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Variable slope, golf course simulatorRelated 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, Selectively Contourable (e.g., Slope Simulating Surface, Etc.)Variable slope, golf course simulator description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070066413, Variable slope, golf course simulator. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/718,350, filed Sep. 19, 2005 by William F. Oberlander and Irving Betch. The teachings of this application are incorporated herein by reference to the extent that they do not conflict with the teaching herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to the game of golf. More particularly, this invention relates to an improvement for design of the practice surfaces that golfers utilize when practicing their swings and hitting the golf ball. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In an effort to improve their golf game, golfers often visit driving ranges or practice at home. While such practice may help golfers to work out a particular aspect of their game or to warm up prior to actually playing on a course, it usually entails hitting the golf ball off a flat and fairly short cut grass surface. It does not, by any means, simulate the actual conditions encountered by a golfer on a real golf course. Hence, the need for a golfer to be able to practice hitting golf balls off of several types of surfaces and off of several types of slopes. [0006] Golf-training devices that allow one to practice off hitting surfaces that are adjustable so as to provide varying amount of slope are well known. Such devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,358,251, 5,683,306, 5,820,478, 5,460,379 and 6,663,498 and in published U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003/0109325, 2004/0142759, 2005/0090325, 2005/0113182, and 2005/0153787. [0007] However, what such surfaces don't provide is a practice area from which a golfer may hit shots having any one of a variety of different simulated golf lies (e.g., the short cut grass of the fairway, the longer grass of the fringe of a putting surface, the still longer and entangled grass of the rough, or the sand of a bunker) which can then be further adjusted so as to add varying amounts of slope to the lie. These are the conditions that every golfer encounters on a real golf course: multiple lies with variable slopes. All golf courses have fairways, fringes, roughs, and sand traps that include mounds, hills, and depressions that challenge the golfer to take a stance and hit all length shots from a wide variety of lies with varying degrees of slope. [0008] Thus, despite the prior art, there still exists a continuing need for improvements in the design of golf practice surfaces that can better simulate the actual playing conditions that one encounters on a golf course. [0009] 3. Objects and Advantages [0010] Recognizing the need for the development of improved golf training devices, the present invention is generally directed to satisfying the needs set forth above and overcoming the disadvantages identified with prior art devices. [0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved golf ball hitting surface which better simulates the conditions that a golfer encounters on a golf course and which the golfer may use to practice their swings and hitting a golf ball under more accurately simulated, real golf conditions. [0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a remotely operated, fully rotational, golf hitting surface that presents a golfer with a variety of lies, each of which may have applied to it a desired amount of slope. [0013] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent as the invention is better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description that follows. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] In accordance with the present invention, a first embodiment of it take the form of an improved golf practice apparatus for use by a golfer who stands on the apparatus and practices hitting golf balls placed on it. This embodiment includes: (a) a platform having a plurality of portions, each of which has a differing simulated golf lie surface, wherein when the golfer takes a stance above a selected one of the simulated golf lie surfaces, the golfer's stance defines a desired direction in which the golfer plans to hit golf balls placed on the selected surface, (b) a plurality of actuators that are capable of providing any one of a plurality of prescribed slopes from horizontal to the platform, and (c) a universal joint and drive system for rotating the platform so that the golfer's stance-dictated, desired direction can be oriented to align with a specified golf ball hitting direction. [0015] Included among the plurality of simulated golf lie surfaces that can be used on this platform are surfaces denoted herein as fairway, putting green fringe, sand, rough, hard pan or any combination of these surfaces. By properly scaling and configuring these components of a preferred embodiment, slopes from horizontal of up to 30 degrees may be imposed on the platform. [0016] Thus, there has been summarized above, rather broadly and understanding that there are other preferred embodiments which have not been summarized above, the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims to this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. [0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hitting platform portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. [0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the slope and rotation assembly portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Continue reading about Variable slope, golf course simulator... Full patent description for Variable slope, golf course simulator Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Variable slope, golf course simulator 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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