Abstract:
A golf cup insert has an integral annular outer flange resting on an inner annular ring molded into a vertical hole in a portable golf practice panel. The vertical hole has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the golf cup insert and flange. Multiple exterior arches along an outside annular wall of the golf cup insert engage slots in the inner annular ring so that by dropping the golf cup insert into the vertical hole the arches slide through the slots. A turn of the golf cup insert locks the insert in place, but permits the cup insert to move transversely in the vertical hole.

Description:
This invention relates to golf practice devices. More particularly, it refers to a golf cup insert mounted in an annular vertical hole in a polymeric panel covered with a synthetic turf used for practice putting and chipping, the golf cup insert mounted so that it will move transversely in the vertical hole. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Golfers, whether professional, amateur, or social are intensely interested in improving their short game of putting and chipping which frequently adds unnecessary strokes to a given round of golf. As a result, many man made putting surfaces have been created to provide putting practice in and around the golfer&#39;s home or office. A golf putting surface made of polymeric materials such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,803 is one such putting surface. Each putting surface requires a vertical hole suitable for placement of a golf ball receiving cup. A synthetic turf is placed over the top surface and allowance is made for a hole in the synthetic turf for the cup. In addition, side rails are employed and the synthetic turf is tucked under an edge of the rail. A problem occurs when the synthetic turf stretches or contracts or the polymeric panel expands or contracts. The turf can move with respect to the cup opening or bubble up if it does not have room to expand under the side rail. A solution is needed to solve this problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention solves the synthetic turf movement problem by providing a golf cup insert that floats transversely within a hole in the polymeric substrate adapted to receive the golf cup insert. Sufficient room is allowed under the side rail to permit expansion of the synthetic turf or polymeric panel. 
     The cup insert can be inserted from the top deck surface or from the bottom of the polymeric panel. When not in use, the hole in the polymeric panel is covered with a plate to create a smooth surface over the hole in the polymeric panel. The inside diameter of the polymeric panel ventricle hole is slightly wider than the outer diameter of a flange molded around an upper portion of the cup insert. The cup insert is molded with the flange at the same level as the top surface of the polymeric panel. The flange prevents the carpet or synthetic turf to fold down into a gap between the edge of the cup insert and the polymeric panel hole. A predetermined vertical edge of the cup insert rises above the flange but below the finished height of the synthetic turf. The synthetic turf then sits tightly around the cup insert and causes the cup insert to move transversely as the synthetic turf expands or moves. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf ball cup insert located in an annular hole in a polymeric panel with a vertical edge of the cup insert abutting a synthetic turf. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a golf ball cup insert of this invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the annular hole in a polymeric panel containing a lock ring. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the mounting of the golf ball cup insert of  FIG. 2  in the annular hole of FIG.  3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the golf ball cup insert mounted in the polymeric panel annular hole, showing a movement of the cup insert in the direction of the arrow. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line  6 — 6  in FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a cover plate for an unused hole in the polymeric panel. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along line  8 — 8  in FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a first alternate golf cup insert for inserting through a bottom of the annular hole in the polymeric panel. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the first alternate golf cup insert mounted in an annular hole of the polymeric panel. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a bottom portion of the annular hole of the polymeric panel mounted with the first alternate golf cup insert. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a second alternate golf cup insert for inserting through a bottom of the annular hole in the polymeric panel. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the second alternate golf cup insert mounted in an annular hole of the polymeric panel. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a bottom portion of the annular hole of the polymeric panel mounted with the second alternate golf cup insert. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a third alternate golf cup insert for inserting through a bottom of the annular hole in the polymeric panel. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the third alternate golf cup insert mounted in an annular hole of the polymeric panel. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a bottom portion of the annular hole of the polymeric panel mounted with the third alternate golf cup insert. 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded view of a cover plate over the exterior edge of an annular hole in the polymeric panel. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the cover plate mounted over the exterior edge of the annular hole in the polymeric panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the floating golf ball cup insert  10  has an annular flange  12  abutting at least a part of hole  14  in a polymeric panel  16 . The top surface  36  of the polymeric panel  16  is covered with synthetic turf  18 . A bump rail  20  covers an edge  42  of the synthetic turf  18 . A cover plate  24  covers an unused hole  14  in the polymeric panel  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the golf cup insert  10  is inserted into the annular hole  14  in a polymeric panel  16 . The golf cup insert  10  has at least three lock notches  26  and a descending skirt  28 . An arch  46 , below each lock notch  26 , and integral with wall skirt  28  has a top surface  48  spaced below a bottom surface of flange  12 . An annular edge  22  of golf cup insert  10  projects upwardly from an inner edge of the flange  12 . The upwardly directed edge  22  is less than the vertical thickness of the synthetic turf  18 . Golf cup insert  10  has an internal annular wall  30  and a bottom surface  32  penetrated by multiple drain holes  34 . 
     A polymeric panel  16  can have any number of annular holes  14  that have a diameter of one-quarter to one and one-half inch wider than the outer diameter of flange  12 . Generally, the annular holes are about one-half inch wider than the outer diameter of the flange  12 . If a hole  14  is to be used for receiving a golf cup insert  10 , inserted from the top of the hole, then the hole  14  has a molded integral annular lock ring  38  with multiple locking slots  40  as shown in FIG.  3 . The golf cup insert  10  shown in  FIG. 2  is dropped into hole  14  so that an arch  46  passes through slot  40  and flange  12  rests on lock ring  38 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the golf ball cup insert  10  is turned to prevent the cup insert  10  from being pulled upward from hole  14 . The flange  12  will be flush with top surface  36  of the polymeric panel  16 . A space  50  between the outer edge  52  of flange  12  of about one-quarter inch permits movement of cup insert  10 . Such movement can be caused by stretching or expansion of synthetic turf  18  pressing against vertical edge  22  as seen in FIG.  6 . If the synthetic turf  18  expands, its edge  42  is accommodated by opening  44  in an inside surface  54  of bump rail  20  as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     A typical movement of golf cup insert  10  is shown in  FIG. 5  by the direction of the arrow. 
     Any hole  14  not in use is covered with plate  24  having downwardly directed arches (not shown) which fit into slots  40 . The plate  24  is turned as shown in  FIG. 7  to lock the plate in place. The thickness of plate  24  is such that its top surface is flush with the top surface  36  of the polymeric panel  16 . The synthetic turf  18  covers the plate  24  in the same manner as the top surface  36  of the polymeric panel is covered. 
     As a first alternate embodiment, a golf cup insert  10   a , as seen in  FIGS. 9-11 , is inserted into hole  14   a  in a polymeric panel  16   a . In this embodiment, there is no integral lock ring  38  as employed in the hole  14  shown in FIG.  3 . Instead, the polymeric panel  16   a  has a pair of integrally molded cylindrical posts  56 . The golf cup insert  10   a  has a bottom flange  58  with a pair of slotted  66  side projections  60 . When inserted into hole  14  from the bottom of polymeric panel  16   a , as seen in  FIG. 9 , flange  12   a  is flush with top surface  36   a  of the polymeric panel  16   a  and top edge  22   a  ends up in the same relative position as a cup insert dropped into the top of the hole  14   a . See FIG.  10 . The cup insert  10   a  is secured by a threaded screw  62  and washer  64 . The threaded screw  62  engages a bottom end of cylindrical post  56  as seen in FIG.  11 . The cup insert  10   a  moves laterally in slot  66 . 
     In a second alternate embodiment, cup insert  10   b  is inserted through the bottom of hole  14   b  in polymeric panel  16   b , as seen in  FIGS. 12-14 . This embodiment differs from the first alternate embodiment by having three annular openings  68  in an outside edge of bottom flange  70 . The molded polymeric panel  16   b  has cut out side openings  72  with juxtaposed cylindrical posts  74  along an interior surface of wall  76  as seen in  FIG. 12. A  bottom flange  70  portion around each opening  68  rests on edge  78  of side opening  72  in polymeric panel  16   b , as seen in FIG.  14 . When inserted in hole  14   b  from the bottom of polymeric panel  16   b  as seen in  FIG. 12 , flange  12   b  and edge  22   b  end up in the same relative position with respect to top surface  36   b  of polymeric panel  16   b  as a cup insert dropped into the top of the hole  14   b . See FIG.  13 . The cup insert  10   b  is secured by a threaded screw  80  and washer  82 . The threaded screw  80  engages a bottom end of cylindrical post  74  as seen in FIG.  14 . The cup insert  10   b  can move in any transverse direction within each of annular openings  68 . Each post  74  has an outer diameter about one-half the inner diameter of the annular opening  68 . 
     In a third alternate embodiment, cup insert  10   c  is inserted through the bottom of hole  14   c  in polymeric panel  16   c , as seen in  FIGS. 15-17 . This embodiment differs from the second alternative embodiment by having four equally spaced apart annular openings  68  in an outside edge portion of bottom flange  84 . The molded polymeric panel  16   c  has cut out side openings  72  with juxtaposed cylindrical posts  74  along an interior surface of wall  76  as seen in  FIG. 15. A  bottom flange  84  portion around each opening  68  rests on edge  78  of side opening  72  in polymeric panel  16   c , as seen in FIG.  17 . When inserted into hole  14   c  from the bottom of polymeric panel  16   c  as seen in  FIG. 15 , flange  12   c  and edge  22   c  end up in the same relative position with respect to top surface  36   c  as a cup insert dropped into the top of the hole  14   c . See FIG.  16 . The cup insert  10   c  is secured by a threaded screw  80  and washer  82 . The threaded screw  80  engages a bottom end of cylindrical post  74  as seen in FIG.  17 . The cup insert  10   c  can move in any transverse direction within each of annular openings  68 . The post  74  has an outer diameter about one-half the inner diameter of annular openings  68 . 
     Optionally, a thin ring  86  (about {fraction (1/32)} inch thick) having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the cup insert edge  22  can be used to cover the space between annular hole  14  and flange  12 . In this instance, a {fraction (1/32)} inch annular depression  88  can be created to accommodate the ring  86  on the top surface  36  of polymeric panel  16  as seen in  FIGS. 18-19 . 
     The golf ball cup inserts  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  are all made from a high strength polymer such as high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene or polyethyleneterethalate. 
     Other equivalent elements can be substituted for the elements set forth above to obtain a floating golf ball insert having substantially the same function and providing substantially the same result in substantially the same way.