U.S. patent application number 11/244982 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for golf yardage guide.
Invention is credited to Michael Howell, Gary Mannies.
Application Number | 20070078031 11/244982 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37902603 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070078031 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mannies; Gary ; et
al. |
April 5, 2007 |
Golf yardage guide
Abstract
A golf yardage guide with removably securable pages inserted
after the guide is assembled. The removably securable pages are
provided for additions to, replacement of pages or removal from the
golf yardage guide. The yardage guide includes a plurality of pages
coupled together by a binding. The removably securable pages are
formed with binding apertures each aperture having a slit extending
from the binding aperture to an edge of the removably securable
pages. The slits create catches on either side of the slit. The
slits and catches are used to couple the binding apertures with the
binding of the yardage guide. The removably securable pages display
content including golf course information, yardage information for
holes on the course, coupons, advertisements, rules, and customer
customizations.
Inventors: |
Mannies; Gary; (Mesa,
AZ) ; Howell; Michael; (Mesa, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHMEISER OLSEN & WATTS
18 E UNIVERSITY DRIVE
SUITE # 101
MESA
AZ
85201
US
|
Family ID: |
37902603 |
Appl. No.: |
11/244982 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/407 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2220/20 20130101;
A63B 71/0672 20130101; A63B 2220/13 20130101; A63B 2102/32
20151001; A63B 2071/0691 20130101; A63B 24/0003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/407 |
International
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20060101
A63B057/00 |
Claims
1. A golf yardage guide comprising: a plurality of pages coupled
together, wherein a portion of the plurality of pages display
advertisements; and removably securable pages configured to be at
least one of removed from and added to the plurality of pages
coupled together.
2. The guide of claim 1, wherein the removably securable pages
display an advertisement.
3. The guide of claim 1, wherein a portion of the plurality of
pages further display at least one of yardage of golf holes on a
golf course and other information associated with the golf
course.
4. The guide of claim 3, wherein the removably securable pages
further display at least one of yardage of golf holes on a golf
course and other information associated with the golf course.
5. The guide of claim 4, wherein the removably securable pages are
further configured to replace a portion of the plurality of pages
coupled together.
6. The guide of claim 5 wherein the removable securable pages are
further configured to display yardage of golf holes that have been
altered, golf course information changes and changes in
advertisement.
7. The guide of claim 1, further comprising a binding to couple the
plurality of pages together.
8. The guide of claim 7, wherein the binding is a double wire
binding.
9. The guide of claim 8, wherein the removably securable pages
comprise an open slit, wherein the open slit is configured to
couple to the binding through the slit.
10. A golf yardage guide comprising: a plurality of pages coupled
together with a binding, wherein each page displays one of yardage
of golf holes on a golf course, information associated with the
golf course and any combination thereof; and at least one removably
securable page comprising an open slit; wherein the at least one
removably securable page is coupled to the binding by use of the
slit.
11. The guide of claim 10, wherein the at least one removably
securable page comprises at least one of a coupon, a course
description, a course history, advertisement, menu and any
combination thereof.
12. The guide of claim 10, wherein the at least one removably
securable page is configured to replace pages comprising yardage of
golf holes that have been altered, a coupon, a course description,
a course history, advertisement, menu and any combination
thereof.
13. The guide of claim 10, wherein the binding is a double wire
binding.
14. A golf yardage guide comprising: a plurality of pages coupled
together, wherein each page displays one of yardage of golf holes
on a golf course, information associated with the golf course, an
advertisement and any combination thereof; a double wire binding
coupling the plurality of pages together; and at least one
removably securable page comprising an open slit; wherein the at
least one removable securable page is coupled to the binding
through the slit.
15. The claim of claim 14, wherein the at least one removably
securable page comprises at least one of a coupon, a course
description, a course history, advertisement, menu and any
combination thereof.
16. The guide of claim 14, wherein the at least one removably
securable page is configured to replace pages comprising yardage of
golf holes that have been altered, a coupon, a course description,
a course history, a score card, advertisement, menu and any
combination thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates generally to golf yardage guides and
more particularly to customized golf yardage guides.
