U.S. patent application number 10/754225 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-14 for putting game surface and method of play.
Invention is credited to Saldana, Todd.
Application Number | 20050153788 10/754225 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34739336 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050153788 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saldana, Todd |
July 14, 2005 |
Putting game surface and method of play
Abstract
A golf game method comprises the steps of providing a planar
playing surface having a width and a length; placing markings on
the playing surface including a target area located near one end of
the playing surface and a plurality of golf ball placements located
at plural positions distanced from the target area. The game is
played by putting golf balls from the golf ball placements to the
target area and scoring the game in accordance with the final
resting position of each golf ball in accordance with score
markings in the target area.
Inventors: |
Saldana, Todd; (Costa Mesa,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GENE SCOTT; PATENT LAW & VENTURE GROUP
3140 RED HILL AVENUE
SUITE 150
COSTA MESA
CA
92626-3440
US
|
Family ID: |
34739336 |
Appl. No.: |
10/754225 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 67/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/173 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/36 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A golf game apparatus comprising: a planar playing surface
having a width and a length defining an extent thereof; the playing
surface providing markings including a target area located near one
end of the playing surface and a plurality of golf ball placements
located at plural positions distanced from the target area; the
golf ball placements grouped into putting areas of the playing
surface, wherein each one of the putting areas extends across the
full width of the playing surface and is contiguous with each next
adjacent one of the putting areas in a succession of the putting
areas proceeding away the target area to an other end of the
playing surface in a stepwise order of positional difficulty of
putting a golf ball from the golf ball placements within each of
the putting areas to a rebounding surface positioned above the
playing surface in the target area.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rebound surface is a post
mounted to the playing surface by a means for attachment.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rebound surface is
resilient.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the resilient surface is
stretched across an open recess.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the putting areas
provides nine of the golf ball placements and in at least one of
the putting areas, the nine golf ball placements are randomly
spaced.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the markings include at least
one of a water hazard area and a sand trap hazard area.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the markings include a fairway
area and a rough area.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the putting
areas is approximately 2 feet in length and of a width equal to the
playing surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the. playing surface forms one
side of a flexible material.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising at least one bump
positioned under the playing surface for forming the playing
surface into a non-planar surface.
11. A golf game method comprising the steps of: providing a planar
playing surface having a width and a length defining an extent
thereof; placing markings on the playing surface including a target
area located near one end of the playing surface and a plurality of
golf ball placements located at plural positions distanced from the
target area; grouping the golf ball placements into putting areas
of the playing surface, wherein each one of the putting areas
extends across the full width of the playing surface and is
contiguous with each next adjacent one of the putting areas in a
succession of the putting areas proceeding away the target area to
an other end of the playing surface in a stepwise order of
positional difficulty of putting a golf ball from the golf ball
placements within each of the putting areas to the target area;
putting golf balls from the golf ball placements to the target area
and scoring the game in accordance with the final resting position
of each golf ball in accordance with score markings in the target
area.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing
a resilient surface in the target area.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of
stretching the resilient surface across an open recess.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of randomly
positioning the golf ball placements within at least one of the
putting areas.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of
penalizing a score when a associated golf ball terminates in at
least one of a water hazard area, a sand trap hazard area and a
rough area.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of placing
at least one bump under the playing surface thereby forming the
playing surface into a non-planar surface.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to an apparatus described in a
U.S. application filed on Aug. 7, 2003 and having Ser. No.
10/637,368 and entitled, "Adjustable Golf Putting Feedback Leaning
Apparatus."
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and
all U. S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents
and printed matter cited or referred to in this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates generally to golf putting surfaces
and in particular such a surface enabling a putting game between
players.
[0005] 2. Description of Related Art
[0006] The following art defines the present state of this
field:
[0007] Perrin, U.S. Des. 385,007 describes a putting mat
design.
[0008] Soonlan, U.S. Des. 407,458 describes a golf putting mat
design.
[0009] Rolfe, U.S. Pat. No. 1,338,963 describes a flat flexible
playing surface, a mechanical trapping means for a ball that is
situated on said surface and being entirely above said surface,
said trapping means being adapted to release a ball if driven
therein with a force exceeding a predetermined degree, markings on
said surface surrounding the trapping means and delineating
objective surfaces into which a ball may be rolled, and markings at
differently spaced points from said trapping means to indicate
"tee" positions for a ball.
[0010] Reirden, U.S. Pat. No. 1,679,374 describes a portable
putting green, a flexible member having a putting surface and
provided with an opening, and a collapsible cut mounted in said
opening and capable of extension below said member and into a hole
in the ground beneath said opening.
[0011] Wasley, U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,495 describes an indoor practice
putting device comprising a mat with a playing surface having a
rolling resistance to a golf ball approximating that of a natural
outdoor green, a non-recessed simulated cup on said mat, an
elongated horizontal spring member spanning said simulated cup in a
position to be struck by a ball rolling toward the cup and cause
the ball to rebound a distance which varies according to its
approach velocity, and a line on said mat spaced a distance in
front of said simulated cup to measure a rebound distance
corresponding to the maximum ball velocity which would allow a ball
to be retained by a standard recessed cup when passing across the
center of the standard cup.
[0012] Florian, U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,877 describes a portable golf
game using a golf club and a ball and including a runner simulating
a golfing green and having an inclined portion at the end of the
runner with the incline and runner having selected scoring areas.
The scoring area on the incline is a centrally located
ball-receiving opening. The scoring area on the runner may be in
the form of marks simulating s triangulated shuffleboard score
area. The inclination of the incline is such that some balls
traveling up the incline with inadequate momentum will reverse and
roll down onto the scoring area on the runner. A vertical wall is
provided beyond the upper end of the incline to form a
backboard.
[0013] Buenzle, U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,136 describes a portable and
compact golf practice and amusement apparatus wherein the players
use regular golf balls and conventional type putters in playing on
an elongated playing mat of flexible resilient material having a
putting surface with material characteristics simulating an actual
putting green as to drag and resistance to the rolling of a golf
ball there across, a first golf ball trapping cup having a
relatively small diameter and a shallow depth relative to the
diameter of a golf ball and located slightly inwardly from the back
edge of the mat, a second golf ball trapping cup having a
relatively larger diameter and again having a shallow depth and
located in the front end portion of the mat spaced inwardly from
the front edge a substantial distance, a plurality of spaced apart
markers positioned about the front end portion of the mat providing
golf ball tee-off positions to facilitate utilization of the
apparatus with each marker being appropriately identified by a
marking indicia defining a preferential sequence of use of each
marker, and a plurality of sections marked off on the back end
portion of the mat defining different regions thereon that are used
to govern the placement of the golf ball after each consecutive
putting stroke.
[0014] Ren, U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,888 describes an elongate putting
strip having a rebound block at one end thereof with a number of
rebound faces at different widths arranged therearound. The block
may be rotatably adjusted to present any of its faces to the length
of the strip to require different degrees of putting skill. The
rebound block also effective lengthens the putting path for the
ball being driven along the strip. Each face of the rebound block
is inclined relative to the vertical and the block has a layer of
heavy, dense material positioned high enough to be struck by the
ball to enhance the rebound action of the latter. The strip is
hinged so that it may be folded into a compact package for carrying
or storing purposes.
[0015] Park, U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,274 describes a portable
practicing putting green having a putting surface band, a cup at
one end of it, a square angle on the other end of it, and a rebound
bar replacably put on either side of the square angle or near the
hole, for rebounding golf ball. The square angle is bolted to one
end of the putting surface band and to its standing side is
outwardly bonded a rubber plate, which is perpendicular to the
centerline of the putting surface band. The rebound bar has four
exposed planar side surfaces with three of them bonded to a thin,
medium, and thick rubber plates, respectively to provide different
rebounding forces, and the remaining exposed remaining bare. When
it is being carried or stored, the rebound square bar is put in
between the inner sides of the square angle and the square angle
and rebound bar are wound up inside putting surface band to
minimize its volume.
[0016] Mull, U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,147 describes a putting stroke
developer comprising of a target element that may be used with and
without a putting surface element. Common to all embodiments of the
inventive target element is the fact that the target element has a
base surface that rests upon a putting surface as well as a
vertically oriented, arcuately curved, relatively hard golf ball
rebounding surface designed to produce a rebound that will indicate
the accuracy of the line and force of a putt relative to the
likelihood that the putt would have successfully landed within a
regulation golf hole, and that the target element has sufficient
mass to resist displacement, in an unsecured state, under the
effect of a putted golf ball impacting against the rebounding
surface. A putting surface element preferably simulates a putting
green surface, and advantageously, is in the form of a mat to
enable it to be rolled or folded for compact storage and transport.
The mat has placement indicia for locating the target element
thereon, and also has evaluating indicia for providing more
accurate observational feedback as to the quality of a putt, both
as a function of distance and angle of rebound.
[0017] Mull, U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,670 describes A putting stroke
developer comprising of a target element that may be used with and
without a putting surface element. Common to all embodiments of the
inventive target element is the fact that the target element has a
base surface that rests upon a putting surface as well as a
vertically oriented, arcuately curved, relatively hard golf ball
rebounding surface designed to produce a rebound that will indicate
the accuracy of the line and force of a putt relative to the
likelihood that the putt would have successfully landed within a
regulation golf hole, and that the target element has sufficient
mass to resist displacement, in an unsecured state, under the.
effect of a putted golf ball impacting against the rebounding
surface. A putting surface element preferably simulates a putting
green surface, and advantageously, is in the form of a mat to
enable it to be rolled or folded for compact storage and transport.
The mat has placement indicia for locating the target element
thereon, and also has evaluating indicia for providing more
accurate observational feedback as to the quality of a putt, both
as a function of distance and angle of rebound.
[0018] Tu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,667 describes a golf targeting
device having a targeting seat, a movable winder, and an artificial
lawn fastened at both ends between the targeting seat and the
movable winder. The targeting seat is provided with a resilient
rubber pad having a grip and a targeting sign at the front end and
an engagement body having a groove and two recesses at the rear
end. The movable winder is formed by a square U-shaped holder
pivotally joined to a cylinder and provided with a handle extending
upwardly at the bottom middle section.
[0019] Kinney, U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,594 describes a mat including a
top surface marked thereon dividing the top surface into a
plurality of scoring areas. The scoring areas each have a scoring
number marked therein. A boundary line is marked on the top surface
of the mat dividing the top surface into two scoring zones, each of
the scoring zones having a plurality of the scoring areas therein.
Players use a golf club to attempt to hit a ball into the scoring
zone across the boundary line from the player.
[0020] Barlow, U.S. Pat. No. 2003/0148813 describes a multiple
molded polymeric panel mechanically fastened together in a
lengthwise configuration with a backboard at one end opposite the
starting position for a putting stroke. Each panel has a planar top
surface and a bottom integral grid supporting structure. The side
edges of the panels are raised and the panels are attached together
end to end. A simulated grass overlies the joined panels and a
receptacle for receiving a golf ball is provided in one panel. A
first carrying case contains the panels and backboard and a second
carrying case contains the simulated grass and simulated
flagstick.
[0021] Puttro Co., Ltd., WO 02/13919 describes a putting training
mat. This mat has a base panel covered with an artificial lawn
sheet. A plurality of tubes are longitudinally arranged on the
lower surface of panel, and are different from each other in their
slope angles and heights from a support surface when inflated with
air. A variety of slopes are thus formed on the upper surface of
the panel, and allow a user to practice putting on a complex sloped
surface. In order to reinforce the polyurethane panel, a plurality
of thin flat sticks are transversely and regularly set within the
panel, and so the sticks maintain the horizontal surface or the
sloped surface of the panel, in addition to maintaining the
originally designed shape of the panel. The base panel is also
tightly rolled when stored or carried.
[0022] Our prior art search with abstracts described above teaches:
a putting stroke developer, portable practice putting greens, a
golf putting device, a golf practice and amusement device, golf
games, a golf targeting device, a portable indoor and outdoor
putting green, a practice putting device, and putting mats, but
does not teach a putting mat and game of the type described and
claimed herein. The present invention provides further related
advantages as described in the following summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention teaches certain benefits in
construction and use which give rise to the objectives described
below.
