US3690674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Putting practice device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-28
•
Granted: 1972-09-12
•
Expires: 1991-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A putting practice device consisting of a square box adapted to rest on a floor, four ramps inclined upwardly from the floor respectively to the four upper edges of the box, and up which a golf ball is to be putted in sequence, a target plate overlying the box at the upper end of each ramp, and having an aperture therein providing a target hole through which the ball must fall, hazards guarding the holes, passageways in the box beneath each of the target plates and each operable to convey a ball to the successive ramp, except beneath the fourth plate which delivers the ball to a special container indicating completion of the course, and a central trap in the box adapted to receive a ball passing over any of said target plates without passing through the hole thereof, and operable to return any such ball to the first ramp of the series. The ramps, target plates and hazards are detachable and interchangeable to vary the putting conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Cecil R Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:48
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B57/00; A63B57/40; A63B57/30; A63B57/357
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A putting practice device comprising: a. a box-like body member adapted to be rested on a horizontal surface with it horizontal upper edge spaced above said surface, b. a series of inclined ramps sloping upwardly from said surface to the upper edge of said body member, and attached at their upper ends to said body member, and up which a golf ball may be putted successively, c. a generally horizontal target plate overlying and attached to said body member at the top of each of said ramps, and having a hole formed therein through which a golf ball putted up the associated ramp may fall, and d. internal partition walls in said body member forming inclined chutes beneath each of said target plates except that associated with the last of said series, each of said chutes being operable to deliver a golf ball falling through the hole of the associated target plate by gravity to the next successive ramp of said series.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A putting practice device comprising: a. a box-like body member adapted to be rested on a horizontal surface with it horizontal upper edge spaced above said surface, b. a series of inclined ramps sloping upwardly from said surface to the upper edge of said body member, and attached at their upper ends to said body member, and up which a golf ball may be putted successively, c. a generally horizontal target plate overlying and attached to said body member at the top of each of said ramps, and having a hole formed therein through which a golf ball putted up the associated ramp may fall, and d. internal partition walls in said body member forming inclined chutes beneath each of said target plates except that associated with the last of said series, each of said chutes being operable to deliver a golf ball falling through the hole of the associated target plate by gravity to the next successive ramp of said series.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein each of chutes is operable to delivery a golf ball to the inclined upper surface of said next successive ramp, whereby said ball rolls downwardly on said ramp to a position for play with respect thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as recited in claim 1 with the addition of partition walls in said body member forming an inclined chute beneath the target plate associated with the last ramp of said series, said last named chute being operable by gravity to convey a golf ball falling therein to a receptacle carried by said body member exteriorly thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which said target plates do not cover the entire top area of said body member, the uncovered top area thereof forming a depressed trap well bounded by said target plates, and into which a golf ball passing over any of said target plates without entering the hole thereof will fall, and with the addition of partition walls in said body member forming an Inclined floor for said well, and an inclined chute communicating at its upper end with the lowermost portion of said well and operable to deliver a golf ball by gravity from said well to the first of said series of ramps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as recited in claim 4 wherein said last named chute is operable to deliver a golf ball to the upper surface of the first ramp of said series, whereby said ball rolls downwardly on said first ramp to a position for play with respect thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as recited in claim 1 with the addition of hazard obstructions mounted on certain of said target plates, each of said obstructions constituting a vertical wall permitting access of a golf ball travelling upwardly over the associated ramp to the hole of said target plate, but at least partially obstructing the passage of said ball over all other portions of said target plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as recited in claim 6 wherein said hazard obstructions associated with said target plates are each detachably connected to the associated target plate and are interchangeable, and wherein the walls constituting the respective obstructions are of different configurations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as recited in claim 7 wherein said ramps and target plates are detachably connected to said body member and are interchangeable, said ramps having different surface configurations affecting the rolling course of a golf ball thereon, and the holes of said target plates being disposed at different positions relative to the transverse widths of the associated ramps.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said ramps are detachably connected to said body member, and wherein said ramps are formed with respectively different surface irregularities affecting the course of a golf ball rolling thereover.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said target plates are detachably connected to said body member and are interchangeable, and wherein the holes of said target plates are disposed at different positions with respect to the transverse widths of the associated ramps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |