Table-top miniature golf game

A table-top miniature golf game comprising a plurality of spheres and with each sphere constituting a golf ball; a plurality of golf clubs with each club having a toe at one end for striking a golf ball and a handle at the other end for allowing a user a firm grip; and at least one transportable playing surface constituting a golf course positionable upon a table top for use, the golf course having a plurality of holes formed thereon, each hole further having a generally elongated shape with a starting end constituting a tee, a concluding end constituting a green, and a lane therebetween constituting a fairway, each green of each hole including a cup and with the cup sized for receiving a golf ball therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a table-top miniature golf game and more 
particularly pertains to allowing users to play a round of golf with a 
table-top miniature golf game. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of miniature golf games is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, miniature golf games heretofore devised and utilized for the 
purpose of allowing a user or group of users to play a round of golf are 
known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural 
configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the 
crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of 
countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 263,725 to Booth discloses a 
table-top golf game board. U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,469 to Morton discloses a 
portable table-top miniature golf game provided with rearrangeable hole 
modules and separate green putting board. U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,876 to 
Maruszak discloses a pool table golf game. U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,217 to 
Thieme et al. discloses a table-top golf game apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,790,534 to Jamison discloses a table-top golf game. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a table-top 
miniature golf game that allows a group a users to play a game of golf 
upon an elevated transportable playing surface that has borders which 
surround each hole to ensure golf balls are contained within an area of 
interest. 
In this respect, the table-top miniature golf game according to the present 
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs 
of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of allowing users to play a round of golf. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved table-top miniature golf game which can be used for 
allowing users to play a round of golf. In this regard, the present 
invention substantially fulfills this need. 
Summary of the Invention 
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
miniature golf games now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved table-top miniature golf game. As such, the general 
purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in 
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved table-top miniature golf 
game and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of 
the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises, in 
combination, a plurality of rigid magnetically attractive metal spheres 
with each sphere constituting a golf ball and with each golf ball having a 
diameter of about 1/4 inch. A plurality of golf clubs are provided with 
each club having a rigid elongated shaft with an upper end and a lower 
end, a toe having a curved neck portion integral with the lower end of the 
shaft and a face portion extended angularly outwards from the neck portion 
for striking a golf ball, a handle coupled around the upper end of the 
shaft for allowing a user a firm grip, and a magnet coupled to and 
extended axially outwards from the upper end of the shaft for retrieving 
one of the golf balls during play. Each club further has a length of about 
31/8 inches. 
Two similarly shaped transportable playing surfaces are provided with the 
surfaces constituting a golf course positionable upon a table top for use. 
Each playing surface has a rectangular plate with a upper surface and a 
lower surface and a periphery interconnecting the surfaces formed of a 
front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of opposed side edges. Each plate 
further has a width of about 112/3 inches and a length of about 251/3 
inches. Each plate additionally has a layer of felt fabric coupled to the 
upper surface thereof. Each playing surface further has a peripheral 
elevated boundary formed thereon at a location adjacent to the rear edge 
and side edges thereof and with each boundary formed of a plurality of 
dowels positioned in an end-to-end configuration and with each dowel 
having a diameter of about 1/4 inch. 
