A DAMPED SEMI-AUTOMATIC PNEUMATIC TEEING DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to teeing devices for use in a driving range.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf has been a very popular game for many years. In addition to playing on an actual golf course, golfers wishing to improve their skills often practice at a driving range, especially when practicing their tee shots. Normally, practicing golfers must repeatedly bend or stoop down to select a ball and to set it on a tee for each practice shot. This can be tiring, and interrupts the golfer's rhythm in repeating his practice shots. Further, it makes a practice session take longer, a disadvantage from the point of view of the proprietor of the golfing range. Automatic teeing would bring significant advantage to all parties.

Numerous systems and devices for automatic teeing have been patented. U.S. Patent number 5,145,176 to Lipson discloses a "Pneumatically Operated GoIf BaIl Tee" in which the golf ball is levitated by a continuous, upward, positive air flow from a hole or tube in the practice station. Since, however, it is not possible to pneumatically support a golf ball without some rotation or positional oscillation of the ball, it does not provide the desired stable target for proper golf practice. U.S. Patent number 6,120,383 to Brown discloses an "Apparatus For Placing A Golf Ball On A Tee" using negative air pressure or vacuum to pick up and hold a golf ball on a practice tee and stand the tee and ball up for a practice shot. While fully automated, this apparatus employs a four way valve and intricate pneumatics to control its operation. It is likely to be complicated and costly in practice. Both systems require an air pump, which is likely to be noisy and not conducive to the concentration golfers require for practice and play.

US Patent No. 4,741,537 to Adam, entitled "Teeing Device" discloses an apparatus for semi-automatically teeing up golf balls utilizing very low air pressure in order to create a positive air pressure so as to elevate a hollow tee supported by and connected to a flexible, thin walled inflatable chamber located within a recess. A hollow tee, on which a ball is supported when the device is used, is affixed to a top portion of the chamber, by gluing or other permanent means.

The use of an inflatable chamber as proposed by Adam, causes a number of problems, among which are the difficulty of replacing the hollow tee, the difficulty of disassembly of the device for cleaning and maintenance, the tendency of the chamber to become flooded with water when used in outdoor ranges in wet climates and the inoperability of the device when even slightly flooded, and the additional difficulty of draining the chamber in order to render it usable. Furthermore, while Adam provides means for adjusting the height of the tee, access to the height adjustment means requires removal of the artificial turf beneath which the device is installed.

Adam also provides an air supply from beneath the chamber, such that the air supply is susceptible to the ingress of water. This arrangement also transmits noise due to the acoustic energy of the flowing air, which results in a less than aesthetically pleasing experience for a user.

International Patent Application No. PCT/IL2004/000064, published as WO 2004/064931, entitled Semi Automatic Air Tee, discloses an improved teeing device, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, in which the PRIOR ART device is shown, there is seen a teeing device, referenced 300, which is a sealable, fully integrated unit which is formed of a rigid cylindrical housing 390, and a removable cover 350 which fits sealingly together with housing 390. Formed integrally with cover 350 are a preferably cylindrical, central support portion 340, extending downwardly into the interior of housing 390; and an upwardly extending cylindrical rim 373.

Housing 390 has formed therein a gas inlet port 395 which may be attached, via one or more air conduits, to a suitable source of positive gas pressure. Housing 390 engages removable cover 350 to form, together with air pressure operated means constituted by cylinder 340 and tee holder 330, and an air pressure control constituted by hollow tee 320, a largely airtight container, when a golf ball B is seated on the lip 321 (Fig. 1) formed at the free end of tee 320.

Device 300 is operative to seat a golf ball B (Fig. 2) on a flexible, hollow tee 320, a bottom flange of which, referenced 319, is connected to, and supported by a tee holder 330, enclosed by a central support portion 340. It will be appreciated that axial movement of tee holder 330 within central support portion 340 causes a corresponding movement of tee 320.

