Abstract:
The present invention relates to a golf practice putting device comprised of a lower section and an upper section being rotatably attached via hinge means. Panel inserts have a felt material or other turf like material thereon, and are mountable on the sections. Openings are formed in the upper section and panel insert for golf balls to exit into a capture area. Opposed elevation means are secured to the upper section. The elevation means allow the angle of the putting surface to be modified according the slope the player desires. Platforms are securely engaged with the elevation means to provide stability balance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a portable putting practice device having sections connected by a hinge for easy transport and storage, panel inserts having the capacity to provide a variety of putting surfaces, and elevation means to change the angle of elevation for the putting surface. 
         [0002]    Similar portable practice devices are known in the prior art. The present invention is an improvement over these devices because the sections are hingedly attached to break down for storage and the elevation means provides an easily adjustable configuration. Simulated turf material is secured to the panel inserts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved golf practice putting device. 
         [0004]    To attain this, the present invention comprises a lower section and an upper section being rotatably attached. Opposed elevation means are provided through apertures in upstanding walls disposed on the upper surface of the upper section. The elevation means allow the angle of the putting surface to be modified according the slope the player desires. Support platforms are provided to stabilize the elevation means. Panel insert, with turf like material disposed on an upper surface of the inserts, are moutable on the upper and lower sections. A cup opening is defined through the upper section and turf material. 
         [0005]    A rim integrally formed with the cup opening and insertable members mounted on the rim a variety of diameter openings for different skill sets of the user. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide for an indoor golf putting practice device which is easily transportable through hinge means attaching the upper and lower sections. 
         [0007]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide removeable panel inserts to allow for a variety of styles and types of putting surfaces. 
         [0008]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide support platforms to secure elevation means to reduce movement and provide stability on uneven ground. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the present invention with panel inserts dismounted. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a partial view of an upper section. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention employing the hinge means. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the elevation adjustment means. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of cup and frame along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a golf putting practice device  10  is shown. The device  10  is comprised of a first planar upper section  12  and a second planar lower section  14 . Each section has an upper surface and a lower surface, a first end and second end, and side edges. The upper section  12  has a passage  40  therethrough at a pre-determined location. Opposed upstanding parallel side walls  16  are formed on the upper surface of the sections  12 ,  14  attached to the side edges. A first end wall  18  with a front facing, back facing and top facing is integrally formed on the second end of the upper section  12  with the parallel side walls  16 . A second end wall  20  may be integrally formed on the first end of the lower section  14  perpendicular to the side walls  16  of the lower section  14 . Alternately, a passage is defined when the second end wall  20  is removed. 
         [0018]    The lower surface of the first end of the upper section  12  is attached to the second end of the lower section  14  via hinge means  42 , and in the first position of the hinge means  42  the sections  12 ,  14  are parallel to form an integrated putting surface. The hinge means  42  permits the sections  12 ,  14  to be rotatable in relation to each other so that when in the second closed position of the hinge means  42  the upper surfaces of each section  12 ,  14  are parallel. The hinge means  42  are preferably hinge bosses with complementary hinge pins. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the device  10  can be folded for transport or storage. 
         [0019]    A partition  50  is affixed to the upper surface of the upper section  12  and lower  14 . 
         [0020]    The partition  50  has a curvilinear outer surface, a planer base, front portion  52 , side portions  54 , and peripheral inner and outer edges along the front portion  52  and side portions  54 . The partition  50  is preferably made of wood composite. A channel  56  is defined by inner surfaces of the front portion  52  and side portions  54  of the partition  50 , and the upper surfaces of the upper section  12  and lower section  14 . The side portions  54  of the partition  50  are generally aligned perpendicular to each other. 
         [0021]    A first panel insert  60  and a second panel insert  70 , with upper and lower surfaces, are illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The inserts are removeable and securely mountable to the upper section  12  and lower section  14  in the defined provided channel  56 . The first panel insert  60  has a peripheral front edge  62  of predetermined shape to mount securely against the front portion  52  of the partition  50 , and peripheral side edges  64  to securely abut against the side portions  54  of the partition  50 . The second panel insert  70  has a peripheral front edge  72 , peripheral side edges  74  and a peripheral rear edge  76 . The front edge  72  of the second panel insert  70  abuts against a rear edge  66  of the first panel insert  60 . The first panel insert  60  has a passage  68  complimentary with the passage  40  of the upper section  12 . 
         [0022]    Simulated turf material  22 , such as felt, is secured to the upper surface of the first panel insert  60  and the upper surface of the second panel insert  70 . The material provides consistent putting surface for practice. It should be recognized that different coverings can be installed to provide a variety of undulations and a variety of thicknesses. Thus, the surfaces can be provided to simulate actual putting conditions for the user. For an example, the turf material on the first panel insert  60  may be angled to simulate a break in the putting surface, while the second panel insert  70  has a flatter composition. 
         [0023]    The passage  68  of the first panel insert  60  is aligned with the passage  40  of the upper section  12  to define a cup opening to allow golf balls to exit from the putting surface. A rim  28  having a top surface and a lower surface is integrally formed in the opening. Insert members  26  having a top surface and a lower surface, turf material  22  secured to the top surface, and having a hole therethrough, are mountable on the rim  28 . The apertures of the insert members  26  have alternate diameters to provide a variety of targets for the cup opening. The insert members  26  thus allow more of a challenge for a player to make a practice putt. 
         [0024]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a cup  80  is detachably mounted to the lower surface of the upper section  12 . A frame  82  comprised of side walls and a base wall, protects the cup. 
         [0025]    When mounted the panel inserts  60 ,  70  provide an elevated surface relative to the remainder of the upper section  12  and the lower section  14 . A slot  24  is defined between the outer perimeter of the partition  50 , and the end wall  18  of the upper section  12  and the side walls  16  of the lower section  14  and upper section  12 . Any golf balls exceeding the perimeter of the partition  50  are propelled into the slot  24 , and either return to the base of the device  10  because of the elevation, or are retrieved by the player. By having the elevated panel inserts, putting accuracy and putter alignment, are more readily taught. 
         [0026]    Opposed elevation adjustment means  30  are provided to allow the user to elevate the putting surface of the device  10  as desired. The adjustment means  30  are secured to the upper section  12 . The preferred method of adjustment means  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and is comprised of an outwardly threaded rod  32  with a knob  34  at a first end and a round head nut  36  at a second end. The rod  32  is placed through a threaded brass insert  38  mounted in a bore formed in the side walls  16  of the upper section  12 . The brass insert  38  securely engages with the rod  32  to stabilize movement. The device  10  is raised and lowered by turning the knob  34 . 
         [0027]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2  and  6 , support platforms  90  are provided upon which to mount the adjustment means  30 . The platforms  90  have lower surface and upper surface, and are generally rectangular shaped. The upper surface of the platform has integrally formed indentations  92  therein, to securely engage with the head nut  36  of the elevation means  30 . The lower surface of the platform  90  is in contact with ground surface. 
         [0028]    When combined the elevation means  30  and platforms  90  provide alternate settings for the slope of the putting surface. Adjustments can be made to compensate for uneven ground surfaces, and the adjustment means  30  on one side of the device  10  can be raised or lowered, simulating a break in the putting surface. Each elevation means  30  can be independently to adjust the angle of the slope. 
         [0029]    In use a player stands at the first end of the lower section  14  after adjusting the elevation of the putting surface. The player can retrieve the golf balls after successful putting the ball through the cup opening. It can readily be seen that when the golf balls enter the slot  24  after leaving the turf material  22  on the panel inserts  60 ,  70  because of errant putts, that the slope of the device  10  will return the balls to the golfer at the base. 
         [0030]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0031]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.