Retractable ball mark repair tool

Abstract

A retractable golf ball mark repair device comprising a retractable cord reel and a golf ball mark repair tool. The retractable cord reel has one end of a self retracting cord protruding through its periphery. The golf ball mark repair tool is attached to the end of the cord protruding through the periphery of the reel. A clip is attached to the reel for attaching the device to the belt of a golfer. A ball marker is releasably attached to the device. The device is worn on the belt of a golfer. When the golf ball mark repair tool is needed, it is pulled from the device and operated. After use, its self retracts to the reel.

Description

BACKGROUND

Golf is a sport enjoyed by a large number of people. In addition to golf clubs and golf balls a golfer typically carries an assortment of golf accessories while playing the game. One such accessory is a ball mark repair tool.

During the course of playing a game it is common for a golfer to hit a golf ball onto a putting green in such a manner that the golf ball hits the putting green with a degree of force sufficient to create a depression within the putting green. The putting green depression must be promptly repaired. Otherwise, the putts of subsequent golfers putting on that putting green may be adversely affected when the ball hits the depression after being directed toward the cup of the putting green. Additionally, the putting green grass within the depression has a tendency to die if the depression is not promptly repaired. Not only is this aesthetically unacceptable to many golfers and golf course owners, the dead putting green grass often causes putting surface irregularities which adversely affect golf balls rolling over the irregularities by changing the direction and speed of those golf balls.

A ball mark repair tool is a simple tool for repairing putting green depressions. The putting green depressions are also known as ball marks. The ball mark repair tool is shaped to fit within the hand of a user and has a forked end. The forked end of the ball mark repair tool is pushed under the ball mark and used to lift the ball mark. Sometimes several such procedures are needed. The depression is lifted in order to re-create a flat putting green surface.

Most golfers, or their partners, carry ball mark repair tools with them while golfing. The ball mark repair tool is typically carried within the golfer's pocket or within the golfer's golf bag. These are not optimal locations for carrying ball mark repair tools. A golfer often has a difficult time finding a ball mark repair tool within his or her pocket because the pocket often is cluttered with other objects including golf balls, golf tees, golf ball markers, pencils, scorecards and non golf related objects such as wallets, watches and pocket change. If the ball mark repair tool is kept within the golfer's golf bag, it is often difficult to find there are also. Common golfing etiquette prohibits golf bags from being laid upon putting greens. As a result, if a golfer forgets to remove a ball mark repair tool from the golfer's golf bag, additional time is lost and golfer inconvenience added by the necessity of retrieving the tool from the golf bag.

What is needed is a ball mark repair tool attached to a retractable reel which can be easily attached to the belt or waistband of a golfer. There, it would be out of the way of the golfer when it is not needed. However, when the tool is needed, it would be readily available by extending it from the belt or waistband. Ideally, the new device would also have a ball marker releasably attached to it. Golfers on putting greens almost always require golf ball markers to mark the positions of their golf balls before the balls are lifted for cleaning or creating a clear putting a line for fellow golfers.

There have been numerous attempts in the prior art to improve ball mark repair tools and to combine ball mark repair tools with other devices. The prior art also discloses retractable reels in combination with non golf related devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,133 shows a folding ball mark repair tool. U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,502 shows a geometrically improved ball mark repair tool. U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,831 shows a ball mark repair tool combined with a cigar support. U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,519 shows a ball mark repair tool combined with a golf club groove cleaner. U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,700 shows a ball mark repair tool combined with a stopwatch. U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,354 shows a retractable reel combined with a cigarette lighter.

SUMMARY

The object of the retractable ball mark repair tool is to provide a small device which attaches to the belt or waistband of a golfer. The device contains a golf ball mark repair tool attached to a retractable reel by a self retracting cord. The golf ball mark repair tool may be extended from the retractable reel and used by pulling upon it. When the golf ball mark repair tool is no longer needed it self retracts into the retractable reel.

The retractable ball mark repair tool is comprised of a retractable cord reel and a golf ball mark repair tool. One end of a self retracting cord protrudes through the periphery of the reel. The reel is spring-loaded such that a retracting force is applied to the cord when the cord is extended from the reel. The golf ball mark repair tool is attached to the end of the cord which protrudes through the periphery of the reel.

A clip is attached to the retractable cord reel. The clip facilitates attaching the retractable ball mark repair tool to an article of clothing of a user. Typically, the clip will attach the retractable ball mark repair tool to a golfer's belt or waistband.