Central support portion 340 is formed integrally with a cover 350, whose upper surface terminates in a driving surface 360 which may be covered by artificial turf, by real grass, or by any other suitable surface. Cover 350 has an opening 370 through which tee 320 protrudes so as to support golf ball B at a desired height for practicing tee shots. As seen in the drawing, there is a provided a rim 373 surrounding the opening 370, which is operative to reduce the likelihood of the ingress of rainwater through opening 370, into device 300.

There is further provided an adjustable height positioning mechanism for positioning tee holder 330 and tee 320 within cover 350. The adjustable height positioning mechanism is constituted by a threaded bushing 375, which is formed to threadingly engaging an inward- facing threaded surface 371 of rim 373.

Rotation of the threaded bushing 375 along threaded surface 371 causes a relative linear translation therebetween, in accordance with the direction of rotation, so as to relatively raise or lower the height at which tee holder 330 abuts threaded bushing 375, and thus the height of the tee with respect to the cover 350 and, correspondingly, the height of teed golf ball B as it sits on tee 320 in a primed position. As seen in Fig. 3B, there are provided a plurality of apertures 378 for stop 380, arranged at any of a plurality of different, predetermined heights within cylinder 340, so as to predetermine the lowermost position of tee holder 330 and thus also of tee 320. Adjustment of this lowermost position may be done at the time of installation or, if necessary, subsequent thereto, upon removal of the cover 350, and the transfer of stop 380 from one aperture 378 to another at a more suitable height.

In accordance with the present embodiment, golf ball B, tee 320, and tee holder 330 are elevated to the illustrated raised position and supported thereat by a source of positive air pressure introduced into cylinder 340 by suitable means. Tee 320 is fabricated of any suitable flexible and resilient material such as rubber that can endure repeated impacts from golf clubs as a golfer practices hitting golf balls B off the tee. Tee 320 must also be flexible enough and its upper lip 321 must be formed so that when golf ball B is seated thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 1, it forms a substantially air-tight seal therewith. This enables the air pressure within cylinder 340, tee holder 330, and tee 320 to build to above atmospheric pressure, thereby to generate a pressure force adequate to raise tee holder 330, tee 320, and golf ball B from the lowered position illustrated in Fig. 1, to the raised position shown in Fig. 2. In the raised position, an upper surface portion 331 of tee holder 330 abuts a lower surface 351 of cover 350, and tee 320

is located at its uppermost position relative to driving surface 360, so as to position golf ball B in a suitable position above driving surface 360 for a golfer to make a practice shot.

After the golfer hits the ball off tee 320, air flows freely out of cylinder 340 via the bore of hollow tee 320 so as to release the air pressure within the device, thereby permitting tee holder 330 and tee 320 to fall within cylinder 340, under their own weight, to their lowermost position, illustrated in Fig. 1. The lowermost position thereof is determined by a mechanical stop 380, fastened in the side wall of cylinder 140.

When a golf ball is positioned on tee 320, the air flow through tee 320 will be blocked, and the pressure therein will increase, as shown and described hereinabove. With the air flow stopped as tee 320 engages the golf ball, the increased air pressure will produce sufficient force to raise tee holder 330, tee 320, and the new golf ball to the raised position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The positive air pressure supplied to teeing device 300 and specifically introduced into cylinder 340 must be regulated so that its magnitude will fall within a desired range for the teeing device to perform as described hereinabove. Specifically, the pressure must be great enough to provide a force, when the bore of tee 320 is closed off by a golf ball B, to lift tee holder 330, tee 320, and golf ball B, without blowing golf ball B off tee 320 when tee holder 330 reaches its uppermost position in cylinder 340, as shown in Fig. 2. Further, when there is no golf ball on tee 320, as shown in Fig. 1, the residual air pressure in cylinder 140 when air flows unobstructed through the bore of tee 320, must never provide a force strong enough to raise tee holder 330 and tee 320 from their lowermost position in cylinder 340, as defined by mechanical stop 380.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved, golf ball activated, pneumatic teeing devices which can be operated under a wide range of pneumatic pressures, without causing inadvertent dislodging of the golf ball.

The present invention further seeks to provide an improved teeing device of which a large number may be operated by a single source of pressurized air, thereby increasing the ease of installation on a driving range, while reducing the cost of installation.

There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a damped semi-automatic pneumatic teeing device arranged in association with a pneumatic pressure source, which includes:

a sealable housing arranged for positioning beneath a ground surface, defining an axis of symmetry orthogonal with respect to the ground surface, having a pressurized air inlet associated with the pneumatic pressure source, and further having a closed bottom end and an open top end; and a pressure responsive tee unit removably mounted within the sealed housing, and which includes: a. a disk-shaped cover portion for closing the open end of the housing, and including an opening; b. a cylindrical support formed integrally with the cover portion and extending downwardly into the housing toward the bottom end; c. a piston arranged for reciprocal linear movement within the cylindrical support, the piston having an upstream surface facing downward toward the bottom end of the housing, and a downstream surface facing upward toward the cover portion, thereby to divide the interior of the cylindrical support into an upstream chamber formed between the downward facing upstream surface of the piston and the bottom end of the housing, and a downstream chamber formed between the upward facing downstream surface and the cover portion; d. a generally vertically aligned hollow tee having a first end connected to the piston, and further having a second, free end, adapted to extend through the opening of the cover portion thereby to seat a golf ball thereabove, the hollow tee being positioned to normally permit the flow of air from the upstream chamber to the atmosphere, and further being adapted to move together with the piston with respect to the cylindrical support, in the presence of an air pressure differential across the piston, wherein the piston has a first, at rest position, and a second, primed position, wherein in the first, at rest position, pressurized air entering into the housing and into the upstream chamber is free to flow to the atmosphere through the hollow tee, such that the piston and tee are relatively retracted with respect to the housing, under their self weight; and in the second, primed position, the piston and the hollow tee are relatively extended; and wherein, in response to the positioning of a golf ball on the second, free end of the hollow tee so as to substantially block pressurized air from flowing to the atmosphere through the hollow tee and thereby to cause an increase in pressure in the upstream chamber, the piston and tee are driven upwards towards the cover portion into the primed position, whereat the second,

free end of the tee extends through the opening of the cover portion so as to support the golf ball thereon above the cover portion and the ground surface, in position for driving; and e. damping apparatus for damping the motion of the piston as it approaches the primed position, thereby to prevent shock forces from being transferred to the tee, and thereby to prevent displacement of the golf ball therefrom.

Additionally in accordance with the present invention, the damping apparatus includes a choke.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a flow path for air flow between the downstream chamber and the atmosphere, wherein when the piston is driven upwards through the cylinder from the at rest position toward the primed position, air contained within the downstream chamber is pressurized thereby to cause expulsion of air from the downstream chamber to the atmosphere, along the flow path, and wherein the choke apparatus is operative to reduce the rate at which air is expelled from the downstream chamber as the piston moves towards the primed position, thereby slowing the rate at which the piston moves toward the primed position, and thus reducing the magnitude of shock forces transferred to the tee as the piston reaches the primed position, and thereby to prevent displacement of the golf ball from the tee.

Additionally in accordance with the present invention, the choke apparatus includes: an upward-facing first choke portion formed on the downstream surface of the piston; and a downward facing second choke portion arranged for engagement with the first choke portion across the flow path, wherein, as the piston moves toward the primed position, the first and second choke portions are operative to become mutually engaged thereby to increasingly constrict the flow of air expelled from the downstream chamber.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the pressure responsive tee unit also includes a bushing mounted within the opening of the cover portion, the bushing defining a generally axial bore for permitting axial motion therethrough of the hollow tee, and wherein the axial bore has an internal diameter which is of greater magnitude that the external diameter of the hollow tee, thereby defining between the bushing and the tee an annular conduit forming part of the flow path,

and wherein the downward-facing second choke portion is formed as a generally ring- shaped element extending downwardly from the bushing toward the piston, and the first choke portion is an upwardly extending generally ring shaped element adapted to fit together with the second choke portion, thereby to reduce air flow therebetween to a predetermined minimum. Additionally in accordance with the present invention, the opening of the cover portion has an inward-facing screw thread formed thereon, and the bushing has an outward-facing screw thread formed thereon adapted to fit together therewith, thereby to permit height adjustment of the bushing relative to the cover portion and thus to the ground surface, thus also adjusting the height of engagement of the downward-facing second choke portion with the upward-facing first choke portion, thereby also limiting the height of the second end of the hollow tee and thus of a golf ball thereon, in the primed position.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the teeing device is operable under a pneumatic pressure within the range 6-10 inches water gauge.

There is also provided, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a golf practice driving range which includes a plurality of damped semi-automatic pneumatic teeing devices for positioning practice golf balls, as described above; a gas pressure source; and conduit apparatus for providing a pressurized air supply to each of the plurality of semi pneumatic teeing devices, at a pneumatic pressure within a predetermined range.

Preferably, the predetermined range of operation of the teeing devices is 6-10 inches water gauge, and the gas pressure source is a pneumatic pressure source providing a pneumatic pressure of up to 10 inches water gauge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a PRIOR ART teeing device, seen in an at rest position;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the PRIOR ART teeing device of Fig. 1, seen in a primed position;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a golf practice driving range incorporating a teeing system formed of a plurality of centrally driven pneumatic teeing devices;

Fig. 4A is a partially cut-away side-elevational view of a damped semi-automatic pneumatic teeing device, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in an at rest, relatively retracted position;

Fig. 4B is a partial, isometric view of the pressure responsive tee unit of the teeing device of the present invention;

Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the pressure responsive tee unit of the present invention, taken along line C-C in Fig. 4A;

Fig. 4D is an enlarged view of the downstream chamber of the tee unit of the device of the present invention, in the position seen in Fig. 4C, indicated therein by arrow D; and

Figs. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are similar to Figs. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D, respectively, but wherein the teeing device is in a primed, relatively extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to Figs. 4A-5D, there is provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a damped semi-automatic pneumatic teeing device, referenced generally 600, constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention as a sealable, fully integrated unit. For the sake of conciseness, features common to the present invention and that discussed hereinabove with respect to the PRIOR ART device of Figs. 1 and 2 are not specifically described again herein, except as may be required for an understanding of the present embodiment.

Damped teeing device 600 is formed so as to be operable under a broad range of operating pressures. When constructing a driving range such as shown and described below in conjunction with Fig. 3, the pressure head which must be provided by the gas pressure source 500 is essentially dictated by the pressure range under which each teeing device 600 will operate properly, the pressure loss that occurs between the pressure source and the most remote teeing device, and the extent of variation in pressure at any given teeing device as other teeing devices connected to the same main supply conduit 502 are used. Clearly, the lowest pressure will be supplied to the teeing device located further away from the pressure source, and thus the pressure source must be sufficiently great so as to provide thereto at least a minimum air pressure required for its operation. However, over-pressurizing the teeing devices closest to the

pressure source may cause them to become unstable, and cause the ball to be dislodged as the tee 620 is extended to its maximum height.

Teeing device 600, has thus been constructed in order to be operable under a relatively large range of pressures, typically between 6 and 10 inches of water, thereby enabling a large number of equally spaced apart teeing devices to be connected to a single conduit.

As seen in the drawings, damped pneumatic teeing device 600 includes a sealable housing 690 (Figs. 4A and 5A) arranged for positioning beneath a ground surface 602. The ground surface may be any natural or artificial surface beneath which it is sought to install device 600. Housing 690, which is typically cylindrical, preferably defines an axis of symmetry 604 orthogonal with respect to the ground surface, and has a pressurized air inlet 695 associated with a pneumatic pressure source 500 (Fig. 3), and further has a closed bottom end

606 and an open top end 608.

Removably mounted within housing 690 is a pressure responsive tee unit, referenced generally 610, which is formed of a disk-shaped cover portion 650 (Figs. 4A, 4B, 5 A and 5B) for closing the open top end 608 of the housing. As seen, cover portion 650 has formed therein a central opening 652 through which tee 620 is operative to be extended and retracted, as described below. Tee unit 610 further includes a cylindrical support 640 which is formed integrally with the cover portion 650 and extends downwardly into the housing 690 toward bottom end 606.

A piston 630 is arranged for reciprocal linear movement within the cylindrical support 640, and has an upstream surface 633 facing downward toward the bottom end 606 of the housing 690; and a downstream surface 635 facing upward toward the cover portion 650. These are best seen in Figs. 4D and 5D. It will thus be appreciated that piston 630 is operative to divide the interior of the cylindrical support 640 into an upstream chamber, referenced generally 637, formed between the downward facing upstream surface 633 of piston 630 and the bottom end 606 of housing 630; and a downstream chamber, referenced generally 639, formed between the upward facing downstream surface 635 and the cover portion 650.

Generally vertically aligned hollow tee 620 has a widened first end 623 firmly mounted in a downwardly extending connector portion 624 of piston 630; and a second, free end, 625, adapted to extend through the opening 652 of the cover portion 650 thereby to seat a golf ball on rim 621 thereof. Tee 620 is positioned to normally permit the flow of air from the upstream chamber 637 to the atmosphere through its central bore 626, and is further adapted to move

together with the piston 630 with respect to the cylindrical support 640, in accordance with an air pressure differential across the piston 630.

In operation, the piston 630 and tee 620 has a first, at rest position, illustrated in Figs. 4A-4D, and a second, primed position, illustrated in Figs. 5A-5D.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4C and 4D, pressurized air entering into the housing 690 (Fig. 4A) and into the upstream chamber 637 is free to flow to the atmosphere through bore 626 of hollow tee 620, such that the piston 630 and tee 620 are relatively retracted with respect to the housing 690, under their self weight. Movement of piston 630 and tee 620 into the primed position occurs in response to the positioning of a golf ball on the second, free end 625 of the hollow tee 620 so as to substantially block pressurized air from flowing to the atmosphere through the hollow tee 620 and thereby to cause an increase in pressure in the upstream chamber 637. Accordingly, due to the increase in pressure in the upstream chamber 637, and the resulting pressure differential across piston 630, piston 630 and tee 620 are driven upwards towards the cover portion 650 into the primed position, seen in Figs. 5A-5D, whereat the second, free end 625 of the tee 620 extends through the opening 652 of the cover portion 650 so as to support the golf ball above the ground surface 602 (Figs. 4A and 5A), in position for driving.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided damping apparatus for damping the motion of the piston 630 as it approaches the primed position, thereby to prevent shock forces from being transferred to the tee 620, and thereby to prevent displacement of the golf ball. Such displacement has been found to occur in the event of over-pressuring of teeing devices, and the use of damping apparatus as shown and described herein, has been found to reduce the sensitivity of the teeing device to over-pressuring, and thus to substantially increase the maximum air pressure which can be employed in a teeing range having many tens of such devices.

In various embodiments of the invention, the damping apparatus may include springs, such as made of metal or a suitable type of elastomer.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the damping apparatus is implemented as a choke, for reducing the rate of air flow expelled from the downstream chamber 639, as piston 630 is forced upward toward its primed position.

As seen in the drawings, there is also provided a bushing 675 having an outward-facing screw thread 677 (Figs. 4C and 5C) adapted to screw together with an inward-facing screw thread 671 formed in the opening 652 of the cover portion 650. As seen, the bushing 675 has formed therein a generally axial bore 681 (Figs. 4D and 5D) for permitting axial motion

therethrough of the hollow tee 620. As seen, the axial bore 681 has an internal diameter Dbi which is of greater magnitude that the external diameter of the hollow tee 620 Dto, thereby defining an annular conduit forming part of a path along which air expelled from downstream chamber 639 flows so as to exit to the atmosphere.

As exemplified in the drawings, and with particular reference to Figs. 4B, 4D, 5B and 5C, the choke is formed of an upward-facing, generally ring-shaped first choke portion 702 formed on the downstream surface 635 of the piston 630, and a downward facing, generally ring-shaped second choke portion 704 formed on bushing 675, and arranged for engagement with the first choke portion 702. In the present example, first choke portion 702 has an inner diameter Di, and second choke portion 704 has an outer diameter Do, wherein Do is less than Di so as to fit therewithin, while still leaving a very small clearance.

In operation, as the piston 630 moves toward the primed position in response to placement of a golf ball on top of tee 620, thereby causing an increase of pressure in upstream chamber 637, air is expelled from downstream chamber 639 along a flow path which passes between the first and second choke portions 702 and 704, along the annular conduit formed between bushing 675 and tee 620, and thereafter through cover opening 652, and into the atmosphere.

Initially, there is little resistance to the expulsion of the air, notwithstanding the fact that it may be under a pressure of as much as 10 inches of water.

However, as piston 630 moves upward toward bushing 675 and cover 650, to the primed position illustrated in Figs. 5B, 5C and 5D, the first and second choke portions 702 and 704, respectively, are operative to gradually constrict the portion oft eh flow path passing therebetween, until they become mutually engaged, so as to reduce the outflow of air from downstream chamber 639 to a minimum. This constriction of the air flow causes a deceleration of the movement of piston 630, and thus ensures that as piston 630 engages bushing 675, via the first and second choke portions, the energy of the shock force that might otherwise have been transmitted to tee 620 and thus to the golf ball located thereon, has long since been absorbed, thereby ensuring that the golf ball will not be dislodged as it is brought into the primed position.

It will also be appreciated that height adjustment of the bushing 675 relative to the cover portion 650, also causes an adjustment in the height of engagement of the downward- facing second choke portion 704 with the upward-facing first choke portion 702, thereby also adjusting the height of the second end 625 of the hollow tee 620 and thus of a golf ball thereon, in the primed position.

Referring now briefly to Fig. 4, there is shown, in diagrammatic form, a representation of a driving range incorporating a teeing system formed of a plurality of centrally driven teeing devices 600 of the present invention. The teeing system includes a gas pressure source 500, such as a suitable fan or blower, to which a predetermined plurality of teeing devices 300 are attached via a main supply conduit 502 and a plurality of branch conduits 504. The branch conduits are connected to each teeing device in parallel, so as to provide a required low pressure air supply thereto, substantially independently of the operation of the other teeing devices 500. Tests have been performed by the inventor demonstrating that tens of teeing devices of the present invention may be connected in parallel, although a greater number than this may also be connected to a single pressure source, for operation as described.

According to the present invention, each teeing device 600 must receive air at a pressure which is sufficient to lift the teeing assembly with a ball placed on the end of the tee, but not so great, as either to blow the ball off or raise the teeing assembly when no ball is located on the tee. The damped teeing device 600 of the present invention is capable of operating under a large range of air pressures, typically between 6 and 10 inches water gauge, such that the influence on reliable operation of the teeing device is far less than with prior art devices.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, each teeing device 600 has associated therewith either a flow limiting device, preferably, a pressure limiting device of any suitable type, in order to limit the pressure of the air flow entering the housing 390 to a predetermined pressure range within which the device 600 will operate properly, but wherein a ball will not be blown off the tee 620, inadvertently, by the air pressure. Such devices, referenced 506, may be located upstream of the gas inlet port 695 (Figs. 4A and 5A), or may alternatively be incorporated into the inlet port 695 itself.

It will further be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited by what has been specifically shown and described hereinabove, merely by way of example. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims, which follow.