WO2011065803A2

WO2011065803A2 - Bunker mat for golf practice

Info

Publication number: WO2011065803A2
Application number: PCT/KR2010/008527
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jung Hak Park; Hyun Kag Kang; Young Jin Lee
Original assignee: Golfzon Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2009-11-30
Filing date: 2010-11-30
Publication date: 2011-06-03
Also published as: CN102078682B; KR100970176B1; TW201117860A; TWI410263B; WO2011065803A3; CN102078682A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a bunker mat wherein a golf ball is placed in an environment such as a bunker or a rough in a real golf course, and therefore, it is possible to practice various golf shots, thereby improving a golfing skill. The bunker mat includes a base member mounted on the ground, artificial turfs provided on the base member such that the artificial turfs protrude upward from the base member, and friction members disposed on the base member between the artificial turfs for generating friction with a golf ball.

Description

BUNKER MAT FOR GOLF PRACTICE

The present invention relates to a bunker mat, and, more particularly, to a bunker mat for golf practice wherein a golf ball is placed in an environment such as a bunker or a rough in a real golf course, and therefore, it is possible to practice various golf shots.

Generally, golf is a game wherein golfers hit golf balls using their golf clubs to put the golf balls in predetermined holes competitively. Golf provides a considerable quantity of motion and interest. In recent years, therefore, people have much interest in golf. In addition, golf has been popularized owing to reduction of related expenses.

Golf may be enjoyed in a field golf course including a plurality of holes and greens in which a real game is played or in an indoor or outdoor golf practice range in which basic shots or putting may be practiced before playing a round of golf in the field golf course.

In the field golf course, golfers directly move between holes to perform shots and putting, with the result that it is possible to achieve a considerable quantity of motion and, in addition, to play a real game. However, the field golf course is severely limited by weather conditions such as rain or snow. In addition, expenses to use the field golf course are burdensome. Also, a distance to the field golf course is long, and therefore, it takes much time. For these reasons, an indoor or outdoor golf practice range has been increasingly used. In particular, it is necessary for beginners to sufficiently practice golf before going out to the field golf course. To this end, an indoor or outdoor golf practice range is used.

Meanwhile, a mat configured similarly to general fair turfs is necessary in a personal golf practice range as well as an indoor or outdoor golf practice range such that a user hits a golf ball on the mat. Such a conventional mat for golf practice will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional mat for golf practice.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional mat for golf practice has a structure in which a shock absorbing sheet 3 and artificial turfs 4 are sequentially stacked at the top of a mat member 2, which has a foam layer 2a formed therein.

A golfer places a golf ball 1 at the artificial turfs 4 on the mat member 2 to practice a tee shot.

In the conventional mat for golf practice, however, the artificial turfs 4, at which the golf ball 1 is placed, are similar to pair turfs, with the result that it is difficult to provide an environment such as a bunker or a rough in a real golf course, and therefore, it is difficult to practice shots with respect to various topographic objects. Consequently, improvement to a golfing skill is limited, and interest in golf is lowered.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a bunker mat wherein a golf ball is placed in an environment such as a bunker or a rough in a real golf course, and therefore, it is possible to practice various golf shots, thereby improving a golfing skill.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a bunker mat including a base member mounted on the ground, artificial turfs provided on the base member such that the artificial turfs protrude upward from the base member, and friction members disposed on the base member between the artificial turfs for generating friction with a golf ball.

The friction members may be distributed on the base member in large numbers, and each of the friction members may be formed in the shape of a pin.

Each of the friction members may be made of a material exhibiting restoring force when being bent.

The friction members may be distributed on the base member such that a golf ball simultaneously comes into contact with a large portion of the friction members.

Each of the friction members may have a multi step structure in which the sectional area of an upper step is less than the sectional area of a lower step.

Each of the friction members may substantially have a uniform shape of section throughout the height of each of the friction members, and each of the friction members may have a sectional area reduced from the lower end to the upper end thereof.

The bunker mat may further include a support member provided below the friction members such that the support member comes into tight contact with the bottom of the base member when the friction members protrude upward through the base member.

A large portion of the friction members may be connected to the top of the support member.

The base member may be provided at the bottom thereof with an insertion groove into which the support member is inserted.

In the bunker mat according to the present invention, a golf ball is placed in an environment such as a bunker or a rough in a real golf course, and therefore, it is possible to practice various golf shots, thereby improving a golfing skill.

