FR2802437A1 - Golf club rack e.g. for practice range has access to clubs and charges to user controlled by electronic identification unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The golf club rack (1) has a storage space for one or more individually coded clubs (2), accessed via an electronic identification unit with a card reader (7) and key pad (9). The identification unit releases a holder (3) which allows the clubs to be removed, and is connected to a system which charges the user's account if a club is not returned to the rack at the expiry of a set time period. The code for each club can be in the form of an electronic element located in a cavity in the handle. Golf balls can be contained in a bucket (11) on a weighing unit (12).

Description

The present invention relates to the practice of golf.

The object of the invention is more particularly to facilitate the practice of this sport.

It achieves this thanks to a distributor of golf clubs, characterized in that it comprises a series of clubs, support means allowing storage of these clubs and detection means making it possible to detect the return of a club in the dispenser after use.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to install self-service practices since the distributor is able to detect whether the equipment has been returned when the user leaves the practice.

In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser includes means for identifying the user.

These identification means include, for example, a card reader.

The identification means may also include a keyboard, means for connecting to a server and computer processing means making it possible to compare code entered on the keyboard by the user with a code known to the server.

The code entered by the user may include a secret code linked to the card and / or a golf license number.

It is advantageous that the code includes the license number of the user as long as such a number exists, as this allows the use of the clubs only to people with sufficient knowledge of golf.

Advantageously, the distributor is arranged to debit a user account, for example a bank account or an account opened with the reception of a hotel or with a reception desk, for a predetermined amount, in the event of non-return of a club in the distributor after a period of use.

This amount is preferably chosen high enough to dissuade the user from refitting the clubs after use.

In a preferred embodiment, the detection means comprise a coding element on each club and reading means on the dispenser, associated with each club, arranged to detect the presence of the corresponding clubs in the dispenser.

Inductive or resistive electronic components that can resonate for a particular frequency or that have a predetermined electrical resistivity can be used as coding elements, a transponder, a bar code or any other optical or electronic device.

The support means for storing the clubs in the dispenser can be in the form of a rack.

These support means can also be rotary.

The distributor may include locking means prohibiting the withdrawal of clubs' failure to identify the user beforehand.

The invention also relates to a driving range cabin comprising a distributor of golf clubs as defined above.

Preferably, this cabin includes secure access means. These secure means of access may include a card reader. The use of secure access means avoids providing the distributor with locking means preventing the withdrawal of clubs without prior identification of the user.

The cabin may include a net or a canvas and means for projecting a path of a target or any other decorative element behind the net or on the canvas.

variant, the canvas can be painted or a decoration placed behind the net.

The cabin can also include means for analyzing the trajectory of the ball and means for viewing this trajectory on a displayed course.

Preferably, the secure access means and the distributor are arranged to exchange information.

This exchange of information can serve for example to notify the distributor if the user leaves the cabin, the distributor being advantageously arranged to check, at least at this time, if all the clubs are in place and, if not, charge a user account of a predetermined amount.

In a particular implementation, the cabin comprises an inclined floor bringing the balls intercepted by the net or the canvas to a predetermined location. Advantageously, this location leads to a chute for storing the balls.

In a particular embodiment, means are provided to prevent access to the balls in the absence of use of the dispenser. chute may be, for example, articulated around a longitudinal axis coupled to a motor controlled by the distributor, this motor making it possible to pass the chute from a position allowing access to the bales to a position by prohibiting access, and reciprocally.

We can still use a fixed chute and a movable shutter controlled movement of the distributor between a position allowing access to the bales and a position by prohibiting access.

The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with a cabin as mentioned above.

vehicle may consist of a truck.

The invention also relates to a set of distributors as defined above, connected to a server allowing a user, by connecting to a network than the Internet, to know the geographic location of the distributors.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting examples, and on examining the appended drawing in which - Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a conforming dispenser to the invention, - Figures 2 to 5 illustrate various possibilities for mounting a coding element on a club, - Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a practice cabin according to the invention, - the Figure 7 shows schematically the interior of the cabin, - Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the dispenser, - Figure 9 is a schematic and partial view, in perspective, of the interior of a cabin according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, - Figure 10 is a schematic and partial section illustrating a detail embodiment of the distributor, - Figure 11 shows a vehicle equipped with a practice cabin, and - the fig ure 12 illustrates the networking of distributors.

The distributor 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a series of golf clubs 2 and support means 3 for receiving these clubs.

The support means 3 are in the form of a rack comprising in the upper part a series of clamps 4 capable of enclosing the clubs and in the lower part a base 5 shaped to receive the heads of the clubs.

dispenser 1 includes means for identifying the user, comprising card reader 7, the opening for inserting the cards only shown in the figure.

dispenser 1 has on the front a screen 8 with liquid crystal or cathode ray tube, keyboard 9 and an output 50 of issued tickets serving as invoice.

The dispenser 1 has a housing 10 for storing a bucket 11 of balls.

This bucket 11 is placed on a scale 12 for weighing it.

The distributor 1 comprises a central unit, not shown, which in particular ensures the management of the various interfaces.

The distributor 1 also includes detection means making it possible to detect the return of a club to the rack 3 after use.

These detection means comprise a coding element on each club and associated reading means on the dispenser, arranged to detect the absence or the presence of each club on the rack.

The detection means can be produced in different ways.

can use as coding element, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an inductive electronic component, appearing for example in the form of a ring 12 surrounding the club.

dispenser 1 then comprises reading means comprising for example antenna making it possible to generate an electromagnetic field, this antenna being positioned on the dispenser so as to be opposite the ring 12 when the club is stored.

The reading means 13 are arranged so as to allow the presence or absence of the ring 12 to be detected in their vicinity.

may also produce the coding element in the form of a patch 14 comprising transponder, fixed for example as shown in FIG. 3 at the upper end of the club handle, in which case the reading means comprise antenna 17 positioned, when the club is in place, opposite the upper end of it.

The coding element can also be presented, as illustrated in the figure in the form of a bar code painted on the club or printed on a label affixed thereto.

In this case, the reading means comprise an optical window 16 making it possible to send a light ray to the bar code 15 and to read the corresponding information.

In the example of FIG. 5, the club comprises a track 51 of a conductive paint, deposited for example at the upper end of the handle, and the distributor comprises a sensor 52 capable of measuring the electrical resistance of this track coming from to his contact.

The resistance of each track is preferably specific to a given type of club.

FIG. 6 shows a practice cabin 20 in which the distributor 1 is placed.

This cabin 20 may for example have a length of 7 meters, a width of 3 meters and a height of 3 meters.

The cabin 20 can be installed for example in a hotel, in a private waiting room or in a sports hall.

The cabin 20 comprises secure access means, comprising a door provided with an electric lock and a user interface 22 comprising a card reader 23, a screen 24 and a keyboard 25.

The cabin also has a window 26.

FIG. 7 shows the interior of the cabin 20.

The distributor 1 can be placed, as shown, against the rear wall of the cabin, being connected by an electrical connection not shown at the interface 22 and to the external telephone line.

Two practice mats 27a and 27b are present at the rear of the cabin, along the left and right partitions respectively.

The user chooses the carpet 27a or 27b depending on whether it is left-handed or right-handed. A screen 29 is placed in front of the front wall and a net 28 protects this screen 29. A projector 30 makes it possible to project the image of the golf course on the screen 29.

The projector 30 can be connected to a simulator capable of analyzing and simulating the trajectory of the ball.

The dispenser 1 is used as follows.

The user inserts his card into the reader 23, for example a credit card as in the example described, between his secret code and his license number.

A connection is established with a server to check the license number.

Once this verification has been carried out, the electric lock is actuated, which allows the user to open door 21.

When the user is inside the cabin, he inserts his card into the reader 7 and enters the associated secret code on the keyboard 9.

The user takes the club 2 with which he wishes to train and the bucket of balls 11.

Distributor 1 records the duration of use of the clubs.

At the end of use, the distributor 1 checks that all the clubs 2 are in place on the rack 3 and weighs the bucket of balls 11.

If the weight corresponds substantially to a filled bucket of bales, the distributor 1 indicates on screen 8 the amount which will be debited from the user's account, an amount which is proportional to the duration of use in the example described.

dispenser 1 returns the user's card and issues a receipt serving as an invoice.

The user can then leave the cabin.

the user leaves the cabin and a club is not replaced or the bucket of balls incomplete, distributor 1 warns the user.

the missing club is not set up or the missing balls introduced into the bucket, the user's account is debited for a lump sum. Thus, the user is encouraged to leave the dispenser 1 in the state in which he found it.

can store clubs on a rotating stand rather than on a rack.

By way of example, FIG. 8 shows a dispenser comprising a rotary support 3 ′ on which the clubs 2 are stored. Access to the clubs 2 is through a window 41 making it possible to enter only only one club at a time.

To choose a club, the user scrolls in front of the window 41 the different clubs one after the other, by controlling the rotation of the rotary support 3 'by means of control buttons 42.

The distributor 1 includes a card reader 7, a screen 8 and keyboard 9, like the distributor 1 previously described.

There is shown in Figure 9 a distributor 1 "corresponding to a variant implementation of the invention.

This distributor 1 "differs from distributor 1 described above in particular by the presence of locking means preventing unauthorized withdrawal of clubs.

These locking means in the example described comprise pivoting retaining member 60, having a general shape of U.

The base of the U can be blocked against the clubs if the 1 "dispenser is not used.

During use, the retaining member 60 is unlocked and the base of the U can be raised to authorize the withdrawal of the clubs.

The distributor 1 "does not have a housing for receiving a bucket of balls, but a slightly inclined chute 61 in which the balls can accumulate.

This chute is accessible through an opening 62.

The distributor 1 "is arranged in a practice cabin whose floor 63, in front of the practice mats 27a and 27b up to the net, has a slight slope which brings the balls back into the chute 61 after their interception by the net.

The chute can be fixed.

As a variant, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the chute 61 may be partially housed in a housing 65 and be articulated around a longitudinal axis 64, being associated with a motor capable of driving it in rotation between a low position and a position noted.

In the low position, the user can access the bales on standby in the chute 61 while in the raised position the casing prohibits the user from removing the bales, the latter being housed in the bottom of the casing as shown in broken lines . The housing 65 includes a sensor, not shown, capable of determining whether all the balls are present in the chute.

The 1 "distributor is thus able to determine, at the end of use, if everything is in order.

It will be noted on examining FIG. 9 that the distributor 1 "has in the upper part of the rack a facade having an edge 68 inclined to take account of different heights of clubs.

In the case of the 1 "distributor, access to the cabin may not be secure since the 1" distributor is arranged so as to prohibit the withdrawal of the clubs without prior identification of the user.

The interior of the cabin can receive additional accessories and be fitted out differently.

Window 26 can thus be fitted with a blind.

It is possible to mount a practice cabin comprising a distributor in accordance with the invention on a vehicle, for example a truck, as shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 illustrates the networking of several practice cabins.

The distributor of each cabin is capable of communicating, by a telephone line, with a server 66 common to all the distributors.

This server 66 is connected to the Internet, while being programmed so as to allow a user to obtain various information concerning the distributors, in order to know for example the geographic location of the nearest distributor.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described.

One can in particular replace the net with a canvas.

The card used to identify the user can be a credit card or any other type of card, magnetic strip or chip, or even a card serving as a hotel room key.

The card can be returned by the distributor once the user has been identified or can only be returned at the end of use of the distributor.

 The shape of the cabin can be other than rectangular.

Claims (12)

1. Distributor (1; l; 1 ") of golf clubs, characterized in that it comprises a series of clubs (2), support means (3; 3 @ allowing the storage of these clubs and detection means for detecting the return of a club in the distributor after use. 2. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises means for identifying the user. 3. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said identification means comprise a card reader (7). 4. Distributor according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the identification means comprise a keyboard (9), means of connection to a server and computer processing means making it possible to compare a code entered on the keyboard by the user to a code known to the server. 5. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the code entered by the user comprises a secret code linked to the card. 6. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged to debit a user account of a predetermined amount in case of non-return of a club in the distributor after a period of use. 7. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection means comprise a coding element (12; 14; 15) on each club and reading means (13; 17; 16) the distributor, associated with each club, arranged to detect the presence of the corresponding clubs in the distributor. 8. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises locking means (60) prohibiting the withdrawal of the clubs in the absence of prior identification of the user. 9. Practice cabin (20) comprising a distributor (1 1 ") of golf clubs as defined in any one of the preceding claims. 10. Cabin according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it includes secure access means (22), preferably comprising a card reader (23). 11. Cabin according to one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that it comprises an inclined floor (63) bringing the balls intercepted by net (28) or canvas to a predetermined location, which preferably opens onto a chute (61 ) for storing bales. 12. Cabin according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that means are provided to prevent access to the balls in the absence of use of the dispenser.