Golf Ball Dispenser

Abstract

A golf ball dispenser includes a golf ball storage container and associated placement means for reception of a golf ball from the storage container and automatic placement of the golf ball on an associated tee for striking by a golfer. The golf ball storage container comprises a removable golf ball magazine which is demountably engagable with the placement means.

1 . A golf ball dispenser including a golf ball storage container and associated placement means for reception of a golf ball from the storage container and placement of the golf ball on an associated tee characterised in that the golf ball storage container comprises a removable golf ball magazine which is demountably engagable with the placement means. 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball magazine comprises a receptacle having a ball outlet with a ball retainer mounted at the outlet movable between an open position and a closed position, in the open position a golf ball being movable through the outlet and in the closed position the ball retainer preventing movement of the golf ball through the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ball retainer is biased into a closed ball-retaining position. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ball retainer is engagable and movable into the open position by a golf ball during movement of a golf ball through the outlet into the receptacle for loading the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle is an elongate tube having the ball retainer mounted at a lower outlet end of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ball retainer comprises at least one stop finger hingedly mounted at the outlet, each stop finger being hingedly movable between the open position which allows passage of a golf ball through the opening and the closed position projecting into the opening to block passage of a golf ball through the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a pair of stop fingers are provided disposed at opposite sides of the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the or each stop finger is biased into a closed position by means of an elastic band which is engaged therewith. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the golf ball magazine is demountably engagable with an inlet of a ball feed chute of the placement means, said inlet of the feed chute engagable within the outlet to urge the ball retainer into the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an internal diameter of the container is in the range of 5% to 10% greater than an outside diameter of a golf ball. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feed chute has a cranked ramp having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end being angled upwardly of the outlet end at an angle in the range of 20° to 30°. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the outlet end of the ramp is angled at between 7° and 15° to the horizontal. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a leading ball retaining arm is mounted across an outlet of the chute, said retaining arm being engagable and movable from a ball engaging position into a disengaged position by the carriage when the carriage is in a raised position for releasing a leading golf ball on the chute onto a placement arm of the placement means. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the ball retaining arm is pivotally mounted on a support for movement between the ball engaging position and the disengaged position. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the arm is inclined downwardly from the pivoting inner end of the arm so that an outer end of the arm engages a leading golf ball below the pivot when the arm is in a lowered position. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein when the arm is in the lowered position the pivoting inner end of the arm is located above a centre of a golf ball engaged with the outer end of the arm. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the placement means includes the feed chute, a placement arm having an inner end and an outer end below said inner end, said placement arm being mounted on a carriage, the carriage having rollers engagable with associated upright rails for vertical movement of the carriage on the rails by drive means between a raised loading position in which the inner end of the placement arm is aligned with an outlet of the feed chute for reception of a golf ball therefrom, through an intermediate position for placement of a golf ball supported at the outer end of the placement arm on the tee, and a lowered inoperative stored position spaced below a top of the tee. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  in combination with a mat, said mat having a slot for reception of the placement arm of the placement means when it is in a lowered position. 
     
     
         24 . The combination as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the mat has three composite layers which are proportioned in height as follows  51 : 52 : 53 =7.5:1.0:5.0 and the elongation ratios are proportioned as follows  51 : 52 : 53 =3.79:1.16:1.00. 
     
     
         25 . The combination as claimed in  claim 23 , further including a target net for reception of golf balls struck from the tee.