Abstract:
A tubular golf ball-dispensing container holds multiple golf balls for individual distribution. The container includes a biased lid for selectively loading and unloading of golf balls. A spring loaded compression system presses the stack of golf balls into the lid for continuous dispensing of individual balls. Upon removal of a ball from the container, the biased lid closes and the next ball is forced into the dispensing cup in the lid. The container may be attached to other gold equipment including golf bags, golf carts, and pull carts. With the addition of a support structure, the container may stand alone, a usefully configuration for use at a driving range.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent application 60/426,494 originally filed Nov. 15, 2002 under 35 U.S.C.  119 ( e ). 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to golf equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to storing a set of golf balls within a golf ball dispenser until each golf ball in the set is individually dispensed from a vertically advantageous position.  
         BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART  
         [0003]    A golfer must generally carry several extra golf balls in his golf equipment bag. Typically, these extra golf balls are stored in one of the lower, zippered pockets of the golf equipment bag. These same pocket compartments are also used to store other items including tees, scorecards, pencils, money, personal items, and other golf paraphernalia.  
           [0004]    Depending on the difficulty of the golf course, some golfers may require additional golf balls during the course of play. Typically, these ill-fated golfers are required to rummage through the pocket compartments of their golf equipment bag for another golf ball. In addition to the mere physical awkwardness of squatting next to the golf equipment bag to perform the search, there are other negative consequences resulting from attempts to retrieve extra golf balls while playing. One unfortunate consequence of this rummaging activity is that other items, such as keys, money, scorecards, or other golf miscellany that are stored in the pocket compartments may accidentally be dropped and subsequently lost on the golf course. Moreover, access to these pocket compartments is often further impeded when the golf equipment bag is strapped to a golf cart.  
           [0005]    Some golfers avoid rummaging for replacement golf balls by keeping a few extra golf balls in their pockets or on the golf cart. Unfortunately, these options also have disadvantages. For example, not only can the extra golf balls be distracting to a golfer&#39;s swing when kept in pockets, but the extra balls may also result in confusion about which golf ball the golfer is officially playing. Alternatively, when the extra balls are placed in the golf cart, they are either loose underfoot or, worse, the extras may often be forgotten at the end of the round and left in the cart.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In view of these difficulties previously associated with known methods for dispensing golf balls and the limitations of available solutions, the present invention has been developed to satisfy the need for a portable device to carry and dispense golf balls. More specifically, the golf ball dispenser allows a golfer to retrieve golf balls, one at a time, from near the top of the golf bag instead of the lower pockets.  
           [0007]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a golf ball dispenser that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that ______  
           [0008]    With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a [claim  1 ] 
           [0009]    In accordance with another feature of the invention,  
           [0010]    the (for a “wherein” claim) OR  
           [0011]    there is provided a (for an “including” claim)  
           [0012]    [for method claims substitute “mode” for “feature”] 
           [0013]    In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the  
           [0014]    In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the  
           [0015]    In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, there is provided a  
           [0016]    In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, there is provided a  
           [0017]    In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the  
           [0018]    In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, there is provided a  
           [0019]    In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention,  
           [0020]    In accordance with again another feature of the invention,  
           [0021]    In accordance with again a further feature of the invention,  
           [0022]    In accordance with again an added feature of the invention,  
           [0023]    In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention,  
           [0024]    In accordance with still another feature of the invention,  
           [0025]    In accordance with still a further feature of the invention,  
           [0026]    In accordance with still an added feature of the invention,  
           [0027]    In accordance with still an additional feature of the invention,  
           [0028]    For LAST Dependent Claim:  
           [0029]    In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention,  
           [0030]    For SECOND INDEPENDENT Claim:  
           [0031]    With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a [second independent claim] 
           [0032]    Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.  
           [0033]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a golf ball dispenser, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.  
           [0034]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
           [0035]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a golf ball dispensing method, system, and apparatus, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.  
