EP0386099A1

EP0386099A1 - Arrangement for golf

Info

Publication number: EP0386099A1
Application number: EP19880910152
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bo Grenthe
Original assignee: ATREMA AB
Current assignee: ATREMA AB
Priority date: 1987-11-17
Filing date: 1988-10-27
Publication date: 1990-09-12
Also published as: DK121190D0; FI902426A0; SE8704528D0; SE459395B; SE8704528L; WO1989004700A1; JPH03501569A; DK121190A; AU2721688A

Abstract

Agencement susceptible d'être utilisé par des joueurs de golf afin de leur permettre de pratiquer leurs coups en direction de cibles spécifiques de manière simple et dans de petits espaces. Un dispositif de projection de balles, lequel comporte une ouverture (34) destinée à recevoir un certain nombre de balles (35), se fixe sur un bâti (3) se montant sur un socle (40), lequel bâti est agencé de manière à se plier entre une position aplatie de stockage et une position déployée de réception.Arrangement capable of being used by golfers to allow them to practice their shots towards specific targets in a simple manner and in small spaces. A ball projection device, which has an opening (34) for receiving a certain number of balls (35), is fixed on a frame (3) which is mounted on a base (40), which frame is arranged so as to fold between a flattened storage position and an extended receiving position.

Description

A r ran ge men t f o r g o l f

The present invention relates to an arrangement for golf in connection with the training of ball strokes aimed at specific targets, consisting of a ball trap which includes an opening arranged to receive a number of balls and is capable of being attached to a frame capable of erection on a base.

Previously disclosed arrangements, which are intended to be capable of being used by golfers in order to train their strokes, include nets under tension, against which balls which have been struck can be arrested. Such arrangements call for considerable space, however, and do not perm it any accurate st roke training, as a consequence of which they cannot be described as a simple arrangement which can be set up quickly in small spaces or can train the accuracy of strokes. An example is presented in GB, A, 2135587.

Other previously disclosed golf training arrangements, which are admittedly so executed as to take up l i t t l e space in conjunction with the storage and transport of same, but which are not capable of being used for practising all kinds of golf strokes in limited spaces, irrespective of the kind of club used, and with which it is possible to record straight strokes witn the number of hits achieved without having to watch the ball, are presented in US, A, 3,049,353, GB, A, 169 578 and GB, A, 803183, amongst others.

The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to make available a golf training arrangement of the indicated kind, which solves said problems by simple means, and which is so arranged as to be capable of occupying little space in conjunction with storage and transport.

Said object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the frame, which is made up of a lower supporting frame component and an upper supporting frame component with a number of hinges situated between said two frare components and between frame component elements forming part of the frame components, is so arranged as to be capable of being folded between a collapsed storage position and an υnfolded receiving position, for which purpose said upper supporting frame component is in the shape of an arch of essentially concave form, viewed in a direction from the intended ball-striking place, and in that the opening in the cloth is elongated and is so arranged as to extend vertically centrally along the central area of the cloth.

The invention is described below as a preferred illustrative embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a golf training arrangement executed in accordance with the present invention as a perspective view at an angle from the front;

Fig. 2 shows the arrangement viewed from below and from behind;

Fig. 3 shows a ball trap forming part of the arrangement, viewed in perspective;

Fig. 4 shows a frame forming part of the arrangement arranged in the unfolded receiving position; Fie. 5 shows the frame in the course of being folded; and

Fig. 6 shows the frame in tne collapsed storage position.

In accordance with the present invention an arrangement 1, which is so arranged as to be used by golfers in connection with the training of strokes and other movements associated with striking the ball towards a specific target, consists of a ball trap 2 and a frame 3. The arrangement 1, which is intended to be so arranged as to be capable of being collapsed into a compact unit so as to take up little space during storage and transport of same, for this reason comprises a frame 3 which exhibits means enabling it to be folded between an unfolded storage position I, as shown in Fig. 6 in the drawings, and an unfolded receiving position II, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 in the drawings, in which it can be erected on a suitable base.

