Apparatus for golf simulation

• US 8,834,284 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2013
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Full-Swing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Full-Swing, Inc.
• Inventors: Nicora, Daniel Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/857,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 473154-156, 473/199
• US Class Current: 473/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

A golf simulator allows a player to launch a golf ball towards a display surface that shows the future trajectory of the golf ball. In one embodiment, the display surface allows the golf ball to pass through it. In one embodiment, the simulator collects the golf ball after it passes through the display surface and returns it to the player.

Claims

1. A golf simulator in which a golf ball is launched toward a display surface, wherein the future trajectory of a golf ball is predicted and displayed on the display surface, the apparatus comprising:

a launch area;

a computer that computes the predicted trajectory of the golf ball; and

a display surface on which the predicted trajectory of the golf ball appears, wherein the display surface comprises a plurality of overlapping, stretched elastic bands that allow the golf ball to pass through the display surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more strobe lights;

a strobe controller coupled to the strobe lights;

a triggering device coupled to the strobe controller;

at least one camera configured to capture images viewed by the strobe lights;

an array of emitters for transmitting electromagnetic radiation;

an array of receivers, wherein at least one of the receivers is positioned to receive light from at least one of the emitters and to generate a signal in response thereto; and

wherein the computer computes the rotational velocity of the golf ball based at least in part on the captured images and computes the translational velocity based at least in part on the captured images and the signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic bands are positioned horizontally.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic bands are positioned vertically.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of elastic bands are positioned behind a second plurality of bands.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic bands are attached to supports on two sides of the display surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic bands are between 1 and 3 inches wide.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic bands overlap with one another along their edges.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of elastic bands overlaps approximately one third of an adjacent band.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of elastic bands overlaps less than one half of the adjacent band.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a ball catcher, wherein the display surface is positioned between the launch area and the ball catcher.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ball catcher comprises foam.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ball catcher comprises netting.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a ball return path for returning the golf ball to the launch area.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tension of each of the plurality of bands attached is approximately equal.