Patent ID: 6523718
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A ball dispenser controllable by a golfer for selectively dispensing golf balls one at a time to a striking location, said dispenser comprising:(a) a passageway having an inlet for receiving said golf balls and an outlet, wherein said passageway is an elongated conduit having a longitudinal axis and wherein said conduit is inclined downwardly from said inlet to said outlet; (b) a gate member located between said inlet and said outlet and having first and second portions moveable into said passageway to restrict the passage of said balls therethrough, wherein said gate member is pivotably coupled to a forward portion of said conduit proximate said outlet; (c) an actuator to move said gate member between a dispensing position and a hold position, wherein: (i) in said dispensing position, said first portion extends substantially into said passageway and said second portion retracts substantially from said passageway; and (ii) in said hold position, said first portion retracts substantially from said passageway and said second portion extends substantially into said passageway, and (d) an activator operable by the golfer at the striking location for selectively activating said actuator.