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional mat for golf practice;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a bunker mat according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the bunker mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the operation of the bunker mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating various examples of a friction member of the bunker mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views illustrating a process of assembling the bunker mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views illustrating a process of assembling a bunker mat according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A bunker mat according to the present invention is characterized in that the bunker mat has a structure to generate friction between the bunker mat and a golf ball placed on the bunker mat for golf shot practice, thereby providing an environment such as a bunker or a rough in a real golf course.

Concretely, the bunker mat according to the present invention has a structure in which artificial turfs are provided on a base member and friction members are disposed between the artificial turfs.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a virtual golf simulation apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a bunker mat according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the bunker mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these drawings, the bunker mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a base member 10, artificial turfs 20 provided on the base member 10 such that the artificial turfs 20 protrude upward from the base member 10, and friction members 30 provided on the base member 10 such that the friction members 30 are disposed between the artificial turfs 20.

The base member 10 may be made of various materials, such as synthetic resin or natural rubber. The base member 10 is installed on the ground to provide a place where a golf ball is placed at the top thereof and, in addition, to a place where a golfer is positioned at the top thereof.

The artificial turfs 20 may be arranged, for example, in the shape of a brush. The artificial turfs 20 may be made of synthetic resin, such as nylon yarn or polypropylene yarn, or a material exhibiting properties or feelings identical or similar to those of natural turfs. The artificial turfs 20 may be provided on the base member 10 through a weaving method, a forcible insertion method, or an assembly or attachment method using coupling members.

Also, the material properties, such as bending resistance, supporting force, and elasticity, of the artificial turfs 20 may be changed to adjust a degree of a golf ball sinking in the artificial turfs 20 such that the golf ball is supported by the friction members 30 while being in contact with the friction members 30. In addition, the density of the base member 10 may be properly adjusted.

The friction members 30 are provided on the base member 10 such that the friction members 30 are disposed between the artificial turfs 20. Friction between the friction members 30 and the golf ball placed on the artificial turfs 20 is generated. The friction members 30 are provided on the base member 10 in large numbers. Each of the friction members 30 may be formed, for example, in the shape of a pin.

As shown in FIG. 4, the friction members 30 may be made of a material which can be bent due to weight of the golf ball 1 and can be restored when the golf ball 1 is removed. For example, the friction members 30 may be made of rubber, silicones, or synthetic resin inducing friction and exhibiting restoring force when being bent.

Also, the friction members 30 are distributed such that a large portion of the friction members 30 can simultaneously contact the golf ball 1 placed on the base member 10, thereby providing an environment identical or similar to a state in which the golf ball 1 is placed at a bunker or a rough in a real golf course.

Meanwhile, for example, each of the friction members 30 has a plurality of

steps

31 and 32. The sectional area of each of the friction members 30 is reduced from the lower end to the upper end such that the friction members 30 are easily bent due to weight of the golf ball 1, thereby increasing a degree of contact between the friction members 30 and the golf ball 1. Various examples of the friction members 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), each of the friction members 30 may have a plurality of steps, and the sectional area of each of the friction members 30 may be reduced such that the sectional area of the upper step is less than the sectional area of the lower step. Also, each of the friction members 30 may be formed in the sectional shape of a circle or a quadrangle. Meanwhile, the number of steps of each of the friction members 30 may be changed. Also, the sectional shape of each of the friction members 30 may be changed. As shown in FIGS. 5(c) and 5(d), on the other hand, each of the friction members 30 may have a uniform section throughout the height of each of the friction members 30, and each of the friction members 30 may be formed in the sectional shape of a circle or a quadrangle. Meanwhile, the sectional shape of each of the friction members 30 may be changed. As shown in FIGS. 5(e) and 5(f), each of the friction members 30 may have a uniform shape of section and a sectional area gradually or sharply reduced from the lower end to the upper end thereof. For example, each of the friction members 30 may be formed in the shape of a cone or a truncated cone.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views illustrating a process of assembling the bunker mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these drawings, the bunker mat according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a support member 40 for supporting the friction members 30 provided at the base member 10.

The support member 40 is provided below the friction members 30. When the friction member 30 protrudes upward through the base member 10, the support member 50 comes into tight contact with the bottom of the base member 10. The support member 40 may be integrally formed with the friction members 30. Alternatively, the support member 40 may be formed separately from the friction members 30 such that the support member 40 can be coupled to the friction members 30.

Meanwhile, the base member 10 has through holes 11 corresponding to the respective friction members 30 such that the friction members 30 can be inserted through the through holes 11. At the bottom of the base member 10 may be formed an insertion groove 12, into which the support member 40 can be inserted. The insertion groove 12 of the base member 10 is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the support member 40 such that the support member 40 can be forcibly inserted into the insertion groove 12 of the base member 10 or such that the support member 40 can be inserted in the insertion groove 12 of the base member 10 with a gap between the support member 40 and the insertion groove 12 of the base member 10.

