Golf mat

Abstract

A golf mat includes artificial grass fibers attached to and extending upward from a backing material, which may be one or more layers. The artificial grass fibers include groups of at least two different kinds of fiber sewn through a common path in the backing material. One of the kinds of fibers in each group is shaped so as to appear like a blade of grass. The other kind of fiber in each group is pre-stressed / crimped so that the relaxed shape of the fiber is nonlinear, resembling a curlicued or articulated form having lateral excursions. The lateral excursions cause portions of one such pre-stressed fiber to overlap and interfere with another, forming a mesh. The height of the pre-stressed fibers in their relaxed state in the turf is less than the height of the relatively unstressed artificial grass fiber(s). The crimped fibers form a resilient mat with impact characteristics similar to natural turf.

Description

[0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 733,806 filed Dec. 10, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to golf mats, and more particularly to a golf mat having an artificial turf including a plurality of groups of fibers, each group including both non-linear fibers and substantially straight fibers sewn into a backing through a common opening, and having infill particles adhered to the non-linear fibers and lower portions of the straight fibers.DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART[0003]Golf mats for use as a practice playing surface are most effective if they simulate the feel of natural turf. A variety of mat constructions have been designed for this purpose. U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,396 uses a relatively thick base pad of resilient material (foam rubber), and an artificial grass-like carpet that is slidably positioned on the base so as to absorb club force, which is more like a natural turf than a rigidly m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]It is an advantage of this invention in that it provides a golf playing surface having an improved stability.

[0007]It is a further advantage of this invention in that it provides a golf mat with improved durability.

[0008]It is a still further advantage of this invention in providing a golf mat wherein a club stroke does not bottom out in the mat.

[0009]It is another advantage of this invention in providing a golf mat with improved shock absorption when a club head strikes the mat.

[0010]It is another advantage of this invention in that it provides a golf mat that will hold a golf ball tee without drilling a hole in the mat.

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of the loose infill covering / coating in a golf mat is that it is displaced when impacted by a club head, which can result in undesirable variations in the infill depth, and air-born particles that can be irritating to the golfer.

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