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Golfing practice deviceRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Tee, WireGolfing practice device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060211520, Golfing practice device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention generally relates to golfing and putting practice devices. BACKGROUND [0002] The game of golf is a pastime that many persons spend a great deal of time practicing to obtain and maintain proficiency. One aspect of the game is putting. Although putting practice facilities are available at golf courses, because the putting swing has a low-range of motion and weather conditions are not always permitting, many persons practice putting in the confines of their home, office, or hotel room. [0003] Many golf course greens slope, or "break." One problem with in-home putting practice is the lack of putting practice surfaces that slope. In order to provide as accurate a simulation of putting greens as possible for in-home putting practice, numerous putting practice devices, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,412 (the '412 patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,166, simulate the sloping and rolling nature of golf greens. Although accurately depicting the surfaces of putting greens, many of these practice devices have deficiencies stemming from two inherent attributes: (i) a putting surface and (ii) a system which creates the slopes and angles in the putting surface. [0004] These attributes create problems in prior art, such as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,655,971 and 6,746,338, producing devices which are cumbersome to move and store. Providing golfers with a simulated putting surface requires space to store the device, ability to move the device between storage and use, and time to set up the practice putting device. For persons traveling, with limited storage space, or with limited time, owning and setting up a putting practice device which provides the angles and slopes of a putting surface may not be feasible. [0005] Current putting practice devices are also difficult to maintain and service. Many current devices, such as the '412 patent and U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,522, contain moving mechanical parts such as air bladders and springs to create the angles in the putting surface. These mechanical parts are located under the putting surface. When these devices become inoperable, they are difficult to repair and replace due to their location. [0006] Current putting devices are also expensive to purchase. Because the devices contain multiple parts, their cost of manufacture is high, and this cost is passed along to the consumer. SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is an isometric front view of a device for raising carpet to create sloped putting surfaces according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0008] FIG. 2a is a side view of a device for raising carpet to create sloped putting surfaces illustrating the manner in which the carpet is pierced by the device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0009] FIG. 2b is a side view of a device for raising carpet to create sloped putting surfaces illustrating the manner in which the carpet is raised to create the desired sloping angle, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0010] FIG. 3 shows an isometric front view of a device for raising carpet to create sloped putting surfaces with an integrally formed handle and wire form, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of a device for raising carpet to create sloped putting surfaces where an acute angle is created by the wire form, according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0012] One embodiment of the current invention comprises a handle attached to a wire form adapted to pierce and raise carpet to create a sloped surface for putting practice. Sloped surfaces can be created on surfaces such as, but not limited to, tacked carpets, untacked carpets, and large area rugs. The wire form is comprised of a single wire extending from the handle and ending in a sharp tip. In variations, the handle and the wire form are integrally formed. In other variations, the wire form can be a dual strand wire form to increase stability and strength. Typically, the wire form extends away from the handle in a helix, spiraling in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, then becoming generally straight along a path generally parallel to the helix's longitudinal axis, and finally ending in a short spiral. The direction of the short spiral is opposite the direction of the helix. For example, if the helix extends away from the handle in a clockwise direction, the spiral would be a counter-clockwise spiral. In variations, the wire form creates an acute angle, such as a hook, to the generally straight section instead of comprising of a short spiraled section. The acute angle and/or spiraled section are necessary when raising the carpet in order to prevent the sharp tip from piercing material or scratching a floor underlying the carpet, such as, but not limited to an underlying hardwood floor. Additionally, the acute angle and spiraled section provide vertical stability to the device, creating a larger frictional surface area with the underlying floor or material than a single sharp tip would provide. Other variations of the device include a sheath covering the wire form. The sheath acts as a protective device during non-use, protecting the wire form from damage and providing protection from the wire form's sharp tip. [0013] One method of using the embodiment to raise a carpet and create a sloped putting surface comprises piercing the carpet and rotating the device. The carpet is pierced by placing the sharp tip on the surface of the carpet and pressing the sharp tip into the carpet by rotating the device in the direction of the sharp-tipped spiraled section of the wire form. For example, for a wire form comprising a clockwise helix and a counter-clockwise spiral, the device is rotated in a counter-clockwise manner to pierce the carpet. Once the tip has pierced the carpet, the device is rotated in the same direction until the carpet is placed at the beginning of the helix. In variations, the counter-clockwise rotation is not needed to pierce and place the carpet at the clockwise helix. In devices where the wire form creates an acute angle with the helical longitudinal axis instead of comprising of a spiraled tip, the entire device is placed at an angle to the carpet, with the sharp tip placed on the carpet. The sharp tip pierces the carpet by a user holding the handle and pressing downwardly while pivoting the device around the handle, hooking the carpet onto the sharp tip. In both carpet piercing variations, upon reaching the beginning of the helix, the device is rotated in the direction necessary to move the carpet up the helix and towards the handle. For example, a device containing a helix extending away from the handle in a clockwise direction would need to be rotated clockwise in order to raise the carpet. Upon reaching the desired sloping angle, the user stops rotating the device. The device is then checked for stability, taking care that the device is generally vertical and will not tip when a golf ball travels across the sloped area. Once secure, a golf ball is putted across the sloped surface. In variations, the golf ball is putted towards a ball-catching device or putted across multiple sloped surfaces. Additional sloped surfaces are created using the same method used to create a single sloped putting surface described above. In variations, additional devices are used to change the sloping angle in the original sloped putting surface. [0014] In one embodiment, the device can resemble a golf object. The handle is an object such as a golf ball, a club head, or a pin flag, and is sized to fit the grip of an average adult. The sheath can be a corresponding object such as a golf tee, club shaft, or flag pole. In other variations, the device can resemble any object, such as, but not limited to a football helmet, a flower, and/or an automobile. Terminology [0015] The term "or" as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive; rather the term is inclusive meaning "either or both". [0016] References in the specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "a preferred embodiment", "an alternative embodiment" and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer to the same embodiment. [0017] The term "couple" or "coupled" as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the identified elements, components or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact. [0018] Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of a applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting. [0019] The term "wire form" as used in this specification and the appending claims is meant to convey a wire-like device, but is not meant to only refer to a metallic device formed from wire stock. Continue reading about Golfing practice device... Full patent description for Golfing practice device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golfing practice device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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