US2383866A - Practice device for golf putting - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 28, 1945. H. A. KLING PRACTICE DEVICE FOR GOLF PUTTING Filed Nov. 17, 1943 zsneets-sheet 1 I flw- I Aug. 28, 1945. H. A. KLING PRACTICE DEVICE FOR GOLF PUTTING Filed Nov. 17, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,383,866 I I PRACTICE DEVICEFOR'GOLF PUTTING Harold A. Kling, New Haven, Conn.

Application November 17, 1943, Serial'No. 510,631 1 Claim. (Cl. 273' 35) This invention relate to game apparatus in the nature of practice devices for golf putting, and more particularly to an apparatus for indoor use intended to'improve a persons skill in putting to a marked degree.

The game apparatus used in the past, for putting practice indoors, has been open to a number of objections. Previously, the conditions of playing on the outdoor green were not sufficiently approached to be of real value. Another objection was that the golf balls being used in repeated putts were not undersufficient control and became dispersed over the room so that their collection by the'player was very inconvenient. These are some of the objections which the present invention is intended to obviate. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus in which the ball, after being struck by the club, moves over a planar surface throughout its course, it being necessary, in order to reach the target and obtain a hit or point, for the ball to pass over or through a predetermined space of a Width which usually is about the same as the inside diameter of the usual golf cup used on the outdoor green.

It is also an object to provide an apparatus such that there is a control in the nature of a collection of the balls which reach the target, and a similar control for those which miss the target, in order that, after the completion of a series of strokes, the picking up of the balls for the continuation or renewal of the game is facili tated.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and finally pointed out in the claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying my improvements, showing the same disposed for example on the carpeted floor of a room;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the floor, and the floor covering, in section;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the apparatus, the casing being partially broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the blank used in making the casing which, in this particular instance, is of cardboard.

The particular apparatus selected for illustration is of a type adapted for use on a carpeted floor or a floor having a fairly large rug, Where the person desiring to improve his putting game may propel the ball over the fabric surface a discarpet, this casing having, in its front wall, an

opening of a width approximating that of the internal diameter of the ordinary golf cup. The opening-presenting portion of the casing provides the target over or through which the ball on the floor can roll, and, if the ball passes through the opening in the casing, the stroke is regarded as successful, Whereas, if the ball fails to enter the casing through the opening, it is a miss. The balls sent by successful shots are, of course, collected in the casing where they are readily accessible by lifting the casing from. the floor. For the purpose of exercising a control in the nature of a collection upon the balls which miss, a structure is associated with the target portion of the apparatus at the respective sides thereof which is intended to deflect the balls which miss the target and, by causing their impingement' against suitable surfaces, to bring about a sort of retrieving action whereby, after the series of'balls has been shot, those which have missed thetarget will be found in and can be picked up from a space having convenient proximity to the target.

In the drawings, the casing 6 used in this particular example is made of cardboard and presents. a rectangular, boxlike structure, preferably ofgreater depth than width, this structure being'open at'the bottom so that the lower edges 1 of its upright walls rest upon the carpet 8, which lies upon the floor 9.

In this example, the front wall It] of the casing has a special formation in that it includes a middle portion H disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axi of the casing, and two sloping side portions I2 and I3, respectively. This front wall I0 is cut away at M to provide the target opening or port through which the golf ball can roll, the opening preferably being of a width at least approximating that of the internal v diameter of the ordinary golf cup. It will be understood that the target opening is defined at the bottom by the carpet and along the sides and top by portions of the wall In, and in the particular example shown the side edges M of this opening are in line with the joints or angles between the sloping portions l2, l3, and the ortion II. It is understood, of course, that the opening in the casing is of notchlike formation the opening'and will be a miss.

and of slightly greater height than the ordinary golf ball. For the purpose of facilitating aiming at the target, there may be, for example, a slight downward projection, indicated at IS, in the nature of a pointer providedcentrally of the opening I4 at its upper edge.

