U.S. patent application number 11/795341 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for agent to remove paint, lacquer, glue, plastic or similar from objects and the use of it.
Invention is credited to Jan Hansen.
Application Number | 20080096681 11/795341 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35431014 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080096681 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hansen; Jan |
April 24, 2008 |
Agent To Remove Paint, Lacquer, Glue, Plastic Or Similar From
Objects And The Use Of It
Abstract
An arrangement for playing miniature golf. Arranged over a part
of a shortened miniature golf course is a display surface for the
projection of an image of the entire extent of a miniature golf
course. Arranged along a ball rolling surface of the shortened
miniature golf course is a plurality of sensors that are arranged
to sense the direction in which and the speed at which a ball is
struck by a player, and to cause that information to be recorded. A
computer is arranged to receive and record the ball movement
information and to process the information for display on the
display surface to show the estimated continued travel of the ball
on the course. A golf ball return is arranged to return the ball to
the tee for further driving or further putting on the virtual
miniature golf course.
Inventors: |
Hansen; Jan; (Kungsbacka,
SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALFRED J MANGELS
4729 CORNELL ROAD
CINCINNATI
OH
452412433
US
|
Family ID: |
35431014 |
Appl. No.: |
11/795341 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 23, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE05/02023 |
371 Date: |
July 16, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/156 ; 463/4;
473/158 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 47/025 20130101;
A63B 67/02 20130101; A63B 69/3623 20130101; A63B 2024/0031
20130101; A63B 69/3658 20130101; A63B 24/0021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/156 ;
463/004; 473/158 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36; A63B 67/02 20060101 A63B067/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 24, 2005 |
SE |
0500173-0 |
Claims
1. An arrangement for playing a virtual game of miniature golf,
said arrangement comprising: a display surface for displaying a
miniature golf course; projection means for projecting on the
display surface an image of the entire extent of a miniature golf
course; a ball rolling surface extending in front of the display
surface from a tee spaced from the display surface; a plurality of
sensors positioned adjacent the ball rolling surface to sense a
direction in which and a speed at which a ball is struck by a
player; computer means arranged to receive and record in a computer
information relative to ball movement direction and ball movement
speed sensed by the sensors and to process the information for
display on the display surface the travel of the ball on the
miniature golf course; and golf ball return means arranged to
return the ball to the tee for a further stroke by the player on
the miniature golf course.
2. An arrangement as claimed in 1, wherein by actuation of the
computer an image of the miniature golf course is displayed by a
projector on the display surface.
3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display of the
image of the miniature golf course on the display surface is varied
depending on a stopped position of a struck ball after subsequent
strokes.
4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the image of the
course is rotated through a maximum of 180.degree. about a vertical
axis.
5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors are
distributed along the longitudinal extent of the ball rolling
surface.
6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors are
distributed along the sides of the ball rolling surface.
7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensors are
positioned for sensing the speed of a ball as it is rolling along
the ball rolling surface.
8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensors are
positioned for sensing the direction of a ball as it is rolling
along the ball rolling surface.
9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein after a struck
ball has traveled past the display surface the path of movement of
the ball is displayed on the display surface.
10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, including a space beneath
the display surface through which a struck ball passes on its
onward path to the ball return means.
11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensors are
photocells.
12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensors are
photocells.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an arrangement for playing
miniature golf.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The need exists for a so-called virtual golf course in the
case of miniature golf, since the outdoor season for it is short,
and large areas are required for miniature golf courses indoors,
even if an attempt is made to position the courses close together
and next to one another. Previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,437,457 A, for example, is a golf simulator, but it does not
solve the above-mentioned problems and is arranged for the purpose
of sensing the rotation of a golf ball.
[0005] A principal object of the present invention is thus, in the
first instance, to solve the above-mentioned problems in a simple
and effective fashion and by effectively functioning means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object is achieved by means of an arrangement in
accordance with the present invention, which is characterized
essentially in that a film projection screen, or some other similar
display surface is arranged over a part of a shortened miniature
golf course to permit the projection of an image of the entire
extent of a miniature golf course of the kind in question. Arranged
along the part in question of the shortened miniature golf course
is a plurality of sensors that are so positioned as to sense the
direction in which and the speed at which a ball is struck, and to
cause those parameters to be recorded. Computer means are provided
to record the information in a computer that is arranged to process
the sensed information for subsequent display on the display
surface of the continued travel of the ball on the course. A golf
ball return means is provided to return the ball to the tee for
further driving or further putting on the miniature golf course, or
for new driving on a subsequent miniature golf course.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention is described below as a preferred illustrative
embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows schematically a side view of an arrangement for
playing miniature golf on a small area,
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a display arrangement for displaying a
miniature golf course,
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a part of the course with a ball
return means in the active position, and
[0011] FIG. 4 shows an image of a miniature golf course on a
screen.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] An arrangement 1 in accordance with the present invention
for playing miniature golf 2 is shown in FIG. 1 and includes a film
projection screen 3, a part 4 of a shortened miniature golf course,
ball sensors 5, computer means 6 with a computer 7, and a golf ball
return means 8. More precisely, a film projection screen 3 or some
other suitable, similar projection surface, which is intended for
the projection of an image 11 of a space situated in the area in
front of the golfer 9 and an intended tee 10. The ball sensors 5
are so arranged as to sense the direction in which and the speed at
which a ball in question is struck, and to cause those parameters
to be recorded in computer means 6 in the form of a suitable
recording memory in computer 7. With the help of a suitable
program, the computer is arranged to process the sensed information
relating to the stroke and to display on the display surface 3 the
continued travel of the ball on the course 12. The golf ball return
means 8 that is provided is shown in FIG. 3 and is intended to
return the ball 13 to the tee 10 for further driving or for further
putting on the miniature golf course 12 in question, or for new
driving on a subsequent miniature golf course. As shown in FIG. 2,
the golf course 12 in question is capable, by actuation of the
computer 7, of being displayed by a projector 14, or some other
display means, on a screen 3, or on some other display surface, in
front of the miniature golf player 9.
[0013] The display of the image of the course is so arranged as to
be capable of variation, depending on the stopped position of the
struck ball 13 after subsequent strokes. The image of the course is
capable of being rotated through a maximum of 180.degree. about a
vertical axis at least in one direction, so that before the next
stroke the course is displayed in the direction in which the player
would normally face if he were playing on an ordinary course, and
if he continued to play after the first stroke, and the ball does
not then go into the hole 15 or find its target in some other
suitable fashion. All strokes are intended and arranged to move in
this case in a common direction with the driving of the ball 13
from the same tee 10.
[0014] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, sensors 5 in the form of
photocells, or other sensors, are distributed along the
longitudinal extent 16 of the course in question, along both sides
17, 18 of the course, and/or are distributed along the ball rolling
surface 19 of the course. Sensors 5A are distributed across the
longitudinal extent 16 of ball rolling surface 19. The sensors 5,
5A are so positioned as to sense the direction of striking and/or
the speed of striking of the ball 13 as the ball 13 rolls along the
ball rolling surface of course 12.
[0015] The display of the path of the ball 13 along the course 12
is preferably so arranged as to take place after the ball has
traveled past the display surface 3A shown in FIG. 4, as a result
of which the player 9 gains an impression from the image on the
screen 3 that the course continues on its way behind the screen
3.
[0016] Arranged beneath the display surface 3A and the screen 3 is
a space 20 in the form of a gap, through which the ball 13 is
capable of passing on its onward path to the ball return mechanism
8 shown in FIG. 3.
[0017] The function of arrangement 1 in accordance with the present
invention is, on a small area, to permit the creation of conditions
suitable for playing miniature golf on a plurality of different
courses, which courses are so arranged as to be projected in turn
from a computer 7, via a projector 14, etc., onto a film projection
screen 3, in conjunction with which the computer 7 is also arranged
to keep track of the players and their respective number of
strokes, etc.
[0018] First stroke: the course is displayed in its entirety, the
player takes aim and strikes the ball; as the ball moves forward
the speed and direction of the ball are sensed by photocells 5, 5A,
from which the sensed information is passed to the computer 7. The
ball disappears under the film projection screen 3, and the
continuing path of the ball is displayed immediately as an image 11
on the film projection screen 3, after which the ball is returned
automatically via the return mechanism 8 under the course 12.
[0019] Second stroke: in the event that the ball does not reach its
target on the first stroke, but requires additional strokes, the
image of the course is rotated prior to the subsequent stroke, so
that all strokes always go in the same direction.
[0020] After removing the ball from the last hole, the next course
is played, and so on.
[0021] The invention is naturally not restricted to the embodiments
described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Modifications are possible, in particular with regard to the nature
of the various parts, or by the use of equivalent technology, but
without for that reason departing from the area of protection
afforded to the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *