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US 12,403,363 B1Granted
Golf green characteristic indicator
AssigneeGolf IQ, LLC
InventorTyler H. Keeter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A golf green characteristic indicator is disclosed. The golf green characteristic indicator may include a ground track and an air track configurable between a travel configuration and an indication configuration. In the travel configuration, the ground track and air track may be detached. In the indication configuration, the ground track is fixated on the golf green, while a golf ball is released from a mechanism on the air track to indicate the golf green characteristic.
Claims18
A golf green characteristic indicator for indicating a characteristic of a golf green, the golf green characteristic indicator comprising:
- a ground track comprising:
- a proximal end;
- a distal end oppositely disposed from the proximal end;
- a first radius of curvature formed at the distal end of the ground track;
- and a first coupler disposed at the distal end of the ground track;
- an air track comprising:
- a proximal end;
- a distal end oppositely disposed from the proximal end;
- a second radius of curvature at the proximal end of the air track, wherein the second radius of curvature is equal to the first radius of curvature of the ground track;
- and a second coupler disposed at the proximal end of the air track;
- an alignment pair disposed in either the first coupler or the second coupler, the alignment pair comprising:
- a first alignment feature;
- and a second alignment feature;
- a golf ball release mechanism disposed at the distal end of the air track, the golf ball release mechanism comprising:
- a support plate adjoined to the distal end of the air track, comprising:
- a left face;
- a right face;
- a central hole;
- a first torsion spring pocket;
- and a radial pocket;
- a golf ball cradle comprising:
- a central shaft passing through the central hole;
- a second torsion spring pocket;
- and a pin adjoining the radial pocket;
- a knob formed about the central shaft;
- and a torsion spring biasingly adjoining the support plate and the golf ball cradle;
- wherein the left face of the support plate adjoining the knob and the right face of the support plate is adjoining the golf ball cradle;
- a travel configuration wherein:
- the first coupler of the ground track is detached from the second coupler of the air track;
- and an indication configuration wherein:
- the first coupler is interfaced with the second coupler;
- the first alignment feature is aligned with the second alignment feature;
- the proximal end of the ground track is configured to adjoin the golf green;
- and the golf ball release mechanism is actuated to release a golf ball sequentially along the air track and the ground track with a predetermined release speed as the golf ball exits the proximal end of the ground track to indicate the characteristic of the golf green.
31 more elements
A golf green characteristic indication method for indicating a characteristic of a golf green, the golf green characteristic indication method comprising:
- providing a ground track, the ground track comprising:
- a proximal end;
- distal end oppositely disposed from the proximal end;
- a first radius of curvature formed at the distal end of the ground track;
- and a first coupler disposed at the distal end of the ground track;
- providing an air track, the air track comprising:
- a proximal end;
- distal end oppositely disposed from the proximal end;
- a second radius of curvature at the proximal end of the air track, wherein the second radius of curvature is equal to the first radius of curvature of the ground track;
- and a second coupler disposed at the proximal end of the air track;
- providing an alignment pair in the first coupler and the second coupler, the alignment pair comprising:
- a first alignment feature;
- and a second alignment feature;
- providing a golf ball release mechanism disposed at the distal end of the air track, the golf ball release mechanism comprising:
- a support plate adjoined to the distal end of the air track, comprising:
- a left face;
- a right face:
- a central hole;
- a first torsion spring pocket;
- and a radial pocket;
- a golf ball cradle comprising:
- a central shaft passing through the central hole;
- a second torsion spring pocket;
- and a pin adjoining the radial pocket;
- a knob formed about the central shaft;
- and a torsion spring biasingly adjoining the support plate and the golf ball cradle;
- wherein the left face of the support plate adjoining the knob and the right face of the support plate is adjoining the golf ball cradle;
- and configuring the ground track and the air track between:
- a travel configuration, comprising:
- detaching the first coupler of the ground track from the second coupler of the air track;
- and an indication configuration, comprising:
- interfacing the first coupler with the second coupler;
- aligning the first alignment feature with the second alignment feature;
- the proximal end of the ground track is configured to adjoin the golf green;
- and actuating the golf ball release mechanism for releasing a golf ball sequentially along the air track and the ground track with a predetermined release speed as the golf ball exits the proximal end of the ground track for indicating the characteristic of the golf green.
32 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.