Patent US4742164A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3897059A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3897059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf ball putting cup
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-11-16
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1993-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A golf cup which effects an automatic ejection of a golf ball putted therein, wherein a tiltable, cup-like impacting means is operable to laterally restrain a golf ball and randomly locate the golf ball and thereafter undergo upward tilting movement operable to impart laterally and upwardly directed ball ejecting force to the golf ball.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert P Mcculloch
- 👤 Stephen H Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:36
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B57/00; A63B57/40; A63B57/405; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
A golf cup apparatus comprising: golf cup means including a housing operable to be positioned at least partially below ground level, and open upwardly and receive a downwardly moving golf ball; generally concave, upwardly opening, ball impacting means positioned generally interiorly of said housing and including base means extending generally transversely of a vertical axis of said golf cup, and rim means extending upwardly from said base means and operable to exert laterally directed, ball restraining force on a golf ball disposed above said ball impacting means in force receiving cooperation therewith; pivot means pivotally supporting said ball impacting means for random tilting movement relative to said golf cup axis; and impact force applying means operable to transmit ball impacting force to said base means operable to tilt said ball impacting means about said pivot means, with said ball impacting force being operable to be transmitted through said ball impacting means to a golf ball which is laterally restrained by said rim means and disposed in force receiving cooperation with said ball impacting means; said generally concave, ball impacting means being operable to tilt downwardly on one side thereof in response to the weight of a golf ball acting thereon, with said rim means exerting a restraining force on said golf ball, causing it to be supported on said one side, and with said downward tilting being random in nature in accordance with the location on said ball impacting means where the weight of said golf ball is applied, and tilt upwardly on said one side, in response to said transmission of said impacting force thereto, and impart golf ball ejecting force to said golf ball during said upward tilting directed upwardly and transversely of said golf cup means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
289 words
A golf cup apparatus comprising: golf cup means including a housing operable to be positioned at least partially below ground level, and open upwardly and receive a downwardly moving golf ball; generally concave, upwardly opening, ball impacting means positioned generally interiorly of said housing and including base means extending generally transversely of a vertical axis of said golf cup, and rim means extending upwardly from said base means and operable to exert laterally directed, ball restraining force on a golf ball disposed above said ball impacting means in force receiving cooperation therewith; pivot means pivotally supporting said ball impacting means for random tilting movement relative to said golf cup axis; and impact force applying means operable to transmit ball impacting force to said base means operable to tilt said ball impacting means about said pivot means, with said ball impacting force being operable to be transmitted through said ball impacting means to a golf ball which is laterally restrained by said rim means and disposed in force receiving cooperation with said ball impacting means; said generally concave, ball impacting means being operable to tilt downwardly on one side thereof in response to the weight of a golf ball acting thereon, with said rim means exerting a restraining force on said golf ball, causing it to be supported on said one side, and with said downward tilting being random in nature in accordance with the location on said ball impacting means where the weight of said golf ball is applied, and tilt upwardly on said one side, in response to said transmission of said impacting force thereto, and impart golf ball ejecting force to said golf ball during said upward tilting directed upwardly and transversely of said golf cup means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 and further comprising: diaphragm means operable to support a golf ball in said golf cup means, said diaphragm means being supported by, and located above, said generally concave, ball impacting means; said diaphragm means including upwardly opening, generally annular, ball receiving recess means supported by said rim means and operable to support a golf ball at random locations tHerein, with said laterally directed, ball restraining force being transmitted through said diaphragm means to a golf ball supported in said recess means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein: said generally concave, ball impacting means comprises a generally frusto conical cup, with said base means defining the base of said cup and having a central opening, and with said rim means defining the lateral periphery of said cup; said pivot means comprises retainer means anchored in said housing and passing upwardly through said central opening of said cup in generally laterally spaced relation with the periphery of said central opening; and said impact force applying means comprises electrical coil means telescopingly associated with said retainer means and having an upper, annular end operable to randomly impart force to the underside of said base means by engaging the underside of a downwardly tilted portion of said base means, and electro-magnet means operable to induce upward movement of said electrical coil means capable of imparting said force to the underside of said base means.
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) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |