05/295704

03/18/1975

10/06/1972

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473/160

A63B67/02; A63B69/36

273/176,177,178,179,180,34B

Marlo, George J.

Pennie & Edmonds

I claim

1. A putting green comprising a base support, a layer of artificial turf upon said base support and coextensive therewith to form a putting surface, a bumper around the perimeter of said base support and extending sufficiently above said putting surface to prevent egress of a golf ball therefrom, at least one contour changer means, each contour changer means including a contour body, said body being disposed between said base support and said layer of artificial turf for imparting a contour to said putting surface, and handle means connected to said contour body and extending away from said putting surface for moving said contour body to different positions relative to said putting surface, at least one opening in said layer of artificial turf disposed in cooperative relation with each contour changer means each contour body similarly having at least one opening and each of said openings being registerable when said contour body is moved to one of said different positions to jointly define a cup, and plug means for closing at least one of said openings when said openings are not in registry with each other.

2. The putting green according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of contour changer means of varying shapes and contours is provided.

3. The putting green according to claim 1 which further includes calibration means for determining precisely the different positions of said contour body.

4. The putting green according to claim 1 wherein said handle means for moving said contour body includes an elongated member one end of which extends externally of said bumper, the other end of said member being connected to said contour body, a pivot pin connected to one of said contour body and member and received by an opening in said base support whereby said contour body can be pivoted about said opening.

5. The putting green according to claim 4 wherein said member includes a pair of telescoping elements, said pivot pin being connected to one of said telescoping elements, the other of said telescoping elements being connected to said contour body whereby relative movements of said telescoping elements causes said contour body to move toward and away from said bumper.

6. The green according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of sections are joined to form said green, a cleat underlying the adjoining edge of the base support for each adjoining sections, said cleat being fixedly secured to one of said adjoining sections and removably secured to the other adjoining section.

7. A putting green comprising a base support, a layer of artificial turf upon said base support and coextensive therewith to form a putting surface, a bumper around the perimeter of said base support and extending sufficiently above said putting surface to prevent egress of a golf ball therefrom, at least one contour changer means, each contour changer means including a contour body, said body being disposed between said base support and said layer of artificial turf for imparting a contour to said putting surface, handle means connected to said contour body and extending away from said putting surface, and pin means connected to one of said contour body and handle means, said pin means being received in an opening in said base support and said contour body being pivotable about said opening to change the position of said contour body relative to said putting surface, at least one opening in said layer of artificial turf disposed in cooperative relation with each contour changer means, each contour body similarly having at least one opening and each of said openings being registerable when said contour body is moved to one of said different positions to jointly define a cup, and plug means for closing at least one of said openings when said openings are not in registry with each other.

8. A putting green comprising a base support, a layer of artificial turf upon said support and coextensive therewith to form a putting surface, a bumper around the perimeter of said base support sufficiently raised to prevent the egress of a golf ball from said putting surface, at least one contour changer means for changing the contour of said putting surface, each contour changer means including a contour body, said body being disposed for movement intermediate said base support and layer of artificial turf for imparting a contour to the putting surface, and means integral with said contour body for moving said contour body into different positions relative to said putting surface, at least one opening in said layer of artificial turf for allowing the passage of a golf ball in cooperative relation with each contour changer means, each contour body having at least one opening, each contour body opening of each contour changer means individually registerable with each cooperative artificial turf opening to define cup means for receiving a golf ball when said contour body is moved to a position of registration, and plug means for closing openings out of registration, said plug means including a circular turf section for closing each non-registerable artificial turf opening and a flat circular member for closing each non-registerable contour body opening, said flat circular member having a diameter to fit snugly inside each said contour body opening and having an upper surface upon which said artificial turf rests, said member being in two parts, hinge means connecting said parts to permit movement of said parts from a flat position to a collapsed position, a prong connected to each part extending therefrom in opposite directions, said prongs having a flat upper surface and a curved lower surface and a recess defined in said base support at opposite sides of said cup opening for receiving said prongs and for maintaining the upper surface thereof and said plug in flush relation to said base support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for simulating a putting green which lends itself to permanent or temporary home installation. Prior putting devices have generally consisted of a cup or some form of ball receiving device which may be set up on a rug in a playroom or living room in order to permit a golfer practice in making putting shots. In some instances, artificial turf which has the advantage of more closely approaching a natural putting surface may be used. However, such arrangements do not accurately simulate a putting green since they invariably provide only a flat horizontal surface upon which to putt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved putting green which may be permanently or portably installed for indoor or outdoor use. When constructed for portability, the new putting green will comprise sections which are readily assembled and which store easily in a storage rack disclosed herein. The green includes a base support of underlayment upon which an artificial turf will be laid thus forming the putting surface. Around the perimeter of each section is a bumper which will prevent the egress of golf balls from the putting surface.

In accordance with the invention, one or more contour changers are placed upon the base support beneath the turf and means are provided for moving and precisely positioning the changers to arrive at different and repeatable contour conformations. The green further provides multiple locations for cups and a plug of novel design for a cup not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view of a putting green constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross sections taken respectively in the direction of arrows 4--4 and 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective detail of a telescoping arm which may be used to manipulate a contour changer;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively plan and side views of a plug for covering a cup;

FIG. 10 is a detail showing the plug of FIGS. 8 and 9 in the folded condition for removal or insertion thereof into the cup;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of a storage rack including stored sections and turf to be used in conjunction with the putting green of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation of the storage rack of FIG. 11; and

FIGS. 13 and 14 are fragmentary cross sections of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing and initially to FIGS. 1-5 thereof, a putting green 10 incorporating the features and principles of the present invention has been illustrated. The green 10 is made up of five sections 11a-11e whose lines of demarkation can be seen in FIG. 1. The sections, when joined together as in a manner to be described in the present embodiment, form a kidney-shaped putting surface whose perimeter is defined by a bumper 12 which is raised sufficiently above the putting surface in order to prevent the egress of a golf ball from the putting surface.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the green 10 includes a support base 13 of heavy duty plywood, for example, which is sufficiently strong to permit the walking thereon of several people without undue flexing. The base 13 supports a layer of artificial turf 14 having a resilient backing 14a and contains a number of cups 40-43. As will be seen with respect to FIGS. 1 and 4, the adjacent sections 11b and 11c of the green 10 are joined by abutment of their underlying support base sections 13. One edge of section 11c is secured along its edge to a cleat 16. In the illustration of FIG. 4, the cleat 16 is permanently secured to section 11c by adhesive bonding. The base 13 of section 11b is secured to the cleat 16 by bolts 17. The artificial turf sections furthermore include along their adjacent edges interlocking joints 14b, 14c so as to provide a continuous surface which will not readily be scuffed or kicked apart by a person walking upon the turf. It will be noted that cleats 16 in addition to their joining function, act as pedestal supports to raise the base 13 and to permit the circulation of air beneath the base. Since the green 10 may be installed in proximity to the ground, (when used outdoors) aeration holes 13a have been provided through base 13 in each of the green sections to permit drying of the underparts of the turf if they should become wet.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided different contour changers 18a and 18b which lie beneath the turf 14 upon support base 13 and are movable thereupon into different positions to change the contour of the putting surface. As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the contour changer l8a includes a body 19 having a handle 20 at one end, the other being connected to a pin 21 which extends through a bushing 22 in base 13 and into cleat 16. Cups 23-25 are included in the body portion 19. Two of the cup positions shown in FIG. 1 include plugs 26 whose construction will be described later. The contour changers 18a, one at each end of the green, can be rotated about pivots 21 into different positions in order to vary the play. Calibrations 28 have been provided in the bumper 12 in order to permit precise re-positioning of each of the contour changers 18a. This feature is similarly provided with respect to contour changer 18b as will be described and permits the setting up of the green with certain definite contours in order to simulate different holes. By this means, it is possible for a series of nine or eighteen different contour configurations to be set up in succession.

Contour changer 18b shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes a contour body 30 positioned below the turf 14. The body 30 is connected by pin 32 to a thin handle 33 which extends through a slot provided for the purpose in the bumper 12. The handle is secured to a pin 34 which rides in a bushing 31 in base 13. The outer end of the handle extends for a distance externally of the bumper 12 and a calibrated quadrant 36 is provided for precisely re-positioning the handle and the contour changer 18. A cup 37 has been provided in the contour changer 18b.

FIG. 7 discloses a handle 38 which is similar to the handle 33 except that it contains telescoping members 38a and 38b. The member 38 is connected through pin 34' to the changer and member 38b contains pivot pin 32' which functions in the same manner as pivot pin 32 to control rotation of the contour changer 18b. However, with the telescoping handle 38, the contour changer 18b can more easily be shifted inwardly or outwardly.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10, there has been illustrated a collapsible plug 26 which is adapted to be inserted into any of the cups provided in the contour changers 18a and 18b. Each plug 26 is made in two hinged sections 44, 45 connected together by a pivot pin 46. Section 44 includes a handle 47 pivotally connected at 48 to a flange 44 which mates with and overlies a correspondingly-shaped flange 45a of the adjacent section 45. Section 44 includes a recess 49 which permits the handle 47 to lie flush when in the position of FIG. 9. Each of the mating sections 44 and 45 includes prongs 50 and 51 having flat upper surfaces 50a, 51a and curved lower surfaces 50b, 51b, the latter being adapted to be received in correspondingly-shaped recesses 52 and 53 adjacent to each cup so that the plug 26 will rest thereupon and bridge the cup. In so doing, as seen in FIG. 9, a flush surface coextensive with the base 13 is provided upon which a circular plug of turf 14d can rest. When it is desired to uncover the cup for play, the turf plug 14d is merely removed, and by pulling up on the handle 47, the plug can be withdrawn from the cup (FIG. 10).

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a storage rack 54 has been illustrated which can be used to store sections 11a-11e and the turf 14. The rack 54 consists of a frame base 55 having wheels 56. Upright members 57 are securely fastened thereto, one at each end. Between members 57 extends a horizontal rod 58 and cross brace 59. A locking arm 61 is pivotally connected at the center of cross rod 58 and as seen in FIG. 11, is suitably notched to fit over the upper edges of sections 11a-11e when they have been dismantled and stacked alongside each other upon the frame base 55. This arm, in combination with spacer block 56, maintains the sections 11a-11a in a stable relationship in rack 54. Secured rigidly to members 57 are horizontally extending pairs of arms 62 which pivotally mount the roller 63. Horizontal arms 64 which pivotally mount roller 66 are also rigidly connected to members 57. Arms 67 are pivotally mounted at 68 to the base 55 and mount roller 70. Arms 69 are also pivotally connected to roller 70 and have notches 69a therein which can removably connect the arms 69 to pins 60 as shown in FIG. 11. Alternatively, arms 69 can be detached from pins 60 and both pairs of arms 69 and 67 together with roller 70 can be lowered into the dotted line position of FIG. 11 wherein the free end of arms 69 act as a stand. While in this position, as may be seen from FIG. 11, the turf 14 can be wound about rollers 70, 66 and 63. Once the end of the turf 14 has assumed its solid line position, arms 67 and 69 will be swung upwardly into the solid line position and arms 69 will be connected to pins 59.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are sections taken of a putting green 10' which is designed for permanent outdoor installation. As shown in FIG. 13, green 10' includes a bumper 12' secured along its edge by means of a flange 12a' by a series of bolts 71 fastened into a concrete base 72. The artificial turf 14', with suitable backing 14a' is then simply laid upon the green in the same manner as described with respect to the previous embodiment. The holes 73 for the cups 74 are preformed or drilled into the concrete base, as are the holes which receive the pivot pins for the various contour changers (not shown). FIG. 14 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 13 in every respect except that the bumper 12' has been omitted. In this case, however, the concrete 75 has been poured to form a bumper 75a which takes the place of the bumper strip of the previous embodiments. Cups 74 are provided as before. In both of the embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14, it should be understood that other features including hole plugs 26 and contour changers 18a and 18b are provided for varying the position of cups and the contours of the putting surface.

By way of summary, the novel putting green of the invention is weather proof, and is thus susceptible of outdoor or indoor use. The base support when spaced above ground or floor level is sufficiently strong to permit walking thereon by a number of people. Contours of the putting surface can be changed to simulate nearly any kind of putting surface. The calibrating means of the invention permits accurate repositioning of contour changers. The green is preferably made of easy to handle, standard units which can easily be assembled, stored or transported.

It will be understood that the foregoing description has related to particular embodiments of the invention and is, therefore, representative. In order to appreciate fully the scope of the invention, reference should be made to the appended claims.