WO1998031435A1

WO1998031435A1 - Golf ball retrieval apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1998031435A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/000024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rupert Harry Colin Loof
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-20
Filing date: 1998-01-20
Publication date: 1998-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 1999-07-20

Abstract

A golf ball retrieval apparatus (1) may be used in conjunction with an auto-teeing device (15). The device comprises one or more ball striking regions and a platform (2) which is sloped towards one or more channels (3) which are in communication (6) with a ball receptacle (7) that is adapted to accommodate a queue of golf balls. A tube (8) leading to a ball deposit point (13) is at one end of the receptacle and a solenoid (9) and plunger (10) is located at a second end thereof. The apparatus is such that a ball striking the ball striking region will fall to said platform (2), roll into said channel (3) and then the receptacle (7). Upon applying a current to said solenoid (9) the plunger (10) will cause one or more balls to be expelled from the receptacle, transferred through said tube (8) and deposited at the ball deposit point (13).

Description

GOLF BALL RETRIEVAL APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf ball retrieval apparatus, and in particular, but not exclusively to a golf ball retrieval apparatus which can be utilised in association with an auto- teeing device.

Background of the Invention

The game of golf is a game which has undergone an enormous increase in popularity in recent times. Unfortunately, golf is also a game which is time consuming and requires the use of a large amount of open space. For the purposes of practice, or in fact as a substitute to playing on a golf course, it is becoming increasingly popular for players of golf to make use of driving ranges. Often these driving ranges constitute a single fairway with many bays from which golfers can hit balls onto the fairway. Again however, such fairways require a substantial amount of space, and it is then an onerous task for someone to collect all of the balls which have been hit onto the fairway.

Another type of golf practice range which can be contained in a relatively small space is one where the golfer hits balls into a net, or the like. In such arrangements there is generally provided a surface from which the player strikes the ball, which may constitute a rubberised or synthetic grass area upon which a golf ball is placed before it is struck. Often also, a plastic or rubberised tee is provided, upon which the ball is placed, before it is struck. In order to prevent the continual stooping and associated use of energy and waste of time which is involved in collecting a ball and placing it on the surface from which it is to be struck, a number of automated teeing devices have been devised which serve to select a ball from a supply of golf balls, and place it on the surface from which it is to be struck; in particular, to place the ball on a tee.

Examples of auto-teeing devices are provided in Australian Patent Nos. 537910 and 590940, the disclosures of which are included herein by reference in their entirety. Although the present invention has applications apart from use in association with auto-teeing devices, it is particularly useful when used in conjunction with devices such as, for example, those described in the above Australian patents.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which serves to retrieve golf balls which have been hit into a ball striking region. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description thereof.

Summary of the Invention

According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a golf ball retrieval apparatus comprising one or more ball striking regions and a platform which is sloped towards one or more channels which are in communication with a ball receptacle that is adapted to accommodate a queue of golf balls; a tube leading to a ball deposit point is at one end of the receptacle and a solenoid and plunger is located at a second end thereof; the apparatus being such that a ball striking the ball striking the region will fall to said platform, roll into said channel and then the receptacle, and upon applying a current to said solenoid, the plunger will cause one or more balls to be expelled from the receptacle, transferred through said tube and deposited at the ball deposit point.

In one embodiment of the invention the tube is oriented vertically and is curved at an end leading to the ball deposit point.

In other embodiments of the present invention the platform is either single-sided or double- sided. According to a further embodiment of the invention the current is applied to the solenoid by manual activation of a switch or alternatively by activation of a switch caused by movement of a golf ball.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the ball deposit point is an auto-teeing device.

Preferably the ball striking region is a net or nets.

Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings wherein:

Fig 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of the ball retrieval apparatus of the invention; and

Fig 2 shows a diagrammatic perspective view from above of one embodiment of the ball retrieval apparatus according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Throughout this specification and the appended claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers.

A perspective view of one embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 2. It can be seen from Fig. 2 that the golf ball retrieval apparatus 1 comprises a platform 2 which is sloped towards one or more channels 3. In the case of the golf ball retrieval apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 2, the platform 2 is a double-sided platform. That is, it is equipped with an area from which golf balls are to be struck 4, which will allow for use by either right-handed or left- handed players. In this way the player can strike balls into either of the ball striking regions 5. The ball striking regions 5 are preferably nets which have a weave fine enough to prevent the passage of a golf ball therethrough. It is also possible however, that the ball striking regions 5 could constitute a panel with a shock absorbent material, such as rubberised coating, foam etc., applied thereto.

A reason for the shock absorbing nature of the ball striking regions 5 is that it is intended that balls striking the ball striking regions 5 should not bounce back towards the player dangerously, but rather that the momentum of the ball is absorbed so that the ball falls from the ball striking region 5 to the platform 2, without causing danger to the player.

It is also possible that the platform 2 can be a single-sided platform, such that there is only a ball striking region 5 provided at one side thereof, in order that the arrangement can then be utilised by, for example, a right-handed player. A similar arrangement in reverse would suit a left-handed player. In the case of a single-sided platform, the platform 2 itself and the channel 3 would need only to extend from the area from which golf balls are to be struck 4 up to the single ball striking region 5.

Another possibility is that the platform 2 is a double-sided platform and that only a single ball striking region is provided, but that in this case the ball striking region 5 is detachable and can be attached at either side of the platform 2, in order to suit either a left-handed or a right- handed player. In a further embodiment, the invention is utilised without a ball striking region so that balls can be hit into a fairway or field. In this way the invention simply operates as an apparatus to feed balls to the ball teeing device. In this embodiment it is important to ensure that golf balls in excess of capacity are not allowed to enter the ball receptacle 7 (described below). This may be achieved by stocking the channel 3 with balls and incorporating a manually removable stopper or automatic gate within the channel. In the case of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the platform 2 slopes from one end to the other, with the channel 3 located at the lower end. The channel 3 also slopes towards a pipe 6 which leads to a ball receptacle 7. In this way, balls which strike the ball striking regions 5 and fall to the platform 2 will roll into the channel 3 and from there to the pipe 6 before coming to rest in the ball receptacle 7.

It is equally possible however, for example, for the platform 2 to be raised in the central region so that it slopes to each end. In this case there would be a channel 3 located at both ends of the platform 2. Naturally also, both of these channels 3 would slope towards a pipe 6 which is in communication with the ball receptacle 7.

It is preferred that the platform 2 should be comprised of a firm material which will allow golf balls to roll thereon into the channel or channels 3. Examples of suitable materials are plastics or rubberised materials, short-pile carpets or synthetic grass, wooden panels or shock absorbent tiles. Use of materials which will allow for undue golf ball bounce, such as uncovered concrete or ceramic tiles, should preferably be avoided, as the golf balls will tend to bounce uncontrollably and will lead to danger to the player and loss of golf balls from the platform 2. As shown in Fig. 1, golf balls which fall to the platform 2 will roll into the gutter 3, which due to its slope will then fall towards and into the pipe 6 which leads to the golf ball receptacle 7. The pipe 6, golf ball receptacle 7 and tube which connects to one end of the receptacle 7, may all conveniently be manufactured from a piping material, such as, for example, metallic or plastic piping. Particularly appropriate is PVC piping often used in plumbing applications. It is preferable that each of the pipe 6, golf ball receptacle 7 and tube 8 have an internal diameter such that they will accommodate a single queue of golf balls, that is one row of golf balls in the direction of the pipe or tube. The ball receptacle 7 is really an extension of the tube 8 which is located adjacent to the solenoid 9. The capacity of the ball receptacle 7 will depend upon the distance provided between the solenoid 9 and the pipe 6. In one preferred embodiment of the invention sufficient distance is provided to allow at least eight golf balls to be housed in the receptacle 7 at a single time. This is a particularly convenient arrangement when the golf ball retrieval apparatus is being utilised with an auto- teeing device 15 (represented in the figures as a box), and the provision of up to eight balls within the receptacle 7 will ensure that the player does not run out of balls to hit. It may be desired however, for the capacity of the receptacle to be either expanded or reduced, depending upon the particular use that the golf ball retrieval apparatus is to be put.

The solenoid 9 is provided with an internal plunger 10, and preferably the solenoid 9 and plunger 10 are contained within an electrically insulating housing. The solenoid 9 is connected to a power supply 11 which may be either a battery or mains power supply. For example, the use of two 12-volt car batteries may be appropriate. A switch 12 is provided in the power supply circuit in order to apply a current to the solenoid 9. When the switch 12 is activated and the current is applied to the solenoid 9, the plunger 10 will move to strike a golf ball which is located directly adjacent to the solenoid 9. This action will cause one or more golf balls to be forced from the ball receptacle 7 through the tube 8, and to the ball deposit point 13. The ball deposit point is either a part of the auto-teeing device 15, from which balls are then automatically taken to be placed upon the area from which golf balls are to be struck 4, or alternatively, the ball deposit point 13 constitutes a rack from which the player can manually select a ball. The orientation of the tube 8 can naturally be varied depending upon the relative position of the ball deposit point 13, however, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the tube 8 is positioned vertically with the solenoid located at the base and an upper end of the tube is curved towards the ball deposit point 13. This curve 14 will serve to slow the velocity of the ball/s and direct the balls to the ball deposit point 13.

The switch 12 can be arranged such that it may be manually activated by the player, for example by the player's hand, foot, or the head of the player's golf club, or alternatively the switch 12 can be located within the mechanism of an auto-teeing device, such that by movement of a golf ball, the switch will be activated in order to cause a ball to be removed from the receptacle 7, and deposited in the ball deposit point 13. It is additionally possible for the switch to be activated by an automatic timer, for example, so that the solenoid is activated periodically. It may be appropriate for the timer to activate the switch once every 15-30 seconds when a player is hitting from the are from which golf balls are to be struck 4. These switching arrangements are mentioned by way of example only and other arrangements for activating the switch are also envisaged.

In another example of the invention it is possible for the end of the plunger 10 which comes into contact with the golf balls to be equipped with a cap or extension, such as for example, a plastic or rubberized cap, or extension of other suitable materials.

Depending upon the distance between the receptacle 7 and the ball deposit point 13, a person skilled in the art can determine the necessary current to be applied and magnetic force imparted by the solenoid, the length and diameter of tube 9, the material utilised for the plunger cap and the extent of curvature of the upper tube so that balls are delivered to the ball deposit point 13 in order that they are delivered at a velocity which will not cause damage or disruption to the equipment.

It is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example only and that modifications or alterations which would be obvious to a person skilled in the art, based upon the disclosure herein, are also considered to fall within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

The Claims:

1. A golf ball retrieval apparatus comprising one or more ball striking regions and a platform which is sloped towards one or more channels which are in communication with a ball receptacle that is adapted to accommodate a queue of golf balls; a tube leading to a ball deposit point is at one end of the receptacle and a solenoid and plunger is located at a second end thereof; the apparatus being such that a ball striking the ball striking region will fall to said platform, roll into said channel and then the receptacle, and upon applying a current to said solenoid the plunger will cause one or more balls to be expelled from the receptacle, transferred through said tube and deposited at the ball deposit point.

2. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tube is oriented vertically and is curved at an end leading to the ball deposit point.

3. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the platform is single-sided.

4. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the platform is double-sided.

5. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein current is applied to the solenoid by manual activation of a switch.

6. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein current is applied to the solenoid by activation of a switch caused by movement of a golf ball.

7. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the ball deposit point is an auto-teeing device.

8. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the ball deposit point is a rack adapted to receive golf balls. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the ball striking region is a net or nets.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 20 May 1998 (20.05.98); original claims 1-9 replaced by new claims 1-5 (1 page)]

1. A golf practice apparatus, comprising: a platform upon which a golfer stands, the platform being gently sloped towards at least one channel; a ball striking region, such as a net, which is provided at least at one end of said platform, such that a ball striking the ball striking region will fall onto said platform; a ball return mechanism, to return balls from said channel to a deposit point on said platform, said ball return mechanism comprising a ball receptacle to accommodate a queue of golf balls received from said channel, a solenoid and plunger to receive said balls, one at a time, from said ball receptacle and to impart a force sufficient to strike each ball positioned above said plunger through a tube directed towards a ball deposit point, the tube having a substantially vertical position terminating in a substantially 180° curve from which the ball(s) drop(s) to said ball deposit point.

2. The golf practice apparatus according to claim 1 wherein current is applied to the solenoid by manual activation of a switch.

3. The golf practice apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein current is applied to the solenoid by activation of a switch caused by movement of a golf ball.

4. The golf ball retrieval apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the ball deposit point is an auto-teeing device.

5. The golf practice apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the ball deposit point is a rack adapted to receive golf balls. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

Delete set of claims and replace with set of claims attached hereto in duplicate, one copy indicating the nature and location of the amendments.

The claims are herewith replaced with a revised set to take into account the citations identified in the International Search Report.

None of the citations disclose a composite apparatus wherein a player stands on a platform with which the retrieval means is integrally formed. Each of the prior art devices seems to be directed towards devices upon which the ball is supplied onto the tee by a mechanism which moves relatively slowly upwardly. The Applicant's device imparts a relatively high force to the ball to return it to the ball deposit point. The prior art devices are prone to the inherent problem that if they golfer strikes to tee, it may be damaged, consequently damaging the entire ball return mechanism. The Applicant's invention overcomes this problem by using a tee separate to the ball return mechanism. By using the tube 14, of inverted J-shape, the ball is delivered in a manner such that it is adjacent an automatic tee device.