Golf simulator

US 20030040373A1
Filed: 01/19/2001
Published: 02/27/2003
Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A golf simulator comprising:

a flooring system having a tee area adjacent a green area, a green-side area adjacent said green area, and a ball feed system adjacent said flooring system;

said ball feed system comprising a ball direction system, a plurality of multidirectional feeding tubes and a plurality of ball lifting mechanisms;

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Abstract

A golf simulator has a flooring system comprising a tee area, a green area, a green-side area and a ball feed system adjacent the flooring system. From measurements taken when the ball is hit, the computer control system computes the next shot position of the ball after it is hit and the corresponding location on the flooring system. A ball feed system collects the ball into a ball feed chute and moves the ball toward a return gutter. When the ball contacts a gutter sensor, the sensor signals a gutter door to open, corresponding to a feed tube. The ball is sent down the return gutter and drops, at the position where the gutter door opened, into a feeding tube and a ball lifting mechanism positions a ball at the appropriate location on the flooring system. This process continues until a player finishes the hole. Accordingly, a player need not touch the golf ball, except when under penalty, more similar to an actual round of golf.

12 Citations

26 Claims

1. A golf simulator comprising:
- a flooring system having a tee area adjacent a green area, a green-side area adjacent said green area, and a ball feed system adjacent said flooring system;
  
  said ball feed system comprising a ball direction system, a plurality of multidirectional feeding tubes and a plurality of ball lifting mechanisms;
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- - 2. The golf simulator of claim 1, wherein said tee area is further comprised of a tee shot tee and at least one fairway approach shot tee.
  - 3. The golf simulator of claim 1, wherein said green-area is further comprised of a plurality of putting tees.
  - 4. The golf simulator of claim 1, wherein said green side area is further comprised of a plurality of chip shot tees.
  - 5. The golf simulator of claim 1, further comprising a projection system, said projection system having a projector located adjacent a flooring system and a projection screen opposite said tee area.
  - 6. The golf simulator of claim 1, further comprising a ball trajectory system, said ball trajectory system having a plurality of ball hit detectors and a sensing grid detector located opposite said tee area substantially adjacent said projection screen.
  - 7. The golf simulator of claim 1, wherein each of said ball lifting mechanism is comprised of:
    - a housing, said housing comprising a ball entrance depending from said feeding tubes, a vertically hollowed area within said housing accepting balls onto a tee, said tee containing a ball-hit detector.
  - 8. The golf simulator of claim 7, wherein said ball lifting mechanism further comprises:
    - a ball entrance gate located adjacent said ball entrance, said ball entrance gate being spring biased and pivotably attached to said housing.
  - 9. The golf simulator of claim 7, wherein said tee is positioned within said vertically hollowed area for movement between said ball entrance and a ball exit aperture.
  - 10. The golf simulator of claim 7, wherein said ball lifting mechanism further comprises:
    - a tee rail, said tee rail vertically positioned within said vertically hollowed area and slidably connected to said tee such that said tee maintains correct alignment during movement in said vertically hollowed area;
  - 11. The golf simulator of claim 7, wherein said ball lifting mechanism further comprises:
    - a linkage having first and second ends, said first end slidably connected to said tee, said linkage also being pivotably connected to said housing;
      
      said linkage being spring biased whereby said second end of linkage is normally positioned lower than said first end of linkage thereby positioning said tee at said ball exit;
  - 12. The golf simulator of claim 11, wherein said ball lifting mechanism further comprises:
    - an actuator pivotably connected to said second end of said linkage.
  - 13. The golf simulator of claim 12, where said actuator is a pneumatic air cylinder.
  - 14. The golf simulator of claim 13, where said pneumatic air cylinder is in flow communication with a compressed air source.
  - 15. The golf simulator of claim 12, where said actuator is a solenoid.
  - 16. The golf simulator of claim 15, where said solenoid is in electronic communication with a power source.
  - 17. The golf simulator of claim 1, further comprising a computer control system, said computer control system comprising a projector control module, a ball trajectory module, a ball feed system control module, a game button response module and a voice synthesizer.
  - 18. The golf simulator of claim 17, further comprising, a game button system comprising at least one button for controlling said golf simulator and maintaining score.
  - 19. The golf simulator of claim 17, wherein said projector control module is in electronic communication with said projector, said ball feed system control module is in electronic communication with said ball feed system, said ball trajectory module is in electronic communication with said ball trajectory system, and said game button response module is in electronic communication with said game button system.
  - 20. The golf simulator of claim 17, wherein said projector control module is comprised of an interface for said projector and control software and hardware.
  - 21. The golf simulator of claim 17, wherein said ball trajectory module is comprised of an interface and control software and hardware.

22. A ball feed system comprising:
- a ball return chute substantially adjacent a flooring system;
  
  a return gutter adjacent said flooring system and connected to said ball return chute;
  
  a plurality of ball direction systems in communication with said return gutter for directing a golf ball into a feed tube;
- View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
- - 23. The ball feed system of claim 22, wherein said ball direction system comprises:
    - a plurality of return gutter doors hingably attached to said return gutter;
      
      a door actuator slidably attached to said return gutter door;
      
      a ball pusher, substantially beneath said actuator;
      
      a ball sensor substantially beneath said return gutter door;
      
      a ball feed tube depending from each of said plurality of ball direction systems.
  - 24. The ball feed system of claim 23, where said door actuator is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic air cylinder and a solenoid.
  - 25. The ball feed system of claim 23, where said ball pusher is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic air cylinder and a solenoid.

26. A golf simulation comprising the steps of:
- a. hitting a golf shot from a tee;
  
  b. detecting said golf shot hit from a tee;
  
  b. computing the distance and direction of said golf shot;
  
  c. computing a next golf shot position based on said golf shot;
  
  d. translating said next golf shot position to a grid system;
  
  e. determining if computed said next golf shot position is located at a putting hole location; and
  
  f. positioning a golf ball at a location within said grid system corresponding to computed said next golf shot.

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Current Assignee
Golf Simulator LLC
Original Assignee
Par Action Golfd, Inc.
Inventors
Playforth, Charles W., Kaiser, James R., Pfeiffer, John C., Chamberlain, Stephen B.

Granted Patent

US 6,595,863 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

473/132
CPC Class Codes

A63B 2024/0031   at the starting point

A63B 2047/028   pneumatic ball transport

A63B 24/0021   Tracking a path or terminat...

A63B 47/025   Installations continuously ...

A63B 57/0006   Automatic teeing devices de...

A63B 67/02   Special golf games, e.g. mi...

A63B 69/36   for golf

A63B 69/3658   Means associated with the b...

A63B 69/3697   with putting taking place o...

Golf simulator

First Claim

3 Assignments

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Accused Products

Abstract

12 Citations

26 Claims

Specification

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Golf simulator

First Claim

3 Assignments

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0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

12 Citations

26 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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