[0003] 2. State of the Art
[0004] Golf is a sport in which participants rely upon several
factors in order to determine the type of club to swing and the
shot to perform to reach the desired result. Some of these factors
include, but are not limited to, the yardage to the hole from
various locations on a particular fairway leading to the hole,
fairway and green contours, hazards along the fairway and/or green,
elevation changes and fairway and green shapes. Golf yardage guides
have been implemented to address such factors.
[0005] Conventional golf yardage guides include, but are not
limited to, the display of information with respect to the yardage
to the hole from various locations on a particular fairway leading
to the hole, fairway and green contours, hazards along the fairway
and/or green, elevation changes and fairway and green shapes. As is
common in the sport of golf, particular holes are changed from time
to time for such reasons as to provide greater challenge to the
golfers, to renovate a worn or run down hole, or out of necessity.
With conventional yardage guides, however, the guides reflecting
the golf course before particular changes take place must be
discarded and replaced with a guide that reflects the current state
of the golf course.
[0006] Golf yardage guides also provide a form of advertisement for
the golf course club house, the restaurant or third parties
associated with the golf course. It also enables the golf course to
provide customized guides for special events, to make announcements
about the course or even to provide a brief history of the course.
Conventional guides, however, do not allow easy modification to the
guide in order to obtain the desired customized yardage guide, such
as by adding pages or replacing pages once the guide has been
formed.
[0007] Presently, if a yardage guide needs to be altered, for
example, to change a hole description, there are two primary
options. First, new yardage guides can be ordered. Secondly, if the
guide binding allows, the binding can be removed, a page or pages
substituted and the guide rebound. Both of the present solutions
are costly and time consuming. Furthermore, if a binding is
replaced, the process can damage other pages from the guide or the
binding itself may be damaged.
[0008] Accordingly, what is needed is a golf yardage guide that has
the ability to replace and/or add pages to in order to update or
customize the guide.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention relates to a golf yardage guide with
removably securable pages inserted after the guide is
assembled.
[0010] An aspect of the present invention includes a golf yardage
guide comprising a plurality of pages coupled together and
removably securable pages configured to be at least one of removed
from and/or added to the plurality of pages coupled together. A
portion of the plurality of pages may display advertisements.
[0011] Another aspect of the present invention includes a golf
yardage guide comprising a plurality of pages coupled together with
a binding, wherein each page displays one of yardage of golf holes
on a golf course, information associated with the golf course, an
advertisement and any combination thereof. The golf yardage guide
further comprises at least one removably securable page comprising
an open slit, wherein the at least one removably securable page is
coupled to the binding by use of the slit.
[0012] Further, another aspect of the present invention includes a
golf yardage guide comprising a plurality of pages coupled
together, wherein each page displays one of yardage of golf holes
on a golf course, information associated with the golf course, an
advertisement and any combination thereof. The golf yardage guide
further comprises a double wire binding coupling the plurality of
pages together and at least one removably securable page comprising
an open slit; wherein the at least one removable securable page is
coupled to the binding through the slit.
[0013] The removably securable pages of the various aspects of the
present invention may display yardage of golf holes that have been
altered, a coupon, a course description, a course history,
advertisement, menu and any combination thereof. The removably
securable pages may be configured to be additional pages to the
guide, to replace current pages of the guide and be removed from a
guide previously inserted into.
[0014] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed
description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front view of a removably securable page;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a removably securable in
association with a golf yardage guide according to a particular
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention
relate to a golf yardage guide with removably securable pages
inserted after the guide is assembled. The removably securable
pages are provided for additions to, replacement of pages or
removal from the golf yardage guide.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, particular embodiments of the
present invention comprise a removably securable page 10 and a golf
yardage guide 20. The guide 20 comprises a plurality of pages 22
and a binding 24 that couples the pages 22 together to form a book
or guide. The removably securable page 10 includes a plurality of
slits 12 that extend from corresponding binding apertures 14 to an
edge of removably securable page 10, wherein the slits 12 create
catches 16. The removably securable page 10 may be added to the
yardage guide 20 by use of the slits 12 and catches 16. The binding
24 is inserted through the slits 12 and into the binding apertures
14. The catches 16 are sufficiently close so as to retain the
binding 24 within the binding apertures 14, thereby securely
holding removably securable page 10 within the guide 20. The slits
12 are of a size and shape that the page may be inserted, while
retaining the page coupled with the yardage guide 20 after
insertion. In particular aspects of the present invention, the
slits 12 do not remove any portion or material of the removably
securable page 10, but rather just cuts the page 10. The catches 16
created by these types of slits 12 are virtually touching and
provide greater ability to secure the removably securable page 10
within the guide 20. In particular aspects the removably securable
page 10 may be combed into the yardage guide 20 by use of a device.
