US3430964A - Golf practice device - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1969 S, M BUDZMSKI 3,430,964

GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Filed April 11, 1967 INVENTOR SYLVESTER M. BUDZINSKI B; M w

ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3,430,964 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 3,430,964 GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Sylvester M. Budzinski, 76 Gage St., Worcester, Mass. 01605 Filed Apr. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 629,990 US. Cl. 273195 Int. Cl. A63b 69/36, 57/00 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a golf practice device which comprises an adjustable platform. This platform may be large enough for the golfer to stand on or it may be of a size merely for receiving the ball. Its essential characteristic resides in the fact that it is adjustable with relation to the surface on which it is put so that the golfer may practice uphill and downhill shots whether the golfer is standing on the incline or on a level.

One of the essential characteristics of the invention resides in the fact that it is very compact having foldable legs which are adjustable and being very inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the device with reference to the ground;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation looking in the direction ofarrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial bottom plan view looking in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the supporting legs of the device supplied with rubber suction cups;

FIG. 5 shows a modified pivoted leg;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation looking in the direction ofarrow 6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view looking in the direction of arrow 7 in FIG. 5, and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a modification.

In illustrating the present invention, thereference numeral 10 indicates a substantially flat support. This support may have applied thereto a mat or felt surfaces, there may be a tee for the ball provided thereon, and the device may be large enough for the golfer to stand on,

with the ball teed up or in position for the practice of hitting the ball on an incline, depending upon the relative adjustment for instance of legs generally indicated at 12.

On the other hand, theplatform 10 may be only large enough to support the ball so that the golfer if he desires may stand on a flat surface while hitting a ball which is lying on an angle with respect to the horizontal.

It is preferred that there should be twolegs 12 at one end of the device and afixed leg 14 at the opposite end. Thefixed leg 14 is short and has a ground-engaging point 16 together with aprojection 18 for the purpose of stopping a ground-engaging disc 20 so that the height of thesupport 10 from the ground in the region ofleg 14 is fixed.

At the opposite side of the device which may be square, rectangular or circular, there are twolegs 12 each of which is provided with a threadedcylindrical portion 22 mounted on aplate 24 pivotally mounted as on apintel 26 of ahinge 28. Thehinge 28 is mounted at the under side ofsupport 10.

The threadedcylindrical portion 12 receives anadjustable spindle 30 for relative adjustment to vary the angle of the support relative to the ground as seen in FIG. 1. Appropriate stop nuts are provided. It is also provided with projections such as at 32 for stopping a detachable ground-engaging disc 34 when the point at 36 is engaged in the ground similar to that at 16 as to leg 14.

Thelegs 12 pivot inward toward each other on their respective pintles as shown in FIG. 2, it not being necessary to pivotleg 14 because it is relatively short in any event and as a matter of fact theleg 14 could be removed from a supporting means such as a socket or the like fastened to the under side of thesupport 10 and indicated at 38. The twolegs 12 are alike.

Ground-engaging points 36, 36 are not made particularly sharp as thediscs 34 and 34 can be removed andrubber suction cups 40 applied thereto, the ends of the spindles entering into and being removably secured in thetop portions 42 of the suction cups. In this case of course the device is usually inside a building for the practice for instance of short shots or with soft practice balls.

It will be seen that with this device, any reasonable angle can be provided with respect to theplatform 10 and the golfer can stand on it, setting his ball on it, or he can stand on the fiat and practice hitting the ball while it is on an incline. It is well known that these shots are very difiicult and a great deal of practice is necessary in order to perfect the golfer in these shots but it is very difficult to find spots to practice the same and this invention provides for a portable device of inexpensive nature which may be utilized for the purpose.

Foldinglegs 12 may assume many forms and a modification is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 wherein a bail type of device is shown at 44 havingfeet 46 in staples or the like 48 which serve to pivot the same between the upstanding position shown and the fiat position shown in dotted lines for instance in FIG. 2. In this case the legs are convergent and come together in an enlargement at 50 which may be threaded to receive the threadedleg 52 which otherwise is similar to that shown at 12 except for the fact that awire loop 54 is easily applied for permanent installation to prevent any further penetration into the ground at this point. These legs are also pivotable to be folded in the manner shown in FIG. 2 as tolegs 12.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a modification which is similar to that shown in FIG. 5. Thelegs 60, 60 are similar to those at 44 and they may be encompassed by a bushing or the like 68 for strengthening purposes. The bushing receives theleg 64 in vertical sliding relationship. Theleg 64 is provided with a series ofholes 66, 66, any one of which is adjustably arranged with relation to asimilar hole 62 in the bushing and a connecting pin can be entered therein to hold theleg 64 in various positions of adjustment with respect to thetable top 10, while the entire leg is still foldable as before. Similar rubber suction cups or the like can also be used.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A golf practice device comprising a substantially planar surface from which golf balls may be driven by a golfer, means for supporting said surface at various inclinations with respect to the horizontal, said supporting means including at least two foldable legs spaced from each other and one non-foldable leg spaced from each of said foldable legs, each of said foldable legs comprising a first hinge member fixedly secured to said surface, a second hinge member pivotally secured to said first hinge member, a support secured to said second hinge member, an aperture in said support, a rod-like member having first and second ends, the first end of said rod-like member being adapted to fit into said aperture, means for locking said rod-like member to said support in a plurality of longitudinally adjustable positions therein. said non-foldable leg comprising a non-foldable rod-like member having first and second ends, the first end of said non-foldable rod-like member being fixedly secured to said surface so as to be non-foldable relative thereto, each of said rod-like members having a relatively blunt pointed second end adapted to penetrate the ground, means for limiting the extent to which each of said rod-like members may penetrate the ground, and at least three suction cups, each of which includes means for receiving one of said relatively blunt ends to provide indoor support means for said surface.

2. The golf practice device of claim 1 wherein the apertured support of each foldable leg comprises an internally threaded cylinder, and the rod-like member of each foldable leg has its first end externally threaded so as to fit in said cylinder and be adjustable with respect thereto.

3. The golf practice device of claim 1 wherein each foldable leg comprises two connected parts, and the apertured support of each foldable leg is located at the point of connection of said two parts.

4. The golf practice device of claim 1 wherein the ground pentration limiting means on each of said foldable legs is mounted on the rod-like member thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,612,291 12/1926 Jackson 273176 2,937,875 5/1960 Mason et al. 273207 X 3,039,214 6/1962 Hansen 38-139 X GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 273202, 208

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