As an aid in retrieving the misses, the sloping surfaces l2, l3 are provided, and, in the example selected for illustration, each of these cooperates with an external barrier which projects from the casing and against which the ball may impinge. The barriers are indicated at l6 and I1, respectively, and each consists of alight strip of wood, for example, conveniently attached at one end to the casing, projecting from the side of the casing at an appropriate angle for the convenient retrieval of the balls. Adjacent their forward ends, each of the strips l6, l1 carries a downward and slightly slanting anchoring projection in the nature of a pin or stud l8 adapt ed to engage the floor covering so as to position the strip at the desired angle. The rear end of the. strip is usually. attached to the casing in a detachable manner as by being extended into and-'frictionally engaging a slitted portion l9 provided in the side of the casing.

In Fig. is shown a suitable blank such as may be employed in the construction of a cardboardcasing of the kind herein illustrated.

The .mannerof using the apparatus will be more or less obvious from the foregoing description. It will be seen that'there is provided, sub

stantially normally to the course of the ball roll ing over the floor or other surface, a generally upright wall having a target opening of notch formation having a width approximating that of the ordinary golf cup or an identical width, said opening being open at the bottom but closed by juxtaposition against the floor or like surface. This provides a very satisfactory target in a device for the practice of putting, A skillfully shot ball will pass through the openingwith clearance on the opposite sides. A less skillfully shot ball may graze one side edge of the opening but still go into the casing. Where the-ball makes sufilcient impingement against the side edge of the opening, it will be deflected laterally away from The deflecting walls l2 and [3 should be arranged at an angle which is between 15 and to the plane of the target opening and, preferably, this angle will be about 23as in theexampleshown. With such an angle; the ball, if it strikes fairly a side edge of the target opening, is not so effectively resisted as to cause the ball to bounce back; on the other hand, the sloping wall, owing to its angle and to its slight support atthe bottom and to theflgive of the material of which it is made, is permitted to yield slightl and thereby facili- I tate the deflection of the ball to one-side, so that,

if it does not go through the opening, it will be deflected in such a manner that it willstrike the barrier on the corresponding side of the opening. If the ball strikes one of the sloping walls with a fair amount of force, it will be deflected so as lightly to hit the corresponding barrier by caroming, and it usually travels forwardly from the barrier to a slight extent before coming to rest, as in the case of two of the balls shown in Fig. 4.

In playing .on the golf green, the point of most difficulty with which the player is presented is the direction of the course of the ball by the golf club or putter at such angle to the green as a whole that the ball will travel in a line intersecting the cup. By the present invention, an

' apparatus is provided wherebyvery eifective and valuable practice in what may be termed angular direction of the ball can be obtained. Moreover, it is yer: easy to obtain space for setting up the apparatus; it can be readily set up; and, in setting it up, no damage is done to the furnishings of the room. When the device is not in use, the casing can be turned over and. employed as a receptacle for the balls and the detachable barriers.

The casing may be made of other material than cardboard, if desired, and it will be understood that various arrangements of the barriers and otherrfeatures shown may be adopted. In certain phases of the invention, the character of the target presented to the player is the principal consideration as has been brought out-above, and in other phases the retrieval of the balls is an important consideration as appears from the foregoing description. While the device is particularly intended for use indoors it may also be employed outdoors, where it may be used on a smooth lawn, clay surface or other surface in an appropriate place, obviating the need of installing a golf cup. In the claims, the term floor is employed in a general sense. Various changes in the details of the structure can be made without departing from the principles of the invention and the scope of the claims.

What I claim is: Apparatus for use in practicing golf putting, comprising an upright target member cut away at the middle front portion to provide an opening defined at its lower part bya floor against which the member is placed, through which opening a ball rolling on the floor can roll without obstruction, said target member having immediate- .ly adjacent the respective sides of said opening slanting deflecting surfaces, and also having walls leading forwardly from the outer side margins of said deflecting surfaces, andprojecting lateral barriers adapted to be impinged by the balls striking the deflecting surfaces, said barriers being joined to said forwardly extending walls and creating side pockets adjacent said walls.

, HAROLD A. KLING.

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