US3944232A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-16
•
Granted: 1976-03-16
•
Expires: 1994-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A device for playing a game which simulates golf, has front and rear sections which are hinged together and fold from open to closed positions. Both sections rest on the floor with the rear section presented after front section when the device is in its open position. The front section has an open end, while the rear section has a closed end. Both sections have supporting surfaces which align when the sections are open. The supporting surface of the front section is inclined upwardly away from the open end of the front section. A flexible mat having tee positions and other information presented thereon rests on the supporting surfaces and extends out of the open end, beyond which it rests on the floor. The mat may be folded over onto itself so that it rests entirely on the supporting surfaces, and then the front section may be folded over onto the rear section to bring the game device to a compact closed position more suitable for carrying or storage. The mat is contained wholly within the device when the sections are closed.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Tierney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:28
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B67/00; A63B67/02; A63B2210/00; A63B2210/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A device for playing a game which simulates golf, said device comprising first and second sections of substantially equal size which are hinged directly to each other and fold about a hinge axis from an extended open position, wherein both sections are on the floor, to a compact closed position, wherein one section is against the other section, the sections having supporting surfaces which are located below the hinge axis and align when the sections are open, and face each other, yet are spaced a substantial distance apart, when the sections are closed, the first section further having an open end and the supporting surface of that section being substantially at floor level at the open end; and a mat which is substantially longer than the combined lengths of the supporting surfaces, the mat being adapted to rest on the supporting surfaces when the sections are open, the mat being flexible so that it may be folded up upon itself and contained wholly within the space between the supporting surfaces of the sections when the sections are in their closed position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
A device for playing a game which simulates golf, said device comprising first and second sections of substantially equal size which are hinged directly to each other and fold about a hinge axis from an extended open position, wherein both sections are on the floor, to a compact closed position, wherein one section is against the other section, the sections having supporting surfaces which are located below the hinge axis and align when the sections are open, and face each other, yet are spaced a substantial distance apart, when the sections are closed, the first section further having an open end and the supporting surface of that section being substantially at floor level at the open end; and a mat which is substantially longer than the combined lengths of the supporting surfaces, the mat being adapted to rest on the supporting surfaces when the sections are open, the mat being flexible so that it may be folded up upon itself and contained wholly within the space between the supporting surfaces of the sections when the sections are in their closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the supporting surface on the first section is at least in part inclined upwardly away from the open end of the first section when the sections are open.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein the first section is hinged at the end opposite the open end, and the second section has a hinged end and a closed end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the second section has a backstop at its closed end and the backstop extends into and closes the open end of the first section when the sections are closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A game device according to claim 3 wherein the sections are provided with aligned sidewalls having upper edges which are above the supporting surfaces when the sections are open and abut each other when the sections are closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 5 and further characterized by a handle attached permanently at its one end to the sidewall of one of the sections and engageable at its other end with the aligned sidewall of the other section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said aligned sidewall of the other section includes a slot which opens out of an edge of that sidewall; and wherein the handle at its other end includes a reduced portion which is small enough to fit into the slot and an enlarged portion located beyond the reduced portion, the enlarged portion being wider than the slot so that when it is behind the sidewall containing the slot, the handle will not pull through that sidewall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the supporting surface on the second section is horizontal when the sections are open and the supporting surface on the first section is inclined in part and horizontal in part when the sections are open with the horizontal portion aligning with the horizontal surface on the second section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
A device according to claim 1 where at least one section has a back wall which is presented outwardly when the sections are closed and both sections have sidewalls which are along the sides of the supporting surfaces for their respective sections, the edges of the sidewalls on the one section abutting the edges of the sidewalls on the other section when the sections are in the closed position; one of the sidewalls in said one section having a slot which leads to an aperture in the back wall for said one section, the aperture being wider than the slot; and wherein an elongated handle at its one end is attached to that sidewall of said other section which aligns the sidewall having the slot therein, the other end of the handle having a reduced portion which is narrow enough to fit into the slot and an enlarged portion beyond the reduced portion, the enlarged portion being wider than the slot but narrrower than the aperture so that the reduced portion may be received in the slot when the enlarged portion is passed through the aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the supporting surface of the second section has an opening therein, and the second section further has an inclined ramp which underlies the opening and slopes downwardly from the opening toward one side of the second section so that balls which enter the opening will be discharged to the side of the second section.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
263 words
A device for playing a game which simulates golf, said device comprising: first and second sections which are hinged to each other and fold from an extended open position, wherein both sections are on the floor, to a compact closed position, wherein one section is against the other section, the sections having supporting surfaces which align when the sections are open, and face each other, yet are spaced apart, when the sections are closed, the sections being provided with aligned sidewalls having upper edges which are above the supporting surfaces when the sections are open and abut each other when the sections are closed, the first section further having a hinged end and an open end and the supporting surface of that section being substantially at floor level at the open end and at least in part inclined upwardly away from the open end when the sections are open, the second section having a hinged end and a closed end, the sections being hinged together at their hinged ends where the sections are provided with end walls which are in part cut away to substantially the level of the supporting surfaces; and a mat which is substantially longer than the combined lengths of the supporting surfaces, the mat being adapted to rest on the supporting surfaces and being accommodated by the cut away portions of the end walls when the sections are open, the mat being flexible so that it may be folded upon itself and contained wholly between the supporting surfaces of the sections when the sections are in their closed position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
263 words
A device for playing a game which simulates golf, said device comprising: first and second sections which are hinged to each other and fold from an extended open position, wherein both sections are on the floor, to a compact closed position, wherein one section is against the other section, the sections having supporting surfaces which align when the sections are open, and face each other, yet are spaced apart, when the sections are closed, the sections being provided with aligned sidewalls having upper edges which are above the supporting surfaces when the sections are open and abut each other when the sections are closed, the first section further having a hinged end and an open end and the supporting surface of that section being substantially at floor level at the open end and at least in part inclined upwardly away from the open end when the sections are open, the second section having a hinged end and a closed end, the sections being hinged together at their hinged ends where the sections are provided with end walls which are in part cut away to substantially the level of the supporting surfaces; and a mat which is substantially longer than the combined lengths of the supporting surfaces, the mat being adapted to rest on the supporting surfaces and being accommodated by the cut away portions of the end walls when the sections are open, the mat being flexible so that it may be folded upon itself and contained wholly between the supporting surfaces of the sections when the sections are in their closed position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 11 wherein the hinge axis about which the sections pivot between their open and closed positions is located at about the level of the upper edges of the sections.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
294 words
A device for playing a game which simulates golf, said device comprising first and second sections which are hinged to each other and fold from an extended open position, wherein both sections are on the floor, to a compact closed position, wherein one section is against the other section, the sections having supporting surfaces which align when the sections are open, and face each other, yet are spaced apart, when the sections are closed, the first section further having a hinged end and an open end and the supporting surface of that section being substantially at floor level at the open end and being inclined in part and horizontal in part when the sections are open, the second section having a hinged end and a closed end and the supporting surface on that section being horizontal and aligning with the horizontal portion of the supporting surface on the first section when the sections are open, the sections being hinged together at their hinged ends, each section further having a pair of sidewalls which extend upwardly above the supporting surfaces when the sections are open, the supporting surface for each section extending from one sidewall to the other for the section; and a mat which is substantially longer than the combined lengths of the supporting surfaces, the mat being adapted to rest on the supporting surfaces when the sections are open, the mat being narrower than the distance between the sidewalls and generally centered between the sidewalls so that the areas of the supporting surfaces located to the sides of the mat form gutters, the mat being flexible so that it may be folded up upon itself and contained wholly between the supporting surfaces of the sections when the sections are in their closed position.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
294 words
A device for playing a game which simulates golf, said device comprising first and second sections which are hinged to each other and fold from an extended open position, wherein both sections are on the floor, to a compact closed position, wherein one section is against the other section, the sections having supporting surfaces which align when the sections are open, and face each other, yet are spaced apart, when the sections are closed, the first section further having a hinged end and an open end and the supporting surface of that section being substantially at floor level at the open end and being inclined in part and horizontal in part when the sections are open, the second section having a hinged end and a closed end and the supporting surface on that section being horizontal and aligning with the horizontal portion of the supporting surface on the first section when the sections are open, the sections being hinged together at their hinged ends, each section further having a pair of sidewalls which extend upwardly above the supporting surfaces when the sections are open, the supporting surface for each section extending from one sidewall to the other for the section; and a mat which is substantially longer than the combined lengths of the supporting surfaces, the mat being adapted to rest on the supporting surfaces when the sections are open, the mat being narrower than the distance between the sidewalls and generally centered between the sidewalls so that the areas of the supporting surfaces located to the sides of the mat form gutters, the mat being flexible so that it may be folded up upon itself and contained wholly between the supporting surfaces of the sections when the sections are in their closed position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-16 | 1979-09-15 | 1980-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-16 | 1983-09-15 | 1984-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-16 | 1987-09-15 | 1988-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |