Abstract:
A golf putting apparatus that is portable and designed to enhance a golfer&#39;s skill level is presented. The apparatus includes a strip made of a flexible material and a carrier unit configured to detachably couple with the strip, the carrier unit having a first wall around which the strip is wound for storage, the first wall defining a cavity that is configured to hold a ball.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/304,664 filed on Jun. 13, 2014, which is assigned U.S. Pat. No. 9,295,898. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a golf putting apparatus. In particular, it discloses a golf putting apparatus including a putting strip that can be extended flat for use and stored within the golf putting apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Golf is a widely popular sport today enjoyed by men and women of all ages. Especially for individuals in urban areas who spend a lot of time in confined spaces and/or have busy schedules, being out in a golf course is appealing for many reasons. While the fact that a golf course is a large piece of open land with lots of greenery enhances its appeal to many players, that very aspect of the sport can also make practicing golf difficult. For example, getting a practice in may entail traveling to a driving range or a golf course with one&#39;s bulky gear. Depending on how far a player is from a driving range of a golf course, it may or may not be possible to get a quick practice in during short breaks at work or even during lunch. 
         [0004]    In an attempt to address this issue, there are golf practicing apparatuses in the market today that allow individuals to practice without traveling to the golf course. These apparatuses are often designed to be used indoors, to provide a convenient and quick way to squeeze in some practice. Putting especially lends itself well to indoor practice, as the ball does not travel high or far. 
         [0005]    Unfortunately, golf putting practice devices that are currently on the market are typically bulky and lack portability. Moreover, many putting strips in those golf putting practice devices are generally not optimized to push the limits of a golfer&#39;s putting ability. In fact, many practice apparatuses provide a distorted sense of one&#39;s skill level to a user because they are easier than a real course. For this reason, a golfer who feels confident after practicing with an indoor apparatus may end up puzzled as to why his score on the golf course is not as good as he expected. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a golf putting practice device that is easy to use and designed to enhance a golfer&#39;s skill level. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    In one aspect, the inventive concept pertains to a portable golf putting apparatus. The apparatus includes a strip made of a flexible material and a carrier unit configured to detachably couple with the strip. The carrier unit has a first wall around which the strip is wound for storage, the first wall defining a cavity that is configured to hold a ball. 
         [0008]    Optionally, the carrier unit may have a second wall that is coaxially arranged with the first wall with a space between the first wall and the second wall. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  depicts a top view of a putting strip in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive concept. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  depicts a bottom view of a putting strip in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive concept. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1C  depicts a side view of a putting strip in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive concept. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a golfer using the putting strip of the inventive concept. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts a first embodiment of a carrier that may be detachably coupled with the putting strip. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  depicts a second embodiment of a carrier that may be detachably coupled with the putting strip. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  depicts a horizontal cross-sectional view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 4A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts elements of the carrier in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive concept. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts elements of the carrier in accordance with another embodiment of the inventive concept. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  depicts a golfer using the putting strip of the inventive concept coupled with the carrier. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A  depicts a third embodiment of the carrier that may be detachably coupled with the putting strip, separated into elements. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8B  depicts a bottom view of the elements of  FIG. 8A . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8C  depicts a horizontal cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the carrier shown in  FIG. 8A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9A  depicts an embodiment of the carrier of the inventive concept that includes a latch in an open position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9B  depicts the carrier of  FIG. 9A  with the latch in a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    A putting practice apparatus that is easy to transport and store is presented. While the disclosure focuses on a few embodiments of the inventive concept for clarity and simplicity of illustration, it should be understood that the embodiments shown here are not exhaustive and there are many other ways in which the inventive concept may be practiced. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1A  depicts a putting strip  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive concept. The putting strip  10  of this embodiment is an elongated piece of flexible material that may be rolled up, folded, or otherwise shaped in a compact form for storage and be extended for use. During use, the putting strip  10  functions as a putting green, as shown in  FIG. 2 . A golfer places a ball  5  (e.g., a golf ball) on the putting strip  10  and hits it with his golf club to make the ball roll down the length of the putting strip  10 . The strip  10  may be made to be any suitable length l, and is not limited to any specific dimensions. The golfer may place the ball anywhere he wants along the putting strip  10  to improve his skills in putting a desired distance. To cover the range of frequently-occurring putting distances during a golf game, the putting strip  10  may be made to be about 5-ft. long. 
         [0026]    One goal when practicing with the strip  10  is to keep the ball on the putting strip  10 . Hitting the ball off the strip  10  (i.e., off the intended direction) would indicate to the user that somehow his swing was not a good one. The strip  10  extends straight, as a ball usually travels straight absent any irregularities and slopes on the ground. The width w of the strip  10  may be made wider or narrower depending on how challenging it is intended to be. The wider the strip  10 , the more forgiving it will be because the user does not have to hit the ball perfectly in the intended direction to keep the ball on the strip  10 . A beginner golfer may use a wider strip  10  to practice his putting, to gain a “feel” of how the ball reacts to his swing. A more advanced golfer may use a narrow strip  10  where a small miscalculation, loss of focus, or twitch could cause the ball to roll off the strip  10 . In one embodiment, the width w of the putting strip  10  may be about 2 inches. Given that an average golf ball has a diameter of about 1.6-1.7 inches, a 2-inch width would provide a 17-25% margin of error. 
         [0027]    As depicted in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , the putting strip  10  may have a first surface  14  and a second surface  16 . The first surface  14  may be the surface that faces up during use, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The second surface  16  may be the surface that contacts the ground, or the surface opposite the first surface  14 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , there may be markings  12  made on all or select portions of the first surface  14  to guide one&#39;s swing. In the particular embodiment, the markings  12  include lines drawn perpendicularly to the long edges of the strip  10 . As many golfers attempt to keep the club face perpendicular to the intended travel direction of the ball, keeping the club surface aligned with the markings  12 , for example during backswing, will usually allow the ball to travel down the strip  10 . . Hence, a user is able to evaluate his own backswing, i.e. by seeing if the club face is being tilted at an angle relative to the markings  12 . A “club face,” as used herein, is intended to mean the surface of the golf club that intentionally contacts the ball to set the ball in motion. In some alternative embodiments, the markings  12  may be omitted from the putting strip  10 . 
         [0028]    The strip  10  may be made of a reflective material, such as a metal. In some embodiments, just the first surface  14  may be reflective. The reflective nature of the first surface  14  allows the golfer to check his physical alignment with the ball. Many golfers, during putting, strive to align themselves with the ball by positioning their eyes above the ball. The reflective nature of the first surface  14  allows a golfer to make sure that his eyes are aligned with the ball without lifting his head, and also allows a golfer to check if he is moving his head excessively during a swing. 
         [0029]    The surface of the putting strip  10  may be made smooth to increase the sensitivity of the ball in reaction to a force. If desired, the strip  10  may be textured to simulate different green conditions. While the thickness of the putting strip  10  is not limited to any particular dimension as long as the strip  10  can be extended to form a flat surface and rolled up or otherwise formed into a compact shape for storage. 
         [0030]    The putting strip  10  may be made of a spring-tempered metal or metal alloy in part or in whole, such as spring-tempered stainless steel, spring-tempered bronze, spring-tempered brass, spring-tempered copper, spring-tempered aluminum, spring-tempered steel, spring-tempered titanium, spring-tempered graphite, alloys thereof, or graphite. Spring-tempered metal or alloy (e.g., stainless steel, bronze, brass, copper, aluminum, steel, or titanium) allows the strip  10  to be rolled up or otherwise made compact for storage, and allows it to lie flat without showing a memory of the position in which it was stored. This is desirable, as most golfers do not want a 5-ft. long strip  10  extending across their floors when they are not practicing putting. Spring-tempered stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper, steel, or tatanium is a suitable choice for this application also because it is reflective. As mentioned above, the reflective property of the surface allows the user to evaluate his swing easily. The strip  10  should be heavy enough that it does not wrinkle or crumple when the ball rolls on it. The strip  10  is not limited to being made of spring-tempered metal, metal alloy, or graphite and may be made of any suitable material that does not show the position it was stored in, possesses the reflective property, and the weight described above. In some embodiments, a weight may be attached to one end or another part of the strip  10 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 1B  depicts the second surface  16  of the putting strip  10 . As shown, the second surface  16  may have a first attachment mechanism  18  formed thereon. In the particular embodiment shown, the first attachment mechanism  18  is formed near one end of the second surface  16 . However, this is not a limitation of the invention. As will be described in more detail below, the first attachment mechanism  18  allows the strip  10  to be attached to a carrier  100 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 1C  depicts a side view of the putting strip  10  in accordance with one embodiment. In the particular embodiment, the first attachment mechanism  18  is a hook formed at an end of the putting strip  10 . The first attachment mechanism  18  may be formed near a first end of the putting strip  10  that has no markings  12  thereon. The second end of the putting strip  10  may have a slope structure  19 , which is a structure that helps raise that end of the strip  10  to form a gentle slope. A gentle slope at the second end of the strip  10  makes it easier for the golfer to see the markings  12  during a backswing by raising the markings  12  consistently with the curved trajectory of the club head during a swing. The club head is thus not as far from the markings  12  as it would have been without the slope structure  19 . In the particular embodiment that is depicted, the slope structure  19  includes a folded end of the strip  10 . However, this is not a limitation of the inventive concept and various other structures may be used to form a slope. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  depicts one embodiment of a multi-functional carrier  100  that may be detachably coupled with the strip  10  for putting practice. The carrier  100  includes a first wall  20  mounted on a base  40 . The first wall  20  defines a cavity  22 , which may have a circular shape as shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown, the carrier  100  includes a second attachment mechanism  53   a,    53   b  (collectively referred to as second attachment mechanism  53 ) that is designed to couple with the first attachment  18 . In the particular embodiment, the second attachment mechanism  53   a  is formed on a top surface  29  of the carrier  100 . 
         [0034]    When the putting strip  10  is being used for putting practice, the putting strip  10  is attached to the carrier  100  by coupling the first and second attachment mechanisms  18 ,  53   a.  In one embodiment, the first attachment mechanism  18  may be a hook, and the second attachment mechanism  53  may be a cutout into which the hook can extend. To practice putting, a golfer would attach the hook  18  to the cutout  53  and hit a ball down the strip  10 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . If the direction and the force is right, the ball will travel down the putting strip  10  and fall into the cavity  22 , which effectively functions as the “hole” of the putting green. The first and second attachment mechanisms  18 ,  53  may include a piece of magnet to which the putting strip  10  will stick, Velcro®, or any other fastening means. Any combination of different attachment mechanisms may be used to secure the putting strip  10  to the carrier  100 . 
         [0035]    When the strip  10  is not being used for putting practice (e.g., stored), the cavity  22  may be used for storing balls. When the putting strip  10  is not being used, it may be stored by being wrapped around the first wall  20  like a ribbon. A second attachment mechanism  53   b  may be formed on the outer surface of the first wall  20  so that when it is time to put the putting strip  10  away, the golfer can detach the strip  10  from the second attachment mechanism  53   a  and couple it to the other second attachment mechanism  53   b.  Doing so will fix one end of the putting strip  10  to the carrier  100 , making it easier to wind the remainder of the strip  10  around the first wall  20 . There may be a mechanism for keeping the putting strip  10  in the wound position, such as a band that fits around the first wall  20 , a magnetic clip, a Velcro® strip, etc. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  depict another embodiment of the carrier  100  that may be coupled with the putting strip  10 . This embodiment includes two layers of circularly-shaped walls: the first wall  20  and a second wall  30  that are arranged coaxially with a space  35  between the two. The first wall  20  and the second wall  30  are circular walls of different diameters, arranged concentrically such that the first wall  20  (which is smaller) is encircled by and spaced apart from the second wall  30 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 4B , which depicts a horizontal cross section of the carrier  100  shown in  FIG. 4A , shows the space  35  between the first wall  20  and the second wall  30 . The putting strip  10 , when not being used, may be stored in the space  35  by being wound around the first wall  20 . The second wall  30 , which encloses the putting strip  10 , keeps the putting strip  10  in the wound position and also protects it from outside elements. The two-walled embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  provides the additional advantage of making it easy for the user to wind the strip  10  by allowing the two walls to rotate independently of each other, for example in the opposite directions as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  depicts an implementation of the two-walled carrier  100  shown in  FIG. 4A . As shown, the carrier  100  may be put together by combining a first element  181  with a second element  182 . In the particular embodiment, the first element  181  includes the second wall  30  and a top surface  36 , which has the second attachment mechanism  53   a  formed thereon. The second element  182  includes a base  40 , the first wall  20 , and the second attachment mechanism  53   b  formed thereon. Each of the first element  181  and the second element  182  may be an integrated piece made of a rigid material that gives a little, such as plastic. The first and second elements  181 ,  182  may be combined such that they can be rotated relative to each other, as shown above in  FIG. 4B , by a user&#39;s grabbing the first element  181  with one hand and the base  40  with the other hand and turning the held pieces in opposite directions. For example, the first wall  20  may be rotated clockwise (as shown by the arrow) while the second wall  30  remains stationary or rotates counterclockwise, or vice versa. When the winding is complete, the entire putting strip  10  will be in the space  35  of the carrier  100 . 
         [0039]    The putting strip  10  may be wound around the first wall  20  and be encased by the second wall  30  for secure storage. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the second wall  30  is connected to the upper surface  36  of the first member  181 , and the first wall  20  is connected to the base  40  of the second member  182 . The first and second members are coupled to form the carrier  100 . In some embodiments, the upper surface  36  may be integrated with the first wall  20 . 
         [0040]    The two-walled embodiment of  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4B , and  FIG. 5  includes an opening  34  formed in the second wall  30 . The opening  34  is formed on the first sidewall  30  such that the attachment mechanism  53   b  is exposed when it is aligned with the opening  34 . As mentioned above, the second mechanism  53   a  may be formed both near the cavity  22  and on the second wall  30  (or perhaps on the edge where the two surfaces meet. As explained above, the putting strip  10  may be coupled to the second attachment mechanism  53   a  for putting practice and to the second attachment mechanism  53   b  for storage. To access the second attachment mechanism  53   b  that is on the first wall  20  (the inner wall), the end of the strip  10  that has the first attachment mechanism  18  extends in through the opening  34 . For example, the user may reach in through the opening  34  holding the strip  10 , or guide the strip  10  into the opening  34 . Then, with the first attachment mechanism  10  securely fixed to the second attachment mechanism  18 , the first wall  20  and the second wall  30  are rotated with respect to each other to wind the strip  10  for storage. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternative embodiment of the carrier  100  that includes a cutout  24  in the first wall  20 . Aligning the cutout  24  with the opening  34  on the second wall  30  forms a window through which a ball can roll out of the cavity  22 . The upper surface of the base  40  may be made to include a slope such that a ball that falls into the cavity  22  will roll down to the cutout  24 . During putting practice, a golfer may leave the cutout  24  of the first wall  20  aligned with the opening  34  so that when a ball falls into the cavity  22 , it will automatically roll out or cause one of the other balls in the cavity  22  to roll out through the window for the next put. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  depicts a golfer using the putting strip  10  coupled with the carrier  100 . Any embodiment of the carrier  100  may be used in the manner shown. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  depict another embodiment of the carrier  100  in accordance with the inventive concept. In this particular embodiment, the carrier  100  has three walls. More specifically, in addition to the first wall  20  and the second wall  30 , there is a third wall  50 . In the particular embodiment, the three walls are circular and concentrically arranged. The second element  182  in this embodiment is substantially similar to the second element  182  in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . The first element  181  in this embodiment, however, has a cup formed by the third wall  50  and a bottom  38 . The second wall  30  and the third wall  50  may be connected by the top surface  36 . 
         [0044]    In this particular embodiment, the bottom  38  extends across part of the cavity  22  to form a “floor” of the cup. The third wall  50  may have an inner opening  56  that can be aligned with the cutout  24  and the opening  34  to let a ball roll out of the cup during putting practice. The bottom  38  may be tilted such that the portion near the inner opening  56  is lower than other parts, causing a ball in the cup to roll toward the inner opening  56 . In some embodiments, the bottom  38  of the cup may include a moat formed along its periphery, as well as other patterns. The moat may be formed as an annular recess. As long as the cup is configured to catch a ball that rolls off the edge of the putting strip  10 , the inventive concept is not limited to any shape, position, material, or pattern of the cup. The moat, for example, may be formed to reduce the amount of material that is needed to make the apparatus. 
         [0045]      FIG. 8B  depicts a bottom view of the first element  181  and the second element  182 . When the first and second elements  181 ,  182  are combined, the first wall  20  fits between the second and third walls  30 ,  50 . 
         [0046]    As depicted in  FIG. 8B , a plurality of grip aids  48  may be formed along the outer edge of the base  40 . The semispherical cutouts  48  serve as finger-grip holders for turning the second element  182  when winding the strip  10 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 8C  depicts a horizontal cross sectional view of the three-sidewall carrier  100  that is shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B . As shown, the third wall  50  has a smaller diameter than the second wall  20  such that it fits in the cavity  22  and forms a ball-holding compartment  58 . When the strip  10  is stored, it fits in the space  35  between the first wall  20  and the second wall  30 . As the second wall  30  and the third wall  50  are connected to each other (e.g., by the top surface  36 ), they move together in the same direction, as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 8C . 
         [0048]      FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  depict an embodiment of the carrier  100  that includes a latch  60  that can be closed to secure balls in the cavity  22  so that they do not roll out during storage or transport. With the latch  60  closed, the carrier  100  can be stored or carried in any position without the balls getting lost. The second attachment mechanism  53   a  may be formed on the latch  60  instead of directly on the first element  181 , as shown in  FIG. 9A . Recesses  23  may be formed on the top surface  36  connected to the second wall  30  to accommodate the latch  60 . A mechanism (not shown) may be implemented to “lock” the latch  50  in the closed position, for example a magnet, Velcro®, a mechanical lock (e.g. to “snap” into place), or some type of sticky surface, among other possibilities. 
         [0049]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 9A , the latch  60  is attached to a top edge of the wall  20  by a hinge. The latch  60  is configured to be rotated about the hinge to be opened and closed. When the apparatus is not being used for putting practice, balls may be placed in the cavity  22  and the latch  60  may be in the closed position to prevent the balls from falling out, as shown in  FIG. 9B . During putting practice, the latch  60  may be in the “open” position as shown in  FIG. 9A , and the putting strip  10  may be attached to the second attachment mechanism  53   a.  There will be a gentle upward hill just before the hole (cavity  22 ) for extra challenge. 
         [0050]    In the preceding specification, the inventive concept has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the inventive concept as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Other embodiments of the inventive concept may be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the concept disclosed herein.