Patent ID: 9669274
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: A63B

Claim:
1. A method for air suspension of a golf ball over a golf ball practice tee comprising: providing a golf ball practice tee including: gathering golf balls in a wide end of the golf ball funnel; supplying the golf balls from a narrow end of the golf ball funnel to the underground golf ball supply line connected to the narrow end of the golf ball funnel by a first end of the underground golf ball supply line via activation of at least one first latch, wherein the at least one first latch is positioned within the underground golf ball supply line and positioned between the first end of the underground golf ball supply line and the narrow end of the golf ball funnel; supplying the golf balls from the underground golf ball supply line to the upwardly opening ball and air guide connected to a second end of the underground golf ball supply line via activation of at least one second latch positioned within the underground golf ball supply line and positioned between the second end of the underground golf ball supply line and the upwardly opening ball and air guide; measuring from at least one air flow sensor air flow into the upwardly opening ball and air guide; detecting from at least one position sensor the position of the golf balls in the golf ball funnel and underground golf ball supply line; producing air from the fan positioned below the upwardly opening ball and air guide by bringing in outside air from a channel piping with a first end connected to the above ground U-shaped air intake pipe and a second end positioned below the fan, wherein the fan pulls the air through the U-shaped air intake pipe and the air channel piping, moving the air through the upwardly opening ball and air guide, thus creating negative pressure through the upwardly opening ball and air guide; and accelerating the air from the fan through the air funnel, concentrating it into the upwardly opening ball and air guide; wherein operation of the golf ball practice tee is managed with the controller for increasing and/or decreasing air flow and opening and/or closing the at least one first latch and/or the at least one second latch.