Preferably, a ball marker is releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool. When a golfer is upon a putting green and in need of a golf ball mark repair tool the golfer usually also needs a golf ball marker. The golf ball marker is used to mark the position of a golfer's ball prior to the ball being lifted and cleaned. By attaching the golf ball marker to the retractable ball mark repair tool the golf ball marker is readily available. The golf ball marker can be made releasably attachable by adapting it to be press fit into a hole positioned within the golf ball mark repair tool or the retractable cord reel. Alternatively, the golf ball marker and the retractable ball mark repair tool may be magnetized to facilitate the releasable attachment of the golf ball marker to the golf ball mark repair tool or the retractable cord reel by magnetic force.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable ball mark repair tool attached to the belt of a golfer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the retractable ball mark repair tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the golfer and retractable ball mark repair tool of FIG. 1 showing the golfer extending the golf ball mark repair tool from his belt in order to repair a ball mark on a putting green.

DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiment of a retractable ball mark repair tool 20 is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The retractable ball mark repair tool 20 is comprised of a retractable cord reel 22, a clip 32, a cord 24, a terminal 26, a clasp 28, a golf ball mark repair tool 30 and a ball marker 34. The retractable cord reel 22 can be a commonly available ID card reel. An ID card reel is a small device which clips to the belt, waistband or other article of clothing of a user and contains a retractable cord adapted to be attached to an ID card.

A variety of retractable cord reels 22 exist and can be used to implement this invention. The preferred retractable cord reel 22 has a plastic cylindrical housing. Preferably, the housing is approximately 1⅛ inch in diameter and ¼ inch high. The housing has a hole in the curved wall portion of its periphery to allow the passage of a self retracting cord 24. A coil shaped spring is positioned within the housing and has one end anchored to the center portion of the housing. A cylindrical spool surrounds the spring and is attached to the other end of the spring. One end of the self retracting cord 24 is attached to the spool. The self retracting cord 24 is wound around the spool and has its other end protruding through the housing hole such that pulling on the free end of the cord 24 causes the spool to turn and the cord 24 to unwind from it, thereby tightening the coil spring and increasing the retracting force upon the self retracting cord 24. The free end of the self retracting cord 24 can be pulled to extend it away from the housing of the retractable cord reel 22. When the free end of the self retracting cord 24 is released the cord 24 self retracts into the housing.

A clip 32 is attached to the housing of the retractable cord reel 22, as shown in FIG. 2. The clip 32 is shaped to secure the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 to the belt or waistband of a golfer. The clip 32 can be in the form of a simple bracket which applies a securing force between the bracket and the housing of the retractable cord reel 22. Optionally, the clip 32 can be a spring-loaded clip having a thumb operated lever which releases the securing force of the clip 32 upon the housing of the retractable cord reel 22. The clip 32 is shaped and adapted to facilitate the secure attachment of the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 to the belt or waistband of a golfer.

Preferably, the self retracting cord 24 is a piece of string approximately 24 inches in length. One end of the self retracting cord 24 protrudes through the periphery of the retractable cord reel 22. This end of the self retracting cord 24 may be attached directly to the golf ball mark repair tool 30. However, it is preferred to attach this end of the self retracting cord 24 to the terminal 26. The terminal 26 is shaped to prevent the cord 24 from being fully retracted within the reel 22. The terminal 26 is also shaped to provide for the pivotal attachment of the clasp 28. The terminal 26 shown in FIG. 2 is cylindrically shaped. The diameter of the cylinder is greater than the cord opening within the reel 22 in order to prevent the terminal 26 from being retracted into the housing of the reel 22. One end of the terminal is adapted for attachment to the cord 24. The other end of the terminal 26 contains a transversely oriented hole, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to provide for the pivotal attachment of the clasp 28.

The clasp 28 pivotally attaches the golf mark repair tool 30 to the terminal 26 and cord 24. The clasp 28 is in the shape of a ring. The clasp 28 fits through a hole within the upper portion of the golf ball mark repair tool 30 and the hole within the terminal 26. The clasp 28 allows the golf ball mark repair tool 30 to move independently of the terminal 26 and the reel 22. This promotes golfer comfort by reducing the likelihood of the prongs of the golf ball mark repair tool 30 impinging upon the body of the golfer. The use of the clasp 28 is optional. The golf ball mark repair tool 30 may be attached directly to the terminal 26 or the self retracting cord 24.

Many types of golf ball mark repair tools 30 may be used with this invention. A common golf ball mark repair tool 30 is shown in FIG. 2. The tool 30 is shaped to fit within the hand of a golfer. It has two prongs for inserting under and lifting a ball mark 36. It has a depression within its upper portion shaped to receive the thumb of the golfer. It has a hole within its upper periphery which is shaped to receive the clasp 28. It has a hole near the middle to receive the peg of a ball marker 34. Preferably, the golf ball mark repair tool 30 is pivotally attached to the clasp 28, as shown in FIG. 2. Optionally, the golf ball mark repair tool 30 may be attached directly to the terminal 26, or it may be attached to the end of the cord 24 protruding through the periphery of the reel 22 if a terminal 26 is not used.

Preferably, a ball marker 34 is releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool 20, as shown in FIG. 2. This will provide the golfer with ready access to a ball marker 34. The golf ball marker 34 may be made releasably attachable to the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 by adapting it to be press fit into the hole positioned within the middle of the golf ball mark repair tool 30. With this configuration the peg protruding from the center of a common golf ball marker 34 can be pressed into the hole within the golf ball mark repair tool 30, thereby releasably attaching the ball marker 34 to the golf ball mark repair tool 30. Alternatively, the golf ball marker 34 and the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 may be magnetized to facilitate the releasable attachment of the ball marker 34 to the golf ball mark repair tool 20 or the retractable cord reel 22 by magnetism. FIG. 2 shows a ball marker 34 attachable to the retractable cord reel 22 of the retractable ball mark repair tool 20.

In order to use the retractable golf ball mark repair tool 20 a golfer secures the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 to his or her belt or waistband by placing the clip 32 on the side of the belt or waistband nearer the golfer's body and placing the retractable cord reel 22 on the side of the belt or waistband more distant from the golfer's body, as shown in FIG. 1. In this position the retractable golf ball mark repair tool 20 is readily available for use when needed, but does not otherwise interfere with the golfer's freedom of movement and golf swings. When the golfer desires to repair a ball mark 36 on a putting green upon which the golfer is standing, the golfer extends the golf ball mark repair tool 30 from the retractable cord reel 22 by pulling upon the golf ball mark repair tool 30. Then, the golfer repairs the ball mark 36 in the traditional manner, as depicted in FIG. 3. After the ball mark 36 has been repaired the golf ball mark repair tool 30 is allowed to be retracted to the retractable cord reel 22, as shown in FIG. 1. If the golfer is in need of a ball marker 34, the ball marker 34 is removed from the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 with a manual pulling force. After the use of the ball marker 34 is completed, the ball marker 34 is reattached to the retractable ball mark repair tool 20.

The retractable ball mark repair tool 20 has many advantages over the prior art. When properly used, the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 is always with the golfer when needed. Although it is always with the golfer when needed it does not interfere with the golfer's movement or golf swings when it is not being used. When the golfer needs a golf ball mark repair tool 30, the tool can be immediately retrieved from the golfer's waist area. The golfer does not need to search his or her pockets for the tool. The golfer will not be injured by the prongs of the golf ball mark repair tool 30 when reaching into his or her pockets to retrieve it. The golfer will not need to walk over to the golfer's golf bag in order to search for and retrieve a golf ball mark repair tool 30. The retractable ball mark repair tool 20 easily and conveniently fits upon the belt or waistband of the golfer.

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art undoubtedly will find alternative embodiments obvious after reading this disclosure. With this in mind, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded the inventor, and those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A retractable ball mark repair tool comprising:

(a) a retractable cord reel having one end of a self retracting cord protruding through its periphery; and

(b) a golf ball mark repair tool attached to the end of the cord protruding through the periphery of the reel.

2. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 1, further comprising a clip attached to the retractable cord reel for attaching the retractable ball mark repair tool to an article of clothing of a user.

3. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 1, further comprising a ball marker releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.

4. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 2, further comprising a ball marker releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.

5. A retractable ball mark repair tool comprising:

(a) a retractable cord reel having one end of a self retracting cord protruding through its periphery;

(b) a terminal attached to the end of the cord protruding through the periphery of the reel, said terminal being shaped to prevent the cord from being fully retracted within the reel; and

(c) a golf ball mark repair tool attached to the terminal.

6. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 5, further comprising a clip attached to the retractable cord reel for attaching the retractable ball mark repair tool to an article of clothing of a user.

7. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 5, further comprising a ball marker releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.

8. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 6, further comprising a ball marker releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.

9. A retractable ball mark repair tool comprising:

(a) a retractable cord reel having one end of a self retracting cord protruding through its periphery;

(b) a terminal attached to the end of the cord protruding through the periphery of the reel, said terminal being shaped to prevent the cord from being fully retracted within the reel and to provide for the pivotal attachment of a clasp;

(c) a clasp pivotally attached to the terminal; and

(d) a golf ball mark repair tool pivotally attached to the clasp.

10. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 9, further comprising a clip attached to the retractable cord reel for attaching the retractable ball mark repair tool to an article of clothing of a user.

11. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 9, further comprising a ball marker releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.

12. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 10, further comprising a ball marker releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.