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Golf advertising systemRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Practice Projectile Addressing Surface (e.g., Driving Mat, Etc.)Golf advertising system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070167251, Golf advertising system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to golf ball driving range operations, and more specifically to driving range tee mats having removable advertising portions, as well as golf ball dispensing devices having advertising thereon and also golf ball dispensing devices which can also serve as tee dividers. BACKGROUND [0002] The world wide golf industry is one of the largest, if not the largest, sports industries in the world. Golf operations extend from local equipment shops to driving ranges, to public golf courses, to private country clubs. Golfers typically come from the middle to upper socioeconomic ranges of society, and are highly sought after by advertisers because of relative levels of disposable and investable income. Therefore new modes of delivering advertising content to golfers are continually being sought. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,870, issued to Lurie et al., discloses a golf ball hitting mat designed to simulate conditions on a golf course. On the mat there a two sections of artificial grass, one section has longer artificial grass and a simulated hill. The other section is flat and has shorter artificial grass. The two sections are separated by a grass-free area that may be used for advertising. The grass-free area is not designed for hitting a golf ball therefrom. Furthermore, the grass-free area, and any advertising thereon, is integral to the rest of the mat, preventing removal or changing of the advertising material over time. [0003] Other golf mats have markings thereon, but do not provide for advertising space, particularly removable or interchangeable advertising portions. See, for example, U.S Patent No. 5,333,875, issued to Wilson, which discloses a golf ball driving and hitting mat having first and second stripes in a side-by-side, generally parallel relationship at or near the location at which the golf ball placed, for enabling the visual alignment of the golf club head relative to the stripes on the golf ball. See also, U.S. Patent No. 4,000,905, issued to Shirhall, which discloses a mat for guiding golfers in addressing the ball, on which are indicated positions and angles for the feet, placement of the ball, and guide lines to indicate the proper direction to be traversed by the club. Similarly, Published U.S. Patent Application, Pub. No. US 2001/0036869, by Grabowski, discloses a golf mat having a plurality of foot print patterns of different colors and club numbers associated to each foot and club to be used, where the patterns are positioned in the proper locations for a particular club to be used based on horizontal and vertical center lines of the golf ball so as to assist a golfer in addressing the golf ball properly. [0004] In addition to golf mats, driving range tee dividers have not been used in conjunction with advertising material in efficient and synergistic manners. Typical golf tee dividers are disclosed in U.S Pat. No. 5,482,269, issued to Scott et al. ("Scott"), and U.S. Patent No. 5,586,942, issued to Wittek et al. ("Wittek"). In Scott, the tee divider has a frame, and a deflector sheet that is secured to upper and lower portions of the frame by a fastening rope. The tee divider separates adjacent golfers at a driving range and blocks golf balls hit by one golfer from hitting another golfer. The tee divider in Wittek accomplished the same goal as the tee divider in Scott, but has a unitary construction and includes pockets for holding a bucket of golf balls, and grooves for holding golf clubs. Neither Scott nor Wittek have provisions for removably mounting advertising material as part of the tee divider. [0005] Automatic dispensing devices are also being more widely used at driving ranges. Generally there are two types of dispensing devices: dispensing devices that raise the ball up from under the mat and those that place the ball on the mat from the side. For an example of a dispensing device that raises the ball from below, see German Patent No. DE1 9603543, which discloses a golf mat on which the player depresses a lever using a golf club, which allows a golf ball to roll out from a feed shaft onto a tee. Upon releasing the lever, the golf ball is carried upward to the plane of the mat. Published U.S. Patent Application, Publication No. US 2003/0162598, by Eckard Jr. et al., discloses another dispensing device where a lever is depressed, which lowers a tee below the surface of a golf mat to a lower position, a golf ball feeding device loads a ball onto the tee, and upon release of the lever, the teed ball is raised so that it is in position to be hit by the golfer. A disadvantage of dispensing devices that tee the ball from below the mat is that after repeated use, the mat becomes worn and needs replacing. Replacing a mat that is an integral component of the dispensing device can be a costly endeavor for the driving range operator. [0006] Dispensing devices that tee a golf ball from the side are also common and avoid the costs associated with replacing portions of the dispensing device when the mat is worn. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,575, issued to Anderson, discloses a portable device capable of placing a golf ball on a tee without interaction from the user. The device uses sensors to determine when a new ball is needed and lowers a ball onto the tee with an arm. U.S. Pat. No., 5,282,628 issued to Komori et al., discloses an automatic golf ball dispenser for driving or directly to a mat. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,839, issued to McLinn, discloses a golf ball dispenser. However, none of these devices eliminate the need for a separate tee divider, and thus require a driving range operator to purchase and maintain separate tee dividers and golf ball dispensing devices. [0007] Unfortunately, none of the devices described above taps into available advertising streams by providing for removable and interchangeable areas for advertising on golf mats, tee dividers, and golf ball dispensers. Furthermore, none of the golf ball dispensers described above are integrated into a tee divider. And lastly, while each of the devices mentioned above may work independently there are no systems that include a golf mat, a tee divider, and a golf ball dispenser to work cooperatively to improve driving range operations while providing coordinated advertising space. [0008] Therefore, there remains a need for a system that allows for removable and interchangeable advertising on a golf mat. There remains a need for a tee divider that incorporates an integrated golf dispensing unit. There remains a need for an integral tee divider and dispensing device that cooperatively works with a golf mat having removable and interchangeable advertising portions, and which has various other features and advantages. SUMMARY [0009] In view of the deficiencies described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved golf advertising system with various features and advantages. [0010] The present invention includes a golf driving mat having advertising material on a portion thereof. Advertising material may be any promotional messages or displays or advertisements. The advertising material is applied such that it is on a section of the mat which is substantially uniform with the rest of the mat. The advertising material is preferably applied on a removable section of the mat to allow for replacement of the section with another section containing different advertising material. [0011] Various options for attaching such removably attachable sections are contemplated, however, any suitable means for removably attaching such sections is intended within the scope of the present invention. [0012] In an enhanced embodiment of the present invention, a golf dispenser unit is provided. Preferably, the dispenser unit may additionally serve as a tee divider. The dispenser unit includes a surface which is oriented toward the golfer and serves as a medium for advertisement material. The advertisement material is preferably removable such that it can be replaced with other advertisement material. [0013] Various embodiments of the dispenser unit of the present invention include advertisement appearing on the activation lever itself. Various further embodiments include an electronic display panel. The electronic display panel can be used to provide advertisement material via a visual display. Such material can be provided in the form of still pictures or video. An audio component can be included as well. In various embodiments, still pictures can rotate on said display. [0014] In other embodiments, a video camera can be included in the dispenser unit. The camera can be activated either by the golfer, or via a sensor such as a motion sensor or heat sensor. The camera is used to record at least a portion of the golfers swing. The display can be used to display either a recording of the swing, an animation of the swing, or other swing analysis information or instructional information associated with an analysis of the swing. [0015] The dispenser unit can also include a reflective surface or mirror oriented such that the golfer is able to see his/her own swing. [0016] The dispenser unit of the present invention can be provided in conjunction with the mat of the present invention in a unique system which provides a synergistic advertising effect. The ball can be dispensed such that it rolls over or stops on an advertisement region or the advertisement material, thus providing focus of attention onto this region. The ball may also be dispensed from underneath the mat through a hole in the mat. An integral seating area and optional drink holders may be provided. Furthermore, a plurality of the units described above can be assembled and coupled via a server or central computing unit which controls the display panels. [0017] One general objective of the present invention is to target a golfer with advertisement material effectively while the golfer is in a state of focus on the golfer's activity. This state is sometimes known in particular sports as the "zone." A golfer in this state may be engrossed in the activity and highly focused on a practice swing at a driving mat, being oblivious to most of the surroundings. When a golfer steps onto the driving range, he/she goes through the motions of practicing the swing. The focus is invariably on the grip, the swing, and fmally the ball. While addressing the ball, the golfer's eyes are on the mat where the ball is disposed. One intent of the present invention to place advertising material in a manner in which it will be taken in by a golfer who is in this psychological state. The advertising material disposed on the mat may create a desirable "swing line". Furthermore, the interactive ball dispenser may include advertising material on its surface. In such an embodiment, each time the golfer presses the lever for a ball, the golfer sees the promotional material on that lever. This effect can have a substantial impact from an advertising stand point. Interactive instructions, tips and tricks of the week may also be prominently displayed on the area near/around the dispenser or the mat. [0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, showing the advertisement material on the mat. [0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing one manner of attaching the removable section. Continue reading about Golf advertising system... Full patent description for Golf advertising system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf advertising system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Golf advertising system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Systems and methods for fitting golf equipment Next Patent Application: Golf swing and training apparatus Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf advertising system patent info. 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