US20030162598A1 - Golf ball teeing device - Google Patents

Golf ball teeing device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20030162598A1
US20030162598A1 US10/312,072 US31207203A US2003162598A1 US 20030162598 A1 US20030162598 A1 US 20030162598A1 US 31207203 A US31207203 A US 31207203A US 2003162598 A1 US2003162598 A1 US 2003162598A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tee
golf ball
ball
balls
platform
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/312,072
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Franz Eckardt Jr
Franz Eckhardt Sr
Christopher Heffernan
James Howe
Lawrence Roche
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tee Up Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Assigned to TEE UP PTY, LTD reassignment TEE UP PTY, LTD ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ECKHARDT, JR., FRANZ CHARLES, ECKHARDT, SR., FRANZ, HEFFERNAN, CHRISTOPHER PATRICK, HOWE, JAMES FRANCIS, ROCHE, LAWRENCE ADRIAN
Publication of US20030162598A1 publication Critical patent/US20030162598A1/en
Priority to US10/786,397 priority Critical patent/US7104421B2/en
Priority to US10/921,505 priority patent/US7059969B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B47/00Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
    • A63B47/002Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B57/00Golfing accessories
    • A63B57/0006Automatic teeing devices
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B47/00Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
    • A63B47/002Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir
    • A63B2047/004Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir having means preventing bridge formation during dispensing

