Golf Game Device

Abstract

A game device in the form of a generally rectangular playing surface of generally planar construction for receiving two or more golf balls with one of the balls being white and to be struck by a golf putter and the other ball to be distinguishably colored and forming an object ball. The playing surface is provided with a covering material simulating the putting green surrounding a hole in a golf course and the playing area is surrounded by an upwardly slanted peripheral wall terminating in an upwardly and slightly inwardly inclined rail by which a game may be played and points scored in accordance with a set of rules when the white golf ball is struck by a putter and caused to contact the colored or object ball after it has been banked off of the slanted peripheral wall in a predetermined manner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to game devices and more particularly to such a game device in which golfing skills are required and developed in which a golf ball is struck with a putter for the purpose of striking an object ball by banking the struck golf ball off of slanted peripheral wall surfaces in a predetermined manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many game devices have been provided that include various aspects of golfing. Also practice putting greens are usually provided at golf courses and indoor practice putting devices are also known in which a golf ball is putted toward a hole or other target. While such devices are successful for their purposes, recreational areas such as bowling alleys, billiard parlors and similar establishments are presently devoid of a game device in which golfing skills are employed and thus developed in playing a game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a game device incorporating a substantially flat playing surface on which a golf ball is putted by a golfer in a conventional manner but instead of putting the ball toward a hole, the target is another golf ball or object ball that is distinguishably colored with the peripheral surface of the playing area being defined by an upwardly slanted wall with the putted golf ball being banked off of the slanted wall and toward the target or object ball in a particular manner in order to score points.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game device in accordance with the preceding object in which the playing area and peripheral wall is generally rectangular in configuration with it being necessary to bank the putted ball off of a corner and one side or end portion of the slanted wall or bank the putted ball off of a plurality of slanted wall portions in order to register points.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game device in accordance with the preceding objects in which the slanted peripheral wall is provided with an upwardly extending rail that serves as a barrier to retain the balls within the playing area.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a golf game device which is simple in construction, easy to construct and use, effective as a game device and also effective in developing skills relating to the putting of golf balls when actually playing golf.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf game device of the present invention illustrating a manner in which the device is used.

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2--2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the specific structure of the playing area.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view illustrating the manner of banking the putted ball off of two adjacent slanted wall surfaces toward a target or object ball.

FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the playing surface and slanted walls are of unitary construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the game device of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes an enlarged generally rectangular and substantially flat playing surface 12 that may be defined by a rug or similar panel of carpeting material such as indoor-outdoor carpet 14 which has a textured upper surface and which may be green or any other desired color although green is preferred since it simulates the putting area surrounding a hole in a regular golf course. Any other suitable material may be employed as a surface on which golf balls 16 and 18 will roll and which will simulate an actual putting green.

Defining the periphery of the playing area 12 is a plurality of upwardly and outwardly slanted end wall members 20 and side wall members 22 with the end wall members 20 being substantially parallel and the side wall members 22 being substantially parallel. The juncture between the wall members 20 and 22 is a miter joint 24 which generally defines a trough juncture between the wall members. Disposed outwardly of the wall members 20 and 22 is a plurality of peripheral end members 26 and peripheral side members 28 each of which have an inclined inner surface which inclines slightly inwardly and upwardly to form an inwardly inclined rail 30 which extends above the wall members 20 and 22 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The wall members 20 and 22 may be constructed of wood or may be sheet metal, plastic or the like and the peripheral members 26 and 28 may also be constructed of wood, metal, plastic or the like with the wall members 20 and 22 and the peripheral members 26 and 28 being secured together in any suitable manner such as by wood screws, adhesive bonding or by any other suitable type of connectors to provide a rigid joint between the adjacent members thereby defining a rigid peripheral framework for the playing surface which may be continuous under the wall members 20 and 22 and the peripheral members 26 and 28 as illustrated in FIG. 2 or the rug or carpet 14 may terminate at the inner periphery of the slanted top surface of the wall members 20 and 22.

