Covering device for a golf hole

Abstract

A device (1, 1′, 1″) for covering a golf hole (2) is provided, that has a planar top side (3) and is or can be arranged inside said golf hole (2) and is designed to cover or close the golf hole (2) reversibly. This device (1, 1′, 1″) is designed and intended such that the planar top side (3) of the device (1, 1′, 1″) is aligned approximately flush with a top edge (4) of the golf hole (2).

1 . A device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) for covering a golf hole ( 2 ), the device comprising: a planar top side ( 3 ), the device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) is adapted to be arranged substantially within the golf hole ( 2 ) and is configured to reversibly cover the golf hole ( 2 ), and the device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) is configured such that the planar top side ( 3 ) terminates flush with a top edge ( 4 ) of the golf hole ( 2 ) in an inserted position. 
     
     
         2 . The device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a closure component ( 5 ) that is configured to close off the golf hole ( 2 ), and a holding component ( 6 ) configured to hold the device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) in a predetermined position in the golf hole ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the closure component ( 5 ) comprises a recess ( 7 ) for raising the device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) out of the golf hole ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device ( 1 ′) as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an additional stiffening component ( 8 ) for increasing a rigidity of the closure component ( 5 ), the additional stiffening component including: a first stiffening rib ( 8   a ) and a second stiffening rib ( 8   b ), said first and second stiffening ribs ( 8   a,    8   b ) are arranged in a cross shape, a third stiffening rib ( 8   c ) arranged concentrically to a center point (M) of the closure component ( 5 ), and a fourth stiffening rib comprised of a multi-interrupted ring including partial ribs ( 24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d ) arranged concentrically to the center point (M) of the closure component ( 5 ). 
     
     
         5 . The device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the holding component ( 6 ) is configured to generate a holding force (F hold ) radially outwardly against a wall ( 9 ) of the golf hole ( 2 ) by a spring action. 
     
     
         6 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the holding component ( 6 ) comprises a circumferentially extending, at least singly interrupted, spring ring having at least two spring legs ( 10   a,    10   b ). 
     
     
         7 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the holding component ( 6 ) has an additional spring leg ( 11 ) for clamping the holding component ( 6 ), said additional spring leg ( 11 ) is arranged in a region ( 13 ) lying opposite a gap ( 12 ) between the two spring legs ( 10   a,    10   b ). 
     
     
         8 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the holding component ( 6 ) and the closure component ( 5 ) are configured as separate constituent parts and are connectable to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the holding component ( 6 ) includes a projection ( 14 ,  14   a,    14   b ) protruding upward therefrom in an axial direction of the device ( 1 ), said projection ( 14 ,  14   a,    14   b ) is configured to engage in a corresponding recess ( 15 ,  15   a,    15   b ) in the closure component ( 5 ). 
     
     
         10 . The device ( 1 ,  1 ′) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the closure component ( 5 ) is configured to close off the golf hole ( 2 ), and the holding component ( 5 ), which is configured to hold the device ( 1 ) in a predetermined position in the golf hole ( 2 ), the holding component ( 5 ) comprises at least two, mutually spaced spring legs ( 16 ,  16   a ,  16   b,    16   c ), which are arranged, respectively in pairs, diametrically with respect to a center axis (MA) of the device ( 1 ′) and point downward away from the closure component ( 5 ) and the holding component ( 6 ) in a direction of the center axis (MA) of the device  1 ′, and which are configured to generate a radial holding force (F hold ). 
     
     
         11 . The device ( 1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) as claimed in at least  claim 2 , wherein the holding component ( 6 ) and the closure component ( 5 ) are configured as a single-part element. 
     
     
         12 . The device ( 1 ′″) as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the closure element ( 5 ) has in a marginal region at least one projection ( 26 ) configured to rest on a putting green in the inserted position. 
     
     
         13 . The device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is formed substantially of at least one transparent material. 
     
     
         14 . A golf hole ( 2 ) having a device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″) for covering the golf hole ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The golf hole ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a cylindrical component ( 27 ) inserted in the golf hole, which, forms a shoulder upwardly in an axial direction of the golf hole ( 2 ), and the shoulder ( 18 ), which is encompassing in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical component ( 27 ). 
     
     
         16 . The golf hole ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a sleeve ( 20 ) arranged in an upper region ( 19 ) of the golf hole ( 2 ), said sleeve acts as a wall ( 9 ) of the golf hole ( 2 ). 
     
     
         17 . The golf hole ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the device ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) is configured to exert a radial holding force (F hold ) on the sleeve ( 20 ). 
     
     
         18 . The golf hole ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the closure component includes at least one projection ( 26 ) that rests on a putting green surrounding the golf hole ( 2 ).