Definitions

  • This invention relates to devices for teeing up golf balls.
  • Some mechanisms require electrical power to drive the operation of the mechanism. Apart from requiring costly electrical machinery and wiring on the golf driving range, such mechanisms are unworkable at times when there is an interruption of electrical power. Furthermore, because they are generally in a location which is unprotected from the weather, particular care needs to be taken to ensure the safety of a golfer by protecting and insulating the electrical components.
  • the present invention seeks to obviate or minimise one or more of the aforesaid disadvantages.
  • the invention provides a golf ball teeing device comprising,
  • a platform adapted to support a golfer having an upper surface
  • manually movable actuation means projecting above the platform and extending beneath the platform, the actuation means having a rest configuration and a delivery configuration
  • an elongate pivotable lever beneath the platform connected at a forward end to the actuation means and at a rearward end to a tee support, the arrangement being such that movement of the actuation means from the rest configuration to the delivery configuration results in depression of the forward end of the pivotable lever to pivot the rearward end upwards,
  • a tee guide assembly comprising an open walled tubular cage extending vertically beneath the opening
  • a pneumatic cylinder connected to the pivotable lever offset from the connections between the pivotable lever and the actuation means and the pivotal lever and tee support, the pneumatic cylinder acting to bias the actuation means to the rest configuration
  • a tee for a golf ball mounted within the tee guide assembly on the tee support the tee being arranged for reciprocal movement with respect to the opening between a lower position where the top of the tee is at a level below the upper surface of the platform to an upper position where the top of the tee is above upper surface of the platform, and
  • golf ball delivery means for holding a row of golf balls on a trackway including ball control means arranged to load a single golf ball from the trackway on top of the tee when it is in the lower position,
  • the height of the tee in the lower position is such that the golf ball is at a level below the upper surface of the platform when it is loaded onto the tee by the golf ball delivery means.
  • the actuation means may comprise a lever or push button.
  • the actuation means may be foot operated. It may be provided on the platform.
  • the actuation means can provide the driving force for operating the device ie. the pressure of a golfer's foot or manual manipulation of the actuation means may be all that it is required to operate the device without the requirement for an independent source of motor power such as electricity, pneumatic power, hydraulic power or other form of energy.
  • the actuation means may operate by applying downwards force on the lever to move the tee to the lower position.
  • the downwards force may comprise the foot of a golfer pushing down on the actuation means.
  • the tee may automatically move back to its upper position.
  • Ball control means may be associated with the movement of the lever.
  • the ball control means may act to prevent any other balls on the trackway moving onto the tee until a further reciprocal movement of the tee has been initiated.
  • the device suitably includes damping means for damping the upward movement of the tee as it moves from the lower position to the upper position.
  • the damping means may comprise the pneumatic cylinder.
  • the damping means may be arranged to damp the movement of the lever and hence the tee moved thereby.
  • Height adjustment means may be provided in association with the device.
  • the height adjustment means may be arranged so that the upper position of the tee can be varied.
  • the height adjustment means may operate by limiting the upwards movement of the lever as it pushes the tee upwards.
  • the height adjustment means may include a stop member which limits the upward movement of the lever.
  • the stop member may comprise a ramp. It may be arranged to slide parallel to the platform to adjust the height of the tee.
  • a height adjustment lever may be provided in association with the platform for setting the height of the tee. It may be arranged to move the ramp to an appropriate position for setting a desired height.
  • the device includes ball delivery means for delivering balls single file to the trackway.
  • ball delivery means may include a feeder tray for receiving balls and delivering them to the trackway in single file.
  • the invention provides a feeder tray for balls comprising,
  • a hopper having an open mouth arranged to funnel balls dumped through the open mouth through a restricted outlet to drop into a ball entry area forming part of the floor of an alignment tray,
  • a tray floor for the alignment tray sloping downwardly from the ball entry area to a ball delivery area
  • ball flow control means on the tray floor between the ball entry area and ball delivery area
  • a downwardly sloping exit chute at a lower level than the ball delivery area and abutting the ball delivery area arranged to receive balls from the ball delivery area over at least a portion of the length of the abutment between the ball delivery area and exit chute, and
  • an exit outlet provided at the lowermost end of the exit chute shaped so as to allow single file passage of balls coming down the exit chute through the exit outlet, wherein the ball flow control means are arranged to slow the rate of travel of a proportion of balls rolling down the tray floor into the exit chute.
  • the exit chute has a forward end at which the exit outlet is located and a rearward end, and
  • the downward slope of the tray floor nearer the vicinity of the forward end is less than the downward slope at or near the rearward end.
  • the ball flow control means comprises a plurality of ridges on the tray floor, the direction of the ridges generally making an acute angle with the direction of the chute.
  • FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a golf ball teeing device according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a disassembled isometric view of a feeder tray, trackway and golf ball teeing device according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 shows an elevational view of a side of a feeder tray according to the invention
  • FIG. 4 shows an elevational end view of the feeder tray of FIG. 3
  • FIG. 5 shows an underneath plan view of a golf ball teeing device according to the invention
  • FIG. 6 shows an elevational view of the forward half of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7 taken from the uppermost side of the drawing;
