GB2334679A

GB2334679A - A golf mat

Info

Publication number: GB2334679A
Application number: GB9901656A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Rigby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-25
Filing date: 1999-01-27
Publication date: 1999-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-27
Also published as: GB2334679B; GB9803835D0; GB9901656D0

Abstract

A golf mat 1 comprises a base substrate 2 over one side of which is disposed a layer of bristles 3 which form a pile capable of supporting a golf ball in an upraised position above the substrate 2. The bristles 3 are arranged in rows and a plurality of parallel ribs 11 project from said one side of the substrate 2 and between which adjacent ribs 11 of which at least one row of bristles 3 is located. The ribs 11 serve to strengthen the mat 1 by preventing transverse cracking and by preventing bristles 3 struck by a golf club during use of the mat (1) from being sheared from the substrate 2. The golf mat 1 may be reversed so that shots can be played on the other side of the mat.

Description

A GOLF MAT The present invention relates to a golf mat and in particular to a portable golf mat for playing shots off the fairway to prevent damage thereto. However the mat can be readily adapted for use in playing tee shots Conventionally, large golf mats are used for playing off in practice ranges and often all-weather golf mats are located at teeing grounds but generally mats are not used for playing shots off the fairway. However, recently, it has been more common for golf clubs to specify that during the winter and at other times when it is too cold for grass to grow that fairway shots must be taken from a mat in order to protect the grass of the fairway from damage that cannot quickly be rectified. As a result, the player must often now carry a portable golf mat upon which he must place his ball prior to playing shots from the fairway.

Such portable mats as are currently available have several disadvantages. They typically comprise a piece of artificial grass which is attached to a rigid backing.

After repeated use, however, the artificial grass becomes worn and the backing tends to split in the places where it is being subjected to repeated impact from the golf club.

In addition, the construction of the mat tends to prevent it from moulding easily to the contours of the ground on which it is placed, thus making shots awkward to play.

Other mats made from rigid plastics also tend to shatter if mis-hit by a golf club.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or substantially mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages of portable mats.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf mat comprising a base substrate over one side of which is disposed a layer of bristles which form a pile capable of supporting a golf ball in an upraised position above the substrate, and characterised in that the bristles are arranged in rows and in that a plurality of parallel ribs project from said one side of the substrate between adjacent ribs of which at least one row of bristles is located and above the upper edge of which the bristles project.

Preferably, the other side of the base substrate has a bristle-free surface and comprises a support on which a golf ball can be located for playing a shot. This has the advantage of making the mat more versatile and enables shots to be played of both of its sides.

Preferably also, the bristles are grouped into rows of tufts in each of which the bristles are arranged into a predetermined pattern.

Preferably also, the ribs are separated by at least one row of tufts.

Preferably also, the bristles project from the substrate to a height at least twice that of the ribs.

Advantageously, a majority of the bristles project to approximately three times the height of the ribs from the substrate.

Preferably also, the substrate defines at least one hole through which a tee peg can be located through the mat.

Preferably also, the other side of the substrate is provided with a plurality of pointed projections which enable the mat to grip underlying soft ground.

Preferably also, said one side of the substrate is provided with projections comprising resilient and flexible jaws capable of frictionally gripping the stem of a tee peg.

Preferably also, said one side of the substrate defines at least one substantially circular area which is free of bristles and enables a golf ball to be supported by a peripheral ring of bristles at a lower level within the pile than that of a ball which sits directly on top of the pile.

Preferably also, the mat is made from a one-piece flexible plastics moulding. Advantageously the moulding comprises one of low density polyethylene containing an ethylene vinyl acetate additive.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a golf mat according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the mat shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a mat similar but not identical to the mat shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3 with an enlarged perspective scrap view of a tuft of bristles forming part of the mat; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of a hypothetical mat showing six different patterns of bristles forming part of the mat.

With reference to the drawings1 a golf mat 1 according to the invention preferably comprises a onepiece moulding of a flexible and resilient plastics material such as low density polyethylene (LDPE) or similar. Preferably, to enable the mat to be used at low temperatures during winter weather the low density polyethylene of the mat comprises an additive of approximately 30% ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). This softens the plastic of the mat, making it more supple and less likely to split or crack when cold.

The mat comprises a base substrate 2 over which is disposed a layer of flexible bristles 3. The bristles 3 are arranged rows in a predetermined pattern and at least a majority of them project to substantially the same height above the substrate 2 so as to form a pile and render the mat 1 capable of supporting a golf ball in an upraised position above the substrate 2.

It should be noted that in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, whilst the patterns made by the bristles 3 are depicted, not all the individual bristles 3 forming these patterns are shown.

Each individual bristle 3 comprises an elongate block or flap of material which projects upwardly at right angles to the substrate 1. Preferably, in each row the bristles 3 are grouped into tufts 4 in each of which the bristles 3 are arranged into one of a variety of patterns, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. It is expected that only one bristle pattern will be used for any particular mat 1 but the pattern can be varied to provide mats with slightly different characteristics. The patterns may comprise circular bristle patterns 5 and 6 with respectively either a large or small diameter; oval bristle patterns 7; square bristle patterns 8; chevron bristle patterns 9; or random bristle patterns 10. It will however be appreciated that other bristle patterns could be employed.

Located between the rows of bristles 3 and running longitudinally along and upraised from the substrate 2 is a plurality of parallel ribs 11. The ribs 11 are separated from one another by at least one row of tufts 4, dependent on the bristle pattern used but in all cases the bristles 3 of the tufts 4 project above the upper edge of the ribs 11. Preferably the bristles 3 are at least twice as high as the ribs 11 and advantageously are of the order of three times the height of the ribs 11. It is expected that in most cases, the ribs 11 will project above the substrate 2 to a height of around 5 mm whereas the height of at least a majority of the bristles will be around 14 - 15 mm above the substrate 2.

Preferably, the bristled area of the mat 1 is of an elongate, substantially rectangular shape and the ribs 11 are arranged to run longitudinally down the mat 1. In any event, in use the ribs 11 must be substantially aligned with the intended direction of the golf shot to be played.

This is important as the ribs 11 serve two main functions.

First, they strengthen the mat 1 and help to prevent the substrate 2 from cracking transversely in areas where the mat 1 tends to be subjected to repeated impact of the golf club during use. Second, they form channels running longitudinally down the mat 1 into which the bristles 3 struck by the gold club during use of the mat 1 can be flattened by the club. Hence, during a golf stroke the ribs 11 prevent the head of the golf club from striking the base of the bristles 3 where they are joined to the substrate 2 and thereby prevent the bristles from being sheared from the substrate 2 at this joint area, which tends to be a bristle's weakest spot.

The mat 1 can also be provided with other features advantageous to its purpose as will now be described.

As shown in Fig. 2, the underside 12 of the substrate 2 can be provided with a plurality of pointed projections or short spikes 13 which comprise grips to prevent the mat 1 from sliding over soft ground when in use.

The substrate 2 can also define at least one hole 14 (see Fio. 3) through which tee pegs can be located and pushed into underlying ground. This enables the mat 1 to be used when teeing off to protect the surface of the teeing ground.

The mat 1 can also be adapted to support a tee peg itself in order that it can be used in freezing weather or in other conditions or when it is not possible to push a tee peg into the ground through the hole 14. To this end, at least one of the tufts 4 can be replaced by a projecting block 15 (see Fig. 3) which defines four upstanding resilient jaws 16 that can frictionally grip the stem of a tee peg located therebetween. However the substrate 2 at the base of the block 15, centrally of the jaws 16, may also define a hole through which the tee peg can be pushed into the underlying ground. In this latter case the jaws assist in support of the tee peg in an upright position.

In order to support a golf ball when the mat 1 is located on steeply sloping ground, the mat 1 is preferably also provided with at least one substantially circular area 17 (see Fig. 1) where the tufts 4 are more widely spaced apart. This area 17 can comprise the area adjacent to the hole 14 and enables a golf ball to be supported and to some extent gripped by a peripheral ring of tufts 4 at a lower level within the pile of the mat 1 than a ball which sits directly on top of a plurality of bristles 3.

The golf ball is therefore less capable of rolling off the mat 1.

A bristleless portion 18 of the substrate 2 can also be made to project from at least one end of the mat 1 and be provided with a clip attachment 19 whereby the mat 1 can be readily attached to a golf bag when not in use.

This projection 18 can also be made of triangular shape with an apex 20 that acts as a pointer to indicate the correct placement of the mat 1 when in use. As previously mentioned, in order to enable the ribs 11 to function correctly, the ribs 11 must be substantially aligned with the direction of the intended golf shot. Hence by placing the mat 1 in a position wherein at least one of the pointers 20 points either towards the pin or in the intended direction of the shot, the ribs 11 will automatically lie in the correct orientation.

Finally, in a highly advantageous modification, the mat 1 can be made two-sided so that shots can be played off either surface. In this way, the mat is suitable for use in playing tee shots and for playing off the fairway.

To this end, the underside 12 of the substrate 2 can be provided with at least one support 21 on which a golf ball can be located for playing a shot. Such a support 21 can take many forms but preferably comprises a pair of partcircular walls 22 on which a golf ball can be seated. The walls 22 may also be conjoined to ramps 23 which are intended to support the walls 22 and to guide the club into contact with the ball thus preventing the club from striking the base of the walls 22 where they are joined to the substrate 2.

It is also advantageous to locate the support 21 adjacent either the hole 14 or the projecting block 15 on the opposite side of the mat 1, as shown in Fig, 2, as at these positions the mat 1 is pierced and a tee peg can be used in addition to the support 21.

It will be appreciated that a golf mat 1 according to the invention is primarily for use as a small portable mat for playing shots off the fairway during a game of golf in order to protect the fairway from damage. However, the mat 1 can be readily adapted by the provision of the holes 14 and/or the jaws 16 or support 21 in order to enable the mat 1 to be used for playing tee shots. It is therefore also possible to make such a mat in a large size suitable for permanent placement at a teeing ground or on a practice range.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A golf mat comprising a base substrate over one side of which is disposed a layer of bristles which form a pile capable of supporting a golf ball in an upraised position above the substrate, and characterised in that the bristles are arranged in rows and in that a plurality of parallel ribs project from said one side of the substrate between adjacent ribs of which at least one row of bristles is located and above the upper edge of which the bristles project.
2. A golf mat as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the other side of the base substrate has a bristlefree surface and comprises a support on which a golf ball can be located for playing a shot.
3. A golf mat as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the rows of bristles comprise a plurality of tufts in each of which the bristles are arranged in a predetermined pattern.
4. A golf mat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bristles project from the substrate to a height at least twice that of the ribs.
5. A golf mat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a majority of the bristles project to approximately three times the height of the ribs from the substrate.
6. A golf mat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the substrate defines at least one hole through which a tee peg can be located through the mat.
7. A golf mat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the other side of the substrate is provided with a plurality of pointed projections which enable the mat to grip underlying soft ground.
8. A golf mat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said one side of the substrate is provided with projections comprising resilient and flexible jaws capable of frictionally gripping the stem of a tee peg.
9. A golf mat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said one side of the substrate defines at least one substantially circular area which is free of bristles and enables a golf ball to be supported by a peripheral ring of bristles at a lower level within the pile than that of a ball which sits directly on top of the pile.
10. A golf mat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises a one-piece flexible plastics moulding.
11. A golf mat as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that it comprises a moulding of low density polyethylene containing an ethylene vinyl acetate additive.
12. A golf mat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.