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Title:
APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING UNLEVEL TERRAIN FOR USE ON A GOLF PRACTICE RANGE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2000/038798
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A device is disclosed that affords golfers the opportunity to physically practice hitting balls on terrain simulating the terrain found on a golf course. The device has independently height-adjustable legs (10a) which can be adjusted to simulate an uneven lie of a ball on a golf course. The legs (10a) are attached to a surface (12) for holding the golf ball for hitting. A golfer may stand on the surface (12) or adjacent to it. The surface (12) also includes surface materials like those found on a golf course, such as sand, water, and long and short grass or turf.

Inventors:
HANKAMER PATRICK (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US1999/031006
Publication Date:
July 06, 2000
Filing Date:
December 24, 1999
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
HANKAMER PATRICK (US)
International Classes:
A63B69/36; (IPC1-7): A63B69/36
Foreign References:
US5820478A1998-10-13
US5460379A1995-10-24
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Tripp, Karen B. (Suite 2690 Houston, TX, US)
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Claims:
I claim:
1. An apparatus for simulating unlevel terrain on a golf practice range, comprising a surface on at least one independently heightadjustable leg.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said leg is telescopic.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said leg is heightadjusted by hydraulics.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one tray containing artificial turf, grass, soil, or water which may be fitted on said surface.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said soil comprises sand, dirt, moss, clay, rocks or combinations thereof.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said tray also includes a tee holder.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said tray also includes a ball holder.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface comprises artificial turf, grass, soil, or water.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said soil comprises sand, dirt, moss, clay, rocks or combinations thereof.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a tee holder.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a ball holder.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein all legs supporting said surface are independently height adjustable.
Description:
APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING UNLEVEL TERRAIN FOR USE ON A GOLF PRACTICE RANGE This application claims priority based on U. S. Provisional Application No. 60/113577, filed December 24,1998, and a U. S. Utility Patent Application having serial number not yet assigned, filed December 23,1999.

Background of the Invention This invention relates to the field of apparatuses used for improving a person's performance in the game of golf, particularly with respect to driving and chipping the golf ball.

The invention relates particularly to apparatuses for use on the practice or driving range. As used herein, the term"practice range"or"driving range"shall be understood to include any location or area outdoors or indoors suitable for driving or chipping or otherwise hitting, except putting, golf balls. For example, the locations or areas contemplated by this definition shall be understood to include, without limitation, areas traditionally associated with practicing golf outdoors as for example at a golf course or range or in a yard and also indoors as for example in a virtual reality setting.

Golfers are known to practice their golf swing and hitting a golf ball, typically on a golf practice range. Such practice areas are typically flat and typically have surfaces of grass, soil, artificial turf, or cement or a combination thereof. However, the terrain of a golf course varies from flat to rolling and from smooth to rough, and comprises water, grasses of varying heights, thickness, and coarseness, and soils of varying compactness, textures and wetness or dryness, including sand, dirt, moss, clay, and rocks. The terrain is known to have an effect on the golfer's hitting of the golf ball. Thus for better practice, a need exists for allowing golfers to practice hitting golf balls on terrain that better physically simulates the surfaces a golfer will actually encounter on a golf course.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

Figures 3 (a) and (b) are side views of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

Figure 4 is a cut-away side view of removable trays of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

Figure 5 is a angle view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

Figure 6 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

Figures 7 (a), (b), and (c) are side views of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a side view of one embodiment of an optional tee or ball holder for the apparatus of the invention.

Summarv of the Invention This invention provides a device that affords golfers the opportunity to physically practice hitting balls (excluding putting) on a practice range on terrain simulating the terrain found on a golf course. Particularly, this invention provides a device to simulate an uneven lie of a ball on the golf course, particularly on the tee box, fairway, rough, hazards and all other parts of the course except the greens. The device may also include various materials or surfaces like the surfaces found on a golf course, such as sand, water, and long and short grass or turf.

The device has a surface or deck for positioning and hitting a golf ball. The surface may be sufficiently large for the golfer to stand on while hitting the ball or may be smaller so as to only include the hitting surface. The surface is supported by at least one independently height- adjustable leg, and preferably all legs supporting the surface are independently height-adjustable.

The height-adjustment maybe achieved by any mechanism that affords the adjustment. Examples of height adjustors include without limitation hydraulic lifters attached to the legs and telescopic leg design. The height adjustment may be accomplished manually, hydraulicly, mechanically, or electronically. A leveler may be attached to or otherwise associated with the base of the height- adjustable leg to better facilitate resting of the leg steadily or substantially or completely on the ground or other surface on which the device is placed.

The surface comprises artificial turf, grass, soil or water and support therefor. The soil comprises sand, dirt, moss, clay, rocks, or combinations thereof. Such turf, grass, soil or water may cover the entire surface of the device or only a portion thereof. The depth of said turf, grass, soil or water is sufficient to withstand hitting with a golf club and to simulate hitting of the club on grass, soil or water on a golf course. In one embodiment of the invention, the surface of the device has a cut-out portion for fitting therein trays of turf, grass, soil or water. Preferably, such trays may also be fitted one inside the other for ease of storage. The surface may also comprise a ball holder or a tee holder.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments As shown in Figures 1,2,3,5,6, and 7, the device of this invention is preferably large enough to permit a golfer to stand on the device and position his ball on the device for hitting. The device of Figures 1,2,3,5,6, and 7, for example, ranges in size from about 4 feet to about 6 feet square. Alternative shapes and sizes would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and will depend in part on the height of the person using the device and the width and length needed for the device to accommodate the person's stance for various golf clubs, ranging from a driver to a

nine-iron.

The device should have a sufficient number of legs 10 or supports to support the-device's top surface 12 or deck when a person stands on it. All of the legs 10 are preferably adjustable in height. However, embodiments comprising at least one adjustable leg, and preferably also at least one opposing fixed leg, are possible. The shape of the legs may be any shape that serves as a support and will at least in part be determined by the mechanism used for adjusting the height of the legs.

In one embodiment, shown in Figures 1,2 and 3, the legs 10a are telescopic in nature, operating much like a photographer's tripod. That is, the legs 10a have multiple extensions 15, one which fits in another, such that the legs 1 Oa can be raised or lowered to a number of different heights. A pin, screw, clip, or other mechanism may be used to hold each leg securely at a desired height. Whatever such holding mechanism is used, it should be capable of being readily set and unset, so that the leg height can be easily and quickly adjusted.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, as shown in Figures 5,6, and 7, the legs may be extendable or adjustable by hydraulics or similar mechanics of operation for extending or adjusting the leg up and down. An accumulator 35, as shown in Figure 6, may be associated with the hydraulics mechanism for smoother operation.

Preferably, legs 10 will each have a base 14, as shown in Figures 3,5,6, and 7, to help stabilize and support the leg. The device may also have an underlying support 16, preferably about the same size as the top surface 12 of the device, as shown in Figures 3,5, and 7. The base 14 of legs 10 should be fastened to the support 16 if support 16 is provided. The support 16a may be positioned below base 14 as shown in Figure 3, or support 16b may be positioned above base 14, preferably adjacent the top surface 12, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. Base 14 may be a leveling pad, as shown in Figures 5,6, and 7 or otherwise have sufficient flexibility to act as a leveler for the leg. In either embodiment, the legs 10 should be fastened directly or indirectly to the top surface 12 of the device.

As shown in Figures 1,2,3, and 5, the top surface 12 of the device preferably has a cutout area 18 about 8-20 inches wide and about 12-30 inches long, or sufficient size to cover the area on the surface 12 most likely to be in the bottom swing path of a golf club being swung by a person standing on the device in a manner typical for practicing a golf swing and drive.

Fitted into the cut-out area 18 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be trays 20,21,22, and 23 as shown in Figures 3,4, and 8, for simulating field of play conditions for a golf course. That is, for example, tray 20 may contain sand, to simulate sand trap conditions. Tray 21 may contain long (averaging about 4 inches in length) simulated"grass,"comprised of a tough, long lasting plastic

or other synthetic material capable of withstanding repeated striking of a golf club, to simulate the "rough"of a golf course. Tray 22 may contain shorter (averaging about 1 to 2 inches in length) simulated"grass,"comprised of a tough, long lasting plastic or other synthetic material capable of withstanding repeated striking of a golf club, to simulate"fairway"conditions of a golf course.

