Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Ball feeding means and tee
Patent
1995-05-30
1997-10-07
Pierce, William M.
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Ball feeding means and tee
473134, 473137, A63B 5700
Patent
active
056741308
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a golf ball dispenser for the placement of golf balls onto a tee in a golf driving range.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such golf bail dispensers are described in British patent specification No. GB-A-2 061 737 (Eberle), U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,213 (Bradley) and European patent specification No. EP-Al-0 002 921 (Loof). In the British specification, a golf ball trough is described which is movable through 90.degree. and it holds golf balls replenished from a hopper. At the end of the trough there is a pivotal head which is urged to a detent position by a small weight. Movement of the head changes gaps at the end of the trough to allow dispensing of a golf ball onto a tee. In the United States specification, a reciprocating tee assembly is described and there is a support platform for the golfer. In the European specification, there is an elevated magazine and a rotatable carrier which is balanced so that a ball deposited in a receptacle on the carrier causes the arm to pivot under the weight of the ball to deliver a ball to a tee. These mechanisms appear to suffer from the disadvantages that they are relatively complex in operation and it appears that they would not be particularly reliable in accurate placement of a ball on a tee over a long period of time. Another disadvantage is that it is necessary for the golfer to actuate the mechanism in order to cause a ball to be placed on the tee.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,537 describes a dispensing mechanism in which there is a gravitational feed to a ball dispenser operated by a pedal pressed by the golfer when a ball is desired. A deflector bar, a depression, a stop plate, and a spring-biased rocker arm cause the ball to enter a transit groove on further depression of the pedal by the golfer. The ball then reaches a further depression having an orifice which is blocked by the ball. Resulting positive pressure in an air supply through the orifice is an indication of presence of the ball, causing a tee to move upwardly with the ball to a playing position. In summary, therefore, ball placement is initiated by the golfer, (by depressing the pedal) and tee control is in response to pressure detection. It appears that this arrangement is quite complex as it involves use of many moving parts.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,131 a teeing device is described which is operated by the golfer pressing a pedestal. A cable, pulley and pivot arm assembly operate to cause a receiver move upwardly in a sudden action, propelling a ball into a track. This track communicates with a second track which pivots in a vertical plane, and when in an operative position allows the ball to roll into a seat having a diameter greater than the ball, thus allowing it to drop onto a tee. The second track then pivots upwardly out of the way. Again, this device appears to be quite complex and thus difficult to manufacture and maintain. Further, it appears that the device may not be particularly effective as the ball must drop--albeit a short distance--onto the tee.
In U.S. Pat. 5,096,200 a teeing machine is disclosed which has a complicated mechanism terminating in a ball-carrying arm rotating in a horizontal plane. An infra-red sensor detects if a ball is on the tee, apparently as a check that the machine has operated correctly. U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,515 describes a teeing mechanism in which mircoswitches and motors are used for control of dispensing a ball onto a track and for movement of a tee platform between lower and upper positions. When a ball is struck, the tee platform is balanced so that it tilts to a second position contacting a microswitch which causes a motor to allow the platform to drop. While this mechanism is somewhat simpler than much of the other prior art mechanisms, it does require a quite complex tee support platform device. Further, the arrangement for sensing when a ball has been struck relies on balancing of the platform and correct operation of a microswitch and motor and associated electrical and mechanical components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVEN
REFERENCES:
patent: 3127177 (1964-03-01), Benkoe
patent: 3901515 (1975-08-01), Mozel
patent: 3966213 (1976-06-01), Bradley
patent: 4732391 (1988-03-01), Karr
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patent: 5071131 (1991-12-01), Turnidge et al.
patent: 5096200 (1992-03-01), Komori et al.
patent: 5351964 (1994-10-01), Kruger
patent: 5415409 (1995-05-01), Hellmann
patent: 5458339 (1995-10-01), Wildes
Lesco Enterprises Ltd.
Pierce William M.
LandOfFree
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