Reconfigurable golf game

A reconfigurable golf game (10), comprising:

• an interchangeable body (100) having a non-rotating body portion (110) and a rotating body portion (160), wherein the non-rotating body portion (110) includes a mounting device (120) and is formed with a rack passageway (130), and the rotating body portion (160) is rotably attached to the non-rotating body portion (110) and includes a club receiver (170) for releasably retaining a club (180);
• a hollow shaft (200) having a shaft proximal end (210), a shaft distal end (220), an interior surface (230), and an exterior surface (240), wherein the hollow shaft (200) is formed with an actuation system slot (250) extending from the interior surface (230) to the exterior surface (240);
• a swing actuation system (300) having a translational motion system (310) and a rotational motion system (450), wherein:
• (A) the translational motion system (310) includes:
• (i) a prime mover (320), slidably disposed within the hollow shaft (200), having a mover proximal end (330) and a mover distal end (340), wherein the mover proximal end (330) has a mover engager (332), and the mover distal end (340) has a finger receiver (342) configured to extend through the actuation system slot (250) and is shaped to receive an index finger of a human hand;
• and
• (ii) a rack (350), located in part in the rack passageway (130), having a rack proximal end (360), a rack distal end (370), and a plurality of rack teeth (380) located between the rack proximal end (360) and the rack distal end (370), wherein the rack distal end (370) has a receiver (372) designed to releasably cooperate with the mover engager (332) to transmit linear motion from the prime mover (320) to the rack (350), and wherein the rack (350) has a maximum fixed backswing stop (390) located toward the rack proximal end (360) and a maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) located toward the rack distal end (370), and the plurality of rack teeth (380) extend from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) defining a linear range of motion (500), wherein the rack (350) has an auxiliary rack backswing stop (410) that releasably attaches to the rack (350) and cooperates with the rack teeth (380) to stop the interaction between the rack (350) and the pinion (460) prior to the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) thereby selectively shortening the linear range of motion (500) and the rotational range of motion (510);
• and
• (B) the rotational motion system (450), attached to the rotating body portion (160), has a pinion (460) containing a plurality of pinion teeth (470) that cooperate with the plurality of rack teeth (380) such that the linear movement of the rack (350) from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) rotates the pinion (470) and the rotating body portion (160) through a rotational range of motion (510) from a maximum backswing position (512) to a maximum follow-through position (514) resulting in the club (180) striking a replica golf ball (700);
• and
• a coupler (600), including a distinct mechanical joining system (610), releasably and rigidly connecting the interchangeable body mounting device (120) to the shaft proximal end (210).

A reconfigurable golf game (10), comprising:

• an interchangeable body (100) having a non-rotating body portion (110) and a rotating body portion (160), wherein the non-rotating body portion (110) includes a mounting device (120) and is formed with a rack passageway (130), and the rotating body portion (160) is ratably attached to the non-rotating body portion (110) and includes a club receiver (170) for releasably retaining a club (180), wherein the non-rotating body portion (110) includes a ball storage and distribution system (140) that houses at least one replica golf ball (700) and discharges the at least one replica golf ball (700) upon the completion of a predetermined event, and the non-rotating body portion (110) includes a foot (112) joined to a lower leg (113) by a foot hinge (150) that allows the foot (112) to rotate independently of the lower leg (113) so that the foot (112) may always remain flat on the ground;
• a hollow shaft (200) having a shaft proximal end (210), a shaft distal end (220), an interior surface (230), and an exterior surface (240), wherein the hollow shaft (200) is formed with an actuation system slot (250) extending from the interior surface (230) to the exterior surface (240);
• a swing actuation system (300) having a translational motion system (310) and a rotational motion system (450), wherein:
• (A) the translational motion system (310) includes:
• (i) a prime mover (320), slidably disposed within the hollow shaft (200), having a mover proximal end (330) and a mover distal end (340), wherein the mover proximal end (330) has a mover engager (332), and the mover distal end (340) has a finger receiver (342) configured to extend through the actuation system slot (250) and is shaped to receive an index finger of a human hand;
• and
• (ii) a rack (350), located in part in the rack passageway (130), having a rack proximal end (360), a rack distal end (370), and a plurality of rack teeth (380) located between the rack proximal end (360) and the rack distal end (370), wherein the rack distal end (370) has a receiver (372) designed to releasably cooperate with the mover engager (332) to transmit linear motion from the prime mover (320) to the rack (350), and wherein the rack (350) has a maximum fixed backswing stop (390) located toward the rack proximal end (360) and a maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) located toward the rack distal end (370), and the plurality of rack teeth (380) extend from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) defining a linear range of motion (500);
• and
• (B) the rotational motion system (450), attached to the rotating body portion (160), has a pinion (460) containing a plurality of pinion teeth (470) that cooperate with the plurality of rack teeth (380) such that the linear movement of the rack (350) from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) rotates the pinion (470) and the rotating body portion (160) through a rotational range of motion (510) from a maximum backswing position (512) to a maximum follow-through position (514) resulting in the club (180) striking a replica golf ball (700);
• and
• a coupler (600) releasably connecting the interchangeable body mounting device (120) to the shaft proximal end (210).

A reconfigurable golf game (10), comprising:

• an interchangeable body (100) having a non-rotating body portion (110) and a rotating body portion (160), wherein the non-rotating body portion (110) includes a mounting device (120) and is formed with a rack passageway (130), and the rotating body portion (160) is rotably attached to the non-rotating body portion (110) and includes a club receiver (170) for releasably retaining a club (180), and wherein the non-rotating body portion (110) includes a ball storage and distribution system (140) that houses at least one replica golf ball (700) and discharges the at least one replica golf ball (700) upon the completion of a predetermined event;
• a hollow shaft (200) having a shaft proximal end (210), a shaft distal end (220), an interior surface (230), and an exterior surface (240), wherein the hollow shaft (200) is formed with an actuation system slot (250) extending from the interior surface (230) to the exterior surface (240);
• a swing actuation system (300) having a translational motion system (310) and a rotational motion system (450), wherein:
• (A) the translational motion system (310) includes:
• (i) a prime mover (320), slidably disposed within the hollow shaft (200), having a mover proximal end (330) and a mover distal end (340), wherein the mover proximal end (330) has a mover engager (332), and the mover distal end (340) has a finger receiver (342) configured to extend through the actuation system slot (250) and is shaped to receive an index finger of a human hand;
• and
• (ii) a rack (350), located in part in the rack passageway (130), having a rack proximal end (360), a rack distal end (370), and a plurality of rack teeth (380) located between the rack proximal end (360) and the rack distal end (370), wherein the rack distal end (370) has a receiver (372) designed to releasably cooperate with the mover engager (332) to transmit linear motion from the prime mover (320) to the rack (350), and wherein the rack (350) has a maximum fixed backswing stop (390) located toward the rack proximal end (360) and a maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) located toward the rack distal end (370), and the plurality of rack teeth (380) extend from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) defining a linear range of motion (500);
• and
• (B) the rotational motion system (450), attached to the rotating body portion (160), has a pinion (460) containing a plurality of pinion teeth (470) that cooperate with the plurality of rack teeth (380) such that the linear movement of the rack (350) from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) rotates the pinion (470) and the rotating body portion (160) through a rotational range of motion (510) from a maximum backswing position (512) to a maximum follow-through position (514) resulting in the club (180) striking a replica golf ball (700);
• and
• a coupler (600) releasably connecting the interchangeable body mounting device (120) to the shaft proximal end (210).

A reconfigurable golf game (10), comprising:

