WO2004087268A1

WO2004087268A1 - Indoor golf practice and game apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2004087268A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000724
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun Tae Lee
Original assignee: Hyun Tae Lee
Priority date: 2003-04-03
Filing date: 2004-03-30
Publication date: 2004-10-14
Also published as: KR200318020Y1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an indoor golf game apparatus capable of enhancing a golf game ability and enjoying a golf game irrespective of time, season and place. In the present invention, a user can perform a putting practice and swing practice under various conditions based on a varying position of a hole cup. In addition, it is possible to perform various games by multiple users, so that a user can enhance golf ability without boring. In addition, it is possible to easily enjoy golf indoors for a short time and at a lower cost.

Description

INDOOR GOLF PRACTICE AND GAME APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a golf game apparatus, and in particular to an indoor golf game apparatus capable of enhancing a golf game ability and enjoying a golf game irrespective of time, season and place.

Background Art [2] As golf becomes more popular, many people enjoy playing golf. When playing golf, it is important to enhance a flying distance of a golf ball using T-shot or iron shot.

It is also important to decrease the number of shots on a green by efficiently putting a golf ball into a hole. [3] Therefore, a common player uses a mat-shaped putting practice board on a floor of a home or an office for maintaining a putting feeling. [4] However, since a common putting practice board is formed in a structure having a hole cup at an end portion of a mat, a user can perform only a putting practice, namely, simply perform a swing practice. [5] In addition, since a hole cup is installed at a fixed position, a user feels a golf practice boring, so that a practice time is decreased. In order to perform a swing practice, a swing practice apparatus should be installed or a user is needed to practice golf outdoor.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Solution [6] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an indoor golf game apparatus capable of overcoming the problems encountered in a conventional art. [7] It is another object of the present invention to provide an indoor golf game apparatus in which a user can perform a putting practice and swing practice under various conditions based on a varying position of a hole cup. In addition, it is possible to perform various g^mes by multiple users, so that a user can enhance golf ability without boring. [8] It is further another object of the present invention to provide an indoor golf game apparatus in which a common user can enjoy golf with a short time and at a lower cost indoors. [9] To achieve the above objects, there is provided an indoor golf game apparatus, comprising a putting unit that has a curved surface having a certain curvature on an upper surface of the same, and an artificial lawn on an upper surface of the same; a plurality of hole cups formed in the putting unit; a hole cup generation unit for generating and disappearing the hole cups; a golf ball collection path that is formed at both sides of the putting unit in a longitudinal direction for thereby collecting the golf balls, that are not inputted into the hole cups, in one side; a swing unit that is vertically formed with a certain height and contacts with one side of the putting unit, wherein a golf ball hits the swing unit; a swing position detection unit that is provided in a front surface of the swing unit in a lattice shaper in multiple numbers for thereby detecting the position of golf balls that hit the swing unit; an escape prevention wall provided at both sides of the swing body for thereby preventing a golf ball from being escaped to the outside of the swing unit; and a controller for controlling the hole cup generation unit and the golf ball detection unit.

[10] In the present invention, the hole cup generation unit includes a hole cup opening and closing member that is linearly moved in the hole cup for thereby generating or disappearing the hole cup; a solenoid valve for linearly moving the hole cup opening and closing member; and a golf ball detection sensor provided in an upper side of the hole cup opening and closing member for detecting the golf balls inputted into the hole cups.

[11] In addition, the swing position detection unit includes a plurality of targets provided on a front surface of the swing unit in a lattice shape; an impact absorption member provided in an upper surface of the target; a golf ball detection sensor provided in a back surface of the impact absorption member; and a plurality of light emitting lamps provided in a back side of the golf ball detection sensor for thereby generating various colors.

Description of Drawings

[12] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[13] Figμre 1 is a perspective view illustrating an indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention;

[14] Figμre 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the construction of a putting unit of an indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention;

[15] Figμre 3 is a perspective view illustrating a golf ball collection path of a putting body of an indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention; and

[16] Figμre 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating the construction of a swing unit of an indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention. Best Mode

[17] The indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[18] Figμre 1 is a perspective view illustrating an indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the construction of a putting unit of an indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention; Figμre 3 is a perspective view illustrating a golf ball collection path of a putting body of an indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating the construction of a swing unit of an indoor golf game apparatus according to the present invention.

[19] As shown therein, in the present invention, there is provided a putting unit 10 having an artificial lawn 11 on an upper surface of the same wherein a certain curved surface having a curvature is formed on an upper surface. A plurality of hole cups 20 each having a certain diameter are formed on an upper surface of the putting unit 10.

[20] A hole cup generating unit is provided in the interior of the hole cup 20 for thereby generating or disappearing the hole cup 20. The hole cup generating unit includes a hole cup opening and closing member 30 that is linearly moved in the hole cup 20 for thereby opening and closing an upper side of the hole cup 20, and a solenoid valve 40 provided in a lower side of the hole cup opening and closing member 30 for thereby linearly moving the hole cup opening and closing member 30.

[21] A golf ball detection sensor 50 is installed in an upper side of the hole cup opening and closing member 30 for thereby detecting a golf ball inputted into the hole cup 20.

[22] A golf ball collection path 60 is formed at both sides of the putting body 10 wherein a certain groove is slanted and formed in the golf ball collection path 60, so that the golf balls that are not inputted into the hole cup 20 are collected.

[23] A swing unit 70 is vertically installed at a certain height and contacts with one side of the putting unit 10, so that flying golf balls hit the swing unit 70 when the user performs a swing practice.

[24] A plurality of lattice shaped targets 71 are provided on a front surface of the swing unit 70. An impact absorbing member 80 is installed on a surface of the lattice shaped target 71 for thereby effectively absorbing the impact when the golf ball hits. A plurality of golf ball detection sensors 50 are installed in a back surface of the impact absorption member 80 for detecting the hit golf balls.

[25] In addition, a light emitting lamp 90 capable of emitting various colors (red, blue, yellow) is installed behind the golf ball detection sensor 50. [26] A transparent escape prevention wall 100 is installed at both sides of the swing unit

70, sop that a golf ball is prevented from being escaped to the outside of the swing unit 70 when a user performs a swing practice.

[27] There is provided a controller 110 for controlling the hole cup generation unit and the golf ball detection unit.

[28] In the present invention, it is possible to perform a putting practice and a swing practice. First, the putting practice will be described.

[29] A user generates a desired hole cup among a plurality of hole cups provided in the putting unit using the hole cup generation unit.

[30] The generation of the hole cup is performed in such a manner that a solenoid valve is operated by the controller, and the hole cup opening and closing member descends.

[31] When a certain number of hole cups are generated in the putting unit, the user starts a putting practice.

[32] At this time, when the putted ball is inputted into a certain hole cup, the golf ball is dropped onto the upper surface of the hole cup opening and closing member and is detected by the golf ball detection sensor provided in the upper side of the hole cup opening and closing member.

[33] When the golf ball is detected by the golf ball detection sensor, the solenoid valve is re-operated by the controller, so that the hole cup opening and closing member is moved up.

[34] When the hole cup opening and closing member is moved up, the golf ball is moved up together. When the hole cup opening and closing member fully covers the opened upper side of the hole cup, the golf ball is moved in both sides along the upper surface of the putting unit based on the slanted upper surface of the putting unit and is dropped into the slanted golf ball collection path provided at both sides of the putting unit, so that the golf balls are collected in one side.

[35] When the hole cup opening and closing member is moved up, and the golf ball is escaped from the hole cup, the hole cup opening and closing member is moved down for thereby re-generating the hole cup, so that the user can continuously perform a putting practice.

[36] In addition, the user can perform the putting practice by putting the golf ball at multiple positions. Namely, multiple users can enjoy a game in such a manner that there are provided a plurality of hole cups, and the users input the golf balls into a corresponding hole cup for thereby determining a winner based on the highest score with respect to the inputs of the golf balls. [37] When the user performs a swing practice, the user can recognize a certain target among a plurality of the targets provided on the front surface of the swing unit in such a manner that the targets are lighted by the light emitting lamp in accordance with a control of the controller.

[38] Thereafter, the user performs a swing practice, and the golf ball hits the swing unit based on the swing practice. At this time, the impact position of the golf ball is detected by the golf ball detection sensor provided in the lattice shaped targets provided on the front surface of the swing unit.

[39] When the impact position of the golf ball is detected, the impact position of the golf ball is informed to the user through a monitor, so that the user can check whether the golf ball hits a desired target.

[40] In the case that a plurality of numbers perform a swing practice, the targets may be classified using different colors.

[41] Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a gplf ball from being escaped to the outside of the swing unit by installing an escape prevention wall.

Industrial Applicability

[42] As described above, in the present invention, the user can perform a putting practice and a swing practice under various conditions by providing hole cups at multiple positions for thereby enhancing a golf ability. In addition, it is possible to perform a golf practice without boring based on various games. A common person can easily enjoy an indoor golf for a short time and at a lower cost.

[43] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

[1] An indoor golf game apparatus, comprising: a putting unit that has a curved surface having a certain curvature on an upper surface of the same, and an artificial lawn on an upper surface of the same; a plurality of hole cups formed in the putting unit; a hole cup generation means for generating and disappearing the hole cups; a golf ball collection path that is formed at both sides of the putting unit in a longitudinal direction for thereby collecting the golf balls, that are not inputted into the hole cups, in one side; a swing unit that is vertically formed with a certain height and contacts with one side of the putting unit, wherein a golf ball hits the swing unit; a swing position detection means that is provided in a front surface of the swing unit in a lattice shaper in multiple numbers for thereby detecting the position of golf balls that hit the swing unit; an escape prevention wall provided at both sides of the swing body for thereby preventing a golf ball from being escaped to the outside of the swing unit; and a controller for controlling the hole cup generation means and the golf ball detection means. [2] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hole cup generation means includes: a hole cup opening and closing member that is linearly moved in the hole cup for thereby generating or disappearing the hole cup; a solenoid valve for linearly moving the hole cup opening and closing member; and a golf ball detection sensor provided in an upper side of the hole cup opening and closing member for detecting the golf balls inputted into the hole cups. [3] The apparatus of either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said swing position detection means includes: a plurality of targets provided on a front surface of the swing unit in a lattice shape; an impact absorption member provided in an upper surface of the target; a golf ball detection sensor provided in a back surface of the impact absorption member; and a plurality of light emitting lamps provided in a back side of the golf ball detection sensor for thereby generating various colors.