Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Circular size
Patent
1997-10-28
2000-07-04
Bennett, G. Bradley
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Circular size
33501, 33508, G01B 334, G01B 522
Patent
active
060820152
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an arrangement for checking the quality of balls in respect of their diameter and any damage to their periphery, in particular intended for checking golf balls, by means of a diameter gauge device extending along at least part of the diameter of an intended ball, which device is situated at a distance from a bottom support so arranged as to 'support a ball accommodated in the arrangement for checking, in conjunction with which the diameter gauge device is formed by a ring extending around the entire periphery of the ball at its diameter.
Playing golf with damaged balls which do not exhibit fully round form or which have damage to the outer covering can cause problems for golf players, especially when playing on the green requiring putting of the ball. Arrangements for checking golf balls are already available, although they comprise a complex and costly construction which is not suitable for carrying around the course and are permanently located in the golf shop or at some other point on the course. This comprises a tube in which the ball is raised and rotated on a stand.
Previously disclosed arrangements for checking balls in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,260, U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,123 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,759 comprise a frame in which the ball is accommodated as the diameter and quality of the ball are checked, in conjunction with which its walls are closed, which is associated with the disadvantage that it is not possible to see whether the ball makes proper contact with the bottom support inside it, or whether the ball is hanging in the air. Given that it is not known for certain whether the ball travels all the way down to and rests on the bottom support, because one cannot see the bottom support which is obscured by the ball when the ball is accommodated in the arrangement for checking, the aforementioned ball checking arrangements do not function satisfactorily. There is the risk of believing that the tester is checking the ball diameter without actually doing so if the ball remains caught on the ring that is to check the ball diameter.
If one inserts a ball which is round, but which exhibits poor tolerance and is a little too large, the ball will not fall completely down into the checking arrangement, and the ball can still rotate. In this case the diameter gauge device ends up beneath the diameter of the ball, which means that the actual diameter of the ball is not checked. The test arrangement thus loses its intended function.
The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problems by simple and effective means and to permit golfers to carry the ball tester with them around the course to enable them to test their balls all the time and to see whether they have been damaged in any way, for example residual damage following hard impacts resulting in the ball not being fully round, or whether damage has occurred to the outer covering.
The aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the actual bottom support for a ball is formed on the inward-facing smooth surface of a bridging device in the form of a curved arch extending between at least two points on the ring.
The invention is described below as a number of preferred illustrative embodiments with reference to a number of accompanying drawing figures, in which
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first illustrative embodiment, in which
FIG. 1 shows the test arrangement in perspective viewed at an angle from above with a ball in the test position;
FIG. 2 shows the test arrangement in the empty position from below;
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second illustrative embodiment of a test arrangement in the empty position viewed at an angle respectively from above and from below, and
FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through the test arrangement in the test position, with an enlarged part illustrating the interaction between a ball and the test arrangement.
An arrangement 1 for permitti
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patent: 3828442 (1974-08-01), Bernard
patent: 4385447 (1983-05-01), Bennett
patent: 4528759 (1985-07-01), Joyce et al.
patent: 5401019 (1995-03-01), Wissman et al.
patent: 5774997 (1998-07-01), Gruen, Jr.
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