US3378263A - Fully automatic golf ball teeing device - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1968 Filed Dec. 6,

R. R. TURNAU ETAL FULLY AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 16, 1968 R. R. TURNAU ETAL FULLY AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet, I?

Filed Dec. 6, 1965 INVENTORS R Y UE AT NN RY U0 TP T R A D ML W EA BN O0 RD Y L B April 1968 R. R. TURNAU ETAL 3,378,263

FULLY AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1965 5 sheets bneet 4 X I HIHIHHMW 2 46 38 INVENTORS FIG-8 ROBERT R. TURNAU DONALDXB. POYNTER A NEY April 16, 1968 R. R. TURNAU ETAL 73,263

FULLY AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1965 5 Shets-Sheet 5 FIG- I l INVENTORS ROBERT R. TURNAU DONALD POYNITER BY B , ATT R EY United States Patent l 3,378,263 FULLY AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVECE Robert R. Turnau and Donald B. Poynter, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to Automatic Golf Systems, Inc., Indian Hill, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 511,758 16 Claims. (Cl. 273-201) This invention relates to an automatic golf tee, or apparatus for automatically setting up golf balls in rapid succession for practice driving. The device is adapted particularly for use at practice driving ranges, where a number of players may practice simultaneously the driving of golf balls.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus operative to tee up golf balls at any number of driving stations, automatically and rapidly without conscious effort on the part of the patron.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose stated, which is reliable in operation and characterized by great durability and freedom from maintenance requirements.

A further object is to provide a fully automatic device of the character stated, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, install, and maintain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a battery of automatic ball tee devices with means whereby an attendant may with great ease and accuracy keep all of the devices replenished with golf balls, and maintain a record of the number of balls driven from each driving station.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character stated, which is so constructed as to be quickly and easily restored to service in the event of damage inflicted thereon due to hard usage or abuse.

Another object of the invention is to materially enhance the profitability of practice driving range operation.

Another object is to incorporate in a device of the character stated, improvements of construction which enhance the operability, efficiency, and serviceability of the device, using only compressed air as the operating medium.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball tee unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a ball carriage constituting part of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken through the device of FIG. 1, and showing the tee in normal ballsupporting position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the tee carriage disposed at the lower limit of its stroke.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view showing the carriage and ball poised near the upper limit of travel.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but more complete, showing the ball-supporting carriage in descent, and recharged with .a ball immediately following dislodgement of a previous ball from the tee by a club stroke.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing the carriage ascending toward its upper limit to poise a ball for play.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional detail view showing the carriage disposed at its upper limit of travel, poising a ball for play.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9- of FIG. 6, the ball carriage being in a lowered position.

3,378,263 Patented Apr. 16, 1968 FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, showing the tee and carriage elevated to present a ball for play.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the unit and compressed air power connections therefor.

in the several drawing views, the reference numeral 10 indicates golf balls to be normally supported in succession upon a tee 12 in position for practice driving. The tee is arranged for vertical shifting movement automatically from an elevated position at which it supports a ball for driving, to a lowered position at which a replacement ball is deposited upon the tee and then elevated to the driving position. Each stroke of a golf club action to drive the ball from the tee, effects a slight tilting of the tee suflicient to initiate a lowering movement of the tee to a charging position at which a replacement ball is deposited thereon and immediately moved up to driving position. The action of presenting balls in succession for driving is fully automatic, and involves no conscious effort on the part of the player.

The device includes an outer protective casing 14 of metal, plastic, or other suitable material adapted to be sunk into the earth with its cover 16 at ground level (FIG. 6). The operating unit for elevating and lowering the tee is encased in a secondary or inner housing 18 suspended from the cover, so as to be easily removed with the cover and replaced with another covered operating unit when necessary. For the purpose, cover 16 may be provided with removable screws 21' whereby the cover may be removably applied to outer casing 14, FIG. 6.

Housing 18 may be provided with a side opening or port 24 receptive of golf balls directed thereto by a supply chute or magazine 26, the chute being extended through the side Wall of casing 14 and terminating at port 24. The chute preferably is inclined as shown, to feed balls by gravity to port 24 and tee 12, FIG. 6.

Within housing 18 is vertically mounted a pneumatic cylinder 28, fixed therein in any suitable manner, as by means of a transverse pin 29 passing through a lug 31 on the cylinder. The cylinder has the usual piston 33 and piston rod 32, to be elevated and lowered by delivery of air under pressure selectively to the lower and upper ends of the cylinder by way of air supply lines or pipes 34 and 36, respectively.

At the upper end of the piston rod 32 is fixedly mounted a carriage 38 adapted for sliding movement within housing 18 between upper and lower limits, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. The carriage is nonrotatable with relation to the housing, and its vertical travel may be determined by the stroke of piston rod 32.

Carriage 38 may be in the form of a rectangular block (FIG. 2) having in its upper face a pocket 4%? flanked by a pair of upstanding cars 42, 42. A pivot pin 44 has opposite ends anchored in the upstanding ears, and at its middle portion said pin supports a rocker element 46 upon which is fixed the upstanding tee 12. The rocker element may move between limits as illustrated by FIG. 8, and may be biased toward the upright position by the weight of its toe 51 exceeding the weight of its heel 52 (FIG. 8).

In the normal righted position of FIG. 8, the rocker element disposes tee 12 in upright position and its movement in clockwise direction may be limited by reason of heel 52 seating in a transverse recess 50 of the block. In the counter-clockwise direction of rocker rotation, movement may be limited by the toe 51 of the rocker striking the valve actuator stem 48, which may move or retract to the broken line position of FIG. 8. In this connection, it should be understood that FIG. 8 illustrates by full lines the normal condition of the tee supporting a ball poised for driving whereas the broken lines show the tee 3 tilted at the instant the player strikes the ball and dislodges it from the top of the tee.

The tee 12 may have a concavity 53 in its upper end, to support the golf ball in conventional manner. By preference, the tee is formed of rubber, flexible plastic, or any equivalent material which may yield rather then fracture in the event that it is struck by a golf club. The tee may be detachably applied to rocker element 46 for quick and easy replacement, if desired. As shown herein, the tee consists of a hollow inverted cone formed of soft flexible rubber or plastic.

From the disclosure of FIGS. 5 and 6, it is apparent that carriage 38 includes a gate member or barrier plate 56 which depends therefrom to close chute port 24 when the carriage is fully elevated. Upon descent of the carriage to the FIG. 6 position, however, the gate member or plate 56 assumes a lowered position out of register with port 24, permitting entry of one ball into housing 18 and atop the tee 12, FIG. 6. From this position, the carriage and tee with a ball supported thereon, will be returned to the elevated position of FIG. 3 or 5, at which the gate member closes the port 24, preventing a feed of balls until a subsequent lowering of the carriage occurs.

The gate member is fixed to the carriage, and the upper end of the carriage may be provided with a fixed upstanding pin 58, FIG. 7, to gently return to chute 26 any ball tending to follow one which has been accepted by the tee. Thus, only one ball at a time is fed onto the tee with each complete cycle of carriage movement.

As was previously mentioned herein, the pneumatic cylinder 2-8 provides the motive power for elevating and lowering carriage 38 and the tee supported thereon. When air under pressure is delivered to the cylinder through pipe 34, the piston rod is driven upwardly to elevate the carriage. The upper end of the cylinder may then exhaust through pipe 36. Conversely, air under pressure delivered to the cylinder through pipe 35, and exhausting through pipe 34-, enforces a lowering of the carriage for replacement of a ball in accordance with FIG. 6. The speed of travel of the carriage may be regulated, if desired, by installing fiow control valves in pipes 34 and/ or 36.

At 60 (FIG. 11) is indicated a supply pipe or source of fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, which feeds the pressurized fluid constantly to a distributor valve 62, by way of a fitting 64. A portion of the pressured air at fitting 64, constantly feeds a by-pass tube 66 which has connection at 68 with a T-fitting 70. T-fitting 7t) feeds compressed air to a carriage-actuated lower limit valve 72, and shunts a portion of said air constantly to a tube 74 which feeds air constantly to a T-actuated upper limit valve '76. Pressure of air in valves 72 and i6 performs constantly to extend or project yieldingly the actuator 78 of valve 72, and the actuator 48 of valve 76. Valves '72 and 76 are of the self-closing type.

As FIG. 11 clearly suggests, carriage 38 when lowered as shown, strikes and moves the roller contactor 80 for depressing actuator 78 of valve 72. This opens valve 72, causing air from supply line 66 to enter tube 82. Tube 82 leads to a T-fitting 84, which transmits the pressure to counters 86 and 88, and to a controller 99 for valve 62. The air entering controller 90 causes valve 62 to shift in one direction, for feeding compressed air from supply line 60 to tube 34, thereby to drive piston rod 32 upwardly to the FIG. 3 position at which the golf ball is poised for play. Valve 62 remains in the position to which it was shifted by controller 90, so that piston rod 32 remains under the elevating influence of air pressure in tube 34.

Valve 72 being of the self-closing type, will close as soon as carriage 38 leaves roller 80 and is shifted upwardly by the aforesaid action of piston rod 32. Upon reaching its upper limit of travel, the piston rod remains projected by air pressure in tube 34, nothwithstanding the closing of valve 72.

When carriage 38 moves to its upper limit of travel to poise a ball 10 for play, the carriage does not strike the actuator 48 of upper limit valve 76. Instead, the ball is kept poised for play, until a patron drives the ball off the tee 12,, and coincidentally tilts the tee to the broken line position of FIG. 8. The tee in tilting, causes a partial rotation of rocker element as in counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 44, resulting in momentary depression of valve actuator 48 by the toe 51 of the rocker element. This momentarily opens valve 76, causing compressed air from supply line 74 to enter tube $2, whence the air actuates a controller 94 which shifts valve 62 from its original position.

When actuated by controller 94, valve 62 will move to direct air from supply line 66 to tube 36, for driving the piston rod 32 downwardly and consequently lowering the carriage 38. Valve 62 at the same time vents the lower end of cylinder 28 through tube 34. It should be understood that valve 62 may assume either one of two positions, that is, it may move to pressurize the line 34 while venting line 36, or it may move to pressurize line 36 while venting line 34.

Upon lowering of the piston rod and carriage 33 by pressure of air in tube 36, the carriage will reach its lower limit of travel, at which it will actuate valve 72 for send ing a surge of air to counters 86, 88, and controller 91' for shifting valve 62 to pressurize the tube 3-4 feeding the lower end of cylinder 25%. Accordingly, the carriage will at once be driven upwardly, having but momentarily reposed at the lower limit of travel. In so moving upwardly, the tee 12 or" the carriage will poise another ball from chute into play position, as will be explained.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that tilting of the tee 12 resulting from striking and driving a poised ball therefrom, initiates a cycle of operation which consists of automatically lowering the carriage, and returning it immediately to the upper limit of travel where it will remain until tee 12 is again struck and tilted. Upon each return of the carriage to the upper limit of travel, the tee thereof will poise a ball for play according to FIG. 3.

If at any time a ball is so struck that impact fails to tilt tee 12, the player may initiate a cycle of operation of the apparatus to present a subsequent ball, by simply tilting the tee by hand or otherwise.

Attention is now directed to the automatic means for feeding balls to tee 12, from chute 26. Chute 26 may be quite long, and will preferably be inclined so as to feed balls by gravity toward the delivery port 24 of housing 18. The chute may be kept supplied with balls by an attendant stationed at a central location remote from the ball-tceing apparatus. The attendants station preferably may include a hopper which is inaccessible to the player or patron driving balls from the tee of the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 3, a ball 10 is shown supported upon tee 12 in position to be driven. The gate 56 attached to carriage 38 is blocking gravitation of a ball 16a from chute 26 (see also FIG. 5), while all of the balls behind i-Ja are retained by a retaining pin or detent 96. When the ball atop tee 12 is driven off the tee, carriage 33 will descend and as FIG. 6 indicates, ball 10a will drop onto the tee to ride thereon throughout descent of the carriage. All other balls will be detained by detent 96.

Upon reaching the lower limit of travel, carriage 38 will trip the lower limit valve 72 as heretofore explained, for initiating upward travel of the carriage with ball ltla superposed thereon (FIG. 7). Continuing the ascent, ball 10a and tee 12 will move upwardly past the port 24 (FIG. 7), and therere will be no ball in chute 26 to the right of detent 96. However, as carriage 33 approaches its upper limit of travel, the carriage will strike a pair of fingers 98, 98 extending from a ball release lever or yoke 1&0 to which the detent as is fixed, thereby to move the lever or yoke upwardly about a fixed mounting pivot 102. Such movement of the lever or yoke 104} elevates detent 96, permitting gravitation of the balls in chute 26 toward port 24.

By this time, carriage 38 and its gate member 56 are in position to close the port 24, so that the single ball released by detent 96 will be stopped by the gate member. The ball so stopped will hold in abeyance all other balls behind it within chute 26, notwithstanding the fact that detent 96 has been withdrawn in chute aperture 104.

It should be understood that lever 100 and detent 96 are held in the upwardly displaced position (see broken line 106, FIG. as long as carriage 38 upholds the fingers 98; which is to say, that detent 96 is withdrawn from the chute as long as carriage 38 is disposed at the fully elevated position for presenting a ball for driving. The foremost ball in the chute will be stopped against carriage gate 56 at this time.

Assuming now that a ball is driven from tee 12, resulting in tilting of the tee for actuating the upper limit valve 76, carriage 38 will begin to descend. In so doing, it will back away from fingers 98, permitting lever 100 to drop to the FIG. 6 position at which detent 96 detains all balls in chute 26, excepting the one ball a which had been lodged against carriage gate 56. This one ball 10a, rendered free by descent of the gate and carriage past the port 24, was permitted to gravitate through the port and onto the top of tee 12, according to FIG. 6. The carriage then proceeds through its lowering and elevating cycle, previously explained, to present ball ltia for play while at the same time displacing lever 180 and detent 96 upwardly to release a subsequent ball into position against the carriage gate.

Lever 180 may be pivoted at 102 upon a bracket 108 secured to chute 26. The lever may be yieldingly biased in the downward direction to advance detent 96 into the chute, by the action of one or more tension springs 110. The springs may be hooked to opposite side portions 112 of the lever or yoke 100, to yieldingly bias the lever or yoke in downward direction. The lower ends of the springs may be anchored to any stationary part of housing 18.

FIG. 9 shows lever 100 spring-biased downwardly to place detent 96 in position to intercept a ball. FIG. 10 shows carriage 38 elevated to displace lever 108 upwardly, by contacting and elevating the extending fingers 98, thereby to withdraw the detent. Fingers 98 may be guided in their movement by means of elongate vertical slots 114 provided in housing 18.

In FIGS. 6 and 4, the reference character 116 indicates a narrow longitudinal slot in the bottom wall of chute 26, to release any dirt or other foreign matter from the chute in advance of housing 18. The slot is so dimensioned as to afford no interference with travel of balls toward and through port 24.

It may be noted that carriage 38 is constantly urged downwardly within housing 18, preferably by means of a pair of tension springs 120. The upper ends of the springs may be secured to the bottom of the carriage at 122, while the lower ends are anchored to a stationary cross-bar 124 within housing 18. The springs of course yield to the pressure of air delivered to the lower end of cylinder 28, for elevating the piston rod 32 and carriage 38.

Springs 120 perform to lower the carriage and ball into housing 18 when the source of compressed air is shut down, usually at the end of day or whenever the driving range is closed to patrons. As will be understood, a number of automatic tee devices may be installed at the driving range, and all of them may be disabled and rendered inoperative by merely shutting down the supply of compressed air. The halls thereby are lowered and protected against theft, and the operating mechanism concealed, to discourage pilferage and vandalism.

Reference has been made herein to the counters 86 and 88. These are adapted for pneumatic operation, and will count and indicate the number of balls put into play by the cyclic operation of carriage 38. One of the counters may be located within sight of the player, and the other may be located at a central station along with the counters of other automatic ball-setters, where suitable recording and accounting mechanisms may be installed for recording the total business of the day. The readmg of a counter may determine the amount of the fee chargeable to a patron for use of the equipment.

The device constructed as herein disclosed is found to be highly reliable and eiiicient in operation, and performs with great accuracy. The servicing requirements are minimal, so that numerous banks of teeing devices may be operated without interruption and with little e xpense, thereby contributing substantially to patron satisfaction and profitable operation. The absence of electrical components below ground level, where flooding may occur, is considered a distinct advantage from the standpoint of serviceability and safety. It may be desirable in practice, to have the ball feed chute 26 connected with a hopper of ample size, wherein the balls to be fed are vibrated or otherwise kept in motion to assure a continuous feeding of balls to the chute.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus to tee a succession of golf balls automatically, comprising in combination: an elongate earthsupported housing having a buried lower end, and a side-apertured upper end disposed approximately at ground level; a source of air pressure including tube means for conveying air from said source; a carriage shiftable lengthwise along the housing; a ball tee supported upon the carriage for displacement by club impact, from a normally extended position to a depressed position relative to the carriage; reversible pneumatic cylinder means associated with said air pressure source, for shifting the carriage along the housing between an elevated position at which the tee is disposed above ground level, and a fully lowered position at which the tee is disposed a substantial distance below ground level; an air pressure distribution valve connected with the compressed air source and the pneumatic cylinder means through the tube means, said valve including air-actuated control means shiftable to supply pressure of air alternately to opposite ends of the cylinder means, for fully elevating and fully lowering the carriage in alternation; and mechanically actuatable valve means having fluid communication with the air pressure source and the control means of the distribution valve, through the tube means aforesaid, said mechanically actuatable valve means being actuated upon movement of the carriage to lowered position, for sending compressed air to the control means of the distribution valve and actuating said control means to release air under compression from the distribution valve to one end of the pneumatic cylinder means to elevate the carriage, said mechanically actuatable valve means being actuated upon impact displacement of the ball tee to the depressed position while the carriage is elevated, to supply air to the control means of the distribution valve, for causing the distribution valve to supply air to the opposite end of the pneumatic cylinder means and thereby drive the carriage to the fully lowered position; and means for releasing a golf ball through the side aperture of the housing and onto the tee, while the carriage is displaced from the upper position.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein the aforesaid mechanically actuatable valve means comprises two separate valves each having a normally extended operating element, the operating element of one of said separate valves being in position to be struck and moved by the carriage while descending, and the operating element of the other of said separate valves being in position to 7 be struck and moved by the tee when displaced to the depressed position, with the carriage fully elevated.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2, wherein is included a pneumatically actuatable counter for recording the number of cyclic movements executed by the carriage, and means for delivering an actuating surge of compressed air to the counter incident to each actuation of one of the separate valves aforesaid.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein is included means for driving the carriage to the lowered position, in the absence of air pressure for actuating the pneumatic cylinder means.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 4, wherein said means for driving the carriage includes a tension spring acting constantly to lower the carriage, the force of said spring being of a value insuflicient to overcome the elevating force of the pneumatic cylinder means when subjected to operating air pressure.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein the golf ball releasing means includes: a chute for gravity-feeding a column of balls to and through the side aperture of the housing; a gate member on the carriage to block movement of balls from the chute and through said side aperture when the carriage is elevated; a movable detent displaceably projected into the chute at a distance from the housing side aperture approximating the diameter of a ball, said detent adapted when projected, to detain all balls within the chute excepting the one ball detained by the carriage gate member; and means operated by the carriage when disposed near its upper limit of travel, for displacing the detent to free the balls for gravity advancement within the chute and against the gate member of the carriage, said last mentioned means being free of all influence by the carriage when the carriage descends a predetermined distance from its upper limit of travel.

7. Apparatus as defined by claim 6, wherein is included means for driving the carriage to the lowered position, in the absence of air pressure for actuating the pneumatic cylinder means.

8. Apparatus as defined by claim 7, wherein is included a pneumatically actuatable counter for recording the number of cyclic movements executed by the carriage, and means *for delivering an actuating surge of compressed air to the counter once during each cycle of movement of the carriage.

9. Apparatus as defined by claim 8, wherein the aforesaid mechanically actuatable valve means comprised two separate normally closed valves each having a normally extended operating element, the operating element of one of said separate valves being in position to be struck and moved by the carriage while descending, and the operating element of the other of said separate valves being in position, to be struck and moved by the tee when displaced by impact to the depressed position, with the carriage fully elevated.

10. A pneumatic pressure operated device to tee up a succession of golf balls automatically, comprising in combination: a ball feed chute including a port through which balls are delivered one after another; an elongate earthsupported housing having a buried lower end, and a sideapertured upper end disposed approximately at ground level, the port of the chute being in registry with the aperture of the housing for receiving balls from the chute;

a carriage shiftable bodily lengthwise of the housing; a ball tee mounted upon the carriage for displacement by impact from a normally extended position to a position of retraction relative to the carriage; pneumatic means pressure for shifting the carriage and tee lengthwise of the housing cyclically from an operative position of the tee above ground level, to an inoperative concealed position thereof below ground level, and then back to the operative position; means for delivering a ball from the chute to the tee upon each movement of the carriage from the operative position; means to initiate the aforesaid cycle of movement of the carriage by impact displacement of the tee to retracted position; and means operative independently of the pneumatic means, for driving the carriage to inoperative position below ground level whenever air pressure -from the source falls below a predetermined value insufficient to elevate the carriage.

11. Apparatus as defined by claim 10, wherein said independent driving means for lowering the carriage includes a tension spring acting constantly to lower the carriage, the force of said spring being of a value insufiicient to preclude elevating of the carriage by the pneumatic means upon restoration of normal air pressure at the source.

12. Apparatus as defined by claim 11, wherein movements of the pneumatic means to elevate and lower the carriage, are under the control of other pneumatic means subject to direct actuation by the carriage and the displaceable tee.

13. Apparatus as defined by claim 12, wherein is included a pneumatic cycle counter for the carriage, and means operative by said other pneumatic means, for delivering an operating surge of compressed air to the counter incident to each cyclic movement of the carriage.

14. Apparatus as defined by claim 10, wherein is included a pneumatically operated cycle counter for the carriage, and means operative during each operating cycle of the carriage, for directing an operating surge of compressed air to said counter.

15. Apparatus as defined by claim '10, wherein the aforesaid means to initiate the cycle of carriage movement, includes a pair of air pressure control valves having normally projected operating members exposed to direct contact with the carriage and with the ball tee when displaced.

16. Apparatus as defined by claim 15', wherein is included a pneumatically operated cycle counter for the carriage, and means under the control of one of said air pressure control valves, for delivering an operating surge of compressed air to the counter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,695,006 12/1928 Brockhagen 273-201 2,198,968 4/1940 Jewett 273-201 2,801,624 8/ 1957 Feltman. 3,298,694 1/1967 Turnau et al 27320l RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS TO TEE A SUCCESSION OF GOLF BALLS AUTOMATICALLY, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: AN ELONGATE EARTHSUPPORTED HOUSING HAVING A BURIED LOWER END, AND A SIDE-APERTURED UPPER END DISPOSED APPROXIMATELY AT GROUND LEVEL; A SOURCE OF AIR PRESSURE INCLUDING TUBE MEANS FOR CONVEYING AIR FROM SAID SOURCE; A CARRIAGE SHIFTABLE LENGTHWISE ALONG THE HOUSING; A BALL TEE SUPPORTED UPON THE CARRIAGE FOR DISPLACEMENT BY CLUB IMPACT, FROM A NORMALLY EXTENDED POSITION TO A DEPRESSED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE; REVERSIBLE PNEUMATIC CYLINDER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID AIR PRESSURE SOURCE, FOR SHIFTING THE CARRIAGE ALONG THE HOUSING BETWEEN AN ELEVATED POSITION AT WHICH THE TEE IS DISPOSED ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, AND A FULLY LOWERED POSITION AT WHICH THE TEE IS DISPOSED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BELOW GROUND LEVEL; AN AIR PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION VALVE CONNECTED WITH THE COMPRESSED AIR SOURCE AND THE PNEUMATIC CYLINDER MEANS THROUGH THE TUBE MEANS, SAID VALVE INCLUDING AIR-ACTUATED CONTROL MEANS SHIFTABLE TO SUPPLY PRESSURE OF AIR ALTERNATELY TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE CYLINDER MEANS, FOR FULLY ELEVATING AND FULLY LOWERING THE CARRIAGE IN ALTERNATION; AND MECHANICALLY ACTUATABLE VALVE MEANS HAVING FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE AIR PRESSURE SOURCE AND THE CONTROL MEANS OF THE DISTRIBUTION VALVE, THROUGH THE TUBE MEANS AFORESAID, SAID MECHANICALLY ACTUATABLE VALVE MEANS BEING ACTUATED UPON MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE TO LOWERED POSITION, FOR SENDING COMPRESSED AIR TO THE CONTROL MEANS OF THE DISTRIBUTION VALVE AND ACTUATING SAID CONTROL MEANS TO RELEASE AIR UNDER COMPRESSION FROM THE DISTRIBUTION VALVE TO ONE END OF THE PNEUMATIC CYLINDER MEANS TO ELEVATE THE CARRIAGE, SAID MECHANICALLY ACTUATABLE VALVE MEANS BEING ACTUATED UPON IMPACT DISPLACEMENT OF THE BALL TEE TO THE DEPRESSED POSITION WHILE THE CARRIAGE IS ELEVATED, TO SUPPLY AIR TO THE CONTROL MEANS OF THE DISTRIBUTION VALVE, FOR CAUSING THE DISTRIBUTION VALVE TO SUPPLY AIR TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE PNEUMATIC CYLINDER MEANS AND THEREBY DRIVE THE CARRIAGE TO THE FULLY LOWERED POSITION; AND MEANS FOR RELEASING A GOLF BALL THROUGH THE SIDE APERTURE OF THE HOUSING AND ONTO THE TEE, WHILE THE CARRIAGE IS DISPLACED FROM THE UPPER POSITION.

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