US1864030A

US1864030A - Practice device for golf

Info

Publication number: US1864030A
Application number: US473377A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chester W Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-08-06
Filing date: 1930-08-06
Publication date: 1932-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-21

Description

June 21, 1932. c. w. R055 1,364,030

PRACTICE DEVICE FOR GOLF Filed Aug. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 21, 1932. c. w. R055 PRACTICE DEVICE FOR GOLF Filed Aug. 6. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 *ivvevzo'r 0 m W. @074 3 wa a.

Patented June 21, 1932 1 UNITED STATES CHESTER W. ROSS, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS PRACTICE DEVICE non. GOLF A ppliction filed August 6, 1930. Serial No. 473,377.

This invention relates to a practice device for golf.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a simple and compact practice device which may be used for acquiring proficiency in the various strokes used in playing the game of golf.

Another object is the provision of a device which does not require an extensive space for use and which maybe used either indoors or out of doors.

A further object is to provide a device which maybe used by two persons or more in a competitive manner as a game.

Otherobjects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view ofa device constructed in accordange with my invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3 -3 in Figure 5; Figure 4 is a similar view on line Figure 5; Figure 5 is a central, vertical-sectional view on line 55 in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a plan view of the deflector shown in side elevation in Figure 2, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view on line 7 7 in Figure 1. V

Referring to the drawings, 8 designates a casing of any suitable form and material, but preferably circular in plan and of light wood or metal,- fastened by screws 9 to a base 10 and having a central inner passage 12 opening at the front and extending toward the rear, and two side

inner passages

14 and 16 extending from the rear and opening out one oneach side of said central passage. The central passage 12 is formed by two

side walls

18 and 20 and an inclined floor 22 supported at its rear end by a cross-pieceor wall 24 set upright at a distance from the rear portion of the casing on the base 10 thereof.

Interposed between the wall 24 and the rear portion ofthe casing is a block 26 having a central apex 28 which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the central passage 12, the topside of the block 26 on each side of the apex being inclined downwardly therefrom and loading to one of the

side passages

14 or 16 so that a golf ball travelling through the central'passage will drop off the end thereof on one side or the other of the apex and be deflected into one of the side passages and come out at the front of the casing. Secured tothe inner face of the rear portion of the casing by screws 30 is a block 32 having acurved face 34 adapted to deflect upwardly a golf ball travelling through the to central passage with some force. Thesides of the space between the wall 24 and block 32 may be closed on each side by partition 36 lying in the same plane as its

respective side wall

18 or 20 and by partition 88 surrou'ndthe opening of its

respective passage

14 or 16 so that a ball deflected by the apex of the block 26 will be directed into the mouth ofits respective side passage. The spaces between the

side walls

18 and 20 and the casing are covered by panels 45 inclined slightly down wardly toward the center passage so that golf balls landing on said panels will roll into the center passage and out of the front opening.

The

passages

14 and 16 are preferably in the form of

curved tubes

40 and 42, each fastened at one end to the block 32 and at the other end to a block 44 fastened to the casing At their outer ends the two tubes 40 and v 42 are arranged respectively at openings '46 and 48 in the casing, one on each sideof the central passage so that a ball travelling through either of the tubes emerges from the casing adjacent to the front opening of passage 12.

The top of the casing is provided with a cover 50 fastened to the casing by screws 52 and inclined downwardly from the rear'portion of the casing to the front, said cover bep ing provided with a plurality of circular openings 54. In the drawings the cover is shown as provided with nine openings which may be numbered from 1 to 9 inclusive, re spectively, to represent the nine holes of a golf course, but the cover may be provided, if desired, with a different number of holes. The holes 54 have bevelled edges for seating circular disks or plugs 55'therein for closing all of the holes or any number of them when desired. Thetop faces of the disks 55 are other resilient material. Preferably the cover 50, disks 55 and the floor 22 of the central passage are covered with suitable ,felt cloth 57 similar to billiard cloth or the like.

The floor 22 of the Central passage may be extended a short distance through the front opening in the casing in order to engage the ground so that a ball travelling along the ground will enter the central passage without meeting any obstruction.

In addition I have provided an inclined runway 60 which may be connected to the casing by a plate 62 cutout on a circular line to fit the circular front portion of the casing and to partially enclose the same on the sides. The plate 62 is provided on its under face with a defending flange 64 adapted to fit around the front upper edge of the casing to hold the plate in position, and the casing on each side is provided with a spring clip 66 fastened thereto by screws 68 to receive depending lugs 70 on the two sides of the plage 62. The runway is hinged to the plate 62 by suitable hinges 72 and a set screw 74 is provided attaching it thereto. The plate and runway are made of any suitable material and are preferably covered with felt or other suitable fabric 76. In Figure 7 is shown a cross-section of one form of runway in which the side edges 77 are turned upwardly and around to form guiding edges for a ball travelling along the runway and to keep it thereon.

In order to prevent golf balls from wedging under the runway as they emerge from the front or the side openings of the casing, I provide a deflecting device shown in Figures 2 and 6 consisting of a right-angle deflector 80 adapted to set up-right on the ground and provided with a pair of upright wires 82 having their ends bent to engage holes in brackets 84 secured to the under face of the runway. Golf balls passing out at the front of the casing and rolling downwardly will strike the deflector and be turned to one side or the other where they may be picked up by the player, thereby preventing balls wedging under the runway and requiring it to be lifted. v

The runway is shown as made in two sections capable of being telescoped to a limited extend for varying its length, the flanges 77 onone part enclosing the edges of the other part.

My device is capable of various uses for acquiring proficiency in the numerous strokes used in the game of golf. For instance, in putting the device may be used either with or without the runway. The central passage 12and front opening are approximately the same width as the standard cup in a golfgreen and when the casing alone is used the player stands at various distances and endeavors to putt the ball into the front opening. If the proper force and direction are employed the ball will enter the central passage drop over the inner end thereof and being deflected into a side passage will roll out of the front of the casing on one side or the other of the central opening. If the right direction is attained but too much force is used the ball will be deflected upwardly and will generally emerge through one of the three rear holes in the cover of the casing. IVhen the runway is used for putting strokes, the player may practice direction by aiming for a certain hole in the cover. Such use of my device, however, either indoors or outof-doors will undoubtedly increase the proficiency of the player in putting strokes and enable him to improve his direction and his ability to gage and control the force of his strokes. I

The device without the runway may also be used for acquiring proficiency in getting out of traps by placing the ball on sand at a distance from the casing, with the object of raising the ball from the sand by the use of the proper club in order to land it in one of the holes in the top cover of the casing. When the casing is used out-of-doors it may be placed at various distances from the player and proficiency acquired in getting out of traps and bunkers by its use.

By setting up back of the casing a canvas screen 90 (Figure 1) which may be supported by suitable standards or uprights, my

device may be used for driving,,in which case if the ball is driven in approximately the cen ter of the canvas screen it will bound back and may enter one of the holes in the top of the casing, and by using the numbers on the holes, a competitive feature may be introduced between a plurality of players using the device. The device may be used generally by players in competition which adds an incentive and a spur to the practice.

My device will be found especially valuable in teaching players direction and force in all of the various strokes employed in the game of golf, and it is capable of use either indoors or out-of-doors. It may be used in a number of different ways and thereby maintain the interest of the person or persons using it, which interest is further accentuated by the fact'that it is possible to indulge in competition and to score the results attained by each player.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the precise constructibn herein shown and described since it may be embodied in various other constructions all; within the purview of the following claims. T

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing having a front opening, an inclined runway extending from said opening towards the rear wall of said casing, a deflector interposed between the rear end of said runway and said rear wall for deflecting balls to one side or the other and a passage on each side, each passage extending from one side of said deflector and opening out in the front of said casing on one side of said runway.

2. In a device of the character described, a cylindrical casing having a front opening, an inclined runway extending from said opening towards the rear wall of said casing, a deflector interposed between the rear end of said runway and said rear wall and below said rear end for deflecting balls to one side or the other and a passage on each side of said deflector opening out on one side of said casing.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing having a front opening approximately equal in width to the diameter of a golf green cup, an inclined runway extending from said opening towards the rear wall of said casing, a deflector mounted on the rear wall of said runway for deflecting balls upwardly and a top plate on said casing hav ing a plurality of openings permitting the passage of balls therethrough.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing having a front opening approximately equal in width to the diameter of a golf green cup, an enclosed inclined runway of the same diameter as said opening extending from said opening towards the rear wall of said casing and a passageway extending from the rear end of said runway and opening out said casing adjacent said front opening.

5. In a device of the character described, a casing provided with interior passages opening out the front thereof and having an inclined top plate provided with a plurality of circular openings, said openings having beveled edges and a plurality of circular disks or plugs having beveled perimeters for seating in said holes to close the same, an inclined runway adapted to be detachably connected to the front of said top plate and having its outer end adapted to rest upon the floor or ground and a deflector underneath said runway for deflecting golf balls rolling out of said casing to one side or the other of the runway.

6. In a device of the character described, a casing having an inclined top plate provided with a plurality of circular openings, a passage in said casing under said top plate opening out in the front of said casing, an inclined runway detachably connected to the front of said top plate and having its outer end adapted to rest on the ground, and a deflector underneath said runway for deflectof said casing and a deflector underneath said runway for deflecting golf balls rolling out of said casing to oneside or the other of said runway.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing having a top plate provided with a plurality of circular openings, an inclined runway connected to said top plate, said runway being made in two sections telescopically connected forvarying the length of said runway and a plurality of passages in said casing for delivering golf balls passing through the openings in said top plate out of said casing adjacent said runway.

9. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a casing having a top plate provided with a plurality of circular openings and having interior passages whereby golf balls dropping through said openings are delivered out the front of said casing and a screen of canvas on other suitable material supported in vertical position back of said casing into which golf balls may be driven in order to be deflected from said screen into the holes in said casing.

10. In a device of the character described, a casing having an inclined top plate provided with a plurality of circular openings, a straight passage in said casing under said top plate having a downwardly and outwardly curved bottom opening out in the front of said casing and an inclined runway detachably connected to the front of said top plate above said passage opening and having its outer end adapted to rest on the ground.

11. In a device of the character described, a casing having an inclined top plate provided with a plurality of circular openings, an inclined runway detachably connected to said top plate and having its outer end adapted to-rest on the ground and a plurality of passages within said casing and extending from a point within said casing forwardly and to opposite sides of said runway for delivering golf balls dropping through said openings in said top plate out at the front of said casing adjacent said runway.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of July, 1930.

CHESTER W. ROSS.