AU731996B3

AU731996B3 - Golf putting system

Info

Publication number: AU731996B3
Application number: AU16418/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brett Bofinger; Greg Bofinger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-24
Filing date: 2001-01-24
Publication date: 2001-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2002-04-12

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: GOLF PUTTING SYSTEM Name of Applicant: BRETT BOFINGER and GREG BOFINGER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 GOLF PUTTING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tile of a modular playing surface and in particular to a tile for use as a playing surface for putting, boules, lawn bowls, and the like.

The invention has been developed primarily for use as a tile of a modular playing surface and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Many aids exist to allow a golfer to practice their putting away from the golfing green. For example, several devices exist which allow a golfer to practice their putting at home. Some of these devices include battery or mains powered units with a spring facility to return an accurately putted ball to a user. Other devices such as the modular and adjustable putting surface of US Patent No.6050901, simulate a putting green with variable slope and a hole in which a practicing golfer may attempt to putt their golf ball. However, such putting practice devices tend to be cumbersome in operation and expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a tile of a modular playing. surface, the tile on its underlying surface including means for removably mounting at least one of a plurality of adjusters of predetermined heights whereby the slope of the tile can be varied depending on the selection of the at least one adjuster.

Preferably, the removable mounting means includes a plurality of recesses located at predetermined positions on the underlying surface of the tile, each of the 40034 3 recesses being adapted to removably receive a respective one of the selected adjusters.

Preferably, the plurality of adjusters are in the form of posts of at least two different heights wherein the slope of the tile is determined by the selected adjusters.

Preferably, the tile includes interlocking means for removably coupling one or more adjacent tiles to form a playing surface, such as surface for putting, boules and/or indoor lawn bowls. Also preferably the interlocking means includes interlocking male and female members positioned on a perimeter face of the tile.

Preferably also, the tile is a square prism, having four perimeter faces, wherein one male member and one female member is located on each perimeter face.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the male member is the adjuster and the female member is the removable mounting means.

In one embodiment, the perimeter face is chamfered from an activity surface to the underlying surface.

Preferably, the activity surface includes a well arranged to receive a golf ball.

Preferably the tile is constructed of a resiliently flexible material such as a polymeric material.

Generally the tile is one of a plurality of tiles which together form the playing surface.

Preferably, a liner is positionable over the plurality of tiles. The liner which is in the form of artificial or synthetic grass may include one or more holes which correspond with a respective well of one or more tiles.

In an alternate embodiment, a slope biasing member is positionable between the tile and the liner. In the alternative embodiment, the slope biasing member may be in the form of, for example, a cone or a hemisphere.

40034 4 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.in which; Figure 1 is a plan view of a first preferred embodiment of a tile according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the tile of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an adjuster according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a plurality of tiles of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a putting surface according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the preferred embodiment of the invention provides a tile in the form of a flexible matt 10. The matt 10 includes an underlying face 12 and an activity surface in the form of a putting surface 14.

The flexible matt 10 is typically constructed of a resiliently flexible material, such as a polymeric material. For example, it may be constructed of polyethylene or polypropylene. In alternative embodiments, the matt 10 is less resiliently flexible.

For example, it may be constructed of neoprene.

The activity face, in one embodiment, may include a surface of artificial or synthetic grass. The flexible matt 10 is typically in the shape of a square prism, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, however may be in the shape of a hexagonal prism, pentagonal prism, triangular prism, and so on.

The flexible matt 10 also includes means for removably mounting at least one of a plurality of adjusters in the form of posts 16. The removable mounting means are typically in the form of recesses 18 on -or adjacent the underlying face 12, although in alternative embodiments, the removable mounting means may be spigots, 40034 5 for example. Each recess 18 is arranged to receive a post 16. When the post is received in its respective recess 18, it extends beyond the underlying face 12. Therefore, when a flexible matt 10 has one or more posts 16 received in respective recesses 18, and the matt is placed on the ground, the putting surface 14 will have a varied slope with respect to the ground, depending on the placement of the one or more posts 16.

The underlying face 12 of the matt 10 may include strengthening longitudinal and lateral ribs 19. In one embodiment, the recesses 18 are located at junctions of the ribs 19.

In the preferred embodiment, the posts 16 would be available in several pre-determined lengths. This would allow the user to further vary the resultant slope of the putting surface 14 of the matt 10 when in use.

The matt also includes interlocking means for removably coupling one or more adjacent matts 10 together.

The interlocking means includes a male member in the form of a foot 20 and female member in the form of a shoe 22.

Each perimeter face 24 typically has one foot 20 and one shoe 22, though in other embodiments of the invention may have different combinations of feet 20 and shoes 22. The feet 20 and shoes 22 are arranged such that adjacent matts 10 can be removably interlockably engaged with one another, as shown in Figure 4.

The matt 10 may include a well in the form of a hole which is adapted to receive a golf ball.

Figure 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention in use, whereby a plurality of matts 10 are interlockably engaged via respective feet 20 and shoes 22 to form a super putting surface 26. A practicing putter may then stand at one end, for example end 27 of the super putting surface and attempt to putt a golf ball toward and into hole 25. Due to the removable interlocking engagement of the matts 10, the matt 10 which includes the hole 25 may be located in any desired position by the 40034 6 practicing putter. Also, the practicing putter may select a desired number of posts 16 to position in respective recesses 16 to provide the practicing putter with a variable slope along which to practice his or her putting.

In one embodiment of the invention, a liner in the form of a sheet 28 of synthetic grass, or the like, is placed over the super putting surface to both provide the practicing putter with a more realistic putting surface and also to cover the edges 30 of the matts 10. In this embodiment, the sheet 28 will have at least one corresponding hole 32 to correspond with a hole 25 of the flexible matt In another alternative embodiment, the perimeter faces 24 of the matt 10 are chamfered from the putting surface 14 to the underlying face 12. This arrangement is to prevent the formation of "cracks" forming between adjacent perimeter faces 24 of adjacent interlocked matts when posts 16 are placed in recesses 18 adjacent a perimeter face 24, raising the edge 30 adjacent the raised perimeter face 24, thus exposing the perimeter face 24.

Also, a barrier 34 may be provided to prevent misshit golf balls from leaving the super putting surface 26.

In another alternative embodiment, the feet 20 are detachable from their respective perimeter face 24 and may also serve the same function as the post 16 by being adjustable within a respective shoe 22 such that the foot may project from the underlying face 12.

In another alternative embodiment, one or more slope biasing members are positionable between the super putting surface 26 and the sheet 28. The slope biasing member is typically in the form of a cone, having a height of 5 mm, though may embody a variety of shapes, relative dimensions and heights. For example, the slope biasing member may be in the form of a hemisphere, having a radius of 1-20 mm.

Use of the slope biasing member allows the user to quickly vary the break of the playing surface without moving any matt 10 of the super putting surface 26.

40034 7 It will be apparent to the skilled reader that the preferred embodiment of the invention would be easily adapted for use a boules playing surface, or a lawn or carpet bowls playing surface, for example.

Now that the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the tile has at least the following advantages: 1. the tile can be used to provide a playing surface which is easily and compactly stored and transported; and 2. the tile allows for a user to employ several variations of a variable sloped putting surface for putting practice.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

40034

Claims

2. A tile according to claim 1 wherein the removable mounting means includes a plurality of recesses located at predetermined positions on the underlying surface of the tile, each of the recesses being adapted to removably receive a respective one of the selected adjusters.
3. A tile according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the plurality of adjusters are in the form of posts of at least two different heights wherein the slope of the tile is determined by the selected adjusters.
4. A tile substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 24 th day of January 2001 Brett Bofinger and Greg Bofinger By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK 40034