US 12,390,696 B2
Golf ball dispenser with embedded display device, separate front waterfall panel and/or blower assembly
Brian David Burdette, McKinney, TX (US); Andrew David Macaulay, Dallas, TX (US); Clinton Scott Lovejoy, Dallas, TX (US); William Kevin Miner, Frisco, TX (US); Theodore YuChiang Cheng, San Francisco, CA (US); Mark Joseph Semsak, Des Plaines, IL (US); Gabriel Heath Denk, Wylie, TX (US); Justin Dean Pendleton, The Colony, TX (US); Brian Lee Roderman, Plano, TX (US); David Christopher Singer, Austin, TX (US); Clifton Frederick Geisler, McKinney, TX (US); Scott Michael Thibeault, Redwood City, CA (US); Frances Meng Wang, San Francisco, CA (US); Michael Ryan Petri, Carrollton, TX (US); and Kenneth John Buras, Jr., Durango, CO (US)
Assigned to Topgolf International, Inc., Dallas, TX (US)
Filed by Topgolf International, Inc., Dallas, TX (US)
Filed on May 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/657,477.
Application 18/657,477 is a continuation of application No. 17/699,020, filed on Mar. 18, 2022.
Application 17/699,020 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2020/051607, filed on Sep. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/902,902, filed on Sep. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0293703 A1, Sep. 5, 2024
Int. Cl. A63B 47/00 (2006.01); A63B 24/00 (2006.01); A63B 71/06 (2006.01); A63B 102/32 (2015.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06V 40/16 (2022.01)
CPC A63B 47/002 (2013.01) [A63B 24/0003 (2013.01); A63B 71/0622 (2013.01); G06F 3/041 (2013.01); G06V 40/172 (2022.01); A63B 2071/0638 (2013.01); A63B 2102/32 (2015.10); A63B 2209/14 (2013.01); A63B 2220/05 (2013.01); A63B 2220/806 (2013.01); A63B 2225/20 (2013.01); A63B 2225/54 (2013.01); A63B 2225/74 (2020.08)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a golf range;
targets on the golf range;
a building including golf bays including golf ball dispensers, wherein each of the golf ball dispensers is a golf ball dispenser that is associated with a golf bay and comprises
a receptacle configured to hold multiple golf balls,
a passageway connecting an outlet of the golf ball dispenser with the receptacle,
a gateway coupled between the passageway and the receptacle, the gateway being configured to allow a golf ball to pass into the passageway, and
a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser;
at least one golf ball sensor;
one or more computers communicatively coupled with the at least one golf ball sensor and the golf ball dispensers, the one or more computers being configured to
track the golf ball in flight on the golf range,
identify where the golf ball lands on the golf range,
identify the golf bay from which the golf ball was hit, and
present information, regarding the golf ball hit from the golf bay, on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, the information being in accordance with where the golf ball lands on the golf range;
wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises at least one outflow vent located so as to facilitate natural convection and release of heated air from within the golf ball dispenser; and
wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises a waterproof, breathable fabric that allows air to pass out of the at least one outflow vent but prevents water from passing through the at least one outflow vent and into an interior of the golf ball dispenser.