Further, the slits 12 while shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to be located at
an upper edge of the removably securable page 10, may be located on
any edge of the page 10 wherein that edge is the binding edge.
[0019] It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art
that the binding may be any type of binding, including, but not
limited to, double wire binding, single wire binding and comb
binding. For the exemplary purpose of this disclosure, and without
limitation, particular embodiments of the present invention are
particularly suited for use with a double wire binding. With a
double wire binding, two wires of the binding 24 are inserted
within each of the binding apertures of the pages 22 of the guide
20. The removably securable page 10, when being inserted into the
guide 20, is placed in a position such that each catch 16 engages
one of the wires and the slit 12 is in between the wires. A device
or applicator comb may be used to comb the removably securable page
10 into the guide 20, such that two wires are in each binding
aperture 14. Each catch 16 remains engaged with one wire of the
double wire binding 24, wherein the slit 12 is between the wires.
This configuration places the removably securable page 10 in a more
secured position, wherein the slit 12 does not engage any wire and
substantially reducing accidental removal of any removably
securable page 10.
[0020] The content displayed on the plurality pages of the yardage
golf guide 20 may include golf course information, yardage
information for holes on the course, coupons, advertisements,
rules, and customer customizations. Further, the removably
securable pages 10 may also display the same types of information.
For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure and without
limitation, the following are examples of the types of content
displayed on the pages. [0021] 1. Custom daily hole location;
[0022] 2. Custom daily range diagram; [0023] 3. Custom tournament
page, such as, but not limited to, logos, dates and sponsors,
wherein the page may be inserted once or multiple times, such as
between each page displaying hole information; [0024] 4.
Merchandise coupons, such as, but not limited to, free sleeve of
golf balls after the round or discount on specific merchandise;
[0025] 5. Food and beverage coupons such as free soft-drink with
the meal or a discounted rate for a particular food item; [0026] 6.
Outside or third party advertisers of affiliated properties, such
as, but not limited to, real estate, banks, car dealerships,
restaurants and casinos; [0027] 7. Player loyalty page such as, but
not limited to, frequent player card, frequent range user card,
lessons, merchandise and food and beverage; [0028] 8. Award or
recognition pages such as, but not limited to, low round or other
significant accomplishments in an event; [0029] 9. Tournament
scorecard and local rules; [0030] 10. Daily scorecard; [0031] 11.
Custom covers; [0032] 12. Replacement pages for reasons such as,
but not limited to, course changes, marketing changes, which may
include new marketing focus, new owners, etc. and forgotten pages;
[0033] 13. Welcome pages such as, but not limited to, a
personalized page that welcomes an individual player to the course;
and [0034] 14. Customer satisfaction or customer survey cards which
allow the player to give feedback to the course and allows the
course to target a specific player demographic by season or rate
charged.
[0035] It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art
that various sizes of pages may be used for each of the plurality
of pages 22 in the yardage guide 20 and the removably securable
page 10. For example, and without limitation, the pages may be: 4
inches by 5.5 inches with round corners and 3 to 1 ratio square
binding apertures 14 along the 4 inch edge with slits 12 extending
from the apertures 14 to the 4 inch edge; 4 inches by 6.25 inches
with round corners and 3 to 1 ratio square binding apertures 14
along the 4 inch edge with slits 12 extending from the apertures 14
to the 4 inch edge; 4.25 inches by 6.25 inches with round corners
and 3 to 1 ratio square binding apertures 14 along the 6.25 inch
edge with slits 12 extending from the apertures 14 to the 6.25 inch
edge; 4.25 inches by 7 inches with round corners and 3 to 1 ratio
square binding apertures 14 along the 7 inch edge with slits 12
extending from the apertures 14 to the 7 inch edge; and any other
size desired by the customer.
[0036] It will further be understood that depending on the intended
use of the guide 20 by the customer, various types of printing
states may be applied to the pages 22 and removably securable pages
10. For example and without limitation, the printing states may
include: blank sheets of photographic inkjet paper for photo
printing by the customer; blank sheets of coated or uncoated offset
paper for the other printing by the customer; pre-printed sheets of
coated or uncoated offset paper for other printing by the customer,
which will be printed over by the customer (including pre-printed
such as, but not limited to, backgrounds, photos, printed photo
frames, watermarks, etc; and sheets printed by the guide
manufacturer for replacement or addition by the customer.
[0037] The manufacturer of the yardage guide 20 may also provide
the customer with: multiple templates for various applications,
wherein the templates are in electronic format; a printer to handle
pages of the size 4 inches by 5.5 inches, 4 inches by 6.25 inches,
4.25 inches by 6.25 inches and 4.25 inches by 7 inches; pre-cut,
punched, and slitted sheets; applicator combs for inserting the
removably securable pages 10 into the yardage guide 20; and a
digital camera.
[0038] In particular embodiments of the present invention, the
removably securable page 10 may be used to replace existing pages
within a yardage guide 20. For example, and without limitation, a
particular hole on the course may have been changed. These changes
may include, without limitation, lengthening the hole from the tee
to the green, adding new hazards, eliminating hazards, changing
hazard type, hole orientation, green and fairway contours and green
and fairway elevations. A method of replacing the pages includes
the step of 1) tearing out the existing page to be replaced, 2)
positioning the removably securable page 10 in a position where the
slits 12 are engaging the binding 24 and the page 10 is in the
proper order with respect to the yardage guide 20 and 3) using an
applicator comb to insert the page 10 into the yardage guide 20.
The applicator comb may comprise teeth to fit between the wires
enabling the comb to secure the removably securable page 10 into
the yardage guide 20. Adding a removably securable page 10 to
provide additional information may utilize steps 2 and 3 in order
to insert the page 10.
[0039] It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art
that the slits 12 of the removably securable pages 10 may be formed
after a die punch of the binding aperture 14 by use of a machine,
by hand or other manner of creating a slit. Further the slits 12
may also be formed simultaneously with the binding apertures 14 by
creating a die cut that includes the slits.
[0040] Embodiments of the present invention provide a myriad of
possibilities and benefits, particularly to a golf course and their
use of yardage guides that were not previously available. For
example, as holes are changed, as they often are, reordering or
rebinding of a guide is no longer needed in order to reflect
changes in one or even many holes. The present invention allows for
the exchange of pages, wherein the golf course need only print
pages reflecting the new changes in the hole and replaces the
current pages in the book with the changes. Further, golf courses
have greens with different pin locations on the green, thereby
altering the distance to the holes. Particular embodiments, for
example, allow for a daily yardage guide to be added wherein each
pin location on the green and the associated change in yardage is
reflected in the book. Additionally, score cards can be added
and/or replaced from the guide allowing the golfer to have the
yardage guide and scorecard within the same book.
[0041] Further possibilities of the present invention include
customizations, not just for the course itself, but for particular
patrons of the course, business events and tournaments. The golf
course no longer needs to order customized guides for these
particular events, or may even provide a customized guide that
would not have been done before. They may now order the needed
customized pages and add and/or replace pages within the current
guide to now have a fully customized yardage guide without the
costs of ordering full guides made or rebinding the current guides.
Other benefits of the particular embodiment may include
advertisements easily added or exchanged. Yardage guides do not
typically have advertisements; however, according to particular
embodiments of the present invention, advertisements may be added.
For example, many golf courses have a restaurant associated with
the clubhouse. As with all restaurants, prices change as do daily
specials. Particular embodiments of the present invention, for
example, allows the golf course to place or replace pages that
reflect price changes and or the daily special or even a coupon
within the yardage guide, thereby allowing the ability of
advertising the clubhouse restaurant and attracting more customers.
Further, the golf course may now be able to offer advertisement
space within their yardage guides to local or nearby businesses.
These possibilities are a few examples of the benefits that the
present invention provides and are considered a limitation. It will
be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that
embodiments of the present invention may provide any form of
customization, alterations to the course, changes in ownership or
any change and addition of any type of information that the golf
course determines to be added or replaced within their golf yardage
guides.
[0042] The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented
in order to best explain the present invention and its practical
application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the
art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill
in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and
examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and
example only. The description as set forth 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
teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the
forthcoming claims.
* * * * *