# US 11,305,172 B2 · Golf simulation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,172 B2 - Document ID: US11305172B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/804,599 - Filed: 2020-02-28 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-14 - Assignees: Full-Swing Golf, Inc. - Applicants: Full-Swing Golf, Inc. - Inventors: Sean Coffman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305172B2 ## CPC - A63B 69/3661: {Mats for golf practice, e.g. mats having a simulated turf, a practice tee or a green area} - A63B 24/0003: {Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis} - A63B 69/36: for golf - A63B 69/3676: {for putting (A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence)} - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - A63B 2024/0028: {Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch} - A63B 2102/32: Golf - A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A green simulation apparatus may comprise a covering forming a configurable upper surface with a changeable contour and being flexible such that the covering is movable between a base condition in which the upper surface has a substantially planar configuration and a contoured condition in which the upper surface has a contoured configuration. The apparatus may also comprise a covering support assembly configured to support the covering in the base condition and the contoured condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus having a configurable upper surface with a changeable contour, the apparatus comprising: a covering forming the upper surface, the covering being flexible such that the covering is movable between a base condition in which the upper surface has a substantially planar configuration and a contoured condition in which the upper surface has a contoured configuration; and a covering support assembly configured to support the covering in the base condition and the contoured condition, the support assembly comprising: a plurality of movable positioning elements having the covering resting thereon, the plurality of positioning elements being positioned in an array below the covering, the positioning elements each having an upper end comprising a head contacting a portion of the covering, each head having a maximum width and being spaced from adjacent heads by a closest spacing which is less than the maximum width of the head, the positioning elements being movable to adjust a vertical position of the head of the upper end of the positioning element contacting the covering to create contours; and a movement actuator configured to move at least one of the positioning elements, one of the movement actuators acting on at least one of the positioning elements such that the positioning elements are movable independently of other positioning elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper end of the positioning element is attached to the covering. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper end of the positioning element is unattached to the covering. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the covering is elastomerically stretchable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the positioning elements comprises: a pin having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the head of the positioning element is mounted on the top end of the pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the head of one positioning element is unconnected to the heads of adjacent positioning elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the head has a top surface with a convex shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5 wherein maximum of the head is greater than a maximum width of the pin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning elements are elongated with a longitudinal axis that is substantially vertically oriented. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper ends of the positioning elements are moveable with respect to a reference plane that is defined by upper ends of the positioning elements being in a neutral position, the positioning elements having a plurality of raised positions located vertically higher than the neutral position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the covering support assembly includes a guide configured to guide the positioning elements as the elements move. ### Claim 12 A golf simulation system comprising: a screen with a projection surface; a ball path analysis device configured to predict a path of a ball struck by a club of a user; and a green simulation apparatus having a configurable upper surface with a changeable contour, the apparatus comprising: a covering forming the upper surface, the covering being flexible such that the covering is movable between a base condition in which the upper surface has a substantially planar configuration and a contoured condition in which the upper surface has a contoured configuration; and a covering support assembly configured to support the covering in the base condition and the contoured condition, the support assembly comprising: a plurality of movable positioning elements having the covering resting thereon, the plurality of positioning elements being positioned in an array below the covering, the positioning elements each having an upper end comprising a head contacting a portion of the covering, each head having a maximum width and being spaced from adjacent heads by a closest spacing which is less than the maximum width of the head, the positioning elements being movable to adjust a vertical position of the upper end of the positioning element contacting the covering; and a movement actuator configured to move at least one of the positioning elements, one of the movement actuators acting on one of the positioning elements such that each of the positioning elements is movable independently of other positioning elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein each of the positioning element comprises: a pin having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the head of the positioning element is mounted on the top end of the pin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the head of one positioning element is unconnected to the heads of adjacent positioning elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the upper ends of the positioning elements are moveable with respect to a reference plane that is defined by upper ends of the positioning elements being in a neutral position, the positioning elements having a plurality of raised positions located vertically higher than the neutral position.