When in the storage position I, the frame 3 is collapsed enabling it to be accommodated in a bag 4, or to be enclosed in some other way within some other kind of cover, as illustrated in Fig. 6, for example.

Said means can consist of hinges 5--13, which are situated between frame components 31, 3^II forming part of the frame 3, frame component elements 14--19 and a support 3^III.

The frame 3 can be formed from a lower supporting frame component 31 and and an upper supporting frame component 3^II with a number of hinges 5 situated between both said components and between frame component elements 14--15, 16--17, 18--9 forming part of the components 3^I, 3^II, so that the upper supporting frame component 3^II, which may be in the shape of an arch of essentially concave form, viewed in the direction 20 from the intended ball--striking place 21, can be folded cowr in the directicr 22 o f the lower supporting frame component 3*, before the frame component elements 14--15, 16--17, 18--19 can be folded together in pairs in the direction 23, 24 towards the centre 25 of the frame.

Between the two frame components 3^I, 3^{I I}, supports

3 ^{I I I} are so arranged as to extend diagonally, for example, and in the example illustrated said supports are in the form of stays 26, 27, which exhibit hinges 12, 13 enabling same to be folded together with the frame components 3^I, 3 ^{I I} . The supports 3^III are appropriately provided with locks 28, 29 enabling them to be connected in a detachable fashion to the supporting frame component

3^II as required, as will be explained later. The frame 3 is constructed in such a way that it forms two frame ends 3A, 3B situated at a certain distance from one another, which ends can be formed so as to resemble a curved 'L' viewed from the side, and which are mutually connected via frame component elements 14--19 fitted with hinges. Because the hinges 5--13 are so arranged as to be capble of being folded through at least 90°, and the frame component elements 14--19 and the ends 3A, 3B are adapted to one another with regard to their form, the frame 3 can be folded between said positions II; I, with the rear frame component elements 16, 17 and the front elements 14, 15; 18, 19 being capable of being folded in opposite directions 24 and 23 in relation to one another, and with the ends 3A, 3B being so arranged, when in the collapsed position, as to be capable of being moved in a direction towards 30 and away from 31 one another.

In this way the frame component elements 14—19 can be arranged at a level in relation to one another such that they can be held with one of the frame component elements situated above another frame component element, and in the illustrative example the rear frame component elements 16, 17, which can be lockable to associated ends 3A, 3B via clasps or other detachable connecting means 22, 23, ane so arranged as to be acccmrrodatec socve the two front frame component elements 14, 15; 18, 19 which are stacked one above the other.

The ball trap 2, which contains at least one opening 34 for receiving a number cf balls 35 which are to be hit from the striking place 21, which may be situated at a certain distance X from the arrangement 7, for example a couple of metres in front of the ball trap 2, is capable of being attached to said frame 3, appropriately in a detachable fashion, so that the frame 3, after the removal of said ball trap 2, can be folded together as previously stated. The ball trap 2 appropriately consists of a preferably bag—shaped cloth made of a strong and resistant material, such as nylon or some other synthetic fibre material, for example, in conjunction with which the ball—receiving opening 34 is elongated and is so arranged as to extend vertically centrally along the central area 2A of the cloth. The opening 34 discharges appropriately into a ball—receiving pocket 36 attached to the front part 2^I of the cloth.

A picture 37, for example cf a golf flag, can appropriately be arranged on said pocket 36 and visible in a direction from the ball—striking place 21, although a picture 38 of a golf course can also appropriately be arranged on that part of the ball trap 2 which surrounds the opening 34 of said front part 21.

After releasing the locks 28, 29 of the supports, said ball trap 2 can be passed over the frame 3 in the direction of the arrow 39 for the purpose of receiving the frame 3 when it is being held in the unfolded receiving positicr II. The ball trap 2 can be retained effectively when the arrangement is taken into service after repositioning the supports 3^III following their introduction through holes in the ball trap 2 and locking of the locks 28, 29 to the frame 3.

The function of the arrangement 1 should have emerged from the foregoing, although briefly it can be stated that, depending on the type of golf club used, the balls 35 will be distributed over the height of the opening if the strokes have been correctly executed, and will be received by the bag 36 so that t hey can subsequently be emptied from same. Any balls 35 which do not pass through the opening 34 will effectively be caught and arrested by that part of the ball trap which surrounds the opening 34, and will drop down onto the base 40, which may be be a floor or the ground, depending on where the arrangement 1 is erected.

The arrangement 1 is easy to operate, since it can be used anywhere, and it is also easy to transport and store thanks to its collapsibility.

The invention is not restricted to the example described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may be modified within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. For example, the ball trap 2 may be modified and need net, as stated, consist of a bag--shaped item which is so arranged as to be passed over and thus attached to upright frame components, but may also consist of a single cloth capable of attachment at its opposite edges to frame components, for example by means of a thicker section of the cloth which is held in cloth--securing grooves extending along said frame components. The hinges between the frame components can also be modified, and accordingly these may be so arranged and dimensioned as to permit the stays between the upper and lower frame components

3^I, 3^II to be dispensed with.

The opening in the cloth can also be modified with regard to its width, extent and construction, and it may be executed as a slit in the cloth, for example, with a ball—receiving pocket behind.

Claims

P a t e n t C I a i m s

1. Arrangement for golf in connection with the training of ball strokes aimed at specific targets, consisting of a ball trap (2) which includes an opening (34) arranged to receive a number of balls (35) and capable of being attached to a frame (3) capable of erection on a base (40), c haracterized in that the frame (3), which is made up of a lower supporting frame component (3^I) and an upper supporting frame component (3^II) with a number of hinges (5-13) situated between said two frame components (3^I, 3^II) and between frame component elements (14-19) forming part of the frame components, is so arranged as to be capable of being folded between a collapsed storage position (I) and an unfolded receiving position (II), for which purpose said upper supporting frame component (3^II) is in the shape of an arch of essentially concave form, viewed in a direction from the intended ball-striking place (21), and the opening in the cloth is elongated and is so arranged as to extend vertically centrally along the central area (2A) of the cloth.

2. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 1, characte r i ze d in that the ball trap (2) consists of a cloth capable of being attached to the frame, which cloth exhibits at least one ball-receiving opening (34).

3. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 2, charact e r i z e d in that the opening (34) discharges into a ball-receiving pocket (36) attached to the cloth.

4. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 1, characte ri zed in that the frame (3) exhibits two frame ends (3A, 3B) situated at a certain distance from one another, which frame ends are attached to one another via frame component elements (14-19) fitted with hinges.

5. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 4, charact e r i z e d in that the hinges (5-12) are so arranged, and the frame component elements (14-19) and the ends (3A-3B) are so adapted to one another with regard to their form, that the f rame (2) can be folded between said positions (II; I), with the rear and the front frame ccmpcnent elements (16, 17 and 14, 15; 18, 19) capable of being folded in opposing directicrs (24 and 23) in relation to one another, and with the ends (3A, 3B) capable of being moved in a direction towards and away from one another (30 and 31), in order to form a parcel-like enclosure.

6. Arrangement according to any of the Patent Claims 4-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hinged frame component elements (14-19) which extend between said two frame ends (3A, 3B) are situated in pairs, with the arrangement in its collapsed position (I), in different planes stacked in rows one above the other (Fig. 6).

7. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 6, c h a r a ct e r i z e d in that the frame component elements (18, 19), which extend at the top of said upper frame component (3^II) between the frame ends (3A, 3B), are so arranged as to be situated between the other frame component elements with the arrangement in its collapsed position (I).

8. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame (3) is capable of being collapsed and placed inside a bag (4) or some other cover, after releasing a lock (28, 29) and removing the ball trap (2).