The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1992
James V Laabs, Madison, WI (US);
Roxanne C Douglas, Madison, WI (US);
Ronald G Hellenbrand, Middleton, WI (US);
Douglas & Laabs, Inc., Madison, WI (US);
Abstract
A thermoformed thermoplastic housing has a putting deck having an inclined ramp leading to a platform with a rear and a side ball gutter return. A cup extends beneath the deck and has a ball return outlet. The cup has a false bottom portion hingedly attached to a cup sidewall. In the cup bottom is a switch having a contact and a lever which extends into the cup beneath the false bottom. A miniature phonograph is activated by the switch when a putted ball engages the false bottom and plays a prerecorded message. A thermoformed thermoplastic support member extends beneath the cup and supports the phonograph and switch and stabilizes the deck. To insure adequate dwell time of the ball on the false bottom, the false bottom pivots about a hinge axis which is perpendicular to the pivot axis of the switch lever.