Golf accessory
The present invention is a golf ball support and height adjustment device having at least one non-linear portion. Embodiments can include a divot repair tool, a bottle opener/tab can pry and can include a tapered end that can be used as a golf club groove cleaner.
This invention relates to the game of golf. Many items can be used by a golfer, such as for example, tees, ball markers, ball mark (divot) repair tools and items for cleaning the grooves located in the frontal surface of a golf club head. These items are typically held either in the pockets of the golfer or in a golf bag. The insertion and removal of these items can cause damage to a golfer's clothes and can be cumbersome to access.
Many devices have been devised in an attempt to facilitate the use and access to golf accessories. Some of these devices are golf related tools connected to a housing device by either pivotable or extending/retracting means, such as those of U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,173 to Miller et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,824 to Reimers; U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,062 to Taylor et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,042 to Braithwaite; U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,973 to Hsu; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,807 to Kerr. Other devices include a fixed divot repair tool of a forked design such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,937 to Jarosh et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,239 to Wait. Other designs are holder and tool combinations such as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,155 to Jacome. Devices have also been developed to enable the height adjustment of a golf tee, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,977 to Young et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,499 to Hsien and D492,374 to Barouh.
The discussion of issued patents does not mean that the inventions or features contained therein are in the general body of public knowledge.
The applicant believes that the present invention possesses distinctions over what is known in the art and possesses advantages over what has previously been available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a golf accessory apparatus that can include an assortment of various golf related tools.
The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a golf ball or tee support height adjustment apparatus having at least one non-linear portion. The apparatus can also be a divot repair tool. The divot repair tool can also serve as a golf club groove cleaner. The apparatus can also include a ball marker. The apparatus can further include a bottle opener/tab can pry tool.
The invention can further include a cover that at least a portion of the apparatus can be inserted into. The cover can provide a degree of protection from any sharp end or surface of the apparatus and can facilitate the carrying of the apparatus by a golfer in a pocket or other holder. The cover can allow the golfer to insert and/or remove the apparatus from a pocket without the potential for damage from any sharp end or surface of the apparatus. Desirably the cover includes an attachment means to facilitate its carrying. The attachment means can comprise a cord or other type handle or alternatively can comprise a clip type mechanism such as for attaching to a belt or golf bag.
The present invention provides, in another embodiment of the present invention, the combination of a golf ball support and a divot repair tool that can also serve as a golf ball height adjustment tool. The device can include one or more ball marker(s). The golf ball support can include a non-linear portion
The device can further include a bottle opener/tab can pry and can include a golf club groove cleaner. The device can include a cover, the cover can include a means for attachment and its exterior surface can provide space for advertising. Means for attachment can include a cord, strap, clip apparatus or a handle apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described by way of examples with reference to
Referring to
A second section 110 can have a non-linear design, which can be used as a tee height adjustment device 112. The non-linear design creates an opening having an axis 114 through the tool 100 in which a golf tee can be inserted. In one embodiment the second section 110 can have one or more non-linear sections.
A third section 120 can be of a linear design to facilitate insertion of at least a portion of the third section 120 into the golf turf, sand or other ground surface. The third section 120 can have threads or other protrusions 122 that can be used for divot repair and can have a tapered, sloped or pointed end 124 that can be used as a golf club groove cleaner.
The bottle opener/tab can pry 106 feature can be of any design having the ability to facilitate the removal of a bottle cap from a bottle or to engage the tab or other opening feature of a container, such as those used for beverages typically made of aluminum. In one embodiment illustrated in
The non-linear section 110 can serve to dissipate the force imparted by the golf club impacting the golf ball and transmitted to the golf tool during its swing. The non-linear portion can have various designs that can be spiral, coiled, triangular or other circuitous shapes, all referred to herein as spiral. The number of spirals can vary depending of the materials of construction and the particular characteristics that are desired. In one embodiment the number of spirals can vary from one to ten. In one embodiment the desirable number of spirals can range from three to seven. In another embodiment the number of spirals can range from five to seven. In some embodiments the spirals can be concentric and in other embodiments the spirals can be non-concentric. Non-concentric embodiments can include, but are not limited to, embodiments having tapered spirals that are smaller in diameter the further away from the first section 102. The tapered spirals can facilitate the insertion of the golf tool 100 into the ground and assist with the adjustment of the height of the ball platform 104.
The golf tool 100 can be constructed of a variety of materials. Embodiments can be made of wood, plastic, metal or other materials or composites of more than one material. A desirable embodiment can be constructed of a plastic material that can have toughness to withstand the forces imposed by contact with the golf club and which can also impart a degree of flexibility to the tool. Plastics such as, but not limited to, various grades of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and polystyrene can be used. Embodiments can also be constructed from certain metals or metal alloys, the embodiments made from metals can be coated by a second material such as plastics or rubber materials, for example, neoprene.
Referring now to
Referring to
Within the present application the terms “comprise”, “comprising” and “comprises” shall have a non-exclusive meaning and that if an embodiment is said to comprise a certain feature the embodiment will have that feature but is not restricted in any way as to other features the embodiment may have.
The preceding description of specific embodiments of the present invention is not intended to be a complete list of every possible embodiment of the invention. Persons skilled in this field will recognize that modifications can be made to the specific embodiments described herein that would still be within the scope if the present invention.
Claims
1. A golf accessory apparatus comprising:
- a golf ball support and height adjustment device having at least one non-linear portion.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball support further comprises a divot repair tool.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises a bottle opener/tab can pry.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a golf tee support.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-linear portion comprises at least one spiral.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-linear portion comprises at least one concentric spirals.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-linear portion comprises at least one tapered spirals.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cover further comprises one or more ball markers.
10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the tee support and divot repair tool are housed within the cover.
11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cover comprises an attachment means.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage container.
13. In combination, a golf ball support having at least one non-linear portion and a divot repair tool that can also be a golf ball height adjustment tool.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a ball marker.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a bottle opener/tab can pry.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a golf club groove cleaner.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tool is at least partially housed within a holder.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the holder comprises an attachment means.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the attachment means comprises a clip for attachment to a belt or bag.
20. A golf accessory apparatus comprising:
- a golf ball support and height adjustment device having at lease one non-linear portion of at least one spiral;
- a divot repair tool;
- a bottle opener/tab can pry; and
- a cover capable of retaining one or more ball markers.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 23, 2005
Publication Date: May 24, 2007
Inventor: Lance Prickett (Tucson, AZ)
Application Number: 11/286,916
International Classification: A63B 57/00 (20060101);