Abstract:
A method and apparatus are described that provide a mini golf course on a single, configurable platform comprised by at least one obstacle, hazard, hole position, tee position, manually placed add-ins, and a control panel. On one embodiment, a player uses the control panel to arrange a combination of options to provide a unique mini golf hole. A player may create one or more mini golf holes to comprise a complete mini golf game.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a mini golf game. More particularly, the invention relates to utilizing a configurable platform to produce one or more different combinations of obstacles, hole positions, tee positions, and hazards comprising a mini golf course.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     There are many examples of related art where miniature putting greens are constructed to allow practice putting for the game of golf. There is also related art showing configuration of mini golf courses over large terrain areas. There are also portable putting green mechanisms to allow the transportation of golf game practice devices.  
         [0005]     The act of putting on a practice green does not simulate the game of mini golf where navigating obstacles is one of the primary tests of the game.  
         [0006]     For those who desire a mini golf course but do not have the terrain, area, or resources to create a typical nine or eighteen hole course, options are not available.  
         [0007]     This invention supports the creation of varied holes on a single platform to allow players to experience a game similar to a large terrain, commercial game in a small amount of space which can be used either indoors or outdoors.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides a method for creating one or more golf holes on a single platform. In one embodiment, the platform is a 10 ft by 6 ft platform with a plurality of obstacles, hazards, hole positions, slope creation Slope Elevators, manually placed add-ins, and tee positions. The invention provides a challenging and changing game to one or more players.  
         [0009]     The invention provides a control panel that allows a player to change the configuration of the golf hole into one or more configurations. In one embodiment, the control panel uses mechanical methods such as wire cable to expose, hide, or move one or more of the configurable components.  
         [0010]     The invention provides a method to move hole locations to provide different challenges.  
         [0011]     The invention provides a method to move tee locations to provide different challenges.  
         [0012]     The invention provides multiple obstacle types to prevent direct access to hole locations providing a challenge that varies. In one embodiment, obstacle types include a rectangular obstacle which completely blocks access to parts of the putting surface area. In another embodiment, obstacle types include angles that allow players to hit their ball against the angle to navigate around other obstacles or hazards. In a third embodiment, an arc obstacle is provided to allow a player to hit a ball around another obstacle by putting into the arc. It is understood that another embodiment would contain one or all of the obstacle types on a single platform.  
         [0013]     The invention provides hazards similar to a regulation golf course representing and imitating water hazards and sand traps. Various embodiments of the invention may contain one or more hazards on the platform. These hazards can be hidden by having a section of putting surface cover them or by having an obstacle block the ball&#39;s access to hazards.  
         [0014]     The invention may provide one or more elevation rods or inflatables under the putting surface which raise a point on the putting surface to create a raised portion of the putting surface. A raised position of surface has the effect of causing a change in movement of the ball when it is putted on the raised area. In the game of golf, this ball movement is called a break and can add challenges to the game.  
         [0015]     One embodiment or the present invention provides for the manual addition of add-ins to the course configuration. An example of an add-in is a piece of lawn art that can add challenge or fun to the game.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The appended claims set forth the features of the invention with particularity. The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates one embodiment of the control panel;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates another embodiment of the control panel;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of the mechanical mechanism to change hole positions;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of the mechanical mechanism to change tee positions;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of the mechanical mechanism to create different slopes;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of the pneumatic control to create different slopes;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of the mechanical mechanism to move obstacle locations;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of the mechanical mechanism to expose and cover hazards;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  illustrates one embodiment of the invention where players place objects onto the platform.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     The present invention provides a single, configurable platform from which one or more mini golf holes can be constructed. A mini golf game involves one or more players hitting a ball with a club from a tee to a hole. The purpose of the game is to get the ball into the hole in as few hits as possible. There are many locations where people can visit and play a number of different mini golf holes. Typically, eighteen holes are used to form a complete mini golf course. These holes also typically contain a variety of obstacles, hazards, and slopes to make the holes challenging and interesting to players.  
         [0028]     In the preferred embodiment, the configurable platform has a control panel which allows players to configure the single platform into configurations to provide a challenging and interesting game on a single platform. This allows players to play indoors or outdoors in a significantly smaller area than even two fixed golf holes could be constructed. A player controlled control panel uses mechanisms to enable the physical changing of the configurable components. A typical system consists of wires and pulleys to move the obstacles, cover and uncover hazards, raise and lower the elevation rod and move the hole location.  
         [0029]     In one embodiment, the control panel utilizes pneumatic control to inflate and deflate elevators to create slope on the course.  
         [0030]     The preferred embodiment does not preclude the players manually placing obstacles or add-ins such as a lawn ornament on the platform.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a representative embodiment of the single platform system  100  for creation of a mini golf course. Players would choose their hole configuration by using controls on Control Panel  110 . Control panel  110  uses a mechanism to move Tee  120  location from left to right. Control Panel  110  uses a mechanism to move Rectangular Obstacle  130  to the left or right to obstruct the path from the tee to the hole. The Control Panel  110  also provides a mechanism to drop the Rectangular Obstacle  130  to become level with the putting surface. The top of the obstacle is covered in the same material as the putting surface. Control Panel  110  uses a mechanism to raise and lower Slope Elevator Rod  150  to create a raised portion of the putting surface. Control Panel  110  uses a mechanism to move Arc Obstacle  160  along the side of Platform  100 . The Arc Obstacle  160  can also be lowered into Platform  100  to provide a smooth putting surface. Control Panel  110  uses a mechanism to move Angle Obstacle  170  along the back wall of Platform  100 . The Angle Obstacle  170  can also be lowered into Platform  100  to provide a smooth putting surface. Control Panel  110  uses a mechanism to move Hole  180  to one of several hole positions available.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2   a  shows one embodiment of the Control Panel  110 . A series of individual control knobs are used to control the configuration components on the platform. The player turns Knob  210  to move the Tee location. The player turns Knob  220  to move the Hole location. The player turns Knob  230  to cover or uncover the Hazard. The player turns Knob  240  to move the Physical Slope Elevator. The player turns Knob  250  to move, raise, or lower the Rectangular Obstacle. The player turns Knob  260  to move, raise, or lower the Arc Obstacle. The player turns Knob  270  to move, raise, or lower the Angle Obstacle. The Inflate Button  280  increases the size of Inflatable Slope Elevator, and Deflation Switch  290  causes Slope Elevator to decrease in size.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2   b  shows another embodiment of the Control Panel  110 . The Control Panel is a Computer  201  which contains software programs to control the obstacles, tee position, hole position, and hazard. A player interacts with the computer through Keyboard  202  and Mouse Pointing Device  203 . The player can create a new hole design or select from existing configurations on Monitor  204 . The embodiment can also provide a Monitor  204  which has touch screen capability to allow player interaction with Computer  201 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates how to change the hole position. To change the hole location on Platform  100 , turn Control Panel Knob  300  which pulls Wire  301 , wraps around Pulley  302 , goes under Platform  100 , wraps around Pulley  303 , and returns under Platform  100  and connects to Covering Attachment Hook  304  which then pulls Hole Covering  305 , uncovering Hole Location  306  and covering Hole Location  307 . To adjust Platform  100 &#39;s hole location to the original location, turn Control Panel Knob  310  which pulls Wire  320 , wraps around Pulley  330 , and attaches the Covering Attachment Hook  340 , which then moves Hole Covering  305 , covering Hole Location  306 , and uncovering Hole Location  307 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  illustrates how to change the tee location. To change the tee location on Platform  100 , turn Control Panel Knob  401 , which pulls Wire  402 , wraps around Pulley  403  and attaches to Tee Attachment Hook  404  and moves Tee Box  405  to the right. To move the tee on Platform  100  to the left, turn Control Panel Knob  400  which pulls Wire  410 , wraps around Pulley  420 , goes under Platform  100 , and wraps around Pulley  430 , then returns under Platform  100 , and attaches to Tee Attachment Hook  440 , and moves Tee Box  405  to the left.  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates how to create a slope on the right side of Platform  100 . Turn Control Panel Knob  500  which pulls Wire  501 , wraps around pulley  502 , attaches to Attachment Hook  503  to move Slope Elevator  504 . For this embodiment, the Slope Elevator is a ½″ high, six-sided, piece of wood immediately under the putting surface.  
         [0037]     To create a slope on the left side of Platform  100 , turn Control Panel Knob  510  which pulls Wire  511 , wraps around Pulley  512  and Pulley  513  then attaches to Attachment Hook  514  to move Slope Elevator  504 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment for slope creation. To deflate the Inflatable Slope  604  on Platform  100 , turn Control Panel Knob  600 , which pulls Wire  601 , wraps around Pulley  602  and pulls Release Valve  603  to release air from Inflatable Slope  604 . To re-inflate the Inflatable Slope  604  on Platform  100 , turn Control Panel Knob  610  which pulls Wire  620  and activates Air Pump  630  which pumps air through Air Hose  640  and inflates Inflatable Slope  604 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 7  illustrates how to move a representative obstacle. To move the Rectangular Obstacle  705  on platform  100  away from the tee box, turn Control Panel Knob  700 , which pulls Wire  701 , wraps around Pulley  702  and Pulley  703  and attaches to Attachment Hook  704  which pulls Rectangular Obstacle  705 . To move the obstacle on Platform  100  closer to the tee box, turn Control Panel Knob  710  which pulls Wire  720  and attaches to Attachment Hook  730  and pulls Rectangular Obstacle  705 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 8  illustrates how to expose and hide hazards. To cover the hazard on Platform  100 , turn Control Panel Knob  800  which pulls Wire  801 , wraps around Pulley  802  and Pulley  803  then attaches to Covering Attachment Hook  804  and pulls Hazard Covering  805  over Hazard  806 . To recreate the hazard on Platform  100 , turn Control Panel Knob  810  which pulls Wire  820  and attaches to Covering Attachment Hook  830  and pulls Hazard Covering  805  off of Hazard  806 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 9  illustrates other manually placed obstacles on Platform  100  which are called add-ons. As example, in  FIG. 9 , a player would putt the ball from Tee  900 , up and around and down Loop  910 , avoid Lawn Art  920 , and putt the ball into Hole  930 .  
         [0042]     Although this disclosure describes illustrative embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments described. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Various adaptations, modifications and alterations may be practiced within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.