           [0036]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
           [0037]    Additional features and advantages of golf equipment for dispensing golf balls with a vertically elevated delivery point will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of dispensing golf balls using a golf ball dispenser. The features and advantages of golf equipment for dispensing golf balls with a vertically elevated delivery point may also be realized and obtained by the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]    The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements. In the drawings:  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 1A is a perspective view from a side of a first operating environment for a ball dispenser system using a golf ball dispenser according to the invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 1B is a perspective view from a side of the first operating environment for a second embodiment of the ball dispenser according to the invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 1C is a perspective view from a side of the first operating environment for a third embodiment of the ball dispenser according to the invention;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 1D is a perspective view from a side of a second operating environment for a ball dispenser system using a golf ball dispenser according to the invention;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a golf ball dispenser for a ball dispenser system according to the invention;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional and partially broken away view of the golf ball dispenser according to the invention exhibiting a loaded state with twelve golf balls positioned within;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partially cross-sectional and partially broken away view of the golf ball dispenser with the top end including a ball interface according to the invention;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view from above the golf ball dispenser according to the invention exhibiting a dispensing position;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 is a perspective view from above the flip top lid according to the invention;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above the rotating turret according to the invention;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 8 is a perspective view from above the biasing spring according to the invention;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 9 is a perspective view from above a flip top biasing cover according to the invention;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 10 is a perspective view from above an interior housing portion of a ball interface according to the invention for loading and dispensing golf balls;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 11 is a perspective view from a side of the interior piston according to the invention;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 12 is a perspective view from above a slotted tube according to the invention;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 13 is a perspective view from above a compressed spring according to the invention; and  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 14 is a perspective view from above of the bottom cap according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0056]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description.  
         [0057]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIGS. 1A to  1 D and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of suitable environments for the dispenser according to the present invention. Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIGS. 1A to  1 C thereof, there is shown a first embodiment, in the form of a golf equipment bag  130 , that includes a golf ball dispenser  110  loaded with golf balls  120  (see FIG. 3). In FIG. 1A, the golf ball dispenser  110  is loaded into the club compartment and, preferably, releasably clipped to the edge of the golf bag  130 . FIG. 1B illustrates an alternative embodiment, in which a smaller golf ball dispenser  10  is integrated at the golf equipment bag  130 . FIG. 1C illustrates another configuration where the golf ball dispenser  110  is attached to the exterior of golf bag  130 , whether removably or fixedly.  
         [0059]    A second environment, illustrated in FIG. 1D, shows the golf ball dispenser  110  disposed in a stand-alone tripod configuration.  
         [0060]    The term “golf cart” as used in the instant application, refers to a variety of different types of equipment used to transport golf equipment on a golf course, such as pushcarts, pull carts, electric motorized carts, golf cars, and riding carts. Pushcarts and pull carts are two- or three-wheeled carts, with a vertical support with a variety of holders for attaching the cart to a bag. Electric golf carts or electric motor caddies are similar in shape and form to the push or pull carts, but come with a built-in motor. Motorized riding carts or golf cars are vehicles to drive golfers and their equipment around the course.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded schematic view of a golf ball dispenser  210  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The golf ball dispenser  210  includes a ball interface and a tubular container. One embodiment of the ball interface includes a flip top lid  212 , a turret  214 , and an interior housing  216 . As previously indicated, clip  230  enables the golf ball dispenser  210  to be attached removably to the golf bag or golf cart. One embodiment of the tubular container includes a piston  218 , a vertical biasing device  224 , a substantially cylindrical tube  220 , and a bottom cap  222 .  
         [0062]    The flip top lid  212  is operably coupled to the turret  214  such that the lid  212  may revolve about an axis substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tube  220  between closed and open positions. The turret  214  is rotatably coupled to the interior housing  216  such that the turret may turn relative to the interior housing portion  216  around the longitudinal axis. In one configuration, the flip top lid  212  is biased towards a closed position. The closed position biasing being provided by the combination of the turret  214 , a biasing coil or spring  226 , and biasing cover  228 .  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a golf ball dispenser  110  loaded with golf balls  120  according to one embodiment of the present invention. As previously discussed, one embodiment of the golf ball dispenser includes a flip top lid  212 , a turret  214 , an interior housing  216 , a piston  218 , a substantially cylindrical tube  220 , a bottom cap  222 , and a vertical biasing device  224 .  
         [0064]    As golf balls are generally packaged for sale in boxes of twelve to eighteen balls, various tube lengths may be used for the substantially cylindrical tube  220  to accommodate a full box set of golf balls  120 . See FIGS. 1A and 1C. The width of the cylindrical tube  220  is determined by the golf balls and the type of vertical adjustment mechanism used to position the golf balls  120  once loaded into the dispenser  110 .  
         [0065]    One embodiment of the tubular container  220  illustrated in FIG. 3 includes an automatic vertical adjustment mechanism for positioning golf balls within the substantially cylindrical tube  220 . The illustrated vertical adjustment mechanism includes a biased piston  218  and a vertical biasing device  224 . Exemplary vertical biasing devices  224  for use in the vertical adjustment mechanism include a spring mechanism, an elastic mechanism, a ratchet mechanism, a threaded mechanism, or other similar vertical biasing mechanisms.  
         [0066]    The biased piston  218  helps to position the balls  120   a ,  120   b  within the golf ball dispenser  110 . The piston  218  is vertically biased through a vertical biasing device  224 , which is, in the case of a preferred embodiment, a spring mechanism, to properly position the loaded golf balls  120   a ,  120   b  within the substantially cylindrical tube  220 . Exemplary biasing measures include deforming a spring, through compression or elongation, during or prior to a loading phase. More specifically, the vertical biasing device  224 , in this case a deformed compression spring mechanism, exerts a restoring force on the piston  218  that, in turn, lifts the golf balls  120   a ,  120   b  towards the flip top lid  212 . Once an individual or single top golf ball  120   a  is pressed into the flip top lid  212 , the ball  120   a  is deemed to be in a dispensing position and the golf ball dispenser  110  is loaded. As such, the top golf ball  120   a  is the next ball to be dispensed upon actuation of the flip top lid  212 .  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up of the cross-sectional view of the top end of the golf ball dispenser  110  loaded with stacked golf balls  120   a ,  120   b . More specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the ball interface including the flip top lid  212 , the turret  214 , the interior housing  216 , biasing coil or spring  226 , and the biasing cover  228 .  
         [0068]    The turret  214  and biasing cover  228  hold the biasing spring  226  in position to bias the lid  212 . Although the illustrated flip top lid  212  in FIG. 3 is biased towards a closed position, alternative configurations in which the lid is biased towards an open position or a dispensing position may also be used without departing from the spirit or characteristics of the present invention.  
         [0069]    The clip  230  enables the golf ball dispenser  110  to be attached to a golf bag or golf cart. While the clip  230  is illustrated in FIG. 4, other acceptable attachment methods include using a strap or snap, each of which may be removably or fixedly connected to the dispenser  110 . In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1D, the clip  230  is replaced by a stand with multiple support legs to form at least a tripod support structure with the endcap  222 . Such a configuration allows the golf ball dispenser  110  to be a stand alone device, which could be used at a driving range or practice green, for example.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the process of dispensing a golf ball  120   a  from the flip top lid  212  located on the top end  250  of the golf ball dispenser  110 . The flip top lid  212  includes a scoop portion  310 , a lever portion  320 , and an axle  330 ,  330   a ,  330   b  having a substantially horizontal axis around which the lid  212  may rotate from a closed position to an open or dispensing position. Upon rotation about the axis, scoop portion  310  separates the top golf ball  120   a  from the other loaded golf balls  120   b . FIG. 5 also provides a closer perspective view for one embodiment of turret  214  having a loading interface  410 , a biasing interface  420 , and axle support structure  430 .  
         [0071]    Although the lid  212  is typically biased towards the closed position, FIG. 5 illustrates that the golf ball dispenser  110  may also work without a biasing coil  226 . Specifically, the vertical adjustment mechanism, by forcing the balls to the top end  250  of the golf ball dispenser  110 , allows actuation of the lid  212 , by rotation about the orthogonal axis to the longitudinal axis and, thereby, allow a user to grab the top ball  120   a  from the scoop  310  of the dispenser  110 .  
         [0072]    While FIGS.  2 - 5  only illustrates one golf ball dispensing system  110 , several other configurations are acceptable and within the scope of at least one embodiment. For example, one embodiment of the ball interface only holds a top cap portion of the golf ball so that the golf ball can be removed from an interface opening using only two fingers, such as the thumb and forefinger, placed at substantially opposite sides of the golf ball. In this manner, the dispensing interface is always open. While most embodiments use different interfaces to load and dispense the golf balls, one embodiment of the ball interface uses the same opening to load and dispense the golf balls. Embodiments of the present invention may use a dispensing interface with either a vertical opening or a horizontal opening. Moreover, some embodiments may use either a horizontal opening or a vertical opening as a loading interface.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a flip top lid  212  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The flip top lid  212  is a cap shaped component including a scoop portion  310 , a lever portion  320 , and axles  330   a ,  330   b . The scoop portion  310  is curved to approximately match the curvature of the golf ball. As was previously indicated in FIG. 5, the lid  212  separates the top ball  120   a  from the remaining balls  120   b . The lever portion  320  is moved approximately 180 degrees from a closed position to a dispensing position. The axles  330   a ,  330   b  may be biased to one position, preferably, the closed position, so that the lid  212  returns to the closed position once force is removed from the lever portion  320 . The illustrated axles  330  are notched and of different sizes, but alternative configurations are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, both sides or neither side of lid  212  could be biased depending on the desired design features.  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 7 illustrates the turret  214  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The turret  214  includes ball interfaces  410   a  and  410   b , axle interfaces  430   a  and  430   b , and biasing interface  420 . The turret interacts closely with the flip top lid  212  of FIG. 6 and the interior housing  216  of FIG. 10. More specifically, the dispensing ball interface  410   b  includes axle interfaces  430   a  and  430   b  to receive the axles  330   a  and  330   b  respectively. The illustrated turret  214  also includes a thread portion  440  that fits within the guide track  710  of the interior housing  216  and enables the turret  214  to rotate from a closed position to a loading position. In the loading position, the ball interface  410   a  is aligned with a similar loading interface  730  in the interior housing  216 .  
         [0075]    The biasing interface  420  couples with the biasing cover  228 , as illustrated in FIG. 9, to proper position the biasing coil or spring  226  illustrated in FIG. 8. The biasing cover  228  includes positional columns  620 , an axle interface  630 , and a biasing barrier  640 . As previously illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the biasing spring  226  is positioned between the cover  228  and the turret  214  to hold a leverage arm  520  on the biasing spring  226  between the biasing interface  420  on the turret  214  and the positional columns  620  of the biasing cover  228 . The biasing barrier  640  positions and provides cross-dimensional support for the leverage arm  520 . The notched axle  330   b  couples with the bias arm  530  of the biasing spring  226  and extends through the axle interface  630  of the biasing cover  228 .  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 10 illustrates an interior housing portion  216  of a ball interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. The interior housing  216  includes a guide track  710 , a dispensing interface  720 , a loading interface  730 , and a clip interface  740 . The interior housing  216  is generally fixably coupled to the substantially cylindrical tube  220 , but can be removably coupled thereto. The clip interface  740  is configured to receive a clip  230 , strap, or other attachment mechanism to fasten or position the golf ball dispenser  110  in a desired location. In one embodiment set forth above, the dispensing interface  720  and the loading interface  730  use the same opening.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 11 illustrates the interior piston  218  according to one embodiment of the invention. The piston  218  includes a finger toggle  810 , an outer cylinder  820 , and a plunger  830 . The outer cylinder  820  of the piston  218  is configured to receive the vertical biasing device  224  (illustrated in FIG. 13) therewithin through opening  840  and to slide within a cavity  930  of the substantially cylindrical tube  220  (see FIG. 12). As illustrated in FIG. 3, the plunger  830  presses (through a non-illustrated plate at the leftmost end of the plunger as viewed in FIG. 11) the loaded golf balls  120  towards the dispensing opening. The plunger  830  has a smaller diameter as it is configured to fit within the interior housing  216  and press the last golf ball into the top golf ball position  120   a.    
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 12 illustrates a substantially cylindrical slotted tube  220  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The tube  220  includes a slotted guide track  910 , a loading notch  920 , and the cavity  930  formed within tube  220  to allow the passage of balls therethrough. The finger toggle  810  of the piston  218  is configured to fit within the slotted guide track  910 . If desired, the user may move the finger toggle  810  to the loading notch  920  to move the piston  218  within the cavity  930  and to deform the vertical biasing device  224 . Once the balls have been loaded into the dispenser, the finger toggle  810  may be released from the loading notch  920  so that the vertical adjustment mechanism can position the loaded balls  120  for dispensing.  
         [0079]    The bottom cap  222  illustrated in FIG. 14 includes a bottom surface  1110 , a tube interface  1120 , and an attachment interface  1130 . The vertical biasing device  224 , more specifically a compression spring, presses against the bottom surface  1110  to move the piston  218 . The tube interface  1120  receives the substantially cylindrical slotted tube  220  and fastens it to the bottom cap  222  such that the biasing device  224  is not able to move the bottom cap  222  from the tube  220 . For example, in one embodiment, the tube interface is threaded so that the bottom cap can be screwed onto the tube  220 . Another embodiment uses a compression fitting to connect the tube  220  and the bottom cap  222 . The illustrated attachment interface  1130  is configured to receive a strap, clip, or hook to attach the dispenser  110  to the desired location.  
         [0080]    Several alternative embodiments exist for the design of a ball interface that positions the delivery point near the top of the golf ball dispenser. One exemplary additional embodiment uses a ball interface configured to hold a polar cap portion of the golf ball so that the golf ball can be removed from an interface opening using only two fingers, such as the thumb and forefinger, placed at substantially opposite sides of the golf ball. In one configuration, the interface opening is always open. Alternatively, the golf ball dispenser could be resized to accommodate other types of athletic balls, such as ping-pong balls, tennis balls, racquetballs, squash balls, handballs, baseballs, billiard balls, polo balls, basketballs, and other types of round sporting balls. Further embodiments could reshape the scoop portion  310  to accept alternatively shaped athletic balls or equipments, such as footballs, pucks, or similar equipment.  
         [0081]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or important characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. Therefore, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.