US3547314A - Dispensing devices with pivoted integral controllers - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent John R. Brandell 1527 Sequoia Trail, Glenview, 111. 60025 814,719

Apr. 9, 1969 Dec. 15, 1970 inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented DISPENSING DEVICES WITH PIVOTED INTEGRAL CONTROLLERS 6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

11.5. 221/301 Int. 365g 59/00 Field of Search 221/289- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,956 5/1934 Preston 22 l/301X 3,117,814 1/1964 Webb 294/19(.1) 3,344,955 10/1967 lngham 221/282 2,667,392 [/1954 Sexton 3 l 2/244X FOREIGN PATENTS 682,899 11/1952 Great Britain 294/ 19.]

Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney-Johnston, Root, OKeeffe, Keil, Thompson &

Shurtleff ABSTRACT: A golf ball retrieving, storing and dispensing device having a retrieving unit at one end and a dispensing unit at the other end.

PATENTED 05m 5 I976 3; 547; 3 14 sum 1 0F 3 //vv/v TOR,

JOHN R. BRA NDELL B W i i d5 PATENTED 0m 5 I970 SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR. JOHN H; BRA NDELL DISPENSING DEVICES wrru PIVOTED INTEGRAL CONTROLLERS J BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being large and cumbersome in size; being difiicult to operate as'a retrieving unit or as a dispensing unit,'or both; being complicated in construction or operation; or being inefficient and unreliable in operation, and the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages."

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel device which may be used by an operator in a'novel and expeditious'manner first to pick up golf balls from the ground and then to dispense the balls seriatim at any desired rate.

Another objectis to afford a novel device ofthe. aforementioned type which may be easily carried, handled and operated by the average man or woman. T

Yet another object is to afford a novel golf ball retrieving and dispensing device,-which is simple in ope'ration, both in the retrieving and in the dispensing of golf balls.

A further object is to afford a novel .deviceembodying parts constructed and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.

whereby the operator may use it in one position for picking up or retrieving golf balls, and in another position for controllably dispensing the picked up balls.

' Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel golf ball retrieving and dispensing device of the aforementioned type which embodies a novel base for supporting the same when the device is being used as a dispenser.

An object ancillary to the foregoing'is to afford a novel device of the aforementioned type wherein the parts of the base are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner effective to afford a practical and efficient handle for the device when it is being used as a pickup or retrieving device. D

A further object is to afford a novel dispensing device for dispensing, seriatim, articles from a stack of such articles.

Another object is to afford a novel dispensing device-ofthe aforementioned type which embodies novel dispenser mechanism constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner effective to controllably dispense articles one at a time from the bottom of a stack of such articles stored in the device.

Another object is to afford a novel golf ball retrieving, storing and dispensing device which is practical and efficient in operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially. V

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these princi ples. Other embodiments of the invention embodyingthe same or equivalent principles may beused and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWI GS FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a'detail sectional view taken'substantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substan tially along the line 9-9 in FIG. 1;

FIG. '10 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 10, showing certain parts in different operative position; v

FIG. 11 is an exploded detail view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 9, showing certain parts thereof in perspective;

and

FIG. 12 is a front perspective-view of the device shown in FIG. 1, showing the device in position to be used as a retrieving device. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN A dispensing device, in the form of a. combination retrieving,- storing and dispensing device 1 forgolf balls, and the like, and embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device 1 embodies, in general, an elongated substantially straight body portion 2, having at one end a ball-retrieving or pickup portion 3, a balldispensing portion 4 at the other end, and a ball-storage portion 5 disposed between the ends 3 and 4, FIGS. 1 and 2.

The body portion or body member 2 'ofthe device 1 embodies three elongated, substantially straight tubes 6, 7 and 8 extending longitudinally thereof. An end cap 9 is mounted on the ends of the tubes 6-8 disposed at the retrieving end 3 of 'the body portion '2, and another end cap 10 is mounted on the and includes two parallel sidewalls 11 and 1 2'and two parallel, shorter sidewalls l3 and 14. Two partition walls 15 and 16, 50

disposed in parallel relation to the sidewalls 13 and 14 divide the'end cap 9 longitudinally into three pockets 18, 19 and 20 of equal size, for the reception of the retrieving ends of the tubes 6-8, respectively.

An end wall 21, FIG. 5, is disposedon the outer edges of the walls 11-l6. A substantially square opening 22 is formed in the end wall 21 over the central portion of each of the pockets 18-19, as is illustrated with respect tothe pocket '18, in FIG.

. 4. Each of the openings 22 is substantially square, and is of a 4, in underlying juxtaposition to the end wall 21 of the end cap 9, FIG. 5. Each of the retainer members 23 embodies a substantially square ring member 24 having elongated, straight fingers 25 projecting diagonally inwardly from each of the corners thereof, in juxtaposition to the inner face of the end wall 21 of the cap 11. The retainer members 23 are made of a suitable flexible, resilient material such as, for example, spring steel or nylon, and the length of the fingers 25 thereof is such that the distance between the adjacent ends of diagonally disposed fingers 25 is in the order of one-quarter of an inch less than the diameter of the golf balls to be picked up by the device 1.

The tubes 68 and the end cap 9 may be made of any suitable material, but, preferably, are made from a suitable high impact plastic material such as, for example, high impact polystyrene. The retainer members 23 are preferably of such size that they fit in the respective tubes 68 with a press fit, and they may be secured therein by suitable means, such as a suitable adhesive, in underlying juxtaposition to the end wall 9, in the assembled device 1. Similarly, the end cap 9 is preferably mounted on the tubes 68 with a snug fit, and is preferably secured thereto by suitable means such as by an adhesive. In the assembled device 1, the inwardly projecting portions of the end wall 21 of the end cap 9, which define the respective openings 22, project inwardly along the fingers 25 past the ring portions 24 of the respective retainer members 23, FIG. 5. With this construction, a golfball, such as one of the balls B, may be pushed inwardly past the fingers 25 into any one of the tubes 68 with the application of less force than it can be pushed outwardly therepast', the fingers 25, during such inward movement of a ball, flexing around the ring portions 24 of the retainer members 23, and the fingers 25 flexing around the adjacent edges of the end wall 21, which is disposed inwardly of the ring members 24, when a8 is being forced outwardly therepast. Thus, it will be seen that with this construction, the retainer members are effective to permit ready entry of golf balls into the tubes 68, and also afford effective units for retaining the golf balls in the tubes 68 against accidental dislodgment therefrom through the retrieving end 3 of the device 1.

The end cap 10, like the end cap 3, is rectangular in shape, having afront wall 26 and a rear wall 27 extending between two shorter sidewalls 28and 29, FIGS. 1-3 and 9. Two partition walls 30 and 31 extend between the front wall 26 and the rear wall 27 in spaced parallel relation to the sidewalls 28 and 29 in position to divide the end cap into three pockets 32, 33 and 34, of equal size, for the reception of the discharge ends of the tubes 68, respectively, FIG. 3. Flanges 35 project horizontally inwardly from each of the partition walls 30 and 31 in uniplanar relation to horizontally inwardly projecting flanges 36 on the walls 26-28 to thereby afford shoulders on which the adjacent ends of the tubes 68 may rest, FIG. 3. Preferably, the flanges 35 and 36 are of the same width as the thickness of the sidewalls of the tubes 68, so that the openings 37 defined thereby are of the same cross-sectional size as the interior of the tubes 68.

The end cap 10 may be made of any suitable material, but preferably is made of a plastic material such as, for example, a suitable high impact polystyrene. Preferably, the tubes 68 are disposed in the respective pockets 32-34 with a snug fit, and are secured therein by suitable means such as, for example, a suitable adhesive, or the like. The bottom of the end cap 10, below the pockets 32-34, is open throughout its length and width, so that balls discharged downwardly from any one of the tubes 68 may pass freely downwardly through the lower portion of the end cap 10.

A supporting unit 38, which affords a combination carrying handle and supporting base, is mounted on the lower end portion of the end cap 10, as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently. The supporting unit 38 embodies two substantially U-shaped brackets 39 and 40, which are pivotally mounted on two bosses 41 and 42 which project outwardly from the sidewalls 28 and 29, respectively, of the end cap 10, FIG. 3. The two bosses 41 and 42 are identical in construction. Each is substantially circular in shape, and each includes a notch 43 in the upper peripheral edge portion thereof, and a recess 44 in the lower portion of the outwardly projecting face thereof, as shown in FIG. 6 with respect to the boss 41.

