PUTTING MAT

An aspect of the invention provides a putting mat including a mat portion, a ball returning net portion, and a pair of bumps. The mat portion is configured for a ball to travel along. The ball returning net portion includes an entrance, a confining net portion, and a slope portion configured to guide the ball in the confining net portion toward and beyond the entrance. The pair of bumps along the two side portions of the mat portion are configured to limit the ball on the central path portion of the mat portion. The mat portion is tilted downward from the first end portion to the second end portion such that the ball is fallen off the entrance of the ball returning net and rolls toward the second end portion of the mat portion.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a putting practice mat. More specifically, the present invention relates to a putting mat connected to a ball returning net, which is configured to return the ball to a starting position.

Golf is a popular modern sports that a large portion of population enjoy to play whenever they have free hours. Among many stages of the game, putting is important and challenging. It is about sending the ball by relatively short distance toward the hole, but since it occurs in a most critical moment putting is sometimes most stressful stage of a game.

Accordingly, a need for a putting mat has been present for a long time considering the popularity of golf among the population. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a putting mat by which users can practice putting conveniently and without too much trips around to pick up balls.

An aspect of the invention provides a putting mat including a mat portion, a ball returning net portion, and a pair of bumps.

The mat portion comprises a central path portion, two side portions, and first and second end portions, and the mat portion is configured for a ball to travel along the central path portion.

The ball returning net portion comprises: an entrance configured to pass the ball through and provided at the first end portion of the mat portion; a confining net portion disposed so as to confine a confining space behind the entrance and configured to confine the ball inside the confining space; and a slope portion configured to guide the ball in the confining space toward and beyond the entrance.

The pair of bumps are disposed along the two side portions of the mat portion, and each of which is configured to limit the ball on the central path portion of the mat portion.

The mat portion is tilted downward from the first end portion to the second end portion such that the ball is fallen off the entrance of the ball returning net and rolls toward the second end portion of the mat portion.

The mat portion may comprise one or more guide lines extended between the first and second end portions so as to provide a visual guide line for the ball.

The pair of bumps may be integrated to the mat portion, and the mat portion may comprise a plurality of folding lines. Each of the pair of bumps may comprise a plurality of slots substantially aligned with the plurality of folding lines, and each of the plurality of slots may be configured to keep the ball from passing through each of the plurality of slots. Each of the plurality of slots may be of V-cut shape, and the plurality of slots may be configured to facilitate folding of the mat portion.

Each of the pair of bumps may be configured to be attached to and detached from the side portions of the mat portion using loop-and-hook fastener.

The putting mat may further comprise a connecting flap configured to connect the entrance of the ball returning net and the mat portion to each other such that the ball travels over the connecting flap smoothly. The connecting flap may be configured to be draped over the central path portion of the mat portion.

The connecting flap may be detachably attached to the central path portion of the mat portion by a loop-and-hook fastener.

The first end portion of the mat portion may be fixed to the entrance of the ball returning net portion.

The mat portion may be made of artificial lawn material.

The mat portion may further comprise a ball stopper configured to stop the ball rolling down from the first end portion of the mat portion, and the ball stopper may be provided at the second end portion of the mat portion.

The ball returning net portion may be configured to roll the ball in the confining space out to the entrance. The slope portion of the ball returning net portion may be configured to guide the rolling ball down toward the entrance.

A putting mat makes it convenient for practicing putting. The user can comfortably take advantage of the putting mat along with the ball returning tent-net in the backyard, garage, or any small space. A golfer does not have to bother walking to pick up the balls during the putting practice.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putting mat according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the putting mat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view showing a mat portion and a pair of bumps according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view showing a bump of a mat portion according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mat portion with a pair of bumps along with a connecting flap according to still another embodiment of the invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The applicant's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/849,116 is incorporated by reference as if they are fully set forth herein.

FIGS. 1-5 show putting mats 100 according to embodiments of the invention.

An aspect of the invention provides a putting mat 100 including a mat portion 10, a ball returning net portion 20, and a pair of bumps 30.

The mat portion 10 comprises a central path portion 12, two side portions 14, and first and second end portions 16, 17, and the mat portion 10 is configured for a ball to travel along the central path portion 12. Whenever it hits the bumps 30 the ball come back to the central path portion 12.

The ball returning net portion 20 comprises: an entrance 22 configured to pass the ball through and provided at the first end portion 16 of the mat portion 10; a confining net portion 24 disposed so as to confine a confining space 25 behind the entrance 22 and configured to confine the ball inside the confining space 25; and a slope portion 26 configured to guide the ball in the confining space 25 toward and beyond the entrance 22 out of the confining space 25.

The pair of bumps 30 are disposed along the two side portions 14 of the mat portion 10, and each of which is configured to limit the ball on the central path portion 12 of the mat portion 10.

The mat portion 10 is tilted downward from the first end portion 16 to the second end portion 17 of the mat portion 10 such that the ball is fallen off the entrance 22 of the ball returning net 20 and rolls toward the second end portion 17 of the mat portion 10.

The mat portion 10 may comprise one or more guide lines 11 extended between the first and second end portions 16, 17 so as to provide a visual guide line for the ball as shown in FIG. 5.

In certain embodiments of the invention as shown in FIG. 3, the pair of bumps 30 may be integrated to the mat portion 10, and the mat portion 10 may comprise a plurality of folding lines 13. Each of the pair of bumps 30 may comprise a plurality of slots 32 substantially aligned with the plurality of folding lines 13, and each of the plurality of slots 32 may be configured to keep the ball from passing through each of the plurality of slots 32. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the plurality of slots 32 is of V-cut shape, and the plurality of slots 32 may be configured to facilitate folding of the mat portion 10 along the plurality of folding lines 13.

In certain embodiments as shown in FIG. 4, each of the pair of bumps 30 may be configured to be attached to and detached from the side portions 14 of the mat portion 10 using loop-and-hook fastener 34. In such embodiments, the pair of bumps 30 does not have to include a plurality of slots 32 as in FIG. 3. When folding the mat portion 10, the pair of bumps 30 can be just detached from the side portions 14 of the mat portion 10.

In certain embodiments of the invention as shown in FIG. 5, the putting mat 100 may further comprise a connecting flap 28 configured to connect the entrance 22 of the ball returning net 20 and the mat portion 10 to each other such that the ball travels over the connecting flap 28 smoothly. The connecting flap 28 may be configured to be draped over the central path portion 12 of the mat portion 10.

Alternatively in certain embodiments of the invention as shown in FIG. 5, the connecting flap 28 may be detachably attached to the central path portion 12 of the mat portion 10 by a loop-and-hook fastener 29. The connecting flap 28 may be configured to minimize a resistance for the ball's traveling over the connecting flap 28, for example, by providing a recess (not shown) provided on the central path portion 12 of the mat portion 10 so as to accept tip of the connecting flap 28 providing smooth surface over them.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the first end portion 16 of the mat portion 10 may be permanently fixed to the entrance 22 of the ball returning net portion 20. The mat portion 10 may be stored as a part of the ball returning net portion 20.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the mat portion 10 may be made of artificial lawn material or other fabric.

In certain embodiments of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mat portion 10 may further comprise a ball stopper 19 configured to stop the ball rolling down from the first end portion 16 from falling off the second end portion 17 of the mat portion 10, and the ball stopper 19 may be provided at the second end portion 17 of the mat portion 10 as shown in the illustrated embodiment.

The ball returning net portion 20 may be configured to roll the ball in the confining space 25 out to the entrance 22. The slope portion 26 of the ball returning net portion 20 may be configured to guide the rolling ball down toward the entrance 22. The slope portion 26 may have a shape of inside of a cone, and the entrance 22 is disposed around the apex portion of the cone, such that the ball rolls down to the entrance 22.

In certain embodiments of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, the ball returning net portion 20 may comprise a target 23 disposed in the confining net 24 such that a ball which hits the target or neighboring region of the target 23 falls into the confining space 25, and then escape the confining space 25 through the entrance 22.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A putting mat comprising:

a mat portion comprising a central path portion, two side portions, and first and second end portions, the mat portion being configured for a ball to travel along the central path portion; and
a ball returning net portion comprising: an entrance configured to pass the ball through and provided at the first end portion of the mat portion; a confining net portion disposed so as to confine a confining space behind the entrance and configured to confine the ball inside the confining space; and a slope portion configured to guide the ball in the confining space toward and beyond the entrance;
a pair of bumps disposed along the two side portions of the mat portion, each of which being configured to limit the ball on the central path portion of the mat portion,
wherein the mat portion is tilted downward from the first end portion to the second end portion such that the ball is fallen off the entrance of the ball returning net and rolls toward the second end portion of the mat portion,
wherein the ball returning net portion is configured to roll the ball in the confining space out to the entrance, and
wherein the slope portion of the ball returning net portion is configured to guide the rolling ball down toward the entrance.

2. The putting mat of claim 1, wherein the mat portion comprises one or more guide lines extended between the first and second end portions so as to provide a visual guide line for the ball.

3. The putting mat of claim 1, wherein the pair of bumps is integrated to the mat portion, wherein the mat portion comprises a plurality of folding lines, and wherein each of the pair of bumps comprises a plurality of slots substantially aligned with the plurality of folding lines, wherein each of the plurality of slots is configured to keep the ball from passing through each of the plurality of slots.

4. The putting mat of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of slots is of V-cut shape, and wherein the plurality of slots are configured to facilitate folding of the mat portion.

5. The putting mat of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of bumps is configured to be attached to and detached from the side portions of the mat portion using loop-and-hook fastener.

6. The putting mat of claim 1, further comprising a connecting flap configured to connect the entrance of the ball returning net and the mat portion to each other such that the ball travels over the connecting flap smoothly.

7. The putting mat of claim 6, wherein the connecting flap is configured to be draped over the central path portion of the mat portion.

8. The putting mat of claim 6, wherein the connecting flap is detachably attached to the central path portion of the mat portion by a loop-and-hook fastener.

9. The putting mat of claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the mat portion is fixed to the entrance of the ball returning net portion.

10. The putting mat of claim 1, wherein the mat portion is made of artificial lawn material.

11. The putting mat of claim 1, wherein the mat portion further comprises a ball stopper configured to stop the ball rolling down from the first end portion of the mat portion, and wherein the ball stopper is provided at the second end portion of the mat portion.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. The putting mat of claim 1, wherein the slope portion has a shape of inside of a cone, and wherein the entrance is disposed around an apex portion of the cone, such that the ball rolls down to the entrance.

Patent History
Publication number: 20090176590
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 7, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 9, 2009
Inventor: Kwang Han Cho (Northridge, CA)
Application Number: 11/970,436
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Collapsible (e.g., For Storage, Etc.) (473/162); Projectile Return (473/163)
International Classification: A63B 69/36 (20060101);