Return apparatuses
OwnerTimothy John Lindsleyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting object such that the object can be hit by a hitting device from the apparatus includes a base configured to contact the ground and a tee assembly pivotally coupled to the base and configured to support the object. A string tethers the object to the apparatus, and a return system is activated to retract the string and thereby return the object to the tee assembly after the object is hit from the tee assembly. A lift assembly is coupled to the tee assembly, and the lift assembly is configured to change length of the tee assembly such that the ball is in a position to be hit from the tee assembly.
Claims19
An apparatus for supporting an object such that the object can be hit by a hitting device from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a tee assembly with a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end is pivotally coupled to the base and a second end is configured to support the object thereon;
- a coupling device configured to tether the object to the apparatus;
- a return system that is activated to thereby retract the coupling device and thereby configured to return the object to the tee assembly after the object is hit from the tee assembly;
- and
- a lift assembly coupled to the tee assembly, the lift assembly moves the second end of the tee assembly toward the first end of the tee assembly as the return system returns the object to the tee assembly.
An apparatus for supporting an object such that the object can be hit by a hitting device from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a tee assembly pivotally coupled to the base and configured to support the object:
- a coupling device that tethers the object to the apparatus:
- a return system that is activated to thereby retract the coupling device and thereby return the object to the tee assembly after the object is hit from the tee assembly;
- and
- a lift assembly coupled to the tee assembly, the lift assembly configured to change a length of the tee assembly such that the object is in a position to be hit from the tee assembly;
- wherein the tee assembly has a carriage spring and wherein the lift assembly selectively compresses the carriage spring to thereby reduce the length of the tee assembly.
An apparatus for supporting an object such that the object can be hit by a hitting device from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a tee assembly pivotally coupled to the base and configured to support the object:
- a coupling device that tethers the object to the apparatus:
- a return system that is activated to thereby retract the coupling device and thereby return the object to the tee assembly after the object is hit from the tee assembly;
- and
- a lift assembly coupled to the tee assembly, the lift assembly configured to change a length of the tee assembly such that the object is in a position to be hit from the tee assembly;
- wherein as the return system retracts the coupling device, the coupling device causes the tee assembly to pivot from a pivoted position to a stationary position;
- wherein the lift assembly increases the length of the tee assembly such that the tee assembly is in a practice position and the object is moved from a first object position to a second object position;
- and
- wherein the tee assembly has an object capture spring that engages the object while the tee assembly is in and is moved between the pivot position and the stationary position.
An apparatus for supporting an object such that the object can be hit by a hitting device from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a tee assembly pivotally coupled to the base and configured to support the object:
- a coupling device that tethers the object to the apparatus:
- a return system that is activated to thereby retract the coupling device and thereby return the object to the tee assembly after the object is hit from the tee assembly;
- and
- a lift assembly coupled to the tee assembly, the lift assembly configured to change a length of the tee assembly such that the object is in a position to be hit from the tee assembly;
- wherein as the return system retracts the coupling device, the coupling device causes the tee assembly to pivot from a pivoted position to a stationary position;
- wherein the lift assembly increases the length of the tee assembly such that the tee assembly is in a practice position and the object is moved from a first object position to a second object position;
- and
- wherein the object has a plunger that axially extends from a body of the object when the object engages an object capture spring of the tee assembly and the plunger axially retracts into the body when the tee assembly is moved into the practice position.
An apparatus for supporting an object such that the object can be hit by a hitting device from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a tee assembly pivotally coupled to the base and configured to support the object:
- a coupling device that tethers the object to the apparatus:
- a return system that is activated to thereby retract the coupling device and thereby return the object to the tee assembly after the object is hit from the tee assembly;
- and
- a lift assembly coupled to the tee assembly, the lift assembly configured to change a length of the tee assembly such that the object is in a position to be hit from the tee assembly;
- wherein the return system includes a motor on a platform that selectively tensions and drives a belt that rotates a drum, and wherein rotation of the drum causes a string spool to rotate and thereby retract the coupling device and wind the coupling device therearound.
An apparatus for supporting an object such that the object can be hit by a hitting device from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a tee assembly pivotally coupled to the base and configured to support the object:
- a coupling device that tethers the object to the apparatus:
- a return system that is activated to thereby retract the coupling device and thereby return the object to the tee assembly after the object is hit from the tee assembly;
- and
- a lift assembly coupled to the tee assembly, the lift assembly configured to change a length of the tee assembly such that the object is in a position to be hit from the tee assembly;
- wherein the return system includes a string spool about which the coupling device is wound, a magnet coupled to the string spool, and a sensor configured to sense movement of the string spool and thereby determine the speed of the object when hit away from the system and before being retracted by the return system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.