Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Ball feeding means and tee
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-23
2002-08-27
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Ball feeding means and tee
Reexamination Certificate
active
06440003
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein pertains to ball feeding devices and particularly to devices and methods for dispensing a golf ball onto a tee for practice driving.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
Many golfing enthusiasts spend time at driving ranges hitting practice balls to improve their driving distance and accuracy. While most golfers enjoy swinging a golf club, loading the tee can be both tiresome and a detraction from an otherwise pleasant driving range experience. Thus, various ideas have been conceived in the past for automatically loading golf tees for driving practice purposes. Certain of the prior art devices are electrically powered and can cost thousands of dollars. Other devices are mechanically operated and are less expensive but may be less precise in their loading action, causing the ball to miss the tee. Other mechanical devices tend to malfunction and frequently jam, resulting in the golfer losing the rhythm of his swing.
Thus with the known problems and disadvantages of prior art golf ball feeders and methods, the present invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to provide a ball feeder which will actively and dependently deliver a golf ball to a tee.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a ball feeder and method of operation which has a manually operated pivotal hopper.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a ball feeder which includes a hopper agitator to prevent ball jamming.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a ball feeder which has an adjustment member for limiting the pivoting motion of the hopper.
It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide ball feeder which includes an enclosed chute having proximal and distal sections which raise and axially align during feeding the ball to the tee.
Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed description is set forth below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A ball feeder and method allows golf balls to be quickly and efficiently deposited on a tee positioned on the elongated base of the feeder. The feeder also has a hopper which is attached to an L-shaped proximal section of an enclosed, tubular chute. The L-shaped chute section is pivotally joined to the elongated base and at its terminal end, a hinge is affixed for connecting the chute distal section. The distal section is linear and includes an arcuate ball catch at its free end for guiding the ball onto the tee. The distal section which is normally within a channel of the base below the top of the tee rises from the base channel through its hinged connection with the proximal section of the chute when the hopper is pivoted rearwardly, away from the tee to load the tee with a ball, as the ball passes through the distal section. The proximal section of the chute thus lifts the distal section into axial alignment therewith. Such axial alignment allows a ball from the hopper to then pass through the proximal and distal chute sections by gravity. The arcuate catch on the free end of the distal section guides the ball onto the tee as it exits therefrom. When the hopper is released it swings forwardly, allowing the proximal and distal chute sections to hingedly separate and misalign while the distal section moves to its lower, dormant posture within the channel of the base, providing an unobstructed tee with the ball positioned thereon. A golfer can then strike the teed ball with a club as usual. thereafter, by pushing a tab on the hopper with, for example, the golf club, the hopper will again pivot rearwardly and the ball feeding method begins anew. To limit the pivoting action of the hopper, a threaded adjustment member is provided at the rear of the base which is struck by the proximal section of the chute as it and the hopper pivot rearwardly. The adjustment member allows for tees of different heights to be acurately loaded with golf balls. An agitator positioned in the hopper turns as the hopper pivots to prevent ball jams occurring therein.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2171299 (1939-08-01), Beckett
patent: 5022657 (1991-06-01), Bussiere et al.
patent: 5580318 (1996-12-01), Weber
patent: 5582325 (1996-12-01), Janier
Range Land USA—The Automatic Golf Tee flier one page (undated).
American Range Co.—ARC-EZ Tee flier one page (undated).
Golf Dreams—Computer Caddy flier one page (undated).
Hermans Ronald
Phillips James C.
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