Automatic golf tee-up device

Abstract

A device for moving a golf ball tee above a golf ball hitting surface comprises a chassis, cylindrical first and second in roller bodies mounted to the chassis, a cylindrical tee having a top end and a bottom end, and being compressed between and supported for translational movement by the first roller and the second roller, and a motor operatively connected to the first roller. The motor selectively causes rotation of the first roller in a first rotational direction, thereby moving the tee so that the top end thereof is positioned above the golf ball hitting surface, and selectively causes rotation of the first roller in a second rotational direction, thereby moving the tee so that the top end thereof is positioned below the golf ball hitting surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for moving a golf ball tee above and below a golf ball hitting surface, comprising:
 a chassis;   a first roller comprising of a cylindrical first roller body defining a first roller longitudinal axis, the first roller being mounted to the chassis so as to be rotatable about the first roller longitudinal axis;   a second roller comprising of a cylindrical second roller body defining a second roller longitudinal axis, the second roller being mounted to the chassis so as to be rotatable about the second roller longitudinal axis;   a tee having a top end and a bottom end, and being compressed between and supported for translational movement by the first roller and the second roller; and   a motor operatively connected to the first roller such that the motor selectively causes rotation of the first roller in a first rotational direction, thereby moving the tee upward, and selectively causes rotation of the first roller in a second rotational direction, thereby moving the tee downward.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap conveyor, wherein the first roller is a pinch roller, wherein the second roller is a head pulley of the strap conveyor, and wherein the strap conveyor further comprises:
 a tail pulley comprising a cylindrical tail pulley body defining a tail pulley longitudinal axis, the tail pulley being mounted to the chassis so as to be rotatable about the tail pulley longitudinal axis; and   a strap wrapped about and stretching between both the head pulley and the tail pulley such that rotation of the head pulley and the tail pulley causes movement of the strap about the head pulley and the tail pulley, the pinch roller resting on the strap such that friction occurs between the strap and the pinch roller when the pinch roller and the strap are in motion.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the motor is coupled to a control means capable of generating a control signal in response to which the motor causes rotation of the first roller. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis further comprises at least one tee guide ramp. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis further comprises at least two tee guide ramps. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tee support secured to the chassis and defining a passage through and beyond which an end of the tee may selectively be extended by operation of the motor. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a photoemitter and a photoreceptor mounted to the chassis, the photoreceptor being coupled to a first sensing means that generates a sensing signal when the photoreceptor detects an interruption of light emitted from the photoemitter in the direction of the photoreceptor. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a tee support secured to the chassis and defining a passage through and beyond which an end of the tee may selectively be extended by operation of the motor. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a photosensor secured within the passage and being coupled to a second sensing means that generates a sensing signal based when light is detected by the photosensor entering through a top end of the passage in the tee support. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the motor is coupled to a control means capable of generating a control signal in response to which the motor causes rotation of the first roller. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the first sensing means and the second sensing means are coupled to the control means such that the control means generates the control signal in response to the sensing signal generated by the first sensing means or the second sensing means. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tee is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tee is a hollow cylinder with a closed top end. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a golf ball hitting surface secured above the chassis and defining a passage through which the top end of the tee is extendible, wherein when the motor selectively causes rotation of the first roller in the first rotational direction, the tee is moved so that the top end thereof is positioned above the golf ball hitting surface, and when the motor selectively causes rotation of the first roller in the second rotational direction, the tee is moved so that the top end thereof is positioned below the golf ball hitting surface.