Golf Ball Retriever

Abstract

A golf ball retriever includes a ring attached to an elongated handle and a net pocket attached to one end of the ring. The net pocket may be made from a flexible mesh net material. The net pocket defines a constricted waist portion to inhibit golf balls captured in the pocket from unexpectedly escaping from the pocket. An inside edge of the ring is chamfered to facilitate capturing golf balls. The handle may, but need not, include a telescoping section. The ring may include LEDs or other lamps to make the ring more visible in murky water or under low ambient light conditions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to golf equipment and, more particularly, to golf ball retrievers.

BACKGROUND ART

While playing golf, a player is often faced with a need to retrieve a golf ball from a water hazard or other place where the player does not wish to tread or cannot reach. Prior art golf ball retrievers are exemplified by equipment disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,178,844, 6,962,536, D457,932, 5,513,884, 5,368,352, 4,509,751 and 3,141,696, as well as Japanese Pat. No. 2006116263 and PCT Pat. Appl. No. PCT/N097/00098. However, each of these prior-art golf ball retrievers suffers from drawbacks and deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides a golf ball retriever. The golf ball retriever includes an elongated handle and a ring attached proximate one end of the handle. The ring has a circumference. A net pocket is attached to the ring. The net pocket has an opening and an end opposite the opening. The opening has a circumference. The pocket is attached along the circumference of the pocket opening to the circumference of the ring. The net pocket defines a constricted waist portion intermediate the pocket opening and the end of the pocket opposite the pocket opening.

The ring has a length and first and second ends. One end of the ring may define a chamfer on an inside edge of the ring. Optionally, the other end of the ring may define a second chamfer on an inside edge of the ring.

The ring may be circular in cross section. A diameter of the ring may be substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle. The ring may have an inside diameter of at least about 3.2 inches or at least about 3.5 inches or at least twice the diameter of a standard US golf ball. The ring may be made of, or include, a rigid material.

The ring may be fixed to the elongated handle, so the ring does not rotate, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis of the handle. Optionally or alternatively, the golf ball retriever may include an adjustable member configured, in one mode, to prevent rotation of the ring, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis of the handle. The ring may be attached to the handle such that the axis of the ring is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle.

The constricted waist portion of the pocket may include or be defined by a resilient material. The net pocket may include, or be made of, a flexible mesh net.

At least a portion of the ring may be colored a high-visibility color, such as a shade of fluorescent orange, a shade of fluorescent red, a shade of fluorescent yellow, a shade of fluorescent green or white.

Optionally, the ring may include at least one electric lamp and/or the golf ball retriever may include at least one lamp configured to illuminate the ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments in conjunction with the Drawings, of which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and side views, respectively, of a golf boll retriever, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along section plane A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along section plane A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along section line B-B of a portion of the golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, in a first mode of use;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along section line B-B of the portion of the golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, in a second mode of use;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a golf boll retriever, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, apparatus are disclosed for retrieving golf balls, such as from water hazards or other inaccessible or difficult to access locations. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and side views, respectively, of an embodiment of a golf ball retriever. The golf ball retriever includes a ring 100 attached to an elongated handle 102 and a net pocket 104 attached to one end 106 of the ring 100. The handle 102 may, but need not, include a telescoping section (not shown). The net pocket 104 may be made from a flexible mesh net material.

In some embodiments, the ring 100 resembles a short length of tube having two ends 105 and 107. Each end 105 or 107 is referred to herein as an end or a face. In one embodiment, an inside edge 108 of one end 105 of the ring 100 is chamfered, as best seen in the cross-sectional view Section A of FIG. 3 or Alternative Section A of FIG. 4. The length of the ring 100 is indicated at 111 in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the chamfer on the inside edge 108 may create a sharp edge 109a around the circumference of the ring 100. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the chamfer may create a small step 109b before the beveled portion of the edge 108. The pocket 104 is attached to the ring, such as to the end of the ring 100 opposite the chamfered end.

Returning to FIG. 1, the inside diameter 110 of the ring 100 is larger than the diameter of a golf ball. In some embodiments, the inside diameter 110 of the ring 100 is at least about twice the diameter of a golf ball. In one embodiment, the inside diameter 110 of the ring 100 is at least about 3.2 inches. In another embodiment, the inside diameter 110 of the ring 100 is at least about 3.5 inches.

