Roadway-transportable artificial golf practice green apparatus

Abstract

A golf practice green apparatus is provided which is capable of transforming between multiple configurations. A first configuration is best suited for actual use as a target green on a golf driving range or the like. In a second configuration the effective width or other dimension of the apparatus is significantly reduced to allow for practical and legal transportation of the golf practice green apparatus over a roadway.

1 . A roadway-transportable apparatus having a golf practice green surface comprising: 
 (a) a golf ball target surface formed of at least a pair of panels, each of said panels having an top impact surface and a bottom surface, said panels occupying a first configuration whenever said panels are positioned about 180° with respect to one another, in said first configuration said panels abutting together along a common joint, said top impact surfaces of said panels being substantially coplanar and coextensive, thereby forming said golf ball target surface; and    (b) configuration adjustment means operatively connected with said panels, said adjustment means being capable of positioning said panels in a second configuration, in said second configuration said top impact surfaces of said panels being substantially non-planar and discontinuous, and the effective width of said apparatus being significantly less than when said panels are in said first configuration.    
   
   
       2 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration adjustment means comprises at least one hinge fastened to said panels across said common joint.  
   
   
       3 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said at least a pair of panels comprises: 
 (a) a center panel,    (b) a first folding panel capable of abutting said center panel along a first edge thereof along a first common joint, and    (c) a second folding panel capable of abutting said center panel along a second edge thereof along a second common joint, whereby said second configuration is attained by folding said first and second folding panels approximately 90° relative to said center panel.    
   
   
       4 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising golf ball impact sensing means mounted on at least one of said panels.  
   
   
       5 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising an electrical circuit including energy storage means and lamp means, the electrical circuit being interconnected with the golf ball impact sensing means such that the impact of a golf ball landing on said impact sensing means enables the electrical circuit for momentarily illuminating said lamp means.  
   
   
       6 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration adjustment means comprises at least a pair of horizontally extending elongated panel support members, rotating means attaching said bottom surface of said panels to said panel support members along a substantial length thereof, whereby said second configuration is attained by rotating said panels about said panel support members.  
   
   
       7 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said configuration adjustment means further comprises: 
 (a) a static support member, and    (b) at least a pair of pivot arms having a first end and a second end, said first end of said pivot arms being pivotably attached to said static support member, said second end of said pivot arms being pivotably attached to said panel support members whereby said second configuration is further attained by rotating said pivot arms relative to said static support member.    
   
   
       8 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least a pair of panels comprises a first panel and a second panel, said configuration adjustment means comprising a means for sliding said first panel over said second panel.  
   
   
       9 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said golf practice green further comprises vertical support members for positioning said golf practice green a predetermined height above the ground, said vertical support members having a first end attached to at least one of said panels and a second end for resting on the ground, said vertical support members having collapsing means whereby a vehicle may be positioned underneath said golf practice green, said vertical support members collapsed, thereby lowering said golf practice green onto said vehicle for transportation over a road.  
   
   
       10 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said effective width of said golf ball practice green is sufficiently reduced to allow the legal transportation of said green over a particular road.  
   
   
       11 . A roadway-transportable apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a support fame comprising: 
 (a) at least one axle;    (b) at least two wheels attached to said at least one axle;    (c) a support structure mounted on said at least one axle and attached to said at least a pair of panels; and    (d) means for connecting said axle to a vehicle, whereby said golf practice green may be collapsed to said second configuration and legally towed on a highway.    
   
   
       12 . A roadway-transportable apparatus having a golf practice green surface comprising: 
 a golf ball target surface formed of at least a pair of panels, each of said panels having a generally U-shaped tubular frame with a fabric material supported by said tubular frame whereby the tubular frame of one panel has a cross-sectional tubular opening greater than the cross-sectional outer diameter of the other tubular frame so that the tubular frame members telescope together to reduce the effective overall width of said apparatus.    
   
   
       13 . A method for transporting a golf practice green on a highway comprising: 
 (a) configuring a golf ball target surface to be formed of at least a pair of panels, each of said panels having an top impact surface and a bottom surface, said panels occupying a first configuration whenever said panels are positioned about 180° with respect to one another, in said first configuration said panels abutting together along a common joint and said top impact surfaces of said panels being substantially coplanar and coextensive, thereby forming said golf ball target surface;    (b) adjusting said panels into a second configuration, wherein said top impact surfaces of said panels are substantially non-planar and discontinuous, and the effective width of said golf ball practice green is significantly less than in said first configuration;    (c) positioning said green onto a vehicle; and    (d) transporting said golf practice green on said vehicle over a roadway.