Flexible Golf Mat with Upstanding Walls for Natural Surface Practice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golfers face challenges in practicing their shots due to the lack of access to natural surfaces for regular practice, as traditional golf courses and driving ranges often deteriorate from repeated use and lack the feel of natural grass or sand traps, hindering skill development.
Innovation Solution
A portable golf mat made of flexible materials like polyurethane or rubber, equipped with upstanding walls to hold grass plugs or sod and pins to secure them, allowing for simulation of natural playing conditions, which can also be used with sand to mimic sand traps, enabling practice in various locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If golfers practice on natural grass at golf courses or driving ranges, then they can experience natural playing conditions, but the practice spots deteriorate badly after repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the practice surface into two separate components: a durable base mat made of hard but flexible material (polyurethane, rubber, or plastic) and removable natural grass plugs or sod. This segmentation allows the base mat to provide structural durability while the natural grass plugs provide authentic playing conditions, resolving the contradiction between surface durability and natural playing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The base mat acts as an intermediary between the ground and the natural grass plugs. It provides a stable, durable foundation that protects the underlying ground while supporting the natural grass surface. The mat's upstanding walls and pins/spikes mechanism serve as intermediaries to securely hold the grass plugs in place, preventing deterioration while maintaining natural playing conditions.
2Reliability
If golfers use artificial mats for practice, then the practice surface remains durable, but they cannot duplicate the feel of natural grass under their feet
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite structure combining synthetic base mat material (polyurethane, rubber, or plastic) with natural grass plugs or sod. This composite approach allows the system to exhibit both the durability of synthetic materials and the natural feel of grass, resolving the contradiction between surface durability and natural feel.
3Stability of the object's composition
If golfers practice repeatedly at the same spot on a golf course, then they can maintain consistent practice conditions, but the spot deteriorates and results in poor play
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables golfers to remove deteriorated grass plugs from the base mat and replace them with fresh grass plugs. This discarding and recovering process allows the practice surface to be restored to optimal condition, maintaining consistent practice quality without permanent deterioration. The base mat remains intact and reusable, while only the consumable grass plugs are replaced.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf mat having upstanding side walls and a bottom made of a flexible material to enable the same to be rolled up. The mat can be filled with grass sod to present an upper natural playing surface for practicing golf shots. The side walls can be extended upwardly and the mat filled with sand to present a different, but natural playing surface to a golfer practicing sand shots.