AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL SUPPLY DEVICE

• US 20110092302A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wan J.E. Cho
• Original Assignee: Wan J.E. Cho
• Inventors: Cho, Wan Je
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/137
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/0006 Automatic teeing devices devices for automatically dispensing balls in general A63B47/002

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic golf ball supply device for automatically supplying golf balls to a position where the user hits the golf ball using a golf club. A characterising feature of the present invention is that it comprises: a frame; an ascending and descending vertical carrier provided in such a way that it is free to ascend and descend; a motor; a first rod for performing a forwards rotation or backwards rotation movement; a second rod linked in movement to the other end of the first rod; a separating type of pressed-member which separates from the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the ascending and descending vertical carrier is ascending, and which collides with and is pressed by a pushing plate formed in the other side surface of the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the ascending and descending vertical carrier is descending; a rotational force transmission means for converting the pressing force of the pressed-member into a rotational force; and a golf ball guide member means for nudging the golf ball and settling it on a tee member of the ascending and descending vertical carrier when the vertical carrier has descended, by means of the rotational force transmission means. As a result, the present invention is advantageous in that it reduces production costs, lessens the incidence of malfunction, and can maintain a flexible performance in operation in diverse environments.

Claims

1. An automatic golf ball supply device that automatically supplies golf balls to where a user hits the golf balls with a golf club, the automatic golf ball supply device comprising:

a frame having a golf ball outlet at the top;

a vertical carrier having a tee member where the golf ball is held and freely moving up/down to/from the outlet along a guide mounted on the frame;

a motor mounted on the frame;

a first rod having one end connected to a rotary shaft of the motor to pivot forward/backward;

a second rod having a slit at the center portion where the other end of the first rod is fitted, one end hinged to the frame to be pivoted by the first rod, and the other end horizontally moving along a rail formed on one side of the vertical carrier;

a separable pressed-member separated from the vertical carrier when the vertical carrier moves up, and hitting against a pressing plate formed on the other side of the vertical carrier to be pressed when the vertical carrier moves down;

a torque transmitting member connected to the pressed-member and converting the force pressing the pressed-member into torque; and

a golf ball guide member pushing the golf ball in the golf ball reservation room to be held on the tee member of the vertical carrier, which has moved down, while being pivoted by the torque transmitting member.

2. The automatic golf ball supply device according to claim 1, wherein the separable pressed-member includes an elastic roller that hits against the pressing plate of the vertical carrier, and

the torque transmitting member includes a link having one end that is guided up/down by a vertical slit formed at the frame and the other end linked with a protruding arm positioned on the same axis with the golf ball guide member.

3. The automatic golf ball supply device according to claim 1, wherein the separable pressed-member includes a rotary member having one end hinged to the frame and the other end equipped with an elastic roller that hits against with the pressing plate of the vertical carrier, and

the torque transmitting member includes a driving gear coupled to one end of the rotary lever, a driven gear coupled to a rotary shaft of the golf ball guide member, and an intermediate gear disposed between the driving gear and the driven gear.

4. The automatic golf ball supply device according to claim 1, wherein the separable pressed-member includes a pressed-link having a first roller and a second roller that are fitted inside a second rail of the vertical carrier while hitting against the pressing plate of the vertical carrier, and

the torque transmitting member includes a protruding hinge arm having one end hinged to the other end of the pressed-link, a locking protrusion that is locked to a preliminary rotary stopper formed at one side of the pressed-link, and the other end positioned on the same rotary axis with the golf ball guide member.