GB2402077A

GB2402077A - Golf ball dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2402077A
Application number: GB0312129A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Keith Gazzard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-28
Filing date: 2003-05-28
Publication date: 2004-12-01
Also published as: GB0312129D0

Abstract

A golf ball dispenser comprises tray 12 having a bottom which slopes to a dispensing position, and dispensing arm 14 which pivots downwardly to form a runway for a ball B' occupying the dispensing position, such that ball B' may roll along arm 14 when in the downwardly pivoted position, e.g. onto a golf tee T. Arm 14 may be biased into an upright position, from which it is urged downwardly to dispense a ball. A golf club may be used to urge arm 14 downwardly via engaging means 18 provided at the end of the arm, and an aperture 20 may be formed in the arm through which the ball may fall. Arm 14 may have an end wall 16 which swings upwardly as the arm pivots downwardly, in order to separate the ball B' in the dispensing position from the next ball B'', thus ensuring that only one ball is dispensed at a time. The bottom of tray 12 may slope towards a track portion 13, thus allowing the balls B, B to form a line at the dispensing position.

Description

Golf Ball Dispcnsing Device The present invention relates to a device for

dispensing golf balls.

A number of golf ball dispensing devices have been proposed hitherto and have suffered from being either complicated and expensive in construction, or difficult or unreliable to use.

I have now devised a golf ball dispensing device which is of simple construction and easy yet effective to use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a golf ball dispensing device which comprises a tray for receiving a supply of golf balls, the bottom of the tray sloping downwardly to a dispensing position, and an arm arranged to be pivoted downwardly to a position in which it forms a runway for a ball occupying the dispensing position.

In use, the dispensing arm is pivoted downwardly so that the golf ball occupying the dispensing position rolls along the arm and preferably onto a golf tee.

Preferably the dispensing arm is spring-biassed into a normal, generally upright position from which, for dispensing a golf ball, it is urged downwardly: preferably this is achieved by the player pressing down on the outer end of the dispensing arm, using his golf club.

Preferably the outer end of the dispensing arm is formed with a head for engagement by a golf club in order to pivot it downwardly.

Preferably an aperture is formed in the dispensing arm, adjacent its outer end, through which the golf ball falls, onto the tee. The arm is then able to return to its rest position, leaving the golf ball on the tee and ready to be addressed.

Preferably the dispensing arm is formed with an end wall which swings upwardly as the arm is pivoted downwardly, so that this end wall separates the ball occupying the dispensing position, from the ball immediately behind it.

Preferably the bottom of the tray of the device slopes downwardly to a track portion, which itself slopes downwardly and in which a line of golf balls will form under gravity: the dispensing arm acts to remove the ball at the front of this line (i.e. at the lower end of the track portion) for dispensing.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a golf ball device in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2; and FIGURE 4 shows a series of sectional views of the device at successive stages in its operation.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a golf ball dispensing device which comprises a a rectangular base 10 having a bottom wall and upstanding front, rear and side walls, into which a generally rectangular, open top tray 12 is fitted. The bottom of the tray 12 slopes downwardly, from its opposite ends, to a central portion 13 which itself slopes downwardly towards the front of the tray and forms a track for successive golf balls, as will be described. The device further comprises an arm 14 which has one end pivotally mounted to the base 10, centrally of its front wall: the arm 14 is spring-biassed to an upright position, shown in Figures 1 and 2, but may be pivoted downwardly to the outwardlyextending position shown in Figure 3. In the latter position, the arm 14 forms a runway for a golf ball to run along, the upper or runway surface of the arm arm 14 is formed with a transverse head 18 and, inwardly of this, with an aperture 20.

In use, a supply of golf balls is placed in the tray 12. The golf balls will tend to roll downwardly into the runway portion 13: a line of golf balls B are shown in the runway 13 in Figures 2 and 4.

In order to dispense a golf ball and place it on a tee T positioned an appropriate distance in front of the device, the arm 14 is pivoted downwardly by the player using his golf club to press downwardly on the head 18 of the arm. Referring to Figure 4, it will be noted that as the arm 14 is pivoted downwardly, firstly the inner end wall 16 of the arm swings upwardly to engage the rear of the first golf ball al and separate it from the second golf ball B3' in the line of balls on the track 13. The first golf ball s1 is lifted onto the arm 14 and then, when the arm 14 has reached a downwardly-inclined position, rolls down the runway surface of the arm 14: when it reaches the end of the arm 14, the golf ball Bl falls into the aperture 20 of the arm 14 and onto the tee T. Then the player releases his downward force on the arm 14 and allows the arm to return it to its normal, upright position, leaving the golf ball Bl on the tee T and ready to be addressed.

It will be appreciated that the same procedure is followed to dispense successive balls from the device and onto the tee T.

Claims

Claims A golf ball dispensing device which comprises a tray for receiving

a supply of golf balls, the bottom of the tray sloping downwardly to a dispensing position, and a dispensing arm arranged to be pivoted downwardly to a position in which it forms a runway for a ball occupying the dispensing position.
2. A golf ball dispensing device according to Claim 1, wherein the dispensing arm is pivoted downwardly so that the golf ball occupying the dispensing position rolls along the arm.
3. A golf ball dispensing device according to Claim 2, wherein the dispensing arm is pivoted downwardly so a golf ball is caused to roll along the arm and onto a golf tee.
4. A golf ball dispensing device according to Claim 4, wherein the dispensing arm is spring-biassed into a normal, generally upright position from which, for dispensing a golf ball, it is urged downwardly.
5. A golf ball dispensing device according to Claim 4, wherein the outer end of the dispensing arm is formed with a head for engagement by a golf club in order to pivot said arm downwardly.
6. A golf ball dispensing device according to any preceding claim, wherein an aperture is formed in the dispensing arm, adjacent its outer end, through which a golf ball can fall.
7. A golf ball dispensing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing arm is formed with an end wall which swings upwardly as the arm is pivoted downwardly, so that said end wall separates the ball occupying the dispensing position, from the ball behind it.
8. A golf ball dispensing device according to any preceding claim wherein the bottom of the tray of the device slopes downwardly to a track portion.
9. A golf ball dispensing device according to Claim 8 wherein the track portion slopes downwardly such that a line of golf balls can form under gravity, within said track portions to enable the dispensing arm to remove the ball at the front of this line which is at the lower end of the track portion.
10. A golf ball dispensing device as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.