[0024] A golf game apparatus and method comprises providing a
planar playing surface having a width and a length; placing
markings on the playing surface including a target area located
near one end of the playing surface and a plurality of golf ball
placements located at plural positions distanced from the target
area; grouping the golf ball placements into putting areas of the
playing surface, wherein each one of the putting areas extends
across the full width of the playing surface and is contiguous with
each next adjacent one of the putting areas in a succession of the
putting areas proceeding away the target area to an other end of
the playing surface in a stepwise order of positional difficulty of
putting a golf ball from the golf ball placements within each of
the putting areas to the target area. The game is played by putting
golf balls from the golf ball placements to the target area and
scoring the game in accordance with the final resting position of
each golf ball in accordance with score markings in the target
area.
[0025] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that yields
advantages not taught by the prior art.
[0026] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of
providing a portable golf-play surface with formal rules of
play.
[0027] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable
of meeting the individual skill levels of players.
[0028] A still further objective is to provide such an invention
capable of providing a competitive game method.
[0029] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention.
In such drawings:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a the invention a golf putting
surface and game;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof;
[0033] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a relief bump thereof;
and
[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view as in FIG. 2 but showing an
alternate target device thereof and showing the use of the surface
relief bump of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention
in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further
defined in detail in the following description. Those having
ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and
modifications in the present invention without departing from its
spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that the
illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes
of example and that they should not be taken as limiting the
invention as defined in the following.
[0037] The present invention is a golf game apparatus and method of
play. The apparatus uses a planar playing surface 10 having a width
20 and a length 30 dimensions defining the overall extent of the
playing surface 10. The playing surface 10 provides markings
including a target area 30 located near one end 12 of the playing
surface 10 and a plurality of golf ball placements 40 located at
plural positions distanced from the target area 30. The golf ball
placements 40 are grouped into discrete putting areas 50, 52, 54
and 56 on the playing surface, wherein each one of the putting
areas 50, 52, 54 and 56 extend across the full width 20 of the
playing surface 10 and are contiguous with each next adjacent one
of the putting areas 50, 52, 54 and 56 in a succession of the
putting areas 50, 52, 54 and 56 proceeding away the target area 30
to an other end 14 of the playing surface 10 in a stepwise order of
positional difficulty of putting a golf ball 60 from the golf ball
placements 40 within each of the putting areas 50, 52, 54 and 56 to
a rebounding surface 70 positioned above the playing surface 10 in
the target area 30.
[0038] The rebound surface 70 is preferably a post mounted to the
playing surface 10 by a means for attachment 72 such as Velcro.RTM.
fasteners. Such a post may be circular, flat or may take whatever
surface conformation is desired. The rebound surface 70 is
preferably "live" as would be possible if made of a wood, or it may
be resilient (rubber, etc.), but in any case, the rebound surface
70 should deflect the golf ball 60 when it is struck by it, with
the golf ball 60 moving away from the rebound surface 70 in
accordance with its incoming velocity. In this case, the ball 60
will terminate further from the rebound surface 70 if it arrives
with a greater velocity.
[0039] In one preferred embodiment, the rebound surface 70 is a
resilient surface (rubber band) that is stretched across an open
recess, as shown in FIG. 5, so that when the ball 60 strikes the
resilient surface, the surface deflects the ball 60 in accordance
with its incoming direction. This device, shown as item 90 in FIG.
5, is described in a co-pending application having Ser. No.
10/036,017 and is incorporated into the present application by
reference.
[0040] Preferably, each of the putting areas 50, 52, 54 and 56
provides nine of the golf ball placements 40 and in at least one of
the putting areas, the nine golf ball placements 40 are randomly
spaced. Each of the nine golf ball placements 40 corresponds to one
hole of a nine-hole golf course so that a standard score card may
be used with the present game.
[0041] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the markings include at
least one of a water hazard area 16, and a sand trap hazard area 18
or 18'. Further, preferably, the markings include a fairway area 17
and a rough area 19.
[0042] Preferably, at least one of the putting areas 50, 52, 54 and
56 is approximately 2 feet in length and of a width 20 which is
equal to the width of the playing surface 10. Such a distance of 2
feet is the necessary condition for moving from one golf level of
proficiency to the next. For instance, the areas 50, 52, 54 and 56
may fairly represent the golf levels respectively, which are
usually referred to as: beginner, intermediate, scratch and
professional levels. The beginner putting area 50 may be considered
to present a putting range useful for practice and is so marked on
the surface 10. Of course, putting practice may be taken from any
location on the playing surface 10.
[0043] Preferably, the playing surface 10 forms one side of a
flexible material such as a cloth, a plastic film, a rubber mat or
similar materials. In this manner, the apparatus is easily stored
in a rolled state or moved from place to place. In another usage of
the present invention, the playing surface 10 may be formed on a
hard surface such as concrete or asphalt and in this case would not
be movable.
[0044] When the playing surface 10 is part of a flexible material,
as defined above, the invention may further encompass at least one
bump 80 positioned under the playing surface 10 for distorting the
playing surface into a non-planar surface so as to increase the
difficulty factor in the game. Such a bump 80 may be a plastic cup
or similar object that is easily placed below the playing surface
10 at a selected position which may be changed from game to game.
See FIG. 5.
[0045] In the above described apparatus the golf game method
comprises providing the planar playing surface 10; placing the
markings on the playing surface as described above; putting golf
balls 60 from the golf ball placements 40 to the target area 30 and
scoring the game in accordance with the final resting position of
each golf ball 60 in accordance with score markings 32 in the
target area 30, as best seen in FIG. 3. The method further
comprises the step of penalizing a score when a golf ball 60
terminates in at least one of the water hazard area 16, the sand
trap hazard area 18 or 18' and a rough area 19 which surrounds a
fairway area 17.
[0046] The method further comprises the step of placing at least
one of the bumps 80 under the playing surface 10 thereby distorting
the playing surface 10 into a non-planar surface and making the
accurate putting of the golf ball 60 much more difficult.
[0047] A typical game is played by from two to four players. Each
in turn places their golf ball 60 at the golf ball placement 40
identified with a numeral 1 and strokes the ball 60 with a putter
golf club (not shown) toward the target area 30 to preferably
strike the rebound surface 70.
[0048] When such a strike is made with the ball 60 coming to rest
immediately at the rebound surface 70 so that no rebounding occurs,
the ball 60 is in area marked "1" i.e. a hole in one. The ball 60
is also considered to be in area 1 if it comes to rest in the
extended triangular area 33. However, if the ball 60 strikes the
rebound surface 70 with some speed, the ball 60 will bounce and
come to rest in one of the concentric surfaces marked with a
numeral "2", "3" or "4". These numerals 1-4 represent the number of
strokes that are scored for the respective balls 60 that come to
rest in these areas. For instance, if one's golf ball 60 comes to
rest in the area marked "3" or rebounds into that area, the player
receives 3 strokes for the putt. If a ball comes to rest in a trap
and an additional stroke is necessary, a penalty may apply so that
a 3 stroke termination may actually be scored a 5. Players of
differing proficiency may compete by using different putting areas
50, 52, 54 and 56. For instance, a professional level golfer may
use the putting area 56, while a beginner competitor might use the
putting area 50. Each player uses the ball placements 40, in turn,
starting with the placement marked with a "1" and finishing with
the placement marked with a "9" and counts the strokes accorded to
each putt in accordance with the markings, actual strokes made and
penalties to achieve a final score for each "hole."
[0049] The words used in this specification to describe the
invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only
in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by
special definition in this specification: structure, material or
acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an
element can be understood in the context of this specification as
including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as
being generic to all possible meanings supported by the
specification and by the word or words describing the element.
[0050] The definitions of the words or elements of this described
invention and its various embodiments are, therefore, defined in
this specification to include not only the combination of elements
which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure,
material or acts for performing substantially the same function in
substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result.
In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent
substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the
elements in the invention and its various embodiments below or that
a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a
claim.
[0051] Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a
person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised,
are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope of
the invention and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious
substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the
art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. The
invention and its various embodiments are thus to be understood to
include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what
is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and
also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the
invention.
[0052] While the invention has been described with reference to at
least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by
those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto.
Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in
conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here,
that the inventor(s) believe that the claimed subject matter is the
invention.
* * * * *