Automated hole-in-one recording system
First Claim
1. In a golf layout including a putting green having an open hole recessed therein and a tee spaced from the putting green, the improvement for verifying the occurence of a hole-in-one or other event involving the flight of a golf ball comprising:
- a video camera focused on the tee, the putting green, any intervening area between the tee and putting green, and the normal flight trajectory of a golf ball being played from the tee to the putting green;
recording means for storing video images received by the video camera; and
coin-operated control means for causing the video camera and recording means to be operational during a predetermined time period after receipt of a specified coin value to provide a stored record of video images showing the tee, the putting green, any intervening area between the tee and putting green, and the complete flight of a golf ball directed from the tee to the putting green during the predetermined time period.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for recording the occurrence of a hole-in-one or other preselected event at a golf layout includes a video camera trained upon the tee, the target putting green, and any intervening area between the tee and putting green, plus a recording device for storing video images showing the flight trajectory of a golf ball from a tee to the green. The video camera and recording device are operated by a coin control adjacent to the tee. A golfer first inserts the appropriate coins, causing the video camera and recording device to be operational for a predetermined time period. If a hole-in-one or other specified event occurs, the recorded video images can be monitored to verify this fact and to substantiate the claim of a player to any outstanding offer of a prize or reward.
47 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a golf layout including a putting green having an open hole recessed therein and a tee spaced from the putting green, the improvement for verifying the occurence of a hole-in-one or other event involving the flight of a golf ball comprising:
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a video camera focused on the tee, the putting green, any intervening area between the tee and putting green, and the normal flight trajectory of a golf ball being played from the tee to the putting green; recording means for storing video images received by the video camera; and coin-operated control means for causing the video camera and recording means to be operational during a predetermined time period after receipt of a specified coin value to provide a stored record of video images showing the tee, the putting green, any intervening area between the tee and putting green, and the complete flight of a golf ball directed from the tee to the putting green during the predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automated recording system for verifying the occurrence of a hole-in-one or other event involving the flight of a golf ball at a golf layout including a putting green having an open hole recessed therein and a tee spaced from the green, comprising:
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a video camera adapted to be focused on a tee, a putting green, any intervening area between the tee and the putting green, and the flight trajectory of a golf ball being played from the tee to the putting green; recording means for storing video images received by the video camera; and coin-operated control means for causing the video camera and recording means to be operational during a predetermined time period after receipt of a specified coin value to provide a stored record of video images showing the tee, the putting green, any intervening area between the tee and putting green, and the complete flight of a golf ball directed from the tee to the putting green during the predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A game process for verifying the occurrence of a hole-in-one or other event involving the flight of a golf ball utilizing a golf layout including a putting green having an open hole recessed therein and a tee spaced from the green;
- a video camera focused on the tee, the putting green, any intervening area between the tee and putting green, and the normal flight trajectory of a golf ball being played from the tee to the putting green;
recording means for storing video images received by the video camera; and
coin-operated control means for the video camera and recording means;
the game process comprising the following steps;inserting a specified coin value into the coin-operated control means to thereby cause the video camera and recording means to be operational during a predetermined time period; playing a golf ball from the tee during the predetermined time period; and monitoring the video images stored by the recording means to verify the occurrence of any resulting hole-in-one or other preselected event.
- a video camera focused on the tee, the putting green, any intervening area between the tee and putting green, and the normal flight trajectory of a golf ball being played from the tee to the putting green;
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17. A method for recording the occurrence of a hole-in-one or other event involving the flight of a golf ball at a golf layout including a putting green having an open hole recessed therein and a tee spaced from the green, the method comprising the following steps:
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focusing a fixed video camera on the tee, putting green, any intervening area between the tee and the putting green, and the flight trajectory of a golf ball when played from the tee to the putting green; operating the video camera during a predetermined time period after receipt of a specified coin value within a coin-operated control means for the video camera; playing a golf ball from the tee during the predetermined time period; recording the video images transmitted by the video camera while it is operational, to thereby store video images showing the tee, the putting green, any intervening area between the tee and putting green, and the flight of a golf ball directed from the tee to the putting green; and monitoring the video images to verify the occurrence of any resulting hole-in-one or other event.
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Specification