In playing a game, a conventional golf putter 32 is employed by a person 34 in a normal manner as illustrated in FIG. 1. The game device is oriented on the floor surface and it is a simple matter for a person to step onto the playing surface. The white golf ball 16 is struck with the golf putter 32 and banked off the slanted wall members 20 or 22 in a manner so that the white golf ball will strike the object ball 18. To render the game more interesting, points are scored when more than one slanted wall member is engaged by the white golf ball during its movement toward the object ball. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the white ball 16 goes up the inclined slanted surface of the end member 20 when struck by a putter in the manner to follow the arrowed line. The ball then will cross the miter joint or valley 24 and along the surface of the wall member 22 and then due to gravity will exit from the surface of the wall member 22 in a direction to strike the object ball 18 thus registering a point. Multiple points may be scored if the white ball engages more than two of the slanted wall members during its movement from the time it is putted until it strikes the object ball. Other rules of play may be adapted and other means for registering scores may be adopted. Thus, this game will enable putting techniques to be developed and also will require use of putting skills as well as an understanding of the action of a rolling ball when it rolls up and then down an inclined surface at different angles.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the playing surface and inclined peripheral wall is formed as a unitary structure which includes a bottom panel 40 and an inclined peripheral panel 42 integral therewith and joined thereto with a vertical offset portion 44. The vertical offset forms a peripheral edge for the carpet or rug panel 46 which forms the playing surface. The outer peripheral edge of the inclined panel 42 is supported by a ledge 48 formed on a peripheral wall member 50 which has an internal surface that is slightly inwardly and upwardly inclined as at 52 to form a rail for retaining the balls within the playing area. In this construction, the one-piece panel including members 40, 42 and 44 may be constructed of a single stamping of sheet metal or of glass fiber reinforced plastic material having sufficient strength requirements to withstand players standing on the various components and any other use that would normally occur when the player is using the device. The peripheral edge of the panel 42 may be secured to the ledge 48 which may be integral with or attached to the wall member 50 in any suitable manner. Also, the inclined surface 52 or 30 in FIG. 2 may be provided with a resilient covering or fabric covering to cushion the rebound of the balls. This inwardly and upwardly inclined surface will tend to retain the ball in the playing area but in the event a ball leaves the playing area, it will be spotted at a predetermined spot location by the next player or it may be placed at any particular location by the next player. The dimensional characteristics of the game device may be varied with one convenient size being 4 feet by 6 feet. Also, the angle of inclination of the slant surface or inclined surface may be varied as desired and the vertical distance of projection of the rail above the inclined surfaces may also be varied to provide proper operation of the device.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A golf game device comprising a playing surface of generally rectangular configuration and being substantially flat with a textured upper surface simulating a putting green, upwardly and outwardly slanted wall members defining the periphery of the playing surface and adapted to have golf balls rolled thereon, a pair of golf balls rollable along the playing surface and slanted wall members, with the golf balls being distinguishably colored, a golf putter adapted to be swung by a person standing on the playing surface for projecting one of the golf balls toward any of said slanted wall members so that the putted ball will strike the other ball when it leaves a slanted surface, and the upper edges of the inclined wall members being provided with peripheral upstanding rails, the inner surfaces of said rails being inclined upwardly and inwardly slightly to retain golf balls within the playing area.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said playing surface is in the form of a rigid bottom panel with the slanted wall members integral therewith and of unitary construction therewith means for supporting the peripheral edges of the slanted wall members, the junctures between the bottom panel and the slanted wall members being vertical offset portions providing an upstanding peripheral edge to the bottom panel and defining a recess, and a carpet member received in the recess and covering said bottom panel to provide a simulated putting green.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said playing surface is defined by a carpet resting on a substantially flat floor, said slanted wall members being structural members having inclined upper surfaces with the structural members being joined together at mitered corners to provide a stable game device.