GOLF BALL RECOVERY AND BALL MARK REPAIR TOOL

Abstract

A golf accessory comprises a ball retrieval tool on one end and a ball mark repair tool on the opposite end which facilitates use of both tools without requiring a golfer to bend down. The golf accessory may further comprise telescoping members inside a shaft for extending the golf accessory to various lengths away from a golfer desiring to use the tools on each end thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 11/278,570 filed Apr. 4, 2006, currently pending, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference; which claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/668,927 filed Apr. 6, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference; and provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/686,669 filed Jun. 2, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to golf accessories, and more particularly to a golf accessory including a ball retrieval tool and a ball mark repair tool.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The sport of golf is enjoyed by persons of nearly all ages. Elderly persons in particular are able to play golf even when they are no longer able to participate in other physical sports. However, elderly golfers often have problems with their backs and hips, preventing them from bending over to repair ball marks and retrieve balls without difficulty. Heretofore the available ball mark repair tools have been handheld and required the golfer to bend down in order to repair a ball mark on the green. In addition to physical challenges associated with using existing ball mark repair tools, because the tools are small in size they can be difficult to find in a golf bag and can create discomfort if they become displaced in a clothing pocket.

In addition to bending over to repair ball marks, a golfer must bend over to retrieve the ball from the cup. Although there are currently tools on the market to assist golfers in retrieving balls from the cup, each of the available tools must be stored in the golf bag, taking up room which may be needed for golf clubs, etc.

The present invention comprises an improved golf accessory which overcomes the limitations of traditional golf accessories currently on the market. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, the golf accessory comprises a ball retrieval tool at one end and a ball mark repair tool at the opposite end facilitating the repair of ball marks and retrieval of golf balls without requiring a golfer to bend down.

In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, a golf accessory comprises a shaft having a ball mark repair tool and a ball retrieval tool are secured at opposite ends thereof. A clip or fastening device is secured along the shaft of the golf accessory to facilitate securing the golf accessory to the outside of a golf bag instead of using interior space thereof. Telescoping members inside the shaft of the accessory enable the ball retrieval tool to be extended to various lengths thereby facilitating the recovery of golf balls from water hazards.

In addition to repairing ball marks, the ball mark repair tool may be utilized to insert the golf accessory into a ground surface adjacent to the green when not being used thereby preventing a golfer from having to bend over to retrieve the golf accessory. Often a golfer must take two clubs to the green, a putter and a wedge, or other similar club used to chip a ball onto the green, which has heretofore been laid on the ground when not in use thereby requiring the golfer to bend over to retrieve the unused club. A hook or other support means located on the shaft of the golf accessory below the ball retrieval tool may be utilized to support the unused club against the golf accessory preventing instead of placing the club on the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a golf accessory comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an environmental view illustrating one aspect of the use of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an environmental view illustrating a tenth embodiment of the present invention and an additional aspect of the use;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the spring loaded clip of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the spring loaded clip of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating a second embodiment of the spring loaded clip of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 illustrating the actuation of the spring loaded clip thereof; and

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the use of the golf ball recovery and ball mark repair tool of the present invention in conjunction with a golf bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a golf accessory 10 comprising a first embodiment of the present invention. The golf accessory 10 comprises shaft 12 having a ball mark repair tool 14 at one end and a ball retrieval tool 16 at the other end thereof. An optional spring-loaded clip 18 located near one end of the golf accessory providing means for supporting the golf accessory to the outside of a golf bag to preserve space in the golf bag and/or for easier access to the accessory 10.

The ball retrieval tool 16 used in conjunction with the golf accessory 10 is illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. No. D475,112 S. The ball retrieval tool 16 may be fabricated from a metal such as aluminum, a polymer material, or another suitable material known to those skilled in the art to resist rust or corrosion. The ball mark repair tool 14 used in conjunction with the golf accessory 10 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,274. If used, the clip 18 facilitates the golf accessory to be secured snugly over a rim or other similar surface of a golf bag. The proximal end of the clip 18 secures to the shaft 12 by threaded fasteners, an adhesive, or any suitable fastening methods known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing golf accessories.

The clip 18 is spring-loaded and may be fabricated from a metal such as aluminum, a polymer material, or another suitable material known to those skilled in the art to resist rust or corrosion. Alternative to a rigid structure the clip 18 may be a flexible member enabling the clip 18 to be tightened onto the rim of a golf bag by pressing the distal end of the clip 18 toward the proximal end thereof. The shaft 12 comprises telescoping members 22 which extend the golf accessory 10 to facilitate balls to be retrieved from water hazards, sand traps, trees, and the like that cannot be easily accessed by a golfer.

The present invention further includes an optional cover for the ball mark repair tool 14 of the golf accessory 10. The cover may be formed from various flexible materials including leather, imitation leather, various plastics, etc. The cover may also be formed from a rigid material such as stainless steel, steel, brass, aluminum, other metals, and various plastics. Either the flexible or the rigid version of the cover may be provided with a protective interior layer formed from a suitable material such as natural or artificial felt, etc.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second ball retrieval tool 16A that may be used in conjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16A shown in FIG. 2 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,859 and sold under the trademarked name of The Hide-Away Retriever®.

FIG. 3 illustrates a third ball retrieval tool 16B that may be used in conjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16B shown in FIG. 3 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,926 and sold under the trademarked name of Gotcha®.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth ball retrieval tool 16C that may be used in conjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16C shown in FIG. 4 is a generally conical solid structure comprising a receiving aperture 24 on the proximal end thereof for receiving the distal most telescoping member 22 or receiving the shaft 12 and a cup 26 for scooping a ball from a hole. The retrieval tool 16C may be fabricated from rubber, a flexible polymer material, or other similar material known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing golf accessories.

FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth ball retrieval tool 16D that may be used in conjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16D shown in FIG. 5 is illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 306,058.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sixth ball retrieval tool 16E that may be used in conjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16E shown in FIG. 6 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,352.

FIG. 7 illustrates a seventh ball retrieval tool 16F that may be used in conjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16F shown in FIG. 7 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,189.

FIG. 8 illustrates a golf accessory 40 comprising an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Many of the component parts of the golf accessory 40 are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the golf accessory 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in FIG. 8 with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the golf accessory 10, but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.

The golf accessory 40 differs from the golf accessory 10 of FIGS. 1 through 7 in that the golf accessory 40 does not include telescoping members. Instead the golf accessory 40 comprises a shaft 12′ with a ball mark repair tool 14′ at and a ball retrieval tool 16′ at each end thereof. Although the golf accessory 40 is illustrated using the ball retrieval tool 14C shown in FIG. 4, the golf accessory 40 may also be used in conjunction with any of the ball retrieval tools 16 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates a golf accessory 50 comprising a variation of the golf accessory 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 and described hereinabove in connection therewith. The golf accessory 50 is substantially identical in construction and function to the golf accessory 10, except that the golf accessory 50 comprises only one telescoping member 22. The golf accessory 50 is illustrated with the ball mark repair tool 14 inserted into a ground surface 52. The golf accessory 50 comprising only one telescoping member 22 results in the golf accessory 50 having a more compact and lightweight shaft 12 for ease of use by golfers having back problems.

FIG. 10 illustrates the golf accessory 10 having a handle 60 with an optional flexible golf-bag engaging member 62 secured thereto. The handle 60 may be fabricated of rubber, plastic, or other similar materials suitable for a handle or grip application. If used, the flexible golf-bag engaging member 62 may be fabricated from materials such as plastic, metal or any other hard but pliable material known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing sporting accessories.

During the play of golf, a golf bag is generally supported on a golf cart which the golfer must leave in order to access the greens of the golf course. The golf accessory of the present invention is carried along with a putter by a golfer as the golfer approaches the putting green in anticipation of retrieving the ball from the cup and the possibility that a ball mark will need repair. As shown in FIG. 9, the golf accessory of the present invention may be inserted into a ground surface adjacent to the green when not being used thereby preventing a golfer from having to bend over to retrieve the golf accessory. In addition to retrieving a golf ball from a cup, the golf accessory of the present invention as shown having a plurality of telescoping members may be used to retrieve balls from water hazards, sand traps, trees, and the like.

FIG. 11 illustrates the golf accessory 40 having a golf club leaned thereagainst and supported by the clip 18. By utilizing the golf accessory 40 to support a golf club while not is use, the golfer is not required to bend over to retrieve the club from the ground surface 52.

FIG. 12 illustrates the golf accessory 70 comprising a variation of the golf accessory 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10 and described hereinabove in connection therewith. The golf accessory 70 is substantially identical in construction and function to the golf accessory 10, except that the golf accessory 70 comprises a support member 72 for supporting a golf club when not in use in lieu of supporting the club on the clip 18. The support member 72 surrounds the shaft 12 and may be collapsed when not in use for more compact storage of the golf accessory 70.

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative to the support member 72 to be used in conjunction with the golf accessory. An indentation 78 is formed in the shaft 12 below the ball retrieval tool 16 for supporting a golf club leaned thereagainst.

FIGS. 14 through 17, inclusive, further illustrate the construction and operation of the spring loaded clip 18. Referring particularly to FIGS. 14 and 15, the spring loaded clip 18 includes a first component 18A secured to the telescoping shaft 12 and a second component 18B supported for pivotal movement relative to the first component 18A. The second component includes a gripping member 18C which is biased into engagement with the telescoping shaft 12 by a spring 18D. The second component 18B further includes a handle portion 18E which, upon manual actuation, pivotally disengages the gripping component 18C from the shaft 12 against the action of the spring 18D.

A variation of the spring loaded clip illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 described hereinabove in conjunction therewith is illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. In the variation of the spring loaded clip 18 illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 the spring 18D supports the component 18B for pivotal movement relative to the telescoping shaft 12 and simultaneously biases the gripping component 18C into engagement with the shaft 12. As is clearly illustrated in FIG. 17 when the handle 18E is depressed in the direction of the arrow 18F the component 18B is pivoted relative to the shaft 12 thereby disengaging the gripping member 18C therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 18 there is shown a conventional golf bag 100 comprising a base 102 for supporting the golf bag 100 on an underlying surface and a side wall 104 extending upwardly from the base 102 for receiving a plurality of golf clubs 106 therein. The side wall 104 extends to an upper edge 108.

The golf bag 100 also supports a golf ball recovery and ball mark repair tool comprising the present invention thereon. For example, the golf bag 100 may support the golf ball recovery and ball mark repair tool 10 of FIG. 1 therein. The spring loaded clip 18 comprising the golf ball recovery and ball mark repair tool grippingly engages the side wall 104 of the golf bag 100 thereby positioning the golf ball recovery and ball mark repair tool for easy access by a golfer. Supporting the golf ball recovery and ball mark repair tool of the present invention on the outside of the golf bag 100 prevents interference thereof with golf clubs and other items stowed within the golf bag.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A golfing accessory for use in the game of golf comprising:

a telescoping shaft having first and second ends;

a ball retrieval apparatus secured to the first end of the shaft for retrieving golf balls;

a ball mark repair tool secured to the second end of the shaft for repairing ball marks and for securing the shaft in a substantially vertical orientation when the ball mark repair tool is engaged with the earth; and

means for securing the golfing accessory to the exterior of a golf bag consisting of a first member rigidly secured to the telescoping shaft, a second member supported for pivotal movement relative to the first member and comprising an elongate lever having a gripping component at one end and a handle component at the opposite end, and a spring for biasing the gripping component of the second member into engagement with the first member;

the handle component of the lever of the securing means further comprising means for supporting a golf club in a substantially upright orientation when the telescoping shaft is maintained in a substantially vertical orientation by engagement of the ball mark repair tool with the earth.