Putting mat

Abstract

An aspect of the invention provides a putting mat including a mat portion, a ball returning net portion, and a pair of bumps. The mat portion is configured for a ball to travel along. The ball returning net portion includes an entrance, a confining net portion, and a slope portion configured to guide the ball in the confining net portion toward and beyond the entrance. The pair of bumps along the two side portions of the mat portion are configured to limit the ball on the central path portion of the mat portion. The mat portion is tilted downward from the first end portion to the second end portion such that the ball is fallen off the entrance of the ball returning net and rolls toward the second end portion of the mat portion.

1 . A putting mat comprising:
 a mat portion comprising a central path portion, two side portions, and first and second end portions, the mat portion being configured for a ball to travel along the central path portion; and   a ball returning net portion comprising:
 an entrance configured to pass the ball through and provided at the first end portion of the mat portion; 
 a confining net portion disposed so as to confine a confining space behind the entrance and configured to confine the ball inside the confining space; and 
 a slope portion configured to guide the ball in the confining space toward and beyond the entrance; 
   a pair of bumps disposed along the two side portions of the mat portion, each of which being configured to limit the ball on the central path portion of the mat portion,   wherein the mat portion is tilted downward from the first end portion to the second end portion such that the ball is fallen off the entrance of the ball returning net and rolls toward the second end portion of the mat portion,   wherein the ball returning net portion is configured to roll the ball in the confining space out to the entrance, and   wherein the slope portion of the ball returning net portion is configured to guide the rolling ball down toward the entrance.   
   
   
       2 . The putting mat of  claim 1 , wherein the mat portion comprises one or more guide lines extended between the first and second end portions so as to provide a visual guide line for the ball. 
   
   
       3 . The putting mat of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of bumps is integrated to the mat portion, wherein the mat portion comprises a plurality of folding lines, and wherein each of the pair of bumps comprises a plurality of slots substantially aligned with the plurality of folding lines, wherein each of the plurality of slots is configured to keep the ball from passing through each of the plurality of slots. 
   
   
       4 . The putting mat of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of slots is of V-cut shape, and wherein the plurality of slots are configured to facilitate folding of the mat portion. 
   
   
       5 . The putting mat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of bumps is configured to be attached to and detached from the side portions of the mat portion using loop-and-hook fastener. 
   
   
       6 . The putting mat of  claim 1 , further comprising a connecting flap configured to connect the entrance of the ball returning net and the mat portion to each other such that the ball travels over the connecting flap smoothly. 
   
   
       7 . The putting mat of  claim 6 , wherein the connecting flap is configured to be draped over the central path portion of the mat portion. 
   
   
       8 . The putting mat of  claim 6 , wherein the connecting flap is detachably attached to the central path portion of the mat portion by a loop-and-hook fastener. 
   
   
       9 . The putting mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the mat portion is fixed to the entrance of the ball returning net portion. 
   
   
       10 . The putting mat of  claim 1 , wherein the mat portion is made of artificial lawn material. 
   
   
       11 . The putting mat of  claim 1 , wherein the mat portion further comprises a ball stopper configured to stop the ball rolling down from the first end portion of the mat portion, and wherein the ball stopper is provided at the second end portion of the mat portion. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . The putting mat of  claim 1 , wherein the slope portion has a shape of inside of a cone, and wherein the entrance is disposed around an apex portion of the cone, such that the ball rolls down to the entrance.