The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 07, 1995
Filed:
Sep. 13, 1993
George C Smith, McKinleysville, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A golf practice apparatus includes an upper platform having a tee and a target located forwardly of the tee; a golf ball arranged at the tee above the platform for striking towards the target area, the golf ball having one end of a tether attached thereto, the tether extending through a slot in the upper platform with the other end of the tether being secured to elastic bands anchored to a lower platform at a location rearwardly of the tee area; and a plurality of bearings located in the tee area and supported on the lower platform, and arranged so that the tether engages at least two of the plurality of bearings. The tether has a sleeve attached thereto which is adapted to engage the lower surface of the upper platform, and thereby generate friction between the upper platform and the sleeve when the ball is struck. The combination of a plurality of bearings and a friction sleeve provides significant braking forces to slow down the flight of the ball, and to control return of the ball for a subsequent shot. The apparatus also provides for various adjustments to permit simulation of various golf shots and various lies of the ball.