This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/974,765 filed Oct. 16, 2007.
This application pertains to tools utilized in the game of golf.
More particularly, the application pertains to tools utilized to repair divot ball marks on a green on a golf course.
A variety of tools are known for repairing divot marks on a green on a golf course. One general type of divot repair tool includes a housing and a divot repair member that is stored inside the housing. After the divot repair member is deployed, a spring assists movement of the double-pronged member from the deployed position back to the stored position inside the housing. The spring opposes movement of the double-pronged member from the stored to the deployed position. Such types of divot repair tools have long existed. There does not appear to be market pressure to change the design of such tools, nor does there appear to be any recognition of a design need that would fuel a search for a change in design of such golf divot tools. The market trend appears to be in favor of retaining such golf divot tools. As a result, it is anticipated that prior patents or articles describing such prior art golf divot tools will not discuss market pressure or a design need in connection with the spring assist in divot tools.
In addition, the knowledge of a skilled artisan appears to comprise the divot tools noted above. Consequently, there does not seem to be motivation for the artisan to consider altering such tools.
However, as has been demonstrated many times in the Patent Office, existing apparatus and methods often can be improved by utilizing an unidentified, unanticipated combination which provides functions that are unpredictable in view of the prior art.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved spring assisted golf divot repair tool.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved golf divot repair tool.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved golf divot repair tool in which movement from the stored to the deployed position, and vice-versa, is spring assisted to facilitate use of the tool by youngsters and by older golfers with limited strength in their hands.
These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom view illustrating the divot repair tool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a left hand end view illustrating the divot repair tool of FIG. 1 and viewing said tool from the “dual prong end” thereof;
FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating the divot repair tool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the divot repair tool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the top plate of the housing of the divot repair tool of FIG. 1:
FIG. 7 is a bottom view further illustrating the top housing plate of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 a left hand end view illustrating the plate of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a top view illustrating the plate of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the plate of FIG. 6;
FIG. 11 is a section view illustrating a slot formed in the plate of FIG. 6 to receive slidably a slide that comprises a portion of the control unit of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 12 is a section view illustrating a detent formed in the underside of the plate of FIG. 6 to provide space for and receive in part springs and L-shaped engagement fingers comprising a portion of the control unit of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 13 is a composite perspective view illustrating two operative members comprising a portion of the control unit of the divot repair tool of the invention, which members slide intermediate the top housing plate and the green manipulating member of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 14 is a bottom view illustrating the operative members of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a top view illustrating the operative members of FIG. 13;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom plate of the housing of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 17 is a bottom view illustrating the plate of FIG. 16, including a portion thereof shaped and dimensioned and formed to receive slidably a circular ball marker;
FIG. 18 is a left hand end view illustrating the plate of FIG. 16;
FIG. 19 is a top view illustrating the plate of FIG. 16;
FIG. 20 is a back side view illustrating the plate of FIG. 16;
FIG. 21 is a section view of the plate of FIG. 16 taken along section line H-H and further illustrating construction details of the plate;
FIG. 22 is a top view illustrating a detent formed in the plate of FIG. 16 to receive and house a spring operating latch plate;
FIG. 23 is a section view of the detent of FIG. 22 illustrating further construction details thereof;
FIG. 24 is a perspective view illustrating the green-manipulating member of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 25 is a bottom view illustrating the green-manipulating member of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 26 is a left hand end view illustrating the member of FIG. 24;
FIG. 27 is a top view illustrating the member of FIG. 24;
FIG. 28 is a detail view illustrating a notch in the member of FIG. 24 that periodically releasably engages a spring loaded latch plate during operation of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 29 is a back side view illustrating the member of FIG. 24;
FIG. 30 is a section view of the base of the member of FIG. 24 illustrating further construction details thereof;
FIG. 31A is a perspective view illustrating a latch plate that is utilized in conjunction with a spring to control the position of the green-manipulating member in the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 31 is a bottom view illustrating the latch plate of FIG. 30;
FIG. 32 is a left hand end view illustrating the latch plate of FIG. 30;
FIG. 33 is a top view illustrating the latch plate of FIG. 30;
FIG. 34 is a back side view illustrating the latch plate of FIG. 30;
FIG. 35 is a perspective view illustrating a slide utilized in the control unit of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 36 is a bottom view illustrating the slide of FIG. 35;
FIG. 37 is a left hand side view illustrating the slide of FIG. 35;
FIG. 38 is an end view illustrating the slide of FIG. 35;
FIG. 39 is a perspective view illustrating a L-shaped finger utilized in the control unit of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 40 is a top view illustrating the L-shaped finger of FIG. 39;
FIG. 41 is a side view illustrating the L-shaped finger of FIG. 39;
FIG. 42 is a right hand end view illustrating the L-shaped finger of FIG. 39;
FIG. 43 is a perspective view illustrating a spring utilized with the latch plate of FIG. 30;
FIG. 44 is a side view illustrating the spring of FIG. 43;
FIG. 45 is a top view illustrating the spring of FIG. 43;
FIG. 46 is a side view illustrating the spring of FIG. 34;
FIG. 47 is a perspective view illustrating a bolt utilized to connect and secure together the top and bottom housing plates with the green-manipulating member and the operative members sandwiched and housed therebetween;
FIG. 48 is a right hand end view illustrating the bolt of FIG. 47;
FIG. 49 is a side view illustrating the bolt of FIG. 47;
FIG. 50 is a left hand end view illustrating the bolt of FIG. 47;
FIG. 51 is a perspective view illustrating a spring that is connected at one end to the L-shaped finger of FIG. 39 and at the other end to an upstanding post or dimple of one of the operative members illustrated in FIG. 13;
FIG. 52 is a top view illustrating the spring of FIG. 51;
FIG. 53 is a side view illustrating the spring of FIG. 51;
FIG. 54 is a top view of a partially assembled divot repair tool illustrating the mode of operation thereof;
FIG. 55 is a top view of a partially assembled divot repair tool illustrating the mode of operation thereof;
FIGS. 56 to 91 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 56 is a top view of the divot repair tool of FIG. 58 illustrating construction details thereof;
FIG. 57 is a side view of the divot repair tool of FIG. 58 illustrating construction details thereof;
FIG. 58 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 59 is a top view of the lower housing member of FIG. 61 illustrating construction details thereof;
FIG. 60 is a side view of the lower housing member of FIG. 61 illustrating construction details thereof;
FIG. 61 is a perspective view of the lower housing member of the divot repair tool of FIG. 58;
FIG. 62 is a top end view illustrating the upper housing member of FIG. 65;
FIG. 63 is a section view of the upper housing member of FIG. 65 taken along section lines C-C and illustrating construction details thereof;
FIG. 64 is a side view illustrating the upper housing member of FIG. 65;
FIG. 65 is a side view illustrating the upper housing member of the divot repair tool of FIG. 58;
FIG. 66 is a bottom end view illustrating the upper housing member of FIG. 65:
FIG. 67 is a top view illustrating the divot repair fork of FIG. 69;
FIG. 68 is a side view illustrating the divot repair fork of FIG. 69;
FIG. 69 is a perspective view illustrating the divot repair fork that is slidably mounted in the divot repair tool of FIG. 58;
FIG. 70 is a front view of a unitary solid orthogonal locking plate that is pivotally mounted with the spring of FIG. 71 in a detent in the divot repair tool of FIG. 58;
FIG. 71 is a side view illustrating a spring that is utilized in the divot repair tool of FIG. 58 to permit the plate of FIG. 70 to pivot between a locking and unlocked position;
FIG. 72 is a top view illustrating the button of FIG. 75;
FIG. 73 is a right hand front view illustrating the button of FIG. 75;
FIG. 74 is a side view illustrating the button of FIG. 75;
FIG. 75 is a perspective view illustrating the control button of the tool of FIG. 58 that is slidably displaced with a user's thumb during deployment and retraction of the divot repair fork of FIG. 69;
FIG. 76 is a bottom view illustrating the button of FIG. 75;
FIG. 77 is a perspective view illustrating the protective polymer sleeve utilized on the tool of FIG. 58;
FIG. 78 is a top view illustrating the pair of identical skis of FIG. 81;
FIG. 79 is an end view illustrating the pair of skis of FIG. 81;
FIG. 80 is a side view illustrating one of the skis of FIG. 81;
FIG. 81 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of skis that are fixedly mounted on the control plate of FIG. 89 to produce openings which slidably receive and retain the legs of the control fork of FIG. 82;
FIG. 82 is a perspective view illustrating the control fork which is slidably inserted in the control plate of FIG. 89 and which includes a tongue that engages the back of the divot repair fork of FIG. 69 when the divot repair fork is being deployed from the tool of FIG. 58;
FIG. 83 is a top view illustrating the control fork of FIG. 82;
FIG. 84 is a side view illustrating the control fork of FIG. 82;
FIG. 85 is a rear view illustrating the control fork of FIG. 82;
FIG. 86 is a top view illustrating the control plate of FIG. 89;
FIG. 87 is an end view illustrating the control plate of FIG. 89 and illustrating in ghost outline the mounting of the skis of FIG. 81 on the control plate to produce openings into which the legs of the control fork fit to be slidably secured between the skis and the control plate;
FIG. 88 is a side view illustrating the control plate of FIG. 89;
FIG. 89 is a perspective view illustrating a control plate that is (1) mounted in the tool of FIG. 58 between the lower housing member of FIG. 61 and the upper housing member of FIGS. 62 to 66 to utilized in the tool, (2) fixedly connected to the control button of FIG. 75, and (3) slidably displaced with the control button of FIG. 75 during the deployment and retraction of the divot repair fork of FIG. 69;
FIG. 90 is a top view illustrating the lower housing member of FIG. 61 assembled with the control plate of FIG. 89, the control fork of FIG. 82, the skis of FIG. 81, the spring of FIG. 53, and the divot repair fork (not visible) of FIG. 69 and illustrating the configuration of the same with the fork retracted in the tool of FIG. 58;
FIG. 91 is a top view illustrating the lower housing member of FIG. 61 assembled with the control plate of FIG. 89, the control fork of FIG. 82, the skis of FIG. 81, the spring of FIG. 53, and the divot repair fork (not visible) of FIG. 69 and illustrating the configuration and sliding mode of operation of the same just prior to the deployment of the divot repair fork;
FIGS. 92 to 98 illustrate a further embodiment of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 92 is a perspective view illustrating a semi-cylindrical lower housing member constructed to (1) slidably receive the hollow generally cylindrical tapered sleeve of FIG. 94, and (2) deploy and retract the divot repair fork of FIG. 69 in substantially the same manner as the lower housing member illustrating in FIG. 61;
FIG. 93 is a perspective view illustrating a divot repair tool constructed to (1) slidably deploy and retract the divot repair fork of FIG. 69 in substantially the same manner as the tool of FIG. 58, and (2) have an outer generally cylindrical surface shaped and dimensioned to slidably receive and conform to the inner surface of the tapered sleeve of FIG. 94;
FIG. 94 is a perspective view illustrating a hollow tapered sleeve having an inner cylindrical surface shaped and dimensioned to slidably fit over and conform to the outer cylindrical surface produce by mating the lower housing member of FIG. 92 with the upper housing member 146;
FIG. 96 is a front view illustrating the tool of FIG. 93;
FIG. 97 is a side view illustrating the tool of FIG. 93; and,
FIG. 98 is a rear view illustrating the tool of FIG. 93.
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, we provide a golf divot repair tool comprising a housing including at least one slot formed therein; and, a golf green-manipulating member comprising a base; a pair of spaced apart prongs attached to and extending from the base; a first contact edge on the base; and, a second contact edge on the base spaced apart from the first contact edge. The green-manipulating member is mounted in the housing for movement between at least two operative positions, a stowed position inside the housing, and a deployed position with the prongs extending away from the housing. The tool also includes a control unit mounted in the housing and including at least one operative member slidably mounted adjacent the green-manipulating member; a L-shaped member extending outwardly from the operative member and contacting one of the contact edges on the base of the green-manipulating member; a spring interconnecting the operative member and the L-shaped member; and, a slide mounted on the housing and extending through the slot to the operative member. The slide is manually slidably displaceable along the slot to displace slidably the operative member of the control unit to tension and extend the spring to generate a force on the L-shaped member that slidably displaces the operative member and displaces the green-manipulating member from the stowed to the deployed position.
In another embodiment of the invention, provided is a golf divot repair tool including a housing including a first slot (93) formed therein; and a golf green-manipulating fork (86) in the slot. The fork (8) has a proximate end, a pair of spaced apart prongs attached to and extending from the proximate end, and a first contact surface (102). The fork is mounted in the housing for movement in a first direction of travel from a retracted position inside the housing to a deployed position with the prongs extending away from the housing. The tool includes a control system mounted in the housing. The control system includes a spring loaded pivoting locking plate (106) adjacent the first contact surface and preventing the green manipulating fork from moving from the retracted to the deployed position; and, includes a control plate (125) slidably mounted in the housing. The control plate includes a second slot (132) and a surface (129) to displace the locking plate away from the first contact surface The control system also includes a control fork (115) slidably mounted adjacent the green-manipulating fork. The control fork includes a finger (120) extending outwardly from the control fork and contacting the proximate end of the green-manipulating fork; and, at least one elongate leg (118) slidably extending into the second slot generally parallel to the first direction of travel, the leg minimizing the risk the control fork will bind during operation of the divot repair tool. The control system also includes a spring (60) interconnecting the control fork and the control plate. The control plate is manually slidably displaceable along the housing in the first direction of travel to tension and extend the spring to generate on the finger of the control fork a force that acts against the proximate end of the green manipulating fork to move the green-manipulating fork from the retracted to the deployed position, and contact the spring loaded locking plate (106) to disengage the locking plate from the first contact surface to permit the spring to move the green-manipulating fork from the retracted to the deployed position.
In a further embodiment of the invention, provided is an improved method to repair a divot on a golf green. The improved method includes the step of providing a golf divot repair tool. The tool includes a housing including a first slot (93) formed therein; and, a golf green-manipulating fork (86) slidably mounted in said slot. The fork includes a proximate end; a pair of spaced apart prongs attached to and extending from the proximate end; a first contact surface (102); and, an elongate side. The fork is mounted in the housing for sliding movement in a first direction of travel from a retracted position inside the housing to a deployed position with the prongs extending away from the housing, and for movement in a second direction of travel from the deployed to the retracted position.
The tool also includes a control system mounted in the housing. The control system includes a first spring loaded pivoting locking plate (106) in a first detent (97) adjacent the first contact surface and preventing movement of the green-manipulating fork from the retracted to the deployed position; includes a second spring loaded pivoting locking plate (106) in a second detent (98) in a first operative position slidably contacting the side of the green-manipulating fork without preventing the movement of the green-manipulating fork from the retracted to the deployed position, the second locking plate (106), when the green-manipulating fork is in the deployed position, pivoting to a second operative position adjacent the proximate end to prevent said green-manipulating fork from moving from the deployed to the retracted position; and, includes a control plate (125) slidably mounted in the housing and including a second slot (132), a first surface (129) to displace the first locking plate away from the first contact surface, and a second surface (130) to displace the second locking plate from the second operative position to the first operative position.
The control system also includes a control fork (115) slidably mounted adjacent the proximate end of the green-manipulating fork. The control fork includes a finger (120) extending outwardly and contacting the proximate end of the green-manipulating fork, and includes at least one elongate leg (118) slidably extending into said second slot (132) generally parallel to the first direction of travel. The leg minimizes the risk the control fork will bind during operation of the divot repair tool.
The control system also includes a relaxed spring (60) interconnecting the control fork and the control plate. When the green-manipulating fork is in the retracted position, the control plate is manually slidably displaceable along the housing in the first direction to (1) tension and extend the relaxed spring to generate a force on the finger of the control fork that acts against the proximate end of the green-manipulating fork to move the green-manipulating fork from the retracted to the deployed position, (2) slidably contact the spring loaded locking plate (106) in the first detent with said first surface (129) to displace said locking plate in said first detent away from said first contact surface to permit the spring and the control fork to move the green-manipulating fork from the retracted to the deployed position, and the leg (118) of the control fork to slide in the second slot (132) such that the control fork slides toward the control plate (125) and relaxes the tension on the spring. When the green-manipulating fork is in the deployed position, the control plate (125) is manually slidably displaceable along the housing in the second direction opposite the first direction to (1) slidably contact the spring loaded locking plate (106) in the second detent with the second surface (130) to displace the locking plate in the second detent away from the proximate end to permit the green-manipulating fork to be manually pushed from the deployed to the retracted position.
The method also includes the steps of placing the tool in a pocket with the green-manipulating fork in the retracted position; walking to a green on a golf course; removing the tool from the pocket and displacing manually the control plate in the first direction of travel to tension the relaxed spring, to displace with the control plate the locking plate in the first detent away from the first contact surface, move the green-manipulating fork from the retracted to the deployed position, and permit the locking plate in the second detent to move to the second operative position to lock the green-manipulating fork in the deployed position; utilizing said tool to repair a divot on the green; displacing manually the control plate in the second direction to move the locking plate in the second detent to the first operative position; and, manually pushing the green-manipulating fork from the deployed to the retracted position.
Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate a fully assembly divot repair tool generally indicated by reference character 10 and including a top housing plate 12, a bottom housing plate 13, a green-manipulating member 11, and slides 14 and 16. Slots 15 and 17 are formed through top housing plate 12 each to slidably receive the foot 75 (FIG. 35) of a slide 14, 16 extending therethrough. Slide 14 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 35 to 38. Slide 16 is identical in shape and dimension to slide 14. The foot 75 of each slide extends through a slot 15, 17 and into an aperture 32, 36 formed in one of the operative members 30, 31, respectively. Consequently, when a slide 14, 16 is slidably moved along a slot 15, 17 in one of the directions indicated by arrows B (FIG. 1), its associated operative member 30, 31 moves simultaneously with the slide 14, 16. Green-manipulating member 11 includes spaced apart prongs 18, 19.
Top housing plate 12 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 6 to 12 and includes apertures 21, 22, 23, 24 formed therein to receive externally threaded bolts 20 (FIG. 47). When the divot repair tool is assembled, each aperture 21 to 24 of the top plate 12 is in registration with an aperture 90 to 93 of the bottom plate 13 such that each bolt 20 threads through an aperture 21 to 24 and into one of the apertures 90 to 93.
Operative members 30 and 31 are illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15. Operative member 31 includes square aperture 36 formed therethrough, includes contact or cam edge 37, includes detent or groove 38, includes post 39 depending upwardly from the bottom of groove 38, includes leading edge 81 at one end of groove 38, and includes leading edge 40 (FIG. 15) at the other end of member 31.
An L-shaped finger 50 is mounted on operative member 31 such that leg 52 (FIG. 39) is seated in groove 38 and leg 51 extends downwardly over and past leading edge 81 such that contact surface 54 can contact leading edge surface 47 on green-manipulating member 11 (FIG. 24). Member 11 is positioned beneath operative members 30, 31. Surface 54 of finger 50 is pulled against and held in position against edge 81 by spring 60 which extends from finger 50 to post 39. As is illustrated in FIG. 41, one end 61 of spring 60 extends through aperture 53 formed in L-shaped finger 50. Although not visible in the drawings, the other end 62 of spring 60 engages post 39. Consequently, a finger 50 and spring 60 are positioned on operative member 31 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 54 and 55. Spring 60 is tensioned between post 39 and finger 50.
The foot 75 of slide 14 extends into aperture 36 of operative member 31 so that, as earlier noted, when slide 14 is manually slid along slot 15 in a direction indicated by arrows B in FIG. 1, foot 75 simultaneously slides operative member 31 in the same direction.
Operative member 30 is similar in shape to member 31 and includes square aperture 32 formed therethrough, includes contact or cam edge 33, includes detent or groove 34, includes post 35 depending upwardly from the bottom of groove 34, including leading edge 80 at one end of groove 34, and includes leading edge 41 (FIG. 15) at the other end of member 30.
An L-shaped finger 50 is mounted on operative member 30 such that leg 52 (FIG. 39) is seated in groove 38 and leg 51 extends downwardly over and past leading edge 80 such that contact surface 54 can contact leading edge surface 48 on the back of the base 46 of green-manipulating member 11 (FIG. 24). Surface 54 of finger 50 is pulled against and held in position against edge 80 by spring 60 which extends from finger 50 to post 35. As is illustrated in FIG. 41, one end 61 of spring 60 extends through aperture 53 formed in L-shaped finger 50. Although not visible in the drawings, the other end 62 of spring 60 engages post 35. Consequently, a finger 50 and spring 60 are positioned on operative member 31 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 15, 54 and 55. Spring 60 is tensioned between post 35 and finger 50.
The square foot 75 of slide 16 extends into square aperture 32 of operative member 30 so that, as earlier noted, when slide 16 is manually slid along slot 17 in a direction indicated by arrows B in FIG. 1, foot 75 simultaneously slides operative member 30 in the same direction.
The bottom plate 13 of the housing of the divot repair tool of the invention is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 16 to 23. Pie-shaped openings 44, 45 formed in plate 13 each receive a latch plate 72 (FIG. 30) and its associated spring 63 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 54 and 55. The latch plates 72 are, as will be described, operated by operative members 30 and 31 and the contact surfaces 33 and 37 formed thereon. Detent or slot 42 is formed in plate 13 and includes bottom 43.
When the divot repair tool of the invention is assembled, the green-manipulating member 11 is placed on bottom 43 of slot 42 and, during operation of the divot repair tool, slides to and fro along bottom 43 between a deployed and a stowed position. Further, when the divot repair tool is assembled, the operative members 30 and 31 are placed on top of green-manipulating member 11 to slide therealong during operation of the tool, after which the top plate 12 is positioned on the bottom plate 13 with apertures 21 to 24 in the top plate 12 each in registration with an aperture 90 to 93 in the bottom plate 13. Four bolts 20 are utilized to secure the top to the bottom plate, each bolt 20 extending through a different one of apertures 21 to 24 and its associated aperture 90 to 93 in bottom plate 13. Accordingly, when the divot repair tool is assembled, the green-manipulating member 11 and the operative members 30 and 31 are slidably sandwiched between the top plate 12 and the bottom plate 13.
The green-manipulating member 11 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 24 to 30. Dual prongs 18, 19 outwardly depend from base 46. Base 46 includes leading edge surface 48 at the back of member 11 and includes outwardly extending orthogonal platform or post 79. Orthogonal platform 79 includes leading edge surface 47. As earlier described, a portion of contact surface 54 of leg 51 of L-shaped finger 50 mounted on operative member 31 extends downwardly from member 31 and can engage leading edge surface 47. And, a portion of contact surface 54 of leg 51 of L-shaped finger mounted on operative member 30 extends downwardly from member 30 and can engage leading edge surface 48.
Member 11 also includes notch 49. Notch 49 is, as will be described, periodically engaged by a latch plate 72 in order to maintain member 11 in the stowed position inside the housing of the divot repair tool. Similarly, leading edge surface 48 is periodically engaged by another of the latch plates 72 in order to maintain member 11 in the deployed position with the dual prongs 18, 19 extending outwardly from the housing of the divot repair tool.
A latch plate 72 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 30 to 34 and includes a recess, or detent, 73 that receives the bottom 64 of conical spring 63.
Slider 14 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 35 to 38 and includes orthogonal foot 75 that extends through a slot 15, 17 and into an aperture 32, 36 of an operative member 30, 31.
L-shaped finger 50 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 39 to 42 and includes leg 51, contact surface 54, leg 52, end 55, and aperture 53 formed through leg 52.
Conical spring 63 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 43 to 46 and includes bottom 64.
Elongate cylindrical spring 60 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 51 to 53 and includes ends 61 and 62.
Bolt 20 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 47 to 50 and includes slotted head 67, and body 68. Body 68 is externally threaded (not shown) in a conventional manner.
The operation of the divot repair tool of the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 54 and 55. In FIG. 54, the top plate 12 and sliders 14, 16 are, for sake of clarity, omitted.
In FIG. 54, the green-manipulating member 11 is in the deployed position. The position of member 11 and of operative members 30 and 31 in FIG. 54 is equivalent to that of members 11, 30, 31 in the tool 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. Consequently, when operative members 30 and 31 are in the position illustrated in FIG. 54, sliders 14 and 16 are in the positions shown in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 54, the latch plate 72 in detent 45 is pushed, or canted, inwardly by its associated spring 63. Latch plate 72 in detent 45 can move to this inwardly canted position because operative member 31 is in a forward position in detent 42 of the bottom plate 13. When operative member 31 is in a forward position, contact edge 37 does not interfere with, or block movement of plate 72 in detent 45. When latch plate 72 in detent 45 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 54, it prevent the leading edge surface 48 at the back of member 11 from moving rearwardly in a direction toward detent 44, and, accordingly, maintains member 11 in the deployed position illustrated in FIG. 54. In FIG. 54, the latch plate 72 in detent 44 is not able to be moved by its associated spring 63 to an inwardly canted position comparable to that of latch plate 72 in detent 45. Such movement by latch plate 72 in detent 44 is prevented by the cam surface 33 of operative member 30.
In FIG. 54, leg 51 of the finger 50 mounted on operative member 30 extends downwardly from member 30 but contact surface 54 of leg 51 does not engage the leading edge surface 48 of member 11. In contrast, leg 51 of the finger 50 mounted on operative member 31 extends downwardly from member 31 and contact surface 54 of leg 51 does contact and is spaced apart from leading edge surface 47 of member 11.
The following procedure is utilized to move member 11 from the deployed position of FIG. 54 to the stowed position of FIG. 55.
First, slide 16 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 rearwardly in the direction of arrow C in FIGS. 1 and 54 until operative member 30 has moved rearwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 55. This permits the latch plate 72 in detent 44 to move temporarily to an inwardly canted position comparable to that shown for latch 72 in detent 45 in FIG. 55.
Second, slide 14 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 rearwardly in the direction of arrow C in FIGS. 1 and 54 until operative member 31 has moved rearwardly to the position shown in FIG. 55. When operative member 31 moves in the direction of arrow C, cam surface 37 of member 31 slides over latch plate 37 and forces it outwardly back into detent 45 to the position shown in FIG. 55, while at the same time the movement of post 39 (and member 31) temporarily stretches and further tensions spring 60 on member 31. Spring 60 on member 31 is temporarily stretched because (1) latch plate 72 contacts leading edge surface 48 at the back of member 11 and prevents member 11 from moving in the direction of arrow C, and (2) since contact surface 54 of leg 51 is engaging that stationary leading edge surface 47 on member 11, L-shaped finger 50 is prevented from moving. In other words, since post 39 is moving away from stationary finger 50, spring 60 is stretched therebetween. When, however, cam surface 37 has sufficiently pushed latch plate 72 back into detent 45 to the position shown in FIG. 55, latch plate 72 no longer interferes with the movement of member 11 in the direction of arrow C, and tensioned spring 60 functions to pull, or catapult, member 11 from the deployed position of FIG. 54 to the stowed position of FIG. 55. Since contact surface 54 of L-shaped finger 50 on member 31 extends over contact edge surface 81 of member 31 and over contact edge surface 47 of platform 70 (FIG. 24) of member 11, tensioned spring 60 functions to pull (with finger 50 on member 31) both members 11 and 30 from the positions shown in FIG. 55 to the positions shown in FIG. 54.
When spring 60 pulls member 11 to the position shown in FIG. 55, the base 26 of member 11 initially forces latch plate 72 in detent 44 back to the position illustrated in FIG. 54. But, as soon as member 11 has catapulted or moved a distance rearwardly sufficient to bring notch 49 to the position illustrated in FIG. 55, the latch plate 72 in detent 44 is free to be moved by its associated spring 63 outwardly to the canted position illustrated in FIG. 55. In this position, latch plate 72 in detent 44 prevents member 11 from moving from the stowed position of FIG. 55 to the deployed position of FIG. 54.
In FIG. 55, leg 51 of the finger 50 mounted on operative member 30 extends downwardly from member 30 and contact surface 54 of leg 51 engages the leading edge surface 48 of member 11. In contrast, leg 51 of the finger 50 mounted on operative member 31 extends downwardly from member 31 and contact surface of leg 51 does not contact, and is spaced apart from, leading edge surface 47 of member 11.
When it is desired to move the green-manipulating member 11 from the stowed position of FIG. 55 to the deployed position of FIG. 54, slider 14 is moved forwardly back to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. This moves operative member 31 back to the position shown in FIG. 1. Slider 16 is then moved forwardly back to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. When slider 16 is moved forwardly, operative member 30 is moved back to the position shown in FIG. 1. When operative member 30 moves forwardly in a direction opposite that of arrow C, cam surface 33 of member 30 slides over latch plate 37 in detent 44 and forces it outwardly back into detent 45 to the position shown in FIG. 54, while at the same time the movement of post 35 (and member 30) temporarily stretches spring 60 on member 30. Spring 60 on member 31 is temporarily stretched because (1) latch plate 72 in detent 44 contacts notch 49 at the side of member 11 and prevents member 11 from moving in a direction opposite that of arrow C, and (2) since contact surface 54 of leg 51 is engaging that leading edge surface 48 at the back of member 11, L-shaped finger 50 is prevented from moving. In other words, since post 35 is moving away from stationary finger 50 mounted on member 30, spring 60 on member 30 is stretched therebetween.
When, however, cam surface 33 has sufficiently pushed latch plate 72 back into detent 44 to the position shown in FIG. 54, latch plate 72 no longer interferes with the movement of member 11, and tensioned spring 60 functions to pull, or catapult, member 11 from the stored position of FIG. 55 to the deployed position of FIG. 54. Since contact surface 54 of L-shaped finger 50 on member 30 extends over contact edge surface 80 of member 30 and over contact edge surface 48 of member 11, tensioned spring 60 functions to pull (with finger 50 on member 30) both members 11 and 30 from the positions shown in FIG. 55 to the positions shown in FIG. 54, and to catapult member 11 past detent 45 to the position shown in FIG. 54 such that spring-loaded latch 72 in detent 45 once again moves to the outwardly canted position shown in FIG. 54 and, by contacting edge surface 48 of member 11, prevents member 11 from moving from the deployed to the stowed position.
In another embodiment of the invention, operative members 30 and 31 are joined together in the orientation shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 to make a unitary operative member so that only a single slider 14, 16 is required.
FIGS. 56 to 91 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the divot repair tool of the invention, which embodiment is generally indicated by reference character 85.
The tool of FIGS. 56 to 58 includes lower housing member 88, upper housing member 87, control button 89, and divot repair fork 86. Fork 86 is in the deployed position in FIGS. 56 to 58. Control button 89 was, with a thumb of a user, slid in the direction of arrow T (FIG. 58) to the position illustrated in FIGS. 56 to 58 in order to move fork 86 from the retracted position within tool 85 to the deployed position of FIGS. 56 to 58.
The lower housing member is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 59 to 60 and includes tapered detents 97 and 98, flat spaced-apart, coplanar surfaces 95 and 96 along which control member 125 (FIG. 89) slides, slot 99 (FIG. 61) bounded by surfaces 95 and 96, slot 93 which extends beneath surfaces 95 and 96 and which houses and permits fork 86 to be slidably deployed from and retracted into slot 93, and slot 94 which receives the head of a screw or other member that is mounted in aperture 86A (FIG. 67) of fork 86. When fork 86 is retracted and deployed, slot 94—in conjunction with the screw hear—functions as a stop which restricts the movement of fork 96 when the screw head contacts an end of slot 94.
Each detent 97, 98 houses a locking plate 106 and its associated spring 107A (FIGS. 70, 71). The larger diameter end of spring 107A seats in circular detent 107 formed in plate 106. The outer smaller diameter end of spring 107A contacts an outer wall of a detent 97, 98 such that spring 107A functions to displace plate 106 pivotally and inwardly. When a plate 106 is able to pivot inwardly it can, as will be described, function as a lock which prevents movement of fork 86. When, however, a sloped surface on slidable control plate 125 (FIG. 89) functions to force a plate 106 outwardly, the plate 106 is disengaged from fork 86 and does not impede movement of plate 106.
FIGS. 62 to 66 illustrate the upper housing member 87 of the tool of FIG. 58. Housing member 87 includes a rectangular detent 90 over which control button 89 slides during operation of the tool 85 to deploy and retract fork 86. Member 87 also includes a rectangular opening 100 through which—as will be described—a portion of control button 89 extends to fixedly secure button 89 to feet 111 and 113 of skis 109 and 110 and, consequently, to secure button 89 to control plate 125 (FIG. 89). Upper housing member 87 is shaped and dimensioned to interfit with lower housing member 88 such that the housing members can be secured together in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 56 to 58.
FIGS. 67 to 69 illustrate the divot repair fork 86. Fork 86 includes tangs 103 and 104, internally threaded aperture 86A, notch surface 102, and a detent 105 formed in the proximate end of fork 86. A detent 105 need not be formed in the proximate end of fork 86 and, instead, the proximate end can be “squared off” or flat. During deployment of fork 86, finger 120 of control fork 115 (FIG. 84) engages the proximate end of fork 86 and, when tensioned and extended spring 60 pulls control fork 115, finger 120 pushes fork 86 from the retracted stored position to the deployed position of FIG. 58.
A small screw (not shown) threads into aperture 86A. The head of the screw extends outwardly from fork 86 into slot 94 (FIG. 61) and, in conjunction with end surfaces in slot 94, functions as a stop which limits the movement of fork 86 either when being deployed and when being retracted.
FIGS. 72 to 77 illustrate control button 89. Button 89 includes feet 89A and 89B which extend through opening 100 (FIG. 65) of the upper housing member, and are each in registration with and connected to a different one of feet 111 and 113 of skis 109 and 110 (FIG. 81). Feet 89A and 89B are each connected to one of feet 111 and 113 with a screw or other desired fixation means. Consequently, since skis 109 and 110 are each fixedly secured to control plate 125, when button 89 is displaced, control plate 125 is slidably displaced along surfaces 95 and 96 of the bottom housing member 88 (FIG. 61).
FIG. 77 illustrates a protective polymer sleeve which is mounted on the divot repair tool of FIG. 58.
FIGS. 78 to 81 illustrate skis 109 and 110. Each ski 109 and 110 is fixedly secured to control plate 125 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 87, 90 and 91 to produce openings 131 and 132 which each slidably receive and retain one of the legs 118 and 119 of the control fork 115. During deployment and retraction of fork 86 a portion of each of the legs 118 and 119 continually remains in one of openings 131 and 132. This is important to reduce the likelihood that control fork 115 will bind during operation of tool 85. As noted, during operation of tool 85 finger 120 engages the proximate end of fork 86 and functions to push fork 86 from the retracted to the deployed position.
The control fork 115 of FIGS. 81 and 85 includes legs 118 and 119. Each leg 118 and 119 is, as noted, slidably received by an opening 131 or 132. Each opening 131, 132 extends laterally from slot 126 and between a ski 109, 110 and flat surface 126A (FIG. 89). Rectangular slot 126 extends along control plate 125 (FIG. 86). Control fork 115 also includes head 116 with aperture 117 formed therethrough. One end of spring 60 is connected to aperture 117 (FIG. 90). The other end of spring 60 is connected to button 89 or control plate 125. In FIGS. 90 and 91, the upper housing member and button 89 are omitted for sake of clarity and the other end of spring 60 is illustrated as not being connected. It is assumed, however, in explaining the operation of the divot repair tool 85, that the other end of the spring is at some point connected to the control plate 125 such that when plate 125 begins moving in the direction of arrow T, spring 60 is tensioned and stretched since finger 120 is engaging the proximate end of fork 86 and fork 86 is not moving.
The control plate 125 illustrated in FIGS. 86 to 89 includes spaced apart, flat, coplanar surfaces 127 and 128, and slot or detent 126 extending therebetween. Sloped surface 128 and 129 function to disengage the locking plates 106 (FIG. 7) at appropriate times during operation of tool 85.
Operation of the tool 85 is further explained with reference to FIGS. 90 and 91. In FIGS. 90 and 91, the control button 89, upper housing member 87, and sleeve 108 (FIG. 77) are omitted for sake of clarity, and it is assumed (although not depicted) that the right hand end of spring 60 is fixedly secured to control plate 125.
In FIG. 90, fork 86 is retracted in slot 93 of lower housing member 88. Detents 97 and 98 and the locking plates 106 in the detents extend from adjacent control plate 125 down to slot 93 such that each locking plate 106 can contact either a portion of fork 86 or a portion of control plate 125. In FIG. 90, the spring 107A operatively associated with the plate 106 in detent 97 has pushed plate 106 inwardly toward control plate 125 such that plate 106 is engaging notch surface 102 of fork 86 and is preventing fork 86 from moving from the retracted to the deployed position. Similarly, the screw head that extends outwardly from aperture 86A is adjacent one end of slot 94 and prevents fork 86 from moving further in a direction opposite that of arrow T.
In FIG. 90, spring 90 can be, but ordinarily is not, tensioned.
In FIG. 91, control button 89 (not shown) has been displaced in the direction of arrow T, and, as a result control plate 125 has been moved in the direction of arrow T, tensioning spring 60. Spring 60 is tensioned because finger 120 of control fork 115 (FIGS. 82 to 85) is engaging the distal end of fork 86 and fork 86 is not moving because the plate 106 in detent 97 is in a locking position and is engaging notch surface 102 of fork 86. However, in FIG. 91, sloped surface 91 of control plate 125 is beginning to push and pivot plate 106 outwardly in a direction away from control plate 125 and away from the locking position and back into detent 97. Once surface 91 pushes plate 106 in sufficiently, plate 106 (in detent 97) no longer engages notch surface 102 and fork 86 is free to move in the direction of arrow T. Tensioned spring 60 assists in this movement because spring 60 pulls control fork 115 in the direction of arrow T, and the finger 120 of the control fork 115 engages the proximate end of fork 86 and pushes fork 86 in the same direction.
When fork 86 is pushed in the direction of arrow T, the screw head that extends outwardly from aperture 86A contacts the other end of slot 94 and halts the movement of fork 86 with fork 86 in the deployed position illustrated in ghost outline in FIG. 91. When fork 86 is in the deployed position illustrated in FIG. 91, the spring associated with plate 106 in detent 98 pushes and pivots plate 106 inwardly toward control plate 125 and into a locking position. This prevents fork 86 from moving from the deployed to the retracted position. The plate 106 in detent 98 is pushed back into detent 98 and away from the locking position by sliding the control button (not shown) 89, and consequently the control plate 125, in a direction opposite that of arrow T. This causes sloped surface 130 of plate 125 to engage the plate 106 in detent 98 and push it out of the locking position back into detent 98 in a direction away from plate 125. This permits fork 86 to be manually pressed into tool 85 from the deployed into the retracted position. Once fork 86 is in the retracted position, the spring associated with plate 106 in detent 97 acts to force the plate in detent 97 inwardly to engage surface 102 on fork 86 to prevent once again fork 86 from moving from the retracted to the deployed position.
FIGS. 92 to 98 illustrate a further embodiment of the divot repair tool of the invention;
FIG. 92 is a perspective view illustrating a semi-cylindrical lower housing member constructed (1) with a semi-cylindrical outer surface to facilitate—when combined with a semi-cylindrical upper housing member—forming a member with a cylindrically shaped outer surface that will slidably receive the hollow generally cylindrical tapered sleeve of FIG. 94, and (2) to assist in deploying and retracting the divot repair fork of FIG. 69 in substantially the same manner as the lower housing member illustrated in FIG. 61. A semi-cylindrical upper housing member is not shown in the drawings but is similarly constructed (1) with a semi-cylindrical outer surface to facilitate—when combined with a semi-cylindrical lower housing member—forming a member with a cylindrically shaped outer surface that will slidably receive the hollow generally cylindrical tapered sleeve of FIG. 94, and (2) to assist in deploying and retracting the divot repair fork of FIG. 69 in substantially the same manner as the upper housing member illustrated in FIGS. 62-66. Accordingly, the divot repair tool of FIG. 93 is generally constructed like and functions in the same manner as the tool of FIG. 58, but the outer surface of the adjoined lower and upper housing members is cylindrically shaped and has a circular lip 151 against which the lower end 142 of sleeve 141 abuts. Sleeve 141 includes and upper end 143 which is configured to receive a ball marker, preferably a circular marker that is one inch in diameter, although the shape and dimension of the marker can vary as desired. In one embodiment, the marker is shaped like and has the proportional length and height of a United States or other national flag. A particular advantage of the tool of FIGS. 93 to 98 is that it serves a dual function, both that of a divot repair tool and of promotional signage. As can be seen, the sleeve 141 includes the words “TAYLORMADE”, or other words or symbols or logos that identify a particular company or serve as a trademark for a particular company. The sleeve 141 also preferably has an outer shape and dimension and markings comparable or equivalent to that on the upper “handle end” of a golf club that is sold by TAYLORMADE™.
One important feature of the divot repair tool 85 of FIG. 58 is that spring 60 is not tensioned when the fork 86 is in the retracted position and the tool 85 is being carried prior to being utilized to repair a divot. This reduces the risk that the fork 86 will inadvertently be deployed in a golfer's pocket and injure the golfer. In addition, after tool 85 has been utilized to repair a divot and the fork 86 is in the deployed position illustrated in FIG. 58, spring 60 is not tensioned in order to move fork 86 from the deployed to the retracted position. When the control plate is moved in a direction opposite that of arrow T (FIG. 91) to move the plate 106 in detent 98 away from the proximate end of fork 86, spring 60 is not tensioned, but remains in the relaxed state to which the spring 60 returns as soon as fork 86 moves to the deployed position (after fork 86 moves to the deployed position, control fork 115 moves in the direction of arrow T toward control plate 125, permitting spring 60 to return to its relaxed state). Control plate 125, spring 60, and control fork 115 move simultaneously in a direction opposite that of arrow T and return to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 90. When control plate 125, spring 60, and control fork 115 are in the configuration of FIG. 90 with fork 86 deployed, fork 86 must be manually pressed back into the housing to the position illustrated in FIG. 90, i.e., when fork 86 is in the retracted position of FIG. 90, it is housed in slot 93 (FIG. 61) and is not visible. The manual displacement of fork 86 from the deployed to retracted position is important because it is less likely that a golfer will force dirt or debris into tool 85 and cause tool 85 to bind. If the movement of fork 86 from the deployed to the retracted position were accomplished under spring loading, and fork 86 was “snapped” from the deployed to the retracted position, it is more likely the tool 85 would be damaged because debris is forced into the tool. A divot repair tool which normally maintains a spring 60 in a relaxed state, which then stretches and tensions the spring to deploy a fork, and which then requires the fork to be manually stowed has apparently never, in the entire history of golf, been provided.
