GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE

• US 20170036091A1
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiberbuilt Manufacturing Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fiberbuilt Manufacturing Inc.
• Inventors: NICHOL, SCOTT, HOOPER, MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/024 with screws or pins in the earth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3621 Contacting or non-contacting mechanical means for guiding the swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3661 Mats for golf practice, e.g. mats having a simulated turf, a practice tee or a green area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3667 Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/02 for large-room or outdoor sporting games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/04 for small-room or indoor sporting games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A golf practise mat including a stance section and a ball strike section. The stance section is segmented into a plurality of planar components so that the golf may can be disassembled for shipping and storage. A kit is disclosed including the components and instructions for assembly. A golf practise mat may also have one or more swing training devices for installation of golf training rods.

Claims

1. A golf practice mat comprising:

a stance section including a first end and a rear end opposite to the first end; and

a strike section releasably connectable at a releasable connection to the first end of the stance section,

wherein the stance section includes a base with an underside for placement on a ground surface and an upper surface, the base being segmented into a plurality of stance section components, each of the plurality of stance section components including at least one of (a) a first releasable connection configured to connect to the releasable connection of the strike section and (b) a second releasable connection configured to releasably connect to the second releasable connection of another one of the stance section components.

2. The golf practice mat of claim 1 wherein a first portion of the second releasable connection is located on one of the plurality of stance section components and a second portion of the second releasable connection is located on a second one of the plurality of stance section components and the first portion is a receptacle and the second portion is a protrusion configured for pushing into engagement with the receptacle.

3. The golf practice mat of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of stance section components includes a portion of the underside of the base and a portion of the upper surface of the base and the receptacle and the protrusion each extend substantially orthogonally relative to the upper surface.

4. The golf practice mat of claim 1 wherein the stance section is shaped as a trapezoid and has a width that tapers from the rear end to the first end.

5. The golf practice mat of claim 1 wherein the stance section includes a width-wise seam when the plurality of stance section components are assembled, the width-wise seam is straight from side to side and has chamfered upper corner edges.

6. The golf practice mat of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of second releasable connections and each of the plurality of second releasable connections is unique.

7. The golf practice mat of claim 1 wherein the releasable connection of the strike section includes (a) a front side releasable connector for releasably connecting to a first one of the plurality of stance section components and (b) a rear side releasable connector for releasably connecting to a second one of the plurality of stance section components, and the front side releasable connector has a different form than the rear side releasable connector.

8. A golf practice mat kit comprising:

a strike section including a releasable connection at an end;

a plurality of releasably connectable stance section components each including at least one of (a) a first releasable connection configured to connect to the releasable connection of the strike section and (b) a second releasable connection configured to releasably connect to the second releasable connection of another one of the stance section components,

the strike section and the stance section components being disassembled in the kit; and

instructions for assembly of the strike section and the stance section components to obtain a golf practise mat.

9. The golf practice mat kit of claim 8, wherein the golf practise mat has length and width dimensions and in the kit, the strike section and the stance section components are stacked one upon the other and packaged within a container that is smaller in length and width than the length and width dimensions of the golf practise mat.

10. The golf practice mat kit of claim 9, wherein the container length and width are about the same as the strike section length and width dimensions.

11. The golf practice mat kit of claim 8, wherein at least one of the strike section or the stance section components includes a swing training feature and the instructions identify the swing training feature and explain a use for of the swing training feature for golf practise.

12. The golf practice mat kit of claim 8, further comprising a removable strike surface insert for the strike section.

13. The golf practice mat kit of claim 12 wherein the removable strike surface is artificial turf.

14. The golf practice mat kit of claim 12 wherein the instructions include directions on the installation of the strike surface onto the strike section.

15. The golf practice mat kit of claim 8 wherein the strike section includes a perimeter with a close side, a far side opposite the close side, a front side and a back side, the front side and the back side each spaced apart and spanning between the close side and the far side and a first slot formed on the back side of the perimeter, the first slot having a length that defines a long axis and the slot extending with its long axis directed from an outer edge of the perimeter toward an inner edge of the perimeter;

and

the instructions include guidance on the use of the slot to retain and orient a golf training rod and moving a golf club along a path following the golf training rod.

27. A method for swing training using the mat of claim 8, the method comprising:

placing the strike section on a ground surface;

positioning an end of a rod in the first slot with a length of the rod extending away from the strike section; and

swinging a golf club to hit a ball from the strike section while the golf club moves through a path following the length of the rod.

16. A golf practice mat comprising:

a strike section including;

a perimeter with a close side, a far side opposite the close side, a front side and a back side, the front side and the back side each spaced apart and spanning between the close side and the far side;

a strike surface receiving area positioned centrally within the perimeter; and

a first slot formed on at least one of the front side and the back side of the perimeter, the first slot having a length that defines a long axis and the slot extending with its long axis directed from an outer edge of the perimeter toward the strike surface, the first slot configured to accommodate a rod laid along the length.

17. The golf practice mat of claim 16 wherein the long axis is directed toward a central point of the strike surface receiving area.

18. The golf practice mat of claim 16 further comprising a second slot adjacent the first slot, the second slot being divergent from the first slot.

19. The golf practice mat of claim 18 wherein the second slot diverges 3-10°

relative to the first slot.

20. The golf practice mat of claim 16 wherein the first slot is configured to engage the rod by a snap connection.

21. The golf practice mat of claim 16 wherein the first slot is aligned with a front to back axis of the strike section.

22. The golf practice mat of claim 21 further comprising a strike surface in the strike surface receiving area, the strike surface including a shock absorbing upper layer.

23. The golf practice mat of claim 22 further comprising a tee hole on the strike surface substantially aligned along the front to back axis.

24. The golf practice mat of claim 16 wherein the first slot is on the back side and further comprising (a) a plurality of additional slots on the back side, each extending substantially radially from an outer edge of the perimeter toward the strike surface and (b) a plurality of slots on the front side, each having a length aligned with the first slot or one of the plurality of additional slots.

25. The golf practice mat of claim 16 wherein the perimeter is formed as a frame, the frame having a hardness greater than the shock absorbing upper layer.

26. The golf practice mat of claim 16 further comprising a stance section connected to the close side, the stance section including a linear groove extending substantially parallel to the front to back axis.