, the green C is moved to the lower position as shown by full lines in FIG. 1, and the golfer moves ball F to the 4" foot number on the scale H, that is, to the F position on the mat G. Thereupon, the golfer drives the ball F toward the panel, attempting to land the ball on the green C at its lower position.

If the golfer misses the green C by 2 feet and the ball F lands at F on the fairway D, the golfer then places the ball F two feet from the reference line 36, that is, at F on the mat G.

This same procedure is followed until the ball F lands on the green C. If the ball F should land at the center of the green C, as indicated by the dot 42 on this green, that is, the ball is now at the F position, the golfer has completed the game without going into the putting phase.

Assuming that the ball F lands on the area of the green C, that is, at the F position, the hole-defining member 38 is placed on the reference line 36, and the golfer then uses the conventional golf ball J, placing the ball at the 10" foot mark on the scale K, as shown in FIG. 1, and employs a putter club. In the event that the ball J should not enter the hole 39 and stops elsewhere, for example, at position J, the golfer putts again. This procedure is followed until the ball J does in fact enter the hole 39.

In order to require further skill on the part of the golfer, removable sandtraps 43 have been provided on the fairway D near the green C.

The following special rules may be prescribed: If the golfer should miss the panel A entirely with the ball F, there would be a penalty of two strokes. However, in the event that the ball F should miss the fairway but it still landed on the panel A, there would be a penalty of one stroke. If the ball F should land in a sandtrap, there would be a penalty ofone stroke.

The total number of strokes taken by a golfer from start to finish indicates the score for the first hole. This procedure may be extended to several holes of practice golf, for instance, 9 or 18. The golfer having the fewest number of strokes for the game would be declared to be the winner. The particular type of golf club used for a particular situation would be up to the judgment of the golfer, as in a regular golf game, thus requiring skill on the part of the golfer for a given situation.

lclaim:

I. In a golf-practicing apparatus:

a. a panel of fabric material suspended from its top in substantially upright position and having a front face provided with the outline of a fairway thereon;

b. elevation distance-designating indicia displayed on the front face of the panel and indicating vertical distances along the height of the panel from the bottom to the top thereof;

a piece of fabric material representing a green arranged on the fairway;

d. and a self-adhering golf ball provided with a plurality of hooks on its surface that will interengage with and cling to the fabrics of the panel and green, when the ball is propelled thereagainst by a golfer from a position on a driving range located in front of the panel, with the hooks holding the golf ball at the location where it strikes the panel or green.

. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim I;

and in which the elevation distance-designating indicia on the panel is defined by a scale having numbers representing feet, the numbers on the scale progressively increasing from the bottom toward the top of the panel.

3. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1;

e. and in which the piece of material representing the green is remoyably secured to the fairway by a plurality of hooks provided on the underneath face of this material that will interengage with the fabric material of the panel, when the piece of material forming the green is pressed against the panel, whereby the green may be spotted on a desired place on the panel.

The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1',

e. and in which the driving range is provided by a mat laid upon a floor or the ground in front of the panel, the mat being provided with a tee for supporting the self-adhering golf ball, the tee being disposed at a predetermined distance in front of the panel.

. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 4;

and in which driving distance-designating indicia is displayed on the upper surface of the mat and indicating distances along the mat, starting with the tee and progressing toward the bottom of the panel.

. The golf-gracticin apparatus, as set forth in claim 5;

and in w ich the rivmg distance-designating indicia on the mat is defined by a scale graduated in numbers representing feet, these numbers progressively increasing from the tee toward the panel.

7. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 5;

. and in which a reference line extends transversely across the upper surface of the mat, and the driving distancedesignating indicia on the mat is confined between the tee and the reference line, the latter being spaced at a predetermined distance in front of the panel to provide a free swinging area for a club being swung by the golfer so that the club will not strike the panel.

. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 7;

. and in which the green is subdivided into a plurality of endless subareas disposed one within the other, and each subarea being identified by a putting distance-designating number;

. and a member disposed on the mat at a preselected position in front of the panel, the member providing a hole into which a conventional golf ball may be driven over the mat from a distance from the member as indicated for a putt, when the self-adhering golf ball lands on the green.

. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 8;

j. and in which the member providing the hole is disposed at the reference line;

k. and a putting distance-designating scale arranged on the mat between the tee and a rear edge of the mat, this scale being graduated in feet and having numbers corresponding with the numbers on the green.

Claims

1. In a golf-practicing apparatus: a. a panel of fabric material suspended from its top in substantially upright position and having a front face provided with the outline of a fairway thereon; b. elevation distance-designating indicia displayed on the front face of the panel and indicating vertical dIstances along the height of the panel from the bottom to the top thereof; c. a piece of fabric material representing a green arranged on the fairway; d. and a self-adhering golf ball provided with a plurality of hooks on its surface that will interengage with and cling to the fabrics of the panel and green, when the ball is propelled thereagainst by a golfer from a position on a driving range located in front of the panel, with the hooks holding the golf ball at the location where it strikes the panel or green.

2. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1; e. and in which the elevation distance-designating indicia on the panel is defined by a scale having numbers representing feet, the numbers on the scale progressively increasing from the bottom toward the top of the panel.

3. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1; e. and in which the piece of material representing the green is removably secured to the fairway by a plurality of hooks provided on the underneath face of this material that will interengage with the fabric material of the panel, when the piece of material forming the green is pressed against the panel, whereby the green may be spotted on a desired place on the panel.

4. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 1; e. and in which the driving range is provided by a mat laid upon a floor or the ground in front of the panel, the mat being provided with a tee for supporting the self-adhering golf ball, the tee being disposed at a predetermined distance in front of the panel.

5. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 4; f. and in which driving distance-designating indicia is displayed on the upper surface of the mat and indicating distances along the mat, starting with the tee and progressing toward the bottom of the panel.

6. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 5; g. and in which the driving distance-designating indicia on the mat is defined by a scale graduated in numbers representing feet, these numbers progressively increasing from the tee toward the panel.

7. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 5; g. and in which a reference line extends transversely across the upper surface of the mat, and the driving distance-designating indicia on the mat is confined between the tee and the reference line, the latter being spaced at a predetermined distance in front of the panel to provide a free swinging area for a club being swung by the golfer so that the club will not strike the panel.

8. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 7; h. and in which the green is subdivided into a plurality of endless subareas disposed one within the other, and each subarea being identified by a putting distance-designating number; i. and a member disposed on the mat at a preselected position in front of the panel, the member providing a hole into which a conventional golf ball may be driven over the mat from a distance from the member as indicated for a putt, when the self-adhering golf ball lands on the green.

9. The golf-practicing apparatus, as set forth in claim 8; j. and in which the member providing the hole is disposed at the reference line; k. and a putting distance-designating scale arranged on the mat between the tee and a rear edge of the mat, this scale being graduated in feet and having numbers corresponding with the numbers on the green.