Abstract:
A golf simulator has a flooring system comprising a tee area, a green area, a green-side area and a ball feed system adjacent the flooring system. From measurements taken when the ball is hit, the computer control system computes the next shot position of the ball after it is hit and the corresponding location on the flooring system. A ball feed system collects the ball into a ball feed chute and moves the ball toward a return gutter. When the ball contacts a gutter sensor, the sensor signals a gutter door to open, corresponding to a feed tube. The ball is sent down the return gutter and drops, at the position where the gutter door opened, into a feeding tube and a ball lifting mechanism positions a ball at the appropriate location on the flooring system. This process continues until a player finishes the hole. Accordingly, a player need not touch the golf ball, except when under penalty, more similar to an actual round of golf.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a golf simulator and in particular a more realistic simulation in which a golf ball is automatically located on a simulator based on computed results from a prior shot. Thus, a player need not touch the golf ball in preparing to hit subsequent golf shots as in the prior art. Moreover, two or more full swing shots may be taken at various locations on the simulator depending on the computed results of the prior shot.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    The popularity of golf has grown steadily throughout recent history and during this period the number of golf courses has steadily increased as well. However, in recent years the popularity has exploded as younger generations have more opportunities to learn the game. Moreover, professional golf has become a popular spectator sport televised throughout the year with various figures that younger fans enjoy watching. This has significantly fueled the golfing explosion in recent years.  
           [0005]    Although the number of golf courses has steadily increased, it has not kept pace with the growth in popularity of the game. Thus, players of all ages and skill levels struggle to find golf courses and driving ranges at which they can both play and practice. Not only are the number of golf courses too few, but players also have to deal with both daily and seasonal weather conditions which preclude play. One way of alleviating these problems has been through the use of golf simulators. Golf simulators are usually indoors and not subject to inclimate weather conditions. In addition, they allow players to both practice and play golf, as well as test equipment prior to purchase.  
           [0006]    Throughout their development, golf simulators have increased in level of technology and realism of play. In fact many simulators can now predict the results of shots based on swing speed, initial parameters of golf ball&#39;s flight, wind conditions, course obstacles, and other simulated conditions which may arise during a golf round. However, all golf simulators have the same problems. A player is forced to retrieve their ball after hitting, return to the same position to hit the next shot, and often times go to a different location to putt.  
           [0007]    Typically golf simulators have a tee area facing a screen upon which a projector can show various golf holes. Often the projector is connected to a computer which electronically communicates the various views necessary for projection onto the screen. The player may hit a shot into the screen at which time a computer, based on initial measurements, computes the flight of the golf ball as well as the resulting position of the golf shot. This information is then digitally relayed to the projector for projecting onto the screen. Next, the player retrieves his or her ball from the area between the tee area and the screen, and returns to the tee area for a subsequent shot.  
           [0008]    Herein, lies the problem with current golf simulators. During an actual round of golf, a player moves to the next golf shot position of the previous shot and does not touch the golf ball between shots, unless the ball is on the green or under a penalty situation. However, current simulators require a player to retrieve the ball from near a projection screen and replace it on the tee area for hitting a subsequent shot, whereby the player is forced to pick up the golf ball.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,441 teaches a tee area with various surfaces that are similar to fairway, sand bunker, or rough from which a player may hit his or her ball. However, in this embodiment a player must manually place the ball on the appropriate surface for each subsequent shot.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,553 teaches a golf simulator having an automatic lie selection control for selecting one of a plurality of mats from which a player may hit golf balls. This indexing program corresponds to scenes of a projector projecting golf images. However, a player must still place a golf ball on the selected mat prior to hitting a subsequent shot.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,672 teaches a golf simulator that estimates distance traveled and ultimate resting position of a simulated golf shot. It also has various positions marked on a putting green from where a player can putt to a centrally located hole. However, the player must position the ball on one of the marks for putting as well as the tee area for hitting shots.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf simulator having a system for returning golf balls to a plurality of hitting locations including the tee shot tee, fairway approach shot tees, green-side tees, or green tees.  
           [0013]    It is a further objective of this golf simulator to position a golf ball for a subsequent shot as a result of the prior shot, thus making the simulation more realistic.  
           [0014]    A golf simulator comprising:  
           [0015]    a flooring system having a ball travel system contained therein;  
           [0016]    a projection system mounted adjacent said flooring system;  
           [0017]    a computer control system adjacent said flooring system and in electronic communication with said projection system and said ball trajectory system;  
           [0018]    said flooring system comprising a tee area adjacent a green area, a green-side area surrounding said green area, and a ball feed system adjacent said flooring system;  
           [0019]    said tee area comprising a tee shot tee and at least one fairway approach shot tee;  
           [0020]    said green area comprising a plurality of putting tees and at least one putting hole;  
           [0021]    said green side area containing a plurality of chip shot tees;  
           [0022]    said ball feed system comprising a ball return chute adjacent a flooring system and connected to a return gutter, said return gutter being disposed the length of, and adjacent to, said flooring system, said return gutter having a plurality of feeding tubes depending therefrom, each of said plurality of feeding tubes feeding a ball lift mechanism, said ball lift mechanisms being located beneath said flooring system;  
           [0023]    each ball lifting mechanism comprising:  
           [0024]    a housing, said housing comprising a ball entrance depending from said feeding tubes, a vertically hollowed area within said housing accepting balls;  
           [0025]    a tee, said tee positioned within said vertically hollowed area whereby said tee moves from beneath said ball entrance to said ball exit;  
           [0026]    A tee rail, said tee rail slidably connected to said tee whereby the tee maintains correct alignment during movement in said vertically hollowed area;  
           [0027]    a ball entrance gate located adjacent said ball entrance, said ball entrance gate being spring biased and pivotably attached to said housing;  
           [0028]    a linkage having first and second ends, said first end slidably connected to said tee, said linkage also being pivotably connected to said housing;  
           [0029]    a guide rod having first and second ends, said first end connected to an actuator, said second end having a spring seat, said spring disposed between said spring seat and said slidable connection to said second end of said linkage;  
           [0030]    said linkage being spring biased whereby said second end of linkage is normally positioned lower than said first end of linkage thereby positioning said tee at said ball exit;  
           [0031]    said projection system comprising a projector located adjacent said flooring system and a projection screen opposite said tee area;  
           [0032]    a computer control system comprising a projector control module, a ball trajectory module, a ball feed system control module, and a game button response module;  
           [0033]    said projector control module disposed within said computer control system comprising an interface for said projector, control software and hardware, and at least one wire connecting said projector and said projector control module for electronic communication therebetween;  
           [0034]    said ball trajectory measuring module comprising an interface disposed within said computer control system in electronic communication with a ball trajectory system;  
           [0035]    said ball trajectory system comprising a plurality of ball hit detectors located within each of said green tees, green side tees, fairway approach shot tees, and said tee shot tees, and a sensing grid detector located opposite said tee area substantially adjacent said projection screen;  
           [0036]    said game button response module, electronically connected to said computer control system, comprising a course select button, a number of putts taken button, and a penalty stroke button.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]    The aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood when the detailed description of the preferred embodiment is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the golf simulator;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the golf simulator;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the ball lifting mechanism;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3 a  is an elevation view of the ball lifting mechanism in the downward position.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 3 b  is an elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the ball lifting mechanism;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the flooring area showing the feeding tubes;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a portion of the ball feed system;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 6 shows the control systems involved with the golf simulator; and,  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 7 is a logic flow chart showing how the components interact to control the golf simulator. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0047]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, a golf simulator according to its preferred embodiment is shown from a plan view. The flooring system  103  is comprised of a tee area  81 , green area  102 , and a green-side area  101  surrounding the green area. At one end of the simulator flooring system  103  is a tee area  81  for hitting tee shots from a tee shot tee  82  and approach shots from fairway approach shot tees  83  and  84  on a simulated golf hole. The green area  102  is comprised of a putting surface containing various putting tees  87 ,  88 ,  89 ,  92 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97 , and  98 , as well as a putting hole  99 . The tee shot tee  82 , fairway approach shot tees  83 ,  84  chip shot tees  85 ,  86 ,  90 ,  93 ,  91 ,  94  and putting tees  87 ,  88 ,  89 ,  92 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97 ,  98  are respectively contained within the flooring system  103  and are of varying length dependent upon the location of the tee. For example a tee shot tee is of a length which elevates a ball above the level of the flooring system  103  whereas fairway approach shot tees  83 ,  84 , chip shot tees  85 ,  86 ,  90 ,  91 ,  93 ,  94 , and putting tees  87 ,  88 ,  89 ,  92 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97 ,  98  are substantially at the same level as the surface of the flooring system  103 .  
         [0048]    In one embodiment the green area  102  has an hourglass shape, however one skilled in the art will recognize that the shape of the green area may be changed to any suitable shape within the boundaries of the golf simulator. The golf green may also be fully adjustable such that various undulations can be added and changed for each hole played.  
         [0049]    Surrounding the green area  102  is the green-side area  101  comprised of a plurality of chip shot tee holes,  85 ,  86 ,  90 ,  91 ,  93 ,  94  for chipping onto the green area  102 . This embodiment shows two chip shot tees on each of three sides of the green area  102 . However, this embodiment is not meant to be a limitation as any number of chip shot tees can be located on any side of the green area  102 .  
         [0050]    Also located adjacent the green area  102  and green-side area  101  is the ball feed system  400  as shown in FIG. 4. The ball feed system  400  is comprised of a ball return chute  100  which catches balls that are hit by a player and directs them throughout the flooring system  103 , using a plurality of feeding tubes  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47 ,  48 ,  49 ,  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  to an appropriate tee for subsequent shot by the player.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 1 also shows the sensing grid detector  60  adjacent the projection screen  25 . The sensing grid detector  60  communicates with the computer control system  26  and will be discussed more thoroughly below.  
         [0052]    Referring now to FIG. 2, an isometric view of the golf simulator, and the projection system are shown. The projection system is comprised of a projector  24  and projection screen  25 . Also shown is the computer control system  26  in electronic communication with the projector  24  for showing images on the projection screen  25 . The computer control system  26  has an interface and connection cable  110  for sending digital images to the projector  24 . It is understood by those skilled in the art that various other means of communication may be used between the various components of the system other than cable connection, such as infrared, radio transmission, or some other such form of communication. One means of creating golf images for the projector  24 , is through the use of a simulation program such as “Links” by Access Software, Inc. The software has a plurality of scenes from various courses around the world which can be stored on the computer control system  26  and output to a projector  24 .  
         [0053]    Referring now to FIG. 3, an elevation view of the pneumatic ball lifting mechanism  271  is shown. The pneumatic ball lifting mechanism  271  has a compressed air source  272  in flow communication with a coupling  273 . The coupling  273  is in flow communication with a pressure regulator  274 . The pressure regulator  274  is in flow communication with a multiple position flow control valve  275 . The multiple position flow control valve  275  is in electronic communication with the ball feed system control module  263  and has a plurality of outputs for flow communication with a pneumatic cylinder  276 , which is mounted to the housing  27 . The pneumatic cylinder  276  houses a slidable piston  277 , which is pivotably connected to a second end of linkage  35 . The linkage  35  is also pivotably connected to a linkage pin  135 , which is connected to the housing  27 . A spring  278  is also connected in tension from the housing  27  to the linkage  35  to provide support for the linkage and tee  33 .  
         [0054]    A tee  33  is pivotably connected to a first end of the linkage  35 . The tee  33  is housed within a vertically hollowed area  34  and has at least one pin extending into a tee rail  39  for keeping the tee  33  properly positioned within the vertically hollowed area  34  as it cycles from the ball exit aperture  30  to beneath the ball entrance  28  and back.  
         [0055]    The ball lifting mechanism  271  is in supply communication with a ball feeding chute  31 . As a golf ball arrives from the feeding chute  31  it must pass a ball entrance gate  29 . A ball entrance gate pin  129  pivotably attaches the ball entrance gate  29  to the housing  27 . A spring  32  is also attached between the ball entrance gate  29  and the housing  27 .  
         [0056]    When the compressed air source  272  connected to the ball lifting mechanism  271 , the regulator  274  is set to an operating pressure limit, preferably 50 psi. Once the pressure is set, the ball feed system control module  263  controls the flow of compressed air by controlling the multiple position flow control valve  275 . In one position, the flow causes the piston  277  to retract, in turn causing the tee  33  to be in its normal position. The opposite flow causes the piston  277  to extend which causes linkage  35  to pivot about the linkage pin  135 . As the linkage pivots, the tee  33  is lowered through the vertically hollowed area  34 .  
         [0057]    As the tee  33  moves through the vertically hollowed area  34 , the linkage  35  engages the ball entrance gate  29 , which pivots about the ball entrance gate pin  129 . As the ball entrance gate  29  pivots, a golf ball moves from the feeding chute  31  onto the tee  33 . Next the ball feed system control module  263  changes position of the multiple position flow control valve  275  causing the piston  277  to retract. As the piston  277  retracts the linkage  35  pivots and the tee  33  raises the ball through the ball exit aperture  30 . The upward movement of the tee  33  is dampened so that the ball stays on the tee when it gets to its stopping position through the ball exit aperture  30 . Moreover, as the tee  33  raises through the vertically hollowed area  34 , the ball entrance gate  29  is returned to its original position which stops balls coming from the ball feeding chute  31 . FIG. 3 a  shows the ball lifting mechanism  271  in the downward position.  
         [0058]    Referring now to FIG. 3 b , an alternative embodiment of the ball lifting mechanism  270  is shown. Each tee  33  has a corresponding ball lifting mechanism  270  having a ball feeding chute  31  and a ball exit aperture  30 . A golf ball arrives from the feeding chute  31  and passes the ball entrance gate  29 . The ball entrance gate  29  is pivotably attached by a ball entrance gate pin  129  to the housing  27  and is biased by a spring  32 . As a tee  33  is lowered to accept a ball from the feed chute  31 , the tee  33  contacts the ball entrance gate  29 . The ball entrance gate  29  lowers because of downward contact from the linkage  35  as it passes to a lower position beneath the ball entrance  28 .  
         [0059]    The tee  33  which is normally positioned at the top of a vertically hollowed area  34  within the housing  27 , is slidably connected to the linkage  35  and moves within the vertically hollowed area  34  from beneath the ball entrance  28  to the ball exit aperture  30 . The tee  33  is further slidably connected to a tee rail  39  by a pin and channel connection  133  which keeps the tee in a correct position as it moves between the ball entrance  28  and ball exit aperture  30 . Once the tee  33  is lowered beneath the ball entrance  28 , the golf ball is seated on the tee  33  and subsequently it is raised to the floor level of the flooring system  103  for hitting.  
         [0060]    The linkage  35 , which is slidably connected at a first end to a tee  33 , is also slidably connected, at a second end, to a guide rod  36  by a pin and channel connection  136 . The linkage  35  is also pivotably attached to the housing  27  at a linkage pin  135  to facilitate the movement of the golf tee from below the ball entrance  28  to the ball exit aperture  30 .  
         [0061]    The guide rod  36  has a first end connected to a solenoid  37 . A second end of the guide rod is connected to a spring seat  38 . A spring  130  is positioned between the spring seat  38  and a slidable connection of the second end of the linkage  35  to the guide rod  36 . In this arrangement the normal position of the tee  33  is maintained at the ball exit aperture  30 .  
         [0062]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a plan view of the flooring system  103  is shown including the return chute  100 , the return gutter  40 , and a plurality of feeding tubes  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47 ,  48 ,  49 ,  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 , and  57 . When a player takes a shot, the ball is deflected from the projection screen  25  into the return chute  100 , which is disposed in such a manner that gravity causes the ball to travel toward the center of the return chute  100 . The golf ball is then directed toward the return gutter  40 . Once in the return gutter  40 , the ball travels parallel to the length of the flooring system  103 . Next the golf ball is directed into one of a plurality of feeding tubes which delivers the golf ball to an appropriate tee based on the results of the prior shot.  
         [0063]    A plurality of ball direction systems are used to move a golf ball from the return gutter  40  to an appropriate feeding tube. The computer control system  26  also contains a ball feed system control module  263 , as shown in FIG. 6, which ensures that the golf ball returns to the appropriate tee location for a subsequent shot. Within the return gutter  40  is a gutter sensor  115  that communicates, to the ball feed system control module  263 , the location of the golf ball within the return gutter  40 . The gutter sensor  115  can be either a spring-switch or light source/photo-detector type sensor. Throughout the return gutter  40  are a plurality of return gutter doors, for example  72  as shown in FIG. 5, each corresponding to and in communication with the plurality of feeding tubes  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47 ,  48 ,  49 ,  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 , and  57 . The return gutter doors, for example  72 , are hingably attached to the return gutter  40  such that when a ball passes over the gutter sensor  115  the computer control system  26  is signaled and the ball feed system control module  263  communicates to open an appropriate door, for example  72 , corresponding to the tee location that a ball is needed. The door actuator  70  is slidably attached via linkage  71  to the return gutter door  72  and opens the door  72  thereby allowing the ball to drop onto a ball sensor  73 . The ball sensor  73  signals a ball pusher  74  which extends a push arm  75  depending from the ball pusher  74  to direct the golf ball into an appropriate feeding tube, for instance,  46  all determined by the ball feed system control module  263 . The door actuator  70  and the ball pusher  74  can be either solenoids or pneumatic air cylinders. From the feeding tube, the golf ball is directed into the ball lifting mechanism  27  and up to the floor level  103  for hitting.  