The ring 100 may be made of a suitable rigid material, such as plastic or metal. The ring 100 may be coated (such as by painting, plating or anodizing) with, or made of, a bright high-visibility colored material to enhance visibility of the ring 100, such as when the ring 100 is submerged in water. Exemplary colors include shades of: fluorescent red, fluorescent orange, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent green and white.

Optionally or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the ring 100 may include a plurality of lamps 500, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), connected by a cable 504 and a switch 508 to a battery, generator or other suitable source of electrical power (not visible) in the handle 102. For example, a threaded or other type of removable cap 510 may provide access to a battery compartment in the handle 102. These lamps 500 may be activated by a user to increase visibility of the ring 100 in murky water or at night and/or to illuminate a region proximate the ring 100 to facilitate locating a golf ball in murky water. In another embodiment (not shown), the ring 100 may be made partially or completely of a transparent or translucent material, and one or more lamps in the ring 100 or in the handle 102 may introduce light into the transparent or translucent material to make the material radiate visible light, thereby increasing visibility of the ring 100 and/or illuminating a region proximate the ring 100. In either case, the lamps 500 may produce any suitable color or combination of colors of light, such as red, yellow, green and/or white.

Returning again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pocket 104 may be made of filamentous or other material having net-like mesh or generally open construction. The pocket 104 may be made of nylon, another light-weight fast-drying material or any other suitable material.

The pocket 104 defines an opening 114. The pocket 104 may be attached to the end 106 of the ring 100 opposite the chamfered 108 end of the ring 100. The pocket 104 may be suitably attached along the circumference of the opening 114 of the pocket 104 to the circumference of the end 106 of the ring 100. In one embodiment, the end 106 of the ring defines a groove 116 (best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4), and a portion of the edge of the pocket 104 is tucked into the groove 116 to form a U-shaped channel. A rigid or resilient member 118, such as a rubber O-ring, may be press-fitted into the channel to create a friction fit between the channel formed by the pocket 104 and the sides of the groove 116. Other attachment mechanisms and methods include: ultrasonic, radio-frequency or chemical welding of the pocket 104 to the ring 100; adhesives, rivets, screws and the like.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the pocket 104 may define a constricted “waist” portion 120, between the ring 100 and the bottom 121 of the pocket 104. The waist portion 120 inhibits a ball (shown in phantom at 122) inside the pocket 104 from unexpectedly falling out of the pocket 104. The pocket 104 may be large enough to simultaneously hold more than one golf ball, and the waist 120 may be configured such that the waist 120 inhibits all the golf balls from unexpectedly falling out of the pocket 104. The filaments of the pocket 104 may be woven so as to form the narrow waist portion 120. Optionally or alternatively, the pocket 104 may include resilient (such as elastic) material to define the shape and/or size of the waist portion 120.

The ring 100 may be attached to the handle 102 such that a diameter (such as the diameter indicated at 110) of the ring 100 is substantially in line with the longitudinal axis 124 of the handle 102 and/or the axis 126 of the ring 100 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 124 of the handle 102. The ring 100 may be attached to the handle 102 such that the ring 100 does not pivot, with respect to the handle 102, about the longitudinal axis 124.

Optionally or alternatively, the handle 102 or the ring 100 may include an adjustable member configured to selectively prevent or allow rotation of the ring 100, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis 124 of the handle 102. In one embodiment, the handle includes a telescopic section, a compression nut and an optional ferrule (not shown). In one mode, ex., when the compression nut is loose, the telescopic handle 102 may be extended or collapsed, and telescopic sections of the handle 102 may be rotated, with respect to each other, about the longitudinal axis 124. The ring 100, being fixedly attached to one of the telescopic sections, may be rotated about the longitudinal axis 124. In another mode, ex., when the compression nut is tight, the telescopic sections are prevented from rotating with respect to each other, and the ring 100 is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis 124. Optionally, the telescopic sections of the handle 102 may include a key and guide configured to prevent the telescopic sections from rotating, relative to each other, even while the compression nut is loose.

The handle 102 may be equipped with a comfortable grip 128, such as a resilient grip. In use, the handle 102 is manipulated so the pocket 104 trails the ring 100, and the ring 100 and pocket 104 scoop up one or more golf balls. The chamfered edge 108 facilitates working the lower edge of the ring 100 under a golf ball.

