Abstract:
A golf practice apparatus a generally circular disc, said disc having a centrally located opening, said central located opening forming a golf hole and a method of improving one&#39;s golf swing by aiming at the apparatus.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/075,985, filed 14 Mar. 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/906,895, filed 14 Mar. 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses related to golf and golf instruction. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses to aid in teaching a golfer how to chip. 
         [0003]    One of the key areas of one&#39;s golf game that generally needs improvement is the short game, or chipping. Chipping takes more finesse and accuracy than driving a golf ball or hitting a golf ball down a fairway. Likewise, when chipping or hitting a short shot, the bounce or roll of the golf ball must also be taken into account. Practice and repetition is necessary to improve such shots. 
         [0004]    There are apparatuses used as practice devices so that one can practice chipping. One of the more common types of chipping devices comprises a wire frame that supports a type of mesh bag over the ground or surface. The golfer places this device at a predetermined place, walks to another place, and then aims at the basket with one or more golf balls. Once the golfer has hit all of his or her golf balls at the target, the balls must then be retrieved and the golfer must go back to a new position and aim at the apparatus. The golfer generally tends to spend more time retrieving the golf balls than actually practicing the golf shot. Furthermore, if the user hits the ball directly into the hanging mesh bag, this does not take into account a normal golf shot, which must also take into account that the ball will roll after the golf shot hits the ground. 
         [0005]    Thus, it is desirous to develop a new golf apparatus that will allow a golfer to practice chipping in a manner that will more realistically mimic a normal golf shot and, also, allow a person to increase the amount of practice time that is devoted to actual chipping than to retrieving the golf balls. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a golf practice apparatus that assists in improving a golfer&#39;s chipping. The device consists of a generally disc shaped device, having at least one hollow center, which depicts the actual target or hole for the golfer to aim for. The outer edges of the disc preferably comprise a raised or sloped edge, so that the center hole forms somewhat of a cup or indentation. The disc may be symmetrical, so that there are raised edges on both sides of the disc, which allows the disc to properly work as a target regardless which side of the disc is facing upwards. 
         [0007]    Because the user is aiming or shooting at a generally planar device rather than a raised bag, the device more accurately portrays a regular golf shot. If a shot is hit directly into the center of the disc, it will bounce out past the disc, just as a regular golf shot would. Thus, the device teaches the user to aim at the device as they would a regular golf shot, as opposed to a shot on the fly. 
         [0008]    Also, the shape of the device as a disc has benefits, as well. Once a person shoots his golf balls at the target, he walks up to the target to retrieve the golf ball. Instead of retrieving his balls and walking to another location, the user merely picks up the target and throws or tosses it to another position and can resume practicing to chip. Thus, the invention allows for an increase of the time the golfer actually devotes to chipping when practicing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a first embodiment of a golf aid practice apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the golf aid apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  a second embodiment of a golf aid practice apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the golf aid apparatus of  FIG. 3  taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts an apparatus according to the present invention being positioned as a target for a user to hit a golf ball. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  depicts a user hitting a golf ball at an apparatus according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is demonstrated by the claims. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  provides an overhead view of a golf aid practice apparatus  10  according to the present invention. The apparatus  10  has a first side  12  and a circumference  14 . A hole  16  is located centrally of the apparatus  10  that will represent a golf cup and will be the target the user aims at. The apparatus  10  has an outer rim  18  that can have a raised edge and an inner rim  20  that surrounds the hole  16 . The outer rim  18  and the inner rim  20  form openings  22 , which are not necessary, but may make the device  10  lighter when throwing the apparatus  10 , thereby allowing a user to position the apparatus  10  relatively far away from the user if desired. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  10  has a second side  24  opposite of the first side  12 , with the second side  24  preferably being substantially flat so that it will evenly rest on the ground or other planar surface when in use. As noted with respect to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  has a raised edge  26 , which allows for the opening  22  to be raised with respect to the outer rim  18 , thereby allowing the opening to further represent a golf hole. It should be noted that the apparatus  10  does not necessarily need the raised edge  26 , but is preferable so that the apparatus  10  more easily will retain a golf ball if it rests within the opening  16 . Likewise, a raised edge could also be located on the second side  24  of the apparatus  10  so that it will be situated in an operable fashion regardless of whether the first side  12  or the second side  24  is facing upwards. The raised edge  26  is also preferably sloped upwardly from the outer rim  18  to the inner rim  20 . Additionally the height of the raised edge  26  and the angle of the raised edge  26  formed with respect to the outer rim  18  may be adjusted or altered and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The height is preferably sufficiently high enough so that a rolling golf ball will be retained within the opening  16  when the golf ball is hit towards the apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 6 ) The size of the opening  16  may be adjusted, as well. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a second embodiment  110  of the present invention. The apparatus  110  has a first side  112  and a circumference  114 . A centrally located hole  116  is larger than the hole  16  of  FIG. 1 , but still will represent a golf cup. Likewise, the hole  116  could be bigger or smaller that the hole  16  of  FIG. 1 . As with the apparatus  10 , the apparatus  110  can have raised edges so that the hole  116  further acts as a golf cup. The design of the apparatus  110  may allow for the device  110  to be thrown farther than the device  10 , so that a person make practice longer shots. However, either embodiment will fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  provides a cross-sectional view of the apparatus  110  of  FIG. 3 . The apparatus has a second side  118  opposite of the first side  112 , preferably with the second side  118  preferably being substantially flat, thereby allowing, the apparatus  110  to lie flat on the ground or another planar surface when being used. As stated, the first side  112  may have a raised edge  120 , which allows the apparatus  110  to further mimic a golf hole. The raised edge  120  could be of varying heights and still fall within the scope of the invention. Likewise, the size of the opening  116  and the size and diameter of the apparatus  110  (and the apparatus  10 , as well) could be changed or altered, and the apparatus  110  would still fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the golf aid practice apparatus  110  of the present invention is demonstrated. In  FIG. 5 , a golfer  2  picks up the apparatus  110  and throws it, similarly as one would throw a Frisbee®. Depending on how long of a golf shot that the golfer  2  would like to practice would determine how far the apparatus  110  should be thrown. Once the apparatus  110  has landed, the golfer  2  will pick up a golf club  4  and attempt to hit a golf ball  6  at the apparatus  110  so that the golf ball  6  will land or rest within the opening  116  of the apparatus  110 . The golfer  2  may hit as many golf balls  6  as desired. Once the golfer  2  has hit as many balls as desired, the golfer  2  walks over to the apparatus  110 , picks up the apparatus  110 , and can throw the apparatus  110  again, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0021]    The ability to toss or throw the apparatus  10  or  110  and have it land at a second area in an operable position is an improvement over prior art golf aids and practice devices. Prior art devices were stationary placed devices, such as sacks or the like that acted as targets, that were supported by a frame. Once the target was positioned a person would have to gather his or her balls  6  and walk to another spot to once again aim at the target. Alternatively the person could pick up the target, reposition the target somewhere else, go back and retrieve the person&#39;s club and balls, and then aim at the target. Either way is time consuming and inefficient. Contrary, the present invention provides an efficient manner for practicing one&#39;s golf swing. Because the apparatus  10  or  110  can be thrown or tossed to a second position so that it will land in an operable position, the person can once again aim at the target without having to move form where the person is standing, thereby more efficiently practicing the person&#39;s golf swing. 
         [0022]    As  FIG. 6  demonstrates, the use of the apparatus  110  is a further improvement over prior practice aids in that it teaches the golfer  2  to consider and take into account the bounce or roll of the ball  6  on its path to the opening  116 . Normally, when playing golf, the golf ball  6  does not land within a golf hole on the fly, but rather bounces or rolls into the hole and the golfer  2  should adjust his shot accordingly. The present invention assists the golfer in properly judging the true distance to aim a shot and provides an improvement over the prior art. It also assists the golfer  2  in gauging the proper distance of the shot, especially when the golfer  2  has put backspin on the shot and the shot would be rolling backwards toward the apparatus. 
         [0023]    The present invention can have a varying range, of dimensions. The device could be made of any material, but is preferably made of a lightweight material, such as a plastic material. As previously stated, the apparatus could have a larger or smaller central opening, a larger or smaller diameter and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The apparatus of the present invention could also have the central opening being of varying heights and still fall within the scope of the invention. Provided that a golf target is designed that can be tossed or thrown to a secondary target and land in an operable position without needing to be repositioned by the user, the device will fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0024]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, 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. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is represented by the claims.