Flying Disc Entrapment Device

Flying discs which can be thrown in a manner such that they can be controlled to describe a variety of arcuate paths while in flight are well known to the art.

Flying disc golf games have recently been conceived which are played on courses appropriately laid out in parks or other recreational areas. The flying disc golf course comprises a number of "holes", each comprising a "tee" from which a flying disc is originally thrown by each player, and each comprising a post displaced a selected distance from the tee. In playing each hole, the flying disc is first thrown from the tee in the direction of the post, and around predetermined obstacles, such as trees. The disc is then picked up by the player at the point at which it landed, and is again thrown in the direction of the post. This process is repeated until the post is struck by the disc, and the number of throws required to attain this objective are tabulated. Obviously, the object of the game is to strike the post for each hole with the least number of throws.

A problem has arisen in the prior art flying disc golf courses in detecting as a certainty whether or not a disc has actually struck the post for any particular throw, especially when the disc has been thrown in the direction of the post from a considerable distance.

The aforesaid problem is solved by the device of the present invention, which provides an energy absorbing means on the post which serves to arrest the forward motion of the disc, and which also provides an entrapment means in which the disc is deposited. By use of the device of the present invention, any disc properly thrown against the post is caught, and all prior ambiguities are obviated.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a flying disc entrapment device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and showing a disc being "caught" by the device;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation showing the manner in which the entrapment device of FIG. 1 absorbs the kinetic energy of a flying disc thrown against the device, thereby arresting the forward motion of the disc, and causing the disc to be deposited in the device; and

FIG. 4 is a second elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a disc thrown at the device from another angle.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a post 10 is mounted in an upright position in the ground 12 by means, for example, of a concrete base 14. An annular bracket 16 is mounted on the upper end of post 10 by means of a plurality of radial support rods 17 (FIG. 2), and an annular open-topped basket 18 is mounted on the post under the bracket 16. A plurality of chains 20 are mounted with their upper ends attached to the bracket 16 at spaced annular positions around its periphery. The lower ends of chains 20 are attached to a loose collar 21 which is mounted on post 10 within the confines of basket 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a flying disc 22 (FIG. 3A) is thrown against the chains 20 (FIG. 3B), the chains serve to absorb the kinetic energy of the disc, thereby arresting its forward motion. In the process, the disc is tilted downwardly (FIG. 3C), and is caused to fall (FIG. 3D) into the basket 18. FIG. 4, as mentioned above, shows the disc thrown into the chains from another view.

With the embodiment of FIG. 1, flying discs 22 properly thrown against the chains 20 on post 10 are caught by the assembly and deposited in the basket 18.

It will be appreciated that although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, modifications may be made. It is intended in the claims to cover the modifications which come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.