US3620537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf game
Assignee: Brunswick Corp
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Filing: 1969-06-23
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1989-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A plotting device for use in an indoor golf game having a computer that provides output signals representative of the distance the ball struck from the tee would have traveled in a first direction coinciding with an intended line of flight and in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The plotting device includes a planar map of a hole on a golf course with the map including indicia defining a cup for the hole. The map is supported on a member slidable on a plotting table and is connected to the slidable member by means of a pivotal and releaseable connection. The connection provides for pivotal movement of the map on the supporting member about an axis coincident with the cup and transverse to the plane of the map. Also provided is a reference spot projector which projects a stationary spot of light on the map and a projector for projecting a movable spot of light on the map in response to the output signals from the computer. In use, the map is pivoted on the support member and the support member moved in such a way that the reference spot is located at the point of initiation of a shot on the map. Following computation, the movable spot will then indicate the point of termination of the shot on the map.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M Conklin
- 👤 Ralph E Witucki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:33
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3658
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A plotting device for use in a golf game having a computer that provides output signals representative of the distance a ball struck from a tee would have traveled in a first direction coinciding with an intended line of flight and in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said plotting device comprising; a substantially planar map of a hole on a golf course, said map including indicia defining a cup for the hole, means for supporting said map, meanS associated with said map and said support means for providing a pivotal and releasable connection therebetween, said connection providing for pivotal movement of said map on said support means about an axis coincident with said cup and perpendicular to the plane of said map, means for projecting a stationary reference spot of light on said map, means for projecting a movable spot of light on said map and including first moving means for moving said movable spot in one direction on said map and a second moving means for moving said movable spot on said map in a second direction transverse to said one direction, both of said moving means being adapted to be controlled by said computer, and means mounting said support means for movement in some one direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A plotting device for use in a golf game having a computer that provides output signals representative of the distance a ball struck from a tee would have traveled in a first direction coinciding with an intended line of flight and in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said plotting device comprising; a substantially planar map of a hole on a golf course, said map including indicia defining a cup for the hole, means for supporting said map, meanS associated with said map and said support means for providing a pivotal and releasable connection therebetween, said connection providing for pivotal movement of said map on said support means about an axis coincident with said cup and perpendicular to the plane of said map, means for projecting a stationary reference spot of light on said map, means for projecting a movable spot of light on said map and including first moving means for moving said movable spot in one direction on said map and a second moving means for moving said movable spot on said map in a second direction transverse to said one direction, both of said moving means being adapted to be controlled by said computer, and means mounting said support means for movement in some one direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said first moving means is adapted to move said movable spot in a straight line on said map when said second moving means is not operated, said reference spot projecting means being oriented to project said stationary reference spot to a point on said straight line and said support means being oriented to locate said cup on said straight line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said support means and mounting means comprise a table, and a pocket in said table for storing a plurality of said maps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said map is divided into a plurality of zones each being marked with a unique code; said mounting means additionally mounting a control panel; and manually operable control means for selecting one of said zones for projection mounted on said panel, said control means including unique indicia corresponding to said code.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
A plotting device for use in a golf game comprising: means for indicating a reference point and a point movable with respect to said reference point, said indicating means being adapted to locate said movable point in response to the output of a computer; means providing a map of a golf hole including indicia defining a cup location and associated with said indicating means so that the latter, when operated by a computer, will indicate the point of termination of a shot on said map; and means mounting said indicating means and said map-providing means for relative movement (a) about a pivotal axis coinciding with said cup location, and (b) along a second axis that intersects said pivotal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
A plotting device for use in a golf game comprising: means for indicating a reference point and a point movable with respect to said reference point, said indicating means being adapted to locate said movable point in response to the output of a computer; means providing a map of a golf hole including indicia defining a cup location and associated with said indicating means so that the latter, when operated by a computer, will indicate the point of termination of a shot on said map; and means mounting said indicating means and said map-providing means for relative movement (a) about a pivotal axis coinciding with said cup location, and (b) along a second axis that intersects said pivotal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein said indicating means include first means for moving said movable point in one direction and second means for moving said movable point in a second direction different from said first direction whereby said movable point may be located at any point on said map-providing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein said map is divided into a plurality of zones, each having a unique code associated therewith; and manually operable means for controlling scene selection of an indoor golf game said scene selection means having a corresponding code associated therewith whereby a golfer may manipulate said manually operable scene selection means to select a scene of said indoor golf game for a subsequent shot in accordance with information relative to a preceding shot provided by said indicating means and said map providing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein said map-providing means includes indicia defining a green area divided into a plurality of zones, each having unique indicia associated therewith adapted to correspond to unique indicia associated with corresponding zones on an indoor green area associated with an indoor golf game whereby said plotting device will enable a golfer to locate this ball in an appropriate zone on said indoor green area to hole out therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
197 words
A plotting device for use in a golf game having a computer that provides output signals representative of the distance a ball struck from a tee would have traveled in a first direction generally coinciding with an intended line of flight and in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said pLotting device comprising: a map of a hole on a golf course, means for supporting said map, means for projecting a stationary reference spot of light on said map, means for projecting a movable spot of light on said map and including first moving means for moving said movable spot on said map in one direction along a line and a second moving means for moving said movable spot on said map in a second direction transverse to said one direction, both of said moving means being adapted to be controlled by a computer, means mounting said support means for movement in said one direction, and means associated with said map and said support means for providing a pivotal connection therebetween, said connection providing pivotal movement of said map on said support means about an axis intersecting said line and generally perpendicular to said map.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
197 words
A plotting device for use in a golf game having a computer that provides output signals representative of the distance a ball struck from a tee would have traveled in a first direction generally coinciding with an intended line of flight and in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said pLotting device comprising: a map of a hole on a golf course, means for supporting said map, means for projecting a stationary reference spot of light on said map, means for projecting a movable spot of light on said map and including first moving means for moving said movable spot on said map in one direction along a line and a second moving means for moving said movable spot on said map in a second direction transverse to said one direction, both of said moving means being adapted to be controlled by a computer, means mounting said support means for movement in said one direction, and means associated with said map and said support means for providing a pivotal connection therebetween, said connection providing pivotal movement of said map on said support means about an axis intersecting said line and generally perpendicular to said map.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
A plotting device for use in a golf game comprising: means for indicating a reference point and a point movable with respect to said reference point, said indicating means being adapted to locate said movable point in response to the output of a computer; means providing a map of a golf hole and associated with said indicating means so that the latter, when operated by a computer, will indicate the point of termination of a shot on said map; and means mounting said indicating means and said map providing means for a relative movement (a) about a pivotal axis, and (b) along a second axis that intersects said pivotal axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
A plotting device for use in a golf game comprising: means for indicating a reference point and a point movable with respect to said reference point, said indicating means being adapted to locate said movable point in response to the output of a computer; means providing a map of a golf hole and associated with said indicating means so that the latter, when operated by a computer, will indicate the point of termination of a shot on said map; and means mounting said indicating means and said map providing means for a relative movement (a) about a pivotal axis, and (b) along a second axis that intersects said pivotal axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |