GB2148729A - Mannikin golfer - Google Patents

Abstract

The mannikin has limbs articulated with respect to its torso, and a swivel joint 12, the axis of which is inclined to the vertical. One of a set of model clubs can be engaged with the arms and the upper torso is rotated by means of a shaft 10 in imitation of a golf stroke. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golf game This invention relates to a game simulating golf and intended to be played on a table or the like.

According to the invention a mannikin is provided characterised in that a swivel joint is provided between the upper and lower parts of the torso of the figure and which axis is inclined to be vertical.

Preferably the mannikin has individually pivoted hip joints between the legs and the torso, and further hinge joints for the arms at the shoulders.

Preferably any one of a series of different scale representation golf clubs can be engaged with the hands of the figure.

Preferably also the upper torso is fast with a shaft containing said axis and which shaft projects through the rear of the figure and is provided with a manually engageable portion. By these means the upper part of the figure can be swung so that the arms and golf club move through an arc contained in a plane which is normal to said axis, and due to the inclination of the axis, that arc descends towards the ground on which the figure is standing and hence a golf stroke can be simulated.

The figure can be used in a golf simulation game either with the figure freestanding or possibly with the feet of the figure engaged with a detachable baseplate which affords a greater surface area for stability in use, and the swing can be used to displace a simulated golf ball around a board which simulates a golf course. In this event rules, and a scoring system similar to those of the conventional full scale golf game may be used.

The hinge joints between the legs and torso and similarly between the arms and the torso may be used to enable golf clubs of different lengths to be employed so that the mannikin may use a driver, and iron or a putter for example. If only a single club is provided it might be unnecessary to make it detachable from the figure and in this case the hinge joints (other than the torso swivel) might be unnecessary.

Where a base plate is used for greater stability of the mannikin in the swing, it is preferred to make the figure detachable from it (as mentioned above) so as to utilise the possibility of engaging the figure with the baseplate for either left or righthanded operation, and the game may be provided with similarly appropriately shaped golf clubs for this purpose.

Alternatively, instead of using the figures to displace a ball round a board or the like (including the possibility of a surface contoured board simulating the hazards of a golf course) the figure could be used simply to add a degree of realism in a simpler board game, in which for example each player in turn casts dice to determine the course of the play and the mannikins are used without the course of the game being dependent upon the movement of the ball struck by the golf clubs carried by the mannikins, and simply as tokens to indicate location. Other possibilities exist.

The sole figure is a diagrammatic view of a typical mannikin in a playing position, showing a spindle 10 projecting from the rear of the figure and being journalled in the lower torso part and fast with the upper torso part. The joint between the two torso parts can be seen by the reference 12 and is approximately parallel to the (adjusted) position of the arms of the mannikin. It will be appreciated that the adjusted angle between torso and legs, and also torso to arms depends upon the length of the golf club shaft and/or its adjusted position in the hands of the figure.

Although the invention is described above with particular reference to a golf game, it is envisaged that the mannikin may also be used in simulating other games, such as cricket, which involve swinging of some form of bat or the like.

1. A mannikin for use in a game simulating use by a player of a club, bat or the like characterised in that a swivel joint is provided between upper and lower parts of the mannikin, said upper part comprising an uppertorso portion and a first pair of limbs simulating arms, and said lower part comprising a lower torso portion and a second pair of limbs simulating legs, the axis of said swivel joint being operatively inclined to the vertical.

2. A mannikin as in claim 1 provided with individually pivoted hinge joints between the limbs and the torso portions.

3. A mannikin as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper torso portion is fast with a shaft containing said axis, projecting from the rear of the torso, and provided with a manually engageable portion.

4. A mannikin as in any preceding claim including a selectively detachable base plate with which foot portions of the second pair of limbs can be engaged.

5. A mannikin as in claim 4 wherein the base plate can be so engaged for operation of said upper part in either a left or right handed mode.

6. A mannikin as in any preceding claim including a club, bat or the like attached to the first pair of limbs.

7. A mannikin as in any one of claims 1 to 5 including one or more clubs, bats or the like selectively engageable with the first pair of limbs.

