US3869128A - Driving mat for practicing golf shots - Google Patents

Driving mat for practicing golf shots Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3869128A
US3869128A US490487A US49048774A US3869128A US 3869128 A US3869128 A US 3869128A US 490487 A US490487 A US 490487A US 49048774 A US49048774 A US 49048774A US 3869128 A US3869128 A US 3869128A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
mat
lip
ball
supporting surface
driving
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US490487A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Reiji Ohashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3869128A publication Critical patent/US3869128A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/36—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
    • A63B69/3661—Mats for golf practice, e.g. mats having a simulated turf, a practice tee or a green area

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A driving mat used for practicing golf shots made of flexible material formed in tapering thickness so that it is substantially thicker at the front end then at the rear end, with the thick end being transversely relieved along the underside to define a cantilevered lip which overhangs, and is spaced above, the supporting surface.
  • a tee may be inserted into the mat near the edge of the cantilevered lip for supporting a golf ball.
  • the lip portion of themat in addition to being of cantilevered construction, is preferably surfaced with artificial textured turf made of flexible plastic, which, in addition to its non-rolling characteristic, provides a tough covering for the bodywhi'ch may then, for example, be made of relatively fragile sponge rubber.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a driving mat constructed in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of the mat of FIG. 1 positioned ona supporting surface
  • FIG. 3 is a fragment showing a teed ball
  • FIG. 4 is a fragment showing use with an unteed ball.
  • the body 16 is formed of rubber-like material to insure a high degree of flexibility in the region of the lip.
  • the artificial turf is made of flexible and durable plastic having a thin flexible fabric-like base 31 and integral upwardly extending and randomly bent blades or fibers 32 which form a deeply textured cushion.
  • the artificial turf is commercially available on a worldwide basis under the trademark ASTROTURF manufactured by Monsanto Corporation, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, lll.., 63 l 66.
  • the present mat is ideal for two types of driving practice. Where a ball is held in upraised position-by a tee, the condition of teeing off" is exactly simulated. Where, on the other hand. the ball is supported directly upon the fibers of the artificial turf as in FIG. 4, spaced above the body of the mat and without interposition of any tee, the condition of a fairway shot is created, a type of shot which is usually not permitted in driving ranges where more conventional mats are used.
  • the present mat is uniquely adapted to counteracting the effects of a swing which is too low.
  • the cantilevered lip portion 2 simply de- Turning now to the drawing there isshown in FlGS.
  • the mat rests on a flat supporting surface l5 and may be wholly or partly recessed in such supporting surface without departing from the invention.
  • the body 16 of the mat is of tapering thickness having a thickness 2 which may be on the order of an inch or less at the rear end and with the thickness flaring, particularly in the region 17, toward the front end of the mat to a thickness 1 which is substantially greater and which may, for example, be on the order of twice as great.
  • the thickened front end portion of the mat is transversely hollowed out to form a transversely extending flects harmlessly downward into the position shown dotted at 21a ('FIG. 2). This downward yielding movement not only protects the body 16 of the mat against a destructive blow, but the covering of artificial turf which is intimately secured to the lip retreats with the lip so as to avoid destructive impact enabling the turf to survive numerous misdirected blows.
  • the flexible body 16 and artificial turf 30 cooperate to protect one another.
  • the former by its yielding movement and the latter by its protection of 1 the body against scuffing by the club head.
  • the body may be made of a material which is not only flexible but which is substantially less durable than the dense materials conventionally used for driving mats. lndeed, the body may be expensively molded of foam rubber'while still achieving a long useful life.
  • the invention is not limited thereto and, if desired, the main advantages of the invention may be secured by using the body 16 alone without the durable textured covering. In such event it will be desirable to mold the body of good quality, highly flexible solid rubber or rubber-like material.
  • rubber-like is meant to include any substance, for example, synthetic rubber, having the resilient, flexible characteristics normally associated with natural rubber.
  • a permanently upstanding tee or supporting cup may be provided on the lip 21.
  • thinness of the lip is preferably such as to provide a high degree of flexibility, yet short of that which would result in droop.
  • a hazard associated with conventional driving mats is completely avoided, that is, the shock which is transmitted to the hands of the player resulting from impact when the ball is struck too low. All golfers have experienced the unpleasant numbing and stinging sensation which accompanies a solid, misdirected impact.
  • the present mat construction by deflection of the supporting lip, permits the club to follow through even where impact takes place at a level substantially below the ball, so that any sudden deceleration is avoided. This not only protects the hands of the player but protects the club itself against damage.
  • a conventional tee may be used for exactly simulating conditions on the course, it will be understood that the lip 21 of the mat may, if desired, be fitted with a conventional permanent" type of tee in the form of a short upstanding tubular member of rubber or the like.
  • a driving platform for practicing golf shots in the form of a mat having a body of flexible rubber-like material intended for resting on a flat supporting surface, the body being of smoothly tapering configuration having limited thickness at the rear end and substantially greater thickness at the front end, the front of the mat having a transversely extending relief on the underside to define a cantilevered lip several inches in extent which overhangs and is substantially uniformly spaced above the supporting surface, the top surface of the lip having means thereon for non-rolling support of a golf ball in striking position, the cantilevered lip being sufficiently thin so that when a golf club swung at the ball is swung too low, the lip, in the face of the impact, is free to yield by deflecting harmlessly downward toward the supporting surface thereby to minimize damage to the mat from the club head and to preclude any stinging or numbing sensation in the hands of the player.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)
US490487A 1973-12-06 1974-07-22 Driving mat for practicing golf shots Expired - Lifetime US3869128A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1973141250U JPS5085374U (ja) 1973-12-06 1973-12-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3869128A true US3869128A (en) 1975-03-04

Family

ID=15287558

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US490487A Expired - Lifetime US3869128A (en) 1973-12-06 1974-07-22 Driving mat for practicing golf shots

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3869128A (ja)
JP (1) JPS5085374U (ja)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3999765A (en) * 1975-07-18 1976-12-28 Roy I. Bishop Golf swing training apparatus
US5028052A (en) * 1990-05-11 1991-07-02 Miller Omer E Golf mat
US5046741A (en) * 1990-04-16 1991-09-10 Ahn Markham D Golf mat
US5188357A (en) * 1991-11-04 1993-02-23 Barnum Stephen J Pitching rubber
US5443870A (en) * 1994-05-24 1995-08-22 Lurie; Lewis Golf mat to simulate course conditions
US5467977A (en) * 1991-12-18 1995-11-21 Beck; John W. Portable pitching mound
US5593355A (en) * 1995-03-29 1997-01-14 Fore-Mat Products, Inc. Golf practice apparatus
US5662531A (en) * 1995-10-10 1997-09-02 Ibex Golf, L.C. Golf swing training mat for highly authentic practice
US5897443A (en) * 1998-02-26 1999-04-27 Glaser; Paul R. Golf practice mat
US6602113B2 (en) 1999-12-08 2003-08-05 2752-3273 Quebec Inc. Method for forming synthetic turf game surfaces
US6623373B2 (en) * 2001-12-06 2003-09-23 Peter Carlton Golf practice platform
US6679783B1 (en) * 2002-08-05 2004-01-20 Chung-Ming Lin Golf training device
US6740387B1 (en) 1998-06-09 2004-05-25 2752-3273 Quebec Inc. Synthetic turf game surface
US6902494B1 (en) 2004-02-13 2005-06-07 Dov Frishberg Golf practice device
US20080104914A1 (en) * 2001-01-15 2008-05-08 Alain Lemieux Resilient Floor Surface
US9586121B1 (en) 2014-06-11 2017-03-07 Sports Complex Design Group LLC Adjustable golf driving surface assembly
US10674701B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2020-06-09 Titan International, Inc. Agricultural mat and associated systems and methods
US10786723B1 (en) 2019-11-05 2020-09-29 Kevin Loftus Golf practice device, and method of practicing golf swings by hitting golf balls from replicated sloping topographical conditions, which include side-hill lies, up-hill lies, and/or down-hill lies, encountered on a golf course, off a simulated fairway and/or a simulated rough

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1594359A (en) * 1924-12-04 1926-08-03 Thomas W Estabrook Practice board
US2712939A (en) * 1953-04-02 1955-07-12 Sidney H Harp Golf swing indicator
US3467391A (en) * 1966-08-15 1969-09-16 Joseph Elesh Golf-driving brush mat
US3693979A (en) * 1970-08-06 1972-09-26 Lee E Koett Golf practice device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1594359A (en) * 1924-12-04 1926-08-03 Thomas W Estabrook Practice board
US2712939A (en) * 1953-04-02 1955-07-12 Sidney H Harp Golf swing indicator
US3467391A (en) * 1966-08-15 1969-09-16 Joseph Elesh Golf-driving brush mat
US3693979A (en) * 1970-08-06 1972-09-26 Lee E Koett Golf practice device

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3999765A (en) * 1975-07-18 1976-12-28 Roy I. Bishop Golf swing training apparatus
US5046741A (en) * 1990-04-16 1991-09-10 Ahn Markham D Golf mat
US5028052A (en) * 1990-05-11 1991-07-02 Miller Omer E Golf mat
US5188357A (en) * 1991-11-04 1993-02-23 Barnum Stephen J Pitching rubber
US5467977A (en) * 1991-12-18 1995-11-21 Beck; John W. Portable pitching mound
US5443870A (en) * 1994-05-24 1995-08-22 Lurie; Lewis Golf mat to simulate course conditions
US5593355A (en) * 1995-03-29 1997-01-14 Fore-Mat Products, Inc. Golf practice apparatus
US5662531A (en) * 1995-10-10 1997-09-02 Ibex Golf, L.C. Golf swing training mat for highly authentic practice
US5897443A (en) * 1998-02-26 1999-04-27 Glaser; Paul R. Golf practice mat
US6740387B1 (en) 1998-06-09 2004-05-25 2752-3273 Quebec Inc. Synthetic turf game surface
US6602113B2 (en) 1999-12-08 2003-08-05 2752-3273 Quebec Inc. Method for forming synthetic turf game surfaces
US20080104914A1 (en) * 2001-01-15 2008-05-08 Alain Lemieux Resilient Floor Surface
US6623373B2 (en) * 2001-12-06 2003-09-23 Peter Carlton Golf practice platform
US6679783B1 (en) * 2002-08-05 2004-01-20 Chung-Ming Lin Golf training device
US6902494B1 (en) 2004-02-13 2005-06-07 Dov Frishberg Golf practice device
US9586121B1 (en) 2014-06-11 2017-03-07 Sports Complex Design Group LLC Adjustable golf driving surface assembly
US10674701B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2020-06-09 Titan International, Inc. Agricultural mat and associated systems and methods
US10786723B1 (en) 2019-11-05 2020-09-29 Kevin Loftus Golf practice device, and method of practicing golf swings by hitting golf balls from replicated sloping topographical conditions, which include side-hill lies, up-hill lies, and/or down-hill lies, encountered on a golf course, off a simulated fairway and/or a simulated rough

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5085374U (ja) 1975-07-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3869128A (en) Driving mat for practicing golf shots
US2124123A (en) Golf practice mat or the like
US3397885A (en) Supporting structure and ball releasably suspended therefrom
US3401941A (en) Golf swing training device
US2968486A (en) Golf clubs
US6024654A (en) Golf tee setting apparatus
US3690676A (en) Golf ball tee
US3712628A (en) Golf teeing device
US2033269A (en) Rubber shield tee
US5803826A (en) User-friendly golf swing practice mat
US20010034277A1 (en) Batting practice attachment for baseball bats
US6155931A (en) User-friendly golf swing practice mat
US1550483A (en) Golf tee
EP0956110A1 (en) Golf practice apparatus
US3837646A (en) Pitching rubber
US1627012A (en) Golf tee
US2264802A (en) Golf practice device
US3139283A (en) Golf practice mat
US3622161A (en) Device for practicing golf strokes
US5269526A (en) Golf game apparatus
US3459107A (en) Means for simulating the rough on a golf course
JPH0515623A (ja) 人工芝用ゴルフカツプ
US2934348A (en) Golf ball tee apparatus
US3749409A (en) Golf tee
US20060287135A1 (en) Golf ball support or tee