NZ270857A - Automatic golf teeing machine: balls dispensed one a time onto end of pivotted arm which is then raised to a teed up position - Google Patents

Description

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CompM» SpeoHoelion FUmti: asm: <«) ..ftte£.£.&3i.3.{?. _... :'ublte»Hoo D«»: £.£•... ...A3.fO-^.O. Journal Wo: IfcH&Q PATENTS FORM 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AUTOMATIC GOLF TEEING APPARATUS We, LAURENCE VICTOR DUXFIELD, of 14 Cook Drive, Whitianga, New Zealand and PAUL LAURENCE DUXFIELD, of 13 Catherine Crescent, Paparangi, New Zealand, both New Zealand citizens, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement /H tN - 1 - ■ r o v "Ov , jsf 31 MAR 1995 ' .> . r-G - . . . 27 0 857 This invention relates to an automatic golf ball teeing device.

When practising golf such as on a practice range or on a driving range it is usual for the player to hit a number of golf balls from the same location. Driving 5 ranges generally provide a number of booths with the intention that a player will occupy a booth and hit golf balls from the booth into an open or semi-open space. Generally to assist the player a synthetic mat is provided for the player to stand on. A golf ball can be placed on the mat and hit from the mat but in addition a permanent tee is also provided so the player can tee up the golf ball prior to hitting it. To use 10 the driving range generally a player will obtain a bucket of practice balls and then will manually remove each ball from the bucket and place the ball either on the mat or on the tee.

It is apparent considerable time and energy is expended in placing golf balls \5 successively on the mat or on the tee and to this end various mechanical arrangements have been proposed so that a golf ball can be mechanically placed on a tee. An example of such a machine is that disclosed in New Zealand Patent Specification 146954 which describes an automatic golf ball teeing device that uses a looped bar which is pivoted in a manner that a ball can be automatically placed on the bar adjacent the pivot point and the ball will when the bar is pivoted downwardly, * move along the bar and come to rest on a tee. This form of machine suffers from the • disadvantage that because the pivoted bar is exposed it is vulnerable to damage and to misalignment.

A further known machine is that d< bribed in New Zealand Patent Specification 189171 where a pivoted arm is also used to move a golf ball from a 27 0 857 storage location to the tee. The pivoted arm is exposed and thus the machine suffers a similar disadvantage in that the arm is liable to be damaged whettier intentionally or unintentionally.

A further disadvantage with the machines such as those described above is that some of the mechanical parts are also exposed to the weather with the consequent additional risk of deterioration from the effects of the weather.

It is apparent that particularly for driving ranges, it is highly desirable that any moving parts of a mechanical machine be essentially hidden and protected from damage, acts of vandalism and the weather. It is also desirable that the machine be reliable in action so it can continue to operate for long periods with little or no maintenance.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an automatic golf teeing device that will overcome or at least minimise the above recited disadvantages.

Accordingly one form of the invention may be said to comprise apparatus to 20 automatically place a golf ball in a teed up position, comprising a dispensing outlet which is connectable to a supply of golf balls, and which has a chimney portion in which a golf tee has reciprocal movemen< from a retracted position to receive a golf ball from the supply of golf balls to an active position in which a golf ball is presented in a teed up position and wherein an indexing mechanism controls the movement of 25 a golf ball from the supply of golf balks to the golf tee and wherein the said reciprocal movement of the golf tee is provided by a swing arm, one end of which is pivoted to 27 0 85?- ™ an anchor position and the other end is connected to the said golf tee and wherein the reciprocal movement is controlled by a rotatable cam having a cam surface contactable by the swing arm, the construction being such that upon rotation of the said cam, the swing arm is pivoted to a retracted position whereupon said indexing 5 means will operate to enable a golf ball to move from the said supply of golf balls onto said tee and the swing arm which is urged by spring means will pivot to move the golf tee from the retracted position to the active position.

Preferably the indexing means comprises a duct connected to the supply of golf 10 balls, a star wheel having at least one arm projecting into said duct to impede the passage of a golf ball from the said supply of golf balls past the said star wheel and means to index the star wheel to allow a single golf ball to pass the said star wheel and to move to the said dispensing outlet.

Preferably the means to index the star wheel comprises a pawl adapted to release the star wheel to rotate through a predetermined arc of rotation.

Preferably the swing arm includes means which during pivotal movement of the pawl from an active position to a retracted position, will contact the said pawl to 20 index the star wheel.

Preferably the cam is adapted to be rotated by motor means, said cam having a cam surface adapted to contact the said swing arm to pivot said swing arm from the active and retracted positions, and wherein spring means are associated with the 25 swing arm to bias the swing arm to return to the active position. 270 857 Preferably means are provided to adjust the height of the golf tee when in the active position.

A preferred form of the invention will now be described with the aid of the 5 accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a view from above, partly cut away, indicating a portion of the operating mechanism of the device; Fig. 2 is a view of the operating mechanism from below; Fig. 3 is a partly sectional elevational view from one side of the operating mechanism with the tee in a retracted position; Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 but showing the operating mechanism with the tee in an active position; Fig. 5 is a partly sectional elevational view of a from the other side showing the tee in a retracted position; and * Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 but showing the operating mechanism with the tee in an active position.

Referring to the drawings, the device includes a suitable platform 1 which can be covered with artificial turf or other suitable material as is known in the art. Preferably the platform 1 is formed as part of a housing which will contain the 27 0 857 operating mechanism in a manner that not only will the component parts be essentially hidden from view, but they will also be substantially weatherproof.

Golf balls are intended to be loaded into the device by using a form of a 5 suitable hopper or the like which will be a reservoir for the golf balls to be dispensed by the device. The hopper will allow the player to empty a supply of balls, such as from a bucket, into the hopper and for the balls then to travel through the hopper via a duct, one form of which is indicated at 2 in the drawings so that the golf balls 3 can move through the duct in single line. As can be seen from the drawings, the duct 2 10 may be a pipe which can be formed for instance of a plastics material or the like and which passes through a suitable hole la formed in the platform 1 and terminates in a dispensing outlet such as that indicated at 6.

The dispensing outlet 6 is attached to the underside of the platform 1 and can 15 be formed of the same or a different material as the duct 2. The outlet 6 includes a chimney portion 6a which extends through a suitable hole formed in the platform 1.

Means are provided whereby a tee such as that indicated at 10 can reciprocate in a general axial direction within the chimney portion 6a so that a portion of the tee will extend above the baseboard in an active position as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6 or >» can be retracted out of, or partly out of, the chimney portion 6a to the retracted position as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5 where the tee is below the level of the platform 1.

One preferred form of mechanism to reciprocate the tee 10 comprises a swing arm 15, one end of which is suitably pivoted as at 16 to the underside of the platform 27 0 85/ P 1. The free end of the swing arm terminates in a tee joint 15a to which the tee 10 may be removably attached. The tee 10 can be formed of any suitable resilient material such as for instance rubber tubing and is attached to the tee joint 15a by known means such as a circlip or other suitable means as will be known in the art.

The swing arm is spring biased such as by the coil spring 17 so that the arm will tend always to return to its active position as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6. A slot 6b is formed in the chimney portion 6a so that the joint 15a of the swing arm 15 can project into the chimney portion 6a and lie in the approximate axial centre of the chimney portion. The slot 6b is cf a length that it will allow reciprocal axial 10 movement of the tee joint 15a within the chimney portion 6a.

The length of the swing arm is such to ensure that the arc followed by the tee joint 15a and the tee 10 during the reciprocal movement within the chimney portion 6a is as shallow as possible.

Means are provided to pivot the swing arm 15 so it will pivot between the active position as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 and the retracted position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. One preferred form comprises the utilization of a rotary cam such as that indicated at 20. The rotary cam 20 is rotated by suitable means, one such means 20 being for instance an electric motor such as indicated partly diagrammatically at 21.

A The electric motor 21 is so arranged that upon being connected to a source of electrical power, the motor will continue to operate until the rotary cam 20 has described a full cycle. During such rotation the face of the cam will act against a cam slipper 22 so that rotation of the cam will result in a pivoting motion being imparted 25 to the arm 15. Suitable electric switching means (not shown in the drawings) is provided to initiate the cam cycle and such switch means can be incorporated either 270 85/ as part of the platform 1 or can be made into a remote form which may be joined by suitable electric wiring. The switch means can also be formed to operate as a wireless remote as is known in the art.

In operation golf balls 3 are placed in the hopper (not shown in the drawings) so that the balls 3 will travel under the influence of gravity through the duct 2 towards the dispensing outlet 6. In its rest position, the swing arm 15 will be in the active position as shown in Fig. 4 with the tee 10 protruding through the platform 1.

