RETRACTABLE PUTTING GREEN

Abstract

A golf putting device includes a flexible, elongate putting substrate. A distal target portion has a ramped portion attached to a distal end of the flexible, elongate putting substrate and contains a raised deck containing a golf hole. A substrate reel is proximally attached to the flexible, elongate putting substrate to retractably receive and to roll up the flexible, elongate putting substrate. A retraction mechanism selectably rotates the substrate reel to retractably roll up the flexible, elongate putting substrate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Patent Application Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/191,962 entitled “RETRACTABLE PUTTING GREEN”, filed Jul. 13, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of art disclosed herein pertains to indoor golf putting surfaces, and more particularly for home-use golf putting surfaces.

2. Description of the Related Art

The current marketplace has a variety of putting greens from large outdoor/indoor permanent greens to smaller home/office versions. The problem with all of these is that these generally known putting greens either have to be out at all times taking up space or they have to be manually rolled/folded up after each use. Most every golfer has had one of the standard putting greens at one time or another and nearly all of them end up placed on a shelf or in a closet because the golfer finds it to be inconvenient to open/close the product each time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a golf putting device that includes a flexible, elongate putting substrate. A distal target portion has a ramped portion attached to a distal end of the flexible, elongate putting substrate and contains a raised deck containing a golf hole. A substrate reel is proximally attached to the flexible, elongate putting substrate to retractably receive and to roll up the flexible, elongate putting substrate. A retraction mechanism selectably rotates the substrate reel to retractably roll up the flexible, elongate putting substrate.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of practicing putting of a golf ball. In one or more embodiments, the method includes pulling a ramped target device that contains a golf hole out distally to uncoil and expose for putting practice a proximally attached, flexible, elongate putting substrate from a reel. The method includes triggering a retraction mechanism to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate onto the reel.

These and other features are explained more fully in the embodiments illustrated below. It should be understood that in general the features of one embodiment also may be used in combination with features of another embodiment and that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a golf putting device in a closed position, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side diagrammatic view of the golf putting device of FIG. 1 in both a retracted and extended position, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top, rear isometric view of the reel and retraction mechanism of the golf putting device of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side diagrammatic view of the golf putting device of FIG. 1 in the extended position for putting practice, according to one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of practicing of putting of a golf ball using a retractable golf putting device, e, according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A retractable putting green device provides for a readily retractable putting surface that enables use in a consumer environment with a minimum of setup and takedown. The putting surface can be retractable into a variety of base including a smaller travel version, large indoor/outdoor version, and a primary version. The latter can be housed in an attractive piece of furniture for the home or office. In one or more embodiments, a retraction force can be provided at least in part by a torsion spring mechanism that is similar to a window shade or some other version of retraction such as a power motor into a wooden piece of display furniture. Fixtures can be provided for storing putters and for displaying golf balls on the display furniture. This allows the golfer to store/display his putter and golf balls when not using the device.

Turning to the Drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a golf putting device 100 in a closed position, according to one or more embodiments. A flexible, elongate putting substrate 102 is housed within a furniture cabinet 104 when not in use, hidden by a face plate 106 that fits in a lower rectangular opening 108 on a front side 110 of the furniture cabinet 104. A putter fixture 112 can be attached to the furniture cabinet 104 to store golf putters 114. Golf ball fixtures 116 such as recesses formed into a surface of the furniture cabinet 104 receive golf balls 118 respectively. A distal target portion 120 (shown in phantom in an extended position) is attached behind the face plate 106′ and proximally attached to the flexible, elongate putting substrate 102.

To provide a convenient golf fixture 112, a base portion 121 of the furniture cabinet 104 is attached to, but has a wider dimension than, an upper portion 123 of the furniture cabinet 104. In one or more embodiments consistent with aspects of the present innovation, a golf putting device 100 can include no cabinet, a furniture cabinet that is more rectoid, a more rounded shape, other aesthetic or functional configurations, etc. In addition, the golf putting device 100 can occupy a portion of a clothes dresser with functional drawers toward the top.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the distal target portion 120 can have a ramped portion 122 that is attached to a distal end of the flexible, elongate putting substrate 102 and containing a raised deck 124 containing a vertical golf hole 126 for receiving a golf ball that has been putted up the ramped portion 122. A lateral conduit 128 communicates with the vertical golf hole 126 to eject a received golf ball 118. In one or more embodiments, the flexible, elongate putting substrate 102 passes under and behind a tension pulley 130 mounted transversely across a back lower portion within a stowage compartment 132 for the distal target portion 120 in the furniture cabinet 104. The flexible, elongate putting substrate 102 is taken up on a substrate reel 134 that is mounted transversely within the furniture cabinet 104 above the stowage compartment 132.

In an exemplary embodiment, the golf putting device 100 includes a reel and retraction mechanism 135 includes a primary motor-actuated retraction mechanism 136 that is assisted by a spring-actuated retraction mechanism 138. Embodiments consistent with aspects of the present innovation can have only one of the two. In one embodiment, the spring-actuated mechanism 138 can operate like a window blind. The primary motor-actuated retraction mechanism 136 can include an electric motor 140 that is geared or drive belt engagement to the substrate reel 134 and powered by a retraction motor drive 142 that is in turn supplied electrical power from a power supply 144 enabled by a user control 146. Alternatively, a manual actuator such as a side crank 148 or a wheel 149 can extend out of the furniture cabinet 104 to provide for manual turning of the substrate reel 134.

In one or more embodiments, the flexible, elongate putting substrate 102 has sufficient longitudinal stiffness to extend out of the furniture cabinet 104 solely by rotating the substrate reel 134. In other embodiments, the face plate 106 is extended to pull the substrate 102 and to thereby passively turn the substrate reel 134. The flexible, elongate putting substrate 102′ (phantom) is in the extended position with most or all of its longitudinal length removed from the substrate reel 134.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top, rear isometric view of the reel and retraction mechanism 135 of the golf putting device 100, according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 4 illustrates a side diagrammatic view of the golf putting device 100 in the extended position for putting practice, according to one or more embodiments.

In an exemplary embodiment, the base of the unit can have a handle that allows the putting green to be pulled out from the main unit. The handle will be attached to a section of the front wood, which in turn is attached to a piece of molded plastic. The putting surface can attach over top the molded plastic and stretch a minimum of 10′ feet back to the main-unit retraction mechanism. The molded plastic end of the putting surface can have an elevation sufficient to allow a regulation size putting hole where the ball can drop into it and a channel in the plastic mold that allows the ball to return out the side. The putting surface material can be a minimum 18″ wide and thick enough to allow the material to unroll flat regardless of how long it has been rolled up inside the unit. The putting surface can have markers on each side of the material in 1-foot units. This allows the user to practice specific length putts. The device can have aesthetic features. The device allows golfers of all skill levels to practice their putting anytime they want. The surface can be unrolled in seconds, the putter and balls are stored on the unit for ease of access, and when finished everything can be put back away in seconds.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 200 of practicing putting of a golf ball. In one or more embodiments, the method 200 includes pulling a ramped target device that contains a golf hole out distally to uncoil and expose for putting practice a proximally attached, flexible, elongate putting substrate from a reel. Pulling the ramped target device can actuate a ratcheting spring mechanism to store energy (block 202). The method 200 includes triggering a retraction mechanism to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate onto the reel. In one or more embodiments, triggering the retraction mechanism includes at least in part an additional retraction of the ramped target device to release a ratchet lock to enable the ratcheting spring mechanism to actuate by turning the reel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate (block 204). Alternatively or in addition, triggering the retraction mechanism includes actuating a motor to turn the reel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate (block 206).

In the above described flow chart of FIG. 5, the method may be embodied in an automated manufacturing system that performs a series of functional processes. In some implementations, certain steps of the methods are combined, performed simultaneously or in a different order, or perhaps omitted, without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, while the method blocks are described and illustrated in a particular sequence, use of a specific sequence of functional processes represented by the blocks is not meant to imply any limitations on the disclosure. Changes may be made with regards to the sequence of processes without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Use of a particular sequence is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “colorant agent” includes two or more such agents.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.

As will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art, the methods and compositions of the invention substantially reduce or eliminate the disadvantages and drawbacks associated with prior art methods and compositions.

It should be noted that, when employed in the present disclosure, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” and other derivatives from the root term “comprise” are intended to be open-ended terms that specify the presence of any stated features, elements, integers, steps, or components, and are not intended to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention herein disclosed fulfill the objectives stated above, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments, which come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A golf putting device, comprising:

a flexible, elongate putting substrate;

a distal target portion having a ramped portion attached to a distal end of the flexible, elongate putting substrate and containing a raised deck containing a golf hole;

a substrate reel proximally attached to the flexible, elongate putting substrate to retractably receive and to roll up the flexible, elongate putting substrate; and

a retraction mechanism to selectably rotate the substrate reel to retractably roll up the flexible, elongate putting substrate.

2. The golf putting device of claim 1, wherein the distal target portion comprises a lateral conduit to guide golf ball received in the golf hole out of the distal target portion.

3. The golf putting device of claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a spring biased coiling mechanism.

4. The golf putting device of claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a motorized coiling mechanism.

5. The golf putting device of claim 1, further comprising a furniture cabinet that houses the substrate reel and the retraction mechanism, wherein a distal face of the distal target portion comprises a drawer face that is manually drawn from the furniture cabinet.

6. The golf putting device of claim 5, further comprising a putter fixture that is attached to the furniture cabinet to store a golf putter.

7. The golf putting device of claim 5, further comprising a golf ball fixture that is one of formed into a surface of the furniture cabinet and attached to the furniture cabinet to receive a golf ball.

8. The golf putting device of claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a manually actuated handle to turn the reel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate.

9. A method of practicing putting of a golf ball, the method comprising:

pulling a ramped target device that contains a golf hole out distally to uncoil and expose for putting practice a proximally attached, flexible, elongate putting substrate from a reel; and

triggering a retraction mechanism to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate onto the reel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

pulling the ramped target device actuates a ratcheting spring mechanism to store energy; and

triggering the retraction mechanism comprises an additional retraction of the ramped target device to release a ratchet lock to enable the ratcheting spring mechanism to actuate by turning the reel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein triggering the retraction mechanism comprises actuating a motor to turn the reel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein triggering the retraction mechanism comprises manually actuating a handle to turn the reel to recoil the flexible, elongate putting substrate.