Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Projectile addressing surface and target – or distance marker
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-25
2001-09-11
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Projectile addressing surface and target, or distance marker
C473S182000, C473S194000, C198S358000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287212
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for dispensing golf balls. More particularly, it refers to a system for cleaning, automatically transporting and dispensing golf balls to a golfer in a practice mode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Practice golf ranges have proliferated during the past fifteen years because of the increased popularity of golf. The typical practice range uses a pick-up vehicle to retrieve practice balls. In most cases, the retrieved balls are washed and then either hand packed into wire baskets or fed by hand into a dispenser that dispenses a set number of balls in response to coins deposited into slots on the dispenser. This system is time consuming and service staff intensive.
A system is needed which will accelerate the delivery of golf balls from the pick-up vehicle to the dispenser without the need for intervention by several staff personnel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have invented a system for automatic direct delivery of retrieved golf balls from a cleaning station to multiple golf ball dispensers located at a practice range. My system commences at a cleaning station where golf balls have been deposited by the golf ball retriever or pick-up vehicle. After washing, the golf balls are rotated on a tray from which they fall into a channel where they are picked up by a flange projection on the outer circumference of continuously operated rollers and lifted in a tube to a height of about thirty feet, after which they fall by gravity at about 4 inches every ten feet to a diverter electromagnetically operated to direct the balls to two or more golf ball dispensers from which a player can obtain a basket of golf balls by depositing a coin into the dispensers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1229979 (1917-06-01), Kyle
patent: 2670835 (1954-03-01), Huttman
patent: 3407932 (1968-10-01), Northoff
patent: 3599980 (1971-08-01), Harmond
patent: 5738593 (1998-04-01), Coury
patent: 5766085 (1998-06-01), Knez
Betts William
Ko Ken
Wetherell Bruce B.
Gerrity Stephen F.
Larson James E.
Larson & Larson P.A.
Solomon Gary B.
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