Untitled record

Aug. 11, 1959

Filed Jan. 14, 1957

E. WALLSTEINER

GOLF TRAINING DEVICE

2,899,208

Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR

EWALD WALLSTEINER • «

Attorneys

E. WALLSTE1NER

2,899,208

GOLF TRAINING DEVICE

Aug. 11, 1959

Filed Jan, 14, 1957

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2899208A_D0002.tif" />

Attorneys

Aug. Π, 1959 e. wallsteiner 2,899,208

GOLF TRAINING DEVICE

Filed Jan. 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US2899208A_D0003.tif" />

INVENTOR

EWALD WALLSTEINER

By y&amp;fZ&amp;Nu*.

t

A ttorneys

Aug. Π, 1959

Filed Jan, 14, 1957

E. WALLSTEINER

GOLF TRAINING DEVICE

2,899,208

Sheets-Sheet 4

<img file="US2899208A_D0004.tif" />

A ttorneys

United States Patent Office

2,899,208

Patented Aug. 11, 1959

2,899,208

GOLF TRAINING DEVICE

Ewald Wallsteiner, Munich, Germany

Application January 14,1957, Serial No. 634,075

Claims priority, application Germany January 14,1956

Claims. (CI. 273—182)

The present invention relates to a training device. More in particular the present invention relates to a training device for golf and similar sports and games involving the hitting of a ball or a similar object towards a goal or target.

The practice of golf or similar ball driving activities cannot always be carried out on the requisite playground. It is therefore known in the art to construct various training facilities purportedly suitable for exercising golf and similar sports and games indoors. It is thus known to construct devices consisting of a catch net adjustably stretched transversely to the tee and having lateral and oblique edges set towards the front and to equip these devices with a ball returning element inclined towards the tee. All these known facilities are, however, unsatisfactory and suffer from a number of disadvantages. The ideal training device must enable the player to execute the most forceful strokes on a very small space and even in a small corner of a room. The shots to be executed with an ideal training device must be carried out in exactly the same manner as on the outdoor practice field.

In the known devices, the hard stroke, performed at such a short distance will inevitably drive the ball against the net with such a force that the ball will rebound regardless of the fact whether the net is tensioned or resilient. In addition, all known training devices have several hard and unelastic areas upon the surface of the net or at the edges of the latter. If the ball is hit against one of these unelastic areas it will rebound with such vigor that the player may be hit by the ball and may be accordingly seriously hurt. Even a thorough padding of the conventional training devices has proved to be incapable of eliminating this danger.

It is therefore necessary to design the net of a training device in which the aforementioned disadvantages are to be avoided in such a manner that the net will entirely absorb and thereby eradicate the kinetic energy of the ball. Once this has been done, the ball will fall softly back to the floor. In addition, the fastening of the net must be devised in such a manner that any unelastic spots or edges causing the ball to rebound with vigor are entirely eliminated.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide for a training device for practising golf and similar sports and games wherein the practising conditions correspond to the conditions prevailing in practising the respective activity on the actual playground.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide for a training device for practising golf and similar sports and games with which the most forceful and vigorous strokes can be practised.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a training device for practising golf and similar sports and games with which the respective activity can be practised with a very small available space.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a training device for practising golf and similar sports and games with which the respective activity can be prac2 tised without endangering the practising person or any other person in the vicinity of the latter.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide for a training device for practising golf and similar 5 sports and games which can be easily folded and transported.

These objects are achieved and the disadvantages adhering to the known training devices are avoided by the present invention comprising a first, adjustable stretch 10 net and a second net mounted directly in front of the first net on the side facing the player. The second net consists of various net portions.

Directly in front of the adjustable, stretched net, on the side facing the player, a second net is mounted, consisting 15 of various small net portions, arranged in various heights and partly overlapping each other towards the front side. They are preferably suspended at the top edge only and are not connected with each other. These nets are connected by means of a frame construction installed behind 20 the nets and outside of the area in which these net portions are suspended; the frame is connected to the slanted ball returning area which extends underneath the nets.

If the net is constructed in the manner described above, every ball hit towards the main net must on its way be 25 caught by one of the suspended net portions; there it becomes entangled, a fact which is essential to the functioning of the device of the present invention.

The present invention will be better understood upon the following detailed description of the accompanying 30 drawings, wherein

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the training device of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the training device;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the upper portion 35 of the device shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of the device wherein the ball return portion is folded upwardly;

Figure 5 is a side view of the device of Figure 4 with the ball return portion in play position;

Figure 6 is a side view and shows the upper portion of the device as shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detailed view of a strut connection of the device of the invention;

Figure 8 is a detailed view, partly in section of a strut 45 connection of the device;

Figure 9 is another detailed view, partly in section of a strut connection of the device;

Figure 10 is still another detailed view, partly in section of a strut connection of the device;

Figure 11 is a further detailed view, partly in section of a strut connection of the device;

Figure 12 is an elevational front view of another embodiment of the frame construction of the device of the invention;

Figure 13 is a side view of the embodiment of the frame construction shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a top view of the frame construction of the ball returning element of the device of the invention;

Figure 15 is a front view of a strut used for assembling the frame construction of the device of the invention;

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view of a strut used for assembling the frame construction of the device of the invention;

Figure 17 is a diagram of the frame construction shown in Figure 12;

Figure 18 is another diagram of the side elevational view of the frame construction as shown in Figure 13;

Figure 19 is a further diagram of the folded frame 76 construction of the present invention;

Figure 20 is a cross sectional view of the completely folded frame construction of the device of the invention.

2,899,208

Referring now to the drawings somewhat more in particular the ball training equipment according to the invention is erected by means of a frame construction; its main constituent parts are two vertical struts 20 and 22 and two horizontal struts 21 and 23, as well as struts 24, attached at the Upper points of intersection of strut 21 with struts 20 and 22, respectively, and. which extend in upward direction and towards the front of the training device. The horizontal bottom strut 23 supports a ball return surface 25 and the horizontal top strut 21 carried a main net 26, with its various connected further net portions, as specified in the following. The main net 26 is loosely suspended from the top strut 21. Those of its surface areas which are projecting outwardly of the lateral struts 20 and 22 are connected with the ends of strut 24. The main net 26 is also fastened with its bottom end to the ball return surface 25.

Connected to the top ends of suspension struts 24 in front of the main net 26, a catch net 27 constituting a canopy is stretched. This catch net 27 has its lower edge fastened to the front side of main net 26. The tension of this catch net, laterally, can be changed by rotating struts 24 about their pivotal connection with the vertical struts 20 and 22.

It is a particular feature of this invention that the top catch net 27 has its lower edge connected to the top of the main net and the catch net portions 28, 29 and 30, which are of varying heights, are suspended at only their top edge from the front face of the main net but are independent of each other. Depending upon the height of net 26, additional net portions may be added. Figure 2 indicates as an example, how these net portions are fastened with their top edge to main net 26 and how their bottom edges are hanging free, overlapping each other. It may be sufficient to fasten the net portions at the upper side corners.

A continuous target tape 31 is installed in front or behind main net 26 in the vertical center from top to bottom. It is provided with marks, i.e. with letters or numbers; there is, however, also the possibility of dividing the target tape into several short sections, one for each net portion 28, 29 and 30, whereby the marking of the individual sections will subsequently follow towards the top.

Another characteristic of the present invention is, that all rebounding surfaces in the area of net 26 and the net portions 28, 29 and 30 fastened thereto, are eliminated since all parts of the frame 20, 22, 21 and 23, 24 are located behind net 26 and net portions 28, 29 and 30. Therefore, a ball strongly hitting the net will bulge the net at the impacted spot, but will never touch the frame.

The ball return surface 25 may comprise cloth, netting or elastic or hard material, and is provided with lateral roll-off edges 41. It reaches below the lowest part of net portion 30. The rear edge of the ball return surface is fastened stretchably to the horizontal bottom cross strut 23, supporting struts 33 and cross brace 32, and can be released. The ball return surface 25 extends forwardly onto a mat 34, where its lateral support struts 33 are connected by means of the cross brace 32, which enables stretching of the entire returner opposite to the frame. The mat is provided with a tee. This mat has several exchangeable surfaces, designed as a substitute for the lawn surface of a fairway and/or the rough (high grass).

The frame should further meet the requirement of being capable of folding so as to form a small bundle, requiring little space only; therefore the various frame struts can only partly be welded together. They should not be constructed so as to be taken apart, because this would be a rather difficult task and would involve a waste of time. That is the reason why according to the present invention all parts or several parts are hinged together, so that after removing the net, the complete frame can be reduced to a size suitable for transporta4 tion. This can be achieved in different ways. One of the possibilities is shown in Figures 4 thru 11 of the accompanying drawings.

All tubular frame struts 20 and 23 can be folded by means of a hinge 35 being installed in the middle of their length, allowing for the folding, so that they can be laid alongside of each other. A flat iron 36 is fixed for this purpose to the upper part of the tube, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, for the hinge of vertical strut 20. The flat iron will be enclosed by a forked link 37, mounted to the lower part of the tube, whereby parts 36 and 37 are hingedly connected by means of a pivot 38. This joint connection is secured by a security pin, inserted into hole 39 drilled through both parts 36 and 37, opposite pivot 38. After removing this pin (not indicated in the drawings) the upper half of tubular strut (see left part of Figure 8) can be folded down alongside the bottom half of tubular strut. Pivot 38 for the hinge, as shown in Figure 8 is eccentrically arranged, so as to allow for a close arrangement of both halves of the strut. In the same manner struts 21 and 23 can be folded down to one half of their length by means of similar hinges 35. Vertical struts 20 and 22 are also divided a second time and at their separated ends provided with threads 40 and 40' of opposite direction. These ends are screwed into a threaded sleeve 42, joining the same and allowing for an adjustment of their length.

The upper horizontal strut 21 is welded to the vertical struts 20 and 22, as indicated in Figure 10. This connection is provided with a disc 43 with a projecting catch 44. On this disc a tumable bushing 45 bears the slightly upwardly slanted strut. On its lower edge the bushing is provided with several notches which are engageable with the catch 44 to lock the bushing in position. A spring 46 located between the top of the bushing and a buffer of a screw-bolt permanently presses the bushing 45 downwardly. By means of this snapping catch connection not only the oblique position of the struts 24, pointing in outward direction can be changed and adjusted, but the same can also be turned towards the inside and there be secured, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4.

The lower free ends of vertical struts 20 and 22 are either set into slots in the floor or rest in footings 49, attached to the floor by means of screws. Said struts, as shown in Figure 5 in dotted lines, can be provided with supports 50, pointing backward, by which means anchoring to a wall can be effected, if necessary.

The supporting struts 33 of the ball return surface 25 are firmly connected with the horizontal bottom frame strut 23, as indicated in Figure 11. The struts themselves as well as the connecting front strut 32 are also provided with a hinge 35 in the middle of their length, so that they can likewise be folded and laid alongside of each other. The connection of the bottom frame strut 23 with the vertical frame struts 20 and 22 will best be effected as shown in Figure 11, i.e. by welding an angular iron 51 onto struts 20 and 22 in adequate height, the rectangularly bent-off free end of which is provided with a slot or hole, serving as a catch for pivot 52, installed at the ends of tube 23, upon the outside of which a screwnut 53 may be fastened and which, when tightened on both sides of cross strut 23, will firmly connect it with the angular iron 51 and thereby also with both vertical struts 20 and 22. Provided the supporting struts 33 run towards each other in front, as indicated in Figure 6, the complete frame will have an approximate three-point support through footings 49 and cross strut 32, which provide a firm and stable footing.

Figures 12 and 20 refer to another, very practical embodiment and illustrate the folding-up of the frame.

The example shows, as indicated in Figure 4, that the ball return surface 25 is tilted upwardly, the struts 24 are turned to the inside and then the upper frame half is folded down along the axjs X—X, and then again along

2,899,208 the axis Y—Y, thereby reducing the size of the frame to one quarter of its original size.

The example shown in Figures 12 thru 20 provides a bundle of struts after being folded, which can be placed in the bag. Here also the horizontal frame struts 21 and 5 23 and the supporting struts 33 of the ball returner are provided with hinges in their respective centers to make a folding possible. The vertical struts 20 and 22 consist of sections and can be stuck together at their joints. The suspension struts 24 are hinged to the point of intersection 10 of struts 20 and 22 with the upper cross strut 21 and are kept in correct slanting position by struts 55. The horizontal bottom strut 23 is also hinged to the vertical struts 20 and 22. Connecting struts 56, the design of which is indicated in Figures 15 and 16, are connected with hori- 15 zontal struts 21 and 23 through a pivot and their free, forked ends can be connected with the vertical struts by means of slots in adequate height, and a pin so that the position illustrated in Figure 12 is received. Also the supporting struts 33 of the ball returner can be connected 20 to the bottom ends of the vertical frame struts 20 and 22 by means of such hinged connecting struts 57. The above mentioned struts 55, 56 and 57 will at their connecting points be unfastened for transportation, so that the suspension struts 24 will be hinged downwards; con- 25 necting irons 56 will be arranged alongside of horizontal struts 21 and 23 and the latter will then fold their hinges 35 in such manner that the top hinge is located at the bottom, the bottom hinge located on top, thereby resulting in the position illustrated in Figure 14. Then the vertical 30 struts are taken apart at their joints 58 and both halves of the frame are placed side by side, whereby a bundle is obtained containing all tubular struts of the frame structure held closely together, as illustrated in Figure 20. The entire material can then be stored and transported in 35 a bag (indicated by dotted lines).

The already mentioned additional connecting struts 55, 56 and 57 are of semi-cylindrical design or consist of channel iron and have, at least on a part of their length, such an inside diameter, that upon folding of 40 the frame and when they are placed towards the frame strut bearing the pivot, these connecting struts will clasp around the frame strut in the provided length.

The ball return surface 25, firmly attached to the frame elements 20 through 23 would interfere with this 45 folding procedure; therefore it is removable. For this purpose bushings have been provided on vertical struts 20 and 22, into which the ends of the supporting struts 33 of the ball returner can be placed .and fastened by pins. After being drawn out of bushings, the struts can 50 be folded at their hinges 35 and thereby will amount to half of their original length only. The front cross strut 32 can in this construction be drawn out and is shaped, for example, as a flat iron.

As illustrated in Figure 13 the frame elements 20 55 through 23 can also be arranged slightly obliquely towards the front, in which case the footings 49 will be provided with sockets slightly deviating from the vertical line for the bottom ends of struts 20 and 22. This design may be of advantage, because the catch net portions 60 28, 29 and 30, as described in previous paragraphs, suspended in various heights, are suspended isolatedly from the main net 26 and therefore can more easily and more completely bulge and wrap around the ball.

The previously described roll-oS edges for the ball 65 return surface can be of various designs. In case elastic material is used for the ball return surface 25, such edges can consist of loops standing upright and sewn on, into which a flat iron can be inserted.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible 70 to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and, accordingly, it is desired to compreg hend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.