Practice golf cage with a golf ball gathering central location

Abstract

The present invention provides a golf practice cage with a central location. The central location is designed to collect golf balls and may comprise a bucket or bag. The golf practice cage comprises a frame with an enclosure substantially surrounding the frame. The enclosure has a back portion with a fold extending in front of the back portion to form a pocket to catch golf balls and funnel them towards the central location. Alternatively to the fold, a base net may reside within an area defined by the frame and the enclosure. The base net funnels caught balls to the central location.

1 . A golf practice cage with a golf ball catch, comprising: 
 a frame;    an enclosure coupled to the frame such that the frame and the enclosure define an area;    a first opening, the first opening allowing access to the area defined by the frame and the enclosure;    the enclosure having at least a back portion;    a fold having a top edge and a bottom edge residing substantially within the area;    the top edge coupled to the enclosure such that the tope edge and the back portion define a second opening into which golf balls can drop; and    a bottom edge angled to direct the golf balls to a central location.    
   
   
       2 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a pair of crossed arcuate poles.  
   
   
       3 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a mesh netting.  
   
   
       4 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 1 , wherein the fold is a separate piece of material coupled to the back portion.  
   
   
       5 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a bucket; and    the bucket releasably coupled to the enclosure at substantially about the central location to collect golf balls.    
   
   
       6 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 5 , wherein the bucket is made of a material comprising at least one of the group consisting of metal, netting, and canvass.  
   
   
       7 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 5 , wherein the bucket is releasably coupled to the enclosure using a pair of corresponding zippers.  
   
   
       8 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom edge angles from the frame down towards the central location.  
   
   
       9 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure has at least one side portion and the at least one side portion further comprises at least one side fold along the at least one side portion.  
   
   
       10 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is loosely coupled to the frame to inhibit rebounding.  
   
   
       11 . A golf practice cage with a golf ball catch, comprising: 
 a frame;    an enclosure coupled to the frame such that the frame and the enclosure define an area;    a first opening, the first opening allowing access to the area defined by the frame and the enclosure;    the enclosure having at least a back portion;    a fold having a top edge and a bottom edge residing substantially within the area;    the top edge coupled to at least one of the frame and the enclosure such that the tope edge and the back portion define a second opening, such that golf balls can drop through the second opening;    the bottom edge angled to direct the golf balls to a central location; and    a bucket releasably coupled to the central location to collect the golf balls.    
   
   
       12 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 11 , wherein the bucket further comprises a handle.  
   
   
       13 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 11 , wherein the fold is a separate piece of material coupled to the enclosure.  
   
   
       14 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 11 , wherein the enclosure comprises at least one side portion; and 
 a side fold is coupled to the frame substantially about the side portion.    
   
   
       15 . A golf practice cage with a golf ball catch, comprising: 
 a frame;    an enclosure    means for coupling the enclosure to the frame such that the frame and the enclosure define an area;    a first opening, the first opening allowing access to the area defined by the frame and the enclosure;    the enclosure having at least a back portion;    a fold having a top edge and a bottom edge residing substantially within the area;    the top edge coupled to at least one of the frame and the enclosure such that the top edge and the back portion define a second opening, such that golf balls can drop through the second opening;    a bottom edge angled to direct the golf balls to a central location;    a bucket; and    means for releasably attaching the bucket about the central location.    
   
   
       16 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for coupling the enclosure to the frame includes a zipper.  
   
   
       17 . A golf practice cage with a golf ball catch, comprising: 
 a frame;    an enclosure coupled to the frame such that the frame and enclosure define an area;    a first opening, the first opening allowing access to the area defined by the frame and enclosure;    the enclosure having at least a back portion;    a central location located substantially within the area; and    means for funneling golf balls to the central location coupled to at least one of the enclosure and the frame.    
   
   
       18 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 17 , wherein the means for funneling golf balls comprises a fold in the back portion.  
   
   
       19 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 17 , wherein the means for funneling golf balls comprises a separate piece of material coupled to the back portion.  
   
   
       20 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 17 , wherein the means for funneling golf balls comprises a base net.  
   
   
       21 . A golf practice cage with at least one ball gathering location, comprising: 
 a frame residing on a surface;    an enclosure coupled to the frame such that the frame and the enclosure define an area;    at least one opening, the at least one opening allowing access to the area;    a base net coupled to the frame above the surface;    the base net configured to funnel balls to a gathering location; and    the base net aligned such that balls hit into the area strike the enclosure and drop into the base net, whereby the balls are funneled to the gathering location.    
   
   
       22 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 21 , wherein the base net is further coupled to the enclosure.  
   
   
       23 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a blocking net; and    the blocking net coupled to the frame and across the at least one opening wherein the blocking net inhibits balls from rolling beneath the base net.    
   
   
       24 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a hole, the hole located in the base net about the gathering location such that balls funneled to the gathering location drop through the hole.    
   
   
       25 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 24 , further comprising a bucket releaseably coupled to the hole such that balls drop through the hole and into the bucket.  
   
   
       26 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a base net hole, the base net hole located in the base net about the gathering location, such that balls funneled to the gathering location drop through the base net hole;    a blocking net hole located in the blocking net, and    a tube connecting the base net hole to the blocking net hole, whereby balls dropping through the base net hole are directed by the tube to the blocking net hole.    
   
   
       27 . The golf practice cage according to  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a bucket releasably couple to the blocking net hole.