Ball collection arrangement

• US 7,056,221 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Topgolf Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Jolliffe, David V., Thirkettle, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US10/416,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20040063510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 473168-170, 473/151, 473/153, 473/166, 473/172, 473/192
• US Class Current: 473/168
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0043 Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/025 Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3694 for driving only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

A golf driving range target (112) comprises pockets (150, 183) suspended for cables (146, 176), the pockets feeding received golf balls to a common receptacle. Between the exits (166) of the pockets and the common receptacle, the balls, which are coded, pass code-reading devices for identification. The pockets have walls (162, 165) which are shaped to direct received balls quickly to the exit (166) and may have internal ball-directing baffle members (163, 167). The pockets may be arranged concentrically or in an array.

Claims

1. A device for receiving golf balls comprising a plurality of mutually adjacent pockets of flexible material, each pocket having an outlet connected to a common receptacle for collecting golf balls, wherein each pocket contains an apertured former arranged to hold the respective pocket open, each pocket further having an upper region with steeply-inclined walls and lower region having walls less steeply-inclined than the walls of the upper region, said former being provided between the upper and lower regions, and wherein the lower region contains one or more baffle members.

2. A device for receiving golf balls comprising a plurality of mutually adjacent pockets of flexible material, each pocket having an outlet connected to a common receptacle for collecting golf balls, wherein each pocket contains an apertured former arranged to hold the respective pocket open, wherein the pockets are suspended from web members extending across an opening and wherein said pockets are releasably attached to the web members, and wherein the attachment of said pockets to said web members is by means of a plurality of hook members along an edge of the pocket, the hook members being attached to the web members from the side thereof remote from the pocket.

3. The device for receiving golf balls of claim 2, wherein the web members are resilient.

4. A device for receiving golf balls comprising a plurality of mutually adjacent pockets of flexible material, each pocket having an outlet connected to a common receptacle for collecting golf balls, wherein each pocket contains an apertured former, each pocket further having an upper region with steeply-inclined walls and a lower region having walls less steeply-inclined than the walls of the upper region, said former being provided between the upper and lower regions, and said former being arranged to hold the respective pocket open and to act as a baffle to prevent balls exiting the top of the pocket.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the walls of the upper region are substantially vertical.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein each pocket has a respective device at the outlet for detecting the passage of a golf ball.

7. A device according to claim 4, wherein the pockets are arranged in groups of pockets, each group having a respective device for detecting the passage of a golf ball.

8. A device according to claim 6 for receiving coded golf balls, wherein reading devices also detect the codes.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the outlets of the pockets are connected to the reading devices by means of first conduit means, and the reading devices are connected to said common receptacle by second conduit means, said first conduit means being steeper than said second conduit means.

10. A device according to claim 4, wherein the pockets are suspended from web members extending across an opening.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the web members are resilient.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the pockets are releasably attached to the web members.

13. A device according to claim 4, wherein the pockets are arranged in concentric rings.