8. A mannikin for use in a game, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

9. Apparatus for playing a game simulating golf including a mannikin as in any preceding claim provided with a scale representation golf club or a series of inter-changeable clubs, the upper part of the mannikin being swung in use so that the first pair of limbs and a club move through an arc contained in a plane normal to the axis of the swivel joint, and due to the inclination of that axis that arc decends towards a surface on which the figure is stood so that a golf stroke can be simulated.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 including a simulated golf ball to be struck by the club in use and a board simulating a golf course.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the surface

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Golf game This invention relates to a game simulating golf and intended to be played on a table or the like. According to the invention a mannikin is provided characterised in that a swivel joint is provided between the upper and lower parts of the torso of the figure and which axis is inclined to be vertical. Preferably the mannikin has individually pivoted hip joints between the legs and the torso, and further hinge joints for the arms at the shoulders. Preferably any one of a series of different scale representation golf clubs can be engaged with the hands of the figure. Preferably also the upper torso is fast with a shaft containing said axis and which shaft projects through the rear of the figure and is provided with a manually engageable portion. By these means the upper part of the figure can be swung so that the arms and golf club move through an arc contained in a plane which is normal to said axis, and due to the inclination of the axis, that arc descends towards the ground on which the figure is standing and hence a golf stroke can be simulated. The figure can be used in a golf simulation game either with the figure freestanding or possibly with the feet of the figure engaged with a detachable baseplate which affords a greater surface area for stability in use, and the swing can be used to displace a simulated golf ball around a board which simulates a golf course. In this event rules, and a scoring system similar to those of the conventional full scale golf game may be used. The hinge joints between the legs and torso and similarly between the arms and the torso may be used to enable golf clubs of different lengths to be employed so that the mannikin may use a driver, and iron or a putter for example. If only a single club is provided it might be unnecessary to make it detachable from the figure and in this case the hinge joints (other than the torso swivel) might be unnecessary. Where a base plate is used for greater stability of the mannikin in the swing, it is preferred to make the figure detachable from it (as mentioned above) so as to utilise the possibility of engaging the figure with the baseplate for either left or righthanded operation, and the game may be provided with similarly appropriately shaped golf clubs for this purpose. Alternatively, instead of using the figures to displace a ball round a board or the like (including the possibility of a surface contoured board simulating the hazards of a golf course) the figure could be used simply to add a degree of realism in a simpler board game, in which for example each player in turn casts dice to determine the course of the play and the mannikins are used without the course of the game being dependent upon the movement of the ball struck by the golf clubs carried by the mannikins, and simply as tokens to indicate location. Other possibilities exist. The sole figure is a diagrammatic view of a typical mannikin in a playing position, showing a spindle 10 projecting from the rear of the figure and being journalled in the lower torso part and fast with the upper torso part. The joint between the two torso parts can be seen by the reference 12 and is approximately parallel to the (adjusted) position of the arms of the mannikin. It will be appreciated that the adjusted angle between torso and legs, and also torso to arms depends upon the length of the golf club shaft and/or its adjusted position in the hands of the figure. Although the invention is described above with particular reference to a golf game, it is envisaged that the mannikin may also be used in simulating other games, such as cricket, which involve swinging of some form of bat or the like. CLAIMS

1. A mannikin for use in a game simulating use by a player of a club, bat or the like characterised in that a swivel joint is provided between upper and lower parts of the mannikin, said upper part comprising an uppertorso portion and a first pair of limbs simulating arms, and said lower part comprising a lower torso portion and a second pair of limbs simulating legs, the axis of said swivel joint being operatively inclined to the vertical.

2. A mannikin as in claim 1 provided with individually pivoted hinge joints between the limbs and the torso portions.

3. A mannikin as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper torso portion is fast with a shaft containing said axis, projecting from the rear of the torso, and provided with a manually engageable portion.

4. A mannikin as in any preceding claim including a selectively detachable base plate with which foot portions of the second pair of limbs can be engaged.

5. A mannikin as in claim 4 wherein the base plate can be so engaged for operation of said upper part in either a left or right handed mode.

6. A mannikin as in any preceding claim including a club, bat or the like attached to the first pair of limbs.

7. A mannikin as in any one of claims 1 to 5 including one or more clubs, bats or the like selectively engageable with the first pair of limbs.

8. A mannikin for use in a game, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

9. Apparatus for playing a game simulating golf including a mannikin as in any preceding claim provided with a scale representation golf club or a series of inter-changeable clubs, the upper part of the mannikin being swung in use so that the first pair of limbs and a club move through an arc contained in a plane normal to the axis of the swivel joint, and due to the inclination of that axis that arc decends towards a surface on which the figure is stood so that a golf stroke can be simulated.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 including a simulated golf ball to be struck by the club in use and a board simulating a golf course.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the surface of the board is contoured to simulate the hazards of a golf course.

12. Apparatus for playing a game simulating golf substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.