Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Ball feeding means and tee
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-14
2001-11-13
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Ball feeding means and tee
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315676
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for placing a golf ball. More particularly, it relates to a device for repeatedly placing one of a hopper full of golf balls in a chosen location, such as on a golf tee.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When practicing golf at the driving range, setting each ball on the tee is a necessary, if uninviting task. Therefore, over the years many devices have been designed to aid in accomplishing this task. There are devices having an assortment of feeding mechanisms. Some of the devices are towers with a long spiral track. Others are hoppers that lead into a track that zigzags down prior to feeding the balls. The long track designs try to feed most if not all of the balls into the track, thereby reducing the problems of the balls jamming on the way to the outlet. However, these long track designs are generally expensive to manufacture due to the many or long sections of track. Frequently these devices also require that the user feed each ball into the track manually.
The prior art also has a plurality of different styles of levers and arms that are actuated to place the golf balls. Frequently these devices are expensive to manufacture due to the number of parts required for the device to properly place the ball.
Another family of golf ball feeders has the ball roll into place. This style of feeder is prone to failure since the ball is moving in a generally horizontal path when the ball reaches the desired location. In this situation, there is a high probability that the ball will continue to roll and move past the chosen location.
Examples of prior art devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4132214 to Schnurr et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4265453 to Loof, U.S. Pat. No. 4360204 to Karr, U.S. Pat. No. 4391446 to Eberle, U.S. Pat. No. 4541632 to Tillery, U.S. Pat. No. 4602789 to Chung, U.S. Pat. No. 4676397 to Hoffmeister, U.S. Pat. No. 4732391 to Karr, U.S. Pat. No. 4741537 to Adam, U.S. Pat. No. 4817955 to Hickson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4981299 to Petrillo, U.S. Pat. No. 5326107 to Park, U.S. Pat. No. 5820475 to Luna, U.S. Pat. No. 5743804 to Bacon, U.S. Pat. No. 5839607 to Swanson and U.S. Pat. No. 5885174 to Barnes.
However, all of the designs are prone to jamming or bridging which is when the configuration and friction of the balls allows the balls to form a bridge over the outlet or exit hole from the hopper. A user must then open the lid and agitate the balls in order to continue feeding balls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with the forgoing discussion, the present invention takes the form of a golf ball teeing device having a hopper for containing a plurality of golf balls. A ball placing arm extends from one side of the hopper and rotates between a generally upright, rest position and a generally horizontal, ball-dispensing position. The ball dispensing arm rotates about a rod, which forms a pivot point. The rod extends through the hopper. Attached to the rod and within the hopper is a plate. As the ball dispensing arm rotates, the rod and plate are rotated, thereby agitating the balls within the hopper. A spring is used to bias the ball dispensing arn towards the upright position. A ball stopping arm is biased towards a position which blocks the outlet opening of the hopper, thereby inhibiting the loss of balls escaping the hopper. A locking arm may be used to hold the ball stopping arm in front of the outlet opening of the hopper, thereby stopping operation of the golf ball teeing device to allow transport, etc. without the loss of the balls contained within the hopper.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3003770 (1961-10-01), Jones
patent: 4132214 (1979-01-01), Schnurr et al.
patent: 4265453 (1981-05-01), Loof
patent: 4360204 (1982-11-01), Karr
patent: 4391446 (1983-07-01), Eberle
patent: 4541632 (1985-09-01), Tillery
patent: 4602789 (1986-07-01), Chung
patent: 4676397 (1987-06-01), Hoffmeister
patent: 4732391 (1988-03-01), Karr
patent: 4741537 (1988-05-01), Adam
patent: 4796893 (1989-01-01), Choi
patent: 4817955 (1989-04-01), Hickson et al.
patent: 4892318 (1990-01-01), Jennings
patent: 4981299 (1991-01-01), Petrillo
patent: 5022657 (1991-06-01), Bussiere et al.
patent: 5326107 (1994-07-01), Park
patent: 5464223 (1995-11-01), Dermott
patent: 5624325 (1997-04-01), Smith
patent: 5743804 (1998-04-01), Bacon
patent: 5820475 (1998-10-01), Luna
patent: 5839607 (1998-11-01), Swanson
patent: 5885174 (1999-03-01), Barnes
“The Quick Tee,” Dora-John Co., 1998.
Leary James J.
Titus Carol D.
Wong Steven
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