US3769894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf game
Assignee: Brunswick Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-24
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1990-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A golf game for accurately and realistically displaying the results of golf shots to a golfer including a tee area whereat a golfer may hit a golf ball, a screen in front of the tee area, means for projecting on the screen any one of a plurality of scenes taken from different locations on a golf hole, data acquisition means associated with the tee for providing information relative to the trajectory of a ball hit from the tee by a golfer, a computer responsive to the data acquisition means for computing the trajectory of the ball, and ball spot projecting means responsive to the computer for projecting a spot of light on the screen and on the scenes displayed thereon to illustrate the trajectory of the ball to the golfer, the scenes being displayed to the golfer being of a golf course illustrating a flat playing surface so that the final location of the golf ball on the hole will be accurately and realistically indicated on the screen by the ball spot projecting means; and a method for providing the scenes.
Inventors
- 👤 R Conklin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:06
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B24/00; A63B24/0021; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B2024/0028; A63B2024/0034; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/80; A63B2220/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of providing perspective scenes of portions of a hole on a golf course for use with golf games wherein a scene illustrating a portion of a golf hole is displayed to a golfer, the golfer hits a ball towards a scene, parameters relative to the trajectory of a ball so hit are measured, a computer computes the trajectory of the ball so hit on the basis of the parameters and the results of computation are displayed to the golfer by projecting a spot of light on the displayed scene by projecting means responsive to the computer, the method maximizing the accuracy of at least the display of the point of termination of the shot and including the steps of: a. building a model of a golf hole on a reduced scale having a flat playing surface, and b. photographing said playing surface from differing points on said model.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of providing perspective scenes of portions of a hole on a golf course for use with golf games wherein a scene illustrating a portion of a golf hole is displayed to a golfer, the golfer hits a ball towards a scene, parameters relative to the trajectory of a ball so hit are measured, a computer computes the trajectory of the ball so hit on the basis of the parameters and the results of computation are displayed to the golfer by projecting a spot of light on the displayed scene by projecting means responsive to the computer, the method maximizing the accuracy of at least the display of the point of termination of the shot and including the steps of: a. building a model of a golf hole on a reduced scale having a flat playing surface, and b. photographing said playing surface from differing points on said model.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises building the model of the golf hole on a member having an upper, planar surface and providing a generally vertical backdrop therefor, the backdrop including indicia depicting a horizon line; and step (b) further includes utilizing a camera to photograph the playing surface and orienting the camera so that the horizon line on the backdrop will be at the same position with respect to the vertical for each scene taken of the model.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said horizon line on said backdrop is spaced above the playing surface of the model a distance identical to the distance between said playing surface and a predetermined portion of the camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) further includes providing an indication of a horizon line behind the golf hole and step (b) further includes utilizing a camera to photograph the playing surface and orienting the camera so that the horizon line will be at the same position with respect to the vertical on each scene taken from each of the differing points on the model.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of providing perspective scenes of portions of a hole on a golf course for use with golf games wherein various scenes illustrating portions of a golf hole are indiviDually displayed to a golfer, the golfer hits a ball towards a scene, parameters relative to the trajectory of the ball are measured, a computer computes the trajectory of the ball on the basis of the parameters and the results or computation are displayed on the golfer by projecting a spot of light on the displayed scene by projecting means responsive to the computer, the method maximizing the accuracy of at least the display of the point of termination of the shot and including the steps of: a. making a map of an individual hole on a golf course; b. dividing the golf hole area depicted on the map into a plurality of differing zones; c. building a model of the golf hole illustrated on the map on a member having a planar surface so that the model golf hole will have a flat playing surface; and d. photographing the playing surface of the model golf hole from a plurality of differing points thereon, each point corresponding to a zone on the map.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of providing perspective scenes of portions of a hole on a golf course for use with golf games wherein various scenes illustrating portions of a golf hole are indiviDually displayed to a golfer, the golfer hits a ball towards a scene, parameters relative to the trajectory of the ball are measured, a computer computes the trajectory of the ball on the basis of the parameters and the results or computation are displayed on the golfer by projecting a spot of light on the displayed scene by projecting means responsive to the computer, the method maximizing the accuracy of at least the display of the point of termination of the shot and including the steps of: a. making a map of an individual hole on a golf course; b. dividing the golf hole area depicted on the map into a plurality of differing zones; c. building a model of the golf hole illustrated on the map on a member having a planar surface so that the model golf hole will have a flat playing surface; and d. photographing the playing surface of the model golf hole from a plurality of differing points thereon, each point corresponding to a zone on the map.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3552290A
Cited
US3633007A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |