The present invention relates to games and pastimes, requiring balls to be accurately propelled with controllable amounts of length, height and backspin.

The user will be able to preselect all the elements of the type of shot he wishes to produce, length, trajectory, and amount of backspin to be placed upon the object ball. The latter feature being of paramount importance. This feature of the invention, allows the user to propel (hit) the ball over the desired distance and for the ball, on landing on a suitable target area (green) will stop dead or spin back. This feature allows the invention to be used in such a way, that in this particular application, (mini golf game) so that it will accurately reproduce the most exciting aspects of real golf. This particular application of the invention would be used in conjunction with miniaturised elements found in real golf, green, trees, bunkers, tee areas etc.

According to the present invention there is provided a ball propeller, comprising of a movable vertical shaft arrangement, a ball chamber, a model golfer, and a base which has an integrated hinged flap arrangement.

The present invention also provides a ball propeller comprising an enclosed vertical shaft connected perpendicularly above a ball chamber, the ball chamber being attached to a base which incorporates an adjustable flap and a model golfer which has a putting device, the ball propeller allowing the user to project balls controllably in distance, height and line and also to allow the user to preselect the type and amount of spin to be imparted upon the ball, and including a putting mechanism which allows the user to controllably propel a ball in both distance and line across the ground.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a ball propeller according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a detail of a portion of the ball propeller of Fig. 1 in cross sectional side view;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of a portion of the ball propeller of Fig. 1 in front elevation; and

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the putting mechanism.

The vertical shaft (1) is enclosed by a rigid sheath (2) .

The sheath encloses the shaft except at the top, (this portion is struck by the user), - and at the bottom where the sheath connects to the top (head) of the model golfer. The vertical shaft is round in section and of a uniform diameter. At the bottom end of the shaft (1) there is securely fixed a sprung steel strip (3) . The steel strip which extends outwards equally in both directions. The steel strip (3) has a width less than the diameter of the vertical shaft (1). On the under side of the steel strip, at each end are securely fixed suitably tactile materials (4). The materials used are of slightly differing resilience, so that when the object ball is placed in contact with the under side of the steel strip (3) and squeezed out, the amount of backspin generated on the ball will differ from that if the ball had been placed at the opposite end.

The bottom end of the vertical shaft (1) has a suitably dimensioned wedge shape configuration firmly fixed to it which is positioned perpendicularly at 90 degrees from the longest axis of the sprung steel strip (3). The Wedge (20) is thinnest at the bottom of the vertical shaft.

The steel strip end of the vertical shaft is pushed into the ball chamber (5) . The ball chamber is the suitably shaped chamber from where the ball is projected. The ball chamber is open at the top and at its front elevation, it is also long enough to accommodate the length of the steel strip, and its internal width is marginally greater than the diameter of the vertical shaft. Where the shaf (1) enters the chamber (5) there is a vertical grooving arrangement (6) . This grooving guides the inserted shaft perpendicularly down into the chamber, while minimising undue lateral movement of the shaft. At the base of the chamber is fixed a suitably sized stop block (7) . The stop block is positioned in such a way so that the inserted ball rest against it in the correct position beneath the steel strip (3) Fig. 2.

It is important that the ball is held in the correct position within the ball chamber immediately prior to its release. To achieve this, one or both side walls of the ball chamber is suitably hinged, so that one or both ball chamber walls can move inwards or outwards slightly from the perpendicular.

A suitably sized sprung steel strip (16) is fixed to the base (8) and wall or walls (5) in such a way so that the wall or walls (5) are pushed inwards slightly towards the centre of the ball chamber (5). The insertion of the ball (22) into the ball chamber until it rests against the stop block (7) forces the ball chamber wall perpendicular again. The inward pressure on the ball chamber walls exerted by the sprung strip (16), traps the ball between the ball chamber walls. As the vertical shaf (1) enters the ball chamber the wedged portion of the vertical shaft (1) progressively pushes the ball chamber walls outwards, releasing the pressure on the ball. The wedged portion of the vertical shaft (17) is positioned in such a way so that it

releases the pressure on the ball only a fraction of a second before the sprung steel strip (3) squeezes the ball out of the ball chamber.

The portion of the ball chamber wall (15) which makes up the ball chamber entrance is not hinged and remains perpendicular to the base (8) at all times. This portion of the ball chamber channels the released ball along an accurate target line 90 degrees in the horizontal axis, away from the ball chamber.

The clearance between the top of the ball chamber and the hands of the model golfer must be sufficient to allow the steel strip to be extracted from the ball chamber, rotated through 180 degrees and then reinserted. This allows the user to select which end of the steel strip is to be in contact with the ball when used. This choice gives the user control over the amount of spin imparted onto the ball (22).

The ball chamber (5) and the model golfer are both fixed to a base (8) Fig. 1. The portion of the base in front of the ball chamber is fixed a smooth plastic flap (9) . The flap can be raised or lowered by the user. The ball strikes the raised flap on leaving the ball chamber, the effect on the ball being that it will be lifted into the air. The higher the angle of the flap above horizontal, then the higher the balls trajectory will be after striking the flap. Fig. 2. This feature of the invention gives the user control over the type and height of ball trajectory.

The flap (9) should be connected to the base (8) in such a way, so that it can be raised or lowered vertically. It should have a tight enough connection to the base (8) , so that it can withstand being hit by the ball exiting the ball chamber without being unduly moved from its angle of elevation.

SUBSTITUTESHEET

The putter (11) held by the model golfer (10), is activated by means of the user raising or lowering the vertical shaft (1) when the cog and tooth mechanism (14) are engaged. Fig. 4.

The cog (14) is fixed through its centre by the horizontal bar which is an angled extension of the putter shaft (11). The bar passes through a suitably sized sleeve which is incorporated into the model golfers hands.

The teeth (13) which engage the cog (14) are securely fixed to the lower portion of the vertical shaft (1). The action of raising or of lowering the vertical shaft when the cog and tooth mechanism are engaged, results in a circular movement of the cog, which in turn results in an arching back or forward of the putter along the direction of arrows D or E. Fig. 4.

In order to use the ball propeller, it must first be placed upright. Fig. (1). The open end of the ball chamber should be pointed along the intended line of shot, along the path of arrow A in Fig. 1.

A suitably sized and weighted ball should be inserted into the ball chamber (see cut away ball chamber in Fig. 1) so that it rests against the ball stop (7). The user selects which of the two ends of the steel strip (3) is to be placed in contact with the ball. The user then inserts the vertical shaft (1) back into the ball chamber until the underside of the steel strip rests upon the ball.

The user selects the appropriate elevation of flap (9) . When the user is satisfied that the base (8) is correctly aligned along the target line, the user then strikes the top of the shaft (1) with what he considers to be the required force to . shoot the ball out of the ball chamber to the required distance.