Patent US4045023A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4045023A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-09
•
Granted: 1977-08-30
•
Expires: 1994-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A game apparatus comprising a target with a plurality of target zones each of which is operatively connected to an impact responsive signal generator, a signal selecting circuit and a scoreboard by which objects impacting upon the target produce signals above an adjustable level that will register on the scoreboard. In a specific embodiment, the target may take the form of a simulated golf green and is combined with an all-weather golf driving range including a driving booth in which the environment is controlled, a fairway designed such that snow removal and ball retrieval are enhanced, and a device for registering the longer drives.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell H. Heffley, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:16
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B63/00; A63B63/007; A63B47/00; A63B47/02; A63B47/024; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3691; A63B69/3694; A63B24/00; A63B24/0021; A63B2024/0037; A63B2024/004; A63B2102/00; A63B2102/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A game apparatus of the driving range type comprising an elongated fairway, one end of said fairway being narrower than the other of said ends, a tee adjacent said one end, said fairway having a longitudinal axis, said fairway having a continuous and generally planar surface extending between said ends on both sides of said axis, said fairway surfaces sloping downwardly from said one end to said other end, said fairway surfaces also being sloped downwardly from the lateral edges thereof toward said axis, whereby balls striking said fairway surface will be urged to roll toward said axis and said other end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A game apparatus of the driving range type comprising an elongated fairway, one end of said fairway being narrower than the other of said ends, a tee adjacent said one end, said fairway having a longitudinal axis, said fairway having a continuous and generally planar surface extending between said ends on both sides of said axis, said fairway surfaces sloping downwardly from said one end to said other end, said fairway surfaces also being sloped downwardly from the lateral edges thereof toward said axis, whereby balls striking said fairway surface will be urged to roll toward said axis and said other end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fairway further includes a ball-retrieving recess extending longitudinally thereof and downwardly from said fairway surfaces, said recess extending on opposite sides of said axis, said recess being sloped downwardly from said one to said other end of said fairway, whereby balls striking said fairway surface will be urged to roll toward said axis and said other end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
A game apparatus of the driving range type comprising an elongated fairway, one end of said fairway being narrower than the other of said ends, a tee adjacent said one end, said fairway having a continuous surface extending between said ends, said fairway surface sloping downwardly from said one to said other end, said fairway having a longitudinal axis, said fairway surface also being sloped downwardly from the lateral edges thereof toward said axis, whereby balls striking said fairway surface will be urged to roll toward said axis and said other end, a target fence extending transversely of said fairway adjacent said other end thereof and in a generally perpendicular plane, said target fence including a plurality of target sections, said target sections being serially disposed in vertical relationship, each of said target sections corresponding to different driven yardage of a ball, and further including a plurality of electrical impact sensing means individually coupled to different ones of said target sections for generating electrical signals in response to a ball impacting thereon, and means for visibly registering the impact of said ball on different ones of said sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
188 words
A game apparatus of the driving range type comprising an elongated fairway, one end of said fairway being narrower than the other of said ends, a tee adjacent said one end, said fairway having a continuous surface extending between said ends, said fairway surface sloping downwardly from said one to said other end, said fairway having a longitudinal axis, said fairway surface also being sloped downwardly from the lateral edges thereof toward said axis, whereby balls striking said fairway surface will be urged to roll toward said axis and said other end, a target fence extending transversely of said fairway adjacent said other end thereof and in a generally perpendicular plane, said target fence including a plurality of target sections, said target sections being serially disposed in vertical relationship, each of said target sections corresponding to different driven yardage of a ball, and further including a plurality of electrical impact sensing means individually coupled to different ones of said target sections for generating electrical signals in response to a ball impacting thereon, and means for visibly registering the impact of said ball on different ones of said sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a booth at said one end of said fairway, said booth having a floor, ceiling, and walls, one of said walls having an opening therein, there being a tee mounted within said booth adjacent said opening, the dimensions of said booth and said opening being sufficient to allow a ball to be driven from said tee and within said booth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electrical impact sensing means includes a plurality of impact responsive signal generators connected to each of said target sections, and a signal selector circuit operatively connected to said signal generators, and wherein said registering means includes a plurality of scoreboard drivers operatively connected to said selector circuit and each of said target zones.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said signal selector circuit includes a signal generating circuit for generating a disabling signal for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fairway further includes a ball-retrieving recess extending longitudinally thereof and downwardly from said fairway surface, said recess extending on opposite sides of said axis, said recess being sloped downwardly from said one to said other end of said fairway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a booth at said one end of said fairway, said booth having a floor, ceiling, and walls, one of said walls having an opening therein, there being a tee mounted within said booth adjacent said opening, the dimensions of said booth and said opening being sufficient to allow a ball to be driven from said tee and within said booth.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1660339A
Cited
US2248053A
Cited
US3314679A
Cited
US3599980A
Cited
US3602506A
Cited
US3738664A
Cited
US3826501A
Cited
US3861680A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |