US3559996A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for simulating play on full scale golf courses
Assignee: PRODUCT INVESTORS CORP Ltd
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Filing: 1967-02-09
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1987-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for playing a simulated game of golf includes a display screen target positioned forwardly of a tee area, sensors adjacent the tee area and target, a computer, a film strip projector, spotlight projectors and a putting area located between the target and tee area. The film strip projector includes a film strip showing photographic images of a golf green taken from successive locations, say ten yards apart, along the center of the fairway of a real golf course. In use, a golfer at the tee area sees a projected image of a golf green on the target and drives a golf ball against the target, thus simulating the driving of a golf ball into a real fairway toward the green. The sensors, which may be photoelectric cells, determine when a ball is driven from the tee area and strikes the target. The computer determines the probable distance the ball would have traveled if it had not been stopped by the display screen target, and causes the film strip projector to move the film strip and project another image of the golf green from the location where the ball probably would have landed in the real fairway. The sensors also detect the probable lateral location of the ball in the real fairway and this lateral location is indicated on the projected image by one of the spotlights. The film strip projector is driven by a synchronous motor which moves the film strip in front of the projector aperture at the rate of exactly four frames per second, in response to signals from the computer. The film strip projector also includes a four-spoked capstan which cooperates with a computer controlled solenoid operated latching mechanism for positively framing each film frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Hopp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:06
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B24/00; A63B24/0021; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3658; A63B2024/0028; A63B2024/0031; A63B2024/0037; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/10; A63B2220/16; A63B2220/20; A63B2220/24; A63B2220/80; A63B2220/805; A63B2220/807; A63B2220/808; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/74; A63B69/3691; A63B69/3697
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A game device comprising a unitary display screen target having a surface defining means adapted for stopping a driven ball and receiving an image, a playing station spaced from said display screen target and from which, in use, a player impels a ball toward said display screen target, computing means responsive to the driving of said ball from said playing station and against said display screen target for providing an indication representative of distance of ball travel, changeable display means comprising a film strip projector adapted to project images from the frames of the film strip upon said display screen target, a film strip for said projector consisting of a series of frames showing successive images on an actual golf course as viewed from successive locations of the lie of the ball toward a corresponding green for being projected on said surface defining means, said projector projecting at least one of said images upon said ball stopping surface defining means and said one projected image being viewable by a golfer from said playing station, said computing means being coupled to said changeable display means and including means for moving said film strip in response to said indication representative of distance of ball travel to project a second of said images on said ball stopping surface defining means so that a golfer at said playing station may view said green from a second of said locations toward said green, said second location being representative of the distance of ball travel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A game device comprising a unitary display screen target having a surface defining means adapted for stopping a driven ball and receiving an image, a playing station spaced from said display screen target and from which, in use, a player impels a ball toward said display screen target, computing means responsive to the driving of said ball from said playing station and against said display screen target for providing an indication representative of distance of ball travel, changeable display means comprising a film strip projector adapted to project images from the frames of the film strip upon said display screen target, a film strip for said projector consisting of a series of frames showing successive images on an actual golf course as viewed from successive locations of the lie of the ball toward a corresponding green for being projected on said surface defining means, said projector projecting at least one of said images upon said ball stopping surface defining means and said one projected image being viewable by a golfer from said playing station, said computing means being coupled to said changeable display means and including means for moving said film strip in response to said indication representative of distance of ball travel to project a second of said images on said ball stopping surface defining means so that a golfer at said playing station may view said green from a second of said locations toward said green, said second location being representative of the distance of ball travel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
A game device according to claim 1, further including a plurality of fixed spotlights providing means for indicating on the unitary display screen target the simulated lateral location of said impelled ball, sensing means associated with said target serving to sense the lateral location of the impelled ball and comprising a series of laterally spaced photoelectric cells facing generally vertically and each located adjacent the unitary display screen target to sense a respective vertical zone thereof, and a corresponding number of light sources each mounted opposite and directing its light beam toward a respective photoelectric cell, means for connecting respective ones of said spotlights to respective ones of said photoelectric cells, said display screen target being suspended to be deflected by the impact of a golf ball to interrupt one of said light beams for activating a single one of said fixed spotlights for illuminating the screen target with a spot of light indicating the lateral location of a ball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A game device according to claim 2, in combination with means for driving said projector, said means comprising a continuously running reversible synchronous motor drive, said projector having a drive shaft connected thereto, means under the control of said computing means for coupling and uncoupling said motor drive to and from the drive shaft of said projector and for braking the drive shaft, and an indexing means for positively framing in the projector aperture each film frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
A game device according to claim 3, said indexing means comprising a capstan on said drive shaft and having a plurality of radially protruding spokes equally spaced and corresponding in number to the number of frames of the film strip moved in front of the aperture of the projector in one second, a solenoid operated spring-loaded pivoted latching plate disposed adjacent said capstan, said plate having one end operatively connected to the armature of said solenoid and having on its other end a V-groove in its edge, said solenoid serving when the projeCtor is energized to maintain the spokes out of the V-groove, and a spring for biasing said plate to present the walls of the grooved end into the path of the spokes to engage one of said spokes when the projector is no longer energized and the solenoid is deenergized whereby a spoke is urged to the center of the groove to position the capstan to stop the film strip ''''in frame.''''
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A game device according to claim 1, said strip projector having an aperture past which a strip of film may be traversed, a sprocket drive including a sprocket, a synchronous motor for driving said sprocket and a gear train coupled to the sprocket drive, constructed and arranged to move the film in front of the aperture at a precise number of frames per unit of time, each of said frames illustrating an image, each image depicting a successive increment of distance toward said green.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |