PORTABLE AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING APPARATUS

• US 20050282647A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Paul Staehs
• Original Assignee: James Paul Staehs
• Inventors: Staehs, James Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,969,324 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/134
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2047/004 having means preventing bridge formation during dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/0006 Automatic teeing devices devices for automatically dispensing balls in general A63B47/002
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf

Abstract

A storage means holds a quantity of golf balls for automatic placement upon a tee. An gating mechanism releases a single ball to roll by gravity power to a ball holder. Upon activation by the user an extendable arm causes the ball holder to be positioned over the tee, then the extendable arm rotates downwardly, leaving the ball upon the tee. A sensor signals a controller to reverse a motor, retracting the extendable arm fully. Upon full retraction a next golf ball is released to the ball holder. The user activates a new cycle by placing a golf club head in the vicinity of the invention. The invention may be battery powered and is small enough to be used anywhere.

Claims

1. A golf ball teeing apparatus for dispensing golf balls comprising:

a base, including a base surface;

a tee platform, including a tee platform surface, tee platform connected with said base at an adjacent end and said tee platform surface being parallel to and approximately on the same plane as said base surface, the location of said tee platform connection with said base defining the front end of the apparatus;

a golf ball tee having an upper end disposed to support a golf ball and a bottom end connected with the tee platform surface, said tee positioned at an end of said tee platform in opposition to said base connection;

a means for placing a golf ball upon said tee, comprising a carrier slideably movable longitudinally, a golf ball support member connected with an adjacent end of the carrier, a guide finger extending laterally from the carrier perpendicular to the path of travel of the carrier, the carrier having a first position defined as the most rearward position of the carrier when the carrier is retracted wherein a golf ball is directed to said supporting member and a second position defined as the most forward position of the carrier when the carrier is extended, whereupon a golf ball is placed upon the tee and removed from the supporting member, the carrier then returning to the first position;

a gravity fed ball delivery tube having an upper end connected with a container for holding one or more golf balls and a lower end cooperatively located above said golf ball supporting member of said means for placing a golf ball upon the tee;

a ball gate assembly positioned along the ball delivery tube and operable upon the carrier being in the first position to release exactly one golf ball for travel through the ball delivery tube towards said golf ball supporting member;

a horizontal arm mounted intermediate its ends above the base for pivotal movement by gravity about a horizontal axis, the axis connected at each axis end with an axis support member fixedly connected with the base surface wherein the axis is displaced vertically from the base at a distance approximately corresponding to the height of the tee, wherein the means for placing a golf ball upon the tee is connected with and rotatable upwardly and downwardly bodily with the horizontal arm;

a forward limit foot fixedly connected with the horizontal arm extending from the horizontal arm towards the surface of the base wherein the length of the forward limit foot allows the means for placing a golf ball to rotate downwardly sufficient to place a golf ball upon the tee when the carrier is in said second position and prevents the ball carrier from striking the surface of the base;

a rear limit foot fixedly connected with the horizontal arm, the rear limit foot extending from the horizontal arm towards the surface of the base wherein the length of the rear limit foot prevents the horizontal arm from rotating upwardly beyond an approximately horizontal position when the carrier is in the first position.

a motor means including an output shaft, said motor means connected in an electric circuit with a power supply and cooperatively connected with the means for placing a golf ball upon the tee;

a control system means operatively associated with the motor means for automatically extending the carrier from the first position to the second position, then returning the carrier to the first position;

a vertical plate proximally located near and parallel to the longitudinal path of the carrier, said vertical plate including a horizontal guide wherein the guide finger on the carrier rides upon the horizontal guide when the carrier moves from the first position to the second position until the ball support means is positioned over the tee, whereupon the guide finger will clear the horizontal guide whereupon the horizontal arm will rotate downwardly until the forward limit foot comes into contact with the base;

means for a user to activate the control system to automatically place a golf ball upon the tee.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connection with said tee platform and said base further comprises a hinge, wherein said tee platform is rotatable to an approximately vertical and to an approximately horizontal position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tee is of a resiliently flexible material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container for holding one or more golf balls is detachable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 4 wherein said container for holding one or more golf balls further comprises a delivery means from a remote location to said delivery tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprises an enclosure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said motor means further comprises a forward roller rotatably connected with a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket fixedly connected with the horizontal arm, displaced from said motor by at least the distance of travel by the carrier from said first position to said second position;

a drive wheel fixedly connected with said motor output shaft, said shaft forming an axle for said drive wheel;

a belt encompassing said forward wheel and said drive wheel, said belt fixedly connected with said carrier.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control system means further comprises a microcontroller.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 or of claim 8 wherein said control system means further comprises a battery for power supply.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for a user to activate the control system comprises a light emitting diode and a photo detector.