Golf ball dispensing and teeing device

Abstract

A golf ball dispensing and teeing device is provided which allows a single golf ball to be metered from a supply tube and travel therefrom to rest atop an elevated ball tee.

1 . A golf ball dispensing and teeing device comprising:
 an elongated ball supply tube, said ball supply tube is adapted to hold a plurality of golf balls, said ball supply tube defines an open anterior end opposing an open posterior end, said ball supply tube is cylindrical and has an inner diameter being slightly larger than a diametrical measure of a golf ball;   an anchor mechanism, said anchor mechanism is adapted to anchor said ball supply tube to a ground in an elevationally-declined orientation with respect to the ground so as to allow the plurality of golf balls to feed by gravity from said ball supply tube to a loading arm assembly; and   a ball release mechanism, said ball release mechanism is adapted to permit a single golf ball to be metered from said ball supply tube, said ball release mechanism is welded or otherwise suitably mounted to an upper, external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube proximal to said open anterior end thereof.   
   
   
       2 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 1 , wherein said ball supply tube is fabricated of a lightweight, rigid material. 
   
   
       3 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 1 , wherein said loading arm assembly comprises substantially parallel side rails having outer ends pivotally secured via a locking assembly to a front support bracket, said front support bracket is welded or otherwise suitably mounted to a lower, external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube proximal to said open anterior end thereof, said parallel side rails are secured to said front support bracket in such a manner so as to extend outwardly from a lower plane of said open anterior end of said ball supply tube and be elevated above the ground in a declined position when said golf ball dispensing and teeing device is anchored to the ground. 
   
   
       4 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 3 , wherein said parallel side rails having outer ends interconnected by an enlarged circular loop forming a ball seat, said enlarged circular loop defines a diameter being sufficient so as to allow a golf ball to rest immobilized thereatop, said parallel side rails are suitably spaced so as to allow the golf ball to roll downwardly there along towards said ball seat, 
   
   
       5 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 4 , wherein said parallel side rails and said enlarged circular loop are fabricated of a flexible, semi-rigid material, said fabrication material is sufficiently rigid such that said parallel side rails maintain an elongated, rigid position while said ball seat supports the golf ball, and sufficiently flexible so as to nutate laterally upon striking the golf ball, said parallel side rails are adapted to resume an elongated, rigid position. 
   
   
       6 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 5 , wherein said parallel side rails include a contractile member mounted therebetween, said contractile member being mounted proximal to said ball seat, said contractile member being adapted to hold said parallel side rails in a fixed, spaced relationship. 
   
   
       7 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 3 , wherein said locking assembly comprises a wingnut-bolt and washer assembly adapted to pivotally secure said parallel side rails to an opposed lateral sidewalls of said front support bracket, wherein one end of said wingnut-bolt and washer assembly extends through a suitable aperture defined through said opposed lateral sidewalls of said front support bracket and is supported thereby, said wingnut-bolt and washer assembly allows said ball seat to be vertically adjusted and fixedly positioned to a desired, suspended height above the ground. 
   
   
       8 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 3 , wherein said front support bracket defines an elongated body having a concave channel formed along an upper surface thereof, said upper surface opposing a generally flat lower surface, said concave channel is shaped so as to mount snugly against said lower, external circumferential surface of said ball supply tube. 
   
   
       9 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 1 , wherein said anchor mechanism comprises an anterior C-shaped member and a posterior C-shaped member, said anterior C-shaped member and said posterior C-shaped member each defining a circular cross-section, said anterior C-shaped member and said posterior C-shaped member each defining a horizontal member having opposed ends from which legs extend integrally downward respectfully therefrom, each said legs taper into a lower pointed end so as to facilitate insertion into the ground, wherein said legs of said posterior C-shaped member define a greater length with respect to said legs of said anterior C-shaped member, thereby facilitating anchoring of said ball supply tube in an elevationally-declined orientation with respect to the ground. 
   
   
       10 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 9 , wherein said anchor mechanism further comprises a rear support bracket welded or suitably mounted to said lower, external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube, distal to said front support bracket. 
   
   
       11 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 10 , wherein said rear support bracket defines an elongated body having a concave channel formed along an upper surface thereof, said upper surface opposing a generally flat lower surface, said concave channel is shaped so as to mount snugly against said lower, external circumferential surface of said ball supply tube, said rear support bracket includes a circular bore defined through a lateral sidewall thereof, said circular bore is sized so as to slidably receive in a snug-fit manner said posterior C-shaped member, said leg of said posterior C-shaped member is inserted through said circular bore and is extended therethrough until said horizontal member of said posterior C-shaped member is positioned centrally inside said bore of said rear support bracket, said posterior C-shaped member rotates in relation to said ball supply tube, thereby allowing said posterior C-shaped member to be rotatably positioned forward in order to facilitate compact storage and transport. 
   
   
       12 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 11 , wherein said rear support bracket includes an internally threaded aperture defined through said lower surface thereof, wherein said internally threaded aperture extends into said circular bore of said rear support bracket, said internally threaded aperture is adapted to threadably receive a manually adjustable screw, said manually adjustable screw being tightened until a lower end thereof engages a flat contact surface of a recess defined in said horizontal member of said posterior C-shaped member, thereby securing said posterior C-shaped member into a locked position. 
   
   
       13 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 8 , wherein said front support bracket includes a circular bore defined through said opposed lateral sidewalls thereof, posterior to said suitable aperture, said circular bore is sized so as to slidably receive in a snug-fit manner said anterior C-shaped member, said leg of said anterior C-shaped member is inserted through said circular bore and is extended therethrough until said horizontal member of said anterior C-shaped member is positioned centrally inside said circular bore of said front support bracket, said anterior C-shaped member rotates in relation to said ball supply tube, thereby allowing said anterior C-shaped member to be rotatably positioned rearward in order to facilitate compact storage and transport. 
   
   
       14 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 13 , wherein said front support bracket includes an internally threaded aperture defined through said lower surface thereof, wherein said internally threaded aperture extends into said circular bore of said front support bracket, said internally threaded aperture is adapted to threadably receive a manually adjustable screw, said manually adjustable screw being tightened until a lower end thereof engages a flat contact surface of a recess defined in said horizontal member of said anterior C-shaped member, thereby securing said anterior C-shaped member into a locked position. 
   
   
       15 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 1 , wherein said ball release mechanism comprises an upper elongated jaw portion hingedly attached via a spring to a lower elongated jaw portion, said lower elongated jaw portion has a bottom side welded or otherwise suitably mounted to said upper, external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube proximal to said open anterior end thereof, said upper elongated jaw portion includes an anterior end opposing a posterior end, wherein said anterior end overhangs said lower elongated jaw portion, said posterior end of said upper elongated jaw portion includes a sleeve affixed therearound so as to protect an outer finish of a golf club head. 
   
   
       16 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 15 , wherein said spring is urged in a manner such that said anterior end of said upper elongated jaw portion is biased downwardly in a resting position, thereby allowing said upper elongated jaw portion to pivot between a first generally declined position and a second generally horizontal position. 
   
   
       17 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 15 , wherein said ball release mechanism further comprises:
 a stop member, said stop member is adapted to limits said second generally horizontal position of said upper elongated jaw portion, said stop member is mounted atop said lower elongated jaw portion, posterior to said spring and underneath said upper elongated jaw portion, said stop member is adapted to make contact with said upper elongated jaw portion when said upper elongated jaw portion is lowered a sufficient distance; and   an elongated abutment member, said abutment member extends downward angularly from said upper elongated jaw portion along said anterior end thereof, said abutment member extends from said upper elongated jaw portion at an angle of approximately 10°, wherein said abutment member extends a linear distance through a circular opening defined through said upper, external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube when said ball release mechanism is in a resting position, said circular opening is positioned fore of said lower elongated jaw portion, and wherein said abutment member engages a first golf ball of a series of golf balls positioned in single file and stacked formation within said ball supply tube, thereby preventing forward movement by the first golf ball when said ball release mechanism is in a resting position, said elongated abutment member functions as a stop to prevent the golf ball(s) from dispensing from the ball supply tube, and to facilitate release of a single golf ball through said open anterior end of said ball supply tube, said posterior end of said upper elongated jaw portion is depressed and quickly released, wherein depression of said posterior end of said upper elongated jaw portion concurrently urges said abutment member upwardly against an urging of said spring, and causing said abutment member to disengage from the first golf ball which allows the first golf ball to exit said open anterior end of said ball supply tube, roll slowly down said parallel side rails and into said ball seat, within which the first golf ball resides in a resting position, and wherein release of said upper elongated jaw portion allows said spring to urge said abutment member downwardly, thereby causing said abutment member to engage a subsequent golf ball of the series of golf balls and preventing the subsequent golf ball from dispensing from said ball supply tube.   
   
