Abstract:
A putting practice device having a first circular plate being generally parallel to and vertically offset from a second circular plate. The second circular plate is positionable upon a putting surface. The first circular plate and the second circular plate are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate circular member. This arrangement defines a golf ball receiving channel, which is capable of receiving and retaining a golf ball therein.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to golf putting practice devices and, more particularly, to a golf putting practice device that is capable of reducing turf damage on practice putting greens and is capable of facilitating quick and convenient repositioning of putting practice holes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Putting greens on most golf courses are provided with holes which meet the specifications of the United States Golf Association (“USGA”). A standard USGA golf hole has a diameter of 4.25 inches. Generally, each putting green on a golf course is configured to challenge the golfer and, thus, the position of the hole on the green is changed regularly to continually offer the golfer new challenges. As a result, putting is a critical aspect of every golfer&#39;s game. A golfer can significantly improve his score by decreasing the number of strokes he must take to putt a golf ball into a golf hole. However, learning to control the golf ball so that it sinks into the hole within a minimum number of strokes is very difficult. Therefore, golfers frequently practice these putting strokes on practice putting greens provided at most golf courses. As on the golf course, the position of these holes on the practice putting green are changed regularly to continually offer the golfer new practice challenges. Moreover, the position of these holes are changed regularly to minimize tread damage on the practice putting greens caused by the frequent walking of golfers in and around practice putting holes. Traditionally, practice puffing greens include a number of practice putting holes to enable multiple golfers to practice simultaneously. These multiple hole locations permit a single golfer to experience various putting challenges on a single practice putting green. 
     In order to move the position of a putting cup, greens keepers typically use a coring device to cut a hole into the putting surface. The coring device then removes a turf core from the putting surface to enable the greens keeper to insert a cup liner therein. The turf core is then used to plug the older putting hole. It should be appreciated that this coring technique may disrupt or traumatize the delicate grasses typically used on putting greens. This problem is compounded on a practice putting green where the number of putting holes and foot traffic are dramatically increased. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need in the relevant art to provide an improved putting practice device that can minimize turf damage experienced in a practice putting green. Moreover, there exists a need in the relevant art to provide a putting practice device capable of being quickly and conveniently repositioned to continually offer the golfer new putting challenges. Furthermore, there exists a need in the relevant art to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art technique. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the broad teachings of this invention, a putting practice device having an advantageous construction is provided. The putting practice device includes a first circular plate being generally parallel to and vertically offset from a second circular plate. The second circular plate is positionable upon a putting surface. The first circular plate and the second circular plate are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate circular member. The intermediate circular member has an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the first circular plate and second circular plate. This arrangement defines a golf ball receiving channel, which is capable of receiving and retaining a golf ball therein. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putting practice device according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the putting practice device; and 
     FIG. 3 is a side view, with portions in cross-section, of the putting practice device taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     Referring to the drawings, a putting practice device  10  is shown having an upper plate  12 , a lower plate  14 , and an intermediate ring member  16 . As will be described in detail, upper plate  12 , lower plate  14 , and intermediate ring member  16  cooperate to frictionally retain a golf ball to simulate a regulation size putting hole. The putting practice device  10  of the present invention is particularly well adapted for use in traditional putting greens and home/office use. 
     As best seen in FIG. 3, lower plate  14  is generally a circularly shaped declined member having a centrally located planar portion  18 , which extends into a generally declined retaining surface  20 . Generally declined retaining surface  20  terminates at a downwardly turned edge  22 . Lower plate  14  is preferably made of a non-corrosive material, such as, but not limited to, plastic, fiberglass, or stainless steel. It should be noted that centrally located planar portion  18  is raised relative to declined retaining surface  20  to form a circular shoulder  24  for cooperation with intermediate ring member  16 . 
     Lower plate  14  further includes a retaining groove  26 . Retaining groove  26  is a concave arcuate depression circularly formed in lower plate  14  generally about a longitudinal axis A—A. Preferably, the radius of curvature r of groove  26  generally equals the radius R of a regulation golf ball  100  and the radius of groove  26  about longitudinal axis A—A preferably conforms to USGA Cup Regulations (namely, 2⅛″ radius). Furthermore, groove  26  is preferably painted white to provide a visual cue to the golfer of the cup position and to further facilitate the active practice of the putting stroke. 
     Similarly, as best seen in FIG. 3, upper plate  12  is generally a circularly shaped inclined member having a centrally located planar portion  28 , which extends into a generally inclined engaging surface  30  extending radially outward from planar portion  28  about longitudinal axis A—A. Inclined engaging surface  30  terminates into an upwardly turned edge  32 . Preferably, inclined engaging surface  30  of upper plate  12  is inclined at an angle of between 12° and 15° relative to planar portion  28 . It should be noted that planar portion  28  further includes at least three locating nubs  34 . Nubs  34  cooperate with intermediate ring member  16  to retain intermediate ring member  16  in a fixed position. However, it is important to note that nubs  34  may be replaced with a similarly shaped raised planar surface similar to surface  18  of lower plate  14 . Alternatively, nubs  34  and raised planar surface  18  may be replaced by integrally forming intermediate ring member  16  with either upper plate  12  or lower plate  14 . Conceivably, upper plate  12 , lower plate  14 , and intermediate ring member  16  could all be formed as a single unit provided the distance between upper plate  12  and groove  26  are sufficiently maintained to ensure a proper fit with golf ball  100 . Accordingly, such connection should not be interpreted to limit the scope of this invention. 
     As illustrated in the figures, intermediate ring member  16  is a generally hollow cylindrical member. The outer diameter of intermediate ring member  16  is sized such that when a golf ball  100  (FIG. 11) is putted accurately toward putting practice device  10 , golf ball  100  will be wedged between upper plate  12  and groove  26  of lower plate  14 . Intermediate ring member  16  will further center golf ball  100  within groove  26  of lower plate  14 . Accordingly, golf ball  100  is held in place by putting practice device  10 , assuming the practice putt was accurately directed toward lower plate  14 . However, in the interest of manufacturing simplicity, upper plate  12 , lower plate  14 , and intermediate ring member  16  are each manufactured separately from each other. Centrally located planar portion  18  of lower plate  14  and nubs  34  of upper plate  12  ensure that intermediate ring member  16  is properly positioned and centered relative to upper plate  12 . Preferably, intermediate ring member  16  is made of a clear material, such as acrylic, so as to permit a display member  38  to be positioned within intermediate ring member  16 . Display member  38  includes writing, logo, or other display located thereon that is readable by the golfer. By way of non-limiting example, such display may include a hole number, sponsor&#39;s logo, or color-coding. 
     Putting practice device  10  further includes an elongated rod  40  extending through an aperture  42  formed in upper plate  12  and an aperture  44  formed in lower plate  14 . For putting green use, elongated rod  40  continues downwardly from lower plate  14  and terminates in a tapered end  46  (shown in phantom in FIG.  3 ). The portion of elongated rod  40  extending below lower plate  14 , including tapered end  46 , may be inserted into a putting surface  48 , such as a practice putting green. It should be appreciated that by inserting elongated rod  40  into putting surface  48 , minimal damage is caused to the putting surface. Moreover, the action of inserting and removing putting practice device  10  from putting surface  48  serves to aerate putting surface  48 . Preferably, elongated rod  40  is made of a non-corrosive material, such as fiberglass, plastic, or stainless steel. 
     Alternatively, for indoor use, elongated rod  40  may terminate at some point below aperture  44  of lower plate  14  yet above a plane defined by downwardly turned edge  22 . Accordingly, putting practice device  10  can sit flatly on a surface, such as a hard floor, carpeted surface, or in conjunction with a manufactured putting surface, which is typically used for indoor putting practice. However, lower plate  14  should remain generally flush with the level of the indoor putting surface to permit proper roll and capture of the golf ball within the putting practice device. 
     The portion of elongated rod  40  that extends above upper plate  12  includes a knob  50 . Knob  50  is fixedly mounted to elongated rod  40  using conventional means, such as a threaded engagement. However, knob  50  may be formed integrally with elongated rod  40 . Knob  50  is used as a gripping device to allow a golfer to lift putting practice device  10  from putting surface  48  to easily remove golf ball  100  from putting practice device  10 . Knob  50  is then further used to aid in the reinsertion of putting practice device  10  into putting surface  48 . 
     A spring  52  surrounds elongated rod  40  and extends between upper plate  12  and a retaining feature  54 . Retaining feature  54  is preferably a plastic collar that is fixed to elongated rod  40  in a conventional manner, such as by gluing. Knob  50  may also be used as a retaining feature. Spring  52  biases upper plate  12  against intermediate ring member  16  and lower plate  14 . Another retaining feature  56  is positioned below lower plate  14  to act against the biasing force of spring  52 , thereby preventing movement of lower plate  14  relative to elongated rod  40 . Retaining feature  56  may be any fastener capable of preventing this movement, such as a crimp formed in elongated rod  40 , a plastic collar, or a clevis-type pin. Preferably, a secondary support plate (not shown) is provided between retaining feature  56  and lower plate  14  to aid in maintaining the level position of lower plate  14 . However, retaining feature  56  may be adequately sized (as shown) to maintain the level position of lower plate  14 . 
     It should be noted that the upper portion of elongated rod  40  and knob  50 , which together form a handle  58 , may be replaced with other handle-type devices. These alternative handle designs may simply be mounted to the top of upper plate  12  so long as they enable quick and convenient retrieval of golf balls and repositioning of the putting practice device. If an alternative handle design is employed, it may be necessary to reposition spring  52  to a new location. That is, spring  52  could be positioned along elongated rod  40  below lower plate  14 . This arrangement would require an additional retaining feature, such as a crimp or clevis-type pin, to be used near tapered end  46  of elongated rod  40 . The spring  52  would then bias lower plate  14  against intermediate ring member  16  and upper plate  12 . It would also be necessary to prevent the relative movement of upper plate  12  relative to spring  52 . 
     In operation, putting practice device  10  is inserted into putting surface  48 . To this end, a greens keeper would grasp knob  50  and drive tapered end  46  of elongated rod  40  into and perpendicular to putting surface  48 . Putting practice device  10  would be inserted such that downwardly turned edge  22  of lower plate  14  rests upon putting surface  48  (FIG.  1 ). A golfer may then attempt to putt golf ball  100  toward putting practice device  10 . If the putting stroke is accurate, golf ball  100  will be propelled up inclined engaging surface  30  of lower plate  14 . Simultaneously, golf ball  100  will be forced within groove  26  of upper plate  12  until such time that golf ball  100  impacts against intermediate ring member  16 . At this time, golf ball  100  is then retained within a golf ball receiving channel  60  defined by lower plate  14 , intermediate ring member  16 , and groove  26  of upper plate  12 . Golf ball receiving channel  60  simulates the characteristics of putting into a conventional hole in that if the putting stroke is too hard, the golf ball will ricochet out of golf ball receiving channel  60 . When putting into a conventional hole, if a putting stroke is too hard, then the golf ball is likely to “lip” out of the cup or bounce off of the far edge of the cup. Therefore, the golfer will be required to gauge the speed necessary to successfully lodge golf ball  100  within golf ball receiving channel  60 . Once golf ball  100  is lodged within golf ball receiving channel  60 , then a golfer may simply remove putting practice device  10  from putting surface  48  using knob  50  to facilitate removal of golf ball  100 . Alternatively, golf ball  100  may be removed using a light tap of the putter blade or grip end. Putting practice device  10  is then reinserted into putting surface  48  for further putting practice. Spring  52  applies the necessary force against upper plate  12  so as to enable upper plate  12  to float relative to lower plate  14 , yet retain golf ball  100  within golf ball receiving channel  60  when a successful putting stroke is made. 
     It should be appreciated from the above description that the putting practice device of the present invention successfully overcomes the disadvantages of the coring technique when used on practice putting greens. Moreover, the putting practice device of the present invention enables quick and convenient repositioning of the “putting hole” to continually offer the golfer new putting challenges. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.