  • FIG. 7 shows an elevational mirror image of the first half of the mechanism of FIG. 5 taken from the side at the lowermost part of the drawing;
  • FIG. 8 shows an enlarged plan view of the golf tee shown in FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 9 shows an elevational view of the section X-X of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 shows an underneath plan view of the golf tee of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 11 shows an elevational view of an alternative form of golf ball teeing device according to the invention with side panel removed;
  • FIG. 12 shows an underneath plan view of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 11;
  • FIG. 13 shows an elevational view of an alternative feeder tray according to the invention
  • FIG. 14 shows a top plan view of the feeder tray of FIG. 13 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 15 shows an elevational view of a hopper for use with the feeder tray of FIG. 13;
  • FIG. 16 shows a top plan view of the hopper of FIG. 15.
  • FIG. 17 shows an end elevational view of the feeder tray of FIG. 15 after it has been rotated through 90°.
  • the teeing up device generally designated 1 includes a housing 3 having side walls 4 and end walls 6 .
  • the upper part of the housing is provided with a platform 5 upon which a golfer may stand.
  • a base 8 closes off the bottom of the housing.
  • the teeing up device would normally be placed in a recess so that the platform 5 sits at ground level.
  • the upper surface of the platform includes an inlet 11 for golf balls delivered by a feeder tray and track assembly which will be described in more detail hereinafter.
  • a lever for adjusting the height of a golf ball tee is movable in the slot 72 .
  • An opening 13 in the top of the platform is provided for allowing a tee to move from below the height of the platform to a point where the tee protrudes above the platform height. Whilst the tee is not shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 illustrates the manner in which a tee would protrude above the opening.
  • a surround 128 encircles the opening and forms part of a tubular insert which will be described in more detail hereinafter.
  • An actuator 7 is provided near one end of the platform remote from the opening 13 so that it does not interfere with a golfer preparing to drive a ball.
  • the location of the actuator 7 is such that a golfer may simply take a small step backwards to depress the actuator to tee up a further golf ball.
  • the delivery system for delivering golf balls single file to the teeing up device comprises a feeder tray 17 and a track assembly 19 which can be fitted together to deliver balls through the inlet 11 .
  • the feeder tray includes end walls 21 and outer side walls 23 giving the feeder tray a rectangular appearance.
  • Sloping surfaces 25 depend inwardly from the outer side walls to deliver balls to the channel 27 provided therebetween.
  • the channel has a sloping floor 29 and side walls 31 each joined with the bottom edge of the respective sloping surface 25 .
  • the channel slopes in a direction perpendicular to the sloping direction of each of the sloping surfaces 25 .
  • the channel terminates in an outlet 35 for delivering golf balls to the track assembly 19 .
  • Parallel fins 36 run lengthways along the underside of the feeder tray, the spacing of the fins being such that they snugly straddle the top of the frame 37 of the track assembly when the outlet 35 is fitted into the inlet 43 of the track assembly.
  • the construction of the feeder tray with the combination of sloping side walls arranged to deliver balls to the channel under gravity has been found to be particularly suitable for delivering balls in single file to the track assembly.
  • a construction for spreading out balls is desirable for reliably delivering the balls in single file to the track assembly after a bucket full of balls has been dumped into the feeder tray.
  • a simple delivery device such as a funnel can often result in balls becoming jammed.
  • the track assembly itself comprises a number of rods 41 held in place relative to each other by the rings 44 .
  • the trackway 39 is elongate so that it can be used to act as a ball storage device.
  • it In order to reduce the spatial dimensions of the elongate trackway so that it may be held within the frame 37 , it has a zigzag configuration.
  • An added advantage of this zigzag configuration is that it reduces the cumulative pressure of balls pressing against each other under the influence of gravity as they line up in the trackway.
  • the relatively gentle slope of the trackway accordingly reduces ball to ball pressure in each straight section of the trackway compared to an equivalent length of vertical trackway section.
  • the bends in the trackway limit the pressure to a single straight section and isolate the pressure from the next straight section. Distribution of pressure in this fashion again reduces the risk of jamming.
  • the track assembly has an outlet 45 constructed so that it can telescope over the inlet 11 of the teeing up device.
  • the teeing up device shown therein includes a tubular element 47 provided with the previously described inlet 11 .
  • the tubular element extends through the platform 5 .
  • the tubular element has a floor section 48 to guide balls 116 into the trackway 49 .
  • the trackway 49 may itself be a tubular member arranged with a slight slope so that balls continue down the trackway under the influence of gravity.
  • Control of balls going down the trackway 49 is associated with movement of the actuator 7 .
  • the actuator 7 is slidably retained in the tubular insert 50 .
  • the actuator extends to join with the lever 53 via a pivotal connection 51 .
  • the rear end of the lever 53 is pivotally mounted on the post 57 via the rear pivot 55 .
  • the other end of the lever 53 is secured to a horseshoe member 59 having parallel arms 60 and 61 .
  • Arm 60 has an extension 62 .
  • the forward edge of the extension abuts the ramp 64 .
  • the ramp 64 is shaped to be slidable in the track member 65 provided on the underside of the platform.
  • a rod 66 pivotally connects the ramp via the pivot 68 and pivot 70 to the height adjustment lever 9 .
  • the height adjustment lever which is movable in the slot 72 , is connected to the axle 74 .
  • the axle is rotatably mounted in the bearings 76 provided on opposed walls of the housing.
  • a control mechanism to prevent more than one ball at a time rolling down the trackway 49 comprises a tube 78 mounted on the extension 62 .
  • a pin 80 is slidable in the tube and is spring loaded via a spring surrounding the pin and mounted within the tube. The spring loading causes the pin 80 to push upwardly the support 82 provided on the end thereof which in turn pushes upwardly against the plate 84 .
  • a slotted support 86 provided on the opposite wall of the housing guides the other end of the plate which can move up and down in a slot 87 provided across the tubular trackway 49 .
