US3778064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Simulated golf game device
Assignee: Golf in Equipment Corp
•
Filing: 1972-04-10
•
Granted: 1973-12-11
•
Expires: 1992-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A device for simulating the playing of a game of golf utilizes a screen toward which a player drives a golf ball. On the screen are projected images of a golf course recorded on a film strip showing in successive frames the distance to the green from successively closer lies of the ball. Two rows of photocells detect the passage of the golf ball and the club head. A player can thus practice swinging the golf club without setting off the device. Upon detection of the passage of the golf ball and the club head, an indication of the distance the ball would travel in an uninterrupted path is provided by the projection of an image showing the green as viewed from the approximate lie of the ball. The interval of time in which the ball passes over the two rows of photocells is converted into distance of ball travel by the accumulation of a count in a counter. Upon the passage of the club head over the rows of photocells, a gate is opened to permit the count in the counter to be advanced to a preset total and on the attainment of that total, the gate is closed. During the time the gate is open, signals passing through the gate actuate a stepping motor which moves the film strip to the frame which shows a view of the green from the remaining distance. That frame is projected on the screen. Where the ball is driven beyond the cup, the stepping motor is conditioned to drive the film strip in the reverse direction on the next hit of the golf ball. Detection by the photocells of the passage of both the golf ball and the club head is necessary to enable the device to complete a full cycle of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 G Nutter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:32
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/06; A63F7/0604; A63F7/0628; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2436; A63F2009/2442; A63F2009/2444; A63F2009/2448; A63F2009/245; A63F2009/2461; A63F2009/2466
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
In a simulated golf game device of the type having A. a screen for displaying an image projected thereon, B. a station spaced from the screen from which a player hits a golf ball toward the screen, C. a film strip having a series of frames having successive images representing progressively longer travel of the golf ball, D. a film strip projector positioned to project images from the film strip onto the screen, E. means for sensing movement of the golf ball from the station toward the screen, the sensing means providing first and second control signals separated by a time interval related to the velocity of the golf ball, and F. means responsive to the first and second control signals for computing the distance at which the ball would come to rest in uninterrupted travel, the improvement wherein the means for computing the distance at which the ball would come to rest in uninterrupted travel includes 1. a source of rate signals, 2. a signal counter, 3. switching means responsive to the first and second control signals for coupling the rate signals to the counter to cause the counter to accumulate a count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals, and wherein the simulated golf game device further includes G. a stepping motor for moving the film strip through the projector, H. a signal source, I. a gate for coupling the output of the signal source to the counter, J. means for enabling the gate after accumulation in the counter of the count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals, the counter emitting a signal to disable the gate upon the count in the counter advancing to a preset total count, K. and the stepping motor being actuated by the signals passing through the gate whereby an image representative of the distance of uninterrupted ball travel is projected on the screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
In a simulated golf game device of the type having A. a screen for displaying an image projected thereon, B. a station spaced from the screen from which a player hits a golf ball toward the screen, C. a film strip having a series of frames having successive images representing progressively longer travel of the golf ball, D. a film strip projector positioned to project images from the film strip onto the screen, E. means for sensing movement of the golf ball from the station toward the screen, the sensing means providing first and second control signals separated by a time interval related to the velocity of the golf ball, and F. means responsive to the first and second control signals for computing the distance at which the ball would come to rest in uninterrupted travel, the improvement wherein the means for computing the distance at which the ball would come to rest in uninterrupted travel includes 1. a source of rate signals, 2. a signal counter, 3. switching means responsive to the first and second control signals for coupling the rate signals to the counter to cause the counter to accumulate a count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals, and wherein the simulated golf game device further includes G. a stepping motor for moving the film strip through the projector, H. a signal source, I. a gate for coupling the output of the signal source to the counter, J. means for enabling the gate after accumulation in the counter of the count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals, the counter emitting a signal to disable the gate upon the count in the counter advancing to a preset total count, K. and the stepping motor being actuated by the signals passing through the gate whereby an image representative of the distance of uninterrupted ball travel is projected on the screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for generating a first control signal upon passage of the ball over the first row of photosensors,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for generating a first control signal upon passage of the ball over the first row of photosensors,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
3 words
a signal counter,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
3 words
a signal counter,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved simulated golf game device according to claim 1 wherein the source of rate signals is arranged to emit its signals at a rate that changes non-linearly in the time interval between the first and second control signals
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
3 words
a signal counter,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
3 words
a signal counter,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
switching means responsive to the first and second control signals for coupling rate signals from the source to the counter to cause the counter to accumulate a count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals. and wherein the simulated golf game device further includes, G. a stepping motor for moving the film strip through projector, H. a signal source, I. a gate for coupling the output of the signal source to the counter, the gate being enabled by the third control signal and being inhibited upon the counter attaining a predetermined count, J. and the stepping motor being actuated by the signals passing through the gate whereby an image is projected on the screen representative of the distance of uninterrupted ball travel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
switching means responsive to the first and second control signals for coupling rate signals from the source to the counter to cause the counter to accumulate a count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals. and wherein the simulated golf game device further includes, G. a stepping motor for moving the film strip through projector, H. a signal source, I. a gate for coupling the output of the signal source to the counter, the gate being enabled by the third control signal and being inhibited upon the counter attaining a predetermined count, J. and the stepping motor being actuated by the signals passing through the gate whereby an image is projected on the screen representative of the distance of uninterrupted ball travel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved simulated golf game device according to claim 2 wherein the means for enabling the gate includes apparatus for generating a third control signal indicating that the golf ball has been struck by the golf club.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
154 words
switching means responsive to the first and second control signals for coupling the rate signals to the counter to cause the counter to accumulate a count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals, and wherein the simulated golf game device further includes G. a stepping motor for moving the film strip through the projector, H. a signal source, I. a gate for coupling the output of the signal source to the counter, J. means for enabling the gate after accumulation in the counter of the count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals, the counter emitting a signal to disable the gate upon the count in the counter advancing to a preset total count, K. and the stepping motor being actuated by the signals passing through the gate whereby an image representative of the distance of uninterrupted ball travel is projected on the screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
switching means responsive to the first and second control signals for coupling the rate signals to the counter to cause the counter to accumulate a count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals, and wherein the simulated golf game device further includes G. a stepping motor for moving the film strip through the projector, H. a signal source, I. a gate for coupling the output of the signal source to the counter, J. means for enabling the gate after accumulation in the counter of the count dependent upon the time interval between the first and second control signals, the counter emitting a signal to disable the gate upon the count in the counter advancing to a preset total count, K. and the stepping motor being actuated by the signals passing through the gate whereby an image representative of the distance of uninterrupted ball travel is projected on the screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for generating a second control signal upon the passage of the ball over the second row of photosensors,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for generating a second control signal upon the passage of the ball over the second row of photosensors,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
means for generating a third control signal upon the passage of the club head over the rows of photosensors, and wherein the means for computing the distance at which the golf ball would come to rest in uninterrupted travel includes
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
means for generating a third control signal upon the passage of the club head over the rows of photosensors, and wherein the means for computing the distance at which the golf ball would come to rest in uninterrupted travel includes
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a simulated golf game device of the type having A. a screen for displaying an image projected thereon, B. a station spaced from the screen and from which a player hits a golf ball toward the screen, C. a film strip having a series of frames showing successive locations of the lie of a golf ball in a direction toward the green, D. a film strip projector positioned to project images from the film strip onto the screen, E. means for sensing the passage of the golf ball hit toward the screen, and F. means for computing the distance at which the ball would come to rest in uninterrupted travel, the improvement wherein the means for sensing the passage of the golf ball hit toward the screen includes
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a simulated golf game device of the type having A. a screen for displaying an image projected thereon, B. a station spaced from the screen and from which a player hits a golf ball toward the screen, C. a film strip having a series of frames showing successive locations of the lie of a golf ball in a direction toward the green, D. a film strip projector positioned to project images from the film strip onto the screen, E. means for sensing the passage of the golf ball hit toward the screen, and F. means for computing the distance at which the ball would come to rest in uninterrupted travel, the improvement wherein the means for sensing the passage of the golf ball hit toward the screen includes
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved simulated golf game device according to claim 4, wherein the source of rate signals emits its signals at a rate that changes non-linearly with time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improved simulated golf game device according to claim 5, wherein the improvement further comprises K. means for selecting the rate at which the counter accumulates counts whereby different distances of ball travel can be indicated for the same interval of time between the first and second control signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved simulated golf game device according to claim 6, wherein the improvement further comprises L. direction control means responsive to signal indicia on the film strip for controlling the direction of movement of the stepping motor.
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) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |