Patents by Inventor Charles W. Playforth

Charles W. Playforth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6595863
    Abstract: A golf simulator has a flooring system comprising a tee area, a green area, a green-side area and a ball feed system adjacent the flooring system. From measurements taken when the ball is hit, the computer control system computes the next shot position of the ball after it is hit and the corresponding location on the flooring system. A ball feed system collects the ball into a ball feed chute and moves the ball toward a return gutter. When the ball contacts a gutter sensor, the sensor signals a gutter door to open, corresponding to a feed tube. The ball is sent down the return gutter and drops, at the position where the gutter door opened, into a feeding tube and a ball lifting mechanism positions a ball at the appropriate location on the flooring system. This process continues until a player finishes the hole. Accordingly, a player need not touch the golf ball, except when under penalty, more similar to an actual round of golf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Par Action Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Chamberlain, Charles W. Playforth, John C. Pfeiffer, James R. Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20030040373
    Abstract: A golf simulator has a flooring system comprising a tee area, a green area, a green-side area and a ball feed system adjacent the flooring system. From measurements taken when the ball is hit, the computer control system computes the next shot position of the ball after it is hit and the corresponding location on the flooring system. A ball feed system collects the ball into a ball feed chute and moves the ball toward a return gutter. When the ball contacts a gutter sensor, the sensor signals a gutter door to open, corresponding to a feed tube. The ball is sent down the return gutter and drops, at the position where the gutter door opened, into a feeding tube and a ball lifting mechanism positions a ball at the appropriate location on the flooring system. This process continues until a player finishes the hole. Accordingly, a player need not touch the golf ball, except when under penalty, more similar to an actual round of golf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen B. Chamberlain, Charles W. Playforth, John C. Pfeiffer, James R. Kaiser