The present invention relates to golf practicing or training apparatus according to the preamble of Claim 1.

Golf course complexes normally include a so-called driving range/practice course, where a number of driving tees are provided for stroke training. Diligent prac¬ tice on the driving range or practice course enables the golfer to practice and polish his/her golf swing and therewith improve his/her playing skill. When using such training or practice facilities, it is normal to "purchase" a bucket of golf balls and to drive the balls onto the driving range from one of the practice tees provided.

The balls are placed on the tees manually, with the golfer placing each golf ball in a desired position by hand, prior to executing a driving stroke. The task of picking golf balls from the bucket is un-necessarily time-consuming and is, at the same time, associated with a movement pattern which has a distracting influence on the golfer's ability to concentrate on his/her stroke practice.

The object of the present invention is to provide appa¬ ratus which will make golf practice more effective and simpler to carry out. This object is achieved with apparatus having the characteristic features set forth in the following Claims.

When using the inventive apparatus, all of the golf balls in possession of the golfer are placed directly in the apparatus, which is so constructed as to ensure that all balls are able to roll from the apparatus to the selected driving position or tee, by simple movement of

a lever. This enables the golfer to increase his/her stroke frequency and to improve the effectiveness of a practice session, while, at the same time, improving the use of the practice range, since the time taken to place a ball in position is considerably shorter when using the inventive apparatus then is otherwise the case. Thus, the apparatus has advantages with respect to the sport itself and also with respect to economy.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof illus¬ trated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fiσure 1 is a perspective view of the inventive apparatus, seen obliquely from the front; Fiσure 2 is a perspective view of said apparatus seen obliquely from behind; and Figure 3 shows the apparatus when filled with golf balls.

The inventive apparatus 1 includes a ball container 2, a ball-guide chute 3 provided with a manoeuverable stop device 5, and an attachment device 7 by means of which the apparatus 1 can be adjusted to an optimum use posi¬ tion.

The ball container 2 comprises a relatively deep, up¬ wardly open filling chute 20, by means of which golf balls can be loaded into the container. The filling chute 20 has a bottom 21 which is inclined relative to a contemplated horizontal plane, so that golf balls 90 present in the chute will constantly strive to roll gravitationally down along the guide chute 3. The fill¬ ing chute 20 further includes two long sides 22, 23 and two side walls 24, 25. Arranged within the filling chute 20 is a step 26, the object of which is to ensure that balls will roll to the guide chute 3 continuously and without impedence. The step 26 extends along the

whole of the chute 20 and has a vertical extension H which is slightly smaller than the diameter D of a golf ball 90. H may, for instance, be about 0.8 x D. The width B of the step 26 is also smaller than the diameter D of a golf ball. For instance, B may be about 0.8 x D. The width Bl of the upwardly visible part of the chute bottom 21 is slightly larger than the diamter D of a golf ball. For instance, Bl may be about 1.2 x D. Provided in the bottom 21 of the chute 20 is an opening 27 which communicates with the inlet end of the guide chute 3.

The guide chute 3 is either positioned generally verti¬ cally or is inclined at least such that the balls 90 will roll or fall gravitationally down into the guide chute 3. The guide chute 3 comprises a rear wall 31 which merges with two side members 32 and 33 which terminate with an inwardly bent, free edge-part 34 and 35 respectively. The edge-parts 34 and 35 define there- between a window slot 36 whose width B2 is small enough to ensure that a golf ball 90 cannot pass therethrough. The purpose of the viewing slot is to enable the golfer to see when no balls remain in the apparatus 1.

The upper part of the guide chute 3 facing towards the filling chute 20 has an internal width B3 such that two golf balls can be positioned side-by-side, i.e. B3 is greater than 2 x D, for instance about 2.2 x D. The internal depth C of the chute may, for instance, be about l.l x D or equal to Bl. For example, the width B2 of the viewing slot 36 may be about 0.5 x D.

The lower, free end of the guide chute 3 facing away from the filling chute 20 is provided with a ball- delivery chute 37 which is angled to the axis of the guide chute and which has upstanding edge members 38 and

39 which form extensions of respective side-members 32 and 33. The ball-delivery chute 37 is angled so as to slope gently in relation to a contemplated horizontal plane. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the ball-delivery chute 37 is angled in two stages, although said chute may also be angled in one or more stages and may be rounded instead of having an angular configura¬ tion.