The U-shaped member 39 includes an elongated crossbar 45, from the respective opposite ends of which project two legs 46 and 47 in substantially parallel relation to each other, FIG. 1. Each of the legs 46 and 47 has a ring or annular member 48 formed on the free end portion thereof, with an inwardly disposed ear projecting downwardly toward the crossbar 38, FIGS. 3 and 6. The rings 48 are of such size that they will fit on the respective bosses 41 and 42 with a snug, but freely rotatable fit, with the ears 49 disposed in the respective notches 43. The ears 49 afford stop members, engageable with opposite ends of the respective notches 43 for limiting rotation of the member 39 on the bosses 41 and 42 by engagement with the ends of the notches 43. They are smaller than the notches 43, and are of such size that they limit rotation of the member 39 on the bosses 41 and 42 to movement between a laterally outwardly projecting position, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the legs 46 and 47 are disposed at a substantially 45 angle to the length of the tubes 68, and a position wherein the legs 46 and 47 are disposed in substantially longitudinal alignment with the length of the tubes 68, as shown in FIG. 12.

The U-shaped member 40 also includes an elongated crossbar 50 from the respective opposite ends of which two legs 51 and 52 project in substantially parallel relation to each other. Each of the legs 51 and 52 has a stub shaft 53 projecting inwardly therefrom, the shafts 53 being disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other, FIG. 3. In the assembled device 1, the shafts 53 on the legs 51 and'52 extend inwardly through the rings 48 on the legs 46 and 47, respectively, and through openings 54 extending through the bosses 41 and 42 and the sidewalls 28 and 29,-respectively, of the end cap 10, with the inner faces of the freed end portions of the legs 51 and 52 being disposed in juxtaposition to the outer faces of the rings 48 on the legs 46 and 47, respectively. The shafts 53 are of such size and shape that they are disposed in the openings 54 with a relatively snug, but freely rotatable, fit, and terminate at their inner ends in inwardly spaced relation to the respective sidewalls 28 and 29. Snap rings 55 are'mounted on the inner end portions of the shafts 53 to prevent the accidental dislodgment of the shafts 53 from the openings 54.

Each of the legs 51 has an ear 56 projecting inwardly from the inner face thereof directly below the shaft 53 thereon, as shown in FIG. 7 with respect to the leg 51. The ears 56 are smaller than the openings 44 in the bosses 41 and 42, and are disposed in position on the legs 51 and 52 that when the U- shaped member 40 is disposed in operative position on the device 1, the cars 56 project into the respective openings 54 in the adjacent bosses 41 and 42. The ears 56 afford stop members which are movable back and forth within the recesses 44, and are engageable with the ends thereof, to limit rotation of the member 40 between a position wherein it projects laterally outwardly at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the length of the tubes 68, as shown in FIG. 2, and a position wherein it is disposed in substantially longitudinal alignment with the tubes 68, as shown in FIG. 12.

Each of the legs 51 and 52 also has an elongated rib 58 extending along, and projecting inwardly from the longitudinal center line of the inner face thereof. The ribs 57 extend downwardly from a short distance below the ears 56 on the respective legs 51 and 52, and terminate at their lower ends at the crossbar 50. The ribs 57 are so disposed on the legs 51 and 52 that, in all operative positions of the U-shaped members 39 and 40, they are abuttingly engaged with the outer faces of the adjacent respective legs 46 and 47. With this construction, a strong combination handle and supporting base structure is afforded which, when the parts thereof are disposed in the position shown in FIG. 12, affords a practical and efiicient carrying handle, by which the device may be carried by gripping the crossbars 45 and 50, the body portion 2 being disposed in depending relation thereto; and when the parts 39 and 40 are disposed in the position shown in FIG. 2, affords a practical and efficient supporting base for the device 1, the body portion 2 being disposed in upwardly extending relation thereto.

As will be discussed in greater detail presently, when it is desired to use the device 1 for retrieving or picking up golf balls from the ground, it may be carried by the supporting unit 38 with the members 39 and 40 thereof disposed in the position shown in FIG. 12. During such operation, the operator may lower the receiving end 3 of the device 1 downwardly over a golf ball to be retrieved in suchposition that the ball is aligned with the open lowerend portion of any one of the tubes 6-8. When this occurs, the ball being retrieved deflects the fingers 25 below the particular one of the tubes 6--8 aligned therewith upwardly and is pushed into that particular tube a sufficient distance that the fingers 25 then snap downwardly below the ball to retain itin the tube. When, on the other hand, the device 1 is being'used to dispense golf balls disposed in the tubes 6-8, the members 39 and 40 of the supporting unit 38 are disposed in spread relation to each other,

as shown in FIG. 2, and rest on a suitable supporting surface,

such as, for example, the ground, in position to support the a body portion -2 of the device 1 in upwardly projecting, upstanding relation thereto. The device 1 embodies three dispenser mechanisms 58, 59 and 60 disposed in the end cap 10, outwardly of the tubes 6-8, respectively, FIG. 1 for controllably and selectively dispensing, seriatim, golf balls from the tubes 6-8, as will now be discussed in greater detail.

The dispenser mechanisms 58-60 are all identical in construction, each embodying an actuating member 61 projecting outwardly from the front wall 26 of the end cap 10, FIG. 1, and a gate member 62 operatively connected to the respective actuating member 61, as illustrated in FIG. 9 with respect to the dispenser mechanism 58. Each of the actuating members 61 has a bifurcated inner or rear end portion 63 and a closed outer or front end portion 64, FIG. 11. A rod 65 is mounted in openings 65a in webs 65b, which project forwardly from the front wall 26 of the end cap 10, FIGS. 1 and 9, and in the assembled device I, the rod 65 extends through openings 66 in the rear end portions 63 of the actuating members 61 to thereby support the members 61 in forwardly projecting relation to the front wall 26 of the end cap 10. The members 61 are rotatably mounted on the rod 65, so that each may be rotated upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction independently of the other.

Each of the gate members 62 includes an elongated, horizontally extending lower lip or crossbar 67, FIGS. 9 and 11. Two elongated spring fingers 68 and 69 project upwardly from respective ends of each lip 67, and an car 70 projects upwardly from each lip 67 midway between the spring fingers 68 and 69 and in inwardly spaced relation thereto. A substantially flat tongue 71 projects forwardly from the lip 67 and the car 70 of each gate member 62 at the longitudinal center of the lip 67, and has an opening 72 formed therethrough.

Three openings 73, 74 and 75 are formed in the front wall 26 of the end cap in alignment with the respective tubes 6- '8, FIG. 1, and the tongues 71 on the gate members 62 of the respective dispenser mechanisms 58-60 extend through the openings 73-75, respectively, and are disposed between the bifurcations of the rear end portions 63 of the respective dispenser mechanisms 58-60. The rod 65 extends through the openings 72 in the tongues 71 to thereby mount the gate members 62 for rotation relative to the end cap 10. The lip 67, the spring fingers 68 and 69 and the cars 70 of each of the gate members 62 are disposed within the end cap 10, and the openings 72 in the tongues 71 are disposed in such position that, when the gate members 62 are disposed in operative position in the end cap 10, the upper end portions of the spring fingers 68 and 69 thereon are firmly held in abutting engagement with the inner face of the frontwall 26 of the end cap 10.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, the spring fingers 68 and 69 are convex rearwardly in shape, and the ear 70 on each of the gate fingers 62 projects upwardly and rearwardly from the lip 67 thereof. The spring fingers 68 and 69 and the lips 67 of the gate member 62 are so constituted and arranged relative to each other that when the dispenser mechanisms 58-60 are disposed in normal, unactuated position, the lips 67 are disposed in closely adjacent, substantially parallel relation to the inner face of the front wall 26 of the end cap 10, as shown in FIG. 9, and the actuating members 61 project-substantially horizontally from the end cap 10, the f ngers 68 and 69 being effective to yieldingly hold the gate members 62 and the actuating member 61 in such position. In this position of the gate members 62, the upper ends of the, ears 70 thereof are disposed sufficiently close to the rear wall 27 of the end cap 10 to effectively block the passage of golf balls B downwardly from the tubes 6-8 past the ears 70.

. When it is desired to permit a golf ball B in one of the tubes 6-8 to pass downwardly past the ear 70 disposed therebelow, the front end of the actuating member disposed below that particular one of the tubes 6--8 may be pressed downwardly to thereby rotate the member 61 around the rod 65 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 9, from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 10. Such rotation of theactuating member 61 causes the lower rear edge 73 thereof to press the lip 67 on the associated gate member 62 rearwardly from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown'in FIG. 10, and thereby cause the ear 70 projecting upwardly from the lip 67 to rotate I in a counterclockwise direction from the ball-underlying position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 10. In this latter position, the ear 70 is disposed a sufficient distance from the rear wall 27 of the end cap 10 that the ball B formerly supported by the ear 70 may pass downwardly between the ear 70 and the wall 27.

However, the lip 67 and the ear 70 on each of the gate members 62 are so constituted and arranged relative to each other, that when the lip 67 is moved rearwardly asufficient amount to rotate the ear 70 to a position wherein a ball B may pass downwardly thereby, the lip 67 is then disposed sufficiently close to the rear wall 27 of the end cap 10 that after the ball has moved past the lip 70 it is engaged by the lip 67 and prevented from passing-the latter as illustrated in FIG. 10. In order for the ball thus stopped by the lip 67 to pass between the lip 67 and the rear wall 27 of the end cap 10, it is necessary for the actuating member 61 associated therewith to rotate around the rod 65 from the position shown in FIG. 10 back toward the position shown in FIG. 9. This may be readily accomplished by freeing the front end portion of the actuating member 61 to thereby permit the spring fingers 68 and 69 to move the lip 67 forwardly toward the front wall 26 and thus rotate theactuating member 61 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 10 toward the position shown in FIG. 9.

When this occurs, the forward movement of the lip 67 is effective to pivot the ear 70 rearwardly,.in a counterclockwise direction around the rod 65 into position to underlie the next succeeding ball B in a stack of balls in the particular tube 6- -8. Movement of the car 70 into such underlying relation is effected prior to the lip 67 moving forwardly a sufficient distance to permit the ball engaged thereby to move downwardly, so that, when the lowermost ball, which is then supported by the lip 67, is freed for passage thereby, the next succeeding ball, and, therefore, the stack of balls disposed thereon, is supported by the ear 70. With this construction,

each actuation of the actuating member 61 of each of the dispenser mechanisms 58-60 from the unactuated position shown in FIG. 9 to the actuated position shown in FIG. 10 and back to the unactuated position is effective to permit only one ball to be discharged from any particular one of the tubes 6- It will be remembered that the end cap 10 below the tubes 6--8 is open, so that when a ball -is permitted to drop downwardly from any one of the tubes 6-8; by actuation of any one of the dispenser mechanisms 58-60, the ball is free to drop vertically downwardly through the end cap 10 and exit through the bottom thereof. However, actuation of any one of the dispensing mechanisms 58-60 will nonnally be effected by a golfer standing in front of the device I, and who desires to have the ball delivered to a position between him and the device 1 so that he can strike it with a golf club. So as to effect such forward delivery of a ball dispensed from the device 1, the front U-shaped member 39 of the supporting unit 38 includes a panel 76, FIGS. 1 and 6, extending between the legs 46 and 47 thereof in such position that when the supporting unit 38 is disposed in the base-forming position shown in FIG.

2, the panel 76 is disposed in such forwardly and downwardly projecting, underlying relation to the tubes 6-8 that any golf ball dropping downwardly through the end cap will engage the panel 76 and roll downwardly therealong to be discharged onto the ground forwardly of the device 1. in the preferred form of the device 1 shown in the drawings, the panel 76 embodies ribs 77 projecting forwardly therefrom in uniplanar relation to the partition walls 30 and 31 in the end cap 10, so that balls dropping downwardly from the tubes 6-8 through the end cap 10, will normally be guided along the panel 76 through a channel disposed vertically below the respective tube 6, 7 or 8 and thus normally be dispensed from the device 1 in a directly forward direction.

In the operation of the device 1, when it is desired to use it as a ball-retrieving or pickup device, for picking up golf balls from the ground, such as, for example, at a practice range or the like, this may be readily accomplished by disposing the device 1 in the position shown in FIG. 12, wherein the retrieving end 3 is disposed downwardly, and lowering the device 1 downwardly over a ball to be picked up, with the ball disposed in alignment with one of the tubes 6-8, to thereby cause the ball to move upwardly past the fingers 25 in that particular tube 6, 7 or 8 and be retained therein by the fingers 25. Because of the shorter rotational axis for the fingers 25 when the fingers 25 are being pressed outwardly around the inner edges of the end wall 22 on the cap 9, as compared to when the fingers 25 are being pressed inwardly around the inner edge of the ring 24, substantially less force is required to press the ball inwardly through the fingers 25 than is required to press the ball outwardly therethrough. The fingers 25 are of such size and construction, and are so constituted and ar ranged that they are effective to support a stack of balls in the respective tubes 6-8 when the tubes are completely filled and the device 1 is disposed in the position shown in FIG. 12. During such a ball-retrieving operation, the supporting unit 38 may be disposed in the position shown in FIG. 12, wherein the members 39 and 40 therefor are disposed in parallel juxtaposition to each other, to thereby afford a handle by which the operator may carry the device 1, and by which he may manipulate it during ball-retrieving operations.

With the parts of the device 1 disposed in the position shown in FIG. 12, a compact, readily transportable, and readily storable device is afforded. In fact, when the device 1 is to be used for ball-storage purposes, the supporting unit 38, if desired, may be disposed in the position shown in FIG. 12 so as to retain the compact characteristics of the device 1. Also, it will be seen that in this position, the supporting unit 38 affords a convenient handle by which the device .1 may be hung on a hook, or the like, for storage purposes.

0n the other hand, if, when the device 1 is to be used for storage purposes, it is desired to stand it in a storeroom, or the like, the supporting unit 38 may be disposed in the position shown in FIG. 2, wherein the members 39 and 49 thereof project downwardly and outwardly from the body portion 42 at opposite angles of approximately 45, to afford a base on which the device 1 may be supported in the position shown in FIG. 2, with the dispensing end 4 of the device 1 disposed in downwardly facing position.

When it is desired to use the device 1 as a dispensing unit for golf balls, the supporting unit 38 may be opened up into the position shown in FIG. 2 and rested on a suitable supporting surface, such as the ground or a practice tee, to thereby support the body portion 2 of the device 1 in upwardly projecting relation thereto. With the device 1 disposed in such position, balls may be selectively dispensed from each of the tubes 6-8 by pressing the front end of the actuating member 61 of the proper dispenser mechanism 58-450 downwardly to fully actuated position, as shown in FIG. 10, and then releasing the same for return to normal, unactuated position as shown in FIG. 9. Such actuation of the member 61 is effective to dispense the lowermost ball in any stack of balls in the particular tube 6, 7 or 8 below which the actuated one of the dispenser mechanisms 58-60 is disposed. The ball thus dispensed drops downwardly through the end cap 10 and rolls forwardly and downwardly along the ramp 76 from which it will roll forwardly from the device 1.

With the device 1 constructed in the manner disclosed herein, it will be seen that it is particularly well adapted for use on a driving range, or the like, wherein the operator desires to be supplied with one ball after another. In such an operation, a golfer may station himself in front of the device 1, with the device 1 disposed in the position shown in FIG. 2, and, with the head of his golf club, he can press downwardly on one of the actuating members 61 and then release the same, to thereby cause a ball to be dispensed from the device 1. The ball thus dispensed is discharged along the ground forwardly from the device 1 toward the golfer so that it is delivered to him in a particularly effective and pleasing manner. After the golfer has struck the ballthus delivered to him, he may dispense another ball in the same manner. In such an operation, by stationing himself the proper distance from the device 1, so that after he has struck one ball, he can extend the club outwardly and trip any one of the actuating members 61, the golfer may, if desired, play all of the balls in the device 1, one after the other, without moving from his playing position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel ball retrieving, storing and dispensing device which may be readily operated for each of its purposes by the average man or woman.

Also, it will be seen that the present invention afiords a novel retrieving, storing and dispensing device for golf balls which is practical and efficient in operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. An article dispenser comprising:

a. a tubular body member for storing articles to be dispensed and having a downwardly opening discharge end;

b. gate means mounted on the lower end portion of said body member;

c. said gate means comprising,

1. two members pivotally mounted on said body member for simultaneous movement between (a) one position wherein,

(1. one of said members is disposed in position to supportingly engage the lowermost one of said articles in a stack of said articles disposed in said body member to thereby support said stack above said end, and

(2) the other of said members is disposed in position effective to permit passage of said articles in said stack downwardly toward said end, and

(b) another position wherein,

( I) said one member is disposed in position effective to permit passage of said articles in said stack downwardly toward said end, and

(2) said other member is disposed in position to supportingly engage the lowermost one of said articles in a stack of said articles disposed in said to thereby support said stack above said end,

d. an actuating member operatively connected to said two members for moving them from said one position to said other position;

e. said one member comprising a tongue mounted on and projecting upwardly from said other member, and means operatively connected to said other member for urging the latter toward said one position and thereby urging said one member toward said one position, g. said two members comprising a single resilient plate; and h. said means for urging said other member comprising an elongated finger comprising a portion of said plate.

