Daniel H Steiner

US Patent:

7215412, May 8, 2007

Filed:

Sep 1, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/931947

Inventors:

Robert F. O'Loughlin - Madison WI, US
Michael D. Plitman - Minneapolis MN, US
Daniel Steiner - Waunakee WI, US
Wayne Timberman - Carmel IN, US

Assignee:

Golf Solutions 1, L.L.C. - Madison WI

International Classification:

G01C 3/08

US Classification:

356 401, 356 402, 356 403, 356 501

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for determining a distance to a target. The method includes sending light, at a first time, to a light reflector mounted in a reflector device, receiving light reflected from the light reflector at a second time, and determining the distance to the reflector device using the difference between the first time and the second time. The reflector device has a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface parallel to the first lateral surface, and a rod surface extending from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface. The reflector device includes sockets arranged in the rod surface with a light reflector mounted in each socket. The sockets may be arranged in a plurality of rows with possibly a plurality of sockets in each row. The reflector device may be mounted as an insert to or at the top of a target to determine the distance to the target.

US Patent:

D546243, Jul 10, 2007

Filed:

Sep 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

29/212569

Inventors:

Robert F. O'Loughlin - Madison WI, US
Michael Plitman - Minneapolis MN, US
Daniel Steiner - Waunakee WI, US
Wayne Timberman - Carmel IN, US

Assignee:

Golf Solutions 1, L.L.C. - Madison WI

International Classification:

1105

US Classification:

D11181

US Patent:

D564405, Mar 18, 2008

Filed:

Jan 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

29/276640

Inventors:

Robert F. O'Loughlin - Madison WI, US
Michael D. Plitman - Minneapolis MN, US
Daniel Steiner - Waunakee WI, US
Wayne Timberman - Carmel IN, US

Assignee:

Golf Solutions I, L.L.C. - Madison WI

International Classification:

1105

US Classification:

D11181

US Patent:

20070171394, Jul 26, 2007

Filed:

Jan 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/339417

Inventors:

Daniel Steiner - Waunakee WI, US
Rob O'Loughlin - Madison WI, US
Wayne Timberman - Carmel IN, US
Michael Plitman - Minneapolis MN, US

International Classification:

G01C 3/08

US Classification:

356 501, 356 401

Abstract:

A system is provided for determining a distance to a target. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a pole and a distance measuring device. The pole includes a plurality of sockets formed in a surface of the pole above a selected lower reflecting point and a reflector mounted in each of the plurality of sockets. The lower reflecting point defines a minimum distance from a first end of the pole above which the reflectors are located for use with the distance measuring device. At least a portion of a signal received from the distance measuring device is reflected back to the distance measuring device by a receiving reflector. The distance measuring device includes a transmitter that transmits the signal at a first time, a receptor that receives the reflected signal from the receiving reflector at a second time, and a processor to determine the distance from the transmitter to the receiving reflector using the first time and the second time.