Gripping device for golfer's use
In a gripping device comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, normally opened, an actuating mechanism to close the pair of gripping jaws, and an elongate shaft connecting the actuating and gripping mechanisms, each gripping jaw has a gripping end affixed to such gripping jaw and configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end, a tip defining an opposite end, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed. Each gripping end has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held. Being resilient and being concave, the gripping ends are adapted to hold a golf ball, if a golf tee is not being held. Thus, the gripping device is adapted to enable a golfer to set a golf tee without stooping and to place a golf ball onto a golf tee, which has been set, without stooping. The golf tee may be a standard tee or a “step” tee.
This invention pertains to a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism, an actuating mechanism, and a connecting shaft. By this invention, the gripping device is adapted for a golfer's use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONU.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, exemplifies a gripping device of the type noted above. Broadly, in a gripping device of the type noted above, the gripping mechanism comprises a pair of gripping jaws, which are biased so as to be normally opened, and the actuating mechanism is actuatable by a user to close the gripping jaws.
Although the gripping device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769 does not have a latching mechanism, it has been known to provide a gripping device of the type noted above with a latching mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to latch the gripping jaws releasably in a closed condition.
Heretofore, it has been known to adapt a gripping device of the type noted above for a golfer's use, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,295, No. 4,616,826, No. 4,949,961, No. 6,394,515 B1, and No. 6,749,522 B1, in United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0132680 A1, and in United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0203772 A1. This invention addresses perceived shortcomings in such adapted devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention improves a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, further comprising an actuating mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to operate the pair of gripping jaws, and further comprising an elongate shaft, which connects the actuating and gripping mechanisms.
Broadly, this invention provides that each gripping jaw has a gripping end, which is configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end of the golf tee, a tip defining an opposite end, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed, and wherein the gripping end of at least one of the gripping jaws has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held, whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to set a golf tee without stooping. The golf tee may be a standard tee or a “step” tee.
Preferably, the gripping end of each of the gripping jaws has such a bearing surface. Preferably, the gripping end of each gripping jaw has a gripping face and each bearing surface is defined by a recess in the gripping face having said bearing surface. Preferably, each gripping end is affixed to a respective one of the gripping jaws. Preferably, as affixed thereto, each gripping end is resilient.
Preferably, the gripping jaws are adapted to hold a golf ball between the gripping ends, when the gripping jaws are closed, at least if or, possibly, but only if a golf tee is not being held between the gripping ends, whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to place a golf ball onto a golf tee, which has been set, without stooping. Preferably, where adapted to hold a golf ball therebetween, the gripping ends are concave.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As shown in
Broadly, the gripping device 10 comprises a gripping mechanism 20 including a pair of gripping jaws 22, which are biased so as to be normally opened, an actuating mechanism 30, which is actuatable by a user to close the pair of gripping jaws 22, and further comprising an elongate shaft 40, which connects the actuating mechanism 30 and the gripping mechanism 20. Except as shown and described herein, and except for the terminology used to describe various elements of the gripping device 10, the gripping device 10 conforms to the “pick up” device shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769, supra.
As contemplated by this invention, each gripping jaw 22 has a gripping end 50, which made from a resilient material, such as a synthetic rubber, and which is affixed adhesively or otherwise to said gripping jaw 22. The gripping end 50 of each gripping jaw 22 has a gripping face 52, which is concave and which has a recess 60 configured to receive and to hold, snugly, the head 12a of the golf tee 12 and an upper portion of the stem 12c of the golf tee 12, so as to allow a lower portion of the stem 12c of the golf tee 12 and the tip 12b to extend beyond the gripping end 50. The recess 60 has a bearing surface 62, which bears against the end defined by the head 12a of the golf tee 12, when the golf tee 12 is held in the recess 60.
As shown in
In an alternative form of each gripping end 50, as shown in
In each of the alternative forms of each gripping end 50, as shown in
As an alternative to a gripping device conforming to the “pick up” device shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769, supra, this invention may be instead embodied in a gripping device of the type noted above, which is provided with a latching mechanism, as discussed above.
Claims
1. In a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, further comprising an actuating mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to operate the pair of gripping jaws, and further comprising an elongate shaft, which connects the actuating and gripping mechanisms,
- an improvement wherein each gripping jaw has a gripping end, which is configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end of the golf tee, a tip defining an opposite end of the golf tee, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed, wherein the gripping end of at least one of the gripping jaws has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held, and wherein the gripping jaws are adapted to hold a golf ball between the gripping ends,
- whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to set a golf tee without stooping.
2. In a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, further comprising an actuating mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to operate the pair of gripping jaws, and further comprising an elongate shaft, which connects the actuating and gripping mechanisms,
- an improvement wherein each gripping jaw has a gripping end, which is configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end of the golf tee, a tip defining an opposite end of the golf tee, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed, wherein the gripping end of each of the gripping jaws has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held, and wherein the gripping jaws are adapted to hold a golf ball between the gripping ends,
- whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to set a golf tee without stooping.
3. In a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, which are biased so as to be normally opened, further comprising an actuating mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to close the pair of gripping jaws, and further comprising an elongate shaft, which connects the actuating and gripping mechanisms,
- an improvement wherein each gripping jaw has a gripping end, which is configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end of the golf tee, a tip defining an opposite end of the golf tee, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed, wherein the gripping end of each of the gripping jaws has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held, and wherein the gripping jaws are adapted to hold a golf ball between the gripping end,
- whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to set a tee without stooping.
4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the gripping end of each gripping jaw has a gripping face, and wherein each bearing surface is defined by a recess in the gripping face having said bearing surface.
5. The improvement of claim 2, wherein the gripping end of each gripping jaw has a gripping face, and wherein each bearing surface is defined by a recess in the gripping face having said bearing surface.
6. The improvement of claim 3, wherein the gripping end of each gripping jaw has a gripping face, and wherein each bearing surface is defined by a recess in the gripping face having said bearing surface.
7. (canceled)
8. The improvement of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein the gripping ends are concave.
9-10. (canceled)
11. The improvement of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein each gripping end is affixed to a respective one of the gripping jaws.
12. The improvement of claim 8, wherein each gripping end is resilient.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 20, 2005
Publication Date: Jan 25, 2007
Inventor: Dennis Gates (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/185,090
International Classification: A63B 57/00 (20060101);