Convertible Target Pad

This invention discloses a circular target pad which may be used alternately as a target in connection with a golf putting game or as a flying disc. The target pad is shaped such that a golf ball may rest in its center but also may be easily dislodged by a striking force. The target pad also is shaped such that when thrown as a flying disc, its flight path is straight.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a circular target pad which may be used alternately as a target in connection with a golf putting game or as a flying disc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of golf is popular around the world. Many golfers practice their putting skills for purposes of improving their accuracy or simply for amusement. Quite a few practice devices exist to improve a golfer's accuracy.

While golf is typically played outdoors, enthusiastic golfers desire to practice in many environments. There are existing devices which provide a substitute target for practice on indoor services. Enthusiastic golfers also desire unique ways to practice their skills rather than simply repetitiously hitting a golf ball at a target.

Existing putting practice targets have some deficiencies. Mainly, they do not offer a target which can be approached from any direction, as would an actual golf hole on a physical golf course. Some are able to serve as a target but are shaped such that the golf ball bounces or ricochets upon reaching the target, rather than holding the golf ball in place as an actual golf hole would. Many have no use other than as a golf target and offer no options for a bored but eager golfer. The inventive concept described below offers important advantages over prior art devices available to golf devotees.

Likewise, flying discs are also popular around the world, and the prior art describes many flying discs used for throwing and related games. Many are aware of the FRISBEE invented by Headrick, U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,678. Additionally important to this field is the work of Frederick Walter Morrison, U.S. Pat. No. D183,626, which illustrated the flying toy with a series of mild ridges, the shape of which is well known in the art to this day.

Over the years different designs of the flying discs have been developed to produce better aerodynamic properties, lift and stability, with modifications related to an airfoil rim as noted in the flying disc described by Alder, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,737. Nonetheless, none of the prior art describes any device which is designed to toss in a straight flight path. Many also lack stability, resulting in a disc which wobbles on its route to a would-be catcher.

The inventive concept described below offers important advantages over prior art devices available to golf devotees for golf targets. The device can alternately serve as a flying disc with many advantages over existing flying discs available to consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a target pad which also may serve as a flying disc. The target pad is made up of two components: a center disc and an outer over mold ring. The target pad is circular in shape so that golfers may putt towards the target pad from any direction and so that it may be used as a flying disc. The target pad has a series of angles and ridges and but overall inclines gently towards the center of the pad with a divot in the center. The particular shape of the target pad, and its angles and ridges, serve the function of allowing a golf ball to reach the center when gently putted. In particular, an angled bezel ring surrounding the target pad allows for a putted ball to roll up across the target pad and reach its center. A beveled hole in the center serves to contain a golf ball in place once it successfully reaches the center of the target but is shaped at an angle mild enough that the golf ball can be easily knocked out of place by a putter or other device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the invention, FIG. 1 shows the components to a multi-purpose game that includes two putting games, a flying disc game, a flying ring game and a flying ring with a flag as a golf chipping game. The first game consists of a target pad (1), upward angled bezel ring (2), target ball (3) (that is approximately golf ball sized), a striking ball (4) (that is approximately golf sized), extendable putter (5), and a roll of painter's tape for use to smooth floor transitions or to be used to mark boundaries (6).

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the target pad (1). The target pad (1) consists of a center disc (7) and an outer over mold ring (8). The target pad (1) is circular in shape to accommodate putting towards the target pad (1) from any direction and to provide for the use of the target pad (1) as a flying disc. Ideally, the target pad (1) has an outside diameter of 11 to 13 inches and a height of 1.25 to 2.25 inches. The center disc (9) features a hole (10), a drop-down ridge (11) and an angle rim (12), and a mechanical interface (16) to the over mold ring (8). The bezel ring (2) has an angle (15).

In FIG. 2b, a cross sectional view of the target pad (1) can be seen, showing the ring (2). Its optimal angle of attack is 27 degrees, though it could range between 20 degrees to 30 degrees. The ring also includes material comprising a flag holder (17) to indicate that it is a target to throw and chipping towards. The center disc (7) of the target pad is made of a plastic material such as TPE, TPU or PP and features a top platform (9) with a center hole (10), a ridge drop (11) around the top platform (9) and an angle of attack (12). The diameter of the top platform (9) is between 4.5 and 6.5 inches to allow for enough surface area to host multiple golf balls (4) to rest during play.

The center hole (10) is 5.5 mm to 6 mm with a radius of 4.5 mm. The center hole (10) is sized to allow the target ball (3) to nest in the center hole (10) such that it could be knocked off with minimal force by the striking ball (4). The ridge drop (11) is 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. The ridge drop (11) is a critical component in that it will catch and hold the target ball (3) or the striking ball (4) if the force from the putt is minimal. At the same time, it is not too tall to restrict either the target ball (30) or the striking ball (4) from overcoming the force presented by the ridge drop (11) and rolling to the floor, provided that the putt has additional force to roll over the ridge drop (11) to the floor. The angle of attack (12) is such that a smooth transition and deceleration may be accommodated for the striking ball (4). This angle of attack (12) is additionally important so that a striking ball (4) with depleting energy rolling down from the target pad (1) will not have so much momentum as to roll too far away from the target pad (1).

