Patent Publication Number: US-8974312-B2

Title: Automatic golf ball supply device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 371 application of International Application No. PCT/KR2010/009031, filed Dec. 16, 2010, which in turn claims priority from Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2010-0123487, filed Dec. 6, 2010, and 10-2009-0125694, filed Dec. 16, 2009, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an automatic golf ball supply device, and in particular to an automatic golf ball supply device which makes it possible to supply a plurality of golf balls in sequence at a portion where a user hits a golf ball with a golf club in a golf game practice place or the like and makes it possible to significantly lower the height of a frame and to easily perform a forced transfer of a golf ball. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Golf is a sport in which a game winner is generally decided by a player who finishes all the rounds with less hits attempted to insert a small, round golf ball into a targeted hole. The golf is very popular with men or women of all ages. 
     For enjoying a golf game, it is very important for a player to hit a golf ball in a desired direction and to land at a desired place. The players generally practice in an indoor golf game practice place in order to build up a golf play skill before starting an actual golf game in an outdoor field. 
     The device designed to automatically supply golf balls in a golf game practice place is an automatic golf ball supply device generally called a tee up device. 
     In other words, the conventional automatic golf ball supply device is designed to automatically place a golf ball, above the ground, on a tee member made from a tube-shaped elastic material by automatically receiving a golf ball from under the ground without a user manually placing one by one a golf ball atop the tee (which is like a stick planted into the ground for the purpose of ensuring that the golf ball can be placed at a certain height from the ground). 
     The user can keep practicing without stops as a new golf ball is automatically supplied after the user hit a golf ball supplied from the automatic golf ball supply device. 
     The conventional automatic golf ball supply device has a problem that the height of the frame cannot be minimized because the height of the frame generally has at least a height higher than the sum of the height of the tee member and the height of the golf ball. 
     A driving force transfer device such as an additional belt or a gear or something and a forced transfer device are generally being used for the purpose of transferring a golf ball to the direction of a tee member; however the number of parts increases due to the driving force transfer device such as an additional belt or a gear or something, which results in disadvantageously lowering the productivity while increasing the manufacture cost. The driving force might lose during the operation by way of the driving force transfer device, so the forced transfer force of the golf ball significantly decreases. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is made to resolve the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic golf ball supply device which makes it possible to minimize the height of a frame in such a way that an elliptical golf ball discharge part is provided to cause a golf ball to move over a frame and then to descend onto a tee member, and a golf ball guide slope plate is provided to guide a golf ball. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic golf ball supply device which makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and to maximize the productivity and to reduce the manufacture cost and to maximize the forced transfer force of the golf ball by minimizing the loss of driving force, in such a way that there is provided a golf ball transfer roller which is directly connected with a rotary shaft of a motor and which can be spatially movable depending on the size of a golf ball. 
     To achieve the above objects, there is provided an automatic golf ball supply device which can automatically supply a golf ball to a portion where a user hits a golf ball with a golf club, which comprises a frame which has a golf ball discharge part at its upper side; an ascending and descending part which has a tee member on the top of which a golf ball is mounted and which freely ascends and descends in the direction of the discharge part along a guide installed at the frame and which ascends and descends by means of a motor; and a golf ball transfer roller an outer surface of which rotates and comes into contact with a golf ball for the purpose of pushing a golf ball in a golf ball standby compartment and mounting atop the tee member of the ascending and descending part, so the golf ball is forcibly transferred toward the direction of the tee member. 
     In addition, it is preferred that the automatic golf ball supply device according to the preset invention further comprises a golf ball guide slope plate which is installed in the golf ball standby compartment for the purpose of guiding a golf ball in the golf ball standby compartment up to a portion higher than the discharge part of the frame; and a protection member which protects the golf ball positioned higher than the discharge part. 
     In addition, according to the present invention it is preferred that the golf ball discharge part of the frame is formed, in whole, in a cylindrical shape or polygonal shape so that part or all the portion of a golf ball can move above the frame and can mount onto the top of the tee member. 
     In addition, according to the present invention, it is preferred that the protection member is selected from the group consisting of an elastic protection cap, a protection cap with a lid, a protection hair, a protection cap with a protection hair and one in combination with the above elements. 
     In addition, according to the present invention, the golf ball transfer roller rotates and snaps a golf ball and is movable along a spacing guide for an elastic spacing movement of the rotary shaft and is connected with the movable motor fixed at a movable frame elastically fixed at the frame by means of an elastic spring. 
     In addition, according to the present invention, the golf ball transfer roller rotates and snaps a golf ball, the rotary shaft of which is of a rotary shaft which is non-eccentric or eccentric to the rotary shaft of the motor. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, there is provided an automatic golf ball supply device which can automatically supply a golf ball to a portion where a user hits a golf ball with a golf club, which comprises a frame which has a golf ball discharge part at its upper side; an ascending and descending part which has a tee member on the top of which a golf ball is mounted and which freely ascends and descends in the direction of the discharge part along a guide installed at the frame and which ascends and descends by means of a motor; a golf ball guide slope plate which is installed in the golf ball standby compartment so that the golf ball in the golf ball standby compartment can be guided to a position higher than the discharge part of the frame; a protection member which protects a golf ball higher than the discharge part; and a golf ball transfer device which guides a golf ball to a portion higher than the discharge part of the frame by pushing the golf ball in the golf balls standby compartment and forcibly transfers the golf ball toward the direction of the tee member. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS 
     The automatic golf ball supply device according to the present invention is advantageously characterized in that the weight, volume and installation of a product can be saved a lot in such a way to minimize the height of the frame, and it is possible to install the product of the preset invention without damaging a steel structure within the range of a conventional inter-floor thickness of a golf game practice place, and the productivity can be enhanced by reducing the number of parts, and the manufacture cost can be saved, thus minimizing the loss of driving force, thus maximizing the forced transfer force of the golf ball. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an automatic golf ball supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side cross sectional view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a right side cross sectional view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross sectional view of another example of a protection member of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side cross sectional view of further another example of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross sectional view of still further another example of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a front structure of an example of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a rear structure of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating a golf ball transfer roller of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a rear structure of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating another example of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of an example that an automatic golf ball supply device according to the present invention is installed in a golf game practice place. 
         FIG. 14  is a side cross sectional view illustrating further another example of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 15  is a left side cross sectional view of another example of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 16  is a plane view illustrating further another example of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 17  is a side cross sectional of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is a view illustrating a use state of  FIG. 16 . 
       
         
           
             
                 
               
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   &lt;Descriptions of the reference numerals of the drawings&gt; 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
              
                 
                     
                 
              
             
             
                 
                 
              
                 
                   1: golf ball 
                   10: frame 
                 
                 
                   H: height 
                   10a: golf ball discharge part 
                 
                 
                   11: protection member 
                   11a: inner diameter surface 
                 
                 
                   111: lid 
                   31, 112: protection hair 
                 
                 
                   12: tee member 
                   13: ascending and descending part 
                 
                 
                   13a: side rail 
                   14: guide 
                 
                 
                   15: rotation rod 
                   16: motor 
                 
                 
                   17: golf ball standby compartment 
                     
                 
                 
                   17a: golf ball guide slope plate 
                     
                 
                 
                   20: golf ball transfer roller 
                   20a: rotary shaft 
                 
                 
                   21: movable motor 
                   22, 23: movable frames 
                 
                 
                   24: spacing guide 
                   25: elastic spring 
                 
                 
                   200: golf ball transfer device 
                   113: guide 
                 
                 
                   114: bent engaging piece 
                   115: engaging shoulder 
                 
                 
                   101: artificial lawn 
                   102: golf ball transfer tube 
                 
                 
                   103: steel structure 
                   104: concrete layer 
                 
                 
                   T: inter-floor thickness 
                 
                 
                     
                 
              
             
           
         
       
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The automatic golf ball supply device according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an automatic golf ball supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a left side cross sectional view of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a right side cross sectional view of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a front structure of an example of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a rear structure of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  is a view illustrating a golf ball transfer roller of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a rear structure of  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 10 . 
     First of all, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , and  FIGS. 7 to 11 , the automatic golf ball supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to automatically supplying a golf ball  1  at a portion where a user hits the golf ball  1  with a golf club and comprises a frame  10 , an ascending and descending part  13 , a golf ball transfer roller  20 , a golf ball guide slope plate  17   a , and a protection member  11 . 
     Here, the frame  10  has a golf ball discharge part  10   a  at its upper side, in particular as shown in  FIG. 1 , it is preferred that the golf ball discharge part  10   a  of the frame  10  is formed in a cylindrical or polygonal shape so that part or all portions of the golf ball  1  can move over the frame  10  and can be mounted atop the tee member  12 . 
     In addition, the ascending and descending part  13  has a tee member  12  on the top of which is mounted the golf ball  1 , and the ascending and descending part  13  is installed to be freely ascend and descend in the direction of the discharge part along the guide  14  installed at the frame and ascends and descends by means of the motor  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ascending and descending part  13  ascends and descends by means of a rotation rod  15  one end of which rotates by means of the motor  16 , and the other end of which is loosely caught by the side rail  13   a  of the ascending and descending part  13 . 
     When the motor  16  rotates at a normal speed like the dotted line of  FIG. 2 , the rotation rod  15  pushes up the ascending and descending part  13 , so the golf ball  1  can be supplied to at the height where the user can best hit the golf ball  1  mounted atop the tee member  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the golf ball transfer roller  20 , which is a kind of the golf ball transfer device  200 , is directed to forcibly transferring the golf ball  1  toward the direction of the tee member  12  as its outer surface rotates and comes into contact with the golf ball  1  so that the golf ball  12  in the golf ball standby compartment  17  is pushed and mounted atop the tee member  12  of the ascending and descending part  13 . The golf ball transfer roller  20  is characterized in that it rotates and snaps the golf ball  1  and moves along the spacing guide  24  for the purpose of obtaining an elastic spacing movement of the rotary shaft  20   a , and it is connected with the movable motor  21  which is fixed at the movable frames  22  and  23  elastically fixed at the frame  10  by means of the elastic spring  25 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the golf ball transfer roller  20  might be formed of a rotary shaft  20   a  which is not eccentric, and as shown in  FIG. 15  it might be formed of an eccentric rotary shaft  20   a  the rotary shaft of which is eccentric to the rotary shaft of the motor  16  for the purpose of ensuring the eccentric movements of the rotary shaft while it snaps the golf ball  1  and rotates. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the golf ball transfer roller  20  snaps the golf ball  1  and rotates, and relatively rides over the golf ball  1  by means of the rotary shaft  20   a . The movable motor  21  installed at the movable frames  22  and  23  is constituted to move within a certain range elastically fixed by the elastic spring  25  in order for the above-mentioned spacing movement to be dynamically implemented. 
     Therefore, when the golf ball  1  is forcibly transferred, the golf ball transfer roller  20  directly connected with the movable motor  21  rotates and comes into reliable contact with the golf ball  1 , so it can pushes the golf ball  1  toward the direction of the tee member  12  without using a driving force transfer device such as a complicated belt, a gear or something, thus maximizing the forced transfer force. 
     In addition, the golf ball guide slope plate  17   a  of the present invention is installed in the golf ball standby compartment  17  so that the golf ball  1  in the golf ball standby compartment  17  can be guided to a position higher than the discharge part  10   a  of the frame  10 , as a result of which the height (H) of the frame  10  can be reduced. A substantial portion of the golf ball transferred toward and seated on the tee member upwardly protrudes from a horizontal plane of the discharge part  10   a  in a lowest descended position of the tee member. 
     The protection member  11  serves to protect the golf ball  1  positioned higher than the discharge part  10   a  and has an inner diameter surface  11   a  corresponding to the discharge part  10   a.    
     Here, as mentioned above, it is preferred that the golf ball discharge part  10   a  of the frame  10  is formed in whole in a cylindrical shape or a polygonal shape so that part or all the portions of the golf ball  1  can move up above the frame  10  and can mount atop the tee member  12 . 
     The golf ball supply procedure of the automatic golf ball supply device according to the present invention will be described. When the golf ball transfer roller  20  rates and comes into contact with the golf ball  1  in the golf ball standby compartment  17  and pushes the same, the golf ball  1  moves upward along the golf all guide slope plate  17   a  at the height higher than that of the frame and is pushed by the following golf ball  1  and is guided by the protection to member  11  and finally is mounted atop the tee member  12  which remains descended. 
     When the mounting of the golf ball  1  is detected by a golf ball detection sensor (not shown) installed at the tee member  12 , the motor  16  rotates in the normal direction as indicated by the dotted line of  FIG. 2 , and the rotation rod  15  pushes upward the ascending and descending part  13 , thus supplying the golf ball at the height where the user can best hit the golf ball  1  mounted atop the tee member  12 . 
