Color coordinated golf hole reducer & eye training device

United States Patent Application 20060079340

The invention (reducer) consists of one (1) piece of circular foam or sponge to be placed into a regulation golf hole for the purpose of reducing the opening of the regulation golf hole. The invention will have an outer diameter slightly larger than the size of a regulation golf hole, with a circular hole cut out of the middle. The inner circular cut out diameter is smaller than a regulation golf hole but larger than the size of a regulation golf ball. Since the size of the outer diameter is slightly larger than the size of a regulation golf hole, the reducer is held in place inside the regulation golf hole frictionally. The reducer is to be comprised of a foam or sponge material. The reducer is to be color coordinated to resemble a regulation golf putting green and regulation golf hole. A regulation golf hole is a circular hole cut into a golf putting green, in which the surrounding grass is a shade of green, and then the inside of the regulation golf hole is painted white.

Niemczyk, Thomas A. (Melville, NY, US)

10/963174

04/13/2006

10/09/2004

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473/179

A63B69/36

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GRAHAM, MARK S

Thomas A. Niemczyk (Melville, NY, US)

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. A golf hole reducer apparatus comprising: a substantially circular cylindrically shaped compressible and expandible golf hole reducing insert comprising an outer diameter greater in size than, but substantially similar in size to, a diameter of a wall of a regulation golf hole adapted to cause said golf hole reducing insert to frictionally engage the wall of the regulation golf hole, wherein said golf hole reducing insert is adapted to engage with the wall of the regulation golf hole without causing any damage to the regulation golf hole, a substantially circular cylindrically shaped cavity in said golf hole reducing insert including an inner wall of diameter greater than a diameter of a regulation golf ball, but less than the diameter of the wall of the regulation golf hole, wherein said inner wall is colored substantially white in appearance, and an upper surface of said golf hole reducing insert is colored substantially green in appearance to resemble a golf green.

5. The golf hole reducer apparatus of claim 4, wherein said cavity runs completely through said golf hole reducing insert.

6. The golf hole reducer apparatus of claim 4, wherein said golf hole reducing insert comprises at least one of: foam and/or sponge material.

7. The golf hole reducer apparatus of claim 4, wherein said golf hole reducing insert is resilient to avoid damage.

8. A golf hole reducer apparatus comprising: means for reducing a diameter of a regulation golf hole without damaging the regulation golf hole for training comprising: golf hole reducing insert means for compressing during insertion, expanding upon release, and frictionally engaging a wall of the regulation golf hole, said insert means comprising an outer diameter greater in size than, but substantially similar in size to, a diameter of the wall of the regulation golf hole adapted to cause said golf hole reducing insert means to frictionally engage the wall of the regulation golf hole, wherein said golf hole reducing insert is adapted to engage with the wall of the regulation golf hole without causing any damage to the regulation golf hole, a substantially circular cylindrically shaped cavity in said golf hole reducing insert including an inner wall of diameter greater than a diameter of a regulation golf ball, but less than the diameter of the wall of the regulation golf hole, wherein said inner wall is colored substantially white in appearance, and an upper surface of said golf hole reducing insert is colored substantially green in appearance to resemble a golf green.

9. The golf hole reducer apparatus of claim 8, wherein said cavity runs completely through said golf hole reducing insert means.

10. The golf hole reducer apparatus of claim 8, wherein said golf hole reducing insert means comprises at least one of: foam and/or sponge material.

11. The golf hole reducer apparatus of claim 8, wherein said golf hole reducing insert means is resilient to avoid damage.

12. A method of training putting comprising: reducing a diameter of a regulation golf hole without damaging the regulation golf hole comprising: compressing a golf hole reducing insert, said golf hole reducing insert comprising an outer diameter greater in size than, but substantially similar in size to, a diameter of the wall of the regulation golf hole adapted to cause said golf hole reducing insert means to frictionally engage the wall of the regulation golf hole, wherein said golf hole reducing insert is adapted to engage with the wall of the regulation golf hole without causing any damage to the regulation golf hole, a substantially circular cylindrically shaped cavity in said golf hole reducing insert including an inner wall of diameter greater than a diameter of a regulation golf ball, but less than the diameter of the wall of the regulation golf hole, wherein said inner wall is colored substantially white in appearance, and an upper surface of said golf hole reducing insert is colored substantially green in appearance to resemble a golf green; releasing said golf hole reducing insert in the regulation golf hole, and allowing said golf hole reducing insert to expand to frictionally engage a wall of the regulation golf hole.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said cavity runs completely through said golf hole reducing insert.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said golf hole reducing insert comprises at least one of: foam and/or sponge material.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said golf hole reducing insert is resilient to avoid damage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Regardless of your skill level; it is imperative for a golfer to practice in order to improve their golf score. Most golf courses provide a practice putting green where golfers, prior to playing a round of golf can spend time practicing putting their golf ball towards a regulation golf hole with the intent to roll or sink the ball into the regulation golf hole.

The purpose of this invention is to reduce the size of the opening of a regulation golf hole. When a golfer is practicing putting at a regulation golf hole with the reducer in place it will be a greater test of the golfers skill, concentration, and focus. Once a golfer uses the reducer and can consistently sink their golf ball into the smaller opening, it would appear that when they go out to play their round of golf it would make the regulation golf hole seem larger and easier to sink more putts, resulting in better scoring.

Golf is a game of feel, touch, and good habits. Therefore, the color of the reducer is a key aspect of the invention. When a golfer reads a putt or looks down the line of a putt it would not be considered a good practice to be looking at something that you would not see on an official golf hole. If a golf player can visualize a regulation golf hole with the reducer in place as something not out of the ordinary it would lead to enhanced feel, touch, and good habits. With a golfer retaining to memory the look and feel of a smaller opening, when the golfer is playing in a real situation, the regulation golf hole should seem much larger but not out of the ordinary due to the colors. The color of grass on all golf greens are not the same shade of green, but most golf holes are painted white on the inside.

It is extremely important for golfers to not destroy the opening or lip of a regulation golf hole. Hence, this reducer is comprised of foam or sponge, which eliminates the risk of damaging the regulation golf hole. In addition, since the reducer is affixed to the inside of the regulation golf hole using friction there would be no need to poke holes or affix the reducer to the regulation golf hole where damage could be made.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, #1 represents the golf hole reducer; the reducer has an outside diameter #10 slightly larger than a regulation golf hole #2 with a hole cut out of the center #11 with an inner diameter #12 smaller than a regulation golf hole #2 but larger than a regulation golf ball #3. The top of the reducer #15 has a greenish color to match the color of a golf green #4. The inside of the reducer #14 is whitish in color to match the inside of a regulation golf hole #2

The reducer #1 is made of foam or sponge material that can be easily compressed with a human hand then placed inside a regulation golf hole #2 and released. Once released, the reducer #1 re-takes its original circular shape and will frictionally be affixed inside the regulation golf hole #2 ready for a golfer to start practicing putting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of this invention is to provide a golfer with a practice device that reduces the opening of a regulation golf hole to a smaller diameter.

The second objective is to train the eye of a golfer to aim at a smaller opening while still having the feel and look of a regulation golf hole.

The third objective is that the reducer can be easily inserted and withdrawn from a regulation golf hole without damaging the opening of the regulation golf hole.

The forth objective is to make the reducer out of a one-piece foam or sponge material, making manufacturing easy and inexpensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. # 1—A side view of reducer (not to scale)

FIG. # 2—A top view of the reducer (not to scale)

FIG. # 3—A view of the reducer affixed inside a regulation golf hole (not to scale)