Air suspension golf ball practice tee systems and methods

Abstract

The present invention employs air pressure to suspend golf balls practice tees. A supply of golf balls is provided by a weather-resistant funnel connected to a pipe leading underground towards the fan. A sensor is used to determine if a golf ball is currently suspended in air and when to dispense a new ball.

Claims

1. A method for air suspension of a golf ball over a golf ball practice tee comprising: providing a golf ball practice tee including: an upwardly opening ball and air guide through which a ball passes and above which the ball remains in air suspension when in a teed position; a golf ball funnel, an underground supply line, a fan positioned below the upwardly opening ball and air guide, an above ground U-shaped air intake pipe, a controller; gathering golf balls in a wide end of the golf ball funnel; supplying the golf balls from a narrow end of the golf ball funnel to the underground golf ball supply line connected to the narrow end of the golf ball funnel by a first end of the underground golf ball supply line via activation of at least one first latch, wherein the at least one first latch is positioned within the underground golf ball supply line and positioned between the first end of the underground golf ball supply line and the narrow end of the golf ball funnel; supplying the golf balls from the underground golf ball supply line to the upwardly opening ball and air guide connected to a second end of the underground golf ball supply line via activation of at least one second latch positioned within the underground golf ball supply line and positioned between the second end of the underground golf ball supply line and the upwardly opening ball and air guide; measuring from at least one air flow sensor air flow into the upwardly opening ball and air guide; detecting from at least one position sensor the position of the golf balls in the golf ball funnel and underground golf ball supply line; producing air from the fan positioned below the upwardly opening ball and air guide by bringing in outside air from a channel piping with a first end connected to the above ground U-shaped air intake pipe and a second end positioned below the fan, wherein the fan pulls the air through the U-shaped air intake pipe and the air channel piping, moving the air through the upwardly opening ball and air guide, thus creating negative pressure through the upwardly opening ball and air guide; and accelerating the air from the fan through the air funnel, concentrating it into the upwardly opening ball and air guide; wherein operation of the golf ball practice tee is managed with the controller for increasing and/or decreasing air flow and opening and/or closing the at least one first latch and/or the at least one second latch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the top of the golf ball funnel is approximately level with the top of the upwardly opening ball and air guide.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller automatically controls the height of the golf ball in air suspension when in a teed position.

4. An air suspension golf ball practice tee system comprising: an above ground U-shaped air intake, a below ground air intake guide, an air fan, an air funnel, an upwardly opening ball and air guide, a golf ball feeder funnel, an underground golf ball supply line, wherein the above ground U-shaped air intake and the below ground air intake guide for supplying air to the air fan accelerating the air through the air funnel and through the upwardly opening ball and air guide through which a golf ball passes and above which the golf ball remains in air suspension when in a teed position; wherein the top of the golf ball feeder funnel is approximately level with the top of the upwardly opening ball and air guide; wherein the underground golf ball supply line connects the golf ball feeder funnel to the upwardly opening ball and air guide; at least one first latch, positioned inside the underground supply line and connected between the golf ball feeder funnel and the underground supply line, controlling the movement of the golf ball from the golf ball feeder funnel to the underground supply line; at least one second latch, positioned inside and connected between the underground supply line and the upwardly opening ball and air guide, controlling the movement of golf balls through the underground supply line to the upwardly opening ball and air guide; at least one third latch, positioned inside and at the top of the upwardly opening ball and air guide restricting movement of the golf ball at an air tee position; at least one first sensor positioned for detecting the presence of the golf ball and for determining ball height when suspended in air above the ground; at least one second sensor is positioned for measuring the air flow through the upwardly opening ball and air guide; at least one third sensor is positioned for detecting the golf ball when the golf ball is positioned between the underground supply line and the upwardly opening ball and air guide; and a controller capable of adjusting the air flow and thus the height of the golf ball on the air suspension golf ball practice tee and of operating the at least one first latch, the at least one second latch, and the at least one third latch; wherein the air fan channels air to allow for the golf ball to remain in air suspension when in a teed position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the golf ball funnel acts as the source of the golf balls.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the golf ball funnel has a capacity of about 20 to about 50 golf balls.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller automatically controls the height of the golf ball in air suspension when in a teed position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first latch controls the flow of golf balls from the golf ball funnel and the at least one second latch controls the flow of golf balls to the upwardly opening ball and air guide and at least one third latch controls opening and/or closing the top of the upwardly opening ball and air guide; wherein when the at least one third latch is open, continuous air flows upward through the guide.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is a mobile computing device with a software application for remote control including activation, deactivation, and settings.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising an interface to the controller wherein the air suspension golf ball practice tee is managed using buttons, pedals or a software application.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting of the ball height is achieved through an automated calculation given the conditions at the at least one sensor to provide the air flow to the upwardly opening ball and air guide.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fan is replaceable by insertion and withdrawal through the upwardly opening ball and air guide.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the upwardly opening ball and air guide is underground in dirt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The FIGURE illustrates a front view diagram of a system for air suspension golf practice tee for a localized ball supply and controls proximal to a practice tee area the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(2) The present invention provides systems and methods for air suspension golf ball practice tees that allow for hands-free teeing up of one golf ball at a time in series, fed from a localized ball supply and controls at a practice tee area.

(3) In a preferred embodiment, the air suspension golf ball practice tee includes an upwardly opening ball and air guide 12 through which a ball passes and above which the ball remains in air suspension when in a teed position, a golf ball funnel 1, an underground ball supply pipe 3 that connects said golf ball funnel to said upwardly opening ball and air guide, a sensor 7, at least one latch 22, an air fan 4, a U-shaped pipe 6 to pull in air, a controller 9 and a power supply 10. The golf ball funnel acts as the source of the golf balls 13. The golf ball funnel is weather-resistant and holds a multiplicity of golf balls, preferably up to 50 golf balls at one time. The sensor 7 determines if a golf ball is currently suspended in air. When the sensor 7 does not detect a golf ball suspended in the air tee, the controller 9 causes a next ball to be dispensed by at least one latch mechanism 22 that controls movement of the golf ball from the golf ball funnel to air suspension when in a teed (or air tee) position. The air fan 4 pressurizes air to allow for the golf ball to remain in air suspension when in a teed (or air tee) position. Finally, the controller allows a user to control the height of the golf ball in the air suspension or in the air tee position.

(4) The FIGURE illustrates a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For use at driving ranges, the device uses air pressure to suspend golf balls for a user to hit. The machine works underground, pulling in air through an air inlet pipe 6 on the surface to be used by the underground fan 4. The end of the air inlet pipe is protected to prevent rain, leaves and other undesirable environmental factors from entering the pipe, while allowing air in. For example, the end of the air inlet pipe is an inverted U-shape. In an alternative embodiment, an air compressor or supply of compressed air is constructed and configured in connection with the pipe, air funnel, and controls for providing the air suspension tee and its ball height control. A localized (in close proximity to the air tee area) golf ball supply is loaded with golf balls into a golf ball funnel 1 that is connected to a feeder pipe 3 leading underground (downward sloped for gravity feed) towards a latch or control valve 22. The present invention uses at least one latch mechanism to prevent balls from entering the upwardly opening ball and air guide 12. Two air funnels 5 are positioned above and below a fan 4 with the larger open end facing the fan for each of the air funnels as illustrated in the FIGURE, for channeling air from the air input and/or compressed air supply. Continuous air is preferred, compared with prior art pressurized air that is only provided long enough to hold the ball on an air tee. As illustrated, the at least one latch 21-23 (three are illustrated, one latch 21 from the exit of the funnel, one latch 22 from the exit of the feeder pipe, one latch 23 at the base of the air exit at an air tee position) restrict the movement of the golf balls at the feeder pipe 3 and golf ball supply funnel 1, beside the fan 4, and before the surface or air tee position. A sensor 7 is used determine if a golf ball is currently suspended in air, at what height from the ground or surface, and when to dispense a new ball. In an alternative embodiment, a second sensor 11 determines when a new ball has dropped into the air funnel. During operation, when the sensor 7 does not sense a ball, the fan 4 stops and latch 22 opens, allowing a ball to roll into the air guide. Once the sensor 11 senses the ball, latch 22 closes and the fan resumes operation, sending the ball to the top of the air guide. In another alternative embodiment, a third sensor 14 determines if a ball is in the feeder pipe. If there is no ball, the controller opens latch 21 to allow a ball to enter the feeder pipe.

(5) Through electrical wires 8, all of the latches 21-23 and the fan 4 connect to a controller 9 above ground; alternatively, the controller is a non-display controller. It is not supported above ground with a visible display as in the FIGURE, but is accessible via a smart phone or mobile computing device including a software application (App) for remote control of the system, including its activation, deactivation, and settings. For the App implementation, a user profile may be created and saved to provide automation for air tee height settings, including present settings and past settings within a predetermined time period for the user profile. Additionally or alternatively, the system can be activated by a pedal 15. Thus, there are three ways to control the base: buttons, pedals (foot control) and the app. Preferably, each of the control means are possible, the use will depend on the range.

(6) A power supply 10 provides electricity to the system, including the controller, fan, latches and sensors. The power supply can be any type, including battery, electric grid and/or solar cell.

(7) By contrast to the prior art, the present invention employs air funnels instead of an air jet, which has less control of the air tee and ball air suspension. Also, prior art systems include distributed, multi-channel feeder systems that are not localized for practice and require complex underground distributed systems for sourcing golf ball supply and feeding to the air tee. Additionally, the present invention provides for golf ball sensor that is exterior to the feeder tube and air funnels and pipes; the exterior sensor provides for optical sensors, which can accurately determine the air tee height (ball height suspended in air tee position). By contrast, the prior art includes sensors that are interior to the tubing or channels underground. The air pressure is manually adjustable by users in the prior art, which can be difficult to control ball height. The present invention provides for automated controls wherein the user inputs a user profile and/or preferred setting(s) for air tee height (ball height from ground to suspension in air tee position). The sensor detects environmental conditions and the system comes with presets for certain environmental conditions.

(8) The fan is preferably sized and configured to be replaced by insertion/withdrawal through the air guide 12, such that there is no need to excavate the system.

(9) The above-mentioned examples are provided to serve the purpose of clarifying the aspects of the invention, and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that they do not serve to limit the scope of the invention. By way of example, the present invention may employ at least four latches. Also by way of example, the golf ball funnel may be weather-resistant. By nature, this invention is highly adjustable, customizable and adaptable. The above-mention examples are is just some of the many configurations that the mentioned components can take on. All modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the present invention.