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US 8,409,023 B1Granted
Golf ball dispensing and teeing device
OwnerDave W. Hoganinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A golf ball dispensing and teeing device is provided which allows a single golf ball to be metered from a supply tube and travel therefrom to rest within an elevated ball tee.
Claims18
A golf ball dispensing and teeing device comprising:
- an elongated ball supply tube, the ball supply tube is adapted to hold a plurality of golf balls, the ball supply tube defines an open anterior end opposing an open posterior end, the ball supply tube is cylindrical and has an inner diameter being slightly larger than a diametrical measure of a golf ball;
- an anchor mechanism, the anchor mechanism anchors the ball supply tube to a ground in an elevationally-declined orientation with respect to the ground;
- a loading arm assembly, the loading arm assembly receives a plurality of golf balls from the ball supply tube via gravity feed, the loading arm assembly is pivotally secured to the anchor mechanism via a locking assembly, the loading arm assembly defines a unitary design, the loading arm assembly comprising an elongated body, the elongated body having an upper surface, a lower surface, opposing sides, and a lower end opposing a forward end, the forward end defining a ball seat, wherein the lower end of the elongated body includes a bracket receiving cavity into which a forward end of the front support bracket of the anchor mechanism is inserted, the lower end of the elongated body is pivotally secured to the front support bracket via the locking assembly, the upper surface of the elongated body defines a concave channel formed therein and extending longitudinally theredown so as to form parallel side rails, the bracket receiving cavity is formed between the concave channel and the lower surface of the elongated body, the parallel side rails, at the lower end of the elongated body, each include an L-shaped end receiving recess so as to accommodate fittingly the anterior end of the ball supply tube, the parallel side rails of the loading arm assembly are secured to the front support bracket in such a manner so as to extend outwardly from a lower plane of the anterior end of the ball supply tube and to be elevated above the ground in a declined position when the present invention is anchored to the ground, the parallel side rails each having a forward end extending downward angularly and then extending upward angularly, thereby forming a V-shaped recess, and wherein the ball seat at the forward end of the elongated body defines a raised, semi-circular incurvate wall from which upper ends thereof each extend into a concave notch, each the concave notch having an uppermost region which integrally interconnects with an upward inclination of each the V-shaped recess, respectively;
- and
- a ball release mechanism, the ball release mechanism permits a single golf ball to be metered from the ball supply tube, the ball release mechanism is welded or otherwise suitably mounted to an upper, external circumferential sidewall of the ball supply tube proximal to the open anterior end thereof.
2 more elements
A golf ball dispensing and teeing device comprising:
- an elongated ball supply tube, the ball supply tube is adapted to hold a plurality of golf balls, the ball supply tube defines an open anterior end opposing an open posterior end, the ball supply tube is cylindrical and has an inner diameter being slightly larger than a diametrical measure of a golf ball;
- an anchor mechanism, the anchor mechanism anchors the ball supply tube to a ground in an elevationally-declined orientation with respect to the ground;
- a ball release mechanism, the ball release mechanism permits a single golf ball to be metered from the ball supply tube, the ball release mechanism is welded or otherwise suitably mounted to an upper, external circumferential sidewall of the ball supply tube proximal to the open anterior end thereof, the ball release mechanism comprises:
- an upper elongated jaw portion hingedly attached via a spring to a lower elongated jaw portion, the lower elongated jaw portion has a bottom side welded or otherwise suitably mounted to the upper, external circumferential sidewall of the ball supply tube proximal to the open anterior end thereof, the upper elongated jaw portion includes an anterior end opposing a posterior end, wherein the anterior end of the upper elongated jaw portion overhangs the lower elongated jaw portion, the posterior end of the upper elongated jaw portion includes a sleeve affixed therearound so as to protect an outer finish of a golf club head, the sleeve being constructed of a plastic or rubber material;
- a stop member, the stop member limits the second generally horizontal position of the upper elongated jaw portion, the stop member is mounted atop the lower elongated jaw portion, posterior to the spring and underneath the upper elongated jaw portion, the stop member makes contact with the upper elongated jaw portion when the upper elongated jaw portion is lowered a sufficient distance;
- and
- an elongated abutment member, the abutment member extends downward angularly from the upper elongated jaw portion along the anterior end thereof, the abutment member extends from the upper elongated jaw portion at an angle of approximately 10°, wherein the abutment member extends a linear distance through a circular opening defined through the upper, external circumferential sidewall of the ball supply tube when the ball release mechanism is in a resting position, the circular opening is positioned fore of the lower elongated jaw portion, and wherein the abutment member engages a first golf ball of a series of golf balls positioned in single file and stacked formation within the ball supply tube, thereby preventing forward movement by the first golf ball when the ball release mechanism is in a resting position, the elongated abutment member functions as a stop to prevent the golf ball(s) from dispensing from the ball supply tube, and to facilitate release of a single golf ball through the open anterior end of the ball supply tube, the posterior end of the upper elongated jaw portion is depressed and quickly released, wherein depression of the posterior end of the upper elongated jaw portion concurrently urges the abutment member upwardly against an urging of the spring, and causing the abutment member to disengage from the first golf ball which allows the first golf ball to exit the open anterior end of the ball supply tube, roll slowly and simultaneously spin about its central axis down the parallel side rails and into the ball seat, within which the first golf ball resides in a resting position, and wherein release of the upper elongated jaw portion allows the spring to urge the abutment member downwardly, thereby causing the abutment member to engage a subsequent golf ball of the series of golf balls and preventing the subsequent golf ball from dispensing from the ball supply tube;
- and
- a golf ball tee apparatus, the golf ball tee apparatus is aligned juxtaposed to the open anterior end of the ball supply tube so as to be aligned facially therewith, the golf ball tee apparatus comprising:
- a base having an upper surface densely populated with flexible, fibrous bristles of suitable rigidity so as to extend upright in a vertical direction, the fibrous bristles, being densely populated, form a bed of fibrous bristles having a bristle surface, the bristle surface supports a golf ball, thereby forming a hitting surface for striking golf balls, the bristle surface supports and catches the golf ball such that the golf ball seats in a fixed position atop the bristle surface after the golf ball exits the anterior end of the ball supply tube, the base includes a plurality of holes defined through corners thereof;
- an anchor means inserted respectively through the plurality of holes in the base and into the ground, thereby anchoring the golf ball tee apparatus to the ground;
- and
- at least one platform having an equal area as the base, the at least one platform is placed and aligned against a lower surface of the base, the at least one platform defines a greater height than a height of the base, the at least one platform is provided with a plurality of holes which align with the plurality of holes in the base when the base and the at least one platform are engaged in a stacked configuration, the anchor means are inserted through the plurality of holes in the base and through the plurality holes in the at least one platform and into the ground.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.