Golf-practicing Device

Abstract

A golf-practicing device having a molded, integral driven member rotatively mounted on a substantially upright post attached to a resilient, flexible mat. The driven member includes a head portion rotatively mounted on the post, a ball portion at its free end which overlies the mat in spaced relation, and a rod portion interconnecting the head portion and ball portion and extending laterally at the post. The molded, integral driven member is constructed of a resilient material, the head portion and ball portion being substantially the size of the conventional golf ball, and the interconnecting rod portion being of sufficient cross section to preclude permanent deformation when the ball portion is struck by a golf club. A spacer of resilient material is located on the post between the mat and the head portion of the driven member, the spacer providing a bearing for the rotative head portion and extending laterally of the post for a distance short of the ball portion. The spacer maintains the ball portion in spaced relation above the mat. The driven device is freely rotated on the post when the ball portion is struck by the golf club. In one embodiment a pair of rigid plates are provided one above and one below the mat, the post extending through the mat and secured to the rigid plate. This construction provides a unit that can be utilized both indoors and outdoors. In another embodiment particularly suite for outdoor use, an elongate sleeve, constituting a socket, is inserted into the ground to provide a permanent anchorage. In usage, the post extends through the mat and into the socket to secure the mat to the ground.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have been many different types of practice balls utilized by golfers. Some of these balls have been made of plastic and provided with holes so that they will not travel any appreciable distance when hit. Of course, the disadvantage with special balls is that the golfer has to have a number of them in order to be of practical use and that he still has to retrieve them for subsequent use.

There are several different types of golf-practicing devices, all of which have a complicated structure utilizing a multiplicity of parts. In some of these units, golf balls are attached to a separate elongate rod or to a flexible and/or elastic cord. A separate rod is weak and is easily bent when the ball is struck by a golf club. A flexible and/or elastic cord presents a dangerous situation in that the cord can break easily under such impact and the direction of ball travel is highly erratic when constrained by such cord. These prior units cannot withstand the repeated shock impact when struck by a golf club. Moreover, none of these units give the golfer the realistic feel of hitting a real golf ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an improved golf-practicing device, and more particularly to a unit of this type that can be utilized indoors or outdoors with equal facility.

The present golf-practicing device is of simple, durable construction utilizing a minimum of parts. The molded, integral means is resilient, yet of sufficient rigidity, so that it will withstand the shock impact of being struck repeatedly by a golf club without deformation, and will give the golfer the realistic feel of hitting a real ball. The driven means will rotate freely about a stationary substantially upright post, and eliminates the problem of the golfer retrieving a struck ball.

In the present golf-practicing device, an integral driven means is rotatively mounted on a substantially upright post that is attached to a subjacent surface-protecting means. The driven means includes an enlarged head portion rotatively mounted on the post, an enlarged ball portion at its free end that overlies, yet is spaced above, the surface-protecting means, and a short rod portion integrally interconnecting the head portion and ball portion and extending laterally of the post. The driven means is freely rotated on the post when the ball portion is struck by a golf club.

The integral driven means is constructed of a molded, resilient material. The head portion and ball portion of the driven means are substantially the size of a conventional golf ball, and the interconnecting rod portion is of sufficient cross section to preclude deformation when the ball portion is struck by a golf club.

A spacer is provided on the post and is located between the surface-protecting means and the head portion of the driven means, the spacer providing a bearing for the rotative driven means and holding the ball portion in predetermined spaced relation above the surface-protecting means.

The surface-protecting means is preferably a resilient flexible mat that conforms to the contour of the supporting surface and protects both the supporting surface and the golf club. The spacer is also preferably constructed of a resilient material to provide a shock-absorbing bearing for the rotative driven means.

In one embodiment, a pair of rigid plates are provided, one above and one below the mat, the post extending through the mat and secured to the rigid plates. This construction provides a unit that can be utilized with equal facility both indoors and outdoors. In another embodiment, the supporting subjacent surface such as the ground is provided with an elongate socket. The post extends through the mat and into the socket to anchor the mat to the ground. This constructions provides a unit that is especially adapted for outdoor use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf-practicing device;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment especially adapted for outdoor use, and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment especially adapted for both indoor and outdoor use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the golf-practicing device includes a flexible resilient mat 10, constituting a subjacent surface-protecting means. A substantially upright post 11 is secured to the mat 10, the post 11 rotatively mounting a molded, integral driven means 12. A resilient spacer 13 is located about the post 11 and located between the driven means 12 and mat 10 so as to hold the driven means 12 in predetermined spaced relationship above the mat 10.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 illustrates a unit that can be used indoors and/or outdoors with equal facility. The mat 10 can be constructed of a resilient material such as rubber, polyvinyl, artificial turf such as ASTROTURF and the like. The mat 10 is flexible so that it will conform either to the contour of the ground outdoors or to a floor indoors. The resilient, durable characteristics of the mat 10 will protect the golf club that is used to strike the driven means 12 and will protect the subjacent supporting surface whether it be the ground or a floor from the impact of the club.

The substantially upright post 11 includes an elongate shank 14 having a threaded lower end 15 extending through the mat 10. A pair of rigid metal plates 16 and 17 are located about the post 11 on opposite sides of the mat 10. A nut 20 is fixed as by welding to the upper side of metal plate 17 and is located in a recess formed in the underside of mat 10. The threaded end 15 of post shank 14 is threadedly attached to the nut 20. Another nut 21 is threadedly mounted on the post end 15 and is clamped against the upper side of metal plate 16. The nuts 20 and 21 clamp the metal plates 16 and 17 to the opposite sides of mat 10, and cooperate with such plates 16 and 17 to mount the post 11 in the substantially upright position.

The upper end of post 11 is provided with an enlarged cap 22 that prevents the driven means 12 from flying off of the post 11 when struck by the golf club, and otherwise precludes unintentional disassembly of the driven means 12.

Located about the post 11 and mounted over the uppermost plate 16, is a spacer 23 constructed of a resilient material such as rubber, polyvinyl or the like. Preferably, the underside of the spacer 23 is provided with a recess 24 that receives the nut 21.

The driven means 12 is constructed of a relatively hard, durable yet resilient material such as rubber, polyvinyl or the like. The driven means 12 includes a head portion 25 having a bore 26 that receives the post shank 14. A ball portion 27 is integrally connected to the head portion 25 by a relatively short rod portion 30. The head portion 25 of the driven means 12 is rotatively mounted on the post 11 and engages the resilient spacer 23. The ball portion 27 and head portion 25 approximate the size of a conventional golf ball. The resilient spacer 23 forms a bearing for the head portion 25 and holds the ball portion 27 in a predetermined spaced relationship above the mat 10. The periphery of spacer 23 terminates short of the ball portion 27 so that there is no obstruction or interference with the club head as the club head is moved over the mat 10 and strikes the ball portion 27.

It is thought that the functional advantages of the golf-practicing device have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the usage will be briefly described.

The mat 10 is placed on the floor or the ground, and the driven means 12 is rotated in position so that the rod portion 30 is located substantially at right angles to the direction of force of the club head upon striking the ball portion 27. The ball portion 27 is held above the mat 10 by the spacer 23 so that there is no necessity to tee up. The golfer swings his golf club and strikes the ball portion 27, causing the driven means 12 to rotate freely about the post 11. The driven means 12 is simply repositioned for subsequent strokes.

The device enables the golfer to practice his swing and attain the realistic feel of hitting a real golf ball. The driven means 12 is constructed as described above to preclude deformation and can be used for an indefinite period of time. The unit is completely portable and can be used anywhere.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 is especially adapted for outdoor use. With this unit, a tubular sleeve, constituting a socket 31 is installed in the ground 32. The socket 31 can be provided by a bore star-drilled in a concrete or asphalt slab or a hole drilled through a block of wood. In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 31 is permanently installed in a concrete block 33 in the ground 32.

The resilient mat 10 is provided with a hole 34 through which the post 11 can extend. The resilient spacer 23 is located over the mat 10 and is held in position by the post 11. The driven means 12 is of the identical construction as previously described.

To utilize this unit, the mat 10 is located on the ground with the hole 34 aligned with the sleeve 31. Then, the post 11 is inserted through the mat hole 34 and into the sleeve 31 to anchor the mat 10 securely in position. The unit can then be used in the same manner as the unit of FIG. 3.

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. A golf-practicing device, comprising:

a. a subjacent surface-protecting means,

b. a substantially upright post attached to the surface-protecting means,

c. a unitary, integrally molded one-piece driven means including:

1. an enlarged head portion rotatively mounted on the post,

2. an enlarged ball portion at its free end, the ball portion overlying, yet spaced above the surface-protecting means, and

3. a rod portion interconnecting the head portion and ball portion and extending laterally of the post, the driven means being freely rotated on the post when the ball portion is struck by a golf club,

d. the surface-protecting means being a flexible mat adapted to conform to the contour of the subjacent supporting surface,

e. the rod portion of the integral driven means being of a cross section to substantially preclude deformation when the ball portion is struck by a golf club, and

f. means for holding the driven means in a substantially horizontal position spaced above and overlying the surface-protecting means.

2. A golf-practicing device as defined in claim 1, in which:

a pair of rigid plates are provided, one above and one below the mat, the post extending through the mat and secured to the rigid plates, each plate having an area smaller than the area of the mat.