US2118084A - Golf game device - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1938. A. A. HEINZELMANN GOLF GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR ATTORNEY x w May 24, 1938- A. A. HEINZELMANN GOLF GAME DEV I CB 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1934 Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to golf game devices and refers particularly to such a device in which the contour of the golf course or green may be changed so as to present different arrangements of interposed obstacles or hazards in an extensive variety of possible combinations.

The golf game device of my invention belongs to that type of such devices having a single golf hole disposed remotely relatively to a fixedly cated golf club associated with a tee, with the idea of shooting the ball into the hole with the fewest possible number of shots, each shot being a long putt, and thus, when a shot is finally successful, making this hole in one.

In carrying out my invention in a practical manner, the links or course comprises suitable fabric mounted at its margins smoothly upon a frame, this fabric being somewhat loose or flabby within the boundaries of the frame, so that thus it has a tendency to sag below the level of the top of the frame. A plurality of lifting elements are severally disposed at different selected places beneath this loose fabric, each of which is adapted to be individually operated independently of the others. When one of these lifting elements is raised, it produces a hillock. A single such hillock, or any number up to the full plurality for which provision has been made, may be produced at will by means of manually operable set ting members, with intervening hollows or depressions between such hillocks and around each of them.

Any number of different arrangements or combinations of such hazards of hillocks and hollows or depressions may be produced, within the capacity of the design of the device. Thus a large number of changes in the contour of the course or green can be produced by a relatively small number of the fabric-lifting elements and in a conveniently small and compact device of my invention.

The golf club is pivotally mounted to swing on a standard which may be rotatably turned for sighting the chosen direction in which the golf ball is to be shot and which is thought most likely to cause it to enter the golf hole. The shot may be made by pressing down with the desired quick ness of action upon a finger piece which, when released by the finger, is spring-returned in readiness for the next shot.

The golf game device of my invention possesses other valuable attributes and desirable features of construction which will become evident from the following description taken in connection a with the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of my invention and in which similar nu-' merals designate similar parts.

Figure 1- is a. plan view of one form of the golf game device of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device as 5 shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar and further enlarged bro-' 10 ken view in full size.

Figure 6' is a transverse section on the line 6--'-'B of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a vertical section on the line 1- of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse broken sec tion on the lines 8-8 of Figures 1 and 3.

Figure 9 is a full size elevation, partly in vertical section, of the golf club stand, similar to Figure 2 at the right.

Figure 10 is a similar view of this stand from the right side of Figure 9.

The particular golf game device of my invention, 'lustrated in the accompanying drawings, and from a full sized working model of which these drawings were made, has a rectangular outer frame approximately inches long, 14 inches wide, and nearly 3 inches deep, so it will be seen that the entire device may be readily handled and conveniently placed upon a table or the like for use and later put aside in any convenient small space. While the outer frame shown is made of wood, as is also an inner frame carried thereby, it is evident that a metal framework could be employed if so desired.

The outer frame shown in the drawings comprises a front end strip member H, similar right and left side piece strip members I2 and I3, and a rear strip member l4, the front frame member H being shown as somewhat narrower than the other frame members and with the immediately adjacentfron't end portions of the side members 12 and I3- cut down to the level of the top of this front end member II, for a purpose to be described later.

An inner frame is carried within the upper portion of this outer frame and comprises a front bar I5, right and left side bars l6 and I1, and a rear end bar l8. The top face of the front bar I5 is flush with the top face of the front outer frame bar H, with the upper face of the rest of this inner frame at the same level. The front frame bar l5 of this inner frame is secured to the front frame member ll of the outer frame, such as by means of glue or screws, not shown. The side The mentioned space at the sides and rear between the inner and outer frames is occupied by a gutter or runway for returning to the player the golf balls of missed shots which do not stay upon the green. The bottom of this runway or gutter is shown as formed by means of three angle strips 20, 2|, and 22 having downwardly extending vertical flanges secured respectively to the inner sides of the outer frame members l2, I3, and M. The rear gutter strip 22 slopes or inclines in both directions from the middle as indicated by arrows in Figure 1, while the lateral gutter strips 20 and 2| incline forwardly from the lower ends of the rear gutter strip 22 as is also indicated by arrows in Figure 1.

At the front of the device, the lower ends of the gutter side strips 23 and 2| overlie and open into the opposite end portions of a transversely extending-trough 23, shown as of V-shape and which inclines from the right towards the left side of the device adjacent to the front bar I5 of the inner frame. The lower end of this trough has an outlet hole 24 through the outer frame member |3 into an external ball-receiving cup 25 from which returned golf balls 2B26 may be conveniently picked out by the fingers.

' The links or course to be played over is formed by two layers or plies of suitable fabric of which, in the device described, the under or lower layer 21 is firm, heavy canvas while the upwardly exposed surface layer 23 is formed of somewhat thinner felt. These two plies are laid together with their margins extending over the upper faces of the bars |5, |6, I1, and H! of the inner frame. These two plies are shown as turned downwardly and inwardly around the side bars l6 and H and the rear end bar 18 and as secured to the lower sidesof these bars by means of a series of suitable tacks or nails, while the front end margin of these'two superposed plies 21 and 28 is overlapped upon the upper face of the front end bar I5 and is similarly secured thereto.

A front finish strip or cover plate 29 overlies the front margin of the superposed plies 21 and 28 and extends forwardly over the top of the front outer frame member II, this finish strip or cover plate 29 being indicated as secured by means of screws to the underlying front bar i5 of the inner frame. This front top strip 29 serves also another purpose to be described lat-er.

The felt layer 28 is desirably adhesively attached to the underlying canvas layer 21. This two-ply layer of fabric is not to be stretched tightly over and across the inner frame. While it is laid smoothly at its margins on the upper face of the frame bars l5, l6, I1, and I8, it extends loosely or in an unstretched condition over the enclosed space surrounded by this frame so as there to be somewhat baggy and flabby and thus to have a natural tendency to sag or settle down byits own weight as shown in the drawings.

The outer or upper felt layer or ply 28 should be green in color while the exposed portions of the outer frame, including the front cover plate 29, are desirably red in coior since red is complemental to green and thus results in an attractive appearance. The exposed metal parts of the device, to be described later, may desirably be black in color, excepting the golf club and its stem or This corner 7 member 33 may be of wood, as indicated in the drawings, and has its upper flat surface flush with the upper faces of the adjacent frame bars l6 and I8. This underlying member 30 has its ends secured to these frame bars I6 and l8,

being shown as notched therein, and where they may be firmly glued in place or otherwise secured to these frame bars. Reenforcing brackets (not shown) may also be employed for this'member 30, if desired. v

This corner member 30 has a round opening 3| provided through it forming a golf hole into which and through which one of the golf balls 2|526 passes when a successful shot ismade. The inwardly directed edge of this flat supporting member 30 is desirably of rounded contour as shown at the front of or on the approach sides of the golf hole 3|. This opening or golf hole 3| in the corner member 30 of course extends up- 'wardly through the fabric plies 21 and 28 as shown in the drawings.

An inclined ball runway 32, having its upper end secured to the lower side of the corner member 33, is positioned below the golf hole-3| and extends diagonally at a downward inclination with its lower forward end opening into the transverse runway trough 23 adjacent the lower end of the latter, which, as above mentioned, opens through the frame hole 24 outwardly into the ball-receiving cup 25. This runway 32 is shown as being a V-shaped trough member which is somewhat widened or flattened at its upper end in line with the golf hole 3|. However, this runway 32, instead of being V-shaped, could be of channel shape, that being immaterial.

In successfully carrying out my invention in a practical manner, I have employed solid polished steel balls 26-26 of approximately the size shown in Figures 9 and 10. A golf tee 33 is positioned on the green 28 adjacent to its forward, left hand corner and thus diagonally across the green from the golf hole 3|. The top of this tee 33 is slightly hollowed out as shown in Figures 9 and 10 so that a golf ball 23 will rest thereon without rolling off. This tee 33 has a downwardly extended cylindrical stem 34 which passes through holes in the fabric layers 21 and 28 and is removably received in an aperture 35 which extends through an underlying corner block 36 which is secured to the adjacent end portions of the inner frame bars l5 and H immediately beneath the canvas 21 at this point.

The stem 34 of the tee 33 forms a pivotal support for a rotatably adjustable vertically extending flattened standard 31 which at its lower end has a short horizontal portion joined to the tee 33 so that this standard 31 is thus out of vertical alignment with the tee 33 and normally disposed at the right side thereof as shown in the drawings. This standard 31 thus is supported by and may be rotatably turned on the vertical axis formed by the stem 34, by which this standard 31 as well as the tee 33 are removably supported above the green 28.

A golf club head 38, having a slight loft of its striker face, is shown as provided with a small concave recess 39 at the place where this club head 38 is to strike the golf ball 26 with the latter resting upon the tee 33. A golf club shaft 46 extends upwardly from the head 38 adjacent to the'standard 31. The upper end of this shaft 40 is provided with an extended bearing 4| which extends above the tee 33 and is pivoted upon a horizontal stud 42 which is rigidly carried by the standard 3'! and upon which the golf shaft bearing 4| is retained by means of an outer rounded cap 43, shown as a cap nut threaded upon the end of this pivot stud 42. The upper face of the cover plate 29, being substantially at the same level as the upper faces of the outer frame members |2 and I3, gives ample clearance for the swing of the golf club head 38.

The bearing 4| is provided with a forwardly extended lever arm 44, shown as in line with the golf club shaft 40 and as projecting substantially at right angles therewith. A vertical stem 45 rigidly extends upwardly from the upper end of the standard 31 in line with the bearing 4| and its pivot stud 42 and in the same plane with the golf club shaft 40 and its lateral arm 44. A tubular cylindrical finger piece 46, having a closed and rounded upper end, has its bore 41 mounted to slide upon the stem 45. A coiled thrust spring 48, between the upper end of the stem 45 and the closed upper end of the finger piece 46, urges the latter upwardly.

The lower portion of this finger piece 46 has a laterally and downwardly extended side arm 49, the lower end of which overlies and is adapted to engage with the golf club side arm 44. A stirrup 58, carried by this finger piece arm 49, engages beneath the golf club arm 44. In order to facilitate assembling of the associated parts, this stirmp 56 is pivoted to the finger piece arm 49 by means of a horizontal pin 5| which allows this stirrup 50 to be swung into and out of engagement with the golf club operating arm 44. However, this stirrup 59 is prevented from swinging inwardly by means of a tail arm stop pin 52 which is normally in engagement with the inner side of the finger piece arm 49 above the stirrup pivot 5|.

The spring 48 is normally effective to lift or retract the golf club head 38 to the position shown in full lines in Figures 1, 2, 9, and 10. When a finger is pressed downward upon the upper end of the finger piece 46, as indicated in Figures 2 and 9, then all of the mentioned movable parts associated with the golf club will be moved to cause the golf club head 38 to strike the golf ball 26 which rests upon the tee 33, this striking position being indicated by broken lines in Figure 9.

After the club head 38 has thus struck the ball 26, it continues to move forward just above the tee 33 and will be stopped about in line with the other side of the standard 3'! by reason of the .lower end of the finger piece 46 abutting against the upper end of the standard 31, as will be clear from Figure 9. When the finger is removed from the finger piece 46, the spring 48 immediately become effective again to retract the golf club in readiness for its next succeeding stroke.

In making the shot as above-described, it is to be understood that the standard 31 is to be turned or rotated upon the lower stem 34 for sighting the course of the ball in whatever direction is thought most likely to prove a successful shot by causing the ball to drop into the golf hole 3|.

As shown in the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5,

the two-ply fabric 21-48 forming the course has been lifted at two places thereby forming two hummocks or hillocks 53-54 in the green 28 with intervening hollows or depressions between and surrounding these hummocks as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2. It is evident from the position of these hummocks, as shown in Figure 1, that the golfer is confronted with a diificult putt since the golf ball is likely to be deflected" by either or both of these hummocks 53-54 into one of the gutters 20, 2|, or 22.

The particular device of my invention shown in the drawings provides for playing without having any hummock upon the green 28, or for raising anywhere from one up to a total of four such hummocks by means of a corresponding number of independent manually operable setting mechanisms. For clarity and easy understanding of the drawings, these separate mechanisms have been respectively designated in general by the letters A, B, C, D, successively from the left side of the machine as viewed in Figure 1. Since all of these mechanisms are of a substantially similar construction, the same reference numerals have been applied throughout to their corresponding operating parts and elements.

In order to provide support and mounting means for some of the operating parts of these mechanisms, a branching bracket plate 55, suitably spaced below the canvas 21 and spaced to a considerably less extent above the level of the bottom of the outer frame, so as to give clearance, has one of its ends secured to the front outer frame member II, and has the ends of its branching arms secured to the side bars l6 and I1 respectively of the inner frame. This mounting plate 55 has formed thereon four upturned mounting lugs or ears 56-56, each of which carries a horizontal pivot stud 51 which extends transversely of the device. These pivot studs 5151 are positioned adjacent to selected places where it is desired to provide for raising hummocks, such as 53-54, upon the green formed by the surfacing felt 28.

A corresponding number of bell-crank levers are respectively pivoted upon the pivot studs 5|-5'|, each such lever comprising a rearwardly extending arm 58 and a somewhat shorter upstanding arm 59. A link 60 pivotally connects the rear lever arm 56 with a lug 6| which is attached to and extends downwardly from the canvas 21 above the end of this lever arm 58. This lug 6| is shown as secured to the lower side of the canvas 21 by means of two elongated blocks or strips 6262 of soft rubber which extends longitudinally of the device, one at each side of the lug 6|, with these pieces 6262 of rubber notched around feet shown as formed on the upper end of the lug 6|, these rubber pieces 62 62 being cemented to the lower surface of the canvas 21 as indicated in Figures 5 and 6.

A retractile coiled spring 63 extends forwardly from a pin 64, by means of which it is anchored to the rear inner frame bar l8 and has its other or forward end connected to the upstanding. lever arm 59 by means of a wire 65. Thus through the mentioned connections this spring 63 has a constant tendency to lower the two-ply fabric 2|28 from its upper hillock-forming position, shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, for the hillock 53, to the depressed broken line position shown in Figure 5, for the operating mechanism A. Each otherwise unrestrained spring 63 is thus adapted to draw the fabric 21-28 downward into a.decideddepression at the point of attachment of the rubber pieces 62--62 to this fabric, as shown in Figure 4 for the operating mechanism B.

The upstanding lever arm 59 also has an operating wire or link 66 connected thereto which extends forwardly at a slight upward inclination and is connected to theinner or rear end of a normally substantially horizontal latch link 51. This link 61 is in the form of a flat strip disposed vertically on edge and is accommodated in a rather deep slot 68 formed in the top margin of the front outer frame member I l and in the upper side of the front inner frame bar Hi. This link 61 is guided beneath the cover plate 29 and in a vertical slot 69 in the upper end of a vertically disposed front face plate 1!] secured on the front face of the outer front frame member H and shown as extending throughout the vertical width of the latter.

This link 61 is notched on its lower edge forwardly from its rear end to provide a long ramp surface H terminatingoutwardly or forwardly in an abrupt latch shoulder l2; When this link is drawn outward from the broken line position thereof shown in Figure 5, to or slightly beyond the full line position there shown, its shoulder '52 is adapted to have latching engagement over the upper end of the face plate 10 at the bottom of the guide slot 69 therein. The face plate It thus forms a keeper for the latch link 61.

A forwardly and backwardly movable operating lever '13 is fulcrumed at its lower end on a pivot pin 14 carried by a lug 15 formed on the lower end portion of the front face plate It. The upper end portion of this lever 13 and the outer end portion of the latch link 61 are pivotally connected together by a pin 16. The operating lever 53 extends above this link pivot Iii and is formed into a finger piece 11, which is shown in Figure 1 as inclined slightly towards the left at its upper end. The latch link 6'5 extends forwardly beyond its pivot 16 and its outer end portion is turned at an angle upwardly and towards the right, forming a finger piece '18, free access to which thus will not be obstructed by the finger piece 11 of the operating lever 13. I

It will now be clear that when the operating lever 13 is rocked forwardly by means of its finger piece '11, from substantially the broken line position of this lever shown in Figure 5 to the full line position there shown, the tension of the stretched spring 63 upon the operating wire 56, which as above noted inclines upwardly from the upstanding bell-crank lever arm 59 to its connection with the inner end of the horizontal link 61, will cause the shoulder 12 of the latter to snap into engagement with the face plate 10, as this link is withdrawn from its broken line position shown in Figure 5 to its full line position there shown.

It is evident, as is clearly shown in Figure 5, that this movement of the operating lever 13 will raise the course-forming fabric 2'l-28 from the broken line position of Figure 5 to the full line' position there shown, thereby to form the hillock or hummock 53. It is also clearly evident that forward pressure upon the finger piece 73 of the link 61, in the full line position of the latter shown in Figure 5, will be effective to disengage the link shoulder l2 from the face plate 10, whereupon, by easing the finger pressure against this finger piece 18, all of the above described connected parts will be returned or retracted from their Figure 5 full line positions, to their broken line positions there shown.

The operation of the illustrated form of the their substantially upright positions shown in the' drawings for the two such mechanisms B and D. Whenever the player so desires, he may provide a green of uneven contour, for making more diflicult shots. In doing this, he merely has to press forward upon any selected number of the finger pieces 1l'|1 of these levers. In the drawings the operating levers 13-13 belonging to the two lifting mechanisms A and C are shown as being thus set forward, thereby raising the two hillocks 53 and 54, as described. 7

Whenever the player wishes to change the contour of the green, for making his shots, as he may'think, easier, or for making them more difficult, or for making his game more interesting by variety, he may reset the operating levers 13-13 in any number at either of their two positions and in accordance with any permutative combination of these levers he may select. With the four setting mechanisms A, B, C, and D shown in the drawings, a total of sixteen changes may be made in the surface contour of the green, inclusive of the one first mentioned having'no hillocks and in which all of these operating levers would then be set at their retracted upright position.

It will thus be seen that the golf games which are capable of being played with the device of my invention will not become dull or uninteresting, but, by reason of numerous changes or alterations which may be made in the contour of the green, interesting diversion including a large variety of tests of skill will be afforded. In building the machine, the places upon the green where it is thought to be most desirable to be capable of raising hillocks are predetermined in the most advantageous manner, for rendering a variety of combinations such as will result in the most interesting variety for the different games, with the different contour of the green.

In the particular device shown in the drawings, all of the locations where the green may be raised are directly indicated in Figure 1, and are shown from the lower side in Figure 3, by the disposition of the four lifting members 6 l-'-6 I, together wit their rubber attaching strips 62-452.,

It is to be noted as now evident that the golf game deviceof my invention is of simple, compact, self-contained, strong, durable, and economical construction, as well as convenient, dependable, and reliable in use, besides being well adapted for quickly and easily making a large number of changes in the contour of the green.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction shown in the drawings and above particularly described, within the principle and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I do not limit myself to specific details of construction as shown and described, nor to a particular relationship of the operating parts, nor to size, shape, material, or configuration, these being given simply as a means for clearly describing the device of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a golf game device, in combination, a 7 6 framework, a fabric forming a golf green carried at its margins by said framework, and a fabriclifting mechanism carried by said framework and adapted to lift said fabric from below into a hillock upon its upper surface, said mechanism comprising a fabric-lifting element in engageinent with the lower side of said fabric, a bellcrank lever having a substantially horizontal arm, a horizontal fulcrum pivot for said lever on said framework, a link pivotally connecting said lever arm with said element, an operating link pivotally connected to the other arm of said bell-crank lever, and an operating member pivotally connected to said operating link and extending substantially horizontally to the outside of said framework.

2. Ina golf game device, in combination, a framework, a fabric forming a golf green carried at its margins by said framework, and a fabricshifting mechanism carried by said framework and adapted to shift a portion of said fabric vertically between a lower depression-forming position and an upper hillock-forming position, said mechanism comprising a fabric-shifting element attached to the lower side of said fabric, a bellcrank lever having a substantially horizontal arm, a horizontal fulcrum pivot for said lever on said framework, a link pivotally connecting said lever arm with said element, an operating link pivotally connected to the other arm of said bell-crank lever and extending substantially horizontally, an operating member pivotally connected to said operating link and extending substantially horizontally to the outside of said framework and being adapted when withdrawn outwardly to lift said element, disengageable engaging means adapted to retain said operating member at its said withdrawn outer position, and a spring acting upon said bellcrank lever and adapted to lower said element upon the disengagement of said engaging means.

3. In a golf game device, in combination, a framework, a fabric forming a golf green carried at its margins by said framework, and a fabriclifting mechanism carried by said framework and adapted to lift said fabric from below into a hillock upon its upper surface, said mechanism comprising a fabric-lifting element in engagement with the lower side of said fabric, a bell-crank lever having a substantially horizontal rearwardly extending arm and having an upstanding arm, a horizontal fulcrum pivot for said lever on said framework in spaced relation beneath said fabric, a substantially upright link pivotally connecting said horizontal lever arm with said element, an operating link pivotally connected to and extending forwardly from the upstanding arm of said lever, a latch link having a rear end pivotally connected to said operating link and ex tending forward substantially horizontally to the outside of the front of said framework, and a keeper mounted upon said framework at the front thereof and adapted to be engaged by said latch link at a withdrawn outer position of the latter thereby to retain said fabric at its lifted hillock-forming position.

4. In a golf game device, in combination, a framework, a fabric forming a golf green carried at its margins by said framework, and a fabriclifting mechanism carried by said framework and adapted to lift said fabric from below into a hillock upon its upper surface, said mechanism comprising a fabric-lifting element in engagement with the lower side of said fabric, a bell-crank lever having a substantially horizontal rearwardly extending arm and having an upstanding arm, a

horizontal fulcrum pivot for said lever on said framework in spaced relation beneath said fabric, a substantially upright link pivotally connecting said horizontal lever arm with said element,

an operating-link pivotally connected to and extending forwardly from the upstanding arm of said lever, a latch link having a rear end pivotally connected to said operating link and extending forward substantially horizontally to the outside of the front of said framework, a keeper mounted upon said framework at the front thereof and adapted'to be engaged by said latch link at a Withdrawn outer position of the latter thereby to retain said fabric at its lifted hillock-forming position, and an upright operating lever fulcrumed at its lower end upon the outer side of the front of said framework and pivoted to said latch link, said operating lever extending above said latch link to form a finger piece and said latch link being extended forwardly beyond said operating lever into a finger piece thereon.

5. In a golf game device, in combination, a framework, a fabric forming a golf green carried at its margins by said framework, and a fabricshifting mechanism carried by said framework tically between a lower depression-forming position and an upper hillock-forming position, said mechanism comprising a fabric-shifting element attached to the lower side of said fabric, a bellcrank lever having a substantially horizontal rearwardly extending arm and having an upstanding arm, a horizontal fulcrum pivotfor said lever on said framework in spaced relation be neath said fabric, a substantially upright link pivotally connecting said horizontal lever arm with said element, an operating link pivotally connected to and extending forwardly at a slight upward inclination from the upstanding lever arm of said lever, a latch link having a rear end pivotally connected to said operating link and extending forward substantially horizontally to the outside of said framework at the front thereof and being adapted when withdrawn forwardly to lift said element, a keeper on the front of said framework below said latch link, said latch link being provided with a latch shoulder adapted to engage with said keeper when said latch link is withdrawn forwardly so as thus to retain said fabric at its lifted hillock-forming position, and a retractile spring anchored to said framework rearwardly from said bell-crank lever and connected to the upstanding arm of the latter there by to be effective to shift said fabric downwardly to and yieldingly retain it at its depressionforming position upon the release of said latch link shoulder from said keeper.

6. In a golf game device, in combination, a framework, a fabric forming a golf green carried at its margins by said framework, and a fabric-shifting mechanism carried by said framework and adapted to shift a portion of said fabric vertically between a lower depression-forming position and an upper hillock-forming position, said mechanism comprising a fabric-shifting element attached to the lower side of said fabric, a bell-crank lever having a substantially horizontal rearwardly extending arm and having an upstanding arm, a horizontal fulcrum pivot for said lever on said framework in spaced relation beneath said fabric, a substantially upright link pivotally connecting said horizontal lever arm with said element, an operating link pivotally connected to and extending forwardly at a slight upward inclination from the upstanding lever arm of said lever, a latch link having a rear end tractile springanchored to said framework rearwardly from said bell-crank lever and connected to the upstanding arm of the latter thereby to be effective to shift said fabric downwardly to and yieldingly retain it at its depression-forming position upon the release of said latch link shoulder from said keepenand an upright operating lever fulcrumed atits lower end upon the outer side of the front of said framework below said latch link and pivoted to the latter with a portion of said operating lever extended above said latch link and forming a finger piece, said latch link being extended forwardly from said operating lever and upwardly to form a finger piece thereon by which the latch shoulder of said latch link may be released from said keeper.

7. In a golf game device, in combination, a framework, a fabric formingfa golf green carried at its margins by said framework, and a fabric-lifting mechanism carried by said framework and adapted to lift said fabric from below into a hillock upon its upper surface, said mechanism comprising a fabric-lifting element in engagement with the lower side of said fabric, a bellcrank lever having a substantially horizontal arm, a horizontal fulcrum pivot for said leveron said framework, a link pivotally connecting said lever arm with said element, and operating means connected to the other arm of said bell-crank lever and extending to the outside of said framehorizontal arm, a horizontal fulcrum pivot for said lever on said framework, a link pivotally connecting said lever arm with said element, an operating member connected to the other arm of said bell-crank lever and extending substantially horizontally to the outside of said framework and being adapted when withdrawn outwardly to lift said element, disengageable engaging means adapted to retain said operating member at its said withdrawn outer position, and a spring acting upon said bell-crank lever and adapted to.

lowerisaid element upon the disengagement of said engaging means. 7

ALPHONSE A. HEINZELMANN.

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