US2071356A

US2071356A - Method for teeing golf balls and device therefor

Info

Publication number: US2071356A
Application number: US635983A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pagett William Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-10-03
Filing date: 1932-10-03
Publication date: 1937-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-23

Description

Feb. 23, 1937. w. P. PAGETT METHOD FOR TEEING GOLF BALLS AND DEVICE THEREFOR 7 Filed Oct. 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 23, 1937. w. P. PAGETT 2,071,356

METHOD FOR TEEING GOLF BALLS AND DEVICE THEREFOR Filed Oct. :5, 1952 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITE STATES METHOD FOR TEEING GOLF BALLS AND DEVICE THEREFOR,

William Paul Pagett, Denver, Colo.

Application October 3,

16 Claims.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a method for automatically feeding golf balls, one at a time, from a magazine to a tee, and to provide a device whereby my method may be carried out.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device having a magazine which may be filled with a given number of golf balls, which are released successively and automatically to a tee as they are driven therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be used on commercial practice golf driving courses to enable the patron to drive a larger number of balls in a given period of time, without the loss of time and the inconvenience of teeing up a golf ball for each drive.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character for the use on commercial practice golf driving courses operated for profit, whereby the patron may drive a given number of balls at a fixed price in a shorter period of time, thereby decreasing the time the patron will occupy the course to drive a given number of balls, and correspondingly increasing the revenue of the driving courses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will permit a patron having only limited time for practice, to

drive a greater number or golf balls, thereby increasing the patrons time of effective practice, Without correspondingly increasing fatigue.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is easily transported, thereby enabling any individual, who so desires, to carry it about with him to convenient places for practice.

A further object of this invention is to pro- 40 vide a device of this character which will enable the player to drive a number of golf balls from the tee without changing his stance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will relieve players, and particularly women, from the inconvenience or strain of stooping over to tee up a ball before each drive.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be cheaply manufactured, which is light in weight to permit easy transportation, which is sturdily constructed so as to require few repairs, and which is entirely automatic in its operation.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which will 1932, Serial No. 635,983

become more apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof.

My method consists in delivering golf ball one at a time from a magazine to an associated tee by a sequence of operations, each one of which is controlled by the weight of a golf ball, so that each golf ball as it moves from the magazine to the tee and is driven therefrom, employs its weight to assist in controlling the operation of the device at a series of points.

My device consists of a spiral magazine provided with a magazine trigger lever and a feed trigger lever; a trigger release which is actuated by the removal of the weight of the golf ball from the tee, and a weighted delivery trough held normally in an inoperative position and movable about a pivot to the delivery position by the weight of the golf ball, when it is released by the feed trigger lever and the trigger release. All of this is more fully described below, and illustrated in the drawings; in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the device, partially in section, in position ready for operation.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device, partially in section, having a portion of the inner vertical cylinder broken away, showing the machine in the position which it assumes when delivering a golf ball to the tee.

Figure 3 is a view, partially in section, looking vertically downward at the device, the section being taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1; and a portion of the teeing lever being broken off.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view, partially in section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2, illustrating the top of the teeing 35 lever, the method of securing said teeing lever to the outer vertical cylinder, and showing a fragmentary portion of the outer end of the delivery trough in the delivery position over the tee.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental vertical 40 sectional view of a portion of the machine, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, showing the operating levers in position immediately after a ball has been released from the helical passageway to the delivery trough. 45

Figure 6 is a similar view, taken on the line 55 of Figure 3, showing the operating levers in position after a ball has been released from the helical passageway and deposited upon the tee.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view of the teeing lever and its supporting bearing, taken on the line 1'! of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a view looking vertically downward at the rubber portion of the teeing lever, illustrating its construction.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View of the magazine portion of the device, showing a modified type of a spiral, forming a helical passageway for golf balls.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts through out the several views, the invention in its preferred form is described in detail as follows:

