Disc golf target

• US 20010033057A1
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fred C. Chittenden
• Original Assignee: Fred C. Chittenden
• Inventors: Chittenden, Fred C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,554,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/400
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2067/061 Means to mark out tossing area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/06 Ring or disc tossing games , e.g. quoits; Throwing or tossing games, e.g. using balls; Games for manually rolling balls, e.g. marbles

Abstract

A disc golf target assembly. A plurality of chain segments are suspended from a support member by generally U-shaped attachment loops. The attachment loops have upwardly and outwardly sloped side portions, so that the energy of the disc is absorbed and dissipated by spreading and lifting the chain segments as the disc strikes the target assembly. The support member, attachment loops and chain segments may be mounted on a vertical support, and the assembly may include a basket that is mounted beneath the support and chain segments for receiving the disc therefrom.

Claims

1. A disc golf target assembly, comprising:

at least first and second elongate, generally vertical members disposed to form a barrier with respect to a path of a disc; and

attachment members by which upper ends of vertical members are suspended from a support structure;

each of said attachment members comprising a downwardly extending portion from which said vertical member hangs when in a static condition, and upwardly sloped side portions up which said vertical member slide in response to being struck by a disc;

so that kinetic energy of said disc is absorbed and dissipated in spreading and lifting said vertical members as said disc strikes said target assembly.

2. The target assembly of

claim 1

, wherein said attachment members comprise:

a plurality of generally U-shaped attachment loops.

3. The target assembly of

claim 2

, wherein said support structure comprises:

an elongate rim member mounted along upper edges of said attachment loops.

4. The target assembly of

claim 3

, wherein said elongate, generally vertical members comprise:

a plurality of elongate, flexible members having sufficient weight to return said vertical members to said static position after being struck by a disc.

5. The target assembly of

claim 4

, wherein said plurality of elongate flexible members comprises:

a plurality of chain segments suspended from said attachment loops.

6. The target assembly of

claim 5

, wherein said side portions of said attachment members comprise:

side portions of said attachment loops, said side portions of said attachment loops having an outward and upward curvature so that said weight of said chain segments offers increasing resistance to said disc as said chains spread further apart in response to being struck by said disc.

7. The target assembly of

claim 6

, wherein said bottom portions of said attachment members comprise:

a generally V-shaped portion of said attachment loops for centering said chain segments in said attachment loops when said chain segments are in said static position.

8. The target assembly of

claim 5

, wherein said elongate rim member comprises:

a rim member which extends about a perimeter of a capture area.

9. The target assembly of

claim 8

, wherein said chain segments are suspended along said rim member so as to substantially surround said capture area.

10. The target assembly of

claim 9

, wherein said bottom portions of said attachment loops are angled outwardly about said perimeter of said capture area, so that said chain segments slide rearwardly along said side portions of said attachment loops and towards said capture area in response to being struck by a disc which is entering said capture area.

11. The target assembly of

claim 10

, wherein said rim member is a circular support member extending continuously about said capture area.

12. The target assembly of

claim 11

, wherein said plurality of attachment loops are formed as a continuous structure that is mounted to said circular support member.

13. The target assembly of

claim 12

, wherein said continuous structure forming said attachment loops is a bent wire rod.

14. The target assembly of

claim 13

, further comprising:

a ring member interconnecting lower ends of said chain segments so that said chain segments extend downwardly and inwardly around said capture area.