Abstract:
A portable putting green for practicing putting which includes an elongate putting mat elevated at one end by an inclined putting structure with a target hole. The putting structure includes an inclined central ramp with the target hole. The angle of inclination and lateral tilt of the putting structure is adjustable using arms pivotally connected to the putting structure which are used to selectively elevate the rear and opposite sides of the putting structure, so as to simulate different holes of a golf course.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field  
           [0002]    This invention relates to golf games used for fun and to improve a person&#39;s putting skills, and more particularly to portable golf games for improving putting accuracy.  
           [0003]    2. State of the Art  
           [0004]    My U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,877 discloses a portable Golf Game which comprises a putting mat simulating a golf green, having a putting end and an inclined scoring end. The scoring end includes an incline with an attached vertical stop wall, and a ball-receiving target hole, which is centrally located on the incline. An adjacent secondary scoring area printed on the putting mat includes scoring sub-areas worth various scores less than the target hole. The angle of the incline is such that some of the golf balls putted onto the incline which do not have enough momentum to reach the hole or which are putted off-line, roll off the incline onto the secondary scoring area.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention comprises a portable putting green for practicing putting using a putter, a golf ball, and a novel scoring method. The putting green comprises an elongate putting mat having respective putting and greens portions, with a main target hole in the greens portion to receive the golf ball. The putting green further comprises an inclined putting structure which includes a structure comprising a base, an inclined central ramp supported by the base, and an upstanding peripheral wall which extends around at least a portion of the central ramp to retain the golf ball on the putting structure. The central ramp includes a target hole recess, a downwardly inclined inner ball return channel having an inlet extending from the target hole recess and an outlet adjacent the front edge of one of the sides of the central ramp. A second inner ball-return channel of similar configuration extends from the target hole in the opposite direction another outlet adjacent the front edge of the central ramp.  
           [0006]    The greens portion of the putting mat is mounted on the central ramp, with the main target hole located over the target hole recess, such that when the golf ball is struck in such a manner as to pass through the main target hole, the ball rolls into the ball return channel, and out onto the putting mat, with sufficient velocity to roll to a position adjacent the putting end of the mat.  
           [0007]    The putting mat preferably includes two secondary target holes in the inclined greens portion. The secondary target holes have a different diameter, size, or shape than the main target hole to provide a different level of putting difficulty, each secondary target hole being disposed above a respective ball return channel. A back wall prevents golf balls from rolling off the rear edge of the central ramp into the outer ball return channel, and includes indicia indicating a scoring value for the main target hole and for each of the secondary target holes.  
           [0008]    The back wall preferably is of a generally U-shape which extends completely around the sides and rear of the central ramp to restrain balls from rolling off the sides and rear of the putting structure. A downwardly inclined outer ball return channel is disposed between the central ramp and the back wall.  
           [0009]    The degree of putting difficulty of the putting green is adjustable by means of a variable incline mechanism, and a variable lateral tilt mechanism. The incline mechanism supports the rear of the base structure in a raised position to further incline the central ramp.  
           [0010]    The variable lateral tilt mechanism alternately supports a selected side of the base structure in a raised position to tilt the central ramp. The method of simulating full course play on the portable putting green comprises the steps of: 1) placing the golf ball at a position along the putting portion of the putting mat, 2) striking the golf ball with the putter towards the main target hole, and 3) changing at least one of the parameters of the inclined putting structure after a predetermined number of putts to simulate playing different groups of nine or eighteen holes on a golf course. 
       
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable putting green illustrating the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the inclined putting structure showing the relationship between the main target hole, the ball return channels, the peripheral wall, and the back wall;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the inclined putting structure showing the lightweight, hollow construction thereof and the relative positions of the incline and tilt mechanisms;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2, showing the putting structure at an inclined position with the incline arm deployed to increase putting difficulty, and further showing the relative heights of the target hole recess, the inner and outer ball return channels, and the back wall, in such a deployed position;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the portable putting green showing the tilt arm of one tilt mechanism deployed to laterally tilt the putting structure for increased putting difficulty;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary lateral, vertical sectional view taken on line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5, to an enlarged scale, showing the deployed position and the mounting of such tilt arm to the inclined base structure; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7, is a fragmentary top plan view of the putting portion of the putting mat with the stance marker. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 shows a portable putting green  20  of the invention, which comprises an elongate putting mat  23 , an inclined putting structure  26 , and an elongate stance marker  29 .  
         [0020]    Putting mat  23  is an artificial turf comprising a lower backing pad or sheet  32  and an upper putting surface  35  comprising a plurality of individual upstanding strands of artificial grass (not shown) interwoven into sheet  32  to simulate the look, feel, and roll of real grass. Putting mat  23  includes a putting portion  38 , and a greens portion  41 , with a respective straight edge  44  at putting portion  38 , an arcuate end edge  47  at greens portion  41 , and left and right side edges  50  and  53 .  
         [0021]    A circular main target hole  56  is centrally located on greens portion  41  adjacent end edge  47 , non-circular secondary target holes  59  and  62 , and a logo or alignment plug hole  65  behind main target hole  56 .  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, putting structure  26  comprises a base structure  68  and an arcuate back wall  71 . Base structure  68  comprises a floor-contacting base  74 , an inclined central ramp  77 , and an inclined U-shaped peripheral wall  80 , with a U-shaped outer ball return channel  83  between ramp  77  and wall  80 . Base  74  includes a straight front edge  86 , and an arcuate rear edge  89 , which connect respective side edges  92  and  95 . Base  74  rests on a floor  98 . Central ramp  77  includes an inclined front ball support surface  101 , a level rear ball support surface  104 , a front edge  107 , an arcuate rear edge  110 , and respective inclined straight left and right side edges  113  and  116 .  
         [0023]    A circular target hole recess  119  is centered on central ramp  77  adjacent rear edge  110 , with respective laterally extending arcuate left and right ball return channels  122  and  125 , and a logo or alignment plug  128  which extends vertically behind target hole recess  119 . A medallion or other advertising logo (not shown) can be affixed to alignment plug  128 . Peripheral wall  80  extends around central ramp  77  and includes respective inclined left and right wall portions  131  and  134  interconnected by an arcuate end wall portion  137 , with inclined U-shaped outer ball return channel  83 . Outer ball return channel  83  includes respective straight left and right side channels  140  and  143  connected by an arcuate rear channel  146 , to a pair inner ball return channels  122  and  125 .  
         [0024]    Back wall  71  comprises an upstanding, arcuate wall  173 . A main score indicia  188  and a pair of minor score indicia  191  and  194  comprise decals, stickers, or are painted, or otherwise applied to back wall  173 . Back wall  71  is secured to support surface  104  at the rear edge  110  of ramp  77  by a plurality of rivets  197 , adhesives, or other such securing means.  
         [0025]    Putting mat  23  has the same width as central ramp  77  with greens portion  41  being removably connected to ramp  77  by mating pairs of hook fastener patches  200  and loop fastener patches (not shown). The hook fastener patches  200  are affixed to support surface  104  at rear edge  110 . The loop fastener patches are affixed to backing sheet  32 , positioned to mate with the respective hook fastener patches  200  when greens portion  41  is placed against support surface  104 . In such a position, alignment plug  128  extends through alignment plug hole  65 , main target hole  56  is positioned over target hole recess (depression)  119 , and secondary target holes  59  and  62  are positioned over inner ball return channels  122  and  125 .  
         [0026]    The angle of inclination of front ball support surface of ramp  77  is about 20° with rear ball support surface being level with floor  98 . A variable incline mechanism  206  on putting structure  26  allows selective inclination an additional  100  from a lower position wherein base  74  rests on floor  98 , to a maximum angle of inclination of about _degrees. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an incline mechanism  206  comprises an incline arm  209  having respective upper and lower end portions  212  and  215 . Upper end portion  212  is pivotally connected to end wall portion  137  within a recess  218  by a pivot bolt  221  and a locknut  224 .  
         [0027]    When incline arm  209  is in a horizontal, or stored position, base  74  contacts floor  98 . When incline arm  209  is pivoted to a vertical, or deployed position with lower end portion  215  resting on floor  98 , front edge  86  remains contacting floor  98  while rear edge  89  is supported above floor  98 . If so desired, incline arm  209  can be pivoted at a more central location such that upper and lower end portions  212  and  215  are of differing distances from an alternate pivot hole  233 .  
         [0028]    The angle of tilt of putting structure  26  can be changed by a variable lateral tilt mechanism  239 . Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, tilt mechanism  239  comprises a pair of left and right tilt arms  242  and  245 , having respective upper end portions  248  and  251 , and lower end portions  254  and  257 . Upper end portions  248  and  251  are pivotally connected at pivot holes  260  and  263  to respective left and right side wall portions  131  and  134  of peripheral wall  80 , by bolts  221  and locknuts  224 .  
         [0029]    When tilt arms  242  and  245  are in their respective horizontal, or stored positions, base  74  rests on floor  98 . When either of tilt arms  242  and  245  is pivoted to its vertical position, the opposite left or right side edge  92  or  95  of base  74  rests on floor  98  while the other side edge adjacent the other vertical tilt arm is raised above floor  98 . If so desired, either tilt arm can be pivoted at an end pivot hole (not shown) to provide only a single tilt angle in each lateral direction.  
         [0030]    Stance marker  29  has a J-shaped cross-section, which enhances the side edge of the putting mat. Marker  29  includes an indicia  290  indicating varying distances such as “Kiddies Tee”, “Ladies Tee”, “Men&#39;s Tee”, “Pros Tee”, and “Show Off”, with “Kiddies Tee” being the closest to main target hole  56 , and “Show Off” being the furthest to increase the level of difficulty. Indicia  290  corresponds with a plurality of transverse lines  293  which extend laterally across putting surface  35  which are painted, sewn, or otherwise provided thereon.  
         [0031]    Many variations of the putting green and method of use thereof are possible while staying within the same inventive concept. The incline and tilt mechanisms can be of other designs which provide similar functions, such as non-pivoting telescoping tube assemblies or telescoping rod and tube assemblies, which assemblies can be button-locked in predetermined positions or infinitely variably locked such as by using locking collars or set screws.  
         [0032]    Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with reference to embodiments thereof presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out such invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in adapting the invention to different embodiments without departing from the broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that follow.