Apparatus for teeing golf balls

• US 5,895,325 A
• Filed: 08/21/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen Tomey
• Original Assignee: Stephen Tomey
• Inventors: Tomey, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US08/916,116
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 473/132-137
• US Class Current: 473/134
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/0006 Automatic teeing devices devices for automatically dispensing balls in general A63B47/002
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/0037 Devices for inserting or extracting tees
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/10 Golf tees

Abstract

An assembly (20) for teeing golf balls including a ball hopper (180) for storing multiple golf balls in readiness for dispensation to a ball feeder (182). In turn, the ball feeder (182) channels the golf balls one at a time to a ball ejector (160). The ball feeder (182) includes an anti-jam mechanism (222) for maintaining the flow of golf balls to the ball ejector (160). The ball ejector (160) then transfers the golf ball to a ball receptacle (72, 290) on the end of a track member (32) in a fully retracted position. In turn, a drive mechanism (28) moves the track member (32) rectilinearly from the fully retracted position to an extended teeing position at which point the golf ball is delivered to a tee (26, 274). Having delivered the golf ball, the drive mechanism (28) returns the track member (32) to the fully retracted position at which point the ejector (160) transfers another golf ball to the receptacle (72, 290). A golf ball sensor (142) detects the presence or the absence of the golf ball delivered to the tee (26, 274) to signal the drive mechanism (28) to repeat the cycle.

Claims

1. An assembly (20) for teeing golf balls comprising:

a ball transfer mechanism (30) for transferring one ball at a time;

a ball delivery mechanism (22) having a fully retracted position for receiving one ball at a time from said transfer mechanism (30);

a drive mechanism (28) for moving said delivery mechanism (22) rectilinearly from said fully retracted position to an extended teeing position for delivering the golf ball from said delivery mechanism (22) at said extended teeing position;

said delivery mechanism (22) including a movable track member (32) having first (34) and second (36) ends;

a ball receptacle (72) attached to said first end (34) of said track member for moving rectilinearly between said fully retracted position and said extended teeing position;

a gate (84) movably disposed in said receptacle (72) for holding a golf ball within said receptacle to said extended teeing position when in a closed position and for delivering the golf ball from said receptacle (72) when in an open position; and

a ball release means (98, 108,

     110) for moving said gate (84) from said closed position to said open position at said extended teeing position.

2. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said release means (98, 108, 110) includes a release member (98) having a first end (100) attached to said gate (84) and a second end (102) attached to said second end (36) of said track member (32), and a stop arm (108) located adjacent to said second end (36) of said track member (32) when said track member (32) is at said extended teeing position, and a stop tab (110) attached to said release member (98) for engagement with said stop arm (108) for moving said gate (84) from said closed position to said open position at said extended teeing position.

3. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 1 including a gate closing means (112) for moving said gate (84) from said open position to said closed position.

4. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 3 wherein said closing means (112) includes a gate closing spring (112) interconnecting said receptacle (72) and said gate (84) for moving closing said gate (84) from said open position to said closed position.

5. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 1 including a track guide rail (40) having first (42) and second (44) ends and slidably supporting said track member (32) for moving said receptacle (72, 290) between said fully retracted position and said extended teeing position.

6. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 5 including a drive belt (114), a drive shaft (128) located adjacent to said second end (44) of said track guide rail (40), a drive wheel (116) being mounted to said drive shaft (128), a belt support member (118) located adjacent to said first end (42) of said track guide rail (40), a drive arm (50) attached to said second end (36) of said track member (32), said drive belt (114) being rotatably supported by said drive wheel (116) and said support member (118), and a drive pin (138) secured to said drive belt (114) for engaging said drive arm (50) for moving said receptacle (72, 290) between said fully retracted position and said extended teeing position.

7. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive mechanism (28) includes a drive motor (130) for rotating said drive shaft (128).

8. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 7 including a ball guide tube (78) extending downwardly from said receptacle (72) for positioning a golf ball on a tee (26, 274) at said extended teeing position.

9. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 8 wherein said ball guide tube (78) includes a tee slot (82) for allowing a tee (26, 274) to pass into said ball guide tube (78).

10. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 6 including a support platform (46) for pivotally supporting said second end (44) of track guide rail (40).

11. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 10 including a belt lift member (124) located adjacent to and above said support guide member (118) and supporting said drive belt (114) for lifting said guide tube (78).

12. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 11 including a track locking means (140) for preventing said track member (32) from retracting.

13. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 12 including a first belt guide member (120) located above said belt support member (118) and between said drive wheel (116) and said belt support member (118) and supporting said drive belt (114), and a second belt guide member located adjacent to and below said belt lift member (124) and supporting said drive belt (114) for momentarily disengaging said drive pin (138) from said drive arm (50) and then reengaging said drive arm (50) with said drive pin (138) when said receptacle (72, 290) is at said extended teeing position.

14. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 13 including a support base (64), a lift guide member (60) pivotally mounted to said support base (64) below and adjacent to said first end (42) of said track guide rail (40), a lift member (56) connected to said first end (42) of said track guide rail (40) and slidably mounted to said lift guide member (60), and a lift spring (68) operatively connected to said lift member (56) for assisting said drive pin (138) in pivoting said track member (32) upward.

15. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 14 including a pair of said drive belts (114), a pair of said drive wheels (116), a pair of said belt support members (118), a pair of said first belt guide members (120), a pair of second belt guide members (122), and a pair of said belt lift members (124).

16. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 1 including a ball sensor (142) for signaling said drive mechanism (28) to cycle having detected the absence of a golf ball (24) on a tee (26, 274) located adjacent to said extended teeing position.

17. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 1 including a track position sensor (144) for signaling said drive mechanism (28) to stop cycling having detected when said track member (32) is in said fully retracted position.

18. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transfer mechanism (30) includes a ball staging pad (146) for staging a golf ball to be transferred to said receptacle (72, 290).

19. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 18 including an ejector (160) having first (164) and second (168) ends and an ejector foot (162) located at said first end (164) of said ejector (160) for ejecting a golf ball from said staging pad (146).

20. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 19 including an actuation arm support member (170) and an actuation arm (166) attached to said second end (168) of said ejector (160) and pivotally mounted to said actuation arm support member (170) for moving said ejector (160) from a ball loading position to a ball ejection position.

21. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 20 including a return spring (176) connected to said actuation arm (166) for pivoting said actuation arm (166) for moving said ejector (160) from said ejection position to said loading position.

22. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 21 wherein said transfer mechanism (30) includes a ball feeder (182) for channeling the flow of golf balls to said staging pad (146).

23. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 22 wherein said ball feeder (182) includes a ball anti-jam mechanism (222) for maintaining the flow of golf balls through said ball feeder (182).

24. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 23 wherein said anti-jam mechanism (222) includes a push rod (236), a crossmember (232), and a pair of prongs (230), said push rod (236) being connected to said crossmember (232) and said crossmember (232) interconnecting said prongs (230) for aligning the golf balls in said ball feeder (182) into a single file.

25. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 24 including a driven link support member (246), a driven link (244) having first and second ends (250, 242), respectively, said driven link (244) being pivotally mounted to said driven link support member (246), a drive link (254) interconnecting said actuation arm (166) and said first end (250) of said driven link (244), and a damping spring (238) interconnecting said second end (242) of said driven link (244) and said push rod (236) for moving said prongs (230) between an aligning position and a resting position.

26. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 25 including a guide rod support member (226), a pair of guide rods (224) attached to said guide rod support member (226), and a guide arm (228) extending from each of said prongs (230) and mounted to said guide rod (224) for maintaining the orientation of said prongs (230) in relationship to said ball feeder (182) when said prongs (230) are moved from said resting position to said alignment position.

27. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 25 including a stop bracket (258) connected to said driven link support member (246) for engagement with said driven link (244) for positioning said actuation arm (166).

28. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 22 including a ball supply sensor (266) for signaling said drive mechanism (28) to stop cycling when said ball feeder (182) has no remaining golf balls to transfer to said staging pad (146).

29. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 22 wherein said transfer mechanism (30) includes a ball hopper (180) for storing multiple golf balls in readiness for dispensation to said ball feeder (182).

30. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a support base (64) and a tee (26) attached to said support base (64) for receiving a golf ball from said delivery mechanism (22) at said extended teeing position.

31. An assembly (20) for teeing golf balls comprising:

a ball transfer mechanism (30) for transferring one ball at a time;

a ball delivery mechanism (22) for receiving one ball at a time from said ball transfer mechanism (30);

said transfer mechanism (30) including a staging pad (146) for staging a golf ball to be transferred to said delivery mechanism (22);

said assembly (20) characterized by said transfer mechanism (30) including an ejector (160) having first (162) and second (168) ends and an ejector foot (162) located at said first end of said ejector (160) for ejecting a golf ball from said staging pad (146) into said delivery mechanism (22); and

an actuation support member (170) and an actuation arm (166), said actuation arm (166 being connected to said second end (168) of said ejector (160) and pivotally mounted to said actuation support member (170) for moving said ejector (160) from a ball loading position to a ball ejection position.

32. An assembly (20) as set fort in claim 31 wherein said delivery mechanism (22) includes a movable track member (32) having first (34) and second (36) ends and a ball receptacle (72, 290) being attached to said first end of said track member (32) for rectilinearly moving said receptacle (72, 290) between a fully retracted position and an extended teeing position.

33. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 32 including a drive arm (50) attached to said track member (32) adjacent to said second end (36) of said track member (32) for pivoting said actuation arm (166) for moving said ejector (160) from said loading position to said ejection position at said fully retracted position.

34. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 33 including an ejector return spring (176) connected to said actuation arm (166) for moving said ejector (160) from said ejection position to said loading position.

35. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 34 wherein said transfer mechanism (30) includes a ball feeder (182) for channeling the flow of golf balls to said staging pad (146).

36. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 35 wherein said ball feeder (182) includes a ball anti-jam mechanism (222) for maintaining the flow of golf balls through said ball feeder (182).

37. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 36 wherein said anti-jam mechanism (222) includes a push rod (236), a crossmember (232), and a pair of prongs (230), said push rod (236) being connected to said crossmember (232) and said crossmember (232) interconnecting said prongs (230) for aligning the golf balls in said ball feeder (182) into a single file.

38. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 37 including a driven link support member (246), a driven link (244) having first (250) and second (242) ends said driven link (244) being pivotally mounted to said driven link support member (246), a drive link (254) interconnecting said actuation arm (166) and said first end (250) of said driven link (244), and a damping spring (238) interconnecting said second end (242) of said driven link (244) and said push rod (236) for moving said prongs (230) between an aligning position and a resting position.

39. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 38 including a guide rod support member (226), a pair of guide rods (224) attached to said guide rod support member (226), and a guide arm (228) extending from each of said prongs (230), said guide arms (228) being mounted to said guide rods (224) for maintaining the orientation of said prongs (230) in relationship to said ball feeder (182) when said prongs (230) are moved from said resting position to said alignment position.

40. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 38 including a stop bracket (258) connected to said driven link support member (246) for engagement with said driven link (244) for positioning said actuation arm (166).

41. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 35 including a ball supply sensor (266) for signaling said delivery mechanism (22) to stop cycling when said ball feeder (182) has no remaining golf balls to transfer to said staging pad (146).

42. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 35 including wherein said transfer mechanism (30) includes a ball hopper (180) for storing multiple golf balls in readiness for dispensation to said ball feeder (182).

43. An assembly (20) for teeing golf balls comprising:

a ball transfer mechanism (30) for transferring one ball at a time;

a ball delivery mechanism (22) for receiving one ball at a time from said ball transfer mechanism (30);

a ball feeder (182) for channeling the flow of golf balls to said ball transfer mechanism (30);

said ball feeder (182) including an anti-jam mechanism (222) for maintaining the flow of the golf balls through said ball feeder (182);

a driven link (244) having first (250) and second (242) ends with an actuation arm (166) interconnecting said first end of said driven link (244) to said ball transfer mechanism (30) for moving said anti-jam mechanism (222) between an aligning position and a resting position as said ball transfer mechanism (30) transfers the golf balls one at a time; and

wherein said anti-jam mechanism (222) includes a push rod (236), a crossmember (232), and an agitation member (230), said agitation member (236) being connected to said crossmember (232) and said crossmember (232) interconnecting said agitation member (230) for aligning the golf balls in said ball feeder (182) into a single file.

44. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 43 wherein said driven link (244) is pivotally mounted to a driven link support member (246), a drive link (254) interconnects said actuation arm (166) and said first end (250) of said driven link (244), and a damping spring (238) interconnects said second end (242) of said driven link (244) and said push rod (236) for moving said actuation member (230) between said aligning position and said resting position.

45. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 44 including a guide rod support member (226), a pair of guide rods (224) attached to said guide rod support member (226), and a guide arm (228) extending from each of said actuation member (230), said guide arms (228) being slidably mounted to said guide rods (224) for maintaining the orientation of said actuation member (230) in relationship to said ball feeder (182) when said actuation member (230) are moved from said resting position to said alignment position.

46. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 44 wherein said delivery mechanism (22) includes a movable track member (32) having first (34) and second (36) ends, and a ball receptacle (72, 290) being attached to said first end of said track member (32) for rectilinearly moving said receptacle (72, 290) between a fully retracted position and an extended teeing position.

47. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 46 including a drive arm (50) attached to said track member (32) adjacent to said second end (36) of said track member (32) for pivoting said driven link (244) for moving said actuation member (230) from said alignment position to said resting position.

48. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 47 including an actuation arm support member (170), said actuation arm (166) pivotally mounted to said actuation arm support member (170), and a drive link (254) interconnecting said first end (250) of said driven link (244) and said actuation arm (166) for engaging said drive arm (50) for pivoting said driven link (244) for moving said actuation member (230) between said alignment and said resting positions.

49. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 48 including a return spring (176) connected to said actuation arm (166) for moving said actuation member (230) from said resting position to said alignment position.

50. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 49 including a stop bracket (258) connected to said driven link support member (246) for engagement with said driven link (244) for positioning said actuation arm (166).

51. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 49 wherein said transfer mechanism (20) includes a ball staging pad (146) for staging a golf ball to be transferred to said receptacle (72, 290).

52. An assembly as set forth in claim 51 including an ejector (160) connected to said actuation arm (166) for ejecting a golf ball from said staging pad (146).

53. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 43 including a ball supply sensor (266) for signaling said delivery mechanism (28) to stop cycling when said ball feeder (182) has no remaining golf balls to transfer to a staging pad (146).

54. An assembly (20) as set forth in claim 43 wherein said transfer mechanism (30) includes a ball hopper (180) for storing multiple golf balls in readiness for dispensation to said ball feeder (182).