US2894750A - Golf game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 14,` 1959 G. slMJlAN GOLF GAME APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed oct. 1o, 1955 4, SENSANG 4 l l 2li; A,

INVENTOR LUTHER G slMJlAN A ATTORNEY July 14, 1959 L. G. slMJlAN com` GAME APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l0, 1955 AQ. f//'///////// LUTHER e'. sum/AN INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 14, A1959 l.. G. slMJlAN 2,894,750

GOLF GAME APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 10, 1955I FIG. lo

FIGA. I3

N M IU .M S G. R E H T U L INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 14, 1959 Filed 0G13. l0, 1955 FIG. I4

l.. G. 'slMJlAN GOLF GAME APPARATUS BY l/ 4 Sheets-*Sheet 4 LUTHER G. SIMJIAN INVENTOR ATTORNEY United Srates Patent VG GOLF lGAll/illJ APPARATUS Luther G. Simjian, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to The yRetlectone Corporation, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 10, 1955, Serial No. 539,328

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-181) This invention relates to a game apparatus which provides a means for practicing game operations ina restricted space indoors. These operations involve projecting missiles such as'a golf ball, ,base ball, or foot ball. The invention has particular reference to a target means which receives the impact of a missile and a display device which shows the approximate path the missile would have taken in free night. Y

Many game devices have been devised andconstructed for determining the path of a Afree missile, some of which use a captive ball, and some of Vwhich use a free, ball with various designs of targets. All of these devices are for use within a restricted space so that the action may take place indoors. VPrior measuringvdevices such as golf games have all suffered from the absence of an adequate vindicating device for showing7 theplayer information regarding the results of his eiorts. Some ofthe more elaborate devices'ernployed a plurality of electromechanical devices and motors for giving an indication of the approximate pathy of the 'missile- The present 'invention employs a free ball to more closely approximate natural playing conditions and in additionemploys a display means for showing the Vplayer the approximate path of the missile on a playing iield. l

The present invention is designed to eliminate all the complicated computing devices and electronic components which have been employed in some ofthe prior art devices. The target is adapted to be bodily displaced'by the force of the missile striking vit and a single motor is employed to return the target to its starting position and in so doing activate the display means to show the path of the missile. l v l,

One'of the objects Vof this invention is to provide a game appa'ratuswhich avoids one or more of thedisadvantages and limitations of prior art devices. v

Anotherf'object of the vinv'entionfis to reduce the cornplexity ofthe sensing 'and computing means for showing the path of a propelled missile in free night.

Another 'object of the invention is to provide a miniature playing field including all components, and then show th'e'path of a miniature missile on the field as it would have occurred in free flight.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a target for determining the horizontal and vertical components of the' missiles direction. p

nother'object "of theinvention is to providea bodily movable target which will be displaced by the force of the impact of the missile yand which `indicates the apprximate velocity of the missile by its displacement.

Another object of the invention is to enable a player tot'attain proficiency in projecting a missile by practicing indoors and thenseeing the result of his play on a miniature playing field.

The invention comprises a game apparatus which includes Va 'bodily movable target which interceptsithe missile. and is displaced from `a starting position by the force of the missile. 'Thetarget contains means for sensing the pos'tionlfimpact and a'control means connected to the- 2,894,750 Patented July 14, 1959 ICC target selectively sets koperating means `which are` responsive to the spaced position. Another control'means is set by the displacement of the target from its starting position and a power driven means operates a display device to describe a path in response to both control means, said path being a curve related to the 'trajectory of the missile in free flight. l i

One feature of theinvention includes a miniature playing held in three dimensions with a miniature missile which is controlled to move slowly in the approximate path the projected missile would have taken in free flight.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. t

Fig. 1 is a side View of the game apparatus showing some parts in section.

Fig. 2 is a front View of a target, with the cover removed, showing the arrangement of collapsible tubes for sensing the impact of a missile. Y

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the target shown in Fig. 2. j,

Fig. 4 is a front View of an alternate formof target which includes crossed sensing wires and a plurality of electrical contacts controlled by the wires.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the target shown in Fig. 4 and shows two of the springs and contacts used in the target.

Fig. 6 is a graph showing some of the trajectories described by the miniature ball on the miniature held.

Fig. 7 is `a side view, with some parts in section, kof a portion of the sensing and control unit shown in Fig. `1.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the miniature playing field taken along line 8 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is another portion of the sensing and control system shown in Fig. l and includes the sensing means for determining the horizontal component of the impact of the missile. l

Fig. 10 is a side view of the control means shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of a sensing pin employed to translate a portion of the sensed information from the target. j

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the sensing pin in its operative position. l

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of that portion of the sensing and control component shown in Fig. 7 and is taken along line 13-13 of that figure. o

Fig. 14 is a graph indicating a plurality of trajectories which may be provided by a cam shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 15 is a side view, with some parts in section, showing an alternate form of sensing pin operated by the contact means shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of connections showing a relay with a locking circuit which is used to retain a sensing pin in its operated position. I

Fig. 17 is a plan view, with some parts in section, showing 'a light projector and a viewing screen which may be used to show the path of a missile in free Hight. Fig. 18 is a front View of the viewing screen shown in Fig. 17. v

Referring now to Fig. 1, a ball 20 is supported upon a tee 21 on ya base 22 in a position for driving by a golf club., While this figure shows a golf ball and a miniature golf course, it will be obvious that the device may be used to show the approximate path taken by a baseball or .a football or any other type of projected missile. The ball 20 is propelled in the general direction shownby arrow 23 and hits a target 24, the force ofthis impact causing the target to move to the rear an amount which yis proportional to the balls velocity.V The target dis supported on one or more supports 25 which in turn are secured to a base 26, containing friction pads 27 and 28, moving on a sub-base 30. The target 24 is connected to a sensing and control unit 31 by communicating lines 32. These lines may be either a system of wires carrying current or a plurality of rubber tribes which transmit changes in Huid pressure to the sensing and control unit 31. A pawl 33 is pivotally mounted on support 25 and engages a ratchet bar 34. A rod 35 is also connected to support 25 and sets a cam in the sensing and control unit 31.

A miniature playing eld 36 is supported on a base 37 and includes a miniature ball 33, a green lil which includes a cup and a flag, and other features of the `usual golf course such as trees and bunkers which are usually found on this type of playing iield. The base 37 is secured to a vertical wall 4l which also supports an arm 42 which includes a pulley 43 and a pivot support 44. The ball 3S is attached to a string 45 which is connected to the sensing and control means 31 by means of one or more pulleys. The string 45 controls the height of the ball and passes through a loop 46 attached to another string 47 which is also connected to the sensing and control means 31 and which controls the length of travel of the ball and its direction. The end of string 47 is secured to a helical spring 48 which keeps the string in tension and returns it to its original position during a resetting operation.

In order to control the direction of travel of the miniature ball a frame 50 is pivoted by pivots 5l and 52.. The movement of this trarne is controlled by a portion of the sensing and control unit which is shown in Figs. 9 and l0.

The motive power for moving the target 2d back to its starting position is provided by a motor 52A which turns a shaft 53 coupled to a drum 54 on which is placed an endless belt 55. lThe belt 55 also passes over an idler drum 56 and contains lugs 57 and 58. Power for operating the motor is provided by connecting terminals 61 to a source of electric power, these terminals being connected in series with the motor and two pairs of contacts 62 and 63 which are in parallel with one another. Contacts 62 are operated by one of the lugs 57 or 58 when vthe endless belt 55 is being moved and the second pair of contacts 63 is controlled by the target base 26. Since these two pairs of contacts are connected in parallel it will be obvious that the motor 52A is shut off only when both pairs of contacts are open. Lugs 57 and 58 also operate fingers and 64 which are connected to portions of the sensing and control unit 31 and will be described later.

Figs. 2 and 3 show one type of target which may be employed to sense the position of the missiles impact. The target comprises a base 66, a plurality of horizontal rubber tubes 67, and a plurality of vertical tubes 68. It has been found that a sponge rubber covering placed on top of the crossed tubes helps to absorb the energy of the ball and prevents it from rebounding toward the player. This covering has been omitted from Fig. 2 in order to show the arrangement of sensing tubes. Each of the tubes 67 and 65 are collected in a bundle 32 (Fig. l) and are terminated in the sensing and control unit. When the ball strikes target 66 one ot' the vertical tubes 63 and one of the horizontal tubes 67 is collapsed by the force of the missile and a pressure pulse is transmitted to the sensing and control unit.

Figs. 4 and 5 show an alternate form of target including a frame 72 which holds a plurality of steel wires 73 arranged in vertical array and terminating at the bottom portion of frame 72 in a series of contacts 74 and springs 75. The frame also contains a plurality of horizontal wires 76 terminating in similar contacts and springs at the right hand side of the target frame. Fig. 5 shows the details of the contact arrangement. When a missile strikes one of the wires contact member 74 is pulled into engagement with two contacts points 77 thereby completing a circuit by which a pulse is transmitted to the sensing and control unit to operate a relay and its associated electromagnet.

The sensing and control unit 31 includes a mechanical cam 80 which is mounted on a pivot 81 `and is set by rod 39 coupled through a pin and slot connection 29 to rod 35. Rod 35 is secured to target 24 and is moved only when the target is moved. In its normal unactuated position cam 80 is flush with the top surface of a base plate 82 and when actuated by the movement of target 24 it moves above the surface of base 82 in a slot 83, such an actuated position being shown by dotted lines S4. When the cam 80 is set by the movement of target 24- its set position is maintained by a pawl 85 engaging teeth in a ratchet bar 86. When the operation is over, cam 30 is reset to its normal position by the disengaging of the pawl 85 from the ratchet 86 by means of an electromagnet S7, the normalizing action being controlled by spring S8.

On top of plate 82 is a bar 90 supported by rollers 91 and adapted to be moved along the top surface of the base except when intercepted by the cam 80. When cam 30 is set in a position controlled by the movement of the target 24, the right hand roller 91 rides up and down over the top` surface of cam 80 thereby moving string 45 to control the height of the miniature ball in the miniature display 36 and also to pull string 47 to the left in Fig. 7 and move the ball 38 to the right as shown in Fig. 1 to indicate the length of drive. The end `of string 45 is secured to a bar 92 which in turn is mounted on a slide member 93, movably mounted on bar 90, and controlled in position by a rod 94 which is connected to a sensing means similar to those shown in Figs. 5 and 10 but controlled by the horizontal array in the target 24 which senses the height of the position of impact. lf the ball is driven from the tee at an optimum vertical angle of about 45 degrees the sensing means on the target will position the slide member 93 at a position on bar which is approximately adjacent to the right hand roller 91 and then when bar 90 is pulled to the left as shown in Fig. 7 the display will cause the ball 38 to move in one of the paths 95 as shown in Fig. 14, the length of the path being controlled by the displacement of the target. If the target sensing means senses a vertical component which is only 25 degrees from the horizontal, the slide member 93 will be positioned to the left of the right hand roller 91, and because of the reduced leverage, the display means 36 will show a path similar to one of the trajectories 96, shown in dashed lines in Fig. 6. Conversely, if the sensed position on the target indicates that the ball was started at a vertical angle of 69 degrees, then the slide member 93 will be moved considerably to the right of the right hand roller 91 and because of this additional leverage the display means will cause the ball to move in a path which is similar to one of the paths 97 shown in Fig. 6.

The sensing arrangement shown in Fig. 9 comprises a lever 100 pivoted at 101 and stressed by a spring 102. The free end of the lever is adapted to pass over a plurality of sensing pins 103 positioned in a base 104 which is formed as part of a circle. In its normal or zero position lever 100 is held in the position shown in Fig. 9 by a normalizing bar 105. As soon as the operation starts and the ball 20 hits target 24, one of the pins 103 is raised by the air pressure in tube 68 and is latched into operating position by latch plate 106. A short time interval after the impact lug 58 moves finger 64 to the left, normalizing bar 105 is moved to the right as shown in Fig. 9, due to a linkage (not shown) between the bar and the nger 64 in the sensing and control unit 31. This action moves lever 100 under the influence of spring 102 counter-clockwise until it rests against the actuated pin 103. This same motion (moti-on of lever 100) moves frame 50 and carries with it plate 107 which holds the two pulleys holding strings 4S and 47. The above described action determines the l,direction in which the apaga/:oV

5 miniature ball 38 will be moved.4 After the ballhasbeen moved andall the components have been normalized, latchv plate 106 is given a short transverse movement and the pin 103 is dropped into its unactuated position.

A similar set of sensing pins and a similar sensing lever are employed to sense the height of the balls impact on the target. This apparatus is not shown because of its similarity to the details shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12. The lever which senses the vertical component of the impact position is coupled to rod 94 and positions the slide member 93 on bar 90.

The pins shown in Figs. 1l and 12 are operated by air pressure which is transmitted to a plurality of rubber tires 68 connected to a target, the details of which are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The pins are connected to pistons 69 and are stressed by springs 79. If a target having crossed wires and electrical contacts, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is employed, an electromagnetic sensing arrangement is used as shown in Figs. l5 and 16. In this arrangement, each set Aof wires from the target contacts 77 is connected to an electromagnet 108, either directly or in series with a relay 110. Each electromagnet is secured to base plate 104 and includes a winding 111 and a plunger armature 112. When contacts 77 are connected, the electromagnet is actuated and the armature 112 is raised above plate 104 to intercept and Aposition lever 100 when it is released.

In order to retain armatures 112 in their raised position the wires from contacts 77 are connected to a relay 113 in series with a source of potential 114 and a normalizing switch 115. With switch 115 closed, and contacts 77 connected, a circuit may vbe traced from the positive source of potential, through contacts 77, through relay Winding 113, back to the negative terminal of the battery in series with switch 115. This current actuates the relay and closes two contacts 116 and 117. Contacts 116 connect the source of potential 114 to the Winding 108 and cause the armature to be raised. Contacts 117 are locking contacts'and complete a circuit which may be traced from the positive terminal of the source of potential, through contacts 117, through winding 113, through the switch 115, to the negative terminal of the source of potential. This circuit retains the armature 112 in its elevated position until switch 115 is opened.

The display device 36 shown in Figs. l vand 8 is the preferred embodiment since it indicates the path of a missile in free flight in three dimensions. However, if limitations of space prohibit such a display, a projection system as shown in Fig. 17 may be used to show the path of a missile on a viewing screen 118. The projection system is mounted on a base 120 and comprises a lamp 121, a condensing lens system 122, a diaphragm 123, and a projection lens 124. The base 120 is controlled by a motor 125 to move the system about a pivot point which may conveniently be placed under the lamp 121. Motor 125 is controlled -by the movement of lever 100 which is responsive to the horizontal component of the missiles direction as described above. A positional servomotor system may be used to transform positional information of the lever to corresponding motion of the motor. The entire lbase 120 is hinged along line 126 and the base is attached to string 45 which moves the projector unit up and down in the same manner as the miniature ball 38 was moved.

Fig. 18 shows the viewing screen 118 and shows the green 40 and other components that would normally appear on a golf course.

The opera-tion of the various components has Ialready been described. The operation of the assembled game 4apparatus is as follows: With ythe components in the position shown in Fig. l and with lug 57 in the position shown at 57A holding contacts 62 open, the ball 20 is impelled toward target 24, displacing it Iand moving it to the right as shown in Fig. l, closing contacts 63 and lcausing pawl 33 to Abe moved along ratchet bar 34, and

engage one of itslteeth, When the target 2.4 closes con# tacts 63, motor 52A is started and the endless belt 55 starts to move asindicated by the arrow. During this time interval bar 35 positions cam 80 (coupled by bar 39) which is retained in its actuated position by pafwl l85. When the ball hits the tanget, a sensing vpin (112 or 103) is elevatedfdue either to electromagnetic action or to air pressure. A short time interval after this preliminary setting, lug 58 on vendless belt 55 makes contact with linger 64 and normalizing lever 105 (Figure 9) is withdrawn to the right, permitting lever 100 to move into contact with the raised sensing pin. In a similar manner another set of sensing pins positions a lever which is proportional to the height of Ithe impact thereby positioning slide member 93 on bar 90.

Soon after the conclusion of the second Itime interval, lug 58 makes cont-act With the right hand end of target base 26 fand slowly moves it toward its original starting position. During this movement pawl 33 pulls rack 34 with it and bar is' pulled over cam 80, the roller 91 riding over .the top cam face. This action moves the miniature ball 38 in a path 'which is related to the trajectory that the ball would have taken in free llight out of doors. When the lug 58 has returned Ithe target to its original position, contacts 63 are opened but the motor 52A continues to run because contacts 62 are still closed. As lug 58 continues to move it makes contact 'with a second nger 60 (which is connected to a switch which actuates solenoid 87 and also causes Iactuation of bar 105 in unit 31) and moves it downwardly, thereby normalizing all the remaining components Within the sensing and control unit. Lug 58 continues to move until itV reaches the position indicated by 57A in Fig. 1 yat which time contacts 62 are opened and the motor is stopped. When nger 60 was moved downwardly, the ball 38 was moved back to its original starting position and nowjall components have been normalized andthe game apparatus is in condition for a -second operation.

In order to hide the target 24, =a series of strings 127 may be draped in front of the target and secured to base 37. These strings may he mountedgclose together and may be printed by spray means to show a picture of fa playing Ufield as would be seen by a player standing at the tee 21.

While there have been described and illustrated specific embodiments of the game apparatus, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the ield of Ithe invention which should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lgame apparatus of the character described comprising; a bodily movable target adapted to intercept a propelled missile land to be displaced from ya starting position by the impact of the missile thereupon; position sensing means on the target which sense the impact position of the missile thereon; control means selectively set, responsive to the 'actuation of the position sensing means, to positions representing lthe horizontal and vertical components of the missile impact position on the target; a cam, its position being adjustable so as to vary its effective contour and -this adjusted position being effected in response to the displacement of the tanget from its starting position; power driven means actuated in response to the displacement of the target; fa display means positioned by said control means and said displ-ay means engaging also the eiective contour of said cam; said display means being driven by said power driven means to follow the contour of the cam |which thereby determines the path of said display means, and the path of said display means being a curve simulating the trajectory of said missile in free ilight.

2. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a missile simulating object disposed above a miniature playing field, and said object is moved relative to said field.

3. A game apparatus as set forth in claim l wherein said display means comprises an optical projector and a screen and motion is applied to said projector to move its display relative to the screen.

4. A game apparatus of the character described cornprising; a bodily movable target adapted to intercept a propelled missile and to be displaced from a starting position by the impact of the missile thereupon; position sensing means on the target which sense the impact position of the missile thereon; control means selectively set, responsive to the actuation of the position sensing means, to positions representing the horizontal and vertical components of the missile impact position on the target; a cam, its position being adjustable so as to vary its elective contour and this adjusted position being eiiected in response to the displacement of the target from its starting position; power driven means actuated in response to the displacement of the target; a display means positioned in horizontal direction by said control means and said display means engaging also the effective contour of said cam; said display means being driven by said power driven means to follow the contour of the cam which thereby determines the path of said display means, the path of said display means being a curve simulating the trajectory of said missile in free ilight, and said power driven means returning the target from its displaced position to its starting position,

5. A game apparatus of the character described cornprising; a bodily movable target adapted to intercept a propelled missile and to be displaced from a starting position by the impact of the missile thereupon; position sensing means on the target which sense the impact position of the missile thereon; control means selectively set, responsive to the actuation of the position sensing means, to positions representing the horizontal and vertical components of the missile impact position on the target; a cam, its position being adjustable so as to vary its effective contour and this adjusted position being eiected in response to the displacement of the target from its starting position; power driven means actuated in response to the displacement of the target; a display means positioned in horizontal direction by said control means and said display means engaging also the effective contour of said cam; said display means being driven by said power driven means to follow the contour of the cam which thereby determines the path of said display means, the path of said display means being a curve simulating the trajectory of said missile in free ight; said power driven means resetting the target to its starting position, and means coacting with the target for zeroizing the position sensing means thereon.

6. A game apparatus of the character described comprising; a bodily movable target adapted to intercept a propelled missile and to be displaced from a starting position by the impact of the missile thereupon; position sensing means on the target which sense the impact position of the missile thereon; control means selectively set, responsive to the actuation of the position sensing means, to positions representing the horizontal and vertical components of the missile impact position on the target; means for maintaining said control means in their set positions for a predetermined period of time; a cam, its position being adjustable so as to vary its eiective contour and this adjusted position being elected in response to the displacement of the target from its starting position; power driven means actuated in response to the displace ment of the target; a display means positioned in horizontal direction by said control means and said display means engaging also for vertical excursion the effective contour of said cam; said display means being driven by said power driven means to follow the contour of the cam which thereby determines the path of said display means, the path of said display means being a curve simulating the trajectory of said missile in free ight, and means for resetting said target and said position sensing means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,761,317 Strasser June 3, 1930 1,828,091 Spafford Oct. 20, 1931 2,784,001 Simjian Mar. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 372,743 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1932 e Mraz-a

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