GB2072022A

GB2072022A - Variable putting surface

Info

Publication number: GB2072022A
Application number: GB8107268A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Logan J L
Current assignee: Logan J L
Priority date: 1980-03-08
Filing date: 1981-03-09
Publication date: 1981-09-30

Abstract

An artificial putting surface has its contour variable and comprises inflatable compartments 11, 12 and 13 below a mat, sheet or strip 10 which forms the putting surface. The inflatable compartments are separately inflatable. In one embodiment, the compartments are individual components 11, 12 and 13 and in another embodiment the components are interconnected. In a third embodiment, the components are provided one below the other under the putting surface strip. In the first embodiment the desired contour is formed by placing one or more of the components in position below the playing surface sheet. In the second and third embodiment, the contour is obtained by inflating and/or deflating selected components. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Variable putting surface This invention relates to apparatus which can be used as an artificial putting area.

It is known to provide artificial putting surfaces in the form of mats or strips of matting, but these articles are flat and so the only variations available to the user are putts from different distances from the 'cu p'.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the disadvantage referred to above.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use as an artificial putting area comprising a playing surface member and at least one inflatable compartment therebelow capable of altering the contour of the playing surface.

Preferably, a plurality of separately inflatable compartments is provided below the playing surface member.

Preferably also, said separately inflatable compartments are individual components interchangeably positionable below the playing surface, Alternatively, said separately inflatable compartments are interconnected and the contour of the playing surface is altered by selectively inflating one or more of said components. At last one compartment is differentially inflatable over substantially its area, to provide a gradient-effect on the playing surface. At least one compartment is differentially inflatable over a part only of its area to provide a mound-effect on the playing surface.

Preferably, at least one inflatable compartment comprises an envelope having a plurality of extending parallel welds thereacross but of less length than the dimension of the envelope so as to leave a common air passage through which air can enter the plurality of compartments formed by the welds the distance between the welds decreasing towards one end so that the dimensions of the compartments are reduced thereby to provide a sloping surface.

The length of the weld lines may also decrease toward said one end.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of apparatus for use as an artificial contoured putting surface according to the invention, the top member i.e. the putting surface being shown in chain lines.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate inflatable contour forming compartments of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a detail in sectional side elevation illustrating the contour of the playing surface; and Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of another embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4, the apparatus comprises a playing surface 10 in the form of a sheet, mat or strip, belowwhich a plurality of separately inflatable contour forming compartments are located. In this embodiment, the compartments are three individual compartments 11,12 and 13two 11,12 being identical in form but in Figure 1 they are differently disposed below the playing surface.

The identical components 11, 12 take the form of a gradient and in Figure 1 one (11) provides an uphill slope towards the base of the green and the other (12) a slope across the green. The third component 13 is inflated over only part of its area and provides a mound-effect.

The gradient component 11, 12 comprises a square envelope of e.g. PVC vinyl sheets peripherally welded. Across the envelope are a number of parallel welds 14. The welds 14 stop shot of the edges of the envelope to provide a common air space 15. At one end of the envelope an air valve 16 is provided by which the envelope can be inflated to form a series of side by side tubes 17. The distance between the welds 14 decreases towards one end of the envelope so that the tube diameters gradually decrease. Thus, the component is differentially inflated.

The other component 13 comprises a flat sheet 20 on which one or more inflatable portions 21 are provided. The sheet may be an envelope having a peripheral weld and also welds 22 defining the inflatable areas, or a single sheet or base is provided to which the or each inflatable portion is secured.

Parallel welds 23 are provided over the inflatable area as in the other component so that tubes 24 of decreasing diameter are provided. An air valve is illustrated as 25.

In use, the three components 11, 12, 13 are arranged in whatever combination is desired and the assembled components covered by the playing surface 10 which is shown in chain lines in Figure 1.

One, or even two of the components may be omitted or the components used may overlap. The playing surface 10 is, in the preferred embodiment, a strip of PVC vinyl coated with mock-swede coloured green on its upper surface. The three components are placed in line and the playing surface overlaps the side and ends of the assembled contour-forming components. The contour of the playing surface of Figure 1 is partially illustrated in side view in Figure 4.

When a practice-golf 'cup' illustrated generally as 30, is placed at a desired or selected location on the playing surface, the player stands on the overlapping portion at one end of the strip and putts a golf ball 31 towards the cup; if he fails to 'hole' the putt the player retrieves the ball and tries again. A predetermined number of putts may be made and if the player fails to hole out, penalty strokes may be added to his score. The putt may be made from either end of the strip.

The components may be 34" to 38" square and the playing surface strip may be 12 ft. by 4ft. The gradient component when inflated has, for example a maximum height of 3 to 4 inches. The mound component when inflated has, for example a maximum height of 2 to 3 inches.

In a second embodiment, the separately inflatable components are interconnected, so the contour of the playing surface is altered by inflating one or more of the components and/or deflating one or more of the components. In this embodiment, the apparatus may be unitary, i.e. the playing surface layer may be secured to the inflatable components, or the playing surface may form the upper face of an envelope or bag within which the inflatable components are located; in such a case, the valves for inflating the components would extend out of the bag so that inflation or deflation may easily take place.

In a third embodiment (Figure 5), the apparatus is also unitary, and comprises an upper playing surface 40 and a plurality of compartments, 41 - 43, e.g. two or three under the playing surface, one below the other. Each compartment is separately inflatable through a valve 44 and the characteristics of each layer over its area vary so that when a compartment, e.g. the second compartment 42, is inflated the compartment will adopt a distorted formation which will distort the uninflated upper compartment 41 and provide a contour to the surface of the playing surface. One or more compartments may be inflated at the same time. Each compartment is formed for example in the same manner as the compartments 11, 12 and 13 i.e. with welds across their areas or parts of their areas to provide selective graduated inflatable portions 45 as illustrated in the second compartment 42.

An advantage of the apparatus hereinbefore described is that it is easily stored or carried; the contour forming compartments when not in use can be deflated and, together with the playing surface member, folded into a compact bundle.

A further advantage of the apparatus described in the preferred embodiment is the large number of possible contour combinations available by interchanging the positions of the individual components and using on or more of them.

A further advantage of the apparatus described in the second embodiment is that only two items are used, the all-in-one contour-forming unit and the playing surface member; in the alternative arrangement of the second embodiment and in the apparatus described in the third embodiment the apparatus is unitary.

The apparatus can be used in the home or on the premises of a social club or the like; for example, many social clubs have a small dance floor and, when not in use, the dance floor could be used as a base for the apparatus hereinbefore described.

The apparatus may be used competitively for example, in conjunction with playing cards which indicate the desired contour and instruct how this is achieved. This contour may simulate a known green.

The card would indicate the number of putts permitted and the number of penalty strokes awarded if the player fails to sink his putt within the permitted number of attempts. The position of the hole may be pre-determined or found by one player making an initial putt then placing the cup where the ball settles on the playing surface.

The practise cup 30 may be of the type having a ring of pivotal L-section members, one limb of each member being substantially upright and the other being substantially horizontal and pointing radially outwards.

When the ball strikes one of the upright limbs it causes that member to pivot inwards so that the ball rests on that limb, which is then horizontal, while the other previously horizontal limb is raised behind the ball to trap the ball in the centre of the ring.

The mock-swede of the putting surface member is intended to represent grass, other suitable materials may be used instead, such as synthetic grass.

The putting surface member may be made of material other than PVC vinyl, for example, baize, canvas or astroturf.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use as an artificial putting area comprising a playing surface member and at least one inflatable compartment therebelow capable of altering the contour of the playing surface.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a plurality of separately inflatable compartments is provided below the playing surface member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said separately inflatable compartments are individual components interchangeably positionable below the playing surface.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said separately inflatable compartments are interconnected and the contour of the playing surface is altered by selectively inflating one or more of said components.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which at least one compartment is differentially inflatable over substantially its area, to provide a gradient-effect on the playing surface.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which at least one compartment is differentially inflatable over a part only of its area to provide a mound-effect on the playing surface.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which at least one inflatable compartment comprises an envelope having a plurality of extend- ing parallel welds thereacross but of less length than the dimension of the envelope so as to leave a common air passage through which air can enter the plurality of compartments formed by the welds the distance between the welds decreasing towards one end so that the dimensions of the compartments are reduced thereby to provide a sloping surface.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the length of the weld lines may also decrease toward said one end.

9. Apparatus for use as an artificial putting area substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Apparatus for use as an artificial putting area substantially as hereinbefore described with referpence to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.