JPH10179832A - Ring cover for teeing up golf ball and golf practice machine using the ring cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golf practice machine to permit safe practice of golf training free of damage likely when a striking force of a golf club is applied to a cover ring furnished on a mat of artificial lawn grass. SOLUTION: A hole for teeing up is bored in an artificial turf mat 3 for golf exercise, and a base having a ring capable of removable mounted in alignment with the teeing up hole and a brush 4b are formed in a single piece structure from a synthetic resin, wherein the bristles of the brush 4b are raised uniformly from the oversurface of the base to become so tall that their tip level is approx. the same as the level of the mat oversurface, and the brush 4b is given an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of golf ball and us arranged as following the ball elevating direction as a bundle of synthetic resin fibers, and the density of this bundle of fivers is set to the range which allows elevation of golf balls.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically teeing a golf ball at a driving range, and more particularly to an improvement in a ring cover in which holes are not visible below the ball after teeing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A golf practice machine for automatically teeing a golf ball is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-54-9712.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 4-88976, many mechanisms have been conventionally proposed.

In such a golf practice machine, a ball is supplied one by one to the lower side of the artificial turf mat, and a tee for receiving the supplied ball is moved up and down, thereby opening a hole in the mat. There is one that is raised from the top.

However, at the base of the tee protruding up to the mat, a hole formed in the mat appears large. When the trainee views the state where the ball is placed on the tee, the ball on the tee feels higher than the actual mat surface because there is a hole formed in the mat immediately below the ball. For this reason, the sensation of the tee shot in the actual course is lost, and the practice effect is likely to be affected.

In order to solve such a problem, a ring cover is attached to a portion of a hole to be opened in a mat, and a synthetic resin brush provided on the ring cover is arranged in a ring shape so that the hole is invisible by the brush. The present applicant has proposed and filed an application as Japanese Patent Application No. 6-178453.

[0006]

With such a ring cover, the hole below the ball is difficult to see after teeing up, so that even when practicing with a mat, it is effective without discomfort. Practice is possible.

On the other hand, the ring cover is hit at the time of a shot, so that a certain degree of mechanical strength is required. For this reason, in the prior application, the ring cover is configured by a metal annular base and a bundle of brushes implanted in the ring base, and the stability of the posture when the base is fitted into the mounting opening opened on the mat, and the like. I try to plan.

However, if the brush is worn too much, the surface of the club easily hits the base during the shot, and if the club is shot so as to bite into the mat, the base is hit directly. There is a risk of getting it. Accordingly, the surface of the club may be damaged, and such inconvenience is likely to occur especially for a beginner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice machine that can be practiced safely without damage due to the impact of a club on a covering provided on an artificial turf mat.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A golf ball tee-up ring cover according to the present invention comprises a base having a detachable annular body aligned with a tee-up hole formed in an artificial grass mat for golf practice. A brush, which is uniformly raised from the upper surface of the base and has a height approximately equal to the upper surface of the artificial turf mat, is integrally formed with synthetic resin, and the brush has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the golf ball and is made of synthetic resin. And a fiber bundle of synthetic resin is set in a range in which the golf ball can be raised.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A ring cover includes a ball supply device under a floor provided with an artificial turf mat on a surface thereof, a tee for receiving and supporting a ball from the ball supply device, In a golf practice machine provided with an elevation drive mechanism for raising the artificial turf mat from the hole formed in the artificial turf mat, the golf practice machine can be used detachably in the hole formed in the artificial turf mat.

In the present invention, the inner diameter of the annular base formed by the bundle of fibers made of synthetic resin is smaller than that of the golf ball, but does not hinder the rise of the golf ball. After the golf ball has penetrated, the brush formed by the bundle of synthetic resin hides the hole. And since the ring cover is made of synthetic resin elastic material including its base, even if the club cuts into the base part at the time of shot and hits it, the impact given to the ring cover is absorbed, and the ring cover itself The occurrence of cracks and surface scratches of the club is prevented.

[0013]

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a golf practice machine provided with a ring cover according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part as viewed from above an artificial turf mat.

The mechanism for teeing up the ball is the same as the mechanism described in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-178453 filed earlier.

In the figure, a rubber mat 2 is arranged on a floor 1 and an artificial turf mat 3 is installed thereon. The floor 1 and the rubber mat 2 have holes 1a and 2a large enough to allow the golf ball B to pass through, and the artificial grass mat 3 on the upper surface has holes 3a larger than the holes 2a of the rubber mat 2. . A ring cover 4 is detachably provided in the hole 3a of the artificial turf mat 3.

