Putting practice and game table

Abstract

A putting game table housing a playing surface elevated from the surface on which it rests. The playing surface has at least one hole capable of receiving a golf ball. The table provides a floor collection area and a table surface collection area for the golf balls not in play. A mechanism which transports the golf balls from the floor collection area to the surface collection area is provided.

1 . A game playable with balls comprising:
 a playing surface including a plurality of holes extending through said playing surface to allow a ball to selectably move from said playing surface through one of said holes;   an outer stop surrounding said playing surface to limit movement of balls off said playing surface;   a ball collector area to receive balls from said playing surface; and,   a plurality of return ball members extending downwardly from said holes and all terminating at said ball collector track to catch balls falling through said holes and directing the balls toward said ball collector area for storage of said balls.   
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1  wherein:
 said playing surface is flat and said outer stop includes an inclined surface extending upwardly from said playing surface to direct balls rolling thereon back to said playing surface, said outer stop further includes a stop surface extending upwardly from said inclined surface and surrounding said playing surface and said inclined surface to limit movement of balls off of the game.   
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 2  wherein:
 said return ball members include pairs of mutually opposed and upwardly extending walls limiting movement of said balls off of said return ball members.   
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 2  wherein:
 said return ball members include a tube having a diameter larger than the diameter of said balls.   
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 1  wherein:
 said ball collector area includes a ball collector track to align said balls in sequential fashion, said ball collector track having a floor level portion, an inclined portion, and a playing surface portion, said inclined portion having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to said floor level portion, said second end being connected to said playing surface portion, said playing surface portion being elevated with respect to said floor portion.   
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 5  wherein:
 said playing surface portion includes a receiving gate, a first track and a second track having a common junction, said first track and said second track split from said inclined portion at said common junction, wherein said receiving gate is positioned at said common junction.   
   
   
       7 . The game of  claim 5  wherein:
 said playing surface portion has an exit gate and a distal end located near said playing surface, wherein said exit gate is positioned adjacent to said distal end.   
   
   
       8 . The game of  claim 7  wherein:
 said exit gate is comprised of a bias spring, a horizontal member and a vertical member, said horizontal member is connected to said bias spring.   
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of legs supporting said playing surface and maintaining said playing surface at an elevated height.   
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a wedge having a plurality of steps upon with said legs can rest.   
   
   
       11 . The game of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an inflatable air bag supporting said playing surface at an elevated height; and,   a compressor in fluid communication with said inflatable air bag.   
   
   
       12 . A game to be positioned on a supporting floor and playable with balls comprising:
 a playing surface including a plurality of holes extending through said playing surface to allow a ball to selectably move from said playing surface through one of said holes;   an outer stop surrounding said playing surface to limit movement of balls off said playing surface;   a floor collector track to receive balls from said playing surface and align said balls in sequential fashion;   a raised collector track to align said balls in sequential fashion in order for the balls to be dispensed onto said playing surface; and,   elevating means for moving said golf balls from said floor collector track to said raised collector track.   
   
   
       13 . The game of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a plurality of return ball tracks corresponding to each of said holes, said return ball tracks extending downwardly from said holes and terminating at said floor collector track.   
   
   
       14 . The game of  claim 12  wherein said elevating means include:
 a motor having an output;   a sprocket fixedly connected to said output;   a chain mechanically engaged with said sprocket;   a plurality of fingers fixed to said chain, said fingers extending outwardly from said chain; and,   an elevation track having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said floor collector track, said second end connected to said raised collector track.   
   
   
       15 . The game of  claim 12  wherein said elevating means include:
 a motor having an output;   a circular member fixedly connected to said output, said circular member having a first side and a second side, said first side being adjacent to said floor collector track and said raised collector track;   a plurality of openings located around the peripheral edges of said circular member; and,   a plurality of cages corresponding to each of said openings, said cages are attached to said circular member on said second side.   
   
   
       16 . The game of  claim 15  wherein:
 said cage has a front portion and a back portion, said front portion fixedly mounted to said circular member, said front portion is elevated from said back portion when said cage is positioned closest to said supporting floor and said back portion is elevated from said front portion when said cage is above said raised collector track.   
   
   
       17 . The game of  claim 12  wherein said elevating means include:
 an elevation track having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said floor collector track, said second end connected to said raised collector track;   a motor having an output;   a rod fixedly connected to said output; and   an auger blade fixedly connected to said rod, said blade creating a series of helical flightings sufficient to receive one of said balls, wherein said rod is positioned parallel with said elevation track.   
   
   
       18 . A game table to be positioned on a surface and playable with golf balls, said game table comprising:
 a platform including a plurality of holes extending through said platform, said platform is flat;   an outer portion surrounding said platform to limit movement of balls off the game table, said outer portion includes an inclined surface extending upwardly from said platform and a retaining wall extending upwardly from said inclined surface;   a lower collector track to receive balls from said platform and align said balls in sequential fashion;   an elevated collector track to align said balls in sequential fashion in order for said balls to be dispensed onto said platform;   a plurality of ball returns extending downwardly from said holes and all terminating at said lower collector track to catch balls falling through said holes and directing the balls toward said lower collector track for storage of said balls;   a motor having an output;   a sprocket fixedly connected to said output;   a chain mechanically engaged with said sprocket;   a plurality of fingers fixed to said chain, said fingers extending outwardly from said chain; and,   an inclined track having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said lower collector track, said second end connected to said elevated collector track; and,   a plurality of legs attached to said platform, said legs maintain said platform at an elevated height above said surface.   
   
   
       19 . The game table of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a wedge having a plurality of steps upon with said legs can rest.   
   
   
       20 . The game table of  claim 18  further comprising:
 an inflatable air bag mounted to said platform; and,   a compressor in fluid communication with said inflatable air bag.