Golf driving range, system and method for retrieving balls from target cup
First Claim
1. A golf driving range comprising:
- a conduit for transporting a golf ball, said conduit having a first end and a second end;
a golf green having a flag cup therein for receiving a golf ball;
a flag cup aperture, disposed within said flag cup, wherein said flag cup aperture is coupled to a first opening in said first end of said conduit;
a movably mounted door located at said flag cup aperture for selectively opening and closing said flag cup aperture;
an actuator coupled to said door for moving said door for selectively opening and closing said flag cup aperture;
a ball receptacle coupled to said second end of said conduit; and
a vacuum pump connected to said conduit at said second end for moving air through said conduit, wherein said golf ball may enter said flag cup, pass through said flag cup aperture when said door opens, move through said conduit when said vacuum pump moves air through said conduit, and be received in said ball receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tee area is provided from which contestants may hit golf balls toward flag cups located on a plurality of greens. If a contestant hits a golf ball into a flag cup, a ball sensor detects the presence of the golf ball and a remote indicator announces the presence of such a golf ball in the flag cup. Thereafter, an actuator may be utilized to move a door from a closed position to an open position. When such a door is in the open position, the golf ball is permitted to enter a conduit which extends from the flag cup to a remotely located ball receptacle. The actuator then closes the door and a vacuum pump applies a vacuum to the conduit to move the golf ball from the flag cup to the ball receptacle. Air entering the conduit at the flag cup is filtered to prevent debris or other foreign objects from entering the conduit. The ball receptacle may be made from a transparent material so that the golf ball may be identified as belonging to a particular contestant.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A golf driving range comprising:
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a conduit for transporting a golf ball, said conduit having a first end and a second end; a golf green having a flag cup therein for receiving a golf ball; a flag cup aperture, disposed within said flag cup, wherein said flag cup aperture is coupled to a first opening in said first end of said conduit; a movably mounted door located at said flag cup aperture for selectively opening and closing said flag cup aperture; an actuator coupled to said door for moving said door for selectively opening and closing said flag cup aperture; a ball receptacle coupled to said second end of said conduit; and a vacuum pump connected to said conduit at said second end for moving air through said conduit, wherein said golf ball may enter said flag cup, pass through said flag cup aperture when said door opens, move through said conduit when said vacuum pump moves air through said conduit, and be received in said ball receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 7)
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2. The golf driving range according to claim I further comprising:
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a second opening in said first end of said conduit; and a filter covering said second opening for filtering debris from air entering said conduit.
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6. The golf driving range according to claim I wherein said ball receptacle is transparent.
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8. A method, in a golf game, for moving a golf ball from a flag cup to a ball receptacle, wherein said flag cup is connected to said ball receptacle via a conduit, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the presence of said golf ball which has entered said flag cup; opening an aperture into said conduit and permitting said golf ball to enter said conduit; closing said aperture into said conduit after said golf ball has entered said conduit; moving air through said conduit to apply a force to said golf ball to move said golf ball in a direction toward said ball receptacle; and receiving said golf ball in said ball receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A flag cup for use in a golf game, said flag cup comprising:
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a cup body having a cup sidewall, a cup opening at an upper end, and a drain opening at a lower end; a funnel disposed within said cup body between said cup opening and said cup drain opening, wherein said funnel has a funnel rim, a funnel surface having a downward slope from said funnel rim, and a funnel aperture, wherein said funnel rim is coupled to said cup sidewall; a conduit protruding through said cup body; a first opening in said conduit coupled to said funnel aperture for passing a golf ball from said funnel aperture into said conduit; a door movably mounted so that in a first position said funnel aperture is closed to prevent said golf ball from entering said conduit, and in a second position said funnel aperture is open to permit said golf ball to enter said conduit; an actuator coupled to said door for moving said door between said closed position and said open position; a second opening in said conduit for allowing air into said conduit; and a filter mounted in said second opening for filtering debris from air entering said second opening. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification