Abstract:
A golf green for a patio, deck, floor, substrate or supporting surface with access from below to cut a hole therein includes a U-shaped cup retaining structure mounted to the substrate underside adjacent the hole and into which a cup is slidably inserted and seated in alignment with the hole and the cup having a passageway into which a plug is inserted with the plug having a through hole for receiving the lower end of the golf flag staff, a plurality of ring inserts for placement within the cup to alter the cup diameter and refine golf putting practice, a cover for placement over the cup to conceal the hole so that the substrate, such as the patio, can be safely traversed, and a ball collection apparatus disposed underneath the substrate and into which balls fall by gravity for collection and eventual retrieval.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to the game of golf and golf equipment, and more particularly pertains to structure securable to an indoor or outdoor supporting surface such as a game room, deck or patio having underside access so that the game of golf and golf putting practice can occur throughout the year. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Golf is one of the most popular sporting games played both recreationally and professionally worldwide. There are many aspects and subtleties to the game of golf that require practicing and mastery various skills and techniques. For example, there is the long game that requires driving, the intermediate game that requires the use of irons, and the short game for the putting green that requires the use and mastery of clubs referred to as putters. These are the three primary aspects to the game of golf that both amateurs and professionals seek to become proficient at and master. While the game of golf can be played year round in warm, sunny climates and regions, in climates and regions that experience winter—as well as less than optimum spring and fall weather—golf is generally restricted to the summer season. Though indoor facilities do exist in some places, most golfing aficionados don&#39;t have access to such facilities nor do they necessarily have the time to engage in such outside golf practice. Since putting is the easiest part of the golf game to simulate indoors, it is a simple matter to create makeshift putting greens that consist of nothing more than a cup laid on its side and placed at one end of a carpeted office room or game room. To better simulate putting greens requires the forming of a hole in the floor surface with some sort of cup or container placed therein for collecting the putted golf ball. More elaborate contrivances to simulate an indoor golf game, and especially for simulating golf putting, includes access to the floor from below to include a ball collection and retrieval system. Such systems can include pneumatics and electronic sensing apparatus to collect and even eject the golf balls. The prior art discloses a number of devices and systems for practicing the game of golf with an emphasis on providing some type of hole, indoors or outdoors, for accommodating the putting game. 
     For example, the Vinette patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,078) discloses a game ball target return apparatus and method that includes an improved ball return mechanism comprising a pressurizable ball return mechanism interconnected to the hole by means of a conduit and whereupon the chamber is pressurized when the ball reaches the chamber entrance for ejecting the ball therefrom. 
     The Van Holt, Jr. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,397) discloses a golf hole accessory for reducing the diameter and for increasing the visibility of a conventional golf hole. 
     The Sjoblom patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,053) discloses a golf cup insert that reduces the size of the hole of a golf cup so that the player is able to putt to a smaller hole. The golf cup insert is threadably engaged to a sleeve positioned within the hole so that the golf cup insert can be adjusted up or down within the hole. 
     The Reddick patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,719 B1) discloses a golf cup retaining holder for artificial greens that includes a retaining tube that is positioned in the ground at a selected area of the artificial green with the retaining tube held in vertical position by an anchor plate. 
     The Lawyles patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,767 B2) discloses an apparatus for golf putting practice that includes an insert used in floor mounted HVAC systems with the insert having at least one regulation size golf hole. 
     The Huston et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,371) discloses an indoor golf hole and installation system that includes a canister threadably engaged to a collar that is disposed within the subflooring of a room thereby allowing the canister to be vertically adjustable to accommodate carpets having different thicknesses. 
     The J. A. Gentiluomo patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,223) discloses a golf range ball handling means that includes an inclined floor, a ball retrieving gutter, a ball return means, a ball dispensing means, and a ball elevating means. 
     The Frotten patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,375) discloses a golf putting practice apparatus that includes a flat support plate from which a cup depends and into which the golf ball falls during putting practice. 
     The Boyes patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,944) discloses a golf cup retaining holder that supports therein a conventional golf cup for use on greens made of artificial grass. 
     The Birchler et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,063) discloses a heater register golf cup wherein a ball retrieval basket with an attached flagpole is supported within a collecting cup that seats within an opening formed on the flat plate of a conventional in-floor air duct. 
     The Barlow et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,491 B2) discloses a floating golf ball cup insert wherein the golf ball cup insert is able to move transversely in the vertical hole while being locked in place within the hole. 
     The Barak et al, patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,841) discloses a plug for an indoor or patio golf green and hole wherein the plug is level with the planar surface surrounding the golf ball cup and hole. 
     Nonetheless, despite the advantages of the prior art, there remains a need for a golf ball cup and retaining structure that can be secured to any supporting surface or substrate—indoor or outdoor—to which underside access is available so that the golf ball hole is able to extend downwardly from the supporting surface for allowing golf putting practice throughout the year, especially if the golf ball cup and retaining structure is located on an indoor surface, floor, or substrate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprehends a golf game usable both indoors and outdoors, and especially a golf game that can be set up indoors on any suitable substrate, floor or supporting surface which has access from beneath the substrate with such a substrates including, but not limited to, decks, patios, living rooms, game rooms, porches, etc. The golf game of the present invention provides for a golf hole formed in the substrate so that the individual can play golf year round, with an especial emphasis on the putting game, in a convenient indoor environment. In addition, when the golf green and the golf hole are not in use the golf hole can be covered up thereby allowing use of the room without the worry of someone tripping over or accidentally stepping into the golf hole. 
     The golf game for an indoor or outdoor substrate or floor includes a U-shaped cup retaining structure that is secured to the underside of the substrate or floor adjacent and in alignment with the golf hole. It should be noted that a golf hole would be drilled into the substrate or floor at an appropriate location with easy access for drilling the hole from below or underneath the substrate or floor. The cup retaining structure includes a pair of spaced-apart legs that straddle the golf hole and extend from a body portion with the legs being perpendicular to the body portion. Each leg includes an inwardly stepped elongated portion having substantially the same length as the respective leg with each stepped elongated portion having a ledge that upwardly faces the underside of the substrate or floor. The cup retaining structure further includes a curved bight portion formed at the area where the legs join to the body portion. 
     The golf game for an indoor or outdoor substrate or floor also includes a cup having a centrally located passageway and opposed slots located at its lower end with the slots located 180 degrees from each other on opposed sides of the surface of the cup and the slots being parallel to each other. The cup is slid onto the cup retaining structure by aligning the slots with the legs and the inwardly stepped elongated portions so that the cup can be slid back to the bight portion and seated on the cup retaining structure immediately beneath, and in axial alignment with, the golf ball hole cut and formed in the substrate or floor. A cylindrical plug having a centrally located through hole is placed within the passageway of the cup to receive and accommodate the lower end of the staff of a golf flag for supporting the golf flag in an upright position. The golf game also includes a plurality of ring inserts that are simply rings of different diameters each of which can be placed within the upper inner end of the cup and upon an upper annular ledge of the cup for changing the diameter of the hole by closing down the size of the hole defined at the upper end of the cup. The use of the ring inserts also correspondingly closes down the size of the hole cut in the substrate or floor. Several types or embodiments for covers are also provided for easily and quickly covering the golf hole so that the golf hole doesn&#39;t become a danger or hazard when not in use. The golf game can also be provided with a ball collection system mounted beneath the substrate or floor wherein the struck or putted golf ball is directed by gravity whereupon after one or more golf balls are putted into the golf hole for conveyance to the ball collection system, the golf balls can be retrieved therefrom. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf green for a patio that simulates a realistic game of golf, and especially the part of the game involving putting. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf green for a patio that can be set up on an indoor or outdoor substrate or supporting surface having access from beneath or from the underside of the substrate or supporting surface. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a golf green for a patio that can be easily secured to the underside of the substrate or supporting surface and easily removed therefrom. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a golf green for a patio that doesn&#39;t interfere with the ability of people to walk or stand upon the floor, substrate or supporting surface when the golf green is not being used. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a golf green for a patio that includes a golf ball collection structure disposed beneath the floor, substrate, or supporting surface, and from which golf balls can be easily retrieved. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a golf green for a patio that can accommodate a flag and flagpole for the realistic simulation of a putting green. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the cup into which the golf ball falls during use of the golf green by the individual; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the cup, the central passageway of the cup and the projecting dimples of the slots; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the cover that is placed over and upon the hole cut in the substrate or supporting surface such as the patio deck; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the cover and the centrally located aperture into which the bottom of the staff of the golf flag can be inserted; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the plug for placement within the passageway of the cup thereby closing off the cup; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the centrally located through hole that extends through the plug and which can accommodate the lower end of the golf flag; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating an alternative configuration for the cup first shown in  FIG. 1  wherein the interior sidewalls are vertical and not beveled; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating an alternative embodiment for the cover first shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating a ring insert that is placed within the cup to change—reduce—the diameter of the cup; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the ring insert first shown in  FIG. 9  from the side; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the alignment of the plug with the cup; 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the cup retaining structure into which the cup slides for being supported therein with the cup retaining structure mounted to the underside of the substrate or supporting surface; 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the cup after it has been slid into the cup retaining structure; 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the cup after it has been slid into the cup retaining structure with the configuration of the lower end of the cup showing an alternative embodiment than the configuration of the cup shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 , and  13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a front elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating cup retaining structure from the open end thereof; 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom plan view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the cup retaining structure from the bottom thereof; 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the securement of the cup retaining structure to the underside of the supporting surface and in alignment with the hole cut into the supporting surface; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the seating of the cup on the cup retaining structure; 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the alignment of the cup with the cup retaining structure prior to the slideable placement of the cup on the cup retaining structure; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the golf green for a patio illustrating the securement of the cup retaining structure to the underside of the supporting surface, such as the patio, and the initial disposition of the cup relative to the cup retaining structure for mounting the cup to the cup retaining structure; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the securement of the cup retaining structure to the underside of the supporting surface with the cup completely slid onto the cup retaining structure for alignment with the hole cut in the supporting surface; 
         FIG. 22  is a side elevational view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the attachment of a ball return and collection system to the lower end of the cup; 
         FIG. 23  is a top plan view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating the securement of the cover to the supporting surface for covering the hole cut in the supporting surface; and 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the golf green for a patio of the present invention illustrating insertion of the lower end of the staff of the golf flag into the hole for insertion with the through hole of the plug that has been seated within the cup. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-24  is a golf game  10  for an indoor or outdoor environment or area that allows the individual to practice and play the game of golf, and especially practice the short game or the putting game, in a realistic manner throughout the year. The golf game  10  of the present invention is especially useful for providing a realistic setting for practicing and playing the short golf game in areas, regions, or locales having winters that make outdoor golf impossible and where indoor facilities are scarce or non-existent. The golf game  10  of the present invention is utilized on any indoor or outdoor substrate, supporting surface or floor that has easy access from beneath or the underside of the substrate, supporting surface or floor. Such substrates or supporting surfaces can include, but are not limited to, decks, patios, game rooms, living rooms, entertainment rooms, etc. 
     Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 20 ,  21 ,  23  and  24  is a substrate or supporting surface  12  that can be located indoors or outdoors and on which a golf hole  14  has been created by drilling from the underside  16  or from beneath a circular hole in the substrate or supporting surface  12  at a desired location to allow for adequate and realistic practice of the short game, i.e., the putting game. A golf flag  18  is shown projecting upwardly from the golf hole  14  with the lower end  20  of the staff or pole  22  of the golf flag  18  inserted into the golf hole  14  and supported by structure hereinafter further described. Mounted to the underside  16  of the substrate  12  is a cup retaining structure or cup holding structure  24  as shown in  FIGS. 12-23 . The cup retaining structure  24  is generally U-shaped and includes an upper side  26  and an underside  28 . The upper side  26  is disposed contiguous to the underside  16  of the substrate  12  when the cup retaining structure  24  is mounted thereto. The cup retaining structure  24  includes a body portion  30  and a pair of spaced-apart legs  32  that are integrally formed to and extend from the body portion  30 . The legs  32  are disposed parallel to each other and extend perpendicular from the body portion  30 . The body portion  30  defines an inner curvilinear bight portion  34  and the spaced-apart legs  32  form an open mouth  36 . Each leg  32  includes an integral elongated stepped portion  38  with each stepped portion  38  being disposed inboard or inward of the respective leg  32  to which it is integrally formed. Each stepped portion  38  defines an upwardly facing ledge  40  with each ledge  40  facing the underside  16  of the substrate  12  when the cup retaining structure  24  is mounted thereon. As shown in  FIGS. 12-21  fasteners  42 , such as wood or metal screws, are screwed up through the legs  32  and body portion  30  of the cup retaining structure  24  and into the underside  16  of the substrate  12 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7 ,  11  and  18 - 22  is a cup  44  adapted for slidable removable placement within the cup retaining structure  24  and which receives therein an accurately putted golf ball, such as golf balls  46  and, as hereinafter further described, directs the golf ball  46  to ball collecting structure that is interconnected to the cup  44  that will be hereinafter further described. The cup  44  is generally cylindrical-shaped and includes an upper end  48 , a lower end  50 , and a centrally located passageway  52  extending therethrough. The cup  44  includes an inner annular upper surface  54  that may be beveled, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or may be vertical  56 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Adjacent the lower end  50  of the cup  44  are opposed exterior annular projections  58  located 180 degrees from each other with the projections  58  defining opposed slots or grooves  60 . The slots  60  are spaced 180 degrees from each other and are parallel to each other. Each slot  60  also includes on its inside flat surface at least one nubbin or dimple  62  and the cup  44  is slid onto the cup retaining structure  24  by aligning the slots  60  with the respective legs  32  and inwardly stepped portions  38  so that the cup  44  can be slid all the back to the bight portion  34  of the cup retaining structure  24  with the curvilinear configuration of the bight portion  34  providing for the contiguous seating of the cylindrical cup  44  thereagainst and in alignment with the golf hole  14  cut into the substrate  12 . The dimples  62  provide resistive engagement against the flat vertical surface  64  of each inwardly stepped portion  38  thereby helping to maintain the cup  44  in its seated position on the cup retaining structure  24 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  11  is a plug  66  capable of removable insertion within the passageway  52  of the cup  44  thereby preventing golf balls  46  from falling downward therethrough for collection by ball collection structure hereinafter further described. The cylindrical-shaped plug  66  includes a cylindrical major body portion  68 , an upper end  70 , an opposite lower end  72 , a centrally located through hole  74 , and an annular rim or flange  76  adjacent the upper end  70 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the plug  66  is placed within the passageway  52  of the cup  44 , the rim  76  abuts the inner annular surface  54  or  56  of the cup  44 , seats the plug  66  within the cup  44  and thus prevents the plug  66  from falling through the passageway  52  of the cup  44 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  8  and  23  are covering means for covering the golf hole  14  when not in use. The covering means is placed over and upon the golf hole  14  when the golf hole  14  is not in use for preventing injury to anyone stepping unawares into the otherwise exposed golf hole  14 . The covering means includes several embodiments one of which is shown in  FIG. 4  and which is a convex/concave round cover  78  having a centrally located through hole  80  into which the lower end  20  of the staff  22  of the golf flag pole  18  can be inserted and supported. The cover  78  of  FIG. 4  includes an upwardly convex surface  82  and a lower inner cylindrical portion  84  having a smaller diameter than the convex portion  82  that seats snugly within the golf ball hole  14  with the outer annular underside  86  of the convex portion  82  resting on the substrate or supporting surface  12  or even the portion of a carpet that is laid over the substrate or supporting surface  12  and surrounds the golf hole  14 .  FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative embodiment for the cover wherein the cover  88  of  FIG. 8  includes a circular disc portion  90  having a flat upper side, a slanted or beveled edge  92  and a lower annular portion  94  whose diameter is less than that of the circular disc portion  90 . The lower annular portion  94  fits snugly within the golf ball hole  14  while the underside  96  of the circular disc portion  90  rests on the substrate, supporting surface  12 , or the portion of the carpet surrounding the hole  14 . For illustrative purposes the cover  78  of  FIG. 4  is shown as being placed upon the golf hole  14  completely covering the golf hole  14 . Moreover, a pair of fasteners  42  are inserted down through the cover  78  and into the substrate  12  for fixing the cover  78  or  88  in place. 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is an embodiment for a ring insert  98  that is placed within the inner annular upper surface  54  or  56  of the cup  44 , whether that surface is beveled as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  11 , or vertical as shown in  FIG. 7 . The ring insert  98  can come in various diameters and is placed within the upper end  48  of the cup  44  to essentially close down and reduce the annular diametrical size of the upper end  48  of the cup  44  thereby increasing the difficulty of putting the golf ball  46  into the cup  44  by reducing the diameter of the cup  44 . Ring insert  98  also includes imprinted on its upper surface indicia  99  that indicate how the insert  98  is to be used with representative indicia  99  including the following “Remove After Use No Step.”  FIG. 21  illustrates the cup retaining structure  24  secured to the underside  16  of the substrate  12  with the cup  44  fully seated and positioned on the cup retaining structure  24  and in alignment with the golf hole  14  while  FIG. 23  shows a portion of the cup  44  with the staff  22  of the golf flag  18  inserted into the through hole  74  of the plug  66  (only a portion of the plug  66  is visible in  FIG. 23 ). 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a ball collection means removably attachable to the lower end  50  of the cup  44  and into and through which the golf ball  46  will travel by gravity whereupon after a number of golf balls  46  have been collected they can be easily retrieved. This allows the individual to practice for a sustained amount of time without having to constantly retrieve the golf ball  46  from the cup  44 . The ball collection means includes one or more pieces or segments of conduit or pipe  100  (preferably standard PVC pipe) interconnected one to another and leading to a box or box-like container  102  which serves as the repository for the golf balls  46  and into which the golf balls  46  fall by gravity for collection therein. The conduit segments  100  and the container  102  are mounted to the underside  16  of the substrate  12  by any standard bracket or hanger arrangement and should be mounted in a place easily accessible for the individual. 
       FIG. 24  shows a portion of the cup  44  visible through the golf hole  14  formed and cut in the substrate  12  with the lower end  20  of the staff  22  of the golf flagpole  18  being supported in and by the plug  66  (which is not visible).  FIGS. 18 and 19  schematically illustrate the cup  44  being initially aligned with the cup retaining structure  24  and then slid backward and seated against the bight portion  34  of the cup retaining structure  24 ;  FIG. 20  illustrates the cup retaining structure  24  mounted to the underside  16  of the substrate  12  with the slots  60  of the cup  44  aligned with the stepped portions  38  of the legs  32  and  FIG. 21  shows the cup  44  slid hack to the bight portion  34  for situating the passageway  52  of the cup  44  in axial alignment with the golf hole  14 .  FIG. 13  illustrates the alignment of the slots  60  with the legs  32  and stepped portions  38  integral with each leg  32  while in  FIG. 14  the lower projections  58  that define each slot  60  have been removed but the cup  44  is still able to be aligned with the legs  32  so that the cup  44  can be slid therealong both for easily and quickly seating the cup  44  on the cup retaining structure  24  and also for slidably removing the cup  44  from the cup retaining structure  24  when desired. 
     Upon given the above disclosure, numerous other features, modifications, variations and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and such features, modifications, variations alterations are thus considered a part of this invention and to come within the ambit of the following claims.