I is a vertical cylinder forming the outer casing of this device, preferably having its edges rolled as shown in the drawings, the bottom rolled edge serving as the base of the device. I! is an inner vertical cylinder having an integral coneshaped cover and adapted to be secured cen trally inside of said vertical cylinder 56, by three or more brackets l2 cut out of the inner vertical cylinder H, equidistant from each other, and bent outwardly and attached to the outer vertical cylinder If] by the nutted bolts it. A descending spiral sheet metal strip i4 is welded or otherwise attached to the outer surface of the inner vertical cylinder H, with the convolutions spaced an equal distance from each other, and the outer edge of said spiral strip M fitting snugly inside the outer vertical cylinder IE. It will be noted that the arrangement of these parts forms a helical passageway Ma, the dimensions of the various parts being calculated to provide easy clearance to permit golf balls of regulation size to pass longitudinally through said passageway Ma. The pitch is to be ample to insure certain downward rolling of the balls even when they are slightly dented or otherwise injured.

I5 is a delivery trough having one end suspended subjacently at right angles to the lower end of the spiral M on the hinge bolt l6, journalled in a freely fitting bearing integral with the end of said delivery trough I5, said hinge bolt [8 being clamped through holes in the supporting brackets l'l, cut out of the inner vertical cylinder H. The delivery trough I 5 is curved abruptly upward through an oblong opening l8, cut out of the vertical cylinder IE], and merging into a straight portion extending to the upper edge of said outer vertical cylinder l5, thence merging into an annular guide is, having a circular opening of sufficient size to permit a golf ball to freely pass therethrough. A counterweight 2! serves to hold the trough l5 normally in the position shown in Figure 1. The inner vertical cylinder H is cut away to provide an opening 23, to permit free operation of the counterweight 2!. The weight of the golf ball when received by the trough i5 when in the position shown in Figure l, is sufficient to overbalance the weight 22 and lower the trough 5 to the position shown in Figure 2.

A teeing lever 24 of novel construction, having a tubular aperture 25 vertically through the outer end thereof, forms a golf ball tee, from which balls may be driven. The removal of the rubber to form said aperture 25 also serves to lighten as well as strengthen the end of the teeing lever, 26 is a pliable rubber portion of the teeing arm, which is square in section at the fulcrum end, and slightly tapered toward the tee end, thence merging into a circular portion in which the tubular aperture 25 is moulded, to form a golf ball tee, as above described. 27 is a stiffer segment of rubber, moulded longitudinally inside of the pliable rubber portion 26 at the fulcrum end, and tapering to a point a short distance from the tee end thereof. This rubber segment 21 is made of rubber which has been cured faster than the pliable rubber portion 28, such faster curing imparting stiffness to the rubber. A different rubber compound for the seg ment 2! or any other method of reinforcing the tee 2 7 may be used, either rubber or other proper material being employed for both tee and segment.

E8 is a metal portion of the teeing lever forming a continuation th reof, consisting of a metal trough clamped firmly around two sides and the bottom of the fulcrum end of the rubber portion, and merging into a weighted metal portion tapering toward the end. and bent horizontally at an angle near the end, and having an integral round pin 29 horizontally at right angles to the angular portion, said round 29 being adapted to receive the drilled end of a fiat metal lever held in place by a cotter pin 30 inserted through a hole drilled in the end of said round pin 29. The metal portion 28 of said teeing lever 26 is heavier than the rubber portion, which serves to hold the lever normally with the tee end upraised. 3! is a metal supporting bracket attached to the base of the outer vertical cylinder ill by means of screws 32, or by any other proper means integral therewith, and having vertical drilled to receive the fulcrum bolt 35, which fits freely in the metal bushing 35, mould end of the teeing lever 24 near its longitudinal center, thus forming a fulcrum bearing for said teeing lever 2 The metal portion 28 of said teeing lever E l protrudes through the oblong opening !8 in the outer Vertical cylinder i9.

is a vertical flat metal coupling rod, coupled to the inner end of the teeing lever 22 over the round pin 29, which passes through a hole drilled in the lower end of the rod 36, and held in place by the cotter pin 36. The opposite end of rod 36 is operatively coupled by a ball and socket or other proper connection to the end of the curved flat metal lever 3?, which is pivotally mounted at its opposite end, and has integral right angle segments 31d and Sic in the nature of cams projecting outwardly from said pivotal end. 33 is a pivctally mounted flat metal jointed lever adapted to be operated by the adjacent right angle segment El a of lever the upper jointed portion of lever 38, being operatively coupled by ball and socket or other proper connection to the flat metal feed trigger lever 49, which is pivotally mount-ed at one end, and curves upward at the other end. 65 is a pivotally mounted flat metal jointed lever adapted to be operated by the adjacent right angle segm nt 3T0 of the lever 33-, the upper jointed portion 5-2 of the lever ll being operatively coupled by ball and socket or other proper connection to the flat metal magazine trigger lever which is pivotally mounted at one end and curves upward at the other end. All of said parts El, 38, 33, All, 2 and are secured between the flat metal plates and by the bolts passing through holes in plates and 55, said bolts forming the pivotal mountings of the levers. The plate 2 1 is provided with an integral support 61 welded or otherwise attached, or by other proper means made integral with the inner cylinder H, while the plate 35 is provided with an integral support 5-8 resting against, but not attached to the outer cylinder 9, and forming a continuation of the outlet end of the spiral strip it. The trigger levers and in their upward position protrude through the opening 39, which has been ed horizontally edgewise into the fulcrum formed between the plates 44 and l"; and into h lical passageway l lo.

, i e 9 illustrates a fragmental view partially ction of a modified form of the magazine for b'a -s, similar in construction to the preferred m, but having wire spiral E3 substituted for he spiral i i, said wire spiral 59 being suspended between and substantially equidistant from the inner vertical cylinder ii and outer vertical cylinder ill by lugs 5i, and welded or otherwise attached at one end to said spiral wire 59, and alternately attached at the opposite end to inner cylinder ll outer cylinder Hi, respectively.

operation of the device is as follows: The helical passageway i l-a is filled with a given number of golf balls, usually fifty, which are held in said helical passageway Ma by the magazine tri ger lever is protruding through the slotted opening 2:9 into the helical passageway E la, the magazine trigger lever 43 being held in his position by the weight of the metal portion the teeing lever 24 acting upon the interparts Bl, ll, and it. It will be noted that jointed lever 38 at this time, assumes the sition shown in Figure 5, pulling the free end or the feed trigger lever ift down through the opening When downward pressure is applied to the rubi will be noted that the feed trigthe opening ii) into the helical passageway M05, while the free end of the l -agazine lever 33 is pulled down the opening dd. This allows the golf balls in the helical passageway l la to roll down against the protruding portion of the feed trigger When the pressure of the golf club or other means is relieved from the tee end of teeing lever 2d, the tee end of said lever 25 is pulled upward by its opposite weighted metal end, causing the parts to again assume the posishown in Figure 5, permitting the golf ball the feed trigger lever to roll out of the 50 helical passageway Ma onto the curved portion f the delivery trough Hi. It will be noted that magazine trigger lever 33 now protruding 'ough the opening dd, prevents the passage of ernaining golf calls, retaining them in the geway ltd. f the released golf ball upon the k n of the delivery trough is overbalances the counterweight ill, causing the delive to swing downward upon its ng to the position shown in Figure 2, with ar opening suspended directly e tee 25.3, the golf ball at the same time down delivery trough i5 into the guide and coming to rest upon the tee relieves the weight of said golf ball e delivery trough 55, causing the counter- ?ii to pull delivery trough it to its position as shown in Figure l. The

. turn pushes the vertical rod as upwc causing the parts Bl, iii), iii, 5!, 22 and 7 to assume the position shown in Figure 6,

thereby permitting the golf balls in th helical passageway Ma to roll downward against the feed trigger lever it, which now protrudes through the opening 2-9.

The device is now ready for the first With a golf ball resting upon the tee 25. The player assumes his stance opposite the tee and drives the golf ball therefrom. From this point, the operation of the device is entirely automatic. The weight of the golf ball having een removed from the tee 25 causes the opposite weighted end of the lever 24 to move downward to the position shown in Figure l, returning the

parts

37, 38, 39, 49, 4!, t2 and 43 again to assume the position shown in Figure 5, releasing another golf ball from the helical passageway its to the delivery trough 55, which in turn deposits the golf ball upon the tee 25 and returns to its normal position. It will be seen that the devi e will continue to function as often as the golf balls are driven from the tee 25, until the supply of golf balls the magazine has when the device will come to rest in the position shown in Figure 1.

Should the player half his stroke, striking the tee 25, the rubber portion of the teeing lever 26 will not vibrate an excessive length of time, such movement being checked quickly by the rubber segment 2'5 moulded inside of the pliable rubber portion 26, and by the thin rubber rim of the outer end of the tee 25.

Now it will be seen how perfectly device carries out my method:

The weight of the golf ball C upon the end of the tee holds the parts in the posit n shown in Figure 6, the feed trigger lever lli preven ing the next ball 13 from coming from the in When the ball C is struck from the tee, the removal of its weight permits the heavier inner end of the tee to start to move the parts toward the position shown in Figure 5. As'soon as in this movement the segment 37a, by contact with the adjacent end of the lever 33 breaks the err-- center position of the lever and its jointed extension the weight of the ball B upon the lever fill] completes the breaking of the on-ccnter position as shown in Figure 5, permitting the ball B to drop to the troughgwhere again its weight is employed, this time to pivot the trough about its bearing so it will swing down and deliver the ball B to the tee. When the ball I? rests upon the tee its weight is again employed, this time to restore the parts to the position shown in Figure 6.

But meantime, when weight of hall B was depressing the feed lever the contact of the segment Qlc the lever ii acts to put the lever ii and its extension ill the on center position shown in Figure 5, with the curved end of the magazine feed trl .iger acting to estrain the ball A from passing out of the magazine. It will be seen therefore, that thepressure of the golf balls in the magazine is not sustained the lever 3'5 and the tee and its connectibut is sustained by the on-center posi on of he lever H and its jointed extension 42.

When the weight of the ball l3 rests upon the tee, moving the lever 37 to the position iown in Figure 6, the segment 3'ic by contact wi adjacent end of the lever ll break he 0; ter position of the lever iii its jointed r sion 32, and the weight of the ball A depresses the lever and moves it and the lever ii its extension to th final shown in Figure 6. This permits the ball A to roll forward. But as the ball B rested upon the tee and moved the lever 31 to the position shown in Figure 6, its segment 31a by contact with the lever 38, moved it and its extension 39 to the on-center position shown in Figure 6, with the curved end of the lever 40 up in place to stop further movement of the ball A. Thus in the operation of my method the weight of the ball moving from the magazine is first employed to depress the magazine trigger lever 43, after its supporting on-center joint has been broken; its weight is next employed to depress the lever 28 after its supporting on-center joint has been broken; its weight is next employed to cause the trough to pivot about its bearing and swing down to the delivery position; and its weight is finally employed upon the tee to move the lever 31 from the Figure 5 position to the Figure 6 position, permitting the next ball to progress from the lever 43 to the lever 48', that is, from the magazine trigger lever to the feed trigger lever. That is, the weight of each ball is employed at four separated points in its delivery to operate the device, whereby an automatic action is obtained.

It will be noted that only one manual operation is required to set the device in operation, namely, applying temporary pressure to the tee end of the lever 24. It will be further noted that each golf ball before being released from the helical passageway Ma, must successively come to rest first against the magazine trigger 43, and secondly against the feed trigger 49, which I term a two-stage operation. Also once the device has been set in operation, it continues to function automatically by gravitational forces exerted upon the golf balls and the weighted levers of the device.

