Golf ball teeing device

Abstract

A golf ball teeing device comprises a base member and a hopper. A golf ball delivery track is substantially straight between its proximal end and its distal end, and is mounted adjacent the proximal end on the base member for substantially vertical travel between a lowered rest position and a raised ball teeing position. A golf ball placement aperture is disposed adjacent the distal end. A support receives the golf balls in seriatim from the hopper and presents each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to the track. An actuation mechanism moves the golf ball delivery track from the lowered rest position to the raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to the lowered rest position, and permits selective delivery of the golf balls presented by the support sequentially onto the golf ball delivery track for subsequent placement on the tee.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A golf ball teeing device for placing serially dispensed golf balls onto a tee one at a time, said golf ball teeing device comprising: 
 a base member;    a hopper mounted on said base member for receiving and retaining a plurality of golf balls;    a golf ball delivery track having a proximal end and a distal end, and mounted adjacent said proximal end on said base member for substantially vertical travel between a lowered rest position and a raised ball teeing position, and having a golf ball placement aperture disposed adjacent said distal end, wherein a golf ball disposed on said golf ball delivery track rolls to said golf ball placement aperture when said golf ball delivery track is in said golf ball teeing position;    support means for receiving said golf balls in seriatim from said hopper and presenting each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to said track; and,    actuation means for moving said golf ball delivery track from said lowered rest position to said raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to said lowered rest position, and for selectively delivering said golf balls presented by said support means sequentially onto said golf ball delivery track for subsequent placement on said tee.    
     
     
         2 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing that substantially covers said support means and said actuation means.  
     
     
         3 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 2 , wherein said actuation means comprises a substantially horizontally disposed axle pivotally mounted on said based member, at least one paddle projecting transversely from said substantially horizontally disposed axle and disposed exteriorly to said housing, and at least one track actuating arm projecting transversely from said substantially horizontally disposed axle so as to engage said golf ball delivery track.  
     
     
         4 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 1 , wherein said support means comprises an elevated golf ball supporting platform having a golf ball receiving aperture therein, for receiving golf balls in seriatim from said hopper, said golf ball receiving aperture having a effective diameter smaller than the diameter of said golf balls.  
     
     
         5 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 4 , wherein said elevated golf ball supporting platform has a track-facing opening therein in communication with said golf ball receiving aperture, for assisting in directing golf balls onto said golf ball delivery track.  
     
     
         6 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 1 , wherein said proximal end of said golf ball delivery track is vertically aligned with said golf ball receiving aperture, so as to permit said proximal end of said golf ball delivery track to lift a golf ball out of said golf ball receiving aperture in said elevated golf ball supporting platform, when said golf ball delivery track travels to its raised ball teeing position, such that said golf ball falls onto said golf ball delivery track.  
     
     
         7 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 6 , wherein said golf ball delivery track includes a upwardly protruding portion disposed at said proximal end thereof so as to contact a golf ball, to thereby lift said golf ball out of said golf ball receiving aperture, as aforesaid.  
     
     
         8 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 7 , wherein said upwardly protruding portion includes a forwardly facing sloped top face for contacting a golf ball disposed in said golf ball receiving aperture in said elevated golf ball supporting platform, and urging said golf ball forwardly past said track-facing opening.  
     
     
         9 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 1 , wherein said golf ball delivery track is mounted in vertically sliding relation on at least one substantially vertically disposed post.  
     
     
         10 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 9 , wherein said golf ball delivery track is spring biased toward said lowered rest position.  
     
     
         11 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 1 , wherein said hopper has a helically-shaped storage and delivery channel for receiving golf balls thereon.  
     
     
         12 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 11 , wherein said hopper comprises a plurality of modules stacked vertically one on top of another, each module has a helically-shaped storage and delivery channel for receiving golf balls thereon.  
     
     
         13 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a levelling indicator.  
     
     
         14 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 13 , further comprising means for levelling said base member.  
     
     
         15 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 1 , further comprising handle means mounted on said housing.  
     
     
         16 . The golf ball teeing device of  claim 15 , wherein said handle means comprises a handle pivotally mounted on said housing.  
     
     
         17 . A golf ball teeing device for placing serially dispensed golf balls onto a tee one at a time, said golf ball teeing device comprising: 
 a base member;    a hopper mounted on said base member for receiving and retaining a plurality of golf balls;    a golf ball delivery track having a proximal end and a distal end, and being substantially straight between said proximal end and said distal end, and mounted adjacent said proximal end on said base member for movement between a lowered rest position and a raised ball teeing position, and having a golf ball placement aperture disposed adjacent said distal end, wherein a golf ball disposed on said golf ball delivery track rolls to said golf ball placement aperture when said golf ball delivery track is in said golf ball teeing position;    support means for receiving said golf balls one at a time from said hopper and presenting each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to said track; and,    actuation means for moving said golfiball delivery track from said lowered rest position to said raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to said lowered rest position, and for selectively delivering said golf balls presented by said support means sequentially onto said golf ball delivery track for subsequent placement on said tee.