Patent US3677552A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3677552A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf practice apparatus
Assignee: Sullivan Machinery Co
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Filing: 1971-06-25
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1991-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus permitting the playing within a small area of a simulated game of golf. A golf ball is connected by a tee assembly to a torpedo within an elongated housing. In one embodiment, the torpedo carries weights, and when the golf ball is struck the torpedo moves up a uniform grade within the housing to slow the torpedo. In a second embodiment, the torpedo carries magnets and the housing includes oppositely-poled magnets so that as the torpedo carries its magnets over those of the housing, the magnetic attraction slows the torpedo. The distance the ball and torpedo move is scaled to indicate the distance which would have been achieved by a freely hit ball on a golf course. A calibration unit includes a weight for striking the ball a fixed blow to move it a fixed distance.
Inventors
- 👤 August R Werft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:43
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/0073; A63B69/0091
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A golf apparatus comprising: a. an elongated housing with a first end and a second end and having: i. a central opening extending longitudinally the length thereof; ii. a slot passing through the top thereof and communicating with the central opening over the length thereof; iii. a groove on either side of the central opening and extending the length thereof and communicating therewith; b. a torpedo within the elongated housing central opening and including at least one support member extending from each side thereof and pOsitioned within the elongated housing grooves; c. ball means including a golf-ball shaped ball member and a tee member, the tee member including: i. a tee portion connected to the ball member and extending through the elongated housing slot to position the ball member outside the elongated housing; ii. a lower portion within the elongated housing central opening and connected to the tee portion; d. connecting means connecting the ball means tee member lower portion to the torpedo so that upon a force in the direction of the elongated housing longitudinal axis being imparted to the ball means ball member, the ball means and the torpedo move longitudinally with respect to the elongated housing; the elongated housing and the torpedo including means for providing braking of the longitudinal movement of the ball means and the torpedo with respect to the elongated housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A golf apparatus comprising: a. an elongated housing with a first end and a second end and having: i. a central opening extending longitudinally the length thereof; ii. a slot passing through the top thereof and communicating with the central opening over the length thereof; iii. a groove on either side of the central opening and extending the length thereof and communicating therewith; b. a torpedo within the elongated housing central opening and including at least one support member extending from each side thereof and pOsitioned within the elongated housing grooves; c. ball means including a golf-ball shaped ball member and a tee member, the tee member including: i. a tee portion connected to the ball member and extending through the elongated housing slot to position the ball member outside the elongated housing; ii. a lower portion within the elongated housing central opening and connected to the tee portion; d. connecting means connecting the ball means tee member lower portion to the torpedo so that upon a force in the direction of the elongated housing longitudinal axis being imparted to the ball means ball member, the ball means and the torpedo move longitudinally with respect to the elongated housing; the elongated housing and the torpedo including means for providing braking of the longitudinal movement of the ball means and the torpedo with respect to the elongated housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the grooves on either side of the central opening are uniformly inclined from the elongated housing first end to the elongated housing second end so that the torpedo moves from the elongated housing first end to the elongated housing second end to provide braking of the longitudinal movement of the ball means and the torpedo with respect to the elongated housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the torpedo has a weight reservoir, the golf apparatus further comprising removable weight means within the weight reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the connecting means includes means permitting limited movement between the ball means and the torpedo, the limited movement being in the direction of the elongated housing longitudinal axis so that upon a force in the direction of the elongated housing longitudinal axis being imparted to the ball means ball member, the ball means moves longitudinally a limited distance with respect to both the torpedo and the elongated housing following which both the ball means and the torpedo move longitudinally with respect to the elongated housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the torpedo includes a plurality of magnets on the lower surface thereof and the elongated housing central opening includes a plurality of magnets on the bottom surface thereof, the torpedo magnets being oppositely poled with respect to the central opening magnets so that the magnetic attraction between the torpedo magnets and the central opening magnets provides braking of the longitudinal movement of the ball means and the torpedo with respect to the elongated housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the torpedo magnets are spaced with respect to the elongated housing longitudinal axis substantially uniformly at a first interval and the central opening magnets are spaced with respect to the elongated housing longitudinal axis at intervals other than the substantially uniform first interval so that upon the torpedo moving from an initial position adjacent the elongated housing first end toward the elongated housing second end, once a first one of the torpedo magnets moves adjacent one of the central opening magnets, during subsequent torpedo movement toward the elongated housing second end there is always at least one torpedo magnet within the influence of one of the central opening magnets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the central opening magnets are spaced with respect to the elongated housing longitudinal axis substantially uniformly at a second interval different from the first interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which, with the torpedo positioned at a rest position adjacent the elongated housing first end, a distance in the order of from approximately five inches to approximately ten inches is provided between any torpedo magnet and any central opening magnet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the distance is approximately 9 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
A golf apparatus as cLaimed in claim 1 in which the connecting means comprises: a shaft extending from the torpedo in the direction of the elongated housing longitudinal axis and passing through an opening in the ball means tee member lower portion, the shaft having a head at the end of the shaft opposite the torpedo; and bias means for biasing the ball means tee member lower portion with respect to the shaft head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the bias means biases the ball means tee member lower portion away from the shaft head and in which the shaft head comprises a bolt threadedly connected to the shaft and adapted for threaded withdrawal movement and insertion movement within the shaft to permit adjustment of the bias of the bias means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: e. a pointer connected to the ball means tee member tee portion outside the elongated housing; and f. a distance scale on the elongated housing upper surface adjacent the pointer and having scaled distance markings thereon permitting interpretation of actual movement of the ball means as simulated distance of a golf shot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which: the distance scale includes at least one elongated slot therethrough with the elongated slot longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the elongated housing longitudinal axis; and the golf apparatus further comprises a bolt passing through each distance scale elongated slot and mating with an opening in the elongated housing to fasten the distance scale to the elongated housing while permitting, upon loosening of the bolt, limited longitudinal movement therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the distance scale has a zero distance marking at the end of the distance scale nearer the elongated housing first end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising means defining a golf driving station above the elongated housing and adjacent the distance scale zero distance marking.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising calibrating means including a weighted hammer and means rotatably mounting the weighted hammer for rotational movement between a first position adjacent the ball means ball member when the pointer is adjacent the distance scale zero distance marking and a second position elevated with respect to the first position, whereby with the pointer adjacent the distance scale zero distance marking and the weighted hammer held in the second position, upon release of the weighted hammer, the weighted hammer rotates to the first position to strike the ball means ball member and impart a known force thereto, causing the ball means and torpedo to move with respect to the elongated housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising adjusting means connected to the elongated housing for leveling the positioning of the elongated housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
A golf apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the ball means ball member comprises a substantially spherical core integrally formed with the ball means tee member tee portion and having a plurality of dimples in the outer surface thereof, and a molded cover over the spherical core and extending within the dimples to prevent slippage of the cover with respect to the core.
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) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |