GB2468280A

GB2468280A - A plate for providing a non slip surface when playing golf

Info

Publication number: GB2468280A
Application number: GB0903456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jim Laflin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-02
Filing date: 2009-03-02
Publication date: 2010-09-08
Also published as: GB0903456D0

Abstract

A plate 2 for deployment on a soft or slippery surface to provide firm footing for a person comprising an upper face 40 with one or more grip elements 10 and a lower face 42 comprising one or more elements 22 to engage with the surface. The upper 40 and lower 42 faces may be made of different materials and attached through screws, adhesive or rivets. The grip elements 10 may be sharp protrusions and the surface engaging elements 22 may be spikes positioned around the perimeter of the plate 2. The plate 2 may be made of a mouldable material, metal of plastic. The upper face 40 may be wrapped around the lower face 42. The edge of the plate 2 may also be rolled around a non corrosive strengthening wire. The device may be used at a tee or on a fairway. A production method is also disclosed.

Description

Golf Drive Plate

Field of Invention

This invention relates generally to the need to provide a stable non-slip base on which to stand, and in particular it relates to a plate for deployment on a soft or slippery surface that provides a firm footing, particularly for sportsmen or women.

on tees and fairways for a golfer standing thereon.

Background of the Invention

There are many areas where a firm non-slip base is required for safety and stability purposes or to improve performance. An example of a sporting requirement is a golfer's need for a firm footing when driving from a tee.

The golfing requirement is commonly met by wearing spiked shoes, however metal spikes are banned on many golf courses because they can damage the putting greens, and rubber spikes may be ineffective following heavy rain.

U.S. Patent No. 7,490,418 discloses a shoe having retractable spikes that provides grip on tees and fairways, and which may retracted when putting.

However, the shoe is mechanically complex and heavier than a standard shoe.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is a plate for deployment on a soft or slippery surface which gives a firm footing to a person standing on it, for example for golfers on tees and fairways. The plate has different gripping characteristics on the upper and lower surfaces of a plate. The upper face has one or more grip elements with anti-slip properties that provide a good grip to the footwear of the person using the plate, and the lower face has one or more surface-engaging elements for engagement with the soft or slippery surface.

This may be done for example by a moulding process which has different degrees of roughness on the upper and lower surfaces of the palate, or by mechanically or chemically joining two materials which each have different gripping characteristics, or by providing an anti-slip surface on one side of the plate and making mechanical provision for spikes, studs or similar attachment to provide grip on the second side of the plate.

A particular advantage of the invention is the simplicity and extreme low cost of manufacture. Thus for the golfing application, the invention can provide grip comparable to a steel studded shoe or boot, for approximately a quarter of the price of a studded shoe or boot. Furthermore, the size and minimal weight of the anti-slip plates would allow them to be clipped to a golf cart for easy transportation around a golf course when not in use. They could then be laid down and removed to provide improved footing as and when required. They would therefore not breach the ban on metal spiked shoes, and the minimal weight would facilitate carriage around the course.

Brief Description of Drawings

For a more complete explanation of the present invention and the technical advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows an anti-slip plate of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of an anti-slip plate of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of an anti-slip plate of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention and their technical advantages may be better understood by referring to Figs. 1 to 4.

Referring first to Fig. 1, which shows an anti-slip plate (2) of the present invention, a upper face (40) has one or more grip elements (10) providing a firm grip for footwear and a lower face (42) having one or more surface-engaging elements (22) The plate may be of any size suitable for standing on, typically in the range to 1,000mm wide and 100 to 2,000mm long. It can be manufactured from any flat materiai. Grip elements are typically formed of perturbations having a height in the range 0.5 to 5.0mm, and a pitch in the range of 1 to 10mm.

Surface-engaging elements are typically formed of spikes or studs having a height in the range 4 to 40mm, and a pitch in the range of 30 to 150mm Referring again to Fig. 1, which shows a first embodiment of the present invention, the plate (2) comprises a metal, for example, stainless steel or aluminium. Its thickness (4) is sufficient to provide rigidity, and is preferably in the range 0.5 mm to 10 mm. Additional rigidity may optionally be provided by rolled (6) or turned edges (7) . Further rigidity may be provided by rolling the edge around a strengthening wire (8), preferably comprising a non-corrosive material such as, for example, stainless steel.

Grip elements (10) on the upper face (40) of the plate are, in one embodiment, provided by sharp perturbations. The height of the perturbations (12) on the first side is preferably in the range 0.5 mm to 5 mm and spacing between perturbations is in the range preferably 0.5 mm to 5 mm. These perturbations may preferably be on a pitch (14) and (16) between 2mm and 7mm.

These may be formed by punching through the upper face of the plate from the lower face. To maintain the rigidity of the plate after forming the perturbations, there is a border region (18) around the edge of the plate which has no perturbations. The width of the border region may be preferably in the range 10 mm to 100 mm. Surface-engaging elements (22) on the lower face (42) of the plate comprise, in one embodiment, spikes (22) with length (23) in the range 5mm to 25mm. In a further embodiment, the surface-engaging elements (22) comprise studs of the kind used in footwear to provide grip.

The surface-engaging elements are, in one embodiment, secured by welding (24) . In a further embodiment the surface-engaging elements are secured by means of a screw thread (26) which penetrates the plate and is secured by a retaining mechanism (30) on the upper face. In a further embodiment the surface-engaging elements are secured by holes tapped (28) to take a thread on the spike or stud. In this configuration, a locking nut (30) may also be required. The surface-engaging elements are located anywhere on the lower face (42) of the plate but preferably in the unpunched area around the border of the plate. They are spaced preferably on a pitch (44) in the range 30 mm to 150 mm apart.

Referring now to Fig. 2, which shows a second embodiment of an anti-slip plate (102) of the present invention, a upper face (110) has one or more grip elements (104) and a lower face (106) has one or more surface-engaging elements (108) . The plate comprises a mouldable material, for example a plastic. The grip elements are provided by a rough surface comparable to emery cloth, or with perturbations (112) which may be sharp and which protrude above the surface by to a height preferably in the range 0.5 mm to 3 mm. These perturbations may preferably be on a pitch between 1 mm and 10 mm.

A grip element can also comprise a layer of a textured epoxy coating or Glass Reinforced Polymer. Surface-engaging elements are provided by a plurality of spikes (108) formed by moulding of the mouldable material. These are preferably in the range 4 mm to 25 mm long which may be arranged anywhere on the plate. Spikes on this second side (106) of the plate are spaced preferably on a pitch in the range 30 mm to 150 mm apart.

Referring now to Fig. 3, which shows a third embodiment of an anti-slip plate of the present invention, in which the plate comprises two materials, of which the first material (152), which forms a lower face, is a carrier to the second material (150), which forms an upper face. The two materials can be bonded together using an adhesive (156) as shown in Fig l3a, or by riveting (158) as shown in Fig. 13b. Other methods of attaching the upper face could include, for example, screwing the second material (150) to the first material (152), or wrapping the second material (150) around the first material. This approach means that each layer of the composite anti-slip plate may have different strengths and/or different anti-slip qualities.

Thus carrying layer (152) of the composite plate comprises plastic or other mouldable material, or comprises a non-corrosive metal, Slippage is prevented on the lower face {Fig 13a (152) } of the plate by means of surface-engaging elements comprising a plurality of preferably sharp vertical perturbations (160) which protrude vertically from the underside to a depth preferably in the range 5 mm to 40 mm. Grip elements prevent slippage on the upper face and typically comprise a plurality of perturbations {Fig 3b (151) and {Fig 13b (151) } which are preferably sharp and which protrude above the surface preferably by a height in the range 0.5 mm to 3 mm. In a further embodiment, the upper face comprises sandpaper or rubber to prevent slippage.

The anti-slip plate (2) of the present invention can be made by a process in which grip eiements on the upper face (40) of the plate is provided by sharp perturbations (10) formed by punching through the material from the lower face. To enhance the rigidity of the plate, the edges of the plate are rolled (6) or turned (7) . Additional rigidity may be provided by rolling the edge around a strengthening wire (8) which is preferably made of a non-corrosive material such as for example, stainless steel. Surface-engaging elements are secured to the plate by welding (24) or by means of a screw thread (26) which penetrates the plate and may be secured by a retaining mechanism (30) on the first side. Equally preferred is a hole which may be tapped (28) to take the thread on the surface-engaging elements. In this configuration, a locking nut (30) may also be required.

Where the plate is made from a mouldable material, such as a plastic, grip elements on the upper face of plate (104) may be moulded so as to have a rough surface. The lower face (106) is moulded so as to have a plurality of surface-engaging elements (108).

Where the plate is a composite structure, it is made by bonding together two materials or plates to form the upper and lower faces. This can be done using an adhesive Fig 13a (156) } or by riveting {Fig 13b (158) }. Other methods of attaching the upper face to the lower include, for example, screwing the upper face (150) to the lower face (152), or wrapping the layer forming the upper face (150) around the layer forming the lower face (152) In use, the plate of the present invention is deployed on a soft or slippery surface where grip provided by footwear is insufficient to accomplish a task.

One plate or a pair of plates may be used. When deployed on the surface, the surface engaging elements engage with the surface, and the grip elements on the upper surface provided a firm footing to a person standing on the plate, enabling the person to accomplish their task without slipping. After use, the plates are lifted off the ground and stored or carried to another location where a task is to be accomplished.

One application of the plates is to do with playing golf, providing firm footing for golfers on tees or fairways when the ground is slippery, and avoiding the need to use spiked footwear. After use the plate or plates may be attached to the golfers trolley or bag for convenient transportation to the next place of use.

Claims

Claims 1. A plate for deployment on a soft or slippery surface and giving a firm footing to a person standing thereon, said plate comprising an upper face having one or more grip elements providing anti-slip properties and a lower face comprising one or more surface-engaging elements for engagement with said soft or slippery surface.
2. The plate of claim 1 wherein said plate comprises one or more materials wherein one of said materials forms said upper face and another of said materials forms said lower face.
3. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate is substantially flat.
4. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate is 50 to 1,000mm wide.
5. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate is 100 to 2,000mm long.
6. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said grip elements comprises sharp perturbations.
7. The plate of claim 6 wherein said perturbations are 0.5 to 5mm in height.
8. The plate of claim 6 wherein said perturbations are spaced at a distance of 0.5 to 5mm.
9. The plate of claim 6 wherein said perturbations have pitch in the range of 1 -10mm.
10. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said one or more surface-engaging elements have a length in the range 4-40mm.
11. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said one or more surface-engaging elements have a pitch in the range 30-150mm.
12. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said one or more said surface-engaging elements are located in a border region around a perimeter of said plate.
13. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said one or more surface-engaging elements are secured to said lower face by welding (24)
14. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate comprises one or more (26) holes penetrating the plate and said one or more surface-engaging elements are secured to said lower face by a retaining mechanism (30) on the lower face.
15. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate comprises one or more screw threaded (28) holes penetrating the plate to take a thread on the one or more surface-engaging elements.
16. The plate of claim 15 additionally comprising one or more locking nuts (30)
17. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said surface-engaging elements comprise one or more spikes.
18. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said surface-engaging elements comprise one or more studs.
19. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said surface-engaging elements comprise a plurality of sharp perturbations.
20. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate comprises a metal.
21. The plate of claim 20 wherein said metal is stainless steel.
22. The plate of claim 20 wherein said metal is aluminium.
23. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate comprises mouldable material.
24. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate comprises a plastic.
25. The plate of claim 2 wherein said upper face is rough.
26. The plate of claim 2 wherein said upper face comprises textured epoxy resin.
27. The plate of claim 2 wherein said upper face comprises glass reinforced polymer.
28. The plate of claim 2 wherein said material forming said upper face comprises sandpaper.
29. The plate of claim 2 wherein said material forming said upper face comprises rubber.
30. The plate of claim 2 wherein said material forming said lower face comprises non-corrosive metal.
31. The plate of claim 2 wherein said material forming said lower face comprises mouldable material.
32. The plate of claim 2 wherein said material forming said lower face comprises a plastic.
33. The plate of claim 2 wherein said one or more materials are bonded together.
34. The plate of claim 33 wherein said one or more materials are bonded together by means of an adhesive.
35. The plate of claim 2 wherein said one or more materials are screwed together.
36. The plate of claim 2 wherein said one or more materials are riveted together.
37. The plate of claim 2 wherein said material forming said upper face is wrapped around said material forming said lower face.
38. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate is 5 to 10mm thick.
39. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein an edge region of said plate is rolled around a strengthening wire.
40. The plate of claim 39 wherein said strengthening wire is a non-corrosive material.
41. The plate of claim 27 having a border region around a perimeter of said plate in which there are no perturbations.
42. The plate of claim 41 wherein said border region has a width in the range 10 -100mm.
43. The plate of claims 1 or 2 wherein said person is a golfer.
44. The plate of claim 43 wherein said soft or slippery surface is a tee region of a golf course.
45. The plate of claim 43 wherein said soft or slippery surface is a fairway region of a golf course.
46. A process for making the plate (2) of claims 1 or 2 comprising the steps: (a) providing a plate having an upper face and a lower face; (b) punching through the plate from the lower face, forming grip elements (10) ; and (c) securing surface-engaging (24) elements to the lower face.
47. The process of claim 46 wherein said step of securing surface-engaging (24) elements to the lower face comprises welding.
48. The process of claim 46 wherein said step of securing surface-engaging (24) elements to the lower face comprises: (a) forming a hole (26) penetrating the plate; (b) passing the surface-engaging element through the hole; and (c) securing the surface-engaging element using a retaining mechanism (30) on the upper face.
49. The process of claim 46 wherein said step of securing surface-engaging (24) elements to the lower face comprises: (a) forming a hole (26) penetrating the plate; (b) tapping the hole to form a screw thread; and (C) screwing the surface-engaging element into the hole.
50. The process of claim 49 additionally comprising: attaching a locking nut (30) to the surface-engaging element.
51. The process of claims 46 to 50 additionally comprising: rolling or turning the edges of the plate to provide increased rigidity.51. The process of claims 46 to 50 additionally comprising: rolling the edge around a strengthening wire (8)
52. The process of claim 51 in which said wire comprises a non-corrosive material.
53. A process for making the plate (2) of claims 1 or 2 comprising the steps: (a) forming grip elements in an upper face of a plate by moulding; and (b) forming surface-engaging elements on a lower surface of a plate by moulding.
54. The process of claim 53 in which moulding the grip elements on the upper face of plate (104) provides grip elements having a rough surface.53. A process for making the plate (2) of claim 2 comprising the step: bonding an upper surface to a lower surface.54. The process for making the plate (2) of claim 53 in which the bonding step is done by using adhesive.
55. The process for making the plate (2) of claim 53 in which the bonding step is done by riveting.