         [0064]    The computer control system  26  is comprised of various control modules including a projector control module  261 , ball trajectory module  262 , ball feed system control module  263 , and a game button response module  264 . These modules allow the computer control system  26  to communicate with various systems of the golf simulator. The ball trajectory module  262  of the computer control system  26  is connected to and electronically communicating with the ball trajectory system which is comprised of the sensing grid detector  60  and a ball hit detector module  362  which in turn communicates to the plurality of ball hit detectors, for example  330  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0065]    Each ball-hit detector is comprised of a light source and photo-detector and is located in each of the green tees, green side tees, fairway approach tees and tee shot tees. Each ball-hit detector communicates with the ball hit detector module  362 , which in turn communicates to the ball trajectory module  262  when a shot has been taken. The computer control system  26  then begins measuring parameters for determining the final position of the golf shot as well as maintaining a player&#39;s score.  
         [0066]    The sensing grid detector  60 , shown in FIG. 3, is also used to predict the final position of a golf shot and may consist of a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced light sources and corresponding photo-detectors. When a ball breaks a light beam between a source and photo-detector a signal is sent to the ball trajectory module  262 . When the sensing grid detector  60  communicates to the ball trajectory module via an interface card or some such electronic communication means, the computer control system  26  estimates the trajectory and computes an estimated next golf shot position of the golf ball.  
         [0067]    In place of, or in addition to, the ball hit detectors and the sensing grid detector  60 , a secondary measuring system may also be used in communication with the ball trajectory module  262  of the computer control system  26 . The secondary measuring system may have means for measuring initial velocity of the tee shot, direction of the shot, and spin of the golf ball. The measuring system will be located adjacent the flooring system  103  of the simulator. One such measuring systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,927. A system such as the one described in the above patent may be used and could be connected to the ball trajectory module via an interface card or some such electronic communication means known in the art.  
         [0068]    The game button response module  264  is also shown in FIG. 6. The game button response module  264  is in electronic communication with the game button system. The game button system is comprised of at least three buttons. The course select button  265  is used to select the golf course to be played. The putting button  266  is used to enter the number of putts taken other than from a putting tee. The penalty button  267  is a penalty button which is pushed each time a ball becomes unplayable or out of bounds. The game button system is in electronic communication with the game button control module  264  and allows the computer to start the game as well as keep proper score.  
         [0069]    Finally, a voice synthesizer  280  is shown in FIG. 6. The voice synthesizer receives information from the computer control system such as hole number, distance of shot, and shot number, and total score. The voice synthesizer  280  then communicates the information to the player so that the player knows the necessary information during the course of a golf hole.  
         [0070]    In order to position a golf ball in a location for hitting, several steps are used. First, a ball is positioned on the tee area  81  for hitting a first shot. When the ball hit detector  362  detects that a shot has been made, the ball trajectory module obtains characteristics from the sensing grid detector  60 , and communicates to the computer control system  26 . The computer control system  26  in turn computes the distance, direction, and next golf shot position of the golf shot. The position determined by the computer is translated to a grid system, in which the computer control system  26  divides the golf simulator. The computer control system  26  then causes the ball feed system to position the golf ball at a location within the grid, which is corresponding to the computed next golf shot position. Thus a subsequent shot can be taken from a location on the green area  102 , on the green side area  101 , or from the tee area  81 . Once the ball is positioned on the green area or green side area the ball hit detectors are only used to notify the computer control system  26  that the ball has been hit and the player need not hit at the screen  25  in an attempt to cross the sensing grid detector  60 . Thus the player shoots toward the putting hole  99  and the computer control system  26  waits for a signal that the ball has entered the putting hole  99 . At that time a player enters the number of shots made toward the putting hole on the game button system.  
         [0071]    The golf simulator can also determine when a hole in one has been made. If a player hits a tee shot which is calculated to rest within the grid corresponding to the putting hole  99  location, the system records this shot as a hole in one.  
         [0072]    The invention may be embodied in various forms without departing from its spirit and essential characteristics. The described embodiments are not to be considered as restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of the claims are to be embraced within the scope.