Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7291071 | Compact golf facility and a method of playing a golf game A method of playing a golf-type game at the facility comprises placing a ball at one of the starting points, hitting the ball toward the appropriate target, and determining the surface type on which further play continues or determining the score based upon where th... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7258621 | Portable golf putting practice kit A portable golf putting practice kit includes a case member, having a base portion with upstanding walls and a planar bottom surface, and a cover portion hinged to the base portion. The base portion includes one upstanding hinged wall, allowing the hinged wall to pi... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7195563 | Adjustable putting green for golf practice A practice putting green that is adjustable to provide a playing surface having a variety of contours. The assembly is formed of a plurality of narrow transverse support members that are arranged as segments in side-to-side relationship to define an elongate playing... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7160196 | Identification device A tray (10) for supplying coded golf balls (50) to the tee (41) of a golf driving range comprises a first zone (11) for receiving golf balls, one of which is selected to be played by moving it by means of a club over a barrier (14)... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7137901 | Compact golf facility and a method of playing a golf game A method of playing a golf-type game at the facility comprises placing a ball at one of the starting points, hitting the ball toward the appropriate target, and determining the surface type on which further play continues or determining the score based upon where th... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7118105 | Miniature golf game A miniature golf game involving a miniature golf hole having a playing surface including a tee-off area and a ball-receiving cup. The hole includes a pachinko game or other game of chance, which may be positioned within the playing surface or otherwise adjacent the ... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7059974 | Golf balls with impact resistant identification device A golf ball having an identification device (10) embedded in it comprises an aerial (14) and a coded chip (12), which are associated with a resilient member (16) arranged to dampen shock form impact. The resilient members is in the form o... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7056221 | Ball collection arrangement A golf driving range target (112) comprises pockets (150, 183) suspended for cables (146, 176), the pockets feeding received golf balls to a common receptacle. Between the exits (166) of the pockets and the common receptacle, the balls, w... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7052408 | Multipocket golf net assembly The golf net assembly for adapting an existing golf net assembly to an improved practice net includes a non-collapsing light framework for providing a shape; fabric assembly with a center target sheath secured to the light framework, and flexible connectors fixedly ... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7052391 | Target-based wagering system and method A new and useful ball range system for wagering is disclosed. The system incorporates targets having RFID readers therein, coupled with at least one server communicating with each target, and further having the potential to operate over more than one physical site. ... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7040998 | Golf putting game with means for automatically monitoring the movement of the ball A golf game employing r.f-tag coded golf balls has a playing area with r.f. antennae located underneath to enable the number of strokes taken by a player to be counted. Separate antennae are provided for the tee area and hole, respectively, and the antennae around t... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7037208 | Compact golf facility and a method of playing a golf game A method of playing a golf-type game at the facility comprises placing a ball at one of the starting points, hitting the ball toward the appropriate target, and determining the surface type on which further play continues or determining the score based upon where th... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7004848 | Electronically traceable golf club incorporating a programmable transponder A golf club is provided with a transponder that will transmit a coded signal when polled. The transmitter is small enough to fit into the golf club and does not need an external power supply. A data base associated with the coded signal is a depository of informatio... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6998965 | Enhanced golf range play using RFID and GPS A new and useful golf range target and system is disclosed. The new target incorporates an area having a top surface that will guide a golf ball which hits the surface to a golf ball receiver. The target receiver includes an RFID reader and a GPS receiver, which, up... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6974391 | Method and apparatus for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target An apparatus for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target includes a simulated golfing green having one or multiple target area apertures therein. A ball collector is mounted under each aperture. A ball identification means cooperates with the ball collector for... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6964615 | Adjustable slope and contour practice putting green assembly and method An adjustable contour and slope practice putting green assembly having a base (22) and a practice putting green platform (21) mounted to the base for support of the platform (21) and a player standing on a support area (28) of the platfor... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6942579 | Multi-function golf training device A multi-function golf training device, including: a base member; at least three of elevating assemblies nonlinearly provided on the base member, each elevating assembly having a elevating part that can be forced up or down by external power. A putting green board pi... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6939238 | Golf putting training device A golf putting training device is described and which includes an elongated frame having opposite ends and sides, and defining a channel therebetween the opposite ends and sides; and a bridge extending between the opposite sides and located intermediate the opposite... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6926614 | Putting practice member A golf ball putting practice member has a main body portion provided with one or more golf ball receiving pockets. Each of the pockets has a pocket shape which inhibits a ball rolled into the pocket from rebounding back out of the pocket. ... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6913541 | Golf putting training apparatus A golf putting training apparatus comprises a base, which has a ball hole, a detect device disposed in the ball hole, a back tunnel, a return tunnel and a connect tunnel communicating the ball hole with the return tunnel. Three motor-driven elevating assemblies are ... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6849000 | Multi-function golf training device A golf training device. The device is used for training a player's approaching skill and putting skill. The device includes a main member, a board, an alley, an assisting board and a cage. The main member has two lateral walls and a back wall and the board. The alle... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6834129 | Method of measuring rotation of sphere A flying sphere is photographed twice at a predetermined time interval and two static images thus obtained are used to measure a rotation of the sphere through an image processing based on a recognition mark of a surface of the sphere. The recognition mark includes ... | 12/21/2004 |
| 6805639 | Target for a rolled ball A ball target assembly into which a rolling ball is directed and the associated method of playing a game using the ball target assembly. The ball target assembly has a base section wherein at least one ramp extends from the base section. A cup is disposed in the top... | 10/19/2004 |
| 6569028 | Golf driving range A system for facilitating the practicing or playing of golf may include, alone or in combination, a golf target subsystem, a detection subsystem, and a golf ball dispensing subsystem. The golf ball dispensing subsystem comprises a free standing device pla... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6152830 | Putting practice system A putting practice system for aiding golfers in maintaining putting skill levels. The practice system includes a surface contour that is adaptable by a user by inflating one or more air bladders to offer putting challenges not provided by a smooth even pu... | 11/28/2000 |
| 5733200 | Automated practice putting green with oversurface ball return A practice putting green assembly has a strip of artificial grass supported on an articulated multi-sectional frame. A plurality of motor/lift arm combinations can selectively raise or lower individual hinge points between the frame sections. A programmab... | 03/31/1998 |
| 5653642 | Golfing game Disclosed herein is a golfing game and the apparatus for accomplishing the same. The game apparatus includes a driving range having a tee area and a target or series of targets. Using all the skill he possess, the player(s) strike(s) the ball toward the t... | 08/05/1997 |
| 5582550 | Automatically-scoring mini-golf game A golf game uses radio signals from golf balls to signal to a central computer for automatic score-keeping by the computer. Sensors in each hole also send signals to the computer on the completion of each hole play for each golfer. The golf balls are dist... | 12/10/1996 |
| 5513841 | Golf driving range system A golf driving range system for golfers to practice their driving skills is provided. The driving range system includes a plurality of tee boxes. Each tee box has a renewable ball stock and an automatic golf ball tee-up machine. The balls in the ball stoc... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5487542 | Automatically-scoring golf game A golf game uses radio signals from golf clubs to signal to a central computer for automatic score-keeping by the computer. Sensors in each hole also send signals to the computer on the completion of each hole play for each golfer. The golf clubs are dist... | 01/30/1996 |
| 5482278 | Handicapped-accessible golf course A golf course which is accessible to the physically handicapped. A clubhouse is equipped with wheelchair-accessible ramps, wheelchair-accessible toilets and necessary medical supplies and equipment. Rest houses are located on the course to provide rest, ... | 01/09/1996 |
| 5478076 | Golf putting amusement system A golf putting amusement system which comprises a plurality of putting platforms each having a putting deck with a golf ball area at one end and which may have a golf ball support tee extending above the top surface of the deck. A golf cup area is provide... | 12/26/1995 |
| 5445374 | Golf driving range, system and method for retrieving balls from target cup A tee area is provided from which contestants may hit golf balls toward flag cups located on a plurality of greens. If a contestant hits a golf ball into a flag cup, a ball sensor detects the presence of the golf ball and a remote indicator announces the ... | 08/29/1995 |
| 5439224 | Driving range with automated scoring system A golf range comprising a series of independent targets, each of which consists of a sloped area located at a different distance from a multiplicity of tee stands. The range is also equipped with a scoring system that uses Universal Product Codes on each ... | 08/08/1995 |
| 5413343 | Redemption coupon dispensing coin-or-bill operated mini golf game This invention is directed to an automated mini-golf game having a plurality of mini-golf holes which each have a tee area, a fairway or putting green and at least one target hole. The final mini-golf hole of the game has a coin and bill acceptor for deli... | 05/09/1995 |
| 5370389 | Golf range method and apparatus A golfing range game is disclosed which allows a player to practice both long-range and close-range shots while aiming for different target greens located at varying distances from the teeing area. If the player lands a ball on one of the greens, he recei... | 12/06/1994 |
| 5301947 | Putting green with adjustable topography and multi-ball return A gold putting assembly comprising a playing surface having a target hole, elevation means for adjusting the topography of the playing surface, and ball return means that elevate an entire section at the end of the playing surface nearest the target hole ... | 04/12/1994 |
| 5163677 | Golf driving range A golf driving-range for driving golf balls from any of a series of tee-points grouped-together to a single common golf driving fairway having a plurality of spaced-apart greens each with a flagged hole, with preferably one of the greens being surrounded ... | 11/17/1992 |
| 5042813 | Indoor golf training course A knockdown indoor golf training course, which includes a teeing ground unit having a ball return gutter for guiding a golf ball back to a ball chamber and an elongated strip mechanism for guiding a golf ball to roll down to the ball chamber through the b... | 08/27/1991 |
| 5016884 | Golf putting game A golf putting game is set forth wherein a forward platform horizontally disposed relative to an upper playing surface angularly oriented at an obtuse angle relative to an upper surface of the forward platform includes a series of target golf cup openings... | 05/21/1991 |