Below the floor 1, there is provided an elevating drive mechanism 6 for driving up and down the tee 5 on which the golf ball B is placed.
The lifting drive mechanism 6 includes a plurality of guide rods 6a protruding downward from the floor 1 and a lifter 6b vertically penetrating the guide rods 6a and holding the tee 5 on the lifter 6b. It was done. For lifting and lowering operation of the lifter 6b, one pin 6d is provided on a disk 6c that is rotated by an electric motor (not shown), and the lifter 6b is moved at a constant stroke by abutting the pin 6d against the lifter 6b. Move up and down.

Further, a ball supply device 7 for feeding the golf ball B to the tee 5 at the lowered position is provided. The ball supply device 7 includes a stopper 7a that rotates in synchronization with the operation of the disk 6c that moves the lifter 6b up and down, and a chute 7b that sends the golf ball B toward the tee 5 at the lowered position. The stopper 7a is an arm 7c which strikes a row of golf balls B on the chute 7b.
And the golf balls B are sent out to the tee 5 one by one by intermittent rotation of the stopper 7a.

3A and 3B show the details of the ring cover 4, in which FIG. 3A is a perspective view seen from the upper side, and FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view.

The ring cover 4 includes a base 4a made of rubber or a soft synthetic resin having elasticity, and a number of brushes 4b integrated with the base 4a.
The brush 4b is made of, for example, a vinylon-based resin, and in a normal case, is made by bundling fibers of the same or slightly smaller diameter as the turf of the artificial turf mat 3 using a nylon-based resin. .

In the example shown in FIG. 3, when the hot-melted rubber or synthetic resin is manufactured by molding as the annular base 4a, the lower end of the same fiber as the grass of the artificial grass mat 3 is implanted in the base 4a. By cooling and solidifying the base 4a, the brush 4b in which the fibers are bundled can be integrally joined.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example in which the ring cover 4 is manufactured using only the fibers of the artificial turf mat 3.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the space between the lower mold 50 and the upper mold 51 is filled with the fibers 3b of the artificial turf mat 3, and only the lower mold 50 is heated. Melt the bundle. As a result, the fibers 3b are integrally formed except for the portions protruding from the lower mold 50 and the upper mold 51, and the spine fibers 3b coming out of the lower mold 50 after cooling and solidification are cut, and By arranging the upper ends of the fibers 3b, the ring cover 4 using only the fibers 3b of the artificial turf mat 3 can be obtained as shown in FIG.

Since the base 4a is formed of rubber or synthetic resin, the base 4a and the brush 4
The molding of b can be facilitated, and the base including the base 4a can be configured as an elastic body.

Here, the outer diameter of the base 4a is such that it fits tightly into the hole 3a of the artificial turf mat 3, as shown in FIG. Assembled to sit down. At this time,
The ring cover 4 is fixed in the hole 3 using the elastic force around the hole 3a of the artificial turf mat 3 and the elastic reaction force of the base 4a itself.

The brushes 4b have a slightly higher planting density on the inner peripheral side of the base 4a, and are arranged so as to be obliquely inclined toward the center as shown in FIG. The normal inner diameter of the annular brush 4b is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the golf ball B, as shown in FIG. This allows the golf ball B to pass through by passing through the fiber on the side. The upper end of the brush 4b is made to coincide with the upper surface of the surrounding artificial grass mat 3, so that no step is formed.

In the above configuration, when the tee 5 is at its lowered position, as shown in FIG.
As a result, the golf ball B is sent to the tee 5, and the golf ball B is held at the upper end of the tee 5. Thereafter, when the disk 6c rotates and the pin 6d pushes the lower surface of the lifter 6b, the lifter 6b starts to rise as shown in FIG.

As the lifter 6b rises, the golf ball B at the upper end of the tee 5 passes through the holes 1a and 1b, enters the ring cover 4, and pushes up the brush 4b. As a result, the fibers of the brush 4b made of synthetic resin such as nylon are elastically deformed so that the central opening is opened, and finally the golf ball B passes through the ring cover 4 as shown in FIG. It pierces above the mat 3 and stops.

When the tee 5 reaches the set height as shown in FIG. 6, the brush 4b once deformed outward is restored to the original state, and the holes 1a and 2a below the golf ball B are hidden. The upper surface also becomes a flat surface of the same degree as the surface of the artificial turf mat 3.

After the golf ball B is teeed up on the artificial turf mat 3, the ring cover 4
Brush 4b replaces the artificial turf mat 3 and covers the lower side of the golf ball B. For this reason, there is no longer a feeling that the golf ball B has a hole under the tee 5 and the golf ball B is largely floating as in the prior art, and the shot can be practiced without feeling uncomfortable.

Further, since the base 4a of the ring cover 4 is also made of an elastic material such as rubber or synthetic resin, the base 4a is only elastically deformed even if the club hits the base 4a in a shot. . For this reason, if the base 4a is made of a hard material such as a metal, for example, the club may be cracked by the impact of the club or jump out of the hole 3a of the artificial turf mat 3, whereas the ring cover 4 is left as it is. Hole 3a stably
Is held in In addition, since only the base 4a that is elastically deformed hits the club, there is no occurrence of surface scratches or the like.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing an example in which the artificial grass mat itself has the function of a ring cover integrally.

As in the example shown in FIG. 1, the cloth 1a forming the bottom surface of the artificial turf mat 8 to be set on the floor 1 and the rubber mat 2 in which the holes 1a and 2a are opened has these holes 1a and 1a.
A hole 8b having a size matching that of the hole 2b is formed, and an artificial grass brush 8c directly on the upper surface of the cloth 8a is integrally planted around the hole 8b at a density higher than other portions. And
The high-density artificial grass brush 8c in the hole 8b is arranged so as to be inclined toward the center of the hole 8b like the brush 4b of the ring cover 4 shown in FIG.

As described above, the golf ball B can freely pass from below by the artificial grass brush 8c planted on the fabric 8a of the artificial grass mat 8, and the hole 8b cannot be seen by the golf ball B when the golf ball B is teeed up. With the size of, a suitable practice can be performed as in the previous example. Further, since no metal material is included, there is no impact on the club head, and the cost is improved because only the artificial turf mat 8 needs to be processed.

FIG. 8 shows still another example, which is a cloth base having a hole 9a having an inner diameter large enough to allow the golf ball B to pass through the center of the ring cover as shown in FIG. 9 and an artificial turf brush 9c planted thereon. The artificial turf brush 9c is planted in a concentrated manner around the hole 9a, and its upper end is inclined toward the center of the hole 9a as shown in FIG.

The base 9 made of cloth is as shown in FIG.
It is aligned with the hole 3a of the artificial turf mat 3 shown in FIG. 1, and the edges are sewn together with a thread 9d to be integrated, so that it can be put on the rubber mat 2 and used. Note that the cloth base 9 may be bonded to the back surface of the artificial turf mat 3 with an adhesive instead of the thread 9d.

Even when such a cloth base 9 is used, the lower hole can be made invisible when the golf ball B is teeed up with the artificial turf brush 9c, and the metal material is not used. Obstacles due to impact or damage to the head are eliminated.

[0037]

According to the present invention, even if holes through which the tee penetrates are formed on the floor or the artificial grass mat, the holes are hidden by the cover of the synthetic resin fiber bundle after the ball is teeed up. be able to. For this reason, the height of the tee can be clearly judged from the artificial turf surface, and the practice without a sense of incongruity can be performed.

Since the ring cover is made of an elastic material including a base for integrally joining the lower ends of the synthetic resin,
Even if the club hits the base during a shot, the ring cover does not crack or deform, and the trainee can swing the club with peace of mind.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a golf practice machine equipped with a ring cover of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part as viewed from above the artificial turf mat.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a ring cover, and FIG.
Is a perspective view thereof, and (b) of the same figure is a longitudinal sectional view.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example in which a base and a brush are integrally formed using fibers of an artificial turf mat.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a state in which a ball penetrates a brush of a ring cover when a tee rises.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a teeed-up state.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing an example in which a ring cover is integrally provided on an artificial turf mat.

FIG. 8 is an example of a ring cover in which an artificial turf brush is planted on a cloth base, and FIG.
FIG. 3B is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the installation state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Floor 2: Rubber mat 3: Artificial grass mat 3a: Hole 4: Ring cover 4a: Base 4b: Brush 5: Tee 6: Elevating drive mechanism 7: Ball supply device 8: Artificial grass mat 8a: Fabric 8b: Hole 8c: Artificial turf brush 9: Cloth base 9a: Hole 9b: Artificial turf brush

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A base having a detachable annular body aligned with a tee-up hole formed in an artificial turf mat for golf practice, and an upper surface of the artificial turf mat which is uniformly raised from an upper surface of the base. A brush approximately equal in height is integrally formed of synthetic resin, and the brush has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the golf ball, and is formed as a bundle of synthetic resin fibers in the upward direction of the ball. And a tee-up ring cover in which the density of the synthetic resin fiber bundle is set within a range in which the golf ball can be raised. 2. A ball supply device under a floor provided with an artificial turf mat on the surface, a tee for receiving and supporting a ball from the ball supply device, and the tee is raised and lowered to open the floor and the artificial turf mat. A golf training machine comprising a lifting drive mechanism for raising the hole from the hole to above the artificial turf mat, and the tee-up ring cover according to claim 1 being detachably mounted in the hole of the artificial turf mat.