Portable golf practice device

Abstract

A portable golf practice device is disclosed that is easily transported by the golfer and simulates the response of natural turf when impacted by the club head during a golf swing. The device includes a base extension, which can be unfolded and slid under a platform on which the golfer stands, for maintaining stability during use. The device includes a simulated turf surface fitted in a tray. The tray rests on a base member. When a golf ball placed on the simulated turf surface is struck by a golf club, the tray and the simulated turf surface are driven forward. Means are provided to return the tray and the simulated turf surface to their original position. In its travel configuration the device folds into a compact form similar to a slim briefcase

1 . A portable golf practice device for simulating the response of natural turf when impacted by the head of a golf club during a golf swing, the device comprising: 
 a base member having spaced-apart longitudinal sides defining an operating space therebetween;    a carriage tray slidably positioned on the base member for forward and rearward movement in the operating space between the longitudinal sides;    a simulated turf surface on the carriage tray; and    a carriage retraction mechanism comprising; 
 a guide portion comprising a guide member on each of the spaced-apart longitudinal sides of the base member having a guide direction aligned with the forward and rearward movement of the carriage tray and a guided member on each side of the carriage tray slidingly engaged with the guide member on that side of the base member for allowing the carriage tray to guidedly slide forward and rearward; and  
 a retraction portion comprising a biasing element on each of the spaced-apart longitudinal sides connected between the base member and the carriage tray having a substantially unbiased condition when the carriage tray is in a ready-to-use position on the base member and being biased into an energy-stored condition when the carriage tray has been moved forward;  
   whereby upon being hit by a golf club during a swing the carriage tray will slide forward, the biasing elements will obtain energy as a restoring force and become biased, and will return the carriage tray to the ready-to-use condition and the biasing elements to a substantially unbiased condition.    
   
   
       2 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 1  further comprising a base extension pivotably attached to the base member along one of its longitudinal sides.  
   
   
       3 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 2  wherein the base extension has a travel position folded over or under the carriage tray and an unfolded position at about level with the base member whereby the base extension can be slid under a platform to stabilize the device when in use and can be folded over or under the base member for transport or storage.  
   
   
       4 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 1  wherein each of the guide members comprises a guide rail supported on the base member at a forward end and at a rearward end, and the guided members comprise a sleeve extending from each side of the carriage tray and slidingly carried on the guide member on each side.  
   
   
       5 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 4  wherein the retraction portion biasing elements comprise one or multiple forward compression springs fitted over each of the guide rails between the sleeve and the forward end of the guide rail.  
   
   
       6 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 5  wherein the retraction portion biasing elements further comprise one or multiple rearward compression springs fitted over each of the guide rails between the sleeve and the rearward end of the guide rail, the sleeve being sandwiched between the forward and rearward compression springs such that the direction of the movement of the carriage tray is guided by the guide rails and the velocity and distance of the movement by the forward and rearward compression springs.  
   
   
       7 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 4  wherein the retraction portion biasing elements comprise a rearward stretchable elastic member on each side of the carriage tray, each of the rearward stretchable elastic members having a forward end attached to the carriage tray on its respective side and a rearward end attached to the base member on its respective side rearwardly of the forward end so that upon forward movement of the carriage tray, the stretchable elastic members are stretched and will act to pull the carriage tray back from the forward movement such that the direction of movement of the carriage tray is controlled by the guide rails and the velocity and distance of the movement by the rearward stretchable elastic members.  
   
   
       8 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 7  wherein the forward end of each of the rearward stretchable elastic members is attached to the sleeve on each respective side of the carriage tray.  
   
   
       9 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 8  wherein the retraction portion further comprises a forward stretchable elastic member on each side of the carriage tray having a forward end attached to the base member on each respective side and a rearward end attached to the sleeve on each respective side whereby the interaction of the forward stretchable elastic members and the rearward stretchable elastic members will prevent excessive rearward movement of the carriage tray and will control return of the carriage tray to a ready-to-start position.  
   
   
       10 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 1  wherein the guide portion guide members each comprises a channel housing on each side of the base member along the length dimension to form a frame, the channel housings having cavities in the form of channels and slots in the sides; and the guided members each comprises a carriage motion guide slidable inside the channels.  
   
   
       11 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 10  wherein the retraction portion comprises one or multiple forward compression springs in each of the channel housings between a forward end of each of the carriage motion guides and a forward end of the channel housing, respectively.  
   
   
       12 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 11  wherein the retraction portion further comprises one or more rearward compression springs in each of the channel housings between a rearward end of each of the carriage motion guides and a rearward end of the channel housing, respectively.  
   
   
       13 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 10  wherein the retraction portion biasing elements comprise a rearward stretchable elastic member on each side of the carriage tray, each of the rearward stretchable elastic members having a forward end attached to the carriage motion guide on its respective side and a rearward end attached to the base member on its respective side rearwardly of the forward end so that upon forward movement of the carriage tray, the rearward stretchable elastic members are stretched and will act to pull the carriage tray back from the forward movement such that the direction of movement of the carriage tray is controlled by the channels and the velocity and distance of the movement by the rearward stretchable elastic members.  
   
   
       14 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 13  wherein the retraction portion further comprises a forward stretchable elastic member on each side of the carriage tray having a forward end attached to the base member on each respective side and a rearward end attached to the carriage motion guide on each respective side whereby the interaction of the forward stretchable elastic members and the rearward stretchable elastic members will prevent excessive rearward movement of the carriage tray and will control return of the carriage tray to a ready-to-start position.  
   
   
       15 . The portable golf practice device of  claim 2  the device having a compacted portable configuration and an in-use configuration; 
 the base extension having an a first surface defining an outer surface and a second surface defining an inner surface and being pivotably attached along the length dimension of the device and being pivotable to an in-use open position in which the base extension may be placed under a platform and the rest of the device is in a ready-to-use position adjacent the platform and the base extension being pivotable to a compact portable configuration in which it is pivoted to a closed position adjacent the carriage tray and substantially parallel to and spaced from the base member and the second surface of the base extension faces inwardly and the outer surface faces outwardly and the carriage tray being in the space between the base extension and the base member when in the compact portable configuration; and    whereby in the compact portable configuration the device has a thin compact form and in the in-use configuration the base extension can be placed under a platform.