Golf game

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising: a housing supporting a platform; movable indicia means supported by said housing for indicating a simulated position of a golf ball on said platform; a ball supported by said housing and adapted to be struck by a golf club; and drive means for moving said indicia means in a direction and for distance across said platform dependent upon the direction and force striking the ball.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises first motive means for moving said indicia means in a first direction for a distance dependent upon the force striking said ball and second motive means for moving said indicia in a direction perpendicular to said first direction.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said ball is mounted to an extended arm of a shaft having an axis about which the shaft and ball may be rotated, said second motive means being operable to move said indicia means when said ball is struck in a direction which is not tangent to the arc of travel of said ball about said axis.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first motive means comprises first carrier means supported by said housing and coupled to said indicia means, support shaft means defining an axis and having an outwardly extending arm, said ball being mounted to said outwardly extending arm and coupled to said shaft means and said first carrier means for moving said carrier means in a direction parallel to said first direction upon rotation of said shaft means about said axis.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second motive means compriSes second carrier means supported by said housing and coupled to said indicia means, and means coupled to said second carrier means for moving said second carrier means in a direction perpendicular to said first direction upon striking said ball in a direction not parallel to the tangent of the arc of rotation of said ball about said axis at the point of impact of the ball.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said indicia means includes a body, first journal means journaling said body to said first carrier means for movement along said first carrier means and second journal means journaling said body to said second carrier means for movement along said second carrier means

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first motive means comprises a first drive shaft journaled to said housing, a substantially vertical support shaft defining an axis and having an outwardly extending arm, said ball being mounted to said outwardly extended arm, gear means coupling said support shaft to said first drive shaft so that upon rotation of said ball about said axis said first drive shaft is rotated, a first carrier rod slidably supported by said housing, the length of said first carrier rod being disposed substantially normal to said first direction, and first endless belt means being attached to said first carrier rod and coupled to said first drive shaft to move said first carrier rod in a direction parallel to said first direction upon rotation of said first drive shaft, and said second motive means comprises a second drive shaft journaled to said housing, an upwardly extending shaft having a tip adapted to be positioned on the arc of rotation of said ball in close proximity to said ball, sensor means coupled to said second drive shaft to rotate said second drive shaft when said upwardly extending shaft is moved in a direction not parallel to the tangent of the arc of rotation of said ball, said second drive shaft being rotated in one direction when said upwardly extending shaft is moved to one side of said tangent and said second drive shaft being rotated in the opposite direction when said upwardly extending shaft is moved to the opposite side of said tangent, a second carrier rod slidably supported by said housing, the length of said second carrier rod being disposed substantially parallel to said first direction, and second endless belt means attached to said second carrier rod and coupled to said second drive shaft to move said second carrier rod in a direction perpendicular to said first direction upon rotation of said second drive shaft, said indicia means being coupled to said first and second carrier rods to move with said carrier rods.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said indicia means includes a body, first journal means journaling said body to said first carrier rod for movement along the length of said first carrier rod, and second journal means journaling said body to said second carrier rod for movement along the length of said second carrier rod.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said sensor means comprises differential gear means comprising a driven gear coupled to said second drive shaft, and first and second drive gears engaged to said driven gear, said upwardly extending shaft being coupled to a further shaft which is journaled to said first and second drive gears, first and second tooth means mounted to said upwardly extending shaft whereby upon striking said tip in a direction not parallel to the tangent of the arc of rotation of said ball one of said tooth means engages a respective one of said drive gears and said upwardly extending shaft rotates about the axis of said further shaft thereby driving said respective drive gear to said driven gear in a respective direction.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said indicia means includes a body, first journal means journaling said body to said first carrier rod for movement along the length of said first carrier rod, and second journal means journaling said body to said seCond carrier rod for movement along the length of said second carrier rod.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 2 further including means journaling said platform to said housing for rotation about an axis of said platform.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 2 further including fixed indicia means on said platform depicting a golf course.