Golf Mat Striking Zone Insert with Compressible Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional artificial golf practice surfaces fail to replicate the feel and feedback of natural turf, leading to inconsistent swing paths and potential physical harm due to inadequate compressibility and impact absorption, resulting in redirected swing planes and undesirable shocks.

Innovation Solution

A golf mat design featuring a striking area insert formed from two sheets with a flexible, compressible ring between them, creating a hollow region and a uniform height with matting material, mimicking natural turf without divot creation, providing a consistent and safe practice experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If natural grass surfaces are used for golf practice, then the feel and feedback of natural turf is replicated, but numerous divots are created rendering the practice area useless within a very short period of time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepractice surface durabilityVSAvoiddivot creation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates an artificial grass surface that copies the appearance and feel of natural turf through a multi-layer construction. The top layer features artificial grass blades, the middle layer provides cushioning to replicate soil compressibility, and the bottom layer offers structural support. This copying approach allows golfers to practice on a durable surface that mimics natural turf characteristics without creating divots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite materials combining artificial grass fibers with cushioning layers and structural backing. This composite construction provides the durability needed for repeated practice while maintaining the feel and feedback of natural turf, resolving the contradiction between surface longevity and authentic playing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of stationary object

If artificial grass surfaces are used for driving ranges, then longevity and customization are improved, but the underlying surface lacks compressibility and impact absorption causing redirected swing planes and shocks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface longevityVSAvoidimpact shock and swing redirection

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a cushioning layer between the artificial grass surface and the hard backing, positioned to absorb impact forces before they reach the rigid support structure. This beforehand cushioning allows the clubhead to compress the surface during the swing, replicating the feel of natural turf and preventing the harmful shocks and swing plane redirections that occur on hard surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different properties to different layers of the artificial surface. The top layer provides durable grass coverage, the middle layer provides localized compressibility and impact absorption where the club contacts the surface, and the bottom layer provides structural support. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between longevity and impact absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If hardened surfaces such as wood or concrete are used for artificial grass overlay, then structural support is provided, but the lack of compressibility creates undesirable shocks and vibrations to the golfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidshocks and vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cushioning layer as an intermediary between the hard structural backing and the artificial grass surface. This intermediary layer absorbs and dampens impact forces, preventing the transmission of harmful shocks and vibrations to the golfer while maintaining the structural integrity and support needed for surface stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The golf mat replicates the feel of natural turf, allowing for consistent swing paths and reduced shock, preventing divot creation and enhancing the safety and longevity of practice surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible resiliently compressible ring disposed between the first sheet and the second sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

flexible resiliently compressible ring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9254431B1Golf mat

Publication Date: 2016.02.09 SITES LOWELL ZANE

AI summary

A golfing platform includes a standing region, for a user to stand to make their golf swing, and a striking zone, where a golf ball may be placed for striking by a golf club. The striking zone may be configured to replicate the feel of real turf, but where the artificial turf covering is not taken up as divots during a golf club swing. The striking zone can include a striking zone insert which may be formed from a hollow region surrounded by a flexible tubular material and encased with a covering material. The striking zone insert may have a height substantially the same as the height of the standing platform. A matting insert material may surround the striking zone to make the entire golf platform (the standing platform, the matting insert material and the striking zone insert) of uniform height, thereby mimicking a typical golf swing from the ground.