US2240691A

US2240691A - Golf practice mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2240691A
Application number: US270326A
Authority: US
Inventors: Drachenberg Harry; Schwab William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-04-27
Filing date: 1939-04-27
Publication date: 1941-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1958-05-06

Description

y 1941- H. QRACHENB'ERG 51M. 2,240,691

' GOLF PRACTICE MECHANISM Filed April 27, 1959 Sheets-Sheet =1 May 6, 1941, H. DRACHENBERG. ETAL 2,24 0, 691- GOLF PRACTICE MECHANISM Filed April 27.. 1939 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6, 1941 GOLF PRACTICE MECHANISM Harry Drachenberg and William Schwab, Cincinnati, Ohio Application April 27, 1939, Serial No. 270,326

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in golf practice devices of that type wherein a ball is carried by a mechanism of such a character that the results of the contact by a club against the ball will be recorded, and the recording mechanism subsequently released and the operating parts returned to their normal position for further practice efforts.

More specifically the invention includes a rotating body having a projection carrying a practice ball, with governor mechanism so constructed and arranged that the result of the blow against the practice ball will be transferred through such governor mechanism to a suitable registering mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a registering mechanism which is entirely free of easily destructable parts, and which registering mechanism when actuated will retain its proper indication until released by manual means, which latter simultaneously retards the movement of other movable parts, thus by a single actuation returning the assembly to normal position for further practice shots.

More specifically, the invention includes a practice ball mounted on a rotating arm, the latter being properly weighted and including a fiber track functioning as a brake element, and a governor mechanism operated by the rotation of the arm and in turn actuating indicating mechanism. In addition the invention includes a release for the registering mechanism, which release cooperates with the fiber track to brake the movement of the rotating arm whereby the parts will automatically return to their normal position.

Other objects will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification. and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views in which- Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts in section to show the arrangement of the indicator mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the indicator mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the indicator mechanism, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the release mechanism and the supporting bracket.

Referring now to the drawings reference character I indicates a base provided with a centrally formed raceway 2 and a vertical shaft 3, the latter being fixed to the base. Adjacent the vertical shaft 3 are the bearings 4 which are confined by and coact with the bottom face of the hub portion 5 of the rotating arm 6. A depending flange 1 confines the balls against lateral movement and a bearing ring 8 fixed about the shaft 3 complete the bearing assembly. A fiber disk 9 is suitably fastened to the rotating arm 6 and at a suitable point on this fiber disk there may be placed a weight H] of proper form and material to provide the essential balance to facilitate the free rotation of the arm 6 on the bearings 4. Extending upwardly from the central portion of the arm 6 is the hub II which encircles the shaft 3, this hub being provided with spaced ears I 2 at its upper end to accommodate the pivoted weights l4 forming the governor elements. These governor elements I! include the weighted lower ends l5 and curved angular arms l6 which latter react against the vertical sliding plate or disk [1. The plate l1 byvirtue of the splined connection formed by the key and slot [8 and I9 is mounted for free vertical movement on the shaft 3 within the range of the movement of the governor arm 16.

Extending from the peripheral edge of the disk or plate I 1 is an offset extension I8 which is connected to and operates the rack 19'. The rack I9 is restricted to a vertical movement by virtue of the hanger 20 carried by the bracket 2|. This hanger 20 is of suitable form to act as a guide during the vertical movement of the rack and the rack is supported for vertical sliding movement by virtue of the weighted guides 22 which are centrally slotted at 23 to freely slide on the hanger 20.

The front walls of the guide weight 22 are slotted to receive in vertical position the rack l9, which latter may be secured to these parts in any desirable manner to provide the essential rigidity. By thus supporting the rack for vertical movement by use of the weighted guides 22, it will be apparent that this rack will normally have a tendency to remain in its lowermost position on the hanger 20 and thus the indicator 25 which is geared with the rack I 9 is also normally returned to its normal predetermined position. The indicator disk 25 which may be of wood, metal or other suitable material and which contains on its peripheral edge the proper indicating data is provided with a driven fit on the shaft 26, the latter being formed adjacent one end with the pinion 26' which meshes with the rack I 9 heretofore mentioned. The shaft 26 has reduced extremities 21 which are properly mounted in bearings 28 formed in the spaced hangers 29 and 353 depending from the bracket 2!.