Tray 23 may contain water to simulate shallow water play on a golf course. At least trays 21 and 22 will preferably have a foam or other cushioning material 24 at the bottom and optionally on the sides of the tray. In use, a golf ball is placed on the surface of these trays for hitting. Optionally, the cut-out area 18 may be fitted with a tee holder 30, as shown for example in Figure 8. Such tee holder 30 is preferably attached to the top surface 12 or tray 20,21,22, or 23 with springs 32 or other flexible attachers and may have the ability to adjust so that the top of the tee for holding the ball will be sufficiently level to enable the ball to stay on the tee notwithstanding the angle of the top surface 12. Alternatively, a holder for the ball, preferably flexible but capable of withstanding multiple strikes with a golf club, may be incorporated on tray 20,21,22, or 23 so that a tee is not needed.

Preferably, trays 20,21,22, and 23 will be sized so that one can fit inside the other when not in use. Sand for tray 20 and water for tray 23 may be added at the golf course before use.

Alternatively, one of the trays may be attached to top surface 12 permanently or even be a continuous part of top surface 12. In still another embodiment, the top of top surface 12 may be covered substantially completely or even completely with sand or turf so as to eliminate the need for a cut-out area 18, with tray 20,21 or 22 effectively expanding to become the top of top surface 12.

The minimum height of the device, that is, the bottom position for the legs 10, is the minimum height needed to accommodate the deepest of trays 20,21,22 and 23. Tray 20 comprising sand will preferably be the deepest of the trays, preferably being at least about four inches in depth. Tray 21, will preferably be about three and one-half to four inches in depth. Tray 22 will preferably be about three inches in depth and tray 23 will preferably be at least about one to two inches in depth. The maximum height of the device, that is, the maximum height that the legs 10 may be raised, preferably does not exceed a safe step height for a person stepping up on or off of the device, unless other safety features, such as guard rails, for example, are added to the device for higher heights. In any case, the maximum height of the device will vary with the height of the legs 10, and the surface 12 will be unlevel as the legs 10 are adjusted to different heights.

As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the legs 10 of the device may be adjusted so that the legs nearest the cut out area 18 for the trays 20-23 are higher or lower than the opposing legs furtherest

from this cut out area 18. Alternatively, legs on one side, i. e., at the front and back of the device or at the near end and far end from the cut out area 18, may be higher or lower than the opposing legs on the opposite side of the device. Such varying heights enable simulation of unlevel terrain on a golf course. The angle of surface 12 resulting from such adjustment of the legs will vary from 0° (when the legs are the same height) to less than 90° (where at least two legs are at different heights).

The material comprising the device is preferably light in weight, to enable ease of portability of the device, but strong enough to support a person standing on the device. Suitable materials for the top surface 12 and the base 14 include wood and wood products, plastic and other synthetic materials, and various metals such as steel and tin. The surface 12 and base 14 need not be comprised of the same material although they may be. The legs 10 are preferably comprised of strong materials, preferably capable of being made telescopic or of being manipulated by hydraulics, such as thin metals and strong plastics.

In another embodiment of the invention, the device may be smaller, for example, less than 4 feet square, for easier portability, and does not include a cutout area 18 or trays 20-23. Instead, the ground or other surface typically used for holding a golf ball on a practice range is used for holding the ball, while a person stands on the device of the invention to swing and hit the ball. In this embodiment, the minimum height of the device may be the space allowed for the legs at their lowest height, as space need not be allowed for trays 20-23. In still another embodiment of the invention, the device is equipped with hinges or other means for folding or collapsing it, for easier portability.

In still another embodiment of the invention, adjustment of the legs and slope of the surface of the device may be associated with computer chip driven controls, which may (or may not) further be associated with software to simulate the course terrain or layout of a particular golf course. The device of the invention may also be associated with equipment for examining various aspects of a person's golf swing, club speed, angle of hitting the ball, and the like, to assist the person in improving his or her golf game using the device. Such equipment may include, for example, infrared or video equipment and virtual reality. With respect to virtual reality, this invention is significant in achieving a full or complete virtual reality setting by virtually placing the golfer in terrain conditions like those of an actual golf course, including without limitation enabling the ball to be struck on an uneven lie.

While a preferred form of the invention has been described and shown in the drawings, modification and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modification and adaptations are within the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.