US2616700A - Golf puppet ball projector - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1952 J MUNRQ 2,616,700

GOLF PUPPET BALL PROJECTOR Filed April 9, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR. JHMES H. MuA/QO Nov. 4, 1952 J. H. MUNRO I 2,616,700

GOLF PUPPET BALL PROJECTOR Filed April 9, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR.

JHMEIS' M MUNIQO BY {W%K Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,616,700 GOLF PUPPET BALL PROJECTOR James H. Munro, Hermosa Beach, Calif. Application April 9, 19-51, Serial No. 219,957

This invention relates to toys, and has particular reference to a toy in the form of a mechanical puppet golf player, by means of which the playing of a game of golf may be simulated.

In my U. S. Patent No. 2,513,198 on Golf Puppet Ball Projector, issued June 27, 1950, is disclosed a mechanical puppet golf player which may be operated to simulatea substantially technically correct golf swing and which may be used in playing a game of golf on any suitable surface as, for example, indoors upon a rug or carpet laid out to simulate a golf course, or outdoors on a putting green, or other suitable area.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide such a mechanical puppet golf player, but of improved mechanical structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means, in a mechanical puppet golf player, for simulating a substantially technically correct golf swing, including the proper wrist action in the back-swing and follow-through.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanical puppet golf player having a novel cam and linkage structure for simulating the proper wrist action of the theoretically correct golf swing.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, with the upper portion of the operating rod shown in section and axially rotated 90 for clarity of illustration.

' Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the linkmemher which is embodied in the wrist operating assembly.

Figure ,5 is a perspective view of the forked lever embodied therein.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the wrist member.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the cam member for the wrist operating assembly.

Figures 8-14 are a series of sectional elevations taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1, illustrating the action of the wrist operating assembly during the course of a completeswing.

Referring now to the drawings, the device of Claims. (Cl. 2739-129) this invention is shown as including :a @tubular "L operating rod In which is secured at its lower end to a tubular extension ll extending from the simulated golf player or puppet l2, set screw I3 being provided to prevent disassembly of the rod ID from the extension ll. At the upper end of the rod I0 is a hand grip l0, the rod l0 being sufiiciently long so that the puppet [2 may be rested on the floor and the grip l0 held in the hand of an operator standing in a substantially upright position. The rod is slotted as at I4 and a mandrel i5 is positioned within the rod and carries a pin l6 having a handle II'which operates in the slot I4 (see Figure l). Adjacent the upper end of the rod I9 there is provided a pin 18 carrying a wheel or pulley I9, upon which is reeved a wire or cable 20. One end of the cable 23 is affixed to the mandrel by a screw as at 2!, and the other end of the cable is similarly affixed as at 22. The mandrel is provided with a longitudinal bore 23 for the reception of one strand of the cable 20.

The puppet I2 is in the form of a figure of a man, including a base member in the form of a pair of legs 30 and a hip portion 3|, a torso 32,

and a head 33. Means are provided for pivotally connecting the torso 32 to the hip portion 3 I, and as shown best in Figure 3, these means may include the cylindrical member 35, secured to the torso by means of studs 36, and which member is positioned in a cylindrical seat 31 provided in the hip portion 3|. The cylindrical member 35 is grooved as at 38 to receive the cable 2 0. I prefer to journal a pair of guide rollers 39 at thelower end of the rod ll! for the cable 23. The hipportion 3] is provided with a bore 40 in which is received a rod 4| maintained in position by means of a set screw ll. The rod 4| extends through the torso 32 and into a bore in the head v33 ,to which it is secured by means of a set screw 4 5. A hollow extension member 36, preferably integral with the torso, simulates a pair of arms, and the torso and extension member aresplit along line 41 into two elements 43 and A9 for convenience'of manufacture and assembly; The two elements 48 and 43 are connected together by meansofthreaded member 50. The torso-and cylindrical member are journaled on themed 4! -by means of aflanged bearing 55 which is secured to the cylindrical member 35 by means of set screw 56, the rod extending through the bearing and through an oversize bore -51 in the upper elenr entAB.

Th torso n ex en ion m mb r A6 are provided w th. a e al .onenin 169 in which :is

mo n d the -.W .s ope atin a semb y Both I in the other.

portions of the extension member 46 are provided with a rounded end piece 60, 6| spaced by a slot 62. A wrist member 63 is mounted on a pin 6% for pivotal motion in the slot 62, and a miniature golf club 66 is releasably secured, by means of set screw 65, to the wrist member. Secured to the rod 41 by means of a set screw 61 is a forked arm 63 which is provided with a bore 69 and a slot 56 formed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bore (see Figure 5). A link member H (see Figure 4) is provided at one end with a pin 12 carried in the forked portion of the arm 68 for pivotal motion about an axis spaced from the axis of the rod M, and at the other end with an aperture 13 for pivotally connecting that end to the wrist member. As shown in Figure 6, the wrist member 63 is provided with a slot M, and an aperture 15 for the reception of a pin '.'6 which also extends through the aperture 13. It will be noted that the ends of the link member H are curved to provide clearance for motion in the respective slots '19 and M, the link member being generally 8 shaped. Secured, by means of screw members 55 and 15, to the lower portion of the extension member 45 within the central opening 60 is a cam plate IS in which is formed a cam groove 11. A cam follower 8D is secured to the underside of the link member H, and cooperates with the cam groove to actuate the wrist member 63 upon rotation of the torso 32.

It is contemplated that with the device as above described, there will be provided a plurality of golf clubs each having a separate pitch so that, in effect, a full set of golf clubs will be available to the operator. A ball 8 I, which may be a small sphere of wood or hard rubber or the like, is also utilized.

The operation of the device is as follows: The device is taken by the operator by the grip [0 and placed on its feet adjacent the ball 8| in a proper position to address the ball. The operating handle H is held in one hand and the grip By sliding the pin 16 back and forth in the slot 14 the cable 28 can be made to reciprocate, thus-turning the cylindrical member 35, and hence also the torso 32 and the arms 46. It will be noted that these members rotate about the stationary rod 4 l, and that the head 33, being afiixed to the rod, also remains stationary. This is an impotrant feature of my invention since the position of the head is thus always maintained in the correct head down position. The turning of the torso 32 and extension member 66 also causes the cam 11 to move relative to the follower 80, which in turn causes the wrist member 63, through the agency of the link member H, to turn or pivot with respect to the end pieces 60 and 6|, coincident with the rotation of the torso. As shown clearly in Figures 8-14, means are thus provided whereby the puppet is caused to perform a theoretically correct golf swing, with the wrists being cocked on the back swing; correct timing so that when the arms and torso face directly forward (see Figure 11) the club is brought into line at the moment of impact; and a full follow-through. It will be noted that the cam groove 11 is shaped so that the end faces 90 and 9| thereof act as stop means to prevent Overswinging.

With a device of the character described above, every type of golf shot may be made. The extent of the back swing, as well as the force of the swing, may be controlled at the will of the operator. Given a lofted club, such as would be comparable to a sixor seven-iron, one can pitch, or given an unlofted club, such as a putter, one can simply roll the ball as in putting. One can thus play over obstacles and hazards and eventually into whatever receptacle is provided for the hole, merely by changing clubs and using the particular club which is appropriate for the shot to be made, just as in the actual game of golf. In addition to being a source of amusement, the device is educational as Well, since a novice at the game of golf may, by observing the action of the puppet, quickly learn the fundamental of the game, such as keeping the head down and the proper body and wrist action, including the proper timing for the correct swing.

The particular link and cam means described herein for causing coincident rotation of the wrist member with the torso and arms is a decided improvement over the pulley and cable means disclosed in the above mentioned U. S. Patent No. 2,513,198, in that it provides a more durable and positive-acting structure.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details of the construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a base member; a torso portion mounted for rotation on said base member; means for rotating said torso portion; an extension member mounted on said torso portion and adapted to rotate therewith; a wrist member rotatably connected to said extension member; a link member operably connected at one end to the torso portion and at the other end to said wrist member; and a cam member on said extension member and cooperating with said link member whereby said wrist member is rotated in timed relation with the rotation of said torso member.

2. In a device of the character described, a base member; a torso portion mounted for rotation on said base member; means for rotating said torso portion; an extension member mounted on said torso portion and adapted to rotate therewith, said extension member having a central opening; a wrist member rotatably connected to said extension member; a link member in said opening and pivotally connected at one end to the torso portion and at the other end to the wrist member; a cam follower mounted on said link member; and a cam secured to said extension member within said central opening, said cam cooperating with said cam follower and link member to cause rotation of said wrist member coincident with the rotation of said torso member.

3. In a device of the character described, a base member; a rod extending from said base member; a torso journaled on said rod above said base member; means for rotating said torso; an extension member mounted on said torso and adapted to rotate therewith, said extension member having a central opening; a wrist member rotatably carried on said extension member; a link member in said central opening, one end of said link member being connected to said torso for pivotal motion about an axis spaced from the axis of saidrod, and the other end of said link member being pivotally connected to the wrist member; a cam follower mounted on said link member;

and a cam secured to said extension member within said central opening, said cam cooperating with said cam follower and link member to cause rotation of said wrist member coincident with the rotation of said torso member.

4. In a device of the character described, a base member; a rod extending from said base member; a torso journaled on said rod above said base member; means for rotating said torso; a simulated human head rigidly mounted on said rod above said torso; an extension member mounted on said torso portion and adapted to rotate therewith; a wrist member rotatably connected to said extension member; a link member operably connected at one end to the torso portion and at the other end to said wrist member; and a cam member on said extension member and cooperating with said link member whereby said wrist member is rotated in timed relation with the rotation of said torso member.

5. In a device of the character described, a, base member; a rod extending from said base member; a torso journaled on said rod above said base member; means for rotating said torso; an extension member mounted on said torso and adapted to rotate therewith, said extension mem- 6 her having a central opening; an arm rigidly connected to said rod in said central opening; a wrist member rotatably carried on said extension member; a link member in said central opening, one end of said link member being connected to said arm for pivotal motion about an axis spaced from the axis of said rod, and the other end of said link member being pivotally connected to the wrist member; a cam follower mounted on said link member; and a cam secured to said extension member within said central opening, said cam cooperating with said cam follower and link member to cause rotation of UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 25 1,803,134 Renn Apr. 28, 1931 2,513,198 Munro June 2'7, 1950

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