Thus it will be seen that my device acts to fully carry out my method. It will also now be more clearly seen that my method employs the weight of the golf balls to control their own delivery automatically by employing this weight at a series of points.

That is, the weight of the ball A upon the magazine trigger 43 breaks the center 42a; and the weight of the ball B upon the feed trigger lil breaks the center 35a, the moment the weight of the ball C is removed from the tee 25, thus permitting the next ball in the magazine to contact the magazine trigger 43, as the ball A moves forward and contacts the feed trigger ill. The ball B released by the feed trigger 46 moves forward, and by its weight causes the delivery trough 5 to assume the delivery position.

Thus the weight of the balls A, B and C at these various points controls the feeding of the device and the resulting release of the first ball B by the fee-d trigger 48 operates the delivery trough i5 and completes the delivery of a ball to the tee 25.

I have no intention of limiting my patent protection to the exact procedure and details of construction and arrangement here shown, for I am aware that slight alterations may be made in both my method and my device without seriously affecting the results.

Therefore, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, a spirally descending magazine having an outer and an inner vertical cylinder, a tee pivotally mounted on the magazine, delivery means mounted on the magazine for successively delivering said golf balls to the tee, comprising a weighted delivery trough suspended at one end by a hinge bearing subjacently at right angles to the discharge end of said magazine, and curving abruptly upward through a slotted opening in said outer vertical cylinder, and merging into a straight upwardly extending portion, and having at its outer end an integral annular delivery guide with an opening therethrough to permit the downward passage of a golf ball, said delivery trough being counter-weighted at its bearing end to hold it normally in said upwardly extending position, whereby the trough will be caused to swing downward and register the delivery guide with the tee when overbalanced by the Weight of a golf ball delivered from said magazine to the bearing end of said delivery trough, and means operably connected to the inner end of said tee, and operated by each vertical reciprocation thereof, whereby one ball at a time is fed from the magazine to the tee, upon each vertical reciprocation of the tee, said reciprocation being caused by golf ball weight successively applied to and removed from the tee.

2. In a device of the class described, a magazine adapted to contain golf balls in such manher that they may be successively released one at a time, a tee associated therewith, means mounting the tee for substantially vertical reciprocation, means for releasing said golf balls from said magazine one at a time, comprising two trigger levers in series, each pivotally mounted at one end adjacent the outlet end of said magazine, there being an opening in said magazine through which the free ends of said trigger levers may protrude, and means comprising a combination of levers for actuating said trigger levers so that when one trigger lever protrudes through said opening into the magazine, the other trigger lever is pulled beneath the magazine, means consisting of a common control lever, for actuating said trigger levers so that they alternately protrude through the said opening in said magazine, means mounting said tee and connecting said common control lever to said tee, said tee being so balanced that the vertical reciprocation of said tee due to the weight of golf balls successively deposited thereon and driven therefrom automatically actuates the control lever and the trigger levers to release a golf ball from the magazine each time a ball is driven from said tee, and golf ball operated means for conveying said balls from said magazine outlet to said tee, consisting of a delivery trough suspended upon a bearing and counter- Weighted to normally hold said delivery trough in an upward position, and adapted to swing downward when overbalanced by the weight of a golf ball, and deposite said golf ball upon said tee, said delivery trough being returned then to its upward position by its counter-weight, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, in combination, a magazine for golf balls comprising a descending spiral encased between an inner vertical cylinder and an outer vertical cylinder to form a helical passage, a series of releasing levers operatively connected to release golf balls successively, one at a time from said helical passage, a delivery trough suspended at one end subjacently at right angles upon a hinged bearing beneath said helical passage, and curving abruptly upward through an opening in said outer vertical cylinder, and merging into a strai ht portion, thence merging into an annular guide having an outlet opening to permit golf balls to pass therethrough, said delivery trough having a counter weight at its bearing end to hold it normally in said position, whereby it will be overbalanced and swung downward under the weight of a golf ball, a teeing lever fulorumed upon a bearing bracketed to said outer vertical cylinden'having a tee substantially disposed beneath the annular guide opening of said delivery trough in its downward position, said tee protruding at its opposite end through an opening in said outer vertical cylinder, and weighted to normally hold said tee in an upraised position, and operatively connected by levers to the releasing levers of said magazine, and caused to be depressed when a golf ball is deposited upon said tee, so that the opposite end of said teeing lever alternately raises and depresses as golf balls are alternately driven from and deposited upon said tee, thereby actuating said series of releasing levers, substantially as described.

a. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, a teeing lever having a tee at one end, and weighted at the opposite end, and fulcrumed upon a bearing intermediate its ends, the tee end of said lever comprising a rubber arm, having a vertical apertured end, said rubber arm being constructed principally of pliable rubber, but having a segment of stiff rubber moulded inside of the fulcrum end of said arm, the weighted end 1 of said lever being pivotally attached to a means for feeding golf balls one at a time from a magazine, the weight of a golf ball upon said tee'being sufficient to over-balance the weighted end of said teeing lever, thereby actuating said teeing lever upon its bearing, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, a magazine adapted to contain golf balls in such manner that they may be successively released one at a time, a counter-weighted vertically movable tee having at least two positions, including a normal and an alternate loaded position, releasing means for successively releasing said golf balls from said magazine one at a time, progressively cooperating delivery means for delivering said golf balls by gravity one at a time from said magazine to said tee in its normal position, and means including the said tee, for mechanically actuating said release means for successively releasing one ball at a time from said magazine, and adapted to be operated automatically by the delivery to and removal from the tee of each golf ball successively, the counter-weight of the tee acting to raise it each time a golf ball is removed therefrom.

6. In a device of the class described, having a magazine for golf balls, a tee having a raised normal position and a lower loaded position, a delivery trough for delivering golf balls by gravity to said tee whereby to move it to its loaded position, and a fulcrurned lever attached at one end to said tee and weighted at the opposite end to hold said tee in the raised normal position when no golf ball is upon it, means comprising a series of levers for releasing golf balls successively one at a time from said magazine, and means operatively connecting said series of levers to the weighted end of said fulcrumed tee lever whereby said levers are actuated by the vertical reciprocation of said tee caused by a golf balls delivery to and removal from said tee.

7 In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, the combination of a helical passage in a magazine to contain golf balls, a tee having a raised normal position and a lower loaded position and counter-weighted to remain in the raised normal position when no golf ball is in place thereon, and a delivery trough to convey said golf balls by gravity to said tee whereby to move it to its loaded position, with a two-stage lever release mechanism comprising a series of levers connected to the tee and actuated by a golf balls delivery to and removal from said tee and said tees resulting vertical reciprocation acting to release golf balls successively one at a time from said helical passage to said delivery trough substantially as described.

- 8. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, a magazine provided with a descending golf-bal1-receiving passage having an upper end and having a delivery end, a tee movably mounted on the magazine for vertical reciprocation, delivery means movably mounted adjacent the delivery end of said passage and comprising a golf-ball-receiving trough weighted to normally assume a normal upper position, and so constructed and arranged as to be overbalanced by the weight of a golf ball released from the magazine and thereby brought to a delivery position where said golf ball may pass downward from said trough to said tee, and means operably connected to said tee, and operated by each vertical reciprocation thereof and co-operating with said delivery means whereby one golf ball at a time is fed from the magazine to the tee upon each vertical reciprocation of the tee, said reciprocation when the device is operating being caused by the weight of a golf ball successively applied to and removed from the tee.

9. In a device of the class described, a magazine adapted to contain golf balls in such a manner that they may be successively released one at a time, a tee associated therewith, means mounting the tee for substantially vertical reciprocation, a movably mounted trough weighted to normally assume a normal upper position and so constructed and arranged as to be overbalanced by the weight of a golf ball released from the magazine and thereby brought to a lower delivery position where said golf ball may pass downward from said trough to said tee, and means operably connected to said tee, and operated by each vertical reciprocation thereof, whereby one golf ball at a time is released from the magazine to said trough upon each vertical reciprocation of the tee, said reciprocation when the device is operating being caused by the weight of a golf ball alternately applied to and removed from the tee.

10. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, in combination, a magazine for golf balls having a descending golf-ball-receiving passage, a tee associated therewith, and weighted to have a normal upper and unloaded position and having a lower loaded position, a series of at least two releasing means connected to release golf balls successively, one at a time from said passage, a movably mounted delivery trough counterweighted to normally assume a normal upper position and constructed and arranged to receive each golf ball as it is released from said passage and to be thereby overbalanced and moved to a delivery position to deliver said golf ball downwardly to said tee, and means connecting said tee to said releasing means and operating said releasing means at each vertical reciprocation of said tee from its normal to its loaded position and back to its normal position.

11. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, a teeing lever having a tee at one end and weighted at the opposite end, the weighted end of said lever being connected to a means for feeding golf balls one at a time from a magazine, the weight of a golf ball upon said tee being sufficient to overbalance the weighted end of the teeing lever, and the weighted end of the teeing 1 lever being heavy enough to raise the tee end of said lever upon the removal of the said golf ball therefrom, whereby the application of a golf ball to and its removal from said tee will result in substantially vertical reciprocation of said tee substantially as described.

12. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, in which golf balls are automatically released one by one from a magazine and deposited upon a tee by the vertical reciprocation of said tee caused by the application of the weight of a golf ball to and its removal from said tee, delivery means comprising a movable counterweighted trough having curved and straight portions and weighted to maintain a straight portion normally substantially vertical and provided with a ball stop and delivery guide and constructed and arranged to receive each golf ball as it is released from the magazine and to be thereby overbalanced and moved to a delivery position by the weight of the golf ball alone whereby to guide the golf ball to move downwardly to said tee.

13. In an automatic golf ball feeding and teeing device, in which golf balls are automatically released one by one from a passage of a magazine and deposited upon a tee by the vertical reciprocation of said tee caused when the device is operating by the application of the weight of a golf ball to and its removal from said tee, a series of at least two golf ball stop levers having stop and release positions and spaced along said passage a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said golf ball and constructed and arranged for adjacent stops to move in reverse directions from position to position whereby one stop will be in the stop position and adjacent stops will be in the release position, and means connecting said levers to said tee constructed and.

arranged to move said stops from one position to the other position upon each stroke of the reciprocation of said tee.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a hopper for receiving a supply of golf balls, a tee for supporting a ball in position to be driven, means for guiding and delivering the balls successively to a position upon said tee, said means comprising a pivotally supported runway including a ball guiding cup communicating with the runway, said runway being so pivoted and balanced as to be movable by the weight of a ball rolling thereon to dispose the ball guiding cup to locate a ball upon said tee.

15. A golf teeing device comprising a reservoir above the ground level and having outlet means arranged to release golf balls, and a runway movably associated with the reservoir to carry the released balls to the ground level, said runway being so movably connected and balanced as to be movable by the weight of a ball rolling thereon for depositing the ball to the ground level by gravity alone.

16. An apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure, a tee upon which a ball is adapted to be positioned for driving, a hopper supported by the said structure and having an outlet, a counterbalanced runway in communication with the hopper outlet and including two portions disposed substantially at rightangles with respect to each other and pivotally supported by the said structure and adapted for pivotal movement by the weight of a ball rolling thereon and including a ball receiving cup movable with the runway to a position to locate said ball on said tee, and means for controlling movement of balls from the hopper to the runway including two members pivotally supported in spaced relation and operatively connected for alternate movement into ball obstructing position in said outlet thereby to release one ball at a time from said hopper.

WILLIAM PAUL PAGE'I'I.