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Expandable putting greenRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Projectile Addressing Surface And Target, Or Distance Marker (e.g., Course, Putting Green With Cup, Driving Range, Miniature Golf Course, Etc.), Non-earth Fairway, Target Is Surface Positioned Aperture, Collapsible (e.g., For Storage, Etc.)Expandable putting green description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070042829, Expandable putting green. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/700,678, filed Jul. 19, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed to the field of putting surfaces and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for a flexible, expandable putting green that is versatile and portable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Portable practice putting greens are widely used in many offices and homes throughout the world. Although such putting greens can be as simple as a carpet and a sideways glass, typical practice putting greens include a unitary putting surface laid on the ground with a cup at one end to which the golfer directs his putting shots. To improve portability of practice putting greens, rigid modular panels have been developed that may be connected together with various attachment mechanisms to form an integrated putting surface. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,302,803, 6,669,572, 6,672,970 and 6,672,971 all to Barlow, which are all incorporated herein by reference). In other areas, foam pads have been developed that are capable of attachment to one another by interlocking teeth. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,842 to Glydon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,167 to Chang, U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,563 to Lin, and D370,818 to D'Alessio, which are all incorporated herein by reference). [0004] Accordingly, there is a need for a practice putting green with an enhanced design that provides for versatile expandability and improved portability. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] An expandable putting green including interlocking panels. In various aspects of the invention, the interlocking panels are flexible pads or mats having a foam backing underlayer covered by a simulated grass surface overlayer. The interlocking panels provide flexibility in design to allow a user to construct a putting surface of any desired size or shape. At least one of the panels includes a removable portion that forms a hole in the panel into which a cup may be inserted such that it is recessed in the putting surface to receive a golf ball. In various embodiments, multiple panels may be compiled into a starter kit including materials for a basic putting green and expansion kits to provide unlimited expansion possibilities. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The invention is described with reference to the figures of the drawings, in which: [0007] FIG. 1A illustrates the assembling of a modular expandable putting green according to one embodiment of the invention; [0008] FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of one possible layout of the expandable putting green of the present invention; [0009] FIG. 1C is a modular expandable putting green disassembled and packed into a carrying container according to one embodiment of the invention; [0010] FIG. 1D further illustrates an assembled expandable putting green according to another embodiment of the present invention; [0011] FIG. 2A is a detailed schematic illustration of a starter kit for the expandable putting green according to one embodiment of the invention; [0012] FIG. 2B shows the thickness of the expandable putting green according to one embodiment of the invention; and [0013] FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic illustration of an expansion kit for the expandable putting green according to one embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0014] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention that is claimed. It may be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. References cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, except to the extent that they conflict with teachings explicitly set forth in this specification. [0015] Referring now to the figures of the drawing, the figures constitute a part of this specification and illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown schematically or may be exaggerated to facilitate an understanding of the invention. [0016] FIG. 1A-D illustrates the assembling and disassembling of a modular expandable putting green according to various embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the Expand-a-Green.TM. (trademarked by Dennco, Inc.) includes a starter kit with ten modular interlocking panels 2, two regulation size cups 4 and two flagsticks 6. A flagstick 6 may be inserted and/or removed from a cup 4. The schematic illustrations of FIGS. 1B and 2A show possible modular panel layouts including panels 2 without removable portions and panels 2 with removable portions 8 for the recessed cups 4. Further, the panels 2 are connectable to one another by interlocking teeth 12. Most of the interlocking teeth 12 resemble a "dove-tail" type connection 14; however, certain of the teeth 12 may be differently configured, e.g., 16, to aid in orientation of the different shaped mats 18 when the panels 2 are connected to one another. A portion of the attachment mechanism of the panels 2 including both the dovetail type interlocking teeth 14 and the differently configured interlocking teeth 16 are illustrated with a dotted line in FIGS. 1B and 2A. The configuration as described provides for ease of shipping of multiple interlocking panels which may be stacked and easily transported in a 20 inch by 20 inch by 5 inch container 20 (see FIG. 1C). FIG. 2B is a side view showing the depth or thickness of a modular panel 2 according to one embodiment of the invention. [0017] The expandable putting green, comprising at least two interlocked panels, is flexible, wherein the interlocked or individual panels may be bent, squeezed, and/or twisted in any direction. The panels may be constructed from material possessing elastic qualities, or of material that allows the panels to be compressed, condensed, and/or folded. The interlocked panels or assembled green retains flexibility while two or more of the panels are interlocked. In still other embodiments, the flexible, expandable putting green (i.e., at least two assembled, interlocking panels) takes and holds its shape without the need for any rigid platforms, molding, or backing. [0018] In various aspects, the flexibility of the present invention provides a soft, comfortable surface to practice for the user. Furthermore, the flexible surface provides more "give" than a rigid surface or platform, and better simulates a real golf playing or putting surface. Continue reading about Expandable putting green... Full patent description for Expandable putting green Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Expandable putting green patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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