   
       18 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ball retrieval mechanism, said ball retrieval mechanism is mounted to said open posterior end of said ball supply tube, said ball retrieval mechanism is adapted for picking up golf balls one at a time; and   an end cap, said end cap is removably securable to said open anterior end of said ball supply tube, said end cap is adapted for securing a series of golf balls within said ball supply tube.   
   
   
       19 . A golf ball dispensing and teeing device comprising:
 an elongated ball supply tube, said ball supply tube is adapted to hold a plurality of golf balls, said ball supply tube defines an open anterior end opposing an open posterior end, said ball supply tube is cylindrical and has an inner diameter being slightly larger than a diametrical measure of a golf ball;   an anchor mechanism, said anchor mechanism is adapted to anchor said ball supply tube to a ground in an elevationally-declined orientation with respect to the ground so as to allow the plurality of golf balls to feed by gravity from said ball supply tube to a loading arm assembly being mounted to said ball supply tube, said anchor mechanism comprising a front support bracket welded or otherwise suitably mounted to a lower, external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube proximal to said open anterior end thereof, said front support bracket having an anterior C-shaped member rotatably securable thereto, said anchor mechanism comprising a rear support bracket welded or suitably mounted to a lower, external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube, distal to said front support bracket, said rear support bracket having a posterior C-shaped member rotatably securable thereto;   a ball retrieval mechanism, said ball retrieval mechanism is mounted to said open posterior end of said ball supply tube, said ball retrieval mechanism is adapted for picking up golf balls one at a time; and   a ball release mechanism, said ball release mechanism comprises a U-bolt defining a horizontal member from which legs extend integrally downward from opposed ends respectfully therefrom, said horizontal member having an oval shaped club head engaging pedal welded or otherwise suitably mounted thereto, said legs terminate into threaded ends respectively, said legs are inserted through respective guide cylinders welded or otherwise suitably mounted in a vertical orientation along a lateral sidewalls of said ball supply tube at said open anterior end thereof, said threaded ends of said legs are inserted through respective apertures defined through a plate, said legs are secured to plate via a pair of nuts, said pair of nuts includes an upper nut threadedly engaging each said threaded ends above said plate, and a lower nut threadedly engaging each said threaded ends below said plate, said pair of nuts allowing for selective vertical adjustment of said U-bolt about said plate.   
   
   
       20 . The golf ball dispensing and teeing device of  claim 19 , wherein said ball release mechanism further comprises an elongated abutment element having a threaded lower end, said abutment element having an upper end inserted through a suitable hole defined centrally through said plate and extends through a suitable hole defined through a lower surface of said front support bracket of said anchor mechanism, and through a hole defined through said lower external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube proximal to said open anterior end thereof, said abutment element is secured to said plate via a pair of nuts, said pair of nuts includes an upper nut threadedly engaging said threaded lower end of said abutment element above said plate and a lower nut threadedly engaging said threaded lower end of said abutment element below said plate, said pair of nuts allowing for selective vertical adjustment of said abutment element about said plate, said U-bolt is biased upwardly by a spring suitably disposed between an upper surface of each said guide cylinder and an annular flange welded or otherwise suitably mounted below each a bend of said U-bolt, said spring is constructed to oppose linear compressional forces, and wherein said ball release mechanism is in a resting position said abutment element projects upwardly from said plate and protrudes vertically through said hole defined through said lower external circumferential sidewall of said ball supply tube and engages a first golf ball of a series of golf balls positioned in single file and stacked formation within said ball supply tube, said abutment element functions as a stop to prevent the golf ball(s) from dispensing from said ball supply tube, and wherein depression of said club head engaging pedal concurrently urges said abutment element downwardly against an urging of said spring, thereby causing said abutment element to disengage from the first golf ball, and allowing the first golf ball to exit said open anterior end of said ball supply tube, roll slowly down said loading arm assembly and into a ball seat of said loading arm assembly, within which the golf ball resides in a resting position, and wherein release of said club head engaging pedal allows said spring to urge said abutment member upwardly, thereby causing said abutment member to engage a subsequent golf ball of the series of golf balls and preventing the subsequent golf ball from dispensing from said ball supply tube.