Abstract:
A compact, low profile golf putting practice apparatus includes a two-part flipper including a longitudinal flipping member and a coaxially mounted base section supporting the flipper member. A torsion spring pivots the flipper from its retracted position into an extended position whereby it propels a ball forwardly from a pocket area, and a powered retractor reversely pivots the flipper from its extended orientation into its retracted orientation. For safety, the two sections of the flipper are normally coupled together for movement as a unit by a resilient coupler which is capable of expanding temporarily when the flipper encounters an obstruction to its movement from the extended orientation to the retracted orientation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to golf putting practice devices and, more particularly, to golf putting practice devices of the type embodying a mechanism for kicking a ball back to the person making a putt thereinto. 
   Golf putting practice devices employing various ball return mechanisms mounted therein have been heretofore known in the art. One improvement over the prior art embodies a spring powered flipper device to return the ball, as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,720. In operation, a motorized mechanism retracts a flipper device against the tension force of an elongated spring member and then releases it to rotate freely forwardly through the contracting force of the spring and, thereby, contact the ball forcefully and send it back to the person. The flipper is again retracted, through the power of the motorized mechanism, into the operational position for returning the next putt. 
   Although the embodiment of the aforementioned patent results in a putt return device significantly smaller than that of prior art, the profile of the housing and the attached ball tray provide a limited target for putting practice. Also, the amount of torque generated by the motorized mechanism to retract the flipper is sufficient to cause injury if the user&#39;s finger is accidentally placed between the flipper and the housing during retraction. It is a primary object of the present invention to afford novel improvements over the golf putting practice devices heretofore known in the art. 
   One of the primary objects of the present invention is to afford a novel putting practice device that incorporates a two-part flipper device resiliently connected between a flipper section and supporting base section by a resilient means in a manner that allows the flipper portion to stop if obstructed by an object while retracting, thus preventing injury to the user or damage to the device. 
   A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device with a lower profile and larger ball receiving tray to provide an improved, more realistic putting target. 
   Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device, which embodies a flipper device of a substantially reduced size and a coaxially mounted torsion spring, constituted and arranged in a novel manner inside the device for returning a ball putted therein. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device with a flipper apparatus that consistently returns a ball in a path perpendicular to the front of the device in a more efficient manner. 
   Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device that can use either DC or AC power for operation. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device with a means for monitoring battery power to the device and for indicating when battery replacement is necessary. 
   Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device with a means to automatically shutoff power to the device after a set period of time of inactivity to conserve battery power. 
   A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf putting practice device which is practical and efficient in construction and operation, and which may be more readily and economically produced commercially. 
   Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is to be considered the best mode in which to apply these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a golf putting practice apparatus with a housing and ball tray for receiving a golf ball putted therein. The invention is particularly characterized by a ball return mechanism comprised of a two-part flipper apparatus, resiliently connected between the flipper and base sections and having a torsion spring coaxially mounted and engaging the base section of the flipper resiliently for ejecting a ball from the ball tray. The flipper apparatus affords safe operation during the retraction of the flipper and prevents accidental injury to the user or damage to the device if the flipper is engaged, obstructively, while retracting into the operational position at the rear of the ball tray. This invention incorporates a means to automatically deactivate the device after a set period of inactivity to preserve battery power, and provides an adaptor means to use a/c power for operation. 
   The present invention affords novel safety means as well as reduced spatial requirements over the prior art. The size reduction of the housing portion results in a device with a lower profile, larger ball tray for putting practice, increased portability, and an overall more realistic putting target. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and related objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred, albeit illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is the front perspective view of a golf putting practice device embodying the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section view taken considerably along the line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top sectional view; 
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section view taken considerably along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken generally along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the flipper device and torque spring as shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a frontal perspective view of the flipper device; 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the flipper device; 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the flipper device; 
       FIG. 10A  is a top view of the flipper device in the retracted position with the drive wheel shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 10B  is a top view of the flipper device in the released position with the drive wheel shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 10C  is a top view of the flipper device when obstructed by an object while retracting; and 
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram of the electronic control system of the device. 
   

   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               10 
               putting practice device 
               11 
               base 
             
             
                 
               12 
               main housing 
               13 
               front wall 
             
             
                 
               14 
               ball tray 
               15 
               top edge 
             
             
                 
               16 
               flipper device 
               17 
               front face 
             
             
                 
               18 
               front edge 
               19 
               rear wall 
             
             
                 
               20 
               front ramp 
               21 
               side wall 
             
             
                 
               22 
               rear edge 
               23 
               opening 
             
             
                 
               24 
               floor 
               26 
               side edge 
             
             
                 
               28 
               ball pocket 
               29 
               bumper 
             
             
                 
               30 
               interior wall 
               31 
               axle 
             
             
                 
               32 
               axle 
               33 
               battery box 
             
             
                 
               34 
               drive wheel 
               35 
               battery box door 
             
             
                 
               36 
               pivot arm 
               37 
               reduction gear members 
             
             
                 
               38 
               torsion spring 
               39 
               pivot pin 
             
             
                 
               40 
               flipper section 
               41 
               flipper base 
             
             
                 
               42 
               axle sleeve 
               43 
               brake 
             
             
                 
               44 
               resilient connector 
               45 
               axle sleeve 
             
             
                 
               46 
               end extension 
               47 
               spring cavity 
             
             
                 
               48 
               longitudinal cavity 
               49 
               free end 
             
             
                 
               50 
               lever switch 
               51 
               leaf switch 
             
             
                 
               52 
               ball 
               53 
               leaf switch 
             
             
                 
               54 
               side rib 
               55 
               rotating arm 
             
             
                 
               56 
               side wall 
               57 
               power arm 
             
             
                 
               58 
               speaker 
               59 
               speaker grille 
             
             
                 
               60 
               microprocessor 
               61 
               fin 
             
             
                 
               62 
               audio amplifier 
               63 
               light emitting diode 
             
             
                 
               64 
               electric socket 
               65 
               stop 
             
             
                 
               66 
               motor 
               68 
               pivot plate 
             
             
                 
               70 
               power supply 
               71 
               main switch 
             
             
                 
               72 
               battery meter 
               74 
               object 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A game device in the form of a golf putting practice device  10 , embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in  FIGS. 1–11 , inclusive, of the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   The golf putting practice device  10  is of the same general type as shown in the heretofore mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,720 and embodies in general, a housing  12 , a base  11 , a ball tray  14  into which a golf ball may be putted, a flipper device  16  disposed in an operative position in the housing  12  for returning the ball from the ball tray  14  to the person making the putt, and a microprocessor  60  that controls the electronic functions of the device  10 . 
   In the use of the device  10 , a ball is putted from a position in front thereof upwardly across the front ramp  20  into the ball tray  14  and rolls by gravity downwardly across the floor  24  into the ball pocket  28  from which it is ejected forwardly from the device  10  by the flipper device  16  while a simultaneously produced sound effect is emitted as positive feedback for the successful putt. 
   The present invention contains a novel, two-part flipper device  16 , as shown in detail in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9 , that is comprised of a flipper section  40 , which embodies a longitudinal planar member mounted for movement relative to the ball tray  14 , and a supporting flipper base  41 . Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the flipper device  16  is connected pivotally between the base  11  of the device  10  and the top of the housing  12  by the axle  32  passing throughout and providing a vertical axis about which the flipper device  16  may pivot horizontally relative to the base  11  and housing  12  from a retracted position, preferably substantially along the rear of the ball tray  14 , as shown in solid lines in FIGS.  1  and  3 – 4 , to a released position extending across a portion of the ball tray  14 , as depicted by broken lines in the same figures. 
   The two sections  40 ,  41  of the flipper device  16  are resiliently connected by the coaxially mounted resilient connector  44 . The flipper base  41  provides the rotational energy that turns the flipper section  40  through the connection at the power arm  57  of the base and the rotating arm  55  of the flipper. The two arms  55 ,  57  are normally bonded together by the force of the two end extensions  46  of the resilient connector  44 , thereby causing the two sections  40 ,  41  to rotate in unison. Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the resilient expandability of the resilient connector  44  releases the rotational force at the flipper section  40  so that its rearward movement stops if obstructed while retracting, as shown in broken lines, thus preventing injury or damage. This allows the flipper base  41  to rotate independently through the engagement with the motorized means and, thereby, interrupt power to the motor  66  when the rotation cycle is complete. The flipper section  40  also embodies a fin  61 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and further detailed in  FIG. 10C , that engages the power arm  57  of the flipper base  41 , obstructively, at the point of maximum rotation of the flipper section  40  in relation to the flipper base  41 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 9 , the free end  49  of the flipper device  16  is fashioned in a rearward direction in such a manner as to form a reflex angle at the intersection of the free end  49  and front face  17 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the resulting configuration directs the ball  52  in a substantially straight-line trajectory when ejected from the ball pocket  28  of ball tray  14  through the forward rotation of the flipper  16 . 
   The flipper base  41  also contains the pivot plate  68  and the brake  43 . The pivot plate  68  engages the pivot arm  36  of the adjacently disposed drive wheel  34  during rotation about the axle  31 , as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , and further detailed in  FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 10B . Referring again to  FIG. 8 , a recessed section of the leading edge of the brake  43  forms a stop  65  member that halts the forward rotation of the flipper device  16 , after release from connection with the drive wheel  34 , by engaging the axle sleeve  42  of the drive wheel  34 , obstructively, as shown in  FIG. 3  and further detailed in  FIG. 10B . 
   The torsion spring  38  engages the flipper base  41  at the spring cavity  47  and around the axle sleeve  45  and axle  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , and produces a novel arrangement which provides the required rotational energy to pivot the flipper device  16  forwardly in the ball return operation. The torsion spring  38  further engages the interior surface of the device  10 , obstructively, which prevents rotation of the spring  38  during the retraction and release of the flipper  16 . 
   The flipper device  16  is pivoted in a rearward direction through the connection with the drive wheel  34 , which is comprised of a gear wheel having a plurality of protruding pivot arms  36  that extend downward from underneath. The pivot arms  36  are constructed and arranged to engage the flipper device  16  and leaf switch  51  in such a manner as to open the normally closed switch  51  to interrupt the power to the motor  66  when the flipper device  16  is in the normally retracted operative position, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , and further detailed in  FIG. 10A . 
   The drive wheel  34  is coupled, through a mechanical means comprised of a plurality of reduction gear members  37 , to the motor  66  mounted to the base  11  of the device  10 . The flipper device  16  is normally positioned in the retreated position inside the face of the housing  12  by the rotation of the drive wheel  34  through the power of the motorized mechanical means. As the drive wheel  34  rotates, the pivot arm  36  closest to the pivot plate  68  of the base  41  of the flipper  16  engages the base  41  at the intersection of the pivot arm  36  with the pivot plate  68 . Continued rotation of the drive gear  34  pivotally retracts the flipper device  16  from the released extended position and retains the flipper  16 , against the resilient force of the torsion spring  38 , in the retracted operative position along the rear face of the ball tray  14 , as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 . 
     FIG. 10A  further illustrates the flipper device  16  in the retracted position through the engagement with the drive wheel  34  at the intersection of the pivot arm  36  with the pivot plate  68  of the flipper base  41 . A second pivot arm  36  is located in a forward position on the drive wheel  34  in relation to the engaged pivot arm  36  and, simultaneously, engages the normally closed leaf switch  51 , thereby opening the switch and interrupting power to the motor  66 . This halts the rotation of the drive wheel  34  at the connection of the engaged pivot arm  36  with the flipper base  41  and, subsequently, maintains the flipper device  14  in the retracted position through the inertia of the gear drive assembly. 
     FIG. 10B  shows the flipper device  16  in released position after power to the motor  66  has been restored and the subsequent rotation of the gear wheel  34  has moved both pivot arms  36  out of connective engagement with the flipper base  41  and leaf switch  51 , simultaneously. This allows the flipper device  16  to pivot forward freely through the force of the torsion spring  38  to the released position. 
     FIG. 10C  shows the rearward movement of the flipper section  40  of the flipper device  16  halted by an object  74  obstructing its path while retracting into the front of the housing  12  (indicated in broken lines). The continuing rotation of the flipper base  41 , through engagement with the drive wheel  34  at the intersection of the engaged pivot arm  36  with the pivot plate  68 , forces the end extension  46  of the resilient connector  44  to expand. This releases the connection of the flipper base  41  and flipper section  40  at the union of the power arm  57  with the rotating arm  55 , thus allowing the flipper base  41  to continue rotating until fully retracted. The second pivot arm  36  further engages the normally closed leaf switch  51 , causing the switch to open and disrupt power to the motor  66 , thereby retaining the flipper base  41  in the retracted position through the inertia of the gear drive assembly. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , the present invention also contains a novel ball tray  14  with a substantially open perimeter and embodies a front ramp  20 , which slopes upwardly and rearwardly from the front edge  18  of the ball tray  14  to the floor  24  that slopes downwardly from all sides to the ball pocket  28  and terminates at the front wall  13  of the housing  12 . The front entrance to the ball tray  14  forms an arc in likeness to the entrance to a regulation putting cup and is connected at each end to the side wall  56  to form the putting target. 
   The ball tray  14  embodies side rib  54  members comprised of a vertical projection of a portion of the wall at each side of the ball tray  14  in a manner to retain the ball  52  traveling into the interior of the ball tray  14 , unless said ball is directed thereto at excessive speed. 
   The ball pocket  28  is located along the central axis C of the ball tray  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , and consists of a recess in the floor  24  of the ball tray  14 , preferably sized to snugly, yet freely, receive, and of sufficient depth to trap, a standard size golf ball therein in a secure and stable manner in a position adjacent to the front of the retracted flipper section  40 . Further, referring to  FIG. 5 , the device  10  contains a lever switch  50 , one end of which terminates adjacent to the leaf switch  53  and the other end terminates at the interior wall  30  of the ball pocket  28 , and protrudes therein only far enough to operationally engage the circumference and weight of the ball  52  therein. 
   The lever switch  50  is comprised of a horizontal planar member embodying pivot pins  39  on either side thereof as fulcrums. When mounted in the device  10 , this allows pivotal movement of the lever switch  50  when engaged by the ball  52  in the ball pocket  28 . Consequently, the downward force on the ball pocket end of the lever switch  50  causes the opposite end to move in a corresponding upward direction which, thereby, engages and closes the normally open leaf switch  53 , as shown by broken lines in  FIG. 5 . 
   The device  10  contains a novel housing  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 , that incorporates a ball bumper  29  consisting of a projected overhang along the front edge to engage a ball at the rear of the ball tray  14  and, thereby, reduce rebounding of the ball  52  entering the ball tray  14 , and further guide the ball into the ball pocket  28 . Referring further to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the front wall  13  of the housing  12  contains a longitudinal cavity  48  to accommodate the flipper section  40  of the flipper device  16  when retracted into the operative position. The device  10  also incorporates a speaker grille  59  in the front wall  13  that provides pathways for the emission of audible sounds from the speaker  58  located adjacent thereto. Power to the device  10  is controlled through the operation of the main switch  71  located in the side wall  21  of the housing  12  and attached, switchably, to a power control means. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 11  in particularly, the device  10  incorporates a microprocessor  60  to control the operating functions of the components. The leaf switch  53  activates the microprocessor  60  when engaged by the lever switch  50  through contact with the ball  52  in the ball pocket  28 . This restores power to the motor  66  and, simultaneously, generates one of a plurality of audio sound effects, selected randomly, through the operation of the audio amp  62  and the speaker  58 . 
   The microprocessor  60  embodies a means to detect if the power falls below a determined threshold for operation and a flashing means that engages the light emitting diode  63  mounted in the housing  12 , electrically, in a blinking pattern to indicate the battery components must be replaced. If replacement is not completed within the set time limit, the microprocessor  60  activates a means to automatically shutoff power to the device  10  to prevent improper operation. The microprocessor  60  also turns off power to the device  10  if the mechanism is not activated within a set a time period to conserve battery life. 
     FIG. 11  illustrates in block diagram form the control system for the device  10 . The system is energized through the power supply  70  which is monitored through the power meter  72 . The main control component is a microprocessor  60  that receives input signals from the leaf switches  51  and  53 . The microprocessor controls the on/off function of the motor through block  66 , the light emitting diode functions through LED  63 , and the sound effects through the audio amplifier  62  and the speaker  58 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the device  10  contains an opening  23  in the rear wall  19  to an electric socket  64  disposed in the rear of the housing  12  adjacent to the battery box  33 . An AC adapter can be plugged into the electric socket  64  to transmit electric power of the proper voltage to operate the device  10 . The insertion of the plug into the electric socket  64  disconnects the power from the battery box  33  to the motorized mechanism and further provides, through the connection, commercial electrical power for operation. 
   The operation of the putting practice device according to the present invention shall be described next as summarized. Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5 , a ball  52  enters the device  10  at the front edge  18  and rolls upwardly across the front ramp  20  and downwardly by gravity across the floor  24  of the ball tray  14  and contacts the bumper  29  which deflects the impact and guides the ball  52  to rest in the ball pocket  28 . The circumference and weight of the ball  52  engages the lever switch  50  and forces the end of the lever to pivot about the pivot pin  39  in a downward manner, as shown by broken lines in  FIG. 5 . Consequently, the opposite end of the lever switch  50  pivots in a corresponding upward direction and engages the leaf switch  53  in such a manner as to move the switch from the normally open position, shown by solid lines, to a closed position, as shown by broken lines. This sends a signal to the microprocessor  60 , which temporarily restores power to the motor  66  and, simultaneously, generates a random sound effect through the operation of the audio amp  62  and the speaker  58  located behind the speaker grille  59 . 
   The activation of the motor  66  causes, through connective engagement to the mechanical means, the drive wheel  34  to rotate and move the conjoined pivot arm  36  out of a connective position with the flipper base  41 , thereby releasing the retracted flipper device  16  to pivot forward freely through the rotational energy of the torsion spring  38  until halted through contact of the stop  65  of the brake  43  with the axle sleeve  42 , obstructively. The force of the forwardly moving flipper  16  ejects the ball  52  from the ball pocket  28  and sends it back to the person making the putt. 
   The subsequent rotation of the drive wheel  34  advances a succeeding pivot arm  36  into an engaged position with the pivot plate  68  of the flipper base  41  and thereby rotates the flipper device  16  in a rearwardly direction against the resilient force of the torsion spring  38  until the forwardly advancing pivot arm  36  (trailing the engaged pivot arm  36 ) engages the leaf switch  51 . This interrupts power to the motor  66 , consequently halting and retaining the flipper device  16  in the retracted operative position inside the housing  12  along the rear of the ball tray  14  and ready to return the next putt. 
   If during operation the flipper section  40  is obstructed by an object  74  while retracting, the resistance causes the resilient connector  44  to expand, thereby releasing the flipper section  40  from the retracting force of the motorized mechanism and halting its rearward motion while the flipper base  41  continues rotation and automatically interrupts power to the motor  66  by opening switch  51 . Further, the resilience of the connection of the flipper section  40  to the base section  41  allows an object  74  to be easily removed by manually pivoting the flipper device  16  slightly forward until the object is dislodged. 
   From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel golf putting practice device that embodies a novel two-part flipper apparatus to provide safe operation during retraction of the flipper. Further, the coaxially mounted torsion spring member engages the flipper device at the base section to provide the rotational energy for the ball return function. This arrangement requires a minimum amount of space to house the ball return mechanism. The resulting lower profile of the housing and the larger ball tray receiving area afford an improved and more accurate target for putting practice. 
   Next, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel housing that incorporates a bumper that contacts the ball along the rear of the ball tray to reduce rebounding of the ball entering therein and further guide the ball into the ball pocket. 
   Further, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel putting practice device that embodies an automatic timing mechanism to turn off power to the device if the device is not operated within a set period of time to conserve battery power. 
   It will also be seen that the present invention affords a novel putting practice device that is extremely portable, practical and efficient in construction and operation, and is more readily and economically produced commercially. 
   Yet further, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel putting practice device with a means to measure battery power and cause the light emitting diode to operate in a blinking fashion if the power drops below a determined operating value. In addition, the same means automatically deactivates the device if the power remains below the minimum operating value for a predetermined amount of time. 
   It will also be seen that the present invention affords a novel putting practice device that can use either DC or AC current for operation. 
   While the present invention has been shown and described herein in connection with a golf ball, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of the present invention may be used in connection with any ball-return practice apparatus (for example, one used with a soccer ball or a billard/pool ball), thereby to test the accuracy of a player&#39;s driving of the ball relative to a designated target and an automatic return of the ball to or adjacent to its point of origin. Of course, the ball-return practice device would be adjusted in its configuration and dimensions relative to the dimensions of the ball. 
   Thus, from the illustration and description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, and that all matter herein set forth or shown is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.