The bracket 2| includes a hanger 3| which extends downwardly to a point slightly above a horizontal line tangent to the lower face of the hub 32 forming a part of the indicator wheel 25, and from the bottom face of this hanger 3| there is removably secured a spring 33 properly secured in position as by the screw 34. The spring 33 is of any desired construction and extends laterally to a position for frictional engagement with the peripheral face of the hub or brake drum 32 comprising a portion of the indicator wheel 25 as heretofore stated. 7

At a point diametrically positioned from the depending hanger 35 supporting the brake spring 33, is a depending hanger 35 which is a depending portion of the bracket 2!. The hanger 35 has a lateral extending perforated extremity 36 through which extends the shaft 31', the upper end of which is'threaded into the button 38. The

button 38 projects through an opening in the dome or casing 3s and is provided with lateral projections' iil and 4!, the upper faces of which are curved to conform to the curvature of the inner face of the casing wall 38, to coact therewith to limit the upper movement of the shaft 3'1 under the expansion of the spring 42 interposed between the lower face of the button 38 and the upper face of the offset projection 36 of the hanger 35; The lower end of the shaft 3'! extends through the opening in the projection 35 and is confined against undesirable movement by the washer 43 fixed to the shaft 31 by means of the transverse pin M extending through these parts. The lower end of the shaft 31 is bifurcated to provide spaced arms 65 through which the shaft 51 extends and upon which latter there is mounted the rubber caster or brake wheel 48. The brake wheel 43 upon pressure being applied to the button 38 engages .the fiber disk 9 and retards the rotation of the same. This retarding of the rotation of disk 9 is immediately subsequent to or simultaneous with the release of the brake spring 33 from engagement with the indicating mechanism i. e., after taking the reading on the indicator 25, the button 33 is pressed by the foot or otherwise, which disengages the brake spring 33 from the indicating mechanism and permits it to reset at Zero, and the brake-wheel 48 due to the actuation of the same element 38 engages and stops the rotation of the fiber disk 9 and its connected 1 parts. It will be noted that the laterally extending brake spring 33 supported by the depending arm 3! projects from its support into contact with the brake wheel of drum 32 of the indicator wheel and beneath the washer t3, the outer extremity '49 being bent downwardly at a suitable angle as indicated in Figures 2 and 6.

V The bracket supporting the various parts and from which the

hangers

29, 30,, 3! and 35 depend includes a body portion 58 with the essential radiating arms carrying the depending hanger, and a hub portion 5|. The opening through theliub portion is of such diameter as to receive i the upper end of the verticalshaft 3 and this hub is fixed to the upper end of the shaft by the transverse lock pin 52 which extends thereth-rough. Spaced notches 53 are formed in the upper face of the 'hub 5! to receive the lugs 55 of the dome 39. A screw including an enlarged screw head and the reduced threaded portion 5'? extends into the upper end of the vertical shaft 3 through a central opening in the dome and centers and locks these parts against movement.

At the outer extremity of the arm 6 there is formed a vertical opening in which is secured the threaded stud 5!) locked in position by the pin El extending through the stud and into the arm hub portion 52. This stud 58 is threaded throughout its full length above the hub 62 and has threaded thereon the internally threaded tube 63, which latter is provided with the knurled thumb nut 64 whereby this tube 63 may be Vertically adjusted on the stud iii to elevate the ball 655. The practice ball 65 is formed of suitable material and has incorporated in its structure the metal sleeve 6% of such diameter as to freely receive the sleeve 63 and to rotate thereon during impact in practice. The tube 66 is formed with upper outwardly flared portions 61 which may be molded or otherwise formed in the ball body 55 and thus a compact, strong and durable structure is provided.

What we claim is:

1. In a golf practice device, a base member, a vertical shaft fixed to the base, a rotating arm mounted on said shaft, a ball member rotatably mounted on the outer end of said arm, a friction element on said arm, centrifugally shiftable members on said arm, a disk splined on said shaft and engaging said centrifugally actuated members for movement therewith, an indicator operated by said splined disk, spring means for retaining said indicator in adjusted position, and means for releasing said spring means from engagement with said indicator and simultaneously effecting a braking action on said friction element to retard the rotation of said arm.

