Abstract:
A golf putting practice device ( 10 ) having a main housing ( 12 ), a substantially flattened ball tray ( 16 ) to receive putted balls that is retractable and removable, and a flipper device ( 28 ) disposed in a position along the rear face of the ball tray ( 16 ) to automatically return the putted balls from the ball tray ( 16 ) back to the person making the putt.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       Field of Invention  
         [0001]    This invention relates to golf putting practice devices and, more particularly, to golf putting practice devices of the type embodying a feature to return a ball back to the person executing a putt.  
           [0002]    Various putting practice devices, which use mechanisms to return the ball to a person, have been heretofore known in the art. Some of these devices use spring loaded or solenoid operated catapult type ball return systems. Another version employs a sliding carriage assembly mounted on a track and equipped with a paddle. An electric motor using a pulley and belt assembly drives carriage assembly with the attached paddle that sweeps the ball forwardly to the end of the track where a pivoting action of the paddle flips the ball back to the person executing the putt. All previous variations of the putting practice devices require large shells to accommodate the interior space required for the various catapulting systems to retract and then move forward to eject the ball as well as huge ball trays to create oversized targets to prevent missed putts. The aforementioned produces large and bulky putting practice systems.  
         OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
         [0003]    It is the primary object of the present invention to afford a novel putting practice device that is substantially smaller in size than existing prior art.  
           [0004]    Another object is to afford a novel putting practice device, which, after receiving the ball, will return the same substantially to the place from which it was putted.  
           [0005]    A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel putting practice device that is highly portable.  
           [0006]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention are to afford a putting practice device with a ball tray that can be repositioned or detached for storage.  
           [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to afford a more realistic putting target that more simulates the size and shape of the actual hole on the golf course.  
           [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to afford a putting practice device with a ball tray that has a floor with a substantially shallow slope rearward, thereby affording a more flattened ball tray entrance.  
           [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a substantially flattened ball tray and eliminate the extra force needed in the stroke when putting the ball to overcome the steep incline of the ball tray ramp of conventional putting practice devices and afford a more natural putting action for stroking the ball.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf putting practice device that is battery powered for convenience and high portability.  
           [0011]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention are a means to deactivate the practice putting device by means of a switch to disconnect the power to prevent unintentional activation during transporting or storage.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf putting practice device with an indicator that warns when the power to the unit is turned on and the putting practice device is ready for operation.  
           [0013]    Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what are considered to be the best mode in which to apply these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention provides a golf putting apparatus with a ball tray for receiving a golf ball putted therein. The ball tray may be repositioned or detached for convenient storage of the apparatus. A flipper device, disposed along the rear face of the ball tray, is used to eject the ball from the tray. The flipper device is provided with a mechanical means for pivoting about a pivot axis between a normal position disposed along the rear face of the ball tray to the extended position in such a manner to eject the ball from the tray and return the ball to the person making the putt.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    In the drawings:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is the front perspective view of a golf putting practice device embodying the principles of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with a portion of the shell cut away to show in more detail the ball return flipper device;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line  3 - 3  in FIG. 2;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows, with the outline of the shell of the device show in dashed lines for simplicity;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with the ball receiving tray in the raised position and also when the ball tray is detached; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of the ball return flipper device embodied in the golf putting practice device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4. 
     
    
       [0022]    [0022]                                         REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS                                10   putting practice device       12   main housing       14   base       16   ball tray       17   ball tray floor       18   ball retard rib       20   pivot arm       22   pivot socket       24   pivot rod       26   pivot hole       28   flipper device       30   switch arm       31   switch opening       32   trigger       34   trigger stop       36   axle       38   tension spring       40   fixed anchor       42   pivotal anchor       44   anchor support       46   cog wheel       48   cog wheel arm       50   resilient movable contactor       52   retractor switch       54   release switch       56   resilient movable contactor       58   side support member       60   top support member       62   ball       64   ball pocket       66   outline of shell       68   motorized mechanism       70   outline of ball tray       72   light emitting diode (led)       74   main switch       76   motorized mechanism                    
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    A game device in the form of a golf putting practice device  10 , embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 , inclusive, of the drawings, to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    The golf putting practice device  10  embodies, in general, a main housing  12  to enclose the ball return apparatus, a ball tray  16  for receiving the ball, a base  14 , a ball return flipper device  28  disposed longitudinally to the tray  16  for returning a ball from the ball tray  16  to the person putting the ball therein.  
