Golf Mat

Abstract

A portable golf mat includes a first portion coupled with a second portion at a first hinge, a third portion coupled with the second portion at a second hinge, and a fourth portion coupled with the third portion at a third hinge. Each portion has a first layer formed from a rubber material and a second layer comprising an artificial turf. The first portion is foldable about the first hinge relative to the second portion so that the first portion top surface contacts the second portion top surface, the second portion is foldable about the second hinge relative to the third portion so that the second portion bottom surface contacts the third portion bottom surface, and the fourth portion is foldable about the third hinge relative to the third portion so that the fourth portion top surface contacts the third portion top surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable golf mat, comprising:
 a first portion coupled with a second portion at a first hinge;   a third portion coupled with the second portion at a second hinge;   a fourth portion coupled with the third portion at a third hinge;   wherein the first, second, third, and fourth portions each have a first layer formed from a rubber material and a second layer comprising an artificial turf;   the first, second, third, and fourth portions each comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;   wherein the first portion is foldable about the first hinge relative to the second portion so that the first portion top surface is configured to contact the second portion top surface;   wherein the second portion is foldable about the second hinge relative to the third portion so that the second portion bottom surface is configured to contact the third portion bottom surface; and   wherein the fourth portion is foldable about the third hinge relative to the third portion so that the fourth portion top surface is configured to contact the third portion top surface.   
     
     
         2 . The portable golf mat of  claim 1 , further comprising indicia applied to the top surfaces of the first, second, third, and fourth portions. 
     
     
         3 . The portable golf mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third hinges are formed from a tape material. 
     
     
         4 . The portable golf mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions together define a first perimeter, the first perimeter comprising a first chord extending between first and second endpoints and a first arc extending between the first and second endpoints, wherein the first arc subtends an angle greater than 180 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The portable golf mat of  claim 4 , wherein the third and fourth portions together define a second perimeter, the second perimeter comprising a second chord extending between third and fourth endpoints and a second arc extending between the third and fourth endpoints, wherein the second arc subtends an angle greater than 180 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The portable golf mat of  claim 5 , wherein the first chord and the second chord are coupled together at the second hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The portable golf mat of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion and the third portion are rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The portable golf mat of  claim 7 , wherein the first portion and the fourth portion are rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         9 . A portable golf mat, comprising:
 a first portion, the first portion defining a first perimeter, the first perimeter comprising a first chord extending between first and second endpoints and a first arc extending between the first and second endpoints, wherein the first arc subtends an angle greater than  180  degrees; and   a second portion, the second portion defining a second perimeter, the second perimeter comprising a second chord extending between third and fourth endpoints and a second arc extending between the third and fourth endpoints, wherein the second arc subtends an angle greater than 180 degrees;   wherein the first and second portions each comprise a top surface and a bottom surface;   wherein the first portion is foldable about a first hinge relative to the second portion.   
     
     
         10 . The portable golf mat of  claim 9 , wherein the first chord and the second chord are coupled together at the first hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The portable golf mat of  claim 9 , wherein the first portion comprises a first segment and a second segment coupled with the first segment at a second hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The portable golf mat of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion comprises a third segment and a fourth segment coupled with the third segment at a third hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The portable golf mat of  claim 12 , wherein the first segment is foldable about the second hinge relative to the second segment so that the top surface of the first segment is configured to contact the top surface of the second segment. 
     
     
         14 . The portable golf mat of  claim 12 , wherein the third segment is foldable about the third hinge relative to the fourth segment so that the top surface of the third segment is configured to contact the top surface of the fourth segment. 
     
     
         15 . The portable golf mat of  claim 12 , wherein the second segment is foldable about the first hinge relative to the third segment so that the bottom surface of the second segment is configured to contact the bottom surface of the third segment. 
     
     
         16 . The portable golf mat of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third hinges is bidirectional. 
     
     
         17 . The portable golf mat of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of apertures defined in a peripheral surface of the first portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a portable golf mat, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a golf mat, the golf mat comprising:
 a first portion coupled with a second portion at a first hinge; and 
 a third portion coupled with the second portion at a second hinge; 
 the first, second, and third portions each comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; 
   folding the first portion about the first hinge relative to the second portion so that the first portion top surface contacts the second portion top surface; and   folding the second portion about the second hinge relative to the third portion so that the second portion bottom surface contacts the third portion bottom surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the golf mat further comprises a fourth portion coupled with the third portion at a third hinge, the fourth portion comprising a top surface and a bottom surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of folding the fourth portion about the third hinge relative to the third portion so that the fourth portion top surface contacts the third portion top surface.