JP2004216155A - Golf practice and exercise mat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golf practice and exercise mat having two striking profiles with different heights and contours of artificial grass which gives golfers practice and exercise by swinging a golf club through the profile pile that applies resistance to the golf club as the club head travels through the pile, thus enhancing strength and improving muscle memory. <P>SOLUTION: One profile, for irons, has the grass pile of the carpet increasing in height at a moderate, curved upward slope to an apex and then decreasing in height at a gradual, linear downward slope. The second profile, for woods, has the grass pile increasing in height at a gradual approximately linear slope until a transition point is reached at which the grass stand height increases in a single step change to a height at least two times greater than the height of the previous pile, and then decreasing in height in a linear downward slope. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention enhances a golfer's physical strength by allowing the golfer to practice a golf swing using irons or wood and exerting resistance against the club head as the club moves through the pile of mats. The present invention relates to a golf practice and an exercise mat for giving an exercise.

Background of the Invention Practice golf mats are generally known, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,107 discloses a golf hitting mat that simulates hitting a golf ball from the "rough" of a golf course, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,064. I do. Although these conventional mats allow golfers to practice hitting from the "rough", these structures do not provide enhanced resistance for athletic purposes and have contours for using different clubs. Do not offer a choice.

  Other mats, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,266, provide for varying pile heights on mats, which use three different mats to simulate the rolling of a golf ball on a green with different grass heights. Teach mats for putting practice with well-defined pile heights. U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,974 teaches a golf practice surface device having a plurality of regions that simulate golf course surfaces, such as fairways, roughs and sand, by height and density. These conventional mats provide golfers with some differences regarding the feel and resistance of the turf when striking a ball on the mat with a golf club.

  There are also special practice mats such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,294,450, 5,046,741, and 5,443,870. These structures disclose a mat for practicing putting or hitting a ball on an inclined slope.

  However, none of the prior art discloses a contoured mat shape for driving a golf club into an initial low height and swinging through a profile with an upward slope and out through a profile with a subsequent downward slope. .

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a golfer with training and practice by swinging a golf club through a contoured pile to provide resistance to the golf club as the club head moves through the contoured pile. It is to provide a mat that gives exercise.

  It is a further object of the present invention to provide the golfer with the realistic sensations and resistances experienced when hitting a ball with an iron or wood type club on a single practice mat.

  Basically, the mat of the present invention is made of an artificial turf pile or similar material in which the height increases to the top with a gradient having an upward slope, followed by a gradual decrease in the height of the turf pile in a substantially linear downward slope. Has at least one hitting surface. This profile allows golfers to experience increasing resistance as the club moves through the progressively higher grass. This is accomplished by having the golfer take a normal stance on a practice mat where the height of the turf increases along the path normally followed by the golf club as the golfer hits the golf ball. When a golfer performs a typical swing and follow-through, the golf club head first sweeps over the first low pile, then the pile's increasing height as the club travels to the top through the pile's upward slope. At the top, the club head is completely wrapped within the grass pile and gradually emerges from the grass pile until the club head is completely free.

One preferred embodiment of the mat of the present invention is a unitary construction having two hitting areas with different profiles of artificial turf pile or similar material. For purposes of explanation, the phrase "artificial turf" includes artificial turf and other similar materials. One hitting area used in irons is an artificial turf where the height increases to the top with a gentle upwardly curved slope, and the height of the turf decreases gradually and almost linearly downwards following the top. Have a pile. The second hitting area of the mat of the present invention is for practicing with a wood type club. That is, the height of the turf pile gradually increases up to the turning point with a slope inclined substantially linearly upward, and at the turning point, the height of the turf pile changes stepwise and the turning height at least increases the height of the previous turf pile. It has turf pile contours that increase by a factor of two and then decrease linearly with a downward slope. When a golfer swings a wood-type club, the face of the club head encounters a step change in height, thereby wrapping the face of the club head in a turf pile and thus immediately increasing the resistance felt by the golfer. As the golfer continues through the swing to the follow-through, the club head gradually exits the turf pile along a downward slope, correspondingly reducing the resistance felt by the golfer.

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention is the use of opposing contoured piles to increase the resistance felt by the golfer. This embodiment includes a base mat having a contoured hit area similar to the area described above for iron and wood type golf clubs. Attached to the base mat and extending upward is a support structure. This support structure is L-shaped with vertical and horizontal legs. The horizontal legs oppose the base mat and the vertical legs maintain the horizontal legs and the base mat in a vertically spaced relationship. The horizontal legs extend over a portion of the base mat. A protruding surface is mounted on the horizontal leg and oriented toward the base mat. The protruding surface includes a contoured pile extending downward toward a contoured hit area of the base mat. At the midpoint between the projecting surface and the base mat, a part of the contoured hit area overlaps with a part of the contoured pile of the projecting surface, so that these two parts engage and thus the club head engages Increased resistance is experienced by golfers when engaging with a golfer.

  Further details, features and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following disclosure of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a mat of the present invention showing a hitting area and a golfer's position and orientation with respect to the hitting area.

  FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the iron strike area taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of the iron strike area taken along line 3-3 in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 showing the interaction between the face of the iron golf club head and the mat at the top of the contour when the golf club is swung by the golfer.

  FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 2 showing the interaction of the iron golf club head mat with the turf pile as the golf club exits the turf pile along the downward slope of the contour as the golfer continues to follow through the golf swing. FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 showing the interaction of the iron golf club head with the matte turf pile after the golf club exits the turf pile as the golfer completes the follow-through of the golf swing. FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a vertical section of the striking area for a wood type club, taken along line 7-7 in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the striking area for a wood type club, taken along line 8-8 in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 7 showing the interaction between the face of a wood type club head and a turf pile at a vertical turning point of the profile when the golf club is swung by a golfer.

  FIG. 10 is shown in FIG. 7 which shows the interaction of the golf club with the mat of the wood type club head as the golf club exits the turf pile of the mat along the downward slope of the contour as the golfer continues to follow through the golf swing. FIG.

  FIG. 11 shows the interaction of the golf club with the mat of the wood type golf club head after the golf club has exited the turf pile of mats as the golfer completes the follow-through of the golf swing, similar to that shown in FIG. FIG.

  FIG. 12 is an exploded elevation view of a golf practice apparatus of the present invention showing opposing contoured piles and a support structure that maintains a spaced relationship between opposing contoured piles.

  FIG. 13 is an elevational view similar to that shown in FIG. 12 showing a base mat having a hitting area for a wood type golf club.

  FIG. 14 is a vertical section of the golf practice apparatus taken along line 14-14 of FIG.

  FIG. 15 shows the interaction of the face of the wood type club head with the opposing contoured pile at the vertical turning point of the base mat profile as the golf club is swung by the golfer; FIG.

  FIG. 16 shows the interaction of the wood type golf club head with the opposing contoured pile as the golf club exits the turf pile of the mat along the downward slope of the base mat contour as the golfer continues to follow through the golf swing. FIG. 14 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 13 showing the operation.

  FIG. 17 shows the interaction of the golf club with the mat of the wood type golf club head after the golf club has exited the opposing contoured pile as the golfer completes the golf swing follow-through. FIG.

  FIG. 18 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 showing the interaction of the face of the iron golf club head with the opposing contoured pile at the top of the contour of the base mat as the golf club is swung by the golfer. FIG.

  FIG. 19 illustrates the interaction of an iron golf club head with an opposing contoured pile as the golf club exits the base mat profile along a downward slope of the base mat profile as the golfer continues to follow through the golf swing. FIG. 19 is a view similar to that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 20 is shown in FIG. 18 showing the interaction of the golf club with the opposing contoured pile of the iron golf club head after the golf club has exited the base mat contour as the golfer completes the golf swing follow-through. FIG.

  FIG. 21 is an elevational view of the golf practice apparatus showing the flat contour of the opposing pile.

  FIG. 22 is a horizontal cross-section showing the arrangement of opposing contoured piles meshing with the mesh when viewed along line 22-22 of FIG.

  FIG. 23 is a vertical section showing the meshing of the opposing contoured pile mesh of the apparatus shown in FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The golf practice mat 10 shown in FIG. 1 employs an iron hitting area 20, a wood hitting area 30, and any hitting area to allow a golfer to practice himself on a golf swing. Include an artificial turf mat having an area sufficient to include a golfer stance location 40 that can be located at The golf practice mat 10 has an artificial turf carpet having a turf pile height that changes into an iron hitting area 20 and a wood hitting area 30. The turf pile is secured to a standard substrate 45, which also rests on the floor or ground when the golf practice mat 10 is used. Golfer stance position 40 indicates the golfer's proper orientation with respect to iron hit area 20 and wood hit area 30.

  The iron hitting area 20 is contoured as shown in FIGS. 2-6. A short turf pile extends for the first portion 24 of the iron strike area 20. A series of increasing turf piles extend along the second portion 22 of the iron striking area 20, the relative growth of which conforms to the upward slope of moderate bent steepness. The third portion 26 of the iron strike area 20 begins at the apex of the second portion 22 and has a gradient that gradually and substantially linearly reduces the grass pile height. In a preferred embodiment, the turf pile varies in height from about 2 inches to about 8 inches so that a maximum height occurs at the apex of the second portion 22.

  The wood hitting area 30 is contoured as shown in FIGS. The turf pile extends approximately twice as high as the first portion 35 of the wood hitting area 30 in a substantially straight line with a gradually sloping upward slope. A second portion 33 immediately following the first portion 35 of the wood hitting area 30 is a first turf pile at a height that exceeds the height of the longer turf pile of the first portion 35 by at least twice, and preferably between about 3 to 5 times. , Thus creating a vertical step change point 33a between the first part 35 and the second part 33. After the vertical turning point 33a, the turf pile in the second portion 33 of the wood hitting area gradually decreases in a substantially linear downward slope. In the preferred embodiment, the turf pile varies in height from about 2 inches to about 8 inches so that a maximum height occurs at vertical turning point 33a.

  The present invention is used in the following manner. The golfer is positioned on golf practice mat 10 at golfer stance position 40 with either iron club 28 or wood type club 38. FIG. 1 shows the golfer's position with respect to the iron hitting area 20 and the wood hitting area 30. 4-6, the golfer is practicing with an iron 28. When the golfer swings the iron 28 in the direction of the arrow, the head 29 of the iron 28 engages the second portion 22 of the iron hitting area 20 along the face 29 a of the head 29. As the golfer continues to swing the iron 28, the club head 29 continues to move through the increasing turf pile of the second portion 22, thereby reducing the resistance acting on the face 29a of the head 29 of the iron 28. Increase and correspondingly increase the resistance felt by the golfer. When the club head is near the apex of the second portion 22, the face of the club head is completely wrapped by the turf pile as shown in FIG. As the golfer continues to swing as shown in FIG. 5, the iron head begins to exit the turf pile in the third portion 26 of the iron hitting area 20. Finally, when the golfer completes the swing or follow-through, the head 29 of the iron 28 completely disengages the third portion 26 of the iron hitting area 20 from the turf pile, as shown in FIG.

  9-11, the golfer is practicing a wood type club 38. When the golfer swings the wood type club 38 in the direction of the arrow, the head 39 of the wood type club 38 moves along the face 39a of the head 39 at the vertical turning point 33a of the wood hitting area 30 as shown in FIG. Engage with the two parts 33. As the golfer continues to swing, the face of the club head 39 will be completely wrapped by the turf pile of the second portion 33, providing increased resistance to the face 39a of the club head 39. As the golfer continues to swing, the club head 39 exits the turf pile of the second portion of gradually decreasing height, reducing the resistance exerted against the face 39a of the head 39 of the wood type club 38, As shown in FIG. 10, the resistance felt by the golfer is correspondingly reduced. When the golfer completes the swing, the head 39 has completely exited the grass pile in the second portion 33 of the wood hitting area 30, as shown in FIG.

  An alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention combines the practice golf mat 10 with a support structure 60, which is a contoured pile extending generally downwardly over a portion of the iron strike area 20 and wood strike area 30. And the turf pile of the iron and wood hitting areas 20, 30 is a portion of an opposing contoured pile held vertically spaced with respect to the practice golf mat 10, as shown in FIGS. 12-23. And only intersect. As seen in FIG. 14, the support structure 60 is L-shaped with vertical legs 62 and horizontal legs 64. The golf practice mat 10 is mounted on the vertical legs 62 opposite the horizontal legs 64, and the vertical legs 62 maintain a vertical spacing between the golf practice mat 10 and the horizontal legs 64 of the support structure 60. An upper carpet 75 is attached to the horizontal legs 64 of the support structure 60 and is directed to the iron hitting area 20 and the wood hitting area 30 of the golf practice mat 10 as shown in FIGS. The upper carpet 75 is constructed from artificial turf or similar material. The pile of the upper carpet 75 is long enough to only intersect the turf pile of the iron and wood hitting areas 20, 30, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 18, and as shown in FIG. At the intersection of the pile of the upper carpet 75 and the pile of the golf practice mat 10, the density of the turf in the interlocking region 79 is significantly increased. The increased density of the lawn results in an increase in the resistance felt by the golfer when swinging the golf club through this interlocking region 79.

  An alternative embodiment of the present invention is used in the following manner. The golfer has either an iron club 28 or a wood type club 38 and is located on the golf practice mat 10 at a golfer stance location 40. 18-20, the golfer is practicing with an iron 28. When the golfer swings the iron 28 in the direction of the arrow, the head 29 of the iron 28 first engages the unengaged area including the second portion 22 of the iron hitting area 20 and the top of the head 29 along the face 29a. The pile of the carpet 75 is engaged. As the golfer continues to swing, the club head 29 continues to move through the increasing turf pile of the second portion 22, thereby increasing the resistance acting on the face 29a of the head 29 of the iron 28, and correspondingly. Increase the resistance felt by golfers. As the club head 29 approaches the apex of the second portion 22, the head of the club engages the second portion 22 and the interlocking region 79 containing the pile of the upper carpet 75, where the face 29a of the club head 29 is shown in FIG. Are completely wrapped by the interlocking region 79 as shown in FIG. As the golfer continues to swing, as shown in FIG. 19, the head 29 of the iron 28 begins to exit the engaged area 79 along the third portion 26 of the iron strike area 20. Finally, when the golfer completes the swing or follow-through, the head 29 of the iron 28 completely disengages the third portion 26 of the iron strike area 20 from the turf pile, as shown in FIG.

  15-17, a golfer is practicing a wood type club 38. When the golfer swings the wood type club 38 in the direction of the arrow, the head 39 of the wood type club 38 becomes the second portion 33 of the vertical turning point 33a of the wood hitting area 30 and the face 39a of the head 39 as shown in FIG. Along with the upper carpet 75 along with the interlocking region 79. As the golfer continues to swing, the face 39a of the club head 39 becomes completely wrapped by the interlocking region 79 of the turf pile of the second portion 33 and the pile of the upper carpet 75, with respect to the face 39a of the club head 39. To provide increased resistance. As the swing continues, the club head 39 gradually exits the engaged region 79 as shown in FIG. When the golfer completes the swing, the head 39 completely disengages the second portion 33 of the wood hitting area 30 from the turf pile, as shown in FIG.

  Thus, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention has widespread use and application. Many embodiments and modifications and alterations, modifications and equivalents of the present invention other than those described herein will be apparent or reasonably suggested from the present invention and its preceding description without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Will be done. Thus, while the present invention has been described in detail herein with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing a complete and possible disclosure of the invention. That should be understood. The above disclosure is not intended to, nor should be construed, as limiting the present invention, nor excluding any such other embodiments, modifications, changes, modifications, and equivalents. Instead, the invention is limited only by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the mat of the present invention showing a hitting area and a golfer's position and orientation with respect to the hitting area. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section of the iron hitting area taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of the iron hitting area taken along line 3-3 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 showing the interaction between the face of the iron golf club head and the mat at the top of the contour when the golf club is swung by the golfer. FIG. 2 showing the interaction of the iron golf club head with the turf pile as the golf club exits the turf pile along the downward slope of the contour as the golfer continues to follow through the golf swing; FIG. FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 showing the interaction of the iron golf club head with the matte turf pile after the golf club exits the turf pile as the golfer completes the follow-through of the golf swing. . FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section of the hitting area for a wood type club, taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1; 8 is a vertical cross section of the hitting area for a wood type club, taken along line 8-8 in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 7 illustrating the interaction of the face of a wood type club head with a turf pile at a vertical turning point of the profile when the golf club is swung by a golfer. Similar to that shown in FIG. 7, showing the interaction of the golf club with the mat of the wood type club head as the golfer exits the turf pile of the mat along the downward slope of the profile as the golfer continues to follow through the golf swing. FIG. FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 7 illustrating the interaction of the golf club with the mat of the wood type golf club head after the golf club has exited the turf pile of mats as the golfer completes the follow-through of the golf swing. . 1 is an exploded elevation view of a golf practice apparatus of the present invention showing opposing contoured piles and a support structure that maintains a spaced relationship between opposing contoured piles. FIG. FIG. 13 is an elevational view similar to that shown in FIG. 12 showing a base mat having a hitting area for a wood type golf club. 14 is a vertical section of the golf practice apparatus taken along line 14-14 of FIG. A view similar to that shown in FIG. 13 showing the interaction of the face of the wood-type club head with the opposing contoured pile at the vertical turning point of the base mat profile as the golf club is swung by the golfer. It is. Shows the interaction of the wood type golf club head with the opposing contoured pile as the golfer exits the turf pile of the mat along the downward slope of the base mat contour as the golfer continues to follow through the golf swing FIG. 14 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 13. Similar to that shown in FIG. 13 showing the interaction of a golf club with a mat of a wood type golf club head after exiting an opposing contoured pile as the golfer completes the follow-through of a golf swing. FIG. FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 showing the interaction of the face of the iron golf club head with the opposing contoured pile at the top of the contour of the base mat as the golf club is swung by the golfer. is there. FIG. 18 illustrates the interaction of an iron golf club head with opposing contoured piles as the golf club exits the base mat profile along a downward slope of the base mat profile as the golfer continues to follow through the golf swing. It is a figure similar to what was shown in FIG. Similar to that shown in FIG. 18 showing the interaction of an iron golf club head with the opposing contoured pile after the golf club has exited the base mat contour as the golfer completes the follow-through of the golf swing. FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a golf practice apparatus showing a flat profile of opposing piles. 22 is a horizontal cross-section showing the arrangement of opposing contoured piles meshing with the mesh as viewed along line 22-22 of FIG. 21. FIG. 22 is a vertical section showing the meshing of the opposing contoured pile mesh of the apparatus shown in FIG. 21.

Claims (22)

  A golf practice and exercise mat comprising at least one contoured hitting surface having a pile having a downward slope following a pile having an upward slope.   A pile with an upward slope has a moderately steep slope that is bent, a pile with a downward slope has a gradual substantially linear slope, and a pile with an upward slope and a pile with a downward slope meet at the top. The golf practice and exercise mat of claim 1, wherein   3. The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 2, wherein the pile having an upward slope is high enough at the apex to completely envelop the face of the iron club head.   A pile with an upward slope has a gentle, almost linear slope, a pile with a downward slope has a gentle, almost linear slope, and a pile with an upward slope and a pile with a downward slope meet at a turning point. The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 1, wherein the pile having a downward slope at a point has at least twice the height of the pile having an upward slope.   The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 4, wherein the pile having the downward slope has a height of 3 to 5 times or more the height of the pile having the upward slope at the turning point.   The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 4, wherein the pile having a downward slope is high enough to completely wrap the face of the wood type club head at the turning point.   At least one contoured hitting surface includes a profile having a curved moderately steep upwardly-pitched pile for striking with an iron club and a downwardly-graded pile having a gradual substantially linear slope. A pile having an upward slope and a pile having a downward slope meet at the top, and a pile having an upward slope having a gentle approximate linear slope for hitting with a wood type club and a downward slope having a gentle approximate linear slope. A pile having an upward slope and a pile having a downward slope meet at a turning point, at which point the pile having a downward slope has at least twice the height of the pile having an upward slope. The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 1, wherein the golf practice and exercise mat has the above height.   The golf practice and exercise mat of claim 7, wherein the mat includes a portion that allows a golfer to take a stance to swing the golf club along any contour.   A golf practice and exercise mat comprising an artificial turf carpet having a plurality of striking regions having different contours made by varying height turf piles.   The first hitting area has a first part, a second part and a third part, the first part has a turf pile of a first height, and the second part has a turf pile gradually increasing from a first height to a second height. 10. A golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 9, wherein the third portion has a turf pile decreasing from the second height.   The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 10, wherein the turf pile of the second part is gradually increased with a curved upward slope.   The golf practice and exercise mat of claim 10, wherein the third portion of the turf pile decreases with a substantially linear downward slope.   The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 9, wherein the second hitting area has a first portion and a second portion.   14. The golf practice and exercise mat of claim 13, wherein the interface between the second portion and the first portion is a vertical transition.   The first part has a turf pile gradually increasing from the first height to the second height, the second part has a turf pile decreasing from the third height, and the third height is larger than the second height. The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 13,   The turf pile of the second height in the second portion of the second hitting area is at least twice as large as the turf pile of the second height in the first portion of the second hitting area. Golf practice and exercise mat.   16. The golf practice and exercise mat of claim 15, wherein the third height turf pile is at least about 3 to 5 times the second height turf pile.   The turf pile of the first portion of the second hitting area increases from a first height to a second height with a substantially linear upward slope, and the turf pile of the second portion of the second hitting area has a substantially linear downward slope. 16. The golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 15, wherein the height is reduced from three heights.   The golf practice and golf practice of claim 9, wherein the practice mat is large enough to accommodate two hitting areas and a place where a golfer can take a stance to swing the golf club. Exercise mat.   The golf practice and exercise mat of claim 9, wherein the height of the turf pile is between about 2 inches and about 8 inches. A lower carpet of artificial turf having a plurality of hitting areas with different contours made by turf piles of varying height;
An upper carpet having different contours created by a pile of varying height; and a support structure for maintaining the upper carpet in a vertically spaced relationship with the lower carpet;
A golf practice and exercise mat comprising: a pile of upper carpets oriented downwardly to intersect a pile of lower carpets to form an area of increased density of the carpet pile. mat.   22. A golf practice and exercise mat according to claim 21, wherein the support structure is L-shaped with horizontal legs and vertical legs, and the upper carpet is attached to the vertical legs.

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