US2938729A - Golf practicing device - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 196@ R. v. BILLFALDT 2,938,729

GOLF' PRACTICING DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1958 zNvENTOR //.ssbu L V 5ML/:mar

df. BY u am f//s ATTORNEY United States Patent O GOLF PRACTICING DEVICE Russell V. Billfaldt, 8405 Raylin Drive, Houston 24, Tex.

Filed Get. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 770,731

1 Claim. (Cl. 273-178) This invention relates to a golf practicing device, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and eicient device which may be used by a golfer for practice in the home or out of doors to improve his or her game.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and eicient golf practicing device which is so constructed that the ball, after entering the top opening and striking the bottom wall, will be expelled by gravity to the right or left of the device, thereby enabling the golfer to putt any number of balls without having to stop to remove the balls from the container.

Other objects and advantages of the present device will be apparent throughout the following specication and claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the golf practicing device;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof, partly in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

By referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that designates the base or bottom wall which is provided with a rear upwardly and forwardly inclined rear wall 11. This wall 11 in turn terminates in a forwardly and downwardly inclined top wall 12. The forward free edge 13 of the base or -bottom wall 10, and the forward free edge 14 of the top wall 12 are riveted or otherwise secured in tight fitting overlying relation by means of suitable securing elements 15. The top wall 12 is provided With a large circular ball entrance aperture 16, which extends from a point close to the forward free edge 13, and also close to the top edge of the rear wall 11, as is shown in Figure l.

Particular attention is directed to the construction of the base or bottom wall 10, and it will be noted by considering the drawing that this bottom wall 10 is provided with a forward `rearwardly and upwardly inclined upper surface 17, which tapers toward a rounded apex 18 located near the center of the aperture 16 of the top wall 12. A central longitudinally extending ridge 19 extends from the rounded apex 18 to the rear wall 11. This ridge 19 defines laterally extending and downwardly inclined ball discharge surfaces 20 and 21, which extend in opposite direction to the open sides 22 and 23 of the device.

2,938,729 Patented May 31, 1960 The present device, for the sake of simplicity of manufacture, is preferably formed from a single blank sheet of material which may be easily fabricated. The aperture 16 is formed in the top wall 12 and the base or bottom wall 10 is formed in the shape described, and the rear wall 11 is bent upwardly and forwardly, as shown in Figure 2. The forward free edges 13 and 14 are then secured together to provide the finished product.

In the construction shown, it is necessary to provide the large aperture 16, because of the incline of the top wall 12 and the formation of the base or bottom Wall 10. This arrangement defines a ball entrance and discharge opening approximately the size of a cup or hole on a conventional putting green. It is necessary for a ball to reach approximately the position of the ball A shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, or to strike the rear wall 11 so that it may be discharged either through the open side 22 to the right, or to the open side 23 to the left of the device. The balls by being discharged either toward the right or the left of the device by gravity, because of the inclined surfaces 20 and 21, will enable the golfer to putt any number of balls without having to stop to remove the balls from the container or device. The size of the aperture 16 and the force of the golfers stroke, will cause any of the balls properly entering aperture 16 to be directed upwardly over the surface 17 toward the ridge 19 and outwardly through either of the open sides 22 and 23 from the inclined discharge surfaces 20 and 21. If desired, the device may be anchored in position in any conventional manner.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

'A practice golf game device comprising a single piece of sheet material bent upon itself with the free ends in registering relation to provide an integrated bottom wall, rear wall, top wall, and open sides, said bottom wall inclined upwardly and rearwardly vfrom its free edge towards an apex substantially in the center thereof, a longitudinally extending, centrally located ridge formed in said bottom wall between said apex and said rear wall defining oppositely disposed, laterally extending ball discharge surfaces leading downwardly and outwardly towards said open sides, said rear wall extending upwardly and forwardly from said bottom wall, said top wall disposed forwardly and downwardly from said rear wall towards the free edge of said bottom wall, means connecting the free edges of said top wall with the free edge of said bottom wall, said top wall having a ball receiving opening therein, one edge of said opening lying adjacent the connected free edges of said top and bottom walls, whereby a ball entering said opening and contacting said bottom wall will roll to either side thereof to be discharged through the open sides of the device out of the path of travel of another ball put into play.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,911,402 Scurlock May 30, 1933

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