A stop member 5 is mounted at the lower end of the guide chute 3, above the ball-delivery chute 37. The stop device 5 includes an operating lever 50 having a front end 51 which carries a protective sleeve 52, made of rubber or plastic, for instance. The lever 50 has a rear end 53 and is pivotally mounted at its centre on a generally vertical pivot axle 54. The lever 50 extends through an opening 40 in the rear wall 31 of the guide chute 3 and the rear end 53 of said lever 50 is located within a box 41. The box 41 carries the journal axle 54, which preferably has the form of a screw or spindle extending through an aperture in the lever 50. Two spring devices 55 are mounted inside the box 41, on opposite sides of the rear end 53 of the lever 50. These spring devices function to return the lever 50 automatically to its centre position/neutral position, as shown in the Figures, when an external force opera¬ tive to move the lever laterally is removed. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring devices 55 have the form of foamed-rubber blocks or soft-rubber blocks, which fill the space within the box 41 on the sides of that part of the lever 50 located within the box 41. It will be understood that the spring devices 55 may alter¬ natively have the form of mechanical springs, or a number of other resilient or elastic elements.

The lid 42 of the box 41 is removable, to enable the spring devices 55 to be replaced.

Mounted on the lower end of the guide chute 3 on the inner surface of the side-members 32 and 33 are two guide plates 43 and 44 respectively which together form a conically narrowing part in the region of the lever 50 of the stop device 5, wherein the distance between respective guide plates and the lever 50 when said lever occupies its neutral position is smaller than the diame¬ ter of a golf ball. The upper edges 45 and 46 of res¬ pective guide plates are located on different vertical levels, therewith enabling the golf balls to be stacked readily in a zig-zag configuration, as illustrated in Figure 3. The difference in height between the edges 45 and 46 will preferably be smaller than the diameter of a golf ball and may, for instance, be about 0.5 x D.

The attachment device 7 includes an upper part in the form of an outer square-tube 70 which is secured to the rear wall 31 of the guide chute. The attachment device 7 also includes a bottom part which comprises an inner square-tube 72 and an attachment plate 73 mounted there¬ on. The attachment plate 73 has provided therein holes 74 by means of which the plate can be anchored to a concrete slab for instance, or to some other object capable of serving appropriately as a foot plate. The inner tube 72 is telescopically movable within the outer tube 70, thereby enabling the vertical height of the apparatus 1 to be adjusted, so that the ball-delivery chute 37 can be brought to a desired position in rela¬ tion to a driving mat or a driving tee. The tubes 70 and 72 can be locked relative to one another by means of a locking screw 75, subsequent to adjusting the appara- tus 1 to a desired height position.

When using the apparatus 1, the apparatus is placed on a practice tee and adjusted so that the ball-delivery chute 37 will discharge golf balls onto a driving mat or the like in the manner desired. The aforedescribed apparatus 1 is used and operates in the following manner.

Subsequent to acquiring a bucket of golf balls 90, the golf balls are poured into the filling chute 20, where- with some of the golf balls will roll down in the guide chute 3 so as ro fill said chute and so that the lower¬ most ball in the chute 3 will abut the operating lever 50 of the stop device 5.

The golfer now grips his golf club and takes a stance centrally opposite the inventive apparatus 1 and on the other side of the driving mat. The head of the golf club is now pressed against the sleeve 52, causing the lever 50 to move sideways, i.e. in one of the directions indicated by the double-arrow P in Figure 3. This movement of the lever 50 enables a ball 90, but only one ball, to roll from the apparatus 1, via the ball- delivery chute 37, onto the driving mat (not shown), whereupon the ball can be struck by the golf club and driven out onto the practice range. The next ball is delivered onto the driving mat, by activating the sleeve 52 of the lever 50 with the aid of the club head, so that the lever 50 is swung in the opposite direction to that moved by the lever when delivering the preceding ball, whereupon another ball rolls out onto the driving mat so that a further golf stroke can be executed. By alternately moving the lever 50 in different directions by means of the club head, one ball at a time can be delivered to the driving mat with the lever returning automatically to its centre position/neutral position. This is achieved, among other things, by the fact that

the golf balls lying closest above the lever 50 have been forced to adopt a zig-zag stacking configuration in the guide chute 3. The aforesaid sequence can therefore be repeated until the apparatus 1 is completely empty of balls, whereupon the apparatus can be filled with fur¬ ther balls, and so on.

It should be mentioned that the inventive apparatus 1 is preferably manufactured from sheet steel, although other materials are also conceivable, of course.

The surface 100 of the ball container 2 facing towards the golfer may appropriately carry advertising or other, appropriate information.

It will be understood that the construction of the attachment device 7 may be varied in many different ways. For example, attachment plate 73 can be modified in accordance with the method of attachment used.

It should also be mentioned that the measurements re¬ cited in the above description have been found signifi¬ cant, among other things, in eliminating disturbances in the flow of balls through the inventive apparatus and therewith ensure a good function.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrated and described embodiment, since changes and modifications thereof are conceivable within the scope of the follow- ing Claims.