Abstract:
An alternative to the game of golf utilizing any conventional golf course while incorporating a plurality of elevated target disks having a vertical planar attitude and a circular central opening, a ball having an outer diameter substantially lesser than that of the circular central opening in the target disks, and a variety of ball launchers each having the ability to accept various handle implements. The goal of the game is to either strike or penetrate the target disks in as few tosses as possible from the T-off point.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an alternative to the game of golf wherein the present invention utilizes any conventional golf course but incorporates the following: a plurality of elevated target disks having a vertical planar attitude and a circular central opening, a ball having an outer diameter substantially lesser than that of the circular central opening in the target disks, a variety of ball launchers each having the ability to accept various handle implements. The goal of the game is to either strike or penetrate the target disks in as few tosses as possible from the T-off point.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The ever-popular game of golf has become one of the most enjoyed sports since the last decade or more. In some geographic areas, this sport came be played year-round. However, in areas where winter months embrace the greens in a snowy blanket, the game simply halts. Furthermore, course owners generate no revenue during these downtimes.  
         [0003]     The inventor sought to provide players and golf course owners with a solution to this dilemma, by creating an alternative to the conventional game of golf, in that, course owners can stay open, even during winter months, and players can continue playing an alternative to their favorite pastime.  
         [0004]     Thus the inventor presents your commissioner with an alternative to the game of golf whereas: one target at or near each of the holes of a conventional golf course is provided, having a planar disk with a central opening therethrough, mounted to a vertical post, which in turn is pierced into the ground, and a variety of launchers with long or short handles, and a ball.  
         [0005]     While prior art teaches of a plurality of ball launching devices, the applicant has failed to uncover the scope of the present alternative to golf.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is thus the object of the present invention to provide players with an alternative to the game of golf, having a target disk, launchers and a ball.  
         [0007]     In one aspect of the invention, the diameter of the central opening of the target is directly proportional to the diameter of the ball used in the game.  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the invention, the target is mounted onto a vertical post.  
         [0009]     In a further aspect of the invention, the target is mounted to a floatation device so as to enable play in a body of water.  
         [0010]     In yet another aspect of the invention, the ball can be any generally dense ball, similar to a golf ball.  
         [0011]     In another aspect of the invention, a spring is mounted between the launcher head and its handle so as to provide greater momentum at each power launch.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, the device of the present invention therefore provides players with an alternative to the game of golf, having a target disk, launchers and a ball, that can be played virtually anywhere, anytime.  
         [0013]     Although the preferred embodiment illustrates the use of the present game in conjunction with golf courses, the utility of the present invention includes but is not limited to such golf course.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following brief description and upon referring to the drawings in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from above of a curved launcher of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view from above of a cupped launcher of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view from above of a secondary handle for the launchers of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  of the rail portion of the curved launcher of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view from above of an alternate floating target of the present invention  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the primary target of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view from above of an alternate base for the target of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows  8 - 8  from  FIG. 1  of the curved launcher of the present invention. The dotted line in this Figure depicts a ball and its placement in a ready position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows  9 - 9  from  FIG. 1  of the curved launcher of the present invention. The dotted line in this Figure depicts a ball in various travel positions.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows  10 - 10  from  FIG. 7  of the target adapter of the present invention.  
         [0025]     While the invention is described in conjunction with preferred illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]     In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.  
         [0027]     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view from above the primary ball launcher of the present invention comprising; a long handle  2 , a spring  4 , and a curved launch rail  6 . The long handle  2  further comprises; a male end having a spring nipple  9  therein, and a sleeve  11  having an inner diameter slightly greater than that of the outer diameter of the long handle  2  so as to enable longitudinal motion of the sleeve  11  along the long handle  2 , and a plurality of perforations  17  along one side of said sleeve  11  to accept the spring nipple  9  therein. The sleeve  11  may be positioned over a portion of the spring  4  so as to partially and adjustably restrain the lateral flexing motion of said spring  4 . As the player swings the ball-holding launcher forward, the launch rail  6  gravitationally exerts a rearward force against said spring thus, while the launcher handle  2  swings forward, the launch rail motion is delayed momentarily during the initial portion of the arc motion of the handle  2  until such a point where the arc&#39;s momentum diminishes and the spring  4  begins to spring forward, along with the handle  2  thus substantially adding momentum to the ball equal to the velocity of the tip of the handle, below the spring, plus the velocity of the spring&#39;s  4  upper end, thus exerting a greater launch effectiveness for greater distance to the ball&#39;s travel. Furthermore, vent perforations  13  along the convex portion of the launch rail  6  are provided to decompress the air ahead of the ball, hence reducing drag during launch.  
