Description

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING AUTOMATICALLY GOLF

BALL

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls in a golf practice range, and more particularly, to an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls which can minimize an operation height of a golf tee to be moved to a hitting position of a trainee, so that the apparatus has a compact structure to improve an efficiency of an installation space and is effectively installed in existing buildings and sufficiently secure a swing space of the trainee. Background Art

[2] Recently, golf is popularized as public sports due to improved standard of living.

[3] Since golf hitting practice is generally performed in golf practice ranges, installation of the golf practice ranges is rapidly increased.

[4] An apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls to a trainee (called as tee-up device) is installed under a floor of the golf practice range, so that the trainee can repeatedly perform the hitting practice by using the golf balls automatically supplied from the apparatus.

[5] Various kinds of such apparatuses have been developed.

[6] One example is disclosed in Korean Patent No.10-0353165, in which a base with a golf tee is moved up or down by a belt or pulley in a rectangular frame to supply a golf ball to a hitting position of a trainee. Another example is disclosed in Korean Utility Model No.20-0418251, in which a base with a golf tee is moved up or down by a linkage eccentrically connected to a motor shaft in a rectangular frame to supply a golf ball to a hitting position of a trainee.

[7] If the trainee hits the golf ball seated on the upper portion of the golf tee, the base with the golf tee is moved to its original position in response to detection of a sensor to continuously supply the golf ball, so that the trainee can repeatedly perform the hitting practice.

[8] Since the base supporting the golf tee is moved up and down in a vertical direction to supply the golf ball, it is necessary to secure a sufficient space in which the golf tee and the base are lifted or lowered.

[9] In order to secure the operation space for the golf tee and the base supporting the golf tee, the rectangular frame should be manufactured to have a relatively high height.

[10] Since the conventional apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls is manufactured to have a high height, it is limited to an installation space.

[11] In addition, since the existing building with a common interlay er height is occupied by the conventional apparatus, the space between the ceiling of the building and the apparatus is narrow, and thus it is difficult to secure the space for swing practice of a trainee. As a result, the trainee cannot perform full-swing practice.

[12] There is a problem that mechanical noise is generated during a power transmitting process of lifting and lowering the golf tee and the base supporting the golf tee.

[13] Furthermore, since the golf tee supporting the golf ball is made of rubber material, it is easily damaged during repeated hitting practice. Its durability is deteriorated, and the maintenance thereof is very inconvenient. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[14] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems.

[15] An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls which can minimize an operation height of a golf tee to be moved to a hitting position of a trainee, so that the apparatus has a compact structure to improve an efficiency of an installation space and is effectively installed in existing buildings and sufficiently secure a swing space of the trainee.

[16] Other object of the present invention is to minimize mechanical noise to be generated during a process of lifting and lowering a golf tee and a power transmitting process to maximize the reliability thereof.

[17] Another object of the present invention is to increase the durability of a golf tee by improving the structure of the golf tee supporting a golf ball and easily replace the golf tee with new one. Technical Solution

[18] In order to achieve the above and other objects, there is provided an apparatus for automatically supplying a golf ball to an upper portion of a golf tee in a rectangular frame, so that the golf ball is supplied to a hitting position of a trainee, the apparatus comprising: a pusher connected to a rear end of the golf tee by means of a flexible material, in which the golf tee and the pusher are horizontally and vertically moved to lift or lower the golf ball to the hitting position of the trainee by using guide means for horizontally and vertically guiding the golf tee, the guide means having a guide roller for vertically guiding the golf tee and a guide roller for turning a guide direction, and linearly operating means for moving a fixture back and forth which is installed at a rear end of the pusher by a driving motor.

[19] The fixture installed at the rear end of the pusher is moved back and forth by a guide plate which is guided along guide rails provided on both sides of the frame.

[20] The linearly operating means is adapted to linearly move the fixture which is connected to the lower end of a chain connecting a front sprocket with a rear sprocket in an endless type, by forward or reverse rotation of the motor, the front sprocket being coupled to a motor shaft of the driving motor.

[21] The guide means includes guide rollers for guiding the golf tee in a vertical direction, and guide rollers for turning the direction of the golf tee, in which timing gears are installed on shafts of the guide rollers, and a timing belt meshed with a timing belt of an interlock shaft which is meshed with the motor shaft of the driving motor, wraps around the guide rollers and passes between the guide rollers, so that the guide rollers are inversely rotated by the forward or reverse rotation of the driving motor.

[22] The golf tee is fastened to the pusher by using a bolt and a nut which are inserted in the golf tee and the pusher so as to replace the golf tee.

[23] A resilient spring is built in the pusher to provide the pusher with a resilient force.

[24] Ball bearings protrude from both sides and rear sides of a seat groove of a cover frame of the frame to support the golf tee and the pusher at three pints when the golf tee is lifted and lowered.

Advantageous Effects

[25] As described above, the apparatus can minimize an operation height of a golf tee to be moved to a hitting position of a trainee, so that the apparatus has a compact structure to improve an efficiency of an installation space and is effectively installed in existing buildings and sufficiently secure a swing space of the trainee. Also, since the golf tee and the pusher are made of rubber material, and are linearly moved by guide rollers, a frictional force is minimized to minimize mechanical noise. In addition, the structure of the golf tee supporting a golf ball is improved to increase the durability of the golf tee, and the golf tee is easily replaced with new one. Brief Description of Drawings

[26] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[27] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls in a golf practice range according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[28] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the construction of an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls in a golf practice range according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[29] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the construction of an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls in a golf practice range according to one embodiment of the

present invention; [30] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a guide means according to one embodiment of the present invention; [31] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a guide rail according to one embodiment of the present invention; [32] FIGs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating the power transmission of a guide means according to one embodiment of the present invention; [33] FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a golf tee and a pusher according to one embodiment of the present invention; [34] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the operation of the apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; [35] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the construction of an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls in a golf practice range according to other embodiment of the present invention; [36] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the major part of the apparatus shown in

FIG. 10;

[37] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the construction of an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls in a golf practice range according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[38] FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating the apparatus shown in FIG. 12;

[39] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the construction of an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls in a golf practice range according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

[40] FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating the apparatus shown in FIG. 14; and

[41] FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a major part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 14.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention [42] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the following examples are illustrative only and the present invention is not limited thereto. [43] With reference to the accompanied drawings, an apparatus for automatically supplying a golf ball according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. [44] The apparatus for automatically supplying the golf ball includes a compact member for lifting or lowering a golf tee to a hitting position of a trainee, with the golf ball being seated on an upper portion of the golf tee. [45] More specifically, the apparatus of the present invention includes, as shown in FIGs.

1 to 9, a golf tee 10 installed in a rectangular frame 5, and a pusher 20 connected to a

rear end of the golf tee 10 by a flexible material. The golf tee 10 and the pusher 20 are horizontally and vertically moved at the minimum height to lift or lower the golf ball to the hitting position of a trainee by using a guide means 100 for horizontally and vertically guiding the golf tee, the guide means having a guide roller for vertically guiding the golf tee and a guide roller for turning a guide direction, and a linearly operating means for moving a fixture 25 back and forth which is installed at a rear end of the pusher 20 by a driving motor M.

[46] The fixture 25 installed at the rear end of the pusher 20 can be moved back and forth by a guide plate 26 which is guided along guide rails 6 provided on both sides of the frame 5.

[47] The linearly operating means 200 is adapted to linearly move the fixture which is connected to the lower end of a chain 33 connecting a front sprocket 31 with a rear sprocket 32 in an endless type, by forward or reverse rotation of the motor M, the front sprocket 31 being coupled to a motor shaft 30 of the driving motor.

[48] The linearly operating means 200 can move the fixture 25 coupled to the rear end of the pusher by using other means or a cylinder which is within the scope of the present invention.

[49] The guide means 100 includes guide rollers 41 and 42 for guiding the golf tee in a vertical direction, and guide rollers 43 and 44 for turning the direction of the golf tee.

[50] Timing gears 41a, 42a. 43a and 44a are installed on shafts of the guide rollers 41 to

44, and a timing belt 47 meshed with a timing belt 45a of an interlock shaft 45 which is meshed with the motor shaft 30 of the driving motor M, wraps around the guide rollers 41a and 43a and passes between the guide rollers 42a and 44a, so that the guide rollers 41 to 44 are inversely rotated by the forward or reverse rotation of the driving motor.

[51] In this instance, the guide rollers 41 and 42 are installed to be opposite to each other at the same level, and the guide rollers 43 and 44 are installed in such a way that the front guide roller 43 is positioned at the outside of the bent portion of the pusher, while the rear guide roller 44 is positioned at the inside of the bent portion to turn the pusher from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction.

[52] The guide rollers of the guide means 100 may be altered so as to guide the golf tee 10 and the pusher 20 in a horizontal and vertical direction, besides the cylindrical roller, which is within the scope of the present invention.

[53] Preferably, the golf tee 10 and the pusher 20 are made of rubber material having a circular or rectangular cross section, and the golf tee 10 is fastened to the pusher 20 by using a bolt 11 and a nut 21 which are inserted in the golf tee and the pusher so as to replace the golf tee.

[54] A resilient spring 22 is built in the pusher 20 to provide the pusher with the resilient force.

[55] The frame 5 includes a lower frame 5a and an upper cover frame 5b, and the upper cover frame is provided with a guide groove 5c for guiding the supply of the golf ball 2 at the front side thereof.

[56] In drawings, reference numeral 7 denotes an opening formed on the cover frame 5b through which the golf tee 10 is lifted or lowered, 15 denotes a seat groove formed on the upper portion of the golf tee 10, and 51 and 52 denote gears provided on the motor shaft 30 of the driving motor M and the interlock shaft 45 and meshed with each other to transmit the power.

[57] The operation of the apparatus of the present invention will now be described in detail.

[58] The golf ball 2 is supplied to the guide groove 5c formed on the upper portion of the frame 5 by a golf ball feeding device (not shown).

[59] The golf ball 2 is seated on the seat groove 12 formed on the upper portion of the golf tee 10.

[60] If the golf ball 2 is supplied on the upper portion of the golf tee 10, the driving motor

M is forwardly rotated, the pusher 20 is forwardly moved by the chain 33 installed on the front and rear sprockets 31 and 32 of the linearly operating means 200, with the golf tee 10 being coupled to the front end of the pusher 20.

[61] The pusher 20 is forwardly moved by the guide plate 26 installed on the fixture 25 and moving along the guide rails 6 formed on both sides of the frame.

[62] The horizontally moving pusher 20 is made of a flexible rubber material, and is vertically bent by the guide means 100 to vertically lift the golf tee 10, so that the golf ball 2 is moved to the hitting position of the trainee.

[63] More specifically, the pusher 20 is forwardly moved and vertically bent by the front guide roller 43, with the rear guide roller 44 supporting the inside of the bent portion of the pusher 20 to turn the pusher 20 from the horizontal state to the vertical state.

[64] The pusher 20 is vertically guided by the upper guide rollers 41 and 42 so that the pusher 20 is constantly lifted.

[65] In particular, the upper and lower guide rollers 41 to 44 of the guide means 100 are connected to each other by the timing belt 47 connecting the timing gears 41a to 44a each provided on one side of the guide rollers 41 to 44 with the timing gear 45a of the interlock shaft 45 which is meshed with the motor shaft 30 of the driving motor M, in a zigzag pattern. Since the timing belt 47 wraps around the guide rollers 41a and 43a and passes between the guide rollers 42a and 44a, the upper guide rollers 41 and 42 and the lower guide rollers 43 and 44 are forwardly and reversely rotated in such a way that the guide rollers are opposite to each other to minimize a frictional force between the guide rollers and the pusher 20 and thus to smoothly lift the pusher.

[66] The golf tee 10 is vertically lifted by the pusher 20 so that the golf ball 2 is moved to

the hitting position of the trainee.

[67] Thus, the trainee can hit the golf ball 2 seated on the upper portion of the golf tee 10.

[68] When the golf ball is hit, the driving motor M is reversely rotated in response to detection of a sensor (not shown), and the pusher 20 is retracted by the chain 33 of the linearly operating means 200. [69] In this instance, the pusher 20 is guide by the upper and lower guide rollers 41 to 44 in such a way that the pusher is converted from the vertical state to the horizontal state.

Simultaneously, the guide plate 26 installed on the fixture 25 is guide along the guide rails 6 provided on both sides of the frame to return the pusher to its original position. [70] The upper and lower guide rollers 41 to 44 are reversely rotated by reverse rotation of the driving motor M, contrary to the lifting of the golf ball, so as to smoothly move the pusher to its original position, while minimizing the frictional force between the pusher and the guide rollers. [71] While the pusher 20 is moved back and forth by the linearly operating means 200 and the guide means 100, the golf tee 10 is lifted to or lowered from the hitting position of the trainee, so that the golf tee 10 can be lifted or lowered at the minimum operating height. [72] The apparatus of the present invention has a compact structure to improve the efficiency of the installation space. Also, the apparatus can be effectively installed in the existing buildings and sufficiently secure a swing space of the trainee. [73] In addition, since the resilient spring 22 is installed in the pusher 20 made of rubber material through the insert molding, the guide means for moving the golf tee can be bent in a vertical direction. Although the pusher 20 is repeatedly used, the decrease of the resilience can be minimized. [74] In case the golf tee 10 is replaced by new one, the golf tee 10 is easily detached from the pusher 20 by unfastening the bolt 11 and the nut 21, and then a new golf tee can be connected to the pusher by fastening the bolt and the nut. [75] Since the golf tee made of rubber material is lifted or lowered by using the pusher 20 made of rubber material, it can minimize the mechanical noise during the operation of the apparatus to make the training circumference comfortable. [76] As shown in FIGs. 10 and 11, an apparatus for automatically supplying golf balls according to other embodiment of the present invention includes ball bearings 61, 62 and 63 protruding from both sides and rear sides of the seat groove 5c of the cover frame 5b to support the golf tee 10 and the pusher 20 at three pints when the golf tee is lifted and lowered. [77] As described above, the golf tee 10 and the pusher 20 are guided by the guide rollers

41 and 42, and the golf tee is supported at the both sides and the rear side by the ball bearings 61 to 63, thereby constantly lifting and lowering the golf tee 10 and the

pusher 20 and thus maximizing satisfaction of a user.

