US3511506A

US3511506A - Golfing target

Info

Publication number: US3511506A
Application number: US720014A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nigel Schollick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-04-11
Filing date: 1968-04-10
Publication date: 1970-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 1987-05-12
Also published as: GB1150685A

Description

nswaLmK 3,511,506

eowme TARGET Filed April 10. 1968 T May 12, 1970 FIG.2.

INVENTOR 484 Swa /ca ATTORNEY U.S. Cl. 273-179 United States Patent O 3,511,506 GOLFING TARGET Nigel Schollick, 6 Barnton Park Crescent, Edinburgh 4, Scotland Filed Apr. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 720,014 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 11, 1967, 16,585/ 67 Int. Cl. A63b 57/00, 63/00, 69/36 2 Claims ABSTRACT or no; DISCLOSURE A golf ball target wherein a hinged flap closes an aperture in a concave golf ball return surface. An electric buzzer is operated when the flap is moved inwardly by a struck golf ball. The electrical circuitry includes an operating plunger spring-loaded to bear on the inside of the flap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to games.

It is an object of the invention to provide a game which can be used for practising golf shots.

According to the invention, a game comprises a target, an aperture in the target closed by a hinged flap, an electric switch arranged to be closed by movement of the hinged flap inwardly of the housing, and a signal device operable when the switch is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a golf practising game,

FIG. 2 is an end view of the game with a wall removed, and

FIG. 3 is an end view of an alternative construction.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf practising device comprises a housing with a base 1 and two side members 2 which are of roughly right triangular shape but each having a front edge which curves inwards of the housing. A front face 3 is a target face and is secured to the front edges of the side members 2 so as tocurve inwards of the housing. A back 4 is secured to the upright rear edges of the side members 2 and has an opening providing access to the interior of the housing and closed by a detachable cover 5.

If a golf ball is driven on to the curved front face 3 of the housing by a player standing in front of it, the ball will be returned to the player owing to the shape of the front face.

The centre of the front face is marked with a target which may, for example, represent a golf hole. An aperture 6 is provided in the curved front face of this target. This aperture 6 is closed by a flap which can swing about a hinge fixed on the inside of the front face. An electric switch 9 is supported on a bracket 10 inside the housing and has an operating plunger 11 which can be depressed "ice to close the switch 9. This plunger 11 is loaded by a spring 12 to its open position and bears against the inner or rear side of the flap. The switch 9 is connected to an electric battery 13 and a buzzer 14 or other audible or visual signalling device. Thus, if a ball hits the flap, the flap will swing about its hinge to depress the plunger, close the switch and sound the buzzer or operate a visual signalling device as the case may be. The flap will return to its normal position under the action of the spring load ing of the plunger.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the target face is not the front face of a closed housing, but is a wall supported in its position of use by a leg or strut 15. The switch, buzzer and battery are supported on the back of the target face and are enclosed in a removable cover 16.

An audible signalling device is preferred because this enables the golfer to keep his head down while practising his putting.

The invention has been described above as havin an inwardly curving face. It may, however, if desired, have a straight face.

What I claim is:

1. A golf practising device comprising a target, an aperture in the target closed by a hinged flap, an electric circuit and switch arranged to be closed by moveunent of the hinged flap inwardly of the target and a signal device operable when the switch is closed, said target being an inwardly curved front face of a housing, said face forming a return surface for golf balls, and the electric switch having an operating plunger springloaded to bear on the inside of the flap, so that inward movement of the flap displaces the plunger to close the electric circuit, the circuit including an electrically operable buzzer.

2. A golf practising device comprising a target, an aperture in the target closed by a hinged flap, an electric circuit and switch arranged to be closed by movement of the hinged-flap inwardly of the target and a signal device operable when the switch is closed, said target being a curved wall providing a concave target surface for returning golf balls, the electric switch being secured to the rear of the wall and having an operating plunger which is spring-loaded to bear on the flap so as to resist inward movement thereof, movement of the plunger in response to inward movement of the flap closing an electric circuit including an electrically operable buzzer secured to the rear of the wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,689,476 10/ 1928 Brumder. 3,133,733 5/1964 Elseroad 273102.2 X 3,288,467 11/1966 Rudolph 273- X GEORGE I. MARLO, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.