  • the axle 74 also has mounted thereon a rotatable arm 88 pivotally connected to a rod 90 . This is pivotally connected to an upper arm 92 mounted on axle 94 .
  • the axle 94 is rotatable in the bearings 96 mounted on the opposed side walls of the housing.
  • the upper arm is connected to a lower arm 98 on the opposite side of the axle.
  • a tension spring 100 extends between and joins the lower arm and an arm 102 mounted on the axle 104 .
  • the axle 104 rotates within bearings 105 mounted on opposed sides of the side walls 4 .
  • a further arm 106 is mounted for rotation on the axle 104 .
  • This arm in turn is joined by a connecting rod 108 to the lever 53 via pivotal attachment points.
  • a further arm 114 is mounted for rotation on the axle 104 . This connects via a pivotal join to the piston 113 of a pneumatic cylinder 112 . The opposite end of the pneumatic cylinder is joined to the arm 110 for rotation on the axle 94 . Means are provided on the pneumatic cylinder to adjust the damping effect provided by the cylinder.
  • the tee element 15 shown in dotted lines, is slidable in the tubular insert 124 extending through an opening in the platform. It sits upon a pin 132 extending from the arm 62 to the arm 61 of the horseshoe member. The pin extends through and is free to move vertically in elongate slots 126 extending vertically on opposite sides of the tubular insert.
  • the insert is secured in place by an integral surround 128 provided on the surface of the platform surrounding the opening 13 and a locking nut 130 secured underneath the platform.
  • golf balls are tipped out of a bucket by a golfer into a feeder tray 17 .
  • the tray aligns the golf balls in single file along the channel 27 from whence they roll under gravity through the outlet 35 into the inlet 43 of the track assembly.
  • the balls After travelling through the track assembly, the balls enter the inlet 11 of the teeing up device and move under gravity to the trackway 49 where movement of the balls is controlled by the plate 84 .
  • the extent of the downward movement is such that the tee element is lowered so that the top of the tee element is lined up at a level lower than the bottom of the trackway 49 .
  • the first ball in line in the trackway then moves out of the open mouth of the trackway into the vertically extending tubular insert 124 to drop on top of the tee element 118 .
  • the lowering of the horseshoe member results in the support for the slidable plate being lowered ie. the support 82 moves down with the extension 62 of the horseshoe arm 60 thereby causing the plate support 84 to move down under the influence of gravity into the slot 87 formed in the upper part of the trackway 49 .
  • the plate stops the second ball in line in the trackway 49 from moving along the trackway.
  • the pneumatic cylinder acts via the arms 114 and 116 to damp the upward movement of the lever and hence the tee so that the movement is sufficiently smooth as to reduce the likelihood of the golf ball being dislodged from the tee element 118 as it moves upwardly into the hitting position.
  • the golfer may set the level at which the tee element rises above the platform by adjustment of the lever 9 .
  • the ramp has the effect of limiting the upward movement of the horseshoe member 59 and hence the tee sitting on the pin 132 connected to the two arms of the horseshoe member.
  • the maximum height of the tee is set by moving the lever 9 .
  • Movement of the lever 9 from left to right also has the effect of rotating the axle 74 in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 7.
  • the arm 110 also mounted on the axle 94 , as shown in FIG. 7, moves slightly in a clockwise direction. This has the effect of acting through the pneumatic cylinder 112 , the arms 114 and 106 and the rod 108 to again produce a slight downward compensating effect on the lever 53 similar to the downward movement obtained with the arrangement of the spring acting through the arm 106 .
  • operation of the tee up device of the invention is very simple in both construction and operation. From the point of view of the golfer, he must simply place the golf balls in the feeder tray, adjust the desired height of the tee and then press down on the actuator 7 . After he has driven the first ball he only has to press down on the actuator to present a new ball which is automatically teed up at the same height as he set for the previous ball.
  • the mechanism does not require any external power source it can be operated in any location. Furthermore, the basic simplicity of the construction has substantial advantages in terms of cost of manufacture and the ability to vary the height of the tee is a significant advantage for accommodating a range of golfers with different preferences.
  • the delivery system for the golf balls may involve electrical or electronic equipment.
  • a number of feeder lines may be used to direct golf balls from a central facility for feeding golf balls to a number of individual teeing up devices according to the invention.
  • Each tee up device may be associated with means for counting the number of golf balls which have been set up on a tee by a golfer.
  • a central operator may have the capacity to select the number of golf balls delivered to each device in accordance with payment or an order by the golfer. Alternatively or additionally the golfer himself may have this capacity through a control mechanism and payment mechanism associated with each tee up device
  • the teeing up device generally designated 200 is constructed broadly along the lines of the device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 .
  • the changes in components largely represent a simplification of those already described with reference to these Figures.
  • the teeing up device 200 includes a housing 202 with side walls 204 and end walls 206 .
  • a platform 208 which forms part of the housing is mounted atop the side and end walls.
  • one of the side walls 204 acts as a support for a number of the components constituting the working elements of the tee up device.
  • a lever 209 for providing variable height adjustment of the tee 215 protrudes from inside the housing through the platform to provide ready access to a user.
  • a foot operated actuator 210 protrudes through the platform 208 for the purpose of initiating reloading of a golf ball 212 on the tee whenever the actuator is depressed by an operator's foot.
  • An inlet 211 for golf balls leads to a trackway 249 for delivering golf balls to the tee 215 .
  • the trackway comprises a number of rods joined together by the two collars 250 .
  • the uppermost rod of the trackway terminates at a position shorter than the other rods forming the trackway to leave room for the stop member 270 to move into position as will be described hereinafter.