         [0028]     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of a secondary ball launcher wherein this launcher incorporates the very same handle  2 , male connector  7  and spring  4  features of the primary launcher, however, a tapered cup  10  is used in the place of a launch rail. This secondary launcher is useful for short-distance tosses, and for retrieving balls from sand and/or water. The cup  10  is adapted with elongated perforations through its side and rear surfaces so as to allow greater air flow through the cup  10  in order to reduce drag during a toss.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3 , illustrates an alternative short handle  17  for use in place of the long handle previously described. The short handle  17  is also adapted with a male end  7  similar to that of the long handle. The male end  7  inserts within an opening of generally the same size as that of the outer diameter of the male end  7 . A spring nipple  9  springs out through a mating perforation within the side portion of the receiving end  15  of the various launch head assemblies.  
         [0030]     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the launch rail portion of the primary launcher o the same Figure wherein a ball  12  is guided along raised ridges  14  within the inner portion of the launch rail  6 , reducing the surface contact area between the ball  12  and rail  6 . Additionally, as a ball  12  travels the launch rail  6  path, air ahead of the ball  12  compresses, thus creating drag. A plurality of spaced perforations  13  traverses the central area of the curved rail  6 , decompressing the air ahead of the ball and reducing this further drag.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view from above of a floating target of the present invention comprising: a base  20  having a plurality of openings  21  therethrough so as to lighten its weight, an array of floats  22  fixedly attached to floats struts  28  also attached to the base  20 , a central target mount  23  fixedly attached to the center upper portion of the base  20 , a target disk  26  having a planar circular sheet-like form and a numeric indicia on one or both faces of said target, a disk bracket  25  fixedly attached to the lower most area of the target  26 , and a lock bolt  24  threadedly engaged within a matingly threaded opening through one edge of the central target mount  23 . In addition to reducing weight, the openings  21  through the base  20  also serve as scoring means whereby the player(s) may desire to use the target disk  26  as a rebound board while targeting one of the openings  21 , which may have various score values assigned thereto.  
         [0032]     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a front elevation view of a primary target of the present invention whereas, a post  36  having a pointed lower extremity  39  for easier entry into soil, a foot bar  37  to enable installer to press the post  36  into the ground with his/her feet, and a target adapter  40 —between the target mount  25  and the post  36 —similar to that utilized on the floating target. The target  35  in this figure comprises: a generally planar disk having an opening  38 —through its center—as a smaller target to increase the difficulty level of the game, a target bracket  25  fixedly attached to the lower portion of said target  35  has a lower portion adapted to frictionally engage within a vertical opening in the target adapter  40 .  
         [0033]     Turning to  FIG. 7 , a perspective view of an alternate post assembly for use with either targets  26  or  35  of FIGS.  5  and/or  6  wherein, the post  31  is simply and relatively shorter and is fixed attached to a disk-shaped planar base  31  by means of a bolt or a weld joint. The target bracket  40  is also generally similar to those of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . This target base can be used indoors, or outdoors where driving a post is not an option, or on iced lakes and the like.  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a cross-sectional view taken along arrows  8 - 8  from  FIG. 1 , illustration in more detail the tabs  5  extending above and toward the inner portion of the rail launcher  6 . A ball  12 , can therefore maintain its position prior to launch by being frictionally engaged under said tabs  5 .  
         [0035]     This Figure also depicts in more detail, the positioning of the vent perforations  13  at the central ridge of the rail launcher.  
         [0036]     Turning now to  FIG. 9 , a partial cross-sectional view taken along arrows  9 - 9  from  FIG. 1 , of the rail portion of the curved launcher  6 , wherein as the ball  12  travels the launcher&#39;s rails in an increasingly augmenting velocity, air pressure ahead of said ball  12  compresses significantly  29 , thus creating undue drag in the ball&#39;s  12  travel. Vent holes  13  simply allow this compressed air  29  to decompress during travel.  
         [0037]     Turning now to  FIG. 10 , a partial cross-sectional view taken along arrows  10 - 10  from  FIG. 7  wherein a target bracket  40  is depicted comprising: a molded thick-wall tubular insert having an outer diameter generally and slightly lesser than that of the inner diameter of the post  36  in which it is inserted, a circumferencial channel  42  having a depth equal or lesser than the insert&#39;s wall thickness and located at the lower half of the insert&#39;s height, an outwardly protruding lip  44  extending the thickness of the mating post&#39;s  36  wall thickness. The post  36  is adapted with a welded and threaded nut  43  centrally located at a perforation through said post  36  at a height equal to the circumferencial channel  42 . A lock bolt  24  is threadedly engaged with the nut  43 , and traverses the post&#39;s  36  inner wall while extending within the circumferential channel  42  thus preventing upward movement of the target bracket  40  while allowing rotational movement of said target bracket  40  within the post  36 . Therefore, the target, frictionally inserted within the center opening  41  o the insert  40  becomes rotationally adjustable on a vertical axis.  
         [0038]     Upon referring to the drawing figures and the above specification, it can be understood that the alternative game of golf—as presented in the above specification and appended drawings—provides players with a variety of alternatives to golf, especially when true golf is not an option. Furthermore, golf course owners can now remain open for business during long winter months.