         [0025]    The present invention is characterized by a ball return mechanism which automatically ejects the ball from the ball tray  16  each time the ball is putted therein and returns it to the person making the putt. The ball return mechanism includes a flipper device  28  positioned longitudinally about the rear face of the ball tray  16 . The flipper device  28  has a flat front surface with the open recessed to form the ball pocket  64 .  
         [0026]    The flipper device is normally biased by the cog wheel arm  48  into a rearward retracted position so as to retain the flipper  28  at its retreated position longitudinally along the rear face of the ball tray  16  as shown by solid lines in FIG. 3 but, when the cog wheel arm  48  advances by rotation of the cog wheel  46  about axle  36 , shown by broken lines in FIG. 3, and against the force of the spring  38 , the trigger  32  is disengaged and the flipper device  28  is rotated about the pivot rod  24  as the center substantially to a horizontally disposed position perpendicular to the ball tray  16  as shown by broken lines in FIG. 3.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 6 in particular, the flipper device  28  is pivotally secured at  26  at the top support member  60  and the base  14  by the pivot rod  24  passing throughout which provides a vertical axis about which the flipper device  28  may pivot relative to the top support member  60  and base  14 . Alternative designs may secure the described flipper device  28  with pivot pins axially aligned and secured at  26  at the top support member  60  and base  14 . The flipper device  28  is retreated against the tension force created by spring  38  by attachment to the fixed anchor  40  and pivotal anchor  42 , and further referenced in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.  
         [0028]    In the ball return means of the above arrangement, the motorized mechanism  76  rotates the cog wheel  46  about the axle  36 , as shown in FIG. 3, and the cog wheel arm  48  engages the trigger  32  of the flipper device  28  to cause, with further rotation of the cog wheel  46 , the flipper device  28  to rotate rearwardly against the tension force of the spring  38 . Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the flipper device  28  is fully retreated to the predetermined position, the switch arm  30  on the flipper device  28  engages the resilient movable contactor  50  of the retractor switch  52  and thereby interrupts the power to the motorized mechanism  76  and further causing the rearwardly rotating of the flipper device  28  to terminate. When the ball  62  is rolled into the ball tray  16  and comes to rest against and depresses the resilient movable contactor  56  of the release switch  54  located at the switch opening  31  of the flipper device  28 , power is restored to the motorized mechanism  76  and the cog wheel  46  further rotates about the axle  36  causing the cog wheel arm  48  to disengage the trigger  32  whereby the flipper device  28  is caused to be quickly returned to the rotated position by the resilient force of the spring  38 . Although the present invention describes the resilient movable contactor  56  and the release switch  54  as located at the switch opening  31  of the flipper device  28 , resilient movable contactor  56  and the release switch  54  may be located at various positions in proximity to the flipper device  28  rendering the switch opening  31  of the flipper device  28  to be removed and still remain within the scope of the herein described invention.  
         [0029]    The present embodiment of the putting practice device  10  is also characterized by a ball tray  16  that is pivotally secured at pivot arm  20  at pivot socket  22  to the base  14 . The invention contemplates the provision of pivot sockets  22  that allow the pivot arms  20  to become dislodged from their position therein in the event of extreme force applied to the pivot arms  20  against the pivot socket. The distance along the longitudinal center line of the putting path as identified by the letter C in FIG. 3 from the entrance of the ball tray  16  to the flipper device  28  is sufficiently shallow and represents about one-half of the diameter of a regulation golf hole, thereby requiring only a slight sloping of the ball tray floor  17  to direct the ball  62  into the ball pocket  64  therein. This gives the ball tray floor  17  a low interior profile at the front entrance, which provides a correspondingly flatter surface for a ball  62  to roll therein. This affords the practice putting device  10  with a ball tray  16  closely related to the regulation hole in the game of golf. The herein described ball tray  16  of the present invention may be connected in various other means to the putting practice device  10  that allow the ball tray  16  to be physically detached from the putting practice device  10  for storage and transporting and reattached to use the device for the herein intended purpose.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the invention also contemplates the provision of a ball retarding rib  18  at the entrance to the ball tray  16  to check the speed of a ball travelling into the ball tray  16  and further to aid in retaining a ball  62  inside the parameter of the ball tray  16  once it has entered thereto, unless said ball is directed thereto at excessive speed.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 3, the device  10  of the present embodiment is further provided, as mounted in the main housing  12  part, with a light emitting diode (LED)  74  to indicate when power is turned on to the unit which is connected by an electrical connector (not shown) to the main switch  72  that turns on and shuts off power to the device  10 .  
         [0032]    The operation of the putting practice device according to the present invention shall be described next as summarized. Referring to FIG. 3, when the putted ball successfully enters the ball tray  16 , the ball comes to rest in the ball pocket  64  and against the resilient movable contactor  56 , shown in FIG. 2, of the release switch  54  located at the switch opening  31  of the flipper device  28  which is disposed in a retracted position against the tension force created by spring  38  longitudinally along the rear face of the ball tray  16  by the cog wheel arm  48  of the rotating cog wheel  46  about the axle  36  engaging the trigger  32  of the flipper device  28 . Referring to FIG. 4, in this retreated position, the switch arm  30  of the flipper device  28  engages the resilient movable contactor  50  of the retractor switch  52  and thereby shuts off the power to the motorized mechanism  76  that rotates the cog wheel  46 . Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, when the ball rests against the resilient movable contactor  56  of the release switch  54 , the motorized mechanism  76  is energized and rotates the cog wheel  46  about axle  36  and dislodges the cog wheel arm  48  from the trigger  32  of the flipper device  28  causing the flipper device  28  to return quickly to the rotated position by the resilient force of the spring  38 , shown by broken lines in FIG. 3, where the forward motion of the flipper device  28  is halted by the trigger stop  34 , thereby ejecting the ball from the ball tray  16  and returning the ball back to the person making the putt.  
         [0033]    Referring again to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, concurrently, with the forgoing ball return operation, the switch arm projection  30  of the rotated flipper device  28  disengages the resilient movable contactor  50  of the retractor switch  52  thereby providing power to the motorized mechanism  76  and causing the cog wheel  46  to rotate about the axle  36  to a position where the cog wheel arm  48  engages the trigger  32  of the flipper device  28  and rotates the flipper device  28  against the tension of the spring  38  to a longitudinally retreated position along the rear face of the ball tray  16 . With the above arrangement of ball returning means, it will be readily appreciated that the intended ball return operation can be realized by the energy of a battery or batteries accommodated in the device which requires no connecting to any external commercial power source which further enhances the extreme portability of the device.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIG. 4, the ball tray  16  is pivotally secured at pivot arm  20  at pivot socket  22  to the base  14  of the putting practice device  10  and is characterized by a sufficiently shallow depth measured along the longitudinal center line of the putting path as identified by the letter C in FIG. 3 from the entrance of the ball tray  16  to the ball pocket  64  of the flipper device  28 , representing substantially one-half of the diameter of a regulation golf hole. Henceforth, this requires only a minimal slope in the ball tray floor  17  to direct the ball  62  into the ball pocket  64  formed by the intersection of the flipper device  28  and the face of the main housing  12 . Thusly, the incline at the entrance of the ball tray  16  is substantially low and allows the putted ball to enter the ball tray without the aid of a ramp. Referring to FIG. 5, the ball tray  16  of the present invention may be rotated in an upward direction from the normal flat position for ball retrieval in the intended use to fold substantially against the main housing  12  to store the device  10 . The current embodiment also contemplates the provision of pivot sockets  22  that allow the pivot arms  20  of the ball tray  16  to detach and breakaway from the from the pivot sockets  22  when a force is exerted to the pivot arms  20  in a direction pulling away from the pivot sockets  22 .  
         [0035]    Notwithstanding the forgoing, it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantaged, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not intended in a limiting sense.