Patent GB-1457573-A (GB)
Title: Miniature golf course
IPC: A63B67/02
Filed: 1974-02-05
Abstract: 1457573 Miniature golf course BENGT PETERSSON NEW PRODUCTS INVESTMENT AB 5 Feb .1974 [6 Feb 1973 25 Sept 1973] 05304/74 Heading A6D A miniature golf course comprises a first section 1 which includes a starting area. 2; a middle section 4 having a number of obstacles and a final section 7 including a "green" 8 with a ball catching device e.g. a hole 9, the middle section comprising a flat portion 5 above which is a ramp 11 pivoted at one end on a shaft 17 so that in a first, lowered position its free end connects with section 1 providing an upward path therefrom and in. a second raised position allows a free passageway beneath itself; a first changeable obstacle means 14 beneath the ramp and a second changeable obstacle means 15 at the upper end of the ramp so that a ball can be played from the first section either through obstacle means 14 when the ramp is raised or up the sloping .ramp when it is lowered and through the obstacle means 15 to the last section 7. The shaft 17 on which the ramp pivots is mounted on supports 13 so that it lies in a horizontal plane and transverse to the course. The two obstacle means 14, 15 are provided with obstacles which include screens and boxes having gates through which a ball may pass. All the possible variations provided by the ramp and changeable obstacle means 14, 15 are obtainable by rotation of the three shafts 17, 16, 18 on which they pivot in a sequence which may be controlled by the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Control is achieved by means of three electrical switches 33 and a switch 34 which reverses the direction of rotation of motor 19. The switches 33 are actuated by means of a perforated plate 32 which has end stops that actuate reversing switch 34. Plate 32 is attached to nut 21 which moves along screw 20 rotated by motor 19 and as the plate passes the switches the current to the motor is out off when a switch lever falls into one of the holes in the plate. Of the three switches. 33 one is used to stop and start motor 19 when it is running in one direction and the second to operate when motor 19 is running in the opposite direction and the third to return the mechanism to the starting point of its operating cycle. By suitable disposition of the holes in plate 32 obstacle means 14 or 15 can be brought to a stop with the required obstacle in position and with ramp 11 either in the raised or lowered position. Movement of obstacle means 14, 15 and ramp 11 is achieved by links 26, 29, 31 which are connected to pin 22 which is free to move in grooves in the links providing a lost motion linkage between shafts 16, 17, 18 and screw 20 so that the screw in certain parts of its movement will bring one or more of links 26, 29, 31 with it thereby turning the respective shafts to which they are attached, while the remaining shaft or shafts are not turned. Each of the links is driven in one direction by screw 20 while in the other direction links 26, 29 are moved by springs 25, 28 respactively and link 31 is moved by the weight of ramp 11. Shafts 16, 18 provided with sprockets 23, 27 respectively are rotated by chains 24 which pass over the sprockets and are connected at one end to springs 25, 28 and at the other end to links 26, 29 respectively. Shaft 17 is rotated by lever 30 connected to link 31.