  • the end of the trackway is adjacent the vertically extending tubular cage 224 made up of linear vertically extending rods.
  • the arrangement is such that the bottom of the tee 215 can move up and down in the trackway to such an extent that the top of the tee aligns with the bottom of the trackway 249 to allow a golf ball to roll under gravity onto to the top of the tee within the tubular cage when the actuator 210 is depressed.
  • a pin 232 extending through a lower portion of the tee 215 is held in slots 233 which are formed in both arms of the yoke 265 .
  • the actuator is mounted by means of a pivotal connection 251 to the lever 253 extending generally laterally within the housing.
  • the lever is mounted by a pivotal mount 255 to the side wall of the housing.
  • the lever 253 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 11 by the pneumatic cylinder 257 .
  • the pneumatic cylinder is mounted by the pivotal mount 259 to the side wall of the housing.
  • the opposite end of the pneumatic cylinder has a pivotal connection 261 to the leg 263 extending at right angles from the lever.
  • Ball stop means comprising a rod 267 connected by the pivotal mount 269 to a side wall of the housing include a stop member 270 , and a roller 272 .
  • the roller is adapted to sit atop one side of the pair of arms of the yoke 265 and a weight 273 fitted next to the roller is providing for urging the ball stop means to move downwardly when the lever 253 moves down.
  • the stop member 270 also moves down to a position where it blocks movement of golf balls in the trackway already behind the stop member.
  • the stop member is positioned so that the distance between it and the position taken up by the bottom of the tee shown in FIG. 11 is approximately the width of a golf ball.
  • Height adjustment of the tee is by means of a height adjustment assembly comprising the rod 276 .
  • This is pivotally joined to the lever 209 at one end by the pivot join 277 and at the other end by the pivot join 278 to the U-shaped bar 281 .
  • the U-shaped bar is pivotally mounted by the pivot mount 279 on the side wall of the housing.
  • the opposite side of the U-shaped bar includes a roller 282 arranged to sit atop the lever 209 and acts as a stop against upward movement of the lever beyond the level of the stop. It can be seen that the height of the roller can readily be adjusted by moving the lever 209 . This in turn sets the maximum height to which the lever 209 may reach in lifting the golf ball on the tee above the platform.
  • the pneumatic cylinder 257 acts to push the lever 253 upwards in a controlled fashion thereby pushing the tee with golf ball mounted thereon up through an opening 213 in the platform to present the golf ball in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11.
  • the upward movement of the lever 253 causes the ball stop means to lift the stop member 270 out of registry with the trackway allowing the next ball to roll down against the bottom of the tee ready for the sequence to be repeated at will.
  • Golf balls may be provided in single file to the opening 211 from a trackway fed by the feeder tray shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 .
  • the feeder tray comprises a hopper 302 and an alignment tray 304 .
  • the alignment tray has a circumferential lip 305 which may serve as a surface for mounting the feeder tray on a rigid frame.
  • the alignment tray may be made from any suitable material such as metal or plastic. Where large numbers of alignment trays are required it is anticipated that the alignment tray may be injection moulded in a suitable plastics material such as a reinforced plastic or a high density polyethylene.
  • the alignment tray includes side walls 306 and an exit chute 307 .
  • the exit chute includes an outlet 319 at the forward end of the chute.
  • the alignment tray floor 309 has a ball entry area 308 . This receives balls which have been funnelled through the hopper 302 .
  • the tray floor which extends from the ball entry area to the exit chute has a shallow sloped region 311 and a more steeply sloped region 312 .
  • the shallow sloped region includes ball flow control means to impede the rate of travel of balls which happen to spill out over the shallow sloped region.
  • the ball flow control means take the form of ribs 314 . It can be seen that the ribs extend in a direction which makes an acute angle with the direction of the exit chute.
  • a deflector wall 316 running along one side of the shallow sloped region and along part of the length of the exit chute is also provided. It has been found that the combination of deflector wall and ribs arranged in this manner helps to reduce the likelihood of balls which spill over onto the shallow sloped region becoming jammed.
  • the width of the exit chute is approximately the width of a single golf ball.
  • the exit chute floor 318 extends from a level at the rearward end of the chute which is substantially the same as the level of the alignment tray floor at a downward angle with respect to the alignment tray floor. Thus golf balls rolling into the chute travel in single file down the chute to the outlet 319 .
  • the hopper used to feed golf balls to the ball entry area of the alignment tray is shown in more detail in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 . It may be formed as a separate component as is shown in the drawings or may be permanently fixed to the alignment tray. It comprises a wide-mouthed inlet 325 and a construction which funnels balls to an outlet 327 for delivering balls to the ball entry area of the alignment tray.
  • a flat mounting plate 329 is suitably provided on the bottom of the hopper in order that it can readily mounted in the fashion illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 over the top of the alignment tray.
  • the funnelling effect for the hopper is provided by vertical walls 332 on three sides of the hopper and a combination of the vertical walls 331 and ramped wall 333 on one side of the hopper.
  • feeder tray illustrated and described with respect to FIGS. 13 to 17 may be used in association with either of the teeing up devices described hereinbefore.
  • Balls provided in single file through the outlet 319 may be fed by a trackway to the inlet of a teeing device.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
  • Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
  • Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)
US10/312,072 2000-07-26 2001-05-11 Golf ball teeing device Abandoned US20030162598A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/786,397 US7104421B2 (en) 2000-07-26 2004-02-25 Golf ball teeing device
US10/921,505 US7059969B2 (en) 2000-07-26 2004-08-19 Golf ball teeing device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPQ9006 2000-07-26
AUPQ9006A AUPQ900600A0 (en) 2000-07-26 2000-07-26 Golf ball teeing device

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2001/000540 A-371-Of-International WO2002007827A1 (fr) 2000-07-26 2001-05-11 Dispositif de mise en place de balles de golf sur un tee

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/786,397 Division US7104421B2 (en) 2000-07-26 2004-02-25 Golf ball teeing device
US10/921,505 Continuation US7059969B2 (en) 2000-07-26 2004-08-19 Golf ball teeing device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030162598A1 true US20030162598A1 (en) 2003-08-28

Family

ID=3823066

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/312,072 Abandoned US20030162598A1 (en) 2000-07-26 2001-05-11 Golf ball teeing device
US10/786,397 Expired - Fee Related US7104421B2 (en) 2000-07-26 2004-02-25 Golf ball teeing device
US10/921,505 Expired - Fee Related US7059969B2 (en) 2000-07-26 2004-08-19 Golf ball teeing device

Family Applications After (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/786,397 Expired - Fee Related US7104421B2 (en) 2000-07-26 2004-02-25 Golf ball teeing device
US10/921,505 Expired - Fee Related US7059969B2 (en) 2000-07-26 2004-08-19 Golf ball teeing device

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (3) US20030162598A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1303334A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2004503349A (fr)
AU (1) AUPQ900600A0 (fr)
CA (1) CA2415195A1 (fr)
NZ (1) NZ527245A (fr)
WO (1) WO2002007827A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA200300229B (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040127302A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2004-07-01 Jones Donald R. Mechanical semi-automatic tee-up device and method
US20040224782A1 (en) * 2000-07-26 2004-11-11 Tee Up Pty Ltd. Golf ball teeing device
US20070167251A1 (en) * 2004-04-26 2007-07-19 Gavin Pathross Golf Advertising System

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2002950433A0 (en) * 2002-07-29 2002-09-12 Nicholas Guy Clifford Recreation range
WO2007046913A2 (fr) * 2005-10-20 2007-04-26 Stork Townsend Inc. Dispositif et procede de transport de produits alimentaires a une tete de chargement
US20080029959A1 (en) * 2006-08-03 2008-02-07 William Kuzara Mind teaser 3-D puzzle
US20100190563A1 (en) * 2009-01-28 2010-07-29 Smith Craig A Golf Ball Placement Apparatus
WO2012034159A1 (fr) * 2010-09-13 2012-03-22 Gary Johnson Appareil d'entraînement au golf
KR101248830B1 (ko) * 2010-09-15 2013-03-29 (주) 알디텍 저 지상고형 볼 공급장치
WO2012070829A2 (fr) * 2010-11-22 2012-05-31 Cho Gill Youn Dispositif d'entraînement au golf
US9011263B2 (en) * 2012-07-02 2015-04-21 Donald C. Brown Portable mechanical golf tee device
KR102284534B1 (ko) * 2019-03-28 2021-08-02 임영수 볼 공급장치
US11684835B2 (en) 2019-11-08 2023-06-27 Domenick Francis DeRose Method and devices for lifting-and setting of golf balls

Citations (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1598971A (en) * 1924-12-11 1926-09-07 Edward H Kenyon Golf-teeing machine
US1850174A (en) * 1928-05-23 1932-03-22 Joseph Felix Alexander Apparatus for practicing games
US1888256A (en) * 1930-11-12 1932-11-22 Floyd D Baumgartner Mechanical teeing device
US1952113A (en) * 1932-11-22 1934-03-27 Clay C Beckett Golf ball teeing device
US1965697A (en) * 1930-05-31 1934-07-10 William H Gardner Automatic golfing tee
US2127282A (en) * 1936-06-10 1938-08-16 Clay C Beckett Golf ball teeing device
US2198968A (en) * 1939-05-23 1940-04-30 Jackson Young D Golf teeing device
US2450206A (en) * 1945-10-01 1948-09-28 James F Shouse Golf teeing apparatus
US2711321A (en) * 1952-03-22 1955-06-21 Sr John W Mcgraw Golf ball teeing apparatus
US3966213A (en) * 1975-04-03 1976-06-29 Bradley John G Golf tee device
US4602789A (en) * 1983-05-06 1986-07-29 Chung Bong J Golf ball teeing apparatus
US5016886A (en) * 1990-09-24 1991-05-21 Gould Bobby J Automatic golf ball tee apparatus
US5022657A (en) * 1990-09-10 1991-06-11 373470 Alberta Ltd. Golf practice tee apparatus
US5282629A (en) * 1992-11-23 1994-02-01 Eckstein Randall S Automatic golf ball teeing apparatus
US5326107A (en) * 1993-05-21 1994-07-05 Forty Four International, Inc. Apparatus for ball placement on a golf tee
US5356148A (en) * 1993-08-03 1994-10-18 Elder Jr John F Simplified mechanism for automatically teeing practice golf balls
US5611737A (en) * 1995-06-28 1997-03-18 Rau; Timothy P. Golf training device
US5916033A (en) * 1997-12-26 1999-06-29 Doherty; William L. Golf ball teeing-up device
US5971862A (en) * 1998-03-25 1999-10-26 Yates; Patrick D. Apparatus for dispensing and teeing golf balls

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2450205A (en) * 1946-01-08 1948-09-28 Bank Hudson County National Compressible powder dispenser
US2675237A (en) * 1949-11-19 1954-04-13 Leland J Willcox Golf ball tee
US2838313A (en) * 1954-12-20 1958-06-10 Mozel Joe Golf ball teeing mechanism
US3448985A (en) * 1966-10-21 1969-06-10 Howard A Scott Golf ball teeing apparatus
US3599983A (en) * 1969-07-11 1971-08-17 Raymond L Melton Golf ball dispenser
US4832345A (en) * 1987-08-10 1989-05-23 E-Z Drive, Inc. Golf ball teeing apparatus
GB2224216A (en) * 1988-10-27 1990-05-02 Gillian Moore Golf apparatus
GB2231803A (en) * 1989-05-15 1990-11-28 John Edward Enscoe Golf ball feeder
US5322291A (en) * 1993-05-05 1994-06-21 Smith Ronald T Golf practice apparatus
JPH08141128A (ja) * 1994-11-14 1996-06-04 Takao Hasegawa ゴルフ練習機におけるティーアップ装置
US5624325A (en) * 1995-10-02 1997-04-29 Smith; Michael Golf ball teeing apparatus
FR2727321A1 (fr) * 1996-01-31 1996-05-31 Lasserie Gerard Philippe Machine pour distribuer et placer des balles de golf sur un tee
US6174243B1 (en) * 1999-02-10 2001-01-16 Myung Choi Golf ball feeder for use in golf practice court
AUPQ900600A0 (en) * 2000-07-26 2000-08-17 Tee Up Pty Ltd Golf ball teeing device

Patent Citations (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1598971A (en) * 1924-12-11 1926-09-07 Edward H Kenyon Golf-teeing machine
US1850174A (en) * 1928-05-23 1932-03-22 Joseph Felix Alexander Apparatus for practicing games
US1965697A (en) * 1930-05-31 1934-07-10 William H Gardner Automatic golfing tee
US1888256A (en) * 1930-11-12 1932-11-22 Floyd D Baumgartner Mechanical teeing device
US1952113A (en) * 1932-11-22 1934-03-27 Clay C Beckett Golf ball teeing device
US2127282A (en) * 1936-06-10 1938-08-16 Clay C Beckett Golf ball teeing device
US2198968A (en) * 1939-05-23 1940-04-30 Jackson Young D Golf teeing device
US2450206A (en) * 1945-10-01 1948-09-28 James F Shouse Golf teeing apparatus
US2711321A (en) * 1952-03-22 1955-06-21 Sr John W Mcgraw Golf ball teeing apparatus
US3966213A (en) * 1975-04-03 1976-06-29 Bradley John G Golf tee device
US4602789A (en) * 1983-05-06 1986-07-29 Chung Bong J Golf ball teeing apparatus
US5022657A (en) * 1990-09-10 1991-06-11 373470 Alberta Ltd. Golf practice tee apparatus
US5016886A (en) * 1990-09-24 1991-05-21 Gould Bobby J Automatic golf ball tee apparatus
US5282629A (en) * 1992-11-23 1994-02-01 Eckstein Randall S Automatic golf ball teeing apparatus
US5326107A (en) * 1993-05-21 1994-07-05 Forty Four International, Inc. Apparatus for ball placement on a golf tee
US5356148A (en) * 1993-08-03 1994-10-18 Elder Jr John F Simplified mechanism for automatically teeing practice golf balls
US5611737A (en) * 1995-06-28 1997-03-18 Rau; Timothy P. Golf training device
US5916033A (en) * 1997-12-26 1999-06-29 Doherty; William L. Golf ball teeing-up device
US5971862A (en) * 1998-03-25 1999-10-26 Yates; Patrick D. Apparatus for dispensing and teeing golf balls

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040224782A1 (en) * 2000-07-26 2004-11-11 Tee Up Pty Ltd. Golf ball teeing device
US7104421B2 (en) * 2000-07-26 2006-09-12 Tee Up Pty Ltd. Golf ball teeing device
US20040127302A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2004-07-01 Jones Donald R. Mechanical semi-automatic tee-up device and method
US7775897B2 (en) * 2002-12-20 2010-08-17 Donald R Jones Mechanical semi-automatic tee-up device and method
US20070167251A1 (en) * 2004-04-26 2007-07-19 Gavin Pathross Golf Advertising System

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NZ527245A (en) 2004-11-26
CA2415195A1 (fr) 2002-01-31
AUPQ900600A0 (en) 2000-08-17
US7059969B2 (en) 2006-06-13
WO2002007827A1 (fr) 2002-01-31
US20050020370A1 (en) 2005-01-27
EP1303334A1 (fr) 2003-04-23
JP2004503349A (ja) 2004-02-05
EP1303334A4 (fr) 2008-05-28
US7104421B2 (en) 2006-09-12
US20040224782A1 (en) 2004-11-11
ZA200300229B (en) 2003-08-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7104421B2 (en) Golf ball teeing device
US4146232A (en) Automatic golf ball teeing device
JPS59228876A (ja) ゴルフボ−ルテイ−イング装置
US4957296A (en) Golf ball dispenser and teeing device
US4676397A (en) E-Z-T golf ball dispenser
US4575092A (en) Ball dispenser
US5624325A (en) Golf ball teeing apparatus
US4441717A (en) Golf ball practice driving apparatus
US5022657A (en) Golf practice tee apparatus
US6315676B1 (en) Golf ball teeing device
US5071131A (en) Golf ball dispenser comprising tapering U-shaped container and single-ball guide channel
AU2001256002B2 (en) Golf ball teeing device
US5322291A (en) Golf practice apparatus
US6572485B2 (en) Golf practice device
US5232218A (en) Pitching device initiator mechanism
WO2005082474A1 (fr) Mecanisme de mise en place d'une balle de golf
EP0002921A1 (fr) Perfectionnements aux appareils plaçant automatiquement une balle de golf sur un tee
US20030027653A1 (en) Golf ball teeing device
US6631828B1 (en) Golf ball and tee placement unit
US20080234061A1 (en) Golf ball teeing system
US6440003B1 (en) Ball feeder and method
US6942578B2 (en) Golf ball placement device
US7775897B2 (en) Mechanical semi-automatic tee-up device and method
JPH0746288Y2 (ja) ゴルフ練習用のボール転送装置
WO2001028643A1 (fr) Distributeur de balles

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: TEE UP PTY, LTD, AUSTRALIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ECKHARDT, JR., FRANZ CHARLES;ECKHARDT, SR., FRANZ;HEFFERNAN, CHRISTOPHER PATRICK;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:014042/0843

Effective date: 20021211

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION