US3604710A

US3604710A - Indoor golf putting game

Info

Publication number: US3604710A
Application number: US850373A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Jacobs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-15
Filing date: 1969-08-15
Publication date: 1971-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-14

Abstract

An indoor golf putting game having a series of elongated relatively narrow putting greens, each with a cup at one end, laid out upon a horizontal surface. The putting greens have variously curved contours built upon the lower horizontal surface. The spaces between the putting greens are level. The entire area, including the spaces between the putting greens, is covered with a carpet to simulate the grass upon an outdoor golf putting green. Markers are placed at the entrance end of each putting green, with information thereon as to the number of the hole, and the number of strokes that is par for the hole. A removable panel, bearing indicia indicating the length of the putting green, is secured to each marker by a dovetail joint. The game is played with conventional golf balls and putters such as are used for outdoor golf.

Description

United States Patent 2,003,074 5/1935 Gage 4884 S. Boulevard N.W., Canton, Ohio 3 9 1 2 i h- H 44118 3,302,344 2/l967 Wolfe et al. 850373 Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo [72] Inventor JohnJacobs Attorney-Frease 84 Bishop Aug. 15, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [54] INDOOR GOLF PUTTING GAME ABSTRACT: An indoor golf putting game having a series of elongated relatively narrow putting greens, each with a cup at 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

one end, laid out upon a horizontal surface. The putting greens have variously curved contours built upon the lower horizontal surface. The spaces between the putting greens are 273/17611, 52/l03, 273/32 [51] leveL The entire area, including the Spaces between the [50] Field of putting greens, is covered with a carpet to simulate the grass 87'21 upon an outdoor golf putting green. Markers are placed at the References cited entrance end of each puttmg green, with 1nformat1on thereon as to the number of the hole, and'the number of strokes that is par for the hole. A removable panel, bearing indicia indicating 273/176 E the length of the putting green, is secured to each marker by a 273/176 B dovetail joint. The game is played with conventional golf balls 273/87 E and putters such as are used for outdoor golf.

| I L i\\\\\\\ null.

INDOOR GOLF PUTTING GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an indoor golf putting game comprising a series of relatively narrow, elongated putting greens corresponding in number to the number of holes in a golf course. The several putting greens are built up upon a horizontal surface so that they have various contours of different elevations. Markers indicate the entrance end of each putting green and a cup is located at the other end.

2. Description of the Prior Art While various indoor putting devices have been proposed, it is not known that any indoor putting game has been produced comprising a series of putting greens corresponding in number to the number of holes in a golf course, each putting green having an entrance end and a cup at its other end, the several putting greens being built up to different elevations upon a generally horizontal surface, and having variously curved contours, the entire area being covered with a carpet to simulate grass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general terms, the invention may be briefly described as comprising an indoor golf putting game comprising a series of nine, or multiples of nine, putting greens located in succession upon a generally horizontal floor surface.

Each of the putting greens is elongated and relatively narrow with markers at one end and a cup at the other end. The putting greens are built up to various elevations above the horizontal floor surface, and have different contours of various curvatures.

A carpet, to simulate the grass on an outdoor golf putting green, is located over all of the putting greens and the spaces therebetween.

Each of the markers indicates the number of the hole, the distance from the entrance end of the green to the cup, and the number of strokes that is par for the hole.

These markers are portable so that they may be moved closer to or farther from the cup, so that the length of each putting green may be shortened or lengthened, as desired. They also may be moved from left to right or vice versa to give a different character to the putting course. The distance in feet may be indicated on each marker on a removable panel, so that the same may be easily and readily changed when the markers are moved relative to the cup.

It is therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide an indoor golf putting game comprising a series of putting greens of various lengths, elevations and contours laid out upon a generally horizontal floor surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indoor golf putting game of the character referred to in which the putting greens are elongated and of relatively narrow width.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indoor golf putting game in which there are markers at one end of each putting green and a cup at the other end thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an indoor golf putting game of this type in which the putting greens and the spaces therebetween are covered with a layer of carpet to simulate grass.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indoor golf putting game of the character referred to in which the markers are portable and indicate the number of the hole, the length of the putting green and the number of puts that is par for the hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an indoor golf putting game in which the length of each putting green in feet is indicated on each marker on a removable panel.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of an indoor golf putting game embodying the invention, showing a series of nine putting greens;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview through the first, third and fifth putting greens, taken on the line 2-2, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the sixth and eighth putting greens, taken on the line 3-3, FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the first, second, eighth and ninth putting greens, taken on the line 4- 4, FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, detached perspective view of one of the markers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in which similar numerals refer to similar parts.

In FIG. 1 is indicated more or less diagrammatically a series of nine indoor putting greens constructed in accordance with the invention. It should be understood that in actual practice, the indoor golf putting game may generally include an additional series of nine putting greens of the same general arrangement as shown, although the lengths, elevations and contours of the several greens may vary.

As best seen in FIG. I, a series of nine holes or putting greens is laid out in a generally horizontal area indicated generally at 10. This area is of sufficient length and width to permit nine putting greens of about 6 feet in width and of any desired length to be placed thereon with spaces of 2 feet in width between the sides of adjacent putting greens. An entrance to this area is indicated at 11 and an exit at 12. v

The several putting greens are built up on the surface on the floor and each has a cup at the far end thereof. As shown in FIG. I, the first putting green, indicated generally at 13, is located near the entrance 11. The floor upon which the game is constructed is indicated at 14, and may be of cement, wood, or other suitable material.

The first putting green 13 may be built up upon the level surface of the floor 14 with cement, wood, plastic or other material as indicated at 15. Each of the greens may be of a different contour and a different length. A pair of portable markers indicated generally at 16, laterally spaced apart as shown, is located at one end of each putting green marking an imaginary line 17 upon which the ball is placed to putt.

A cup 18 is located in the longitudinal median line at the other end of the green. As shown in the drawing, the markers 16 for the first putting green are located on the level horizontal surface of the floor 14 and the cup 18 for the first putting green is located near the tapered end of the elevated portion 15 of the green.

The second putting green, indicated generally at 19, is spaced laterally from the first green, a narrow level space 20 separating the two. The second putting green is much shorter than the first green and, as indicated by shading in FIG. 1, the markers 16 at one end thereof and the cup 18 at the other end thereof are both located upon the level surface, intervening portions of the second green being sloped upward and then downward.

The third putting green, indicated generally at 21, is shown as of a length between the lengths of the first and second greens. The markers 16 are shown located upon the level surface at the entrance end of the butting green 21, while the cup 18 is located near the end of the elevated portion. As shown by shading in FIG. 1, as well as in section in FIG. 2, the third putting green 21 is built up upon the level surface of the floor 14 with cement, wood, plastic or the like, as indicated at 22, the third putting green sloping gradually upward from the markers 16 and then gradually downward to a point beyond the cup l8 thereof.

The fourth putting green, indicated generally at 23, is shown as slightly longer than the first green. As indicated by shading on FIG. 1, the markers 16 for the fourth green are located on the level horizontal surface and at a point spaced beyond the markers and the putting green 23 slopes gradually upward and then gradually downward toward the other end, the cup 18 thereof being located near the inclined end of said downward slope.

As seen in FIG. 1, the fourth putting green may be in alignment with the second putting green and spaced laterally from the third putting green by a narrow level strip 25.

The fifth putting green, indicated generally at 26, is aligned with the first and third putting greens and, as shown, is of a length slightly more than the second green 19, but less than the third green 21. This green is built up with suitable material, as indicated at 27 in FIG. 2, so that it slopes up gradually from the markers 16 thereof and then downward gradually toward its other end, the cup 18 thereof being located near the end of said slope. The fourth putting green 23 is separated from the fifth green 26 by a narrow level path 28. Arrows 29 located between the markers 16 show the direction in which the ball is played on the first to the fifth greens inclusive.

Each of the markers 16 may be made of wood, plastic or other suitable material and is shaped as shown in FIG. 5, in which the right-hand or lower marker for the first putting green is shown. Each of these markers is square in cross section with a top face 30 inclined downwardly and toward the front surface 31. The number of the hole is marked on the outer side surface 32 of the marker. Par for the hole is marked on the front surface 31 and the distance or length of the putting green from the markers 16 to the cup 18 is marked on the inclined surface 30.

Since the markers 16 are portable and may be moved toward or from the cup 18, the length of each putting green may be varied as desired. For this purpose, a removable panel 33, having the distance in feet thereon, may be slidably located in a dovetail groove 34 so that when the length of a putting green is changed the marking of the distance on the corresponding markers may be easily changed.

The sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth putting greens are arranged oppositely to the first five putting greens, the markers thereof being located at the right-hand ends of the putting greens and the cups 18 at the left-hand ends thereof. The sixth putting green, indicated generally at 35, is laterally spaced from the fourth green 23 by a narrow level strip 36. Both the markers 16 and cup 18 of this green are shown on the level surface, while intermediate the markers and cup the green is elevated considerably by a suitable filler material 37, as above described. This green is shown as of slightly greater length than the fourth putting green 23.

The seventh putting green, indicated generally at 38, is shown entirely level throughout its length between the markers l6 and cup 18. This green is spaced laterally from the sixth putting green by the relatively narrow level strip 39. The seventh putting green is shown as only slightly longer than the second green.

The eighth putting green, indicated generally at 40, is lorigitudinally aligned with the sixth green 35 and is spaced laterally from the second green 19 by a relatively narrow level space 41. The markers 16 and cup 18 of the eight putting green 40 are both shown as located on the horizontal surface, while the intervening portion of the eight putting green 40 is inclined gradually upward and then downward by means of a suitable filler material 42, as shown in FIG. 3.

The ninth and last putting green of the series is indicated generally at 43. This green is longitudinally aligned with the seventh green 38 and is laterally spaced from the eight green 40 by a narrow level space 44. The marker 16 and the cup 18 of this last green are shown as located on the level surface while the intervening portion of the green is sloped gradually upward and then downward by means of suitable filter material 45, as shown in FIG. 4. The cup 18 of this green is located adjacent to the exit 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, at least some of the putting greens may be inclined laterally in either direction so as to simulate natural outdoor conditions. Arrows 46 show the direction in which the green 6 to 9 are played. A carpet 47, simulating the grass upon an outdoor golf putting green, covers the entire area including the putting greens and the flat spaces therebetween.

With no intention of limiting the putting greens to any specific dimensions, but merely as a suggestion of one example of the game, each of the putting greens may be about 8 feet in width and the highest points of the same may be about a foot above the floor surface. Level spaces between putting greens may be about 2-feet wide. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the first green may be 24-feet long, the second 9-feet long, the third l8-feet long, the fourth 27-feet long, the fifth l2-feet long. The sixth green may be 30-feet long, the seventh IO-feet long, the eighth IS-feet long, and the ninth 35-feet long. These lengths, of course, may be varied considerably by moving the markers of each green toward or from the cup as desired.

Suggested pars for the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 may be as follows: for each of the first, third, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth holes, par 2, and for each of the second, fifth and seventh holes, par 1.

What I claim is:

1. An indoor golf putting game comprising a series of elongated relatively narrow putting greens of different surface contours and lengths, each putting green having a cup at one end and means marking a starting point at the other end, said means marking a starting point comprising a laterally spaced pair of portable markers, one of said markers being located at each side edge of the putting green, each marker having information thereon as to the number of the hole and the number of strokes that is par for the hole, a removable panel bearing indicia indicating the length of the putting green being secured to each marker by a dovetail joint, said putting greens being separated by level spaces all located in the same horizontal plane, and a carpet simulating grass covering said putting greens and said level spaces.