GOLFING GAME APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a golfing game apparatus.

Golf is a very popular sport, so there is much demand for golf-related games and associated merchandise. Various indoor putting games have been proposed, which suffer from a number of possible disadvantages.

For example, a problem with unsupervised games is that players can cheat, either the game owner if prizes are awarded, or each other. Many people who otherwise enjoy playing golf-related games find that keeping a score can be difficult and time-consuming. Some players find that playing on an apparatus which does not change in any way can become boring after a time.

Aspects of the present invention seek to overcome or reduce one or more of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a golfing game apparatus comprising a putting surface comprising a first, teeing area for a player and a second area having one or more golf holes , a screen being provided between the teeing area and the second area to prevent a player having access to the second area.

Means may be provided to discriminate between a ball and any other object moving from said first area to said second area. The discriminating means may be one or more photoelectric beams to determine the height, length and/or direction of movement of the object. For example, two beams may be provided at different heights above the putting surface and/or at different distances from the first area.

Preferably the second area has a plurality of golf holes, and means are provided for selecting one of said holes and identifying the selected hole to a player. To effect said identification, means are preferably provided for illuminating the selected hole.

In preferred embodiments, respective means are provided at each hole for detecting the entry of a golf ball and forwarding a signal representative thereof to control means. The control means may comprise means for indicating the entry of a golf ball into a hole. The control means may allocate a particular score to the player. In preferred embodiments, the control means is also connected to the hole selecting and identifying means mentioned in the preceding paragraph and allocates a higher score if entry of a ball into a selected hole is detected.

One preferred embodiment has nine holes arranged in the shape of a diagonal cross.

The putting surface may be sloped towards the teeing area so that a ball missing the golf holes can return to a player. The apparatus may comprise a second surface which is beneath said putting surface and which is sloped towards the teeing area end of the apparatus, whereby a ball dropping through one of said holes can return to ball-receiving means at the teeing area end.

The apparatus may also comprise a putter, which is preferably secured to the apparatus, e.g. by a security cable. The apparatus may also be supplied with one or more golf balls.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golfing game apparatus comprising a playing surface with a plurality of golf holes, and means for selecting one of said holes and identifying the selected hole to a player, e.g. by illuminating it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golfing game apparatus comprising a putting surface with a plurality of golf holes, respective means being provided at each hole for detecting the entry of a golf ball, and means, responsive to said detecting means for allocating and indicating a respective score.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the playing surface part of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a exploded view of the playing surface part of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a golfing game apparatus or machine 10 comprises a playing part 12 which has a playing surface part 14 and a base part 16. The right hand end of playing surface part 14 constitutes a teeing area 22 where a player stands to strike a golf ball 24 with a putter 25. The player can obtain a ball to play from a tray 41 through a substantially L-shaped opening 31 in part 14.

The ball is struck towards nine holes 26 arranged in the form of a diagonal cross adjacent the opposite or outfield end 27 of the part 14. Between the end 27 and the adjacent end of base part 16 there is a gap 28 extending across the width of the apparatus 10. Balls 24 which do not drop into one of the holes 26 fall into the gap 28.

The part 14 slopes slightly downwardly towards teeing area 22 so that if a ball is struck with insufficient force, does not reach gap 28 and does not drop into any of the holes 26, it returns to the player under the force of gravity.

Base part 16 is divided into a relatively large recess 43 and a raised area 44, and a ball dropping into a hole 26 falls down a respective passageway 32 into recess 43. As its left hand end, the base part has a smaller recess 45 into which fall balls passing through gap 28 or hole 30. Recess 45 communicates with recess 43 via a channel 47. The floor surface of recess 45 slopes towards the middle of the apparatus and the floors of channel 47 and recess 43 slope towards the right hand end of the apparatus. Thus a ball falling into gap 28 or hole 30 is directed along channel 47 into recess 43 and thence to tray 41 which is in communication with recess 43 by means of channel 48. A ball falling through one of holes 26 enters recess 43 directly and is then guided into tray 41.

A ball detector is provided at each hole for detecting the passage of a ball. In the embodiment shown, a ball interrupts a light beam as it drops through a hole and the light beam detectors are linked to control apparatus 60 by cables extending underneath the playing part 12.

Control apparatus 60 has means for awarding a score to a player when a ball detector for a hole sends it a signal. The score is displayed on a panel 62. A ball passing through hole 30 is always awarded a high score and/or a prize such as a cash payment. The apparatus 60 also has means selecting a particular one of holes 26 and illuminating it to identify it to a player. The illumination is by means of a ring around each hole. When a ball passes through an illuminated hole 26, the control apparatus awards a higher score than for the other holes 26.

To prevent access to the outfield end of the apparatus, an inclined transparent screen or cover 64 (Fig. 1) is provided in a housing 66. The lower edge 65 of the screen 64 is spaced above the surface of part 14 by 5cm, i.e. slightly more than the diameter of a golf ball.

Positioned beneath screen 64 are two photoelectric barrier arrangements 66a, 66b and 67a, 67b, see Fig. 2. A photoelectric beam between barrier elements 66a and 66b is about lcm above the surface of part 14. Barrier elements 67a, 67b are spaced slightly further away from teeing area 22 and the photoelectric beam therebetween is about 4cm above the surface of part 14. Signals from the beam arrangements are supplied to control apparatus 60 which includes means for using the signals to discriminate between a ball passing from the teeing area to the left hand or outfield end, a ball passing in the opposite direction, and another object moving underneath screen 64, e.g. a putter or other elongate object. The three situations may be displayed on display screen 62, and the apparatus 60 may have a visual and audible alarm device which is actuated when an object other than a ball is detected.

The putter 25 is attached to the control apparatus by means of a length of flexible but strong cable 71 to prevent theft.

Typical games played with the apparatus 10 will now be described.

A user first inserts coins or notes to a specific value in suitable slots (not shown) in apparatus 60. Alternatively payment may be made electronically. The user then selects the number of players using a touch facility of displaying screen 62. Similarly the user then selects the type of game it is desired to play (for example practice, a challenge game, or a game to win cash).

One or more balls are then released into tray 41 by a solenoid or other suitable mechanism.

The control apparatus 60 then illuminates the light around one of the holes 26 to indicate which hole will attract a particular score. The player then places a ball 24 on the teeing area 22 and putts it towards the left hand end of the playing surface part. The ball passes under the edge 65 of screen 64 and then in sequence past the photoelectric barrier arrangements 66a, 66b and 67a, 67b. Thus control apparatus 60 can now detect that a ball has properly entered the area with holes 26. If the ball drops into a hole 26, the appropriate score is awarded together with suitable sounds, graphics output, and/or lights. If the ball enters the illuminated hole 26 or special hole 30, respective different scores are awarded and different accompanying effects are triggered.

If the ball is hit too hard and misses all the holes, it falls into gap 28, i.e. "out of bounds", and returns via recesses 45 and 43 to the ball release mechanism. If a plurality of balls are initially provided to tray 41, then the ball is prevented from returning to the tray by means of a physical barrier (not shown) in channel 48. If a single ball is initially provided to tray 41, then the ball is returned to tray 41; the number of shots is counted and the physical barrier is activated when a predetermined number of shots has been reached.

If the ball is hit too softly and misses the holes 26, it will return down the slope to the teeing area 22. This ball movement in the reverse direction is detected by the photoelectric barrier arrangements 67a, 67b and 66a, 66b and the control apparatus takes this into account for the next shot.

At the end of a game, any cash prize can be dispensed by a suitable money-handling mechanism (not shown) incorporated in apparatus 60.

If a user of the apparatus attempts to cheat, this is detected and indicated by the control apparatus 60 with the assistance of:

(i) One or more sensors (not shown) to check that screen 64 is correctly in place;

(ii) Photoelectric beam arrangements 66a, 66b and 67a, 67b and possibly other similar arrangements located elsewhere in the apparatus to give an indication of anything other than a golf ball entering the outfield;

(iii) Accurate timing devices (not shown) to ensure that golf balls are detected by the various sensors in a correct logical sequence at correct time intervals.

The above-described apparatus has numerous advantages. It provides a nine-hole putting course with a realistic artificial putting surface, while occupying only a small area. It employs a standard golf ball 24, a real putter 25 and standard-sized golf holes 26. It thus provides a physical skill-based game using a normal putting action — i.e. there is no simulation or automation to assist or hinder the player.

The machine is designed for leisure, amusement, fun and challenge, for all ages and abilities. The system automatically awards players with a score for each shot and totalled at the end of the game. It can automatically pay cash prizes or dispense prize tickets if required. Moreover, the recovery of the ball, and the automatic scoring and cash handling are all implemented with few moving parts which provides high reliability. The calculation and payment of cash prizes can be readily undertaken under the control of software within apparatus 60.

Its components can pass through a standard doorway and then be easily assembled. It is sturdy and robust and can resist attempts to cheat. Besides resisting cheating, screen 64 also serves to keep clean the holes 26 and the remainder of the outfield area. The playing

surface part 14 can easily be separated from base part 16 to assist in cleaning, servicing and in replacing sensors or other components if necessary.

The cheat feature allows cash to be paid out automatically and immediately without the need for supervision or checking and enables leagues, events and competitions to be held, with or without linking the units.

Various modifications can be made to the above-described apparatus. For example any suitable number of holes 26 may be provided from one up to eighteen or more. They may be arranged in a square, circle or any other desired pattern. Hole 30 may be omitted, or more than one such "special hole" may be provided. The apparatus may be provided for personal use without the money-handling facilities.

More than two photoelectric beam arrangements may be provided. If sufficient beam arrangements are provided, the ball detector arrangements at the individual holes can be omitted. For example a grid of intersecting photoelectric beams with a mutual spacing of, say, 50mm enables the position of a ball to be tracked at all times by suitable software within control apparatus 60.

Instead of, or in addition to, the photoelectric beam arrangements, other presence sensing arrangements may be used to detect a golf ball, e.g. capacitative detectors. The putter 25 may also be provided with a sensor to indicate to the control apparatus 60 when a ball has been hit.

Another way of tracking balls and/or to prevent cheating is to install one or more cameras to monitor the apparatus. By supplying output signals to the control apparatus, the camera(s) can enable suitable software to automatically award scores to the player(s) and to prevent cheating. A camera can be provided at location 84 at the centre of the back of the apparatus, and/or at location 85 at the side of control apparatus 60; additional cameras may be provided.

Other means may be provided for illuminating a selected hole, e.g. one or more movable searchlights may be directed at the selected hole. The hole could be selected in other ways, for example the holes may have numbers or other identifiers, and the control apparatus 60 may indicate the identifier audibly and/or visibly on display screen 62.

The apparatus may operate with a single ball or with a plurality of balls to increase speed of play.

The base part may be provided with adjustable feet to assist in levelling the apparatus on uneven floors. The base part may be provided with wheels for ease of installation and movement.

The apparatus can be used for single players or groups of players playing alternate shots. A plurality of machines can be linked so players can play each other in different venues, via internet, wireless network etc.

If desired a display screen 82 may instead or in addition be provided at the outfield end of the apparatus 10. The control apparatus 60 may be incorporated with display screen 82 or may be located elsewhere in the apparatus or as a separate device.

The control apparatus 60 may incorporate software which modifies the level of scoring and/or the payment of cash prizes by taking into account the skill level of the players.

The apparatus can be modified to replicate other games or sports. For example, the apparatus could be provided at table-top level with a cue being used instead of putter 25 to direct snooker or billiard balls towards the holes. Alternatively, a croquet mallet could be provided instead of putter 25 to direct balls through holes or hoops.

The features of the various modifications may be combined or interchanged as desired.