Modular Putting Green with Sculpted Foam and Interlocking Inserts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional outdoor putting greens require high maintenance, are costly and time-consuming to install, and lack precision and customization options, as they rely on organic materials and manual shaping, limiting design changes and being susceptible to environmental alterations.

Innovation Solution

A modular putting green system featuring an adjustable stage and sculpted foam pad with a recessed area for a putting green insert, allowing for precise design, easy installation, and adjustable components that can be modified or replaced, including a method to account for surface imperfections using a combination of stage and direct surface geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional organic materials like grass and sod are used to construct outdoor golf courses, then the golf course provides a natural playing surface, but maintenance costs increase significantly due to watering, mowing, and landscaping requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenatural playing surface qualityVSAvoidmaintenance costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from organic materials to artificial turf, fundamentally changing the material parameter. This substitution eliminates the need for watering, mowing, and landscaping while maintaining a consistent playing surface, directly resolving the contradiction between natural surface quality and maintenance energy loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs artificial turf that, while not disposable, requires minimal replacement and maintenance compared to organic materials. The turf provides long-term durability with significantly reduced maintenance requirements, addressing the contradiction by offering a permanent solution rather than requiring continuous organic material replacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual placement and shaping of dirt is used to create putting green slopes, then the installer can attempt to achieve specific design slopes, but the process becomes time-consuming and imprecise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslope precisionVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pre-formed foam pads with pre-established slope geometries and interlocking features. The slopes are manufactured with precision before installation, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual shaping during installation. This preliminary preparation of components with exact specifications directly resolves the contradiction between slope precision and installation time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of shaping dirt with pre-manufactured foam components that have built-in slope geometries. The interlocking foam pads mechanically establish the desired slopes without requiring manual manipulation, thereby achieving high precision while dramatically reducing installation time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a consumer selects a specific design for a putting green, then the consumer can customize the appearance, but the consumer cannot change the design after installation without tearing up the turf and reshaping the dirt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign customizationVSAvoiddesign modification ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the putting green into modular foam pad segments that can be individually removed, replaced, or reconfigured. This segmentation allows consumers to easily modify the design by swapping out individual pads or entire sections without disturbing the underlying structure, directly resolving the contradiction between design customization and design modification ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a dynamic system where the foam pad configuration can be changed after installation. The modular design with interlocking features allows for easy reconfiguration to create different slope patterns and designs, enabling the putting green to adapt to changing consumer preferences without requiring complete reconstruction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If dirt is used to form the putting green structure, then the green can be shaped to desired slopes, but severe weather may significantly alter the shape of the dirt requiring expensive repairs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslope shape stabilityVSAvoidweather resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses foam material as a composite alternative to dirt for creating the putting green structure. Foam provides the necessary slope geometry while being inherently resistant to weather degradation. This composite material substitution maintains precise slope shapes regardless of weather conditions, directly resolving the contradiction between slope shape stability and weather resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20240226693A9Modular putting green

Publication Date: 2024.07.11 THE INNOVATION MASCH

AI summary

A modular putting green includes a foam pad sculpted for putting a golf ball. A putting green insert is configured to fit within a recessed area of the foam pad. The foam pad may be positioned on a stage having a frame and a platform or on another surface. The foam pad and putting green insert are interchangeable with other foam pads and putting green inserts to change the configuration of the modular putting green for a user.