The over mold ring (8) is made from materials such as TPU or TPE 64 and bonds to the hard plastic of the center disc (7) chemically and mechanically at an interface (16). The over mold ring (8) also features a thick edge (13) for better disc doss weight and performance. The center hole (10) and the drop-down ridge (11) also assist in the performance of the target pad (1) when used as a flying disc by allowing the underside pressure in flight to equalize, which achieves a much straighter flight.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of the outer over mold ring (8) that is made of a material with a durometer of 60 to 80, such as rubber, silicon or TPU or TPE. The over mold ring (8) has a diameter of 9.5 to 11 inches and a height of 1 inch.

In accordance with the invention, a golf putting target pad (1) is provided, comprising a center disc (7) and an outer over mold ring (8). The target pad (1) has an outside diameter between eleven and thirteen inches and a height between 1.25 inches and 2.5 inches. The center disc (7) further comprises a flat top shelf (9), a beveled hole (10) in the center of the center disc (7), a drop-down ridge (11), an angled rim (12), and a mechanical interface (16) intersecting with the outer over mold ring (8), and wherein the outer over mold ring (8) is angled. The beveled hole (10) is centered to the disc (7) and the surface of the disc (7) approaching the hole is beveled in shape.

In one embodiment, the drop-down ridge (11) of the target pad is shaped in such a way that it may serve as a retaining edge for a golf ball (3) which is either immobile or moving at a low velocity. The drop-down ridge (11) is also shaped in such a way that when the target pad (1) is tossed or thrown, the drop-down ridge (11) provides an area of lower pressure to equalize pressure differences due to wind changes, straightening the flight of the target pad (1).

In one embodiment, the target pad (1) has an angled rim (12) with an angle of attack between twenty and thirty degrees.

In another embodiment, the center disc (7) of the target pad (1) is made of a plastic material.

In another embodiment, the beveled hole (10) of the target pad (1) is sized to allow a golf ball to rest in the center hole and to be easily dislodged. The beveled hole (10) is also sized large enough to serve as a pressure relief hole to allow for the target pad to remain stable when in flight after being tossed.

In another embodiment, the outer over mold ring (8) is made from a material which bonds to hard plastic chemically and mechanically at its interface (16) with the center disc (7).

In another embodiment, the outer over mold ring (8) further comprises an edge (13) thick enough to absorb some but not all of the kinetic energy of a putted golf ball (3) such that the golf ball rolls (3) smoothly onto the top shelf (9) of the target pad (1). The edge (13) may also be thick enough to mitigate the centrifugal force which results from throwing the target pad (1) such that the target pad (1) lands softly in the hand of catcher of the target pad (1).

The target pad (1) may be used in a golf putting game, the game comprising the steps of (a) providing an extendable putter (5); a circular target pad (1) with a center divot and rubber lift ring; putting golf ball (4), a target golf ball (3), a target flag, and a mesh bag; (b) playing at least a first round of the golf putting game, the first round comprising the steps of: (i) placing the target pad (1) on ground suitable for rolling a golf putt; (ii) placing the target golf ball (3) on the center divot of the target pad (1); (iii) selecting a starting location for a putt; and (iv) putting the putting golf ball (4) toward the target pad (1); and (c) replacing the target golf ball (3) with any putting golf ball (4) which successfully dislodges the target golf ball (3) and which comes to a rest in the center divot of the target pad (1); and (d) awarding points based upon whether a putt misses the target pad (1), contacts the target pad (1), contacts the target ball (3) and knocks the target ball (3) off the target pad, or contacts the target ball (3) without dislodging the target ball (3); and (e) further awarding points for putted golf balls (4) which come to a rest within a predetermined distance from the target pad (1) and (f) further awarding points for any putted ball (4) which remains on the target pad (1) at the end of a round.

The bezel ring (2) may be used in a golf putting game, the steps of which comprise: (a) providing a bezel ring (2) with dividers separating the ring into four quadrants, a putter (5), and a golf ball (3); (b) playing at least a first round of a golf putting game, the game comprising the steps of: (i) placing the ring (2) on ground suitable for rolling a golf putt; (ii) selecting a starting location for a putt; (iii) putting the golf ball (3) toward the ring (2), while attempting to place the golf ball (3) in one of the four quadrants of the ring; and (iv) repeating the putt of the golf ball (3) toward the ring (2) at least four times; and (c) awarding points based upon whether all four quadrants of the ring (2) have a golf ball.

Finally, the target pad (1) may also be used as a flying disc with a soft rubber edge (13) for comfortable catching and the outer over mold ring (8) can be used in a ring toss or horseshoes game. The outer over mold ring (8) can be used as a chipping target by adding a flag.

The invention also comprises the appendix enclosed herein.