Golf ball tee-up mechanism for golf driving range

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically setting a golf ball on a tee includes an escapement mechanism to isolate a single golf ball from a plurality of golf balls, a hingedly connected chute to channel a golf ball from the escapement mechanism to the tee, and means to raise and lower the chute from alignment with the tee to a position where it will not interfere with the swing of a golfer standing adjacent to the tee. A motor drives a pulley and chain. A cable is pivotally attached to the chain and to a free end of the chute. Rotation of the motor translates into linear movement of the cable, raising or lowering the chute. A helical coil spring may be imposed between the cable and the chute. A tab extending from the chute operates the escapement mechanism so that when the chute is in the raised position, only a single ball drops onto the chute. In an alternative embodiment the tee is movable so a fixed ball delivery path can provide balls seriatim to a ball support opening in the platform where the tee lifts the balls up where it can be struck by the golfer. The drive means for moving the tee is similar to that for moving the chute and is triggered by the ball provided on the tee, or the absence thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for setting a golf ball on a tee comprising: 
 a chute defining a first end and an opposing second end for transporting the golf ball to the tee:    escapement means for separating an individual golf ball from a plurality of golf balls and delivering the individual golf ball to the first end of the chute; and    a movable platform defining a free end adjacent to the chute first end, and an opposing hinged end whereby the chute is moved between a first position clear of the tee so the ball on the tee can be struck by a swinging club and a second position wherein the second end of the chute is vertically higher than a top of the tee.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for moving the chute further including a mechanical assembly that moves the chute through a discrete cycle, said cycle comprising, moving the chute from the first position to the second position and back again to the first position.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the mechanical assembly includes a motor, a driven pulley attached thereto, control means for cyclically operating said motor, an opposing pulley, and means to transfer motion from the driven pulley to the opposing pulley.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the mechanical assembly further includes tensioning means to interconnecting the means to transfer motion with the first end of the chute.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the driven pulley turns in only one direction during the cycle.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the motor operates continuously during the cycle.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for setting a golf ball on a tee comprising: 
 a chute defining a first end and an opposing second end for transporting the golf ball to the tee, escapement means for separating an individual golf ball from a plurality of golf balls and delivery individual golf balls to the first end of said chute, and means for moving the chute between a first position clear of the tee so the ball on the tee can be struck by a swinging club, and a second position wherein the second end of the chute is vertically higher than the top of said tee, wherein the means for moving the chute includes a sensor and a motor, the sensor actuating the motor, and the output of the motor causing the chute to move in at least one direction and rely upon gravity for movement in the opposite direction, said sensor being provided at the free end of a lever arm which is located below the level of the platform through which the tee projects, and said lever being responsive to downward incremental movement of the tee whereby automatic operation of the operation of the apparatus is provided for to sequence the chute and the escapement means to roll a single ball down the chute onto the tee, and then provide for return movement of the chute to its inactive position all in response to a golfer tapping the top of the tee to trigger said sensor in response to downward incremental motion of the tee.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for teeing up golf balls comprising: 
 a platform having an opening for supporting a golf ball, and a groove to allow the ball to roll and to be supported by said platform opening,    a tee movably supported from below said platform and having a golf ball supporting end adapted to move from below the top surface of the opening upwardly so as to “tee up” a ball that has been so supported in said platform opening,    means for cyclically moving said tee between said tee up position and a down position that allows a ball to be supported in said platform opening, and    golf ball storage and ball escapement means for providing individual gold balls in said platform groove with enough momentum to roll along said groove onto said platform opening.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said means for cyclically moving said tee comprises a single revolution motor driving a tensioned element coupled to said ball escapement means and to said tee supporting and moving means.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said tee supporting and moving means comprising a lever balance to sense the presence of a ball supported only by said tee, and in the absence of that ball triggers said means for cyclically moving said tee.