• an interchangeable body (100) having a non-rotating body portion (110) and a rotating body portion (160), wherein the non-rotating body portion (110) includes a mounting device (120) and is formed with a rack passageway (130) and includes a foot (112) joined to a lower leg (113) by a foot hinge (150) that allows the foot (112) to rotate independently of the lower leg (113) so that the foot (112) may always remain flat on the ground, and the rotating body portion (160) is rotably attached to the non-rotating body portion (110) and includes a club receiver (170) for releasably retaining a club (180);
• a hollow shaft (200) having a shaft proximal end (210), a shaft distal end (220), an interior surface (230), and an exterior surface (240), wherein the hollow shaft (200) is formed with an actuation system slot (250) extending from the interior surface (230) to the exterior surface (240);
• a swing actuation system (300) having a translational motion system (310) and a rotational motion system (450), wherein:
• (A) the translational motion system (310) includes:
• (i) a prime mover (320), slidably disposed within the hollow shaft (200), having a mover proximal end (330) and a mover distal end (340), wherein the mover proximal end (330) has a mover engager (332), and the mover distal end (340) has a finger receiver (342) configured to extend through the actuation system slot (250) and is shaped to receive an index finger of a human hand;
• and
• (ii) a rack (350), located in part in the rack passageway (130), having a rack proximal end (360), a rack distal end (370), and a plurality of rack teeth (380) located between the rack proximal end (360) and the rack distal end (370), wherein the rack distal end (370) has a receiver (372) designed to releasably cooperate with the mover engager (332) to transmit linear motion from the prime mover (320) to the rack (350), and wherein the rack (350) has a maximum fixed backswing stop (390) located toward the rack proximal end (360) and a maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) located toward the rack distal end (370), and the plurality of rack teeth (380) extend from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) defining a linear range of motion (500);
• and
• (B) the rotational motion system (450), attached to the rotating body portion (160), has a pinion (460) containing a plurality of pinion teeth (470) that cooperate with the plurality of rack teeth (380) such that the linear movement of the rack (350) from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) rotates the pinion (470) and the rotating body portion (160) through a rotational range of motion (510) from a maximum backswing position (512) to a maximum follow-through position (514) resulting in the club (180) striking a replica golf ball (700);
• and
• (C) an auxiliary pinion backswing stop (480) that releasably attaches to the pinion (460) and cooperates with the pinion teeth (470) to stop the interaction between the rack (350) and the pinion (460) prior to the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) thereby selectively shortening the linear range of motion (500) and the rotational range of motion (510);
• and
• a coupler (600) releasably connecting the interchangeable body mounting device (120) to the shaft proximal end (210).

A reconfigurable golf game (10), comprising:

• an interchangeable body (100) having a non-rotating body portion (110) and a rotating body portion (160), wherein the non-rotating body portion (110) includes a mounting device (120) and is formed with a rack passageway (130), and the rotating body portion (160) is rotably attached to the non-rotating body portion (110) and includes a club receiver (170) for releasably retaining a club (180);
• a hollow shaft (200) having a shaft proximal end (210), a shaft distal end (220), an interior surface (230), and an exterior surface (240), wherein the hollow shaft (200) is formed with an actuation system slot (250) extending from the interior surface (230) to the exterior surface (240);
• a swing actuation system (300) having a translational motion system (310) and a rotational motion system (450), wherein:
• (A) the translational motion system (310) includes:
• (i) a prime mover (320), slidably disposed within, the hollow shaft (200), having a mover proximal end (330) and a mover distal end (340), wherein the mover proximal end (330) has a mover engager (332), and the mover distal end (340) has a finger receiver (342) configured to extend through the actuation system slot (250) and is shaped to receive an index finger of a human hand;
• and
• (ii) a rack (350), located in part in the rack passageway (130), having a rack proximal end (360), a rack distal end (370), and a plurality of rack teeth (380) located between the rack proximal end (360) and the rack distal end (370), wherein the rack distal end (370) has a receiver (372) designed to releasably cooperate with the mover engager (332) to transmit linear motion from the prime mover (320) to the rack (350), and wherein the rack (350) has a maximum fixed backswing stop (390) located toward the rack proximal end (360) and a maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) located toward the rack distal end (370), and the plurality of rack teeth (380) extend from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) defining a linear range of motion (500);
• and
• (B) the rotational motion system (450), attached to the rotating body portion (160), has a pinion (460) containing a plurality of pinion teeth (470) that cooperate with the plurality of rack teeth (380) such that the linear movement of the rack (350) from the maximum fixed backswing stop (390) to the maximum fixed follow-through stop (400) rotates the pinion (470) and the rotating body portion (160) through a rotational range of motion (510) from a maximum backswing position (512) to a maximum follow-through position (514) resulting in the club (180) striking a replica golf ball (700);
• a coupler (600) releasably connecting the interchangeable body mounting device (120) to the shaft proximal end (210);
• and
• a helical spring (495) located within the interchangeable body (100) attached in-part to the non-rotating body portion (110) and attached in-part to the rotating body portion (160) such that the helical spring (495) is wound as the rotating body portion (160) is rotated to a backswing position, thereby developing stored potential energy that is released when a user releases the finger receiver (342) thereby releasing the potential energy of the helical spring (495) and rotating the rotating body portion (160) to strike the replica golf ball (170).