US2450206A

US2450206A - Golf teeing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2450206A
Application number: US619466A
Authority: US
Inventors: James F Shouse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-10-01
Filing date: 1945-10-01
Publication date: 1948-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1965-09-28

Description

pt. 28, 1948. J. E. SHQUSE 2,450,206

GOLF TEEING APPARATUS Original Filed April 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (m INVENTOR. MJKW 714'4/ Atiomgp 23, 1948- v J. F. SHOUSE 2,450,206 GOLF TEEING APPARATUS Original Filed April 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 2%, i948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE April 15, 1940.

1945, Serial No. 619,466

1 Claim.

My invention has reference to a golf tee apparatus, and it is specially designed for use on driving ranges and other practice fields where a number of balls are teed and driven off in succession by the same person. These practice operations call for a frequent bending over on the part of the player, in the continual setting of additional balls on the tee, which exercise becomes irksome to many players, and detracts from the pleasure of the sport. The invention consists of a semi-automatic device by means of which a number of balls may be fed from a hopper or other container and positioned in succession on ,a tee in position for being driven. By the use of the instrument a considerable portion of the labor attendant upon the driving of balls on practice ranges is done away with, and the mechanical operation also requires less time, with a consequent shortening of the period required for driving a given number of balls. This is a considerable advantage, especially on busy ranges, where some players may be waiting their turns to use the ranges.

The device is also capable of use by an instructor of the game of golf, who is required to frequently place a ball on a tee/in explaining to othersthe manner of playing the game. For such use, any number of balls can be successively positioned for driving, with the necessary explanations in connection therewith, and without the attention of the instructor being detracted by teeing the balls in the usual manner.

This application is filed as a substitute for applicants previous application Serial No. 329,595, filed April 15, 1940.

The device is formed of metal throughout, is of simple construction, and can be produced at a relatively low cost.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows the invention in side elevation, with some parts in section to more clearly show the same.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the teeing mechanism, in vertical section, with the tee in retracted position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the tee end of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form of the tee.

The invention embraces a frame, formed of upper side pieces 6, 6, and lower side rails I, enclosed within a casing 8. The side-rails are preferably formed of angle-plate, and are united This application October 1,

at their ends by similar pieces. The rails 1-1 are further connected near one end by a crossbar 9, upon which is vertically mounted a tubular member H], within which is vertically movable a plunger I held yieldabl in elevated position by a compression spring I3 in the lower end of the tube ID. The upper end of the plunger II is provided with a head I4, perforated to receive the end of a stem l5, the opening being threaded for engagement with a thread I6 on the end of the stem, with an adjustment nut I! on said threaded portion, to lock the stem in place; the upper end of the stem i5 is fitted with a cup l8, to receive and support a golf ball [9 in the usual manner.

The cylinder I0 is provided in its walls with diametrically opposed slots 20, for play therein of one end of a lever 2|, the other end of which is pivoted on a cross-plate 22 fixed to the lower side pieces 1. The movable end of said lever is provided with a slot 23, engaged with which is a pin 24, fixed at its ends in the walls of the plunger A vertical rod 25 is connected with the lever 2| by means of a coupling 26, having a pivotal connection with the lever at 21. The rod 25 is provided with a thread 28, engaging a similarly threaded socket 29 on the lower end of a rod 30, passing upwardly through a plate on the frame, and provided on its upper end with a disk 3|, for operation of the rod by the foot of the player. downwardly, into the position shown in Fig. 2, with the top of the tee in position to receive a golf ball from the end of a chute 33, supported from one side of the frame, and provided at its outer end with a hopper 34, adapted to receive a quantity of golf balls, from which they are fed downwardly through the chute by force of gravity. Upon the lever 2| being released the power stored in the spring l2 carries the plunger and tee upwardly, with the ball in position for being driven. By turning the disk 3| and rod 30 in one direction or the other, as desired, the rod 25 is moved upwardly or downwardly, accordingly, carrying with it the lever 2|, and giving variation to the height of the tee, and a corresponding change in the height of the ball supported thereby above the frame. The position of the ball can thus be adjusted to suit the wishes of different players. Fixed to the tube Ill so as to project upwardly on the side opposite to the end of the chute 33 is a guard 35, which prevents the ball from passing over the top of the tee.

Slidable vertically upon the tubular member H1 is a cylinder 36, provided at its lower end with Such movement pulls the plunger 3 an annular flange 31, held yieldably in raised position by a coiled spring 38, between the flange 3'! and cross-bar 9, The cylinder 36 is provided in its walls with vertical slots 39, registering in position with the slots 20, and accormnodating the movement of the lever 2| in its up and down movement. Coinciding slots Ha are also provided in the walls of the plunger ll, permitting free rocking movement to the end of said lever. Fixed to the upper end of the cylinder 36 is a blade 40, extending upwardly into the lihe of "movement of the golf balls and preventing such balls from crowding against the ball that is being positioned on the tee, and precluding the feeding of more than one ball at a time. As the lever 2| is moved downwardly the plunger 1 l and golf tee carried thereby are also moved downwardly until the tee approaches a position to take on one of the .balls. The end of the lever then comes in contact with the flange 31, and forces the same downwardly, carrying the blade 40 with it, and releasing the first ball in the chute, which rolls upon the tee. At the first movement of the tee upwardly the blade 40 is moved in the same direction, passing between the first ball and the one next following, holding back the following ball and those behind it in the chute. There is thereby no interference by other balls with the one on the tee.

When a ball has been received on the tee and raised to a position for driving the player stands at the end of the machine, nearest the tee, and drives the ball to one side of the machine, by the usual operations. After the drive has been made the lever 2| is pushed downwardly by means of the foot of the player or an assistant, resting on the disk 3|, and another ball is positioned ready for use.

The stem of the tee is preferably formed of resilient material, such as rubber, so that in case of its being hit by the club of the driver it will bend over, and then spring back to its former position. In Fig. 5 the tee is shown replaced by one of a little difierent form, in which the top of a plunger is shown at 42, fitted with a pin 43, upon which is held the lower end of a spring 44, of sufiicient resiliency to readily bend over upon being struck, and return quickly to its upright position. The pin 43 is preferably provided with threads or corrugations, so that in turning the spring thereon it will be moved upwardly or downwardly, according to the direction of rota- 4 tion. An additional adjustment can thereby be given to the tee and ball.

It is designed to have the main frame of the apparatus contained in a pit in the ground, with the upper plate of the casing about level with the ground, and the upper part of the tee and the disk 3 l projecting upwardly for use. The upper coil of the spring 44 is of greater diameter than the body of the spring, forming a rest for the golf ball.

That part of the cover plate at the tee end is covered by a rubber plate or mat 46, having a central opening at 41 for the passage of the tee and ball thereon, such plate being secured to the frame, and providing a driving or striking plate, to receive blows delivered at a low point.

What I claim and desire to secure is:

A golf teeing apparatus, comprising a frame, a casing therefor, adapted to be sunk in the ground, a tubular member supported vertically in said frame, provided with a pair of vertically extending slots in its walls, diametrically opposed to each other, a plunger vertically movable in said tubular member, provided with a pair of slots in register with said first-named slots a compressison spring beneath said plunger yieldably supporting the same, a golf tee mounted on said plunger, a chute mounted in said frame for the delivery of a series of balls to a point to roll on to said tee, a sleeve on said tubular member, carrying a closure for the end of said chute, and p rgvided with a pair of slots in register with the first-named slots, a coiled spring beneath said sleeve holding the same normally in elevated, chute-closing position, a lever pivoted at one end in said frame, with its free end having play in said slots, connections between the movable end of said lever and said plunger, and foot pedal connections with said lever, operable from above the casing.

JAMES F. SHOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,695,006 Brockhagen Dec. 11, 1928 1,888,256 Baumgartner Nov. 22, 1932 1,952,113 Beckett Mar. 27, 1934 2,127,282 Beckett Aug. 16, 1938