The golf course has eighteen holes. Nine holes are formed on one playing 
surface constituting a front nine. The holes of the front nine are 
numbered "1" through "9", respectively. Another nine holes are formed on 
the other playing surface constituting a back nine. The holes of the back 
nine are numbered "10" through "18", respectively. Each hole further has a 
generally elongated shape with a starting end constituting a tee, a 
concluding end constituting a green, and a lane therebetween constituting 
a fairway. Each hole additionally has its fairway and green demarcated by 
a plurality of dowels positioned in an end-to-end configuration to thereby 
create an elevated border constituting a rough and with each dowel having 
a diameter of about 1/4 inch. Each green of each hole includes a bore 
disposed thereon constituting a cup and with the cup sized for receiving a 
golf ball therein. Each tee of each hole includes three spaced aligned 
concave indentations formed thereon and with each indentation used for 
removably holding one of the golf balls therein for striking with one of 
the clubs. At least one of the holes additionally has a hazard formed on 
its fairway and at least one of the holes additionally has an elevated 
area of play formed thereon. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved table-top miniature golf game which has all the advantages of the 
prior art miniature golf games and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
table-top miniature golf game which may be easily and efficiently 
manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved table-top miniature golf game which is of durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved table-top miniature golf game which is susceptible of a low cost 
of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which 
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming 
public, thereby making such a table-top miniature golf game economically 
available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved table-top miniature golf game which provides in the apparatuses 
and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while 
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated 
therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved table-top miniature golf game for allowing users to play a round 
of golf. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved table-top miniature golf game comprising a plurality of spheres 
and with each sphere constituting a golf ball; a plurality of golf clubs 
with each club having a toe at one end for striking a golf ball and a 
handle at the other end for allowing a user a firm grip; and at least one 
transportable playing surface constituting a golf course positionable upon 
a table top for use, the golf course having a plurality of holes formed 
thereon, each hole further having a generally elongated shape with a 
starting end constituting a tee, a concluding end constituting a green, 
and a lane therebetween constituting a fairway, each green of each hole 
including a cup and with the cup sized for receiving a golf ball therein. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the new and 
improved table-top miniature golf game embodying the principles and 
concepts of the present invention will be described. 
The present invention is comprised of a plurality of components. In their 
broadest context, such components include golf balls, golf clubs, and a 
golf course. Such components are individually configured and correlated 
with respect to each other to provide the intended function of allowing a 
group of users to play a game of golf on a table top. 
Specifically, the present invention includes a plurality of rigid and 
magnetically attractive metal spheres as shown in FIG. 8. Each sphere 
constitutes a golf ball 12 for use. Each golf ball has a diameter of about 
1/4 inch. Preferably, the golf balls are formed of steel. 
Also provided is a plurality of golf clubs 14. As shown in FIG. 9, each 
club has a rigid elongated shaft 16 with an upper end 18 and a lower end 
20. The shaft is formed of metal, plastic, or other such generally rigid 
material. Each club also includes an elongated rigid toe 22. The toe has a 
curved neck portion 24 integral with the lower end of the shaft and a face 
portion 26 extended angularly outwards from the neck portion. The face 
portion has a flat surface formed thereon that is used for striking a golf 
ball 12. Each golf club also includes a handle 28 coupled around the upper 
end of the shaft for allowing a user a firm grip during play. 
Additionally, each club includes a cylindrical magnet 30 coupled to and 
extended axially outwards from the upper end of the shaft. The magnet is 
used for retrieving one of the golf balls 12 during play. Preferably, each 
club has an axial length of about 31/8 inch. 
Also provided are two similarly shaped playing surfaces 40 as best 
illustrated in FIG. 1. The playing surfaces are readily transportable from 
one location to another and positionable in a juxtaposed level relation 
upon a table top for use. The playing surfaces in combination constitute a 
golf course 42. Referring to FIG. 5, each playing surface has a 
rectangular rigid wooden plate 44 with an upper surface 46 and a lower 
surface 48. A periphery interconnects the surfaces. The periphery is 
formed of a front edge 50, a rear edge 52, and a pair of opposed side 
edges 54 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each wooden plate has a width of about 
112/3 inch and a length of about 251/3 inch. Each plate additionally has a 
layer of green felt fabric 56 coupled to the upper surface 46 thereof. The 
green felt simulates grass found on conventional golf courses. Each 
playing surface 40 also has a peripheral elevated boundary 58 as shown in 
FIG. 3. The boundary is located adjacent to the rear edge and side edges 
of each playing surface. Each boundary is formed of a plurality of dowels 
60 that are positioned in an end-to-end configuration. Each dowel of the 
boundary has a diameter of about 1/4 inch. The boundary helps preclude 
golf from rolling off of the playing surface during use. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the golf course has eighteen holes. Nine of the holes 
are formed on one playing surface and constitute a front nine 70 as shown 
in FIG. 2. The holes of the front nine are numbered "1" through "9", 
respectively. The other nine holes are formed on the other playing surface 
and constitute a back nine 72 as shown in FIG. 3. The holes of the back 
nine are numbered "10" through "18", respectively. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 4, each hole has a generally elongated shape 
with a starting end constituting a tee 74, a concluding end constituting a 
green 76, and a lane therebetween constituting a fairway 78. As shown in 
FIG. 1, all of the holes begin near the front edge of the playing surface 
and end near the rear edge of the playing surface. The holes are 
positioned in a generally aligned and sequential relation. Some of the 
holes are generally straight such as hole "11" and hole "18", while others 
dogleg to the left such as hole "4" and hole "17", while still others 
dogleg to the right such as hole "8" and hole "10". Each hole additionally 
has its fairway and green demarcated by a plurality of dowels 60 
positioned in an end-to-end configuration to thereby create an elevated 
border as shown in FIG. 4. This border constitutes a rough and 
functionally prevents one of the golf balls in play from traveling onto an 
adjacent hole. Each dowel of the border has a diameter of about 1/4 inch. 
Each green of each hole includes a bore disposed thereon constituting a 
cup 80 as shown in FIG. 4. The cup is sized for receiving a golf ball 
therein. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, each tee 74 of each hole 
includes three spaced and aligned concave indentations 82 formed thereon. 
Each indentation is used for removably holding one of the golf balls 12 
therein for striking with one of the clubs during play. 
Furthermore, at least one of the holes additionally has a hazard 90 formed 
on its fairway as illustrated in FIG. 4. Such hazards such as a tube 92 on 
hole "3", a block 94 on hole "15", or a depression 96 on hole "13" are 
used to increase the difficulty of play. The hazards essentially simulate 
trees, water, or sand traps conventional found on actual golf courses. 
Additionally, at least one of the holes has an elevated area of play 100 
formed thereon as illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, hole "6" has its 
green elevated. Elevated portions can also be included on fairways to 
increase the difficulty of play. 
The present invention is a miniature golf game that relies on conventional 
rules of golf for exciting game play, but which is small enough to be 
played on a table-top. The present invention is played through a series of 
holes that are essentially lanes with borders. A steel ball and a reduced 
scale golf club are also provided. The base of each lane is made from 1/4 
inch thick wood that is covered with 1/16 inch thick green felt lining. 
The borders are fabricated from 1/4 inch diameter dowels that are cut and 
installed to create the borders for the fairways of the individual holes. 
Each tee area has three recessed dimples or indentations that are used to 
tee-up a small steel golf ball. The miniature golf club can be used for 
putting as well as for driving. It has a small club face and a magnetic 
tip on the handle that can be used to quickly pick up a steel golf ball. 
To play the game, the steel golf ball is positioned on the tee and hit 
using the club. The club can be twisted between the fingers for driving or 
gripped firmly for chipping and putting. Each hole is designed to be 
unique, with various hazards or obstacles to overcome to get the golf ball 
into the cup. To further make the game more challenging, some of the holes 
have elevated greens. Once the hole is reached and the ball is in the cup, 
the magnetic end of the club can is used to retrieve it. 
Each cup of the present invention has a 5/16 inch diameter and a 3/16 inch 
depth. Each golf ball of the present invention has a 1/4 inch diameter. 
The length of a golf club is approximately 31/8 inch. The shaft of the 
golf club has a diameter of about 1/8 inch. The handle of the golf club is 
about 11/8 inch in length. The thickness of the toe of the golf club of 
the invention is about 3/16 inch. The toe of the club is projected 
outwards from the central axis of the shaft at an angle of about 83 
degrees. The width of a fairway adjacent to a tee is no greater than 2 
inches. The width of a tee is about 1 inch. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
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 the 
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. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification 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 modification and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.