US3003770A - Golf ball teeing machine - Google Patents

Description

R. O. JONES GOLF BALL TEEING MACHINE Oct. 10, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1959 INVENTOR. EICHAED 0- JONES Oct. 10, 1961 Filed Dec.

o. JONES 3,003,770

GOLF BALL TEEING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 n L 44 J I Oct. 10, 1961 R. o. JONES I 3,003,770

GOLF BALL TEEING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 61 v 1; w m 1 n u 0 G1 I4 i I I i I I l 1 I I I I ii L k IIJ ia 1; I A I 5 w 31 4 8 G l2 3% Fm ys INVENTOR.

,QIKA/AQD O- JONES United States Patent 3,003,770 GOLF BALL TEEING MACHINE Richard 0. Jones, 152 Corbin Ave., Macon, Ga.

' Filed Dec. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 858,931

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-201) This invention relates to golf ball teeing devices, and more particularly to an automatic, gravity-operated golf ball feeding and teeing device.

. The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved automatic golf ball teeing device which is simple in construction, which is reliable in operation, and which automatically furnishes a golf ball on a tee at the proper position for striking same with a golf club, whereby the device is extremely useful in practicing golf strokes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic golf ball teeing device which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, which involves relatively few parts, and which is easy to maintain in an operating condition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic golf ball teeing device for use in practicing golfing strokes, said device being relatively compact in size, being relatively light in weight, and operating entirely by gravity whereby no additional power supply is required therefor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and fromlthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved automatic golf ball teeing device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and showing the position of the teeing lever when a golf ball is supported thereon.

IGURE 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIGURE 5.

' Referring to the drawings, the improved automatic teeing. device is designed generally at 11 and comprises a vertical golf ball supply chamber 12 provided with the upwardly flaring hopper portion 13 at its top end adapted to receive a quantity of golf balls 14, as is clearly indicated in FIGURE 1.

The vertical golf ball supply chamber 12 is formed at one end wall thereof with the relatively large vertical slot or aperture 15, and pivoted in the chamber 12 adjacent said aperture, as by a transverse pivot pin 16, is a generally L-shaped delivery trough 17. As is clearly shown in FIGURE 2, the trough 17 is provided with the externally extending, relatively long outer arm 18 which is normally held in an elevated position by a counterweight 19 provided on the end of the inner arm 20 of the delivery trough, as shown in full line view in FIGURE 2.

The delivery trough 17 is formed with the ball guiding channel 20, and the arm 18 is formed at its outer end with the ball positioning ring 21 adapted to position a golf ball arriving at the ring over an upstanding tee element 22 on a tee lever 23 pivoted in the bottom of the vertical chamber 12, as will be presently explained.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the transverse pivot pin 16 is spaced inwardly with respect to the corner bend 24 of the L-shaped delivery trough 17, whereby the weight of a golf ball reaching the corner portion of the channel 29 is sufficient to overbalance the counter-weight 19 and "ice to cause the trough 17 to swing from the full line position thereof shown in FIGURE 2 to the dotted line position thereof, wherein the arm 18 extends substantially horizontally outwardly and wherein the ball-positioning ring 21 is substantially centered over the tee element 22, as will be presently described.

' A transversely extending horizontal stop bar 25 is secured in the lower portion of the golf ball supply chamber 12 and is adapted to limit the downward rotation of the arm 18 to the dotted view position thereof shown in FIGURE 2, wherein the arm is disposed outwardly and wherein the positioning ring 21 is located immediately above the tee element22.

Designated at 26 is a downwardly and forwardly inclined guide channel which is rigidly secured in the lower portion of the golf ball supply chamber 12 and which is located so that its lower end is substantially in registry with the channel in the arm 20 of the lever 17 when said lever is in the full line position thereof shown in FIGURE 2, namely when the lever is in its released position. As above explained, the trough or lever 17 is normally biased to the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 2, namely, to a position wherein the channel of the arm 20 registers with the channel 26.

Designated at 28 is a downwardly and rearwardly inclined bottom wall element provided in the golf ball supply chamber 12 and terminating at the downwardly curved end portion 29, as shown in FIGURE 2, spaced from the rear end wall of the channel 26 by a sufdcient distance to allow a golf ball to pass downwardly to the downwardly and forwardly inclined guide channel 26. I

The tee lever 23 is pivoted in the bottom portion of the chamber 12, as by a transversely extending horizontal pivot pin 29', the forward portion of the tee lever extending through a horizontal conduit element 30 formed at the bottom end of the front end wall 31 of the supply chamber 12, the tee lever being provided at its outer end with the vertical upstanding tee element 22, previously mentioned. At its inner end the tee lever 23 is provided with a counterweight 31 which normally biases the lever in a clockwise direction so that the forward end portion of the lever 23 engages the top wall of the conduit 30. However, when a golf ball 14 is supported on the tee element 22, the weight 31 is overcome and the tee lever 23 swings in a counterclockise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, so that its outer end portion engages the bottom wall of the conduit 30.

Designated at 33 is a feed roller which is rotatably.

mounted on a transversely extending shaft 34 located in the vertical golf ball supply chamber 12 between the inclined wall 28 and the inclined guide channel 26, as shown in FIGURE 2. The feeding roller 33 is mounted at a height such that the periphery of its main body portion is spaced above the guide channel 26 by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a golf ball, whereby a golf ball can pass between the roller 33 and the channel 26 and gravitate onto the short arm 20 of lever 17 if allowed to do so by the roller 33. The roller 33 is provided with the spaced, axially extending longitudinal radial detent vanes 35 which are spaced to receive a golf ball therebetween and to control the movement of the golf ball between the roller 33 and the guide channel 26 in accordance with the movements of the tee lever 23 in a manner to be presently described.

The roller 33 is formed at one end thereof with the toothed portion 36, said toothed portion 36 being provided with the spaced axially extending teeth or ribs 37 which are engageable by the top ends of a pair of detent rods 38 and 39 in a manner presently to be explained. A guide bracket 40 is secured to one side wall 41 of the vertical golf ball supply chamber, the guide bracket having a horizontal top portion which is formed with a Q to pair of guide apertures through which the rods 38 and 39 slidably extend, the apertures being inclined to guide the rods toward engagement with the toothed portion 36 of the roller 33. As shown in FIGURE 2, the guide rod: 39 is pivoted at 44 to the inner arm of the tee lever 23 at a point adjacent the weight element 31, the rod 39 being inclined upwardly and forwardly. The detent rod 38is pivoted to the outer arm portiontof the tee lever 23 at 45, as shown in FIGURE 2, and extends upwardly and rearwardly toward the toothed portion 36 of roller 33. When the tee lever 23 is in its normal position, namely, the position shown in full line view in FIGURE 2 wherein the outer end portion of the lever engages the top wall of conduit 3% the rod 38 engages one of the teeth 37 and holds the roller 33 against clockwise rotation,'as viewed in FIGURE 2, whereby a golf ball is retained between the roller 33 and the guide channel 26 and cannot gravitate onto the channeled arm 2%} of the delivery trough 17. When a golf ball descends along the arm 18 and passes into the ring 21, being thus engaged on the vertical tee element 22, the tee lever 23 rotates counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 2, so that the outer arm portion thereof engages the bottom wall of conduit 30, whereby rod 38 is retracted to release the roller 33 and rod 39 is elevated 'to drivingly engage against the roller while the roller is allowed to rotate a short amount suficient to advance the lowermost golf ball on channel 26 to a point where any further rotation of the roller will allow the ball to release therefrom. a

As will be read ly apparent, the retraction of the rod 3.8 allows the roller 33 to rotate through a limited angle in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, until the top end of the rod 39 engages a tooth 37 of portion 36 of the roller; roller to advance to the lower end of the guide channel 26. When the tee lever 23 thereafter rotates clockwise, namely, when the ball on the tee element 22 is removed, the rod 38 again moves upwardly, but prior to this the rod 3% moves down, releasing the roller and allowing the golf ball previously retained thereby on the lower end of channel 26 to advance onto the channeledtarm 20 of the delivery trough 17. Thus, an escapernent action is provided, whereby the balls are automatically fed from the gui chmnel 26 onto the channeled arm 20' of the delivery trough responsive to the intermittent oscillation of the tee lever 23which occurs when golf balls are successively engaged on the upstanding tee element 22 and are removed therefrom.

, Designated at as is a locking lever which is pivoted on a transverse shaft 61 in the golf ball supply chamber immediately above the guide channel 26 and rearwardly of the feed roller 33, the locking lever 60 being provided with a rearwardly extending feeler arm 62 which is engageable by golf balls traveling downwardly along the guide channel 26 and wmch is elevated by the presence of such golf balls. Clockwise rotation of locking lever 63, as viewed in FIGURE 2, is limited by the provision of a transversely extending stop lug 63 provided in the chamber 22 above the forwardly extending arm 64 of lever Arm is of sufficient length to lockingly engage ith one of the teeth 37 on the toothed portion 36 of roller to prevent clockwise rotation of the roller, as viewe- FIGURE 2, when the feeler portion 62 of lever 6 5 is in its lowered position, namely, when no golf balls are present therebeneath. For example, the feeler arm 62: may be of sufhcient length to drop downwardly when ts golf balls remain on the guide channel 26, whereby r feeding action is prevented and delivery u .s it na led until the hopper portion 13 is again furnished with a new supply of golf balls.

As shown in dotted view in FIGURE 5, when only two golf balls are left on the guide channel 26, the feeler arm 62 drops to the dotted view position shown in FIG- URE 5, whereby the forwardly extending locking arm 64 of the lever 65 moves into'a position where it is engage- This allows the golf ball engaged withthe able with one of the teeth 37, preventing further clockwise rotation of the roller 33.

In operation, with a supply of golf balls 14 available in the vertical golf ball supply chamber 12, the golf balls gravitate so that a number of golf balls will be present on the guide channel 26, disposed substantially in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2, whereby the feeler arm 62 will be elevated and whereby the roller 33 will be free to operate in response to oscillation of the teeing lever 23. Thus, a golf ball will engage on the supply lever 18 and will cause the arm 18 to swing downwardly to the dotted view position thereof shown in FIGURE 2,.whereby the ball will be guided to the positioning ring 21 and will be placed thereby on the top end of the upstanding vertical tee member 22. This action may be initially accomplished by manually oscillating the tee lever'23. The as cillation of the tee lever allows thefeed roller 33 to 1'0? tate sulhciently to feed a golf ball onto the delivery lever 18 in the manner above described. When the ball is placed on the upstanding tee member 22 by the positioning ring 21, the .tee lever 23 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, causing the rod 39 to drivingly engage with the toothed portion 36 of roller 33, as above described.

After the ball has been removed from the tee member 22, as by being struck by a golf club, the counterweight 31 rotates the feed lever 23 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, retracting the rod 39 and allowing the roller 33 to rotate sufliciently to deliver the next ball to the delivery lever 17, since said lever has assumed the full line position thereof shown in FIGURE 2, whereby the arm 29 thereof 'is in registry with the channel 26.

When a ball gravitates onto the arm 20, the ball passes forwardly beyond the pivotal axis 16 of the arm, causing the arm to swing downwardly to the dotted view position thereof shown in FIGURE 2, whereby the ball continues to roll downwardly and outwardly into, the positioning ring 21 and is placed on the upstanding tee element 22. The arm 18 is thus released and is allowed to rotate upwardly by the biasing action of the weight 19. At the same time the tee lever 23 is rotated counterclockwise, as above described, allowing the roller 33 to rotate through a suflicient angle to position the next golf ball at the bottom end of the channel 26, further rotation of the roller 33 being prevented by the engagement of the top end of the rod 39 withthe toothed portion 36 of the roller, as above described. When the golf 'ball on the tee elernent 22 is removed, the tee lever 23 is again released, allowing the next ball to be fed onto the delivery trough member 17, whereby the previously described action is repeated. 7 i e I Y Itwill therefore be apparent that a golf ball will be automatically delivered to the tee element 22 each time that the tee element is relieved of the weight-of the preceding golf ball. The automatic feeding action will continue until aninsufiicientnurnber of golf balls is present on the guide channel 26 to maintain the feeler arm 62 ele vated.

As shown in FIGURE 2, when the arm 18 is in its outwardly extending position, limited against further counterclockwise rotation by the transversely extending stop bar 25, the guide channel portion 20 thereof is arcuately curved outwardly'and downwardly, toward the positioning ring 21, whereby a golf ball will roll outwardly and downwardly "along the channel 213' and escend into the ring 21, being thus accurately centered on the top end of the upstanding tee element 22.

t will be noted that the tee lever 23 is rotatable in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, re sponsive to the Weight of a golf ball engaging on the upstanding tee element 22. The upwardly and forwardly inclined rod 39 is thus drivingly engageable with the pe riphery of the toothed portion '36 of the roller '33 when with the periphery of portion 36 under these conditions. The rod 39 thus positively assists the rotation of the roller 33 by engaging against the toothed portion 36, whereby the roller 33 is acted upon not only by the gravitational effect of the golf balls on channel 26, but also by the driving action of the rod member 39 as it is elevated.

While a specific embodiment of an improved golf ball teeing device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a golf ball teeing device, a vertical golf ball supply chamber formed at its lower portion with a delivery aperture, a generally L-shaped delivery trough pivoted in said aperture and extending therethrough, means biasing said trough to a position wherein its outer portion is elevated, a guide channel in the chamber inclined downwardly toward and registrable With the inner portion of said trough when the outer portion of the trough is elevated, a tee lever pivotally mounted below the trough in the same vertical plane therewith, an upstanding tee on the outer end of the tee lever, ball-positioning means on the outer end of the trough registrable with said tee when the outer end of the trough is swung downwardly, a feeding roller rotatably mounted in the chamber and spaced above said guide channel by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a golf ball, projections on the feeding roller spaced to receive therebetween a golf ball in the channel to prevent descent thereof, said trough being rotatable to lower its outer portion by gravity towards the tee lever responsive to the entry of a golf ball into its inner portion, upstanding rod means connected to the tee lever on one side of its pivotal connection and located to drivingly engage with the feeding roller responsive to downward rotation of the outer end of the tee lever caused by the weight of a golf ball on the tee lever, additional upstanding rod means connected to the tee lever on the opposite side of its pivotal connection and normally lockingly engaging the feeding roller, and means retracting said last-named rod means from the feeding roller responsive to said downward rotation of said outer end of the tee lever, whereby to provide an escapement action between the tee lever and the feeding roller.

2. In a golf ball teeing device, a vertical golf ball supply chamber formed at its lower portion with a delivery aperture, a generally L-shaped delivery trough pivoted in said aperture and extending therethrough, means biasing said trough to a position wherein its outer portion is elevated, a guide channel in the chamber inclined downwardly toward and registrable with the inner portion of said trough when the outer portion of the trough is elevated, a tee lever pivotally mounted below the trough in the same vertical plane therewith, an upstanding tee on the outer end of the tee lever, ball-positioning means on the outer end of the trough registrable with the tee lever when the outer end of the trough is swung downwardly, a feeding roller rotatably mounted in the chamber and spaced above said guide channel by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a golf ball, projections on the feeding roller spaced to receive therebetween a golf ball in the channel to prevent descent thereof, said trough being rotatable to lower its outer portion by gravity toward the tee lever responsive to the entry of a golf ball into its inner portion, upstanding rod means connected to the tee lever on one side of its pivotal connection and located to drivingly engage with the feeding roller responsive to downward rotation of the outer end of the tee lever caused by the weight of a golf ball on the tee, additional upstanding rod means connected to the tee lever on the opposite side of its pivotal connection and normally lockingly engaging the feeding roller, means retracting said last-named rod means from the feeding rolier responsive to said downward rotation of said outer end of the tee lever, whereby to provide an escapement action between the tee lever and the feeding roller, a locking lever pivoted in the chamber behind the feeding roller above the guide channel, means on said locking lever normally lockingly engaging said feeding roller, and means on the locking lever engageable by golf balls in the guide channel behind the feeding roller to disengage the locking lever fiom the feeding roller.

3. In a golf ball teeing device, a vertical golf ball supply chamber formed at its lower portion with a delivery aperture, a generally L-shaped delivery trough pivoted in said aperture and extending therethrough, means biasing said trough to a position wherein its outer portion is elevated, a guide channel in the chamber inclined downwardly toward and registrable with the inner portion of said trough when the bottom portion of the trough is elevated, a tee lever pivotally mounted below the trough in the same vertical plane therewith, an upstanding tee on the outer end of the tee lever, a ball positioning ring on the outer end of the trough registrable with the tee when the outer end of the trough is swung downwardly, a feeding roller rotatably mounted in the chamber and spaced above said guide channel by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a golf ball, projections on the feeding roller spaced to receive therebetween a golf ball in the channel to prevent descent thereof, said trough being rotatable to lower its outer portion by gravity toward the tee lever responsive to the entry of a golf ball into its inner portion, upstanding rod means pivotally connected to the tee lever on the inner side of its pivotal connection and located to drivingly engage with the feeding roller responsive to downward rotation of the outer end of the tee lever caused by the weight of a golf ball on the tee, additional upstanding rod means pivotally connected to the tee lever on the opposite side of its pivotal connection and located to normally lockingly engage the feeding roller, means retracting said last-named rod means from the feeding roller responsive to said downward rotation of said outer end of the tee lever, whereby to provide an escapement action between the tee lever and the feeding roller, a locking lever pivoted in the chamber behind the feeding roller above the guide channel, means on said locking lever'normally lockingly engaging said feeding roller, and means on the locking lever engageable by golf balls in the guide channel behind the feeding roller to disengage the locking lever from the feeding roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,071,356 Pagett Feb. 23, 1937 2,212,877 Gale Aug. 27, 1940 2,216,853 Middleton Oct. 8, 1940 2,675,237 Willcox Apr. 13, 1954

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