Portable golf putting green

[0002] This invention relates to miniature golf putting greens. More particularly, it refers to a portable sectional golf putting green wherein sections are held together by cam locking fasteners.

[0003] It is common in the miniature golf hole courses found in amusement facilities to construct a cement foundation base covered with outdoor carpeting. Obviously such courses are not portable and cannot be disassembled and moved to a different location. Recently, miniature golf hole systems have been constructed from an expanded polystyrene foam base as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,034. The polystyrene base is covered with a porous rubberized material and this rubberized material is covered with outdoor carpeting. This type of system facilitates drainage of the carpet surface but is so massive in structure as to foreclose its easy movement to a substitute location. Backyard golf enthusiasts wish to have a single golf green to which they can chip and on which they can practice putting. However, multiple uses for limited backyard space forecloses the construction of a permanent putting green as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,034. Homeowners wish to be able to disassemble the putting greens and store them when not in use so backyard areas can be used for alternate purposes. Therefore, a need arises for a portable golf course green.

[0004] I have invented a portable golf course green having multiple sections that can be readily locked together and covered with outdoor carpeting to create a chipping and putting green. The portable putting green can be easily disassembled and stored when not in use by rolling up the outdoor carpet and detaching the sectional pieces. Each sectional piece includes a polymeric bottom ribbed layer that is in contact with a substrate. Glued or otherwise attached to the bottom ribbed section is a top sheet of ABS plastic. The outdoor carpet is cut and rolled over the top sheet to form the putting surface. A hole is formed in the carpet, top sheet, and the ribbed section to receive a cup adapted to accept a putted golf ball. Cammed locking fasteners are installed on a side surface of each mating section to engage a corresponding section. An allen wrench operates the fastener.

[0005] The invention may be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the portable golf putting green of this invention;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a side partial sectional view along line 3—3 of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the cam lock fastener;

[0010] FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view along line 6—6 of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 6 is an elevational sectional view of an alternative three layers of supporting structure;

[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the golf ball cup installed on the putting surface; and

[0013] FIG. 8 is a top view of an unattached panel with the ball hole visible.

[0014] Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

[0015] The portable golf putting green 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a one piece vacuum formed multilayer plastic unit covered by an undulating outdoor carpeting surface 12 penetrated by a hole 14 in which golf cup 36 is inserted. An exterior ornamental roundabout component 16 which is the edge of layer 26 is raised above the surface 12 so that golf balls will not roll off the green once on surface 12. As seen in FIG. 5, the putting green 10 has an undulating preformed bottom polymeric layer 18. Layer 18 contains integral molded downwardly directed ribs 20 and cross-linking ribs 22. Ribs 20 partially rest on a substrate such as soil 24. The substrate also can be a concrete pad, crushed stone or sand.

[0016] A sheet of undulating ABS polymer 26 conforming to the undulations on the top surface of bottom layer 18 is glued to a top surface of layer 18. The outdoor carpeting 12 is glued to a top surface 30 of the layer 26. Layers 18 and 26 can be made from any impact resistant plastic that is vacuum formable such as ABS, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride or polyvinyl styrene.

[0017] FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment putting green 10A which has an additional polymeric layer 34 glued between layers 18A and 26A to add additional strength to the golf putting green 10.

[0018] The golf hole 14 is formed by drilling a hole through layers 12, 18 and 26 conforming about in diameter to hole 14. A vacuum formed cup 36 having an open top 37 and closed bottom 39 is inserted in the hole 14 and flange 38 is bolted to the layers 18 and 26 with flat head bolt (not shown) through bolt holes 40. The outdoor grass 12 is cut out usually by a laser so as to cover flange 38 and leave open top 37 uncovered for receipt of a golf ball into cup 36.

[0019] Each panel 42 is vacuum formed starting with a 4×8 sheet of layers 18, 26 and 12 glued together. FIG. 8 shows a typical formed panel 42 having latch openings 44 on side surfaces 32. Inside the opening 44 is a bar 46 that is engaged by a cam 48 from an opening in an adjacent panel 42′. An allen wrench entrance 50 provides a means for turning the cam 48 to either latch or unlatch the panel from bar 46. FIG. 2 shows three panels latched together; namely, 42, 42′ and 42″ and FIG. 4 shows the latch assembly 52.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, three panels 42, 42′ and 42″ are latched together with latch assembly 52 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to form the portable golf putting green 10. The downwardly directed projections or molded ribs 20 are resting on substrate such as soil 24. The top carpet layer 12 is {fraction (3/16)} inch thick green ABS plastic, the middle sheet 26 is a ¼ inch thick expanded polyvinyl chloride and the bottom layer 18 is a black ABS plastic. The ribs 20 and 22 are about two inches wide and have a pattern as shown in FIG. 2. A ½ inch rise of the polymeric ornamental roundabout 16 as the edge of layer 26 projects above surface layer 12 to keep the ball on the artificial carpeting or grass. It is preferred to laser cut the outdoor carpeting 12 to have sharp edges and abut the roundabout 16 at a 90° angle. Drain holes (not shown) can be drilled adjacent the roundabout 16 through layers 12, 18 and 26 to provide water drainage.

[0021] The above description has described specific structural details embodying the invention. However, it will be within one having skill in the art to make modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept of this portable golf putting green. The inventive concept is not limited to the structure described, but includes such modifications except as limited by the scope of the appended claims.