Indexing means are provided to positively feed the golf balls singly onto the tee 10. One preferred indexing means as shown in the drawings comprises a mechanism which includes a double toothed pawl 30 pivoted at 31 to the underside of the platform. The pawl has extensions 32 which project from the pawl into the path of 15 the arm 15 so that during the pivotal movement of the arm between the active and the retracted position, the arm will contact an extension 32 to reciprocate the pawl between the positions shown in Figs 3 and 4. The indexing mechanism also includes a star wheel 35 which is pivoted at 36 to the underside of the platform in a manner that its pivot 36 is coaxial to the pivot 31 of the pawl 30. Part of the star wheel 35 20 extends through a slot 37 in the duct 2, so that an arm of the star wheel will always impede the passage of a golf ball past the star wheel 35.

In Figs. 3 and 5, the mechanism is depicted in the retracted position whereby the tee 10 is withdrawn below the platform and the upper end of the tee is positioned 25 so that a golf ball 3 can move from the duct 2 onto the upper end of the tee 10. To assist this movement, the floor of the duct can be suitably formed into a dish 270 857 " configuration which in conjunction with the particular formation of the hole 6c will mean the ball will always come to rest on the hole 6c which is immediately above the axial centre of the tee 10. In this position an arm of the star wheel 35 will prevent the passage of a golf ball from the stack of golf balls in the duct 2 past the star wheel.

When the tlectric motor is energised, tlie cam will rotate and the arm 15 will pivot upwardly under the influence of the spring 17 until it reaches the position shown In Figs 4 and 6. During the pivotal movement, the arm 15 will contact an extension 32 of the pawl and the tooth of the pawl will move the star wheel 35 10 through approximately one eighth of a turn in an anti-clockwise direction. The weight of the golf balls 3 in the duct 2 will move the leading golf ball from the position shown in Fig. 3 onto the star wheel 35 until it reaches the position shown in Fig 4.

Upon continued rotation of the cam 20 the swing arm 15 will move further towards its active position under the influence of the spring 17. During such movement the 15 upper portion of the tee 10 will contact the underside of the golf ball and will lift the ball through the chimney portion 6b and when the swing arm has reached the fully active position, a portion of the tee will lie above the surface of the platform and the golf ball will be displayed in a teed up position as indicated in Fig. 4.

To commence the next phase, the motor is re-energised to further rotate the a cam which will result in the arm 15 pivoting from the active position shown in Fig. 4 to the retracted position shown in Fig. 3. During such movement, the arm 15 will contact the extension 32 of the pawl to index the star wheel 35 through another one eighth of a turn in the anti-clcckwise direction to discharge the ball off the star wheel 25 15 so the ball will roll down the floor of the duct 2 and come to rest above the hole 6c. The anticlockwise movement of the star wheel is assisted by the weight of th? 27 0 857 " golf balls in the duct behind the star wheel. During this movement, the leading golf ball of the stack of golf balls in the duct will be propelled in the direction of the chimney outlet and will come to rest on the star wheel in the position shown in Fig. 3.

The process can then be repeated as required until there are insufficient golf balls in the duct 2 upstream of the star wheel to provide the moment of force necessary to drive the leading golf ball onto the star wheel.

It will be understood that other methods of rotating the star wheel 35 in defined steps are contemplated. For instance, instead of the movement of the star wheel being controlled by the swing arm 15, the star wheel 35 can be connected through suitable reduction gearing to the electric motor so that rotation of the cam will also result in rotation of the star wheel to the required amount. In addition, 15 while the star wheel is depicted in the drawings as having four arms, the number of arms employed can be varied to suit the particular circumstances. In a modification, the star wheel is provided with a ratchet mechanism to assist in the positive location of the star wheel in the various operative conditions.

To reload the tee, the electric motor is again energised to rotate the cam 20 J» so the cam face will act against the cam slipper 22 to pivot the swing arm towards the retracted position shown in Fig. 3. This will result in the rotation of the star wheel through one eighth of a revolution so ball 2 which has been loaded onto the star wheel will then move to occupy the position 3 a and upon continued rotation of the 25 cam, the swing arm will lift the golf ball to the active position shown in Fig. 4. 270 857 ^ Preferably the profile of the cam face of the cam 20 is such that the swing arm will move from its active position to a retracted position more quickly than it will be able to move from its retracted position to the active position. The tension of the spring 17 is so arranged that the cam slipper 22 will normally closely follow the cam 5 face during the rotation of the cam with this being translated into corresponding pivotal movement of the swing arm between the retracted and positions. The purpose of the spring 20 is so that if an external downwards force is applied to the tee 10 when the swing arm is in its active position, the swing arm will be free to pivot towards the retracted position against the biasing action of the spring without 10 interfering with the programmed operation of the device.

Preferably the device also includes a height adjustment means for the tee 10. One form of height adjustment means may comprise for instance the device indicated at 40 particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. This device consists of a rod which may have a 15 threaded portion to interact for instance with a nut 41 suitably secured to the platform 1. The rod 40 extends through the platform 1 and terminates in a suitable knob jsuch as that indicated at 42 in Fig. 1. The other end of the rod 40 terminates in an enlargement 43 which can contact the swing arm as indicated for instance in Fig. 4. It will be apparent that upon appropriate rotation of the knob 42 the relative height of the rod beneath the platform 1 can be varied as required so that this will set •» the amount the swing arm can pivot to the active position. This will enable the operator to vary 1 ie height at which the tee 10 will project through the platform 1 and consequendy the height that the golf ball will be "teed up" above the surface of the platform. This variation in height is particularly useful in driving range conditions 25 wherein the ball can be positioned by the player at the desired height above the platform 1 for the particular golf club to be used. 27 0-85 7 ^ Although a preferred form of the invention utilises a rotating cam in conjunction with an electric motor it will be understood the invention also contemplates other forms of means to pivot the swing arm. One such means may consist of an electrical solenoid. The solenoid will be suitably coupled to or operate 5 in conjunction with the swing arm 15 so it will move to reciprocate the tee 10. The solenoid can, if required, also operate in conjunction with suitable damping means to regulate the speed of operation. Another means for pivoting the swing arm may comprise an air, water or oil operated ram which is suitably coupled to the swing arm so that upon operation of a starting mechanism the ram will alternately extend and 10 retract to pivot the swing arm in a reciprocating manner between the retracted and the active positions.

While the forgoing describes preferred forms of the invention it is to be understood the invention also comprises alterations and modifications to the specific 15 forms that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance the swing arm 15 can be replaced by a parallel linkage arrangement that will enable the tee to reciprocate between the active and retracted positions.

Claims (7)

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 27 0 857

1. Apparatus to automatically place a golf ball in a teed up position, comprising a 'Jtspr.nsing outlet which is connectable to a supply of golf balls, and which has a 5 c)>.iinney portion in which a golf tee has reciprocal movement from a retracted position to receive a golf ball from the supply of golf balls to an active position in which a golf ball is presented in a teed up position and wherein an indexing mechanism controls the movement of a golf ball from the supply of golf balks to the golf tee and wherein the said reciprocal movement of the golf tee is provided by a 10 swing arm, one end of which is pivoted to an anchor position and the other end is connected to the said golf tee and wherein the reciprocal movement is controlled by a rotatable cam having a cam surface contactable by the swing arm, the construction being such that upon rotation of the said cam, the swing arm is pivoted to a retracted position whereupon said indexing means will operate to enable a golf ball to move 15 from the said supply of golf balls onto said tee and the swing arm which is urged by spring means will pivot to move the golf tee from the retracted position to the active position.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indexing means comprises 20 a duct connected to the supply of golf balls, a star wheel having at least one arm a projecting into said duct to impede the passage of a golf ball from the said supply of golf balls past the said star wheel and means to index the star wheel to allow a single golf ball to pass the said star wheel and to move to the said dispensing outlet. 25

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means to index the star wheel comprises a pawl adapted to release the star wheel to rotate through a - 13 - » * predetermined arc of rotation. 270 857

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the swing arm includes means which during pivotal movement of the pawl from an active position to a retracted 5 position, will contact the said pawl to index the star wheel.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cam is adapted to be rotated by motor means, said cam having a cam surface adapted to contact the said swing arm to pivot said swing arm from the active and retracted positions, and wherein 10 spring means are associated with the swing arm to bias the swing arm to return to the active position.

6. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided to adjust the height of the golf tee when in the active position. 15

7. Apparatus for automatically placing a golf ball in a teed up position, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. end of claims RUSSELL McVEAGH WEST WALKER ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT - 14 -