2. A ball retrieving, storing and dispensing device comprisa. an elongated body portion for receiving and storing balls;

b. pick up means at one end of said body portion for permitting such balls to enter therethrough into said body portion and preventing such balls from exiting therethrough from said body portion;

c. means on the other end of said body portion for controllably discharging such balls therethrough from said body portion; and

d. supporting means on said body portion;

e. said supporting means being disposed on tion in position to afford, l. means for manually supporting said body portion with said one end facing downwardly for picking up balls from the ground through said pickup means,

2. a base for supporting said body portion on a supporting surface with said other end facing downwardly when such balls are being so controllably'discharged, and

f. means mounted on said body portion in position to 1. receive such a ball being so discharged from said body portion when said body portion is so supported on a supporting surface; and

2. discharge said lasbmentioned ball along said supporting surface outwardly away from said body portion.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, and in which a. said body portion includes a front wall;

b. said means for receiving a ball is disposed on said body portion in position to discharge said received ball along said supporting surface forwardly of said body portion; and

c. said means for controllably discharging includes,

1. a member,

(a) projecting forwardly from said front wall, and

(b) operable from outwide said body portion for actuating said last-mentioned means and thereby discharging such a ball from said body portion when said body portion is so sppported on said supporting surface. l

4. A ball retrieving, storing and dispensing device comprisa. an elongated body portion for receiving and storing balls;

b. pick up means at one end of said body portion for permitting such balls to enter therethrough into said body portion and preventing such balls from exiting therethrough from said body portion;

c. means on the other end of said body portion for controllably discharging such balls therethrough from said body portion; and

d. supporting means on said body portion;

c. said supporting means comprising two members relatively movable toward and away from each other between,

1. one position effective to afford a handle for manually supporting said body portion with said one end facing downwardly in position to be pressed downwardly over a ball lying on the ground for picking up said last-mentioned ball,

2. another position effective to afford a base for supporting said body portion on the ground with said other end facing downwardly in position to discharge such balls from inside said body portion downwardly through said said body porother end toward said ground,

f. said supporting means comprising two substantially U- shaped members; 1. each having,

(a) an open end, and

(b) a closed end,

2. having their open ends rotatably attached to said other end of said body portion, and 3. rotatable around said open ends between,

(a) one position wherein said closed ends are disposed in closely adjacent, substantially parallel juxtaposition to each other to afford a handle for manually supporting said body portion with said one end facing downwardly, and

(b) another position wherein said closed ends are disposed in spaced relation to each other in position to afford opposite sides of a base for supporting said body portion in upstanding position on the ground with said other end of said body portion facing downwardly, and

g. means mounted on one of said substantially U-shaped members in position to,

1. receive such a ball being dischargedfrom said other end of said body portion when said body portion is so supported on the ground, and

2. discharge said last-mentioned ball along said ground outwardly from said body portion.

5. A ball retrieving, storing and dispensing device comprisa. an elongated body portion for receiving and storing balls;

b. pick up means at one end of said body portion for permitting such balls to enter therethrough into said body portion and preventing such balls from exiting therethrough from said body portion;

c.-means 0n the other end of said body portion for controllably discharging such balls therethrough from said body portion in a direction away from one face of said body portion; and

d. supporting means on said body portion;

e. said supporting means comprising two members movable toward and away from each other on said body portion between 1. one position for manually supporting said body portion with said one end facing downwardly for picking up balls from the ground through said pick up means, and

2. another position for supporting said body portion on a supporting surface with said other end facing downwardly when such balls are being so controllably discharged,

f. said discharging means including an actuating member projecting outwardly from said one face in position to be manually actuated from outside said body portion.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, and in which:

a. said body member includes a plurality of chambers spaced across said one face for receiving and storing balls; and

b. said discharging means includes a plurality of said actuating members projecting outwardly from said one face in position to be manually actuated from outside of said body portion, for selectively so controllably discharging such balls from each of said chambers.

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