[78] The golf tee 10 and the pusher 20 can be constantly lifted or lowered by the ball bearings 61 to 63 supporting the golf tee 10 at three points, even though the guide rollers 41 and 42 are omitted.

[79] As shown in FIGs. 12 and 13, an apparatus of the present invention according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a golf tee 10' installed in a rectangular frame 5, and a pusher 20' connected to a rear end of the golf tee 10' by using a flexible material. The golf tee 10' and the pusher 20' are horizontally and vertically moved to lift or lower a golf ball to a hitting position of a trainee by using a guide means 100' for horizontally and vertically guiding the golf tee, the guide means being inserted into a guide tube 110 forming a vertical guide portion 111, a curved guide portion 112 and a horizontal guide portion 113, and a linearly operating means 200' for moving the pusher 20' at a rear portion of the guide tube 110 in cooperation with a driving motor Ml.

[80] In this instance, the linearly operating means 200' is fastened to a motor shaft of the driving motor Ml by means of a rotary bolt 120, and a linearly movable nut 130 is provided on the front portion of the linearly moving means 200'. The linearly operating means 200' is linearly moved by the operation of the driving motor Ml to move the pusher 20' back and forth.

[81] Preferably, a spring is interposed between the golf tee 10' and the pusher 20' to guide the spring tee 10' along a curved path.

[82] With the apparatus according to other embodiment of the present invention, if the golf ball is supplied to the upper portion of the golf tee 10' the driving motor Ml is forwardly rotated to rotate the rotary bolt 120 connected to the motor shaft in a forward direction. The linearly movable nut 130 fastened to the rotary bolt is linearly moved through screw rotation.

[83] The pusher 20' connected to the front end of the linearly moving means 200' is forwardly moved by the linear movement of the movable nut 130, and the pusher pushes the golf tee 10' made of rubber material along the guide tube 110.

[84] The golf tee 10' is guided by the curved guide portion 112 of the guide tube 110, and simultaneously, is vertically guided by the vertical guide portion 111, so that the golf tee is lifted to the hitting position of the trainee.

[85] If the user hits the golf ball seated on the lifted golf tee, the driving motor Ml is reversely rotated in response to detection of a sensor, and then the rotary bolt 120 connected to the motor shaft is reversely rotated to retract the linearly movable nut 130. Simultaneously, the pusher 20' and the golf tee 10' are returned to its original position.

[86] In this instance, the golf tee 10' is guided by the guide tube 110, as described above,

and is returned to its original position. The golf tee 10' is vertically and horizontally moved by the vertical guide portion 111 and the curved guide portion 112.

[87] As shown in FIGs. 14 to 16, an apparatus of the present invention according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a golf tee 10' made of a flexible material installed in a rectangular frame 5, and a chain 33' connected to a rear end of the golf tee 10' The golf tee 10' and the chain 33' linearly supply a golf ball to a hitting position of a trainee by using a guide means 100" which is inserted into a guide duct 110' forming a vertical guide portion 111' a curved guide portion 112' and a horizontal guide portion 113' and a linearly operating means 200" linearly moved along the guide duct by a chain which is supported by a plurality of sprockets 35' the chain being moved along the guide duct 110 by forward and reverse rotation of a driving motor M2.

[88] In this instance, a guider for constant guide operation may be installed at both ends of the chain 33' and a guide groove 110'- 1 for guiding the guider 33'- 1 may be formed on the guide duct 110'.

[89] More specifically, the golf tee 10' is moved along the guide duct 110' with the opened upper portion by the chain 33' to supply the golf ball to the hitting position. The chain 33' is forwardly or reversely moved along the guide duct 110' to move the golf tee 10' to the hitting position.

[90] The operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIGs. 14 to 16 is substantially similar to that of the apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, except for the above construction.

[91] Since the apparatus of the present invention can lift or lower the golf tee 10' by the minimum operation height, the apparatus has a compact structure to improve the efficiency of the installation space. Also, the apparatus can be effectively installed in the existing buildings and sufficiently secure a swing space of the trainee.

[92] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[93]