Golfing Game Apparatus

• US 20110201437A1
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Fallow, Robert Blair, Jolliffe, David Victor, Jolliffe, Steven Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/989,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/152
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/025 Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/02 Special golf games, e.g. miniature golf or golf putting games played on putting tracks; putting practice apparatus having an elongated platform as a putting track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A golf ball struck by a player from a teeing area (22) to a second area (27) with golf holes (26), (30) passes beneath the lower edge (65) of a transparent screen (64) and then through photoelectric beam arrangements (66, 67). The holes (26, 30) incorporate ball sensors connected to a control device (60) which allocates scores. A selected hole may be illuminated and the control device rewards a successful putt into the selected hole with a higher score.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A golfing game apparatus comprising a putting surface comprising a first, teeing area for a player and a second area having one or more golf holes, a screen being provided between said first area and said second area to prevent a player having access to said second area, the apparatus further comprising two or more sensors to detect a ball and/or any other object moving between said first and second areas, said sensors being arranged at different distances from the first area.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said sensors are arranged at different heights above the putting surface.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each said sensor comprises a photoelectric beam arrangement.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second area has a plurality of golf holes, and control apparatus is provided for selecting one of said holes and identifying the selected hole to a player.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a light is provided for identifying the selected hole.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a respective detector is provided at each hole for detecting the entry of a golf ball and forwarding a signal representative thereof to control apparatus.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the control apparatus allocates a score in respect of a ball entering a hole, whereby a higher score can be allocated if entry of a ball into a selected hole is detected.

23. The apparatus according to claim 16, and comprising a second surface beneath said putting surface and sloped towards said first end of the apparatus.

24. The apparatus according to claim 16 having a putter secured thereto.

25. A golfing game apparatus comprising a putting surface comprising a first, teeing area for a player and a second area having one or more holes, wherein one or more sensors are arranged to detect the presence, height, length and/or direction of movement of a ball or other article moving between said first and second areas.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, comprising at least two sensors, said sensors being located at different distances along said putting surface from said first area.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25 and comprising control apparatus for selecting one of said holes and identifying the selected hole to a player.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 comprising a light for identifying the selected hole.

29. A golfing game apparatus comprising a putting surface with a plurality of golf holes, a respective detector being provided at each hole for detecting the entry of a golf ball, and control apparatus responsive to said detectors for allocating and indicating a respective score.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said putting surface comprises a first, teeing area for a player and a second area having said golf holes, a screen being provided between said first area and said second area to prevent a player having access to said second area, the apparatus further comprising two or more sensors to detect a ball and/or any other object moving between said first and second areas, said sensors being arranged at different distances from the first area, and wherein control apparatus is provided for selecting one of said holes and identifying the selected hole to a player.