Devices for hitting golf balls when in confined spaces

• US 5,413,347 A
• Filed: 12/02/1993
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Billy G. Prater
• Original Assignee: Billy G. Prater
• Inventors: Prater, Billy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US08/160,217
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 273/200 R, 273/200 A, 273/35 R, 273/185 C, 273/185 D, 273/184 R, 273/184 B, 273/26 E, 273/26 EA
• US Class Current: 473/147
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0084 the line or cord being fixed to at least two points

Abstract

A device for use in hitting golf shots when in a confined space comprising a first inverted u-shaped member having parallel legs and a linear cross leg coupling the upper ends of the parallel legs. A second inverted u-shaped member has parallel legs and a linear cross leg coupling the upper ends of the parallel legs. A main cable couples the horizontal legs of the large inverted u-shaped member and the small inverted u-shaped member at a higher elevation. An attachment devices is securely coupled to each inverted u-shaped member to the ground at a distance to maintain the main cable in a taut orientation. Lastly, a hollow cylindrical sleeve secured about the main cable and traveling along the length thereof, the sleeve having a supplemental string coupled at its upper end to the sleeve and at its lower end to a golf ball to be hit.

Claims

1. A new and improved device for use in hitting golf shots when in a confined space comprising, in combination:

a first small inverted u-shaped member having parallel vertical legs and a linear horizontal cross leg coupling the upper ends of the parallel legs;

a second large inverted u-shaped member having parallel vertical legs and a linear horizontal cross leg coupling the upper ends of the parallel legs;

a main cable coupling the horizontal legs of the large inverted u-shaped member and the small inverted u-shaped member with the end of the cable attached to the large u-shaped member being at a higher elevation than the end of the cable attached to the smaller u-shaped member;

attachment means in the form of a downwardly extending central spike co-axial with each vertical leg, each attachment means having an upwardly extending projection to be slidably received by the lower end of each vertical leg, and with a horizontally extending flange therebetween with apertures for receiving supplemental stakes to securely couple each inverted u-shaped member to the ground at a distance to maintain the main cable in a taut orientation;

a hollow cylindrical sleeve secured about the main cable and traveling along the length thereof, the sleeve having a golf ball to be hit and a supplemental string having an upper end coupled to the sleeve and a lower end coupled to the golf ball to be hit with the length of the string sufficient to extend between the sleeve and the golf ball; and

a supplemental ball secured to the main cable at each end thereof adjacent to the associated horizontal leg of its associated u-shaped member to limit the path of travel of the golf ball.

2. A device for use in hitting golf shots when in a confined space comprising:

a first small inverted u-shaped member having parallel legs and a linear cross leg coupling the upper ends of the parallel legs;

a second large inverted u-shaped member having parallel legs and a linear cross leg coupling the upper ends of the parallel legs;

a main cable coupling the horizontal legs of the large inverted u-shaped member and the small inverted u-shaped member with the end of the cable attached to the large u-shaped member at a higher elevation;

attachment means to securely couple each inverted u-shaped member to the ground at a distance to maintain the main cable in a taut orientation; and

a hollow cylindrical sleeve secured about the main cable and traveling along the length thereof, the sleeve having a golf ball to be hit and a supplemental string coupled at its upper end to the sleeve and at its lower end to the golf ball to be hit, the string being of a length to extend between the golf ball on the ground and the sleeve when adjacent to its small inverted u-shaped member.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2 and further including a ball secured to the main cable at each end thereof adjacent to the associated horizontal leg of its associated u-shaped member to limit the path of travel of the golf ball.

4. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the interior surface of the sleeve is formed in the shape of a pair of facing frustrocones to facilitate the movement of the sleeve along the main cable.

5. The device as set forth in claim 2 and further including a coating of lubricous material formed on the interior surface of the sleeve.

6. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the space exterior of the opening through the sleeve is formed as a cavity for the receipt of a lubricous fluid and with small apertures thereadjacent to allow the flow of fluid therefrom into contact with the main cable, the cavity having a fill cap associated therewith for replenishing the fluid.

7. The device as set forth in claim 2 and further including a canister with a lubricant and with a rotatable ball in communication with the fluid and the exterior of the canister for lubricating the main cable.