The support member 40 may be attached to the base member 10 using a bonding agent, a coupling unit, or an attachment unit to prevent the support member 40 from being separated from the insertion groove 12 of the base member 10.

A large portion of the friction members 30 may be connected to the top of the support member 40 such that assembly between the friction members 30 and the base member 10 is easily achieved. In this embodiment, all of the friction members 30, which will be disposed on the base member 10, are connected to the top of the support member 40.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views illustrating a process of assembling a bunker mat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these drawings, the bunker mat according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes the support member having a plurality of supporters 50. Each of the supporters 50 has at least one of the friction members30, which will be disposed on the base member 10. The base member 10 may have insertion holes 13 corresponding to the supporters 50.

The supporter(50) may has one friction member(30) as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, or has a plurality friction members(30) simultaneously.

Also, one friction member 30 may be connected to each of the supporters 50. Alternatively, the friction members 30 constituting a portion, such as one row or a plurality of rows, of the base member 10 may be connected to each of the supporters 50.

Hereinafter, the operation of the bunker mat with the above-stated construction according to the present invention will be described.

When a golf ball 1 is placed on the artificial turf 20 and reaches the friction members 30 due to drooping of the artificial turf 20, as shown in FIG. 4, the friction members 30 are bent due to weight of the golf ball, with the result that contact area between the golf ball 1 and the friction members 30 is increased. When a golfer hits the golf ball 1 in this state, an effect identical or similar to that in a case in which the golf ball 1 is placed at a bunker or a rough in a real golf course is generated due to friction between the golf ball 1 and the friction members 30.

In this way, friction between the friction members 30 and the golf ball 1 is generated, with the result that it is difficult for the golfer to hit the golf ball 1. Consequently, it is possible for the golfer to practice various shots, and therefore, a golfing skill of the golfer is improved.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the friction members 30 are mounted on the base member 10 while being supported by the support member 40 or the supporters 50. Although the friction members 30 are not integrally with the base member 10 due to properties in material and structure of the friction members 30, therefore, it is possible to easily manufacture the bunker mat according to the present invention. In addition, the support member 40 or the supporters 50 serve to interconnect the friction members 30, thereby improving durability of the bunker mat according to the present invention.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Various embodiments of a BUNKER MAT FOR GOLF PRACTICE have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.

In the bunker mat according to the present invention, a golf ball is placed in an environment such as a bunker or a rough in a real golf course, and therefore, it is possible to practice various golf swings. Consequently, the present invention has industrial applicability.

Claims

A bunker mat for golf practice, comprising:

a base member mounted on a ground;

artificial turfs provided on the base member such that the artificial turfs protrude upward from the base member; and

friction members disposed between the artificial turfs for generating friction during swing.
The bunker mat according to claim 1, wherein each of the friction members has a multi step structure in which the sectional area of an upper step is less than the sectional area of a lower step.
The bunker mat according to claim 1, wherein the friction members are distributed on the base member in large numbers, and each of the friction members is formed in the shape of a pin.
The bunker mat according to claim 1, wherein each of the friction members is made of a material exhibiting restoring force when being bent.
The bunker mat according to claim 1, wherein the friction members are distributed on the base member such that a golf ball simultaneously comes into contact with aplurality of the friction members.
The bunker mat according to claim 1, wherein each of the friction members substantially has a uniform shape of section throughout the height of each of the friction members and each of the friction members has a sectional area reduced from a lower end to a upper end thereof.
A bunker mat for golf swing, comprising:

a base member having a plurality of through holes formed at predetermined intervals;

artificial turfs provided on the base member such that the artificial turfs protrude upward from the base member;

a support member provided at a bottom of the base member; and

friction members provided on the support member such that the friction members protrude upward from the support member, the friction members being disposed between the artificial turfs through the through holes for generating friction during swing.
The bunker mat according to claim 7, wherein each of the friction members has a multi step structure in which the sectional area of an upper step is less than the sectional area of a lower step.
The bunker mat according to claim 7, wherein the friction members are provided on the support member such that the friction members correspond to all or some of the through holes of the base member.
The bunker mat according to claim 7, wherein the base member is provided at a bottom thereof with an insertion groove into which the support memberis inserted.
The bunker mat according to claim 7, wherein the support member comprises a plurality of supporters that at least one of the friction members is provided on each of the supporters which provide at a bottom of the base member for the friction members to correspond to all or some of the through holes of the base member.