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:
Jun. 25, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 23, 1995
Kevin J Chang, Diamond Bar, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An automatic golf ball dispenser includes a housing having a substantially horizontal top and a plurality of substantially vertical sides. Within the housing is a storage bin and track configured to receive a plurality of golf balls and to deliver the golf balls to a feed mechanism. The feed mechanism includes a meter configured to dispense a single golf ball for each movement of the meter. An arm mounted on a pivot retrieves the single golf ball from the feed mechanism and places the golf ball at a predetermined location for a golfer to hit the golf ball. A sensor is located nearby to indicate when another golf ball should be dispensed. A controller is also contained within the housing and configured to accept currency, where the controller is electrically connected to the sensor and responsive to the sensor, and where the controller is also electrically connected to an arm motor to control the movement of the arm. In another aspect of the invention, a solar panel is added as a backup power source, and as a way to recharge an internal battery. In another aspect of the invention, a network of pipes distributes golf balls to a plurality of golf ball dispensers.