2. The substance of claim 1 characterized in that the means for releasing said spring from engagement with the indicator and simultaneously effecting a braking action on the friction element to retard the rotation on the arm includes a plunger normally retained out of engagement with the friction element by means of a spring and having at its lower extremity a freely rotating wheel. which engages the friction element.

3. The substance of claim 1 characterized in that the means for releasing the spring fromv the indicator and simultaneously effecting braking action on the friction element is provided with a lateral projecting portion which engages the spring means during its downward movement for engagement with the friction element.

4. In a golf practice device, a base member provided with a vertical fixed shaft, a rotating arm mounted on said shaft, a ball member mounted on the outer end of said arm, a circular friction element positioned about the shaft and fixed to said arm, a weight mounted'on the friction element at a point diametrically opposite the ball member, centrifugaliy operated members mounted on said arm, a disk splined on said shaft for operative engagement with said centrifugal members, a rack fixed to said disk, an indicating drum including a gear in mesh with said rack, brake means normally engaging said indicator member, a brake element for engaging said circular friction element to retard the rotation of said shaft, operating means for said brake element, and means for releasing said indicator brake means upon actuation of said brake operating means.

5. In a golf practice device, a base member, a

vertical shaft fixed to the base member, a rotating arm mounted on said shaft, a ball member rotatably mounted on the outer end of said arm, a friction element on said arm, means vertically shiftable by the rotation of said arm, a splined element on said shaft operated by said shiftable means, a rack fixed to the splined element and movable therewith, a bracket having a plurality of depending arms fixed to the upper end of said vertical shaft, an indicator wheel element including a hub and a pinion supported by certain of the depending arms, said rack member normally engaging the pinion to shift said indicator mechanism, a resilient brake element fixed to one of the depending arms and engaging the hub of said indicator to retain said indicator in adjusted position, a brake plunger for engaging the friction element on said arm to retard the rotation of said arm, said brake plunger being constructed and arranged to release the resilient brake arm from engagement with the indicator mechanism upon its engagement with the friction element on said arm.

6. In a golf practice device, a base member, a vertical shaft fixed to the base, a rotating arm mounted on said shaft, a friction element on the arm, centrifugally shiftable members on said arm, a disk splined on said shaft and engaging said centrifugally actuated members for movement therewith, a bracket member fixed to the upper end of said vertical shaft and including a plurality of depending supports, an indicator rotatably mounted between a pair of depending supports and including a hub portion and a gear, a rack fixed to said splined disk and normally meshing with said gear to actuate said indicator, a resilient spring arm secured to one of said depending supports and extending beyond and engaging the hub of the indicator to retard the movement of the same, a plunger carried by one 1 of said depending supports and normally retained in upper position by means of a spring, and said plunger including a projecting portion and a braking element, said projecting element overlying the spring arm 'to release the same from its engagement with the indicator hub upon downward movement of the plunger for braking engagement with the friction element on said arm.

7. The substance of claim 6 characterized in that the supporting bracket which includes the depending supports is enclosed by a spherical dome and the outer wall of the bracket is curved to conform to and snugly engage the inner face of the dome,

8. In a golf practice device, a base member, a vertical shaft fixed to the base, a rotating arm mounted on the shaft including a hub portion, a ball member rotatably mounted on the outer end of the arm, a friction element on said arm, centrifugally shiftable members carried by the hub of said rotating arm, a disk splined on the shaft above said arm and engaging the centrifugally actuated members for movement therewith, a rack fixed to said disk, weight elements fixed to said rack, a supporting bracket fixed to the upper end of the vertical shaft and including depending arms, an indicator rotatably supported by a pair of said arms, said indicator including an indicating surface, a brake surface, and a gear, said gear being normally in mesh with said rack for operation thereby upon movement of the splined disk, means for retarding the rotation of the indicator and retaining same in adjusted position, and means for engaging the friction element on said arm to retard rotation of the latter, said means including a release for the indicator retarding mechanism.

HARRY DRACHENBERG. WILLIAM SCHWAB.