Portable Golf Mat with Staggered Layer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial turf practice mats fail to accurately simulate golf shots hit off natural turf, leading to increased shock and false feedback for golfers, and existing solutions do not adequately reduce force or provide accurate divot simulation.
Innovation Solution
A golf practice mat design featuring a shorter upper mat placed on top of a longer lower mat, secured by an elastic connector, creating space for the club to pass through without hitting the mat, and an anchoring connector to prevent movement during shots, mimicking the divot experience of natural turf.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If artificial turf is used for practice mats, then maintenance difficulty and cost are reduced, but shock transmission to the golfer increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The practice mat is divided into multiple layers: an upper artificial turf layer, a lower artificial turf layer, and an intermediate suspension system. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function - the upper layer provides a maintenance-free surface, the suspension system absorbs shock, and the lower layer provides structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
A suspension system consisting of elastic straps or netting is introduced as an intermediary between the upper and lower turf layers. This intermediary component absorbs and dampens the shock generated when the club strikes the upper layer, preventing direct transmission to the golfer while maintaining the artificial turf's maintenance advantages.
2Ease of manufacture
If artificial turf is used for practice mats, then divot maintenance is eliminated, but feedback accuracy on fat hits deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system provides tactile feedback to the golfer that simulates natural turf conditions. When the club strikes the upper layer, the elastic suspension elements compress and rebound, creating a sensation similar to hitting natural grass, thereby providing accurate feedback on swing quality and contact point without requiring actual divots.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system with elastic straps or netting creates a mechanical copy of natural turf's divot-making behavior. The way the suspension elements deform and rebound mimics the sensation of taking a divot from natural grass, providing authentic feedback without the maintenance requirements of real turf.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If suspension systems are added to artificial turf mats, then shock reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system utilizes flexible elastic straps or netting rather than rigid mechanical components. These flexible elements naturally absorb shock through elastic deformation, providing the required shock reduction function with minimal structural complexity and using simple, readily available materials.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If club can pass through space without hitting mat, then shock is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies that the upper mat length should be approximately 2/3 of the lower mat length, creating a gap of about 1-2 inches. This parameter relationship provides sufficient space for the club to pass through without striking the lower mat, reducing shock while allowing for reasonable manufacturing tolerances rather than requiring precise dimensional control.
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 design significantly reduces shock and provides accurate feedback on mis-hits, simulating natural turf conditions while being compact, lightweight, and easy to manufacture and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic connector that secures the upper mat on top of the lower mat
Implementation Method 2
an anchoring connector to prevent movement during shots
Data Source
AI summary
A mat for practicing golf shots, including an upper mat and a lower mat. The lower mat is larger than the upper mat. The upper mat is secured on top of the lower mat such that the additional area of the lower mat extends in the direction of the anticipated trajectory of a golf club head. A golf ball is placed on the edge of the upper mat such that the club head will travel through the empty space above the lower mat and in front of the lower mat. As a result, the golfer experiences less force due to the club head striking the mat.