GB2349094A

GB2349094A - Sports terrain footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2349094A
Application number: GB9921968A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Bowes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-24
Filing date: 1999-09-16
Publication date: 2000-10-25
Also published as: GB9921968D0; GB9909400D0

Abstract

A game resembling golf is played on a terrain by kicking a football at a green characterised in that each green comprises a hole of diameter more than 15 cm and capable of receiving a football. The terrain may also comprise bunkers and nets as obstacles. Footwear to play the game may comprise a section with a uniform surface 6 which may be an integral part of a shoe or may be an add-on extra.

Description

A SPORTS TERRAIN The present invention relates to a sports terrain and in particular a sports terrain for playing a sport based on golf.

Golf is a well known sport played widely throughout the world. The costs involved in playing golf are substantial and include not only the charges for playing at a club but also the cost of expensive equipment such as golf clubs and accessories which are needed to play the sport.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports terrain having a plurality of holes arranged in a sequence in which the opening of each of said holes is greater than 15 centimetres and is thereby large enough to receive a football.

Preferably the terrain further comprises a number of bunkers or nets arranged in predetermined positions relative to one or more of the holes.

The present invention provides a sports terrain on which a sport can be played having the basic features of a game of golf but being playable without the need for any expensive equipment such as golf clubs. Furthermore, the use of nets as obstacles on the terrain makes a game played on the terrain interesting and a challenge to players.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a ball impact device fixable to a wearers foot, such that when fixed to a wearers foot the impact device has an outer surface which is substantially planar and extends between the ball of the wearers foot and the heel of the wearers foot in a plane substantially perpendicular to the sole of the wearers foot, thereby providing a planar surface with which a wearer can kick the football.

Preferably, the ball impact device is formed from a substantially rigid material, thereby enabling a wearer to control the trajectory of a football when kicking said football.

Preferably the ball impact device is removably attached to a wearer's shoe. This enables a wearer to attach the impact device when close to one of the holes and precise control is required of the ball trajectory (analogous to putting in golf) and remove the device when kicking the ball a long distance from the tee (analogous to driving in golf).

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first example of a plan view of a sports terrain according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a second example of a sports terrain according to the present invention; and, Figure 3 shows an example of an impact device according to the second aspect of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a sports terrain according to the present invention. The terrain has a number of holes 11 to 13 arranged in a golf-course like manner on the terrain.

When playing a hole, a player kicks a football from the respective teeing position 21 to 23 much like a golf player'tees-off'when playing a hole on a golf course. A player must ensure that the football avoids any obstacles such as bunkers 31 to 33 on the course whilst trying to kick the football into the respective hole. Once one hole has been completed, the player tees-off for the next hole 11 to 13 in sequence. If the football is kicked into a bunker at any stage of a game, the respective player may incur a penalty. Any other obstacles which usually feature on a golf course may also feature on the sports terrain according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a second example of a sports terrain according to the present invention. In this example, a number of nets 41 to 43 have been added to provide further obstacles on the terrain, thereby making the game more interesting and more of a challenge to players. In conventional golf when a player hits a ball into a bunker, a penalty shot is often incurred.

On the sports terrain according to the second example of the present invention, when a player kicks a ball into one of the goals 41 to 43, a shot will effectively be lost, because the player will need to play an additional kick to get the ball out of the net. Additional nets may be provided in the vicinity of the holes, to make the game easier for younger players, who would aim to place the ball in that net, to complete a'hole', rather than having to direct the ball into a hole.

The holes are of a size suitable to receive a football. A conventional football, volleyball, basketball five-a-side football each having a diameter of approximately 20 centimetres may be used to play the game. The holes are larger than the ball and may have a diameter of approximately 35 centimetres.

The terrain can be made of grass or an all weather surface such as astro-turf (registered trademark) or concrete. In its simplest form, the terrain may simply be formed by providing holes in a field. The sports terrain may be used as an additional attraction for a public house, hotel or sports complex. The invention makes the sport of golf more universally accessible without the costs involved in the conventional version of the sport.

Figure 3 shows a ball impact device according to the second aspect of the present invention.

In this example, the impact device comprises a conventional shoe 5 having an additional section 6 connecte to the upper sole of the shoe 5. The section 6 is arranged to provide a uniform surface to function as a putting surface for use on the sports terrain according to the first aspect of the present invention. Since conventional footwear is contoured to follow the shape of a wearer's foot to provide comfort and support to the wearer, the angle at which a ball leaves the foot when kicked is difficult to control. The impact device according to the present invention provides a substantially uniform surface to enable precise control of the trajectory of a ball when kicked.

The section 6 may be provided on the inner part of the shoe, as shown in Figure 3.

However, it may be provided on the outer part, so that it does not interfere with a long distance kick, which is most comfortable using the inner part of the foot.

The section 6 may be built into the shoe when the shoe is manufactured or it may be an additional"clip-on"part used only when a player approaches a hole and is likely to be able to putt the ball.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A sports terrain having a plurality of holes arranged in a sequence in which the opening of each of said holes is greater than 15 centimetres and is thereby large enough to receive a football.
2. A sports terrain according to claim 1, in which said holes have a diameter greater than 30 centimetres.
3. A sports terrain according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising a number of bunkers arranged in predetermined positions relative to one or more of the holes.
4. A sports terrain according to any preceding claim, further comprising a number of nets arranged in predetermined positions relative to one or more of the holes.
5. A sports terrain according to claim 4, in which said nets are football nets supported by football goal posts.
6. A sports terrain according to claim 5, further comprising a tee position associated with each hole, and in which said nets are arranged between the tee position and the respective hole.
7. A sports terrain substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to any of Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
8. A ball impact device fixable to a wearers foot, such that when fixed to a wearers foot the impact device has an outer surface which is substantially planar and extends between the ball of the wearers foot and the heel of the wearers foot in a plane substantially perpendicular to the sole of the wearers foot, thereby providing a planar surface with which a wearer can kick a football.
9. A ball impact device according to claim 8 in which the outer surface of said impact device is formed from a substantially rigid material, thereby enabling a wearer to control the trajectory of a football when kicking said football.
10. An article of footwear comprising a shoe and an impact device according to claim 8 or 9 removably attached to said shoe.
11. An article of footwear comprising a shoe and an impact device according to claim 8 or 9, in which the impact device is fabricated as part of the shoe.
12. A sports apparatus, comprising a sports terrain according to any of claims 1 to 7 and an article of footwear according to claim 10 or 11.
13. An article of footwear substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.