As described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf ball retriever may be used to scoop a golf ball by moving the handle 102 so as to make the ring 100 pass around the golf ball and catch the golf ball in the pocket 104. In this mode of operation, illustrated by cross-sectional view B-B in FIG. 6, the ring 100 is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow 600, and the pocket 104 is typically attached to the trailing side 106 of the ring 100. However, in another mode of operation, illustrated in FIG. 7, the pocket 104 may pass through the ring 100 and trail behind the ring 100. This mode of operation may be used if, for example, a user misses capturing a golf ball on a first attempt and tries again to capture the golf ball by moving the ring in the opposite direction. To facilitate the second mode of operation, both sides of the ring 100 may be chamfered, as shown in FIG. 8 That is, the side 800 of the ring 100 to which the pocket 104 is attached may be chamfered, and the side 108 opposite where the pocket 104 is attached may also be chamfered.

Optionally or alternatively, the pocket 104 may be attached to the ring 100 at a location other than one side 800 or the other side 108 of the ring. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the pocket 104 is attached along an inside diameter of the ring 100 at a position intermediate the two sides 108 and 800 of the ring 100. Alternatively (not shown), the pocket 104 may be attached along an outside diameter of the ring 100.

Although embodiments of the ring 100 described thus far have approximately rectangular cross-sectional shapes (preferably with one or two chamfers), as seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9, rings with other cross-sectional shapes may be used. In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 10, the ring 100 has a circular cross-sectional shape. The ring 100 may be solid, as shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, the ring 100 may be hollow, such as a ring fabricated from a tube (not shown).

The one or two chamfers 108 and 800 (FIGS. 8 and 9) described above increase the ease with which a golf ball may be scooped by a golf ball retriever, such as by the above-described embodiments. However, some ring 100 embodiments may omit one or both chamfers 108 and 800. Absence of a chamfer (such as on some embodiments with circular cross-sectional rings 100, as in FIG. 10) may reduce the ease with which a golf ball may be scooped. The waisted (120) pocket 104 decreases the likelihood that a captured golf ball unexpectedly falls out of the pocket 104 after the golf ball is scooped by the retriever. A golf ball retriever with a pocket 104 that is large enough to simultaneously hold several golf balls provides advantages over a golf ball retriever that is capable of holding at most one ball. For example, each time a golf ball retriever is inserted into or withdrawn from a water hazard, the retriever is likely to stir up sediment and, thus, increase the cloudiness of the water. Thus, with a large enough pocket 104, several golf balls may be retrieved from a water hazard, without withdrawing the golf ball retriever from the water between retrieving each golf ball. These and other features may be used in any combination, according to the present disclosure.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a golf ball retriever is provided. While specific values chosen for these embodiments are recited, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the invention, the values of all parameters may vary over wide ranges to suit different applications. While exemplary embodiments are described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to, and variations of, the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Furthermore, disclosed aspects, or portions of these aspects, may be combined in ways not listed above. Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed as being limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Claims

1. A golf ball retriever, comprising:

an elongated handle;

a ring attached proximate one end of the handle, the ring having a circumference; and

a net pocket having an opening and an end opposite the opening, the opening having a circumference, the net pocket also defining a constricted waist portion intermediate the pocket opening and the end of the pocket opposite the pocket opening, the pocket being attached along the circumference of the pocket opening to the circumference of the ring.

2. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring has a length and first and second ends, and the ring defines a chamfer on an inside edge of one of the ends thereof.

3. A golf ball retriever according to claim 2, wherein the ring defines a second chamfer on an inside edge of the other one of the ends thereof.

4. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring is circular in cross section.

5. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the ring is substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle.

6. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring has an inside diameter of at least about twice the diameter of a US standard golf ball.

7. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring has an inside diameter of at least about 3.2 inches.

8. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring has an inside diameter of at least about 3.5 inches.

9. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring is fixed to the elongated handle, such that the ring can not rotate, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis of the handle.

10. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable member configured, in one mode, to prevent rotation of the ring, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis of the handle, and in another mode to allow such rotation.

11. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the constricted waist portion of the pocket is defined by a resilient material.

12. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the net pocket comprises a flexible mesh net.

13. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the ring is colored a high-visibility color.

14. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the ring is colored a shade of: fluorescent orange, fluorescent red, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent green or white.

15. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring comprises at least one electric lamp.

16. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electric lamp configured to illuminate the ring.

17. A golf ball retriever according to claim 1, wherein the ring is attached to the handle such that the axis of the ring is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle.