Identification device

• US 7,160,196 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Topgolf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Thirkettle, John S., Jolliffe, David V.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US10/480,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 473132-137, 473150-155, 273/144.R, 273/144.A, 273/144.B, 273/138.2
• US Class Current: 473/132
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3694 for driving only

Abstract

A tray (10) for supplying coded golf balls (50) to the tee (41) of a golf driving range comprises a first zone (11) for receiving golf balls, one of which is selected to be played by moving it by means of a club over a barrier (14) to a second (12) where it passes under gravity through an outlet (30) past a code reader (41) to the tee (41). An indicator light (46) is provided to confirm that the code has been read. The barrier (14) may have a grooved side (15) to assist transfer of the golf ball from the first zone (11) to the second zone (12).

Claims

1. A system for identifying coded rolling articles comprising a tee, a tray, a barrier, and means for reading the code of the articles, the tray having a first zone for holding a plurality of articles, and a second zone having an outlet, whereby the barrier separates the first zone of the tray from the second zone of the tray which are both lower than the barrier, the barrier being arranged such that the user can roll a selected individual article from the first zone up and over the barrier into said second zone of the tray which is configured such that an article is constrained to move to and through the outlet of the tray past the means for reading the code of the article so that the code of the article is read before the article exits the device, wherein said articles are golf balls and wherein golf balls pass from said outlet to the tee.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein an article in the second zone is constrained to move under the influence of gravity through the outlet of the tray past the means for reading the code of the golf balls.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein articles in the first zone are constrained to move towards the barrier.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein indicating means are provided for indicating that the reading means has read the code of an article.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the indicating means are provided adjacent to said outlet.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein each article is coded by means of an r.f. tag, and the reading means includes an antenna located adjacent to said outlet.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the antenna is connected to a decoder unit housed inside the tray.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said barrier has a side adjacent said first zone, and wherein said side has grooves.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein one or more obstacles are provided adjacent the entrance of said outlet.

11. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for slowing the article as it moves through the outlet of the device.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the outlet comprises an enclosed tube.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein the means for slowing the article comprises at least one obstacle adjacent the entrance of the outlet.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the barrier has a side adjacent the first zone and a side adjacent the second zone, both sides being sloped and wherein a user can move a selected one of the articles from said first zone over the barrier to said second zone by use of a golf club.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the tray is generally semi-elliptical in shape and comprises molded plastics material.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein the barrier is shaped so as to resemble the walls of half a volcano.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein the means for reading the code of the articles is located adjacent to the outlet.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein the outlet comprises an exit channel and the means for reading the code of the articles is located adjacent to the exit channel.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the means for reading the code of the articles comprises a detector antenna located at the bottom of the exit channel.

20. A system according to claim 1 further comprising coded golf balls.

10. A method of placing golf balls on a tee of a golf driving range, comprising the steps of:

(i) placing a plurality of coded golf balls in a first zone of a ball tray;

(ii) moving a selected one of said golf balls by means of a golf club from said first zone over a barrier to a second zone of the ball tray;

(iii) constraining the selected golf ball to move towards and through an outlet of the tray;

(iv) reading the code of the selected golf ball as it moves through the outlet; and

(v) passing the selected golf ball from said outlet to the tee.