     Here, in the present invention, there is further provided a control part (not shown) which is characterized in that in the event that the golf ball  1  is forcibly transferred toward the tee member  12 , a normal rotation signal is applied to the motor  21  rotating the golf ball transfer roller  20 , and when the golf ball  1  is mounted atop the tee member  12 , a reverse rotation signal is applied to the motor  21  so that the remaining standby golf balls  1  do not interfere with the users tee shot, whereby it is possible to prevent the golf ball  1  from exposing to the outside of the protection member  11 . 
     It is preferred that the protection member  11  is made of an elastic material such as rubber, silicon, a resin material or something. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a protection cap  110  can be adapted, which is supported by the guide  113  and has a lid  111  protecting the golf ball  1 . 
     Here, the guide  113  serves to support the lid  111  as well as serves to guide the golf ball  1  toward the direction of the tee member  12 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the protection member  11  might be formed of a protection hair  11 S which is formed of various hairs such as artificial lawn or something. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , there might be provided a protection cap  11 F having a plurality of bent engaging pieces  114  which are caught and supported by the engaging shoulder  115 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , there might be provided a protection cap  11 G which is integral with the lid  112 . 
     At each engaging piece  114  of  FIG. 12  is formed an engaging surface  115  at its side surface, thus maintaining its shape. It is preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber, resin, silicon or something, so it can be bent by the golf ball  1  if necessary. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , it can be changed or modified in various forms without escaping from the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, for example, there might be provided a protection cap  11 K having a protection hair  112  arranged in a horizontal direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 16 to 19 , as the protection member  11  of the present invention, a protection cap  11 R formed, in whole, in a cylindrical shape might be adapted. 
     The protection cap  11 R has an inner diameter surface  11   a  corresponding to the discharge part  10   a . At the inner diameter surface  11   a  is installed a golf ball input prevention protrusion  124  for preventing an error operation which might occur as the golf ball  1  is externally inputted into the is interior of the frame  10  via the inner diameter surface  11   a.    
     The golf ball input prevention protrusion  124  is made of an elastic material soft enough to easily bend when the golf ball  1  is discharged via the inner diameter surface  11   a  and not to easily bend when the golf ball  1  is externally inputted into the interior, and the golf ball input prevention protrusion  124  is protruded with an upward slope. 
     In addition, in the interior of the protection cap  11 R might be installed a guide  123  which guides the golf ball  1  in the direction of the tee member  12 . 
     At the protection cap  11 R is formed a thread hole  11 Rb in such a way to be detachable from the frame  10  by means of a fixture such as a screw, a bolt or something, the construction of which makes it possible to freely exchange the worn or damaged protection cap  11 R. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the automatic golf ball supply device which can automatically supply a golf ball  1  to a portion where a user hits a golf ball  1  with a golf club according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame  10  which has a golf ball discharge part  10   a  at its upper side; an ascending and descending part  13  which has a tee member  12  on the top of which a golf ball  1  is mounted and which freely ascends and descends in the direction of the discharge part  10   a  along a guide  14  installed at the frame  10  and which ascends and descends by means of a motor  16 ; a golf ball guide slope plate  17   a  which is installed in the golf ball standby compartment  17  so that the golf ball  1  in the golf ball standby compartment  17  can be guided to a position higher than the discharge part  10   a  of the frame  10 ; a protection member  11  which protects a golf ball  1  higher than the discharge part  10   a ; and a golf ball transfer device  200  which guides a golf ball  1  to a portion higher than the discharge part  10   a  of the frame  10  by pushing the golf ball  1  in the golf balls standby compartment  17  and forcibly transfers the golf ball  1  toward the direction of the tee member  12 . 
     The golf ball transfer device  200  might be formed of various types of golf ball transfer devices except for the golf ball transfer roller  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     According to the automatic golf ball supply device according to the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 13 , it can be substantially installed along with the concrete layer  104  on the steel structure  103  without damaging the steel structure  103  within the existing inter-floor thickness (T) in the golf game practice place with the artificial lawn  101  installed therein, by minimizing the height (H) of the frame to the height of the golf ball, namely, to 120 mm. In the conventional art, since the height (H) of the frame is above 120 mm, so the device should be installed by inevitably forming a hole at the steel structure  103 . The present invention is directed to resolving all the problems encountered in the conventional art such as rain water leakage via the holes, a bad looking at the downstairs, and the weak inter-floor strengths. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that an ordinary person skilled in the art can modify within the scope without damaging the ideas of the present invention. 
     The scope claiming the rights of the present invention is not determined within the scopes of the detailed descriptions of the present invention, but is restricted by the following claims and the technical concepts of the same.