GOLF BALL RETRIEVAL ADAPTER

Abstract

There is provided a golf ball retriever that is easy to install and convenient for any golfer, eliminating the need to bend over when retrieving a ball. The ball-retrieval system may be integrated into a golf club shaft or grip portion without interference to use of the golf club. The device can be used with any golf club, such as a putter, to retrieve a golf ball from the ground or within the cup. The system also allows the release of the golf ball after retrieval. The device includes a ball retrieval cup sized and formed of a material to allow it to flex around the diameter of the golf ball and frictionally engage the ball. The cup further allows the ball to be released by the application of a force thereto. A magnetic mounting system attachment to a golf club is provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,809, filed Aug. 28, 2009, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf ball equipment for use in retrieving golf balls from various locations throughout a golf course and particularly from a position on the ground or golf hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For some golfers, the act of retrieving the golf ball may be uncomfortable and inconvenient to the user, requiring the user to repetitively bend over or kneel to reach to the ground or within the cup. The cup is recessed in moist soil and for some golfers, due to physical limitations, it is difficult to retrieve the golf ball, and it is undesirable if contact with the perimeter tarnishes the hand or glove of the user or the hole itself.

The prior art provides an assortment of golf ball retrievers for overcoming the inconveniences of retrieving a golf ball from the ground or a cup. Traditional golf ball retrievers may be complex, often requiring multiple components and corresponding manufacturing processes. These traditional golf ball retrievers tend to be costly relative to the convenience which they provide. Some conventional golf ball retrievers are sold as unitary with a putter. However, these retrievers limit the selection of a putter to one having a golf ball retriever incorporated therein. Other golf ball retrievers are sold separately from the putter such that a user may install it in any putter, or any other golf club for that matter. However, these golf ball retrievers and the assembly process required may be costly and overly burdensome to the user. Further, these golf ball retrievers may require much alteration to the golf club shaft which may be undesirable to the user. Further, prior systems may not allow for easy release of the golf ball that may be helpful for activities such as practicing putting or the like.

Attempts have been made in the past to address the convenience and comfort of a user when retrieving a golf ball from a cup, however, these designs are lacking in a variety of ways, and a more effective and cost-effective system would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a simple, low-cost golf ball retriever that is easy to install and convenient for any golfer, particularly an individual having limited physical ability, in eliminating the need to bend over when retrieving a ball. The ball-retrieval system may be integrated into a golf club shaft or grip portion without interference to use of the golf club, thus allowing the golfer to use this device with any golf club, such as a putter, to retrieve the golf ball. The system may further allow for the release of the golf ball after retrieval to facilitate practice or other activities. In an example, the system comprises a ball retrieval cup sized and formed of a material to allow it to flex around the diameter of the golf ball and frictionally engage the ball when desired, from any position on the ground or in the cup on a putting green for example. The cup further allows the ball to be easily released by the application of a force thereto and deflection of the ball retrieval cup. The system may further comprise a magnetic mounting system for selective attachment to a golf club or other suitable structure for use or storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an exploded perspective view of a golf ball retrieval apparatus, in accordance with one example of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a second exploded perspective view of a golf ball retrieval apparatus.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a ball retriever device.

FIG. 2B shows second perspective view of the ball retriever device.

FIG. 2C shows third perspective view of the ball retriever device.

FIG. 2D shows side perspective view of the ball retriever device

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the fitting assembly attached to a club.

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of the ball retriever device attached to a club.

FIG. 4B shows a second perspective view of the ball retriever device attached to a club.

FIG. 4C shows a cross-section of the ball retriever device attached to a club.

FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a ball engaged with the ball retriever device.

FIG. 5B shows a side view of a ball engaged with the ball retriever device.

FIG. 5C shows a cross-section of the ball retriever device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of a golf ball retrieval apparatus, generally identified by reference numeral 10, is illustrated in the Figures. The golf ball retrieval apparatus 10 may comprise a system to allow a golf ball to be easily retrieved in association with a golf club or other support having a length to allow a user to reach the ground surface or within a golf cup for retrieval of a ball. As seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the device 10 may comprise a ball-retaining cup or cylinder 30, having an aperture 35 formed in a bottom portion thereof. The ball retrieving cup 30 may be formed of a material which is flexible to allow deflection of portions while returning to its original shape after any force is removed. The retrieval cup 30 is sized to have a diameter which is the same or slightly smaller than the diameter of a golf ball, and can flex around the diameter of the golf ball to as to become selectively frictionally engaged to the golf ball for retrieval, by the application of a simple force or pressure of the retrieval cup 30 onto the ball to be retrieved. The golf ball is frictionally engaged about its diameter at an outer portion of the retrieval cup 30, such that space remains between the retained golf ball and the bottom portion of the retrieval cup 30. Upon desiring to release a retained golf ball, the user can simply apply a pressure to the retrieval cup 30 to deflect a portion below the retained golf ball, causing the shape of cup 30 to distort and release from the frictional engagement with the outer diameter of the golf ball. The openings 71 in the sides of the retrieval cup 30 may provide better flexibility of the flexible cup to assist in the release of a retained golf ball. The holes 71 may also provide a decorative or aesthetic function as shown. In this manner, both retrieval and release of the golf ball is provided by the simple application of a small force to engage or disengage the ball from the retrieval cup 30.

In general, the apparatus 10 is designed to allow a golf ball to be easily engaged and retained by the ball-retaining cup 30. As seen in FIGS. 2A-2D, the retrieval cup or member 30 may comprise a bottom surface 31 having an aperture 35. A side wall 32 extends to an open top 36, thereby forming a cup type of configuration, with a golf ball able to be inserted into the open top 36 and engaged and retained with the interior surface 34 of side wall 32. The cup or member 30 may comprise a flexible material, and a material having some tackiness to the surfaces of a golf ball for example, thus allowing the cylinder 30 to engage a golf ball as described. The materials from which retrieval cup 30 is made may be a polymeric, plastic or rubber type of material having a thickness to allow the desired deflection to engage or disengage from the diameter of the golf ball. A suitable material has been found to be santoprene or vinyl having a thickness in the range of 0.05 to 0.15 inches, but other configurations may be acceptable. Such a material allows the cup 30 to be flexible and enables it to easily form to the shape of the golf ball when on the ground, in the cup, or in any other position, while effectively grasping and retaining the ball therein. The member 30 can thus deflect by contact with the ball, ground or other surface and mold about the ball for retaining the ball therein. The dimension of the member 30 is such that once engaged with a portion of the ball by the application of a small force, the member 30 will frictionally engage the outer diameter of the ball to retain it therewith. The ball is then easily removed from the member 30 by deflecting the outer surface of the cylinder 30 to release the engaged ball therefrom.

To facilitate use of the retrieval cup 30, as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a magnetic mounting system may be employed, such as comprising a first magnetic member 40 positioned adjacent the bottom of retrieval cup 30. The first magnetic member 40 may be retained in association with the retrieval cup 30 in any suitable manner, such as by means of a retaining member 20. The retaining member 20 may be a member formed of a rigid plastic material, and in this embodiment, is formed as a belt clip. The retaining member 20 may have a boss 24 on a top side thereof. The boss 24 may be attached to a release cup cap 41 positioned on the interior of cup 30 to retain cup 30 with member 20 on the opposite face of member 20, a magnet retaining portion 25 may extend from the back of member 20 and have a shape and size to match the first magnetic member 40 and frictionally or otherwise engage and retain the first magnetic member 40 therein. The depth of the retaining recess 25 may be sufficient to engage at least a portion of the first magnetic member 40. The retaining member 20 may also have an extending portion 26, which in conjunction with the magnet retaining portion 25, produce a channel portion. The retaining member 20 may further have an outer diameter 22 to be engaged by the retrieval cup 30 at a bottom portion thereof. The first magnetic member 40 is positioned adjacent the bottom portion of cup 30, so as to be exposed to the exterior of the retrieval cup 30. As should be recognized, the first magnetic member 40 may then be selectively attached to any other magnetic member or metallic surface, for storage or for use of the retrieval cup 30.

The retaining member 20 formed with an integral belt clip 60 as shown, allows the retaining member 20 and attached retrieval cup 30 to be conveniently placed on a users belt, in association with a golf bag or other convenient locations for subsequent use. As seen in FIG. 2, the belt clip 60 may have an opening which exposes the first magnetic member 40 therethrough. Other suitable types of arrangements to allow storage/use of the retaining member 20 and retrieval cup 30 are contemplated.

In one example, the use of the retrieval cup 30 with a golf club, such as a putter is facilitated by a club fitting assembly 50. The golf ball retrieval apparatus 10 may be used for retrieving golf balls from the golf putting cup, any location on the ground and from other various locations throughout the golf course. The apparatus 10 may be associated with any golf club or other structure having a length to allow the retrieval cup 30 to extend to a position for engaging the golf ball without bending or stooping down significantly. As various locations around the golf course may require the golfer to be using different clubs, the club fitting assembly 50 could be provided on multiple clubs or all clubs, such that the retrieval cup 30 could simply be used in association with any club if needed. The club fitting assembly 50, as shown in an example set forth in FIG. 5C, may comprise a base 51, and a club grip retention system comprising an outwardly extending shaft 52, and a grip insert member 54. The base 51 may further comprise a recess 53, and a second magnetic member 56 positioned in the recess 53. Typically, a golf club consists of a flexible grip member having an aperture in its end, in which insert member 54 may be secured for attachment to the end of the grip member 69 and therefore to the golf club (as shown in FIG. 4C). The golf ball retrieval apparatus 10 may be connected to the golf club via the grip aperture by a friction fit with the insert member 54, thus securing the golf ball retrieval apparatus 10 to the golf club grip. In this way, the club fitting assembly 50 is selectively attached to any golf club, such as the putter, for use. The fitting assembly 50 can easily be detached and attached to any other club as desired, or a plurality of club fitting members 50 may be associated with multiple clubs for use with one or more retaining cup members 30.

A second magnetic member 56 is attached within the grip magnet holder 51, which may then be selectively attached via magnetic attachment to the first magnetic member 40 and retrieval cup 30. The first and second magnetic members 40 and 56 are arranged with opposing poles facing each other so as to be attracted to one another when positioned adjacent each other. In this manner, upon bringing the fitting assembly 50, and second magnetic member 56 into proximity of the ball retaining cup 30 and first magnetic member 40 associated therewith, the ball retaining member 30 is selectively secured in association with the fitting assembly 50 and club (or other member) with which it is associated. The use of first and second magnetic members 40 and 56 provide a strong attachment to one another via magnetic forces within the housing 51. The channel formed by the magnet retaining portion 25 and extension 26 is aligned with the barrel-like portion of housing 51. The ball retrieval cup 30 is aligned with and generally securely attached to the fitting assembly 50 when desired, but also is relatively easily released by applying sufficient force to the ball retrieval cup 30 and/or retaining member 20 to break the magnetic connection. The housing 51 of assembly 50 may be formed with an extending barrel-like portion to facilitate alignment between fitting assembly 50 and retaining member 20. The retaining member 20 may also include the channel portion into which the housing fits to provide a more secure coupling as seen in FIG. 4C. Also, as seen in this Figure, the belt clip portion 60 may engage or fit within a recessed area 55 to help retain the coupling between member 20 and assembly 50 when desired. It should also be recognized that alternatively, it may be possible to use only one magnetic member with the retrieval cup 30 or fitting assembly 50, along with a metallic surface on the other member, may be sufficient to form a connection between the members if desired. Other forms of connection between the retrieval cup 30 and fitting member 50 are also contemplated, to allow selective separation of the cup 30 from the fitting assembly if desired. It is also contemplated that the retrieval cup 30 could be fixed to the fitting assembly so as to be associated with the golf club for use at all times if desired, as the retrieval cup 30 is basically of low profile and doesn't interfere with use of the golf club to which it may be attached. At the same time, the ability to selectively separate the retrieval cup 30 from the fitting assembly 50 may be desirable to provide use thereof with different clubs or to alleviate any possible effect thereof on use of the golf club itself during play of the game of golf.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the retaining member 20 may be inserted into the retrieval cup 30 with the first magnetic member 40 positioned within the recess 24 so as to extend through the aperture 35 and to the exterior of the cup 30. The first magnetic member 40 may then be selectively secured to the club fitting assembly 50 via the second magnetic member 56 (as shown in FIG. 5C).

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to a various examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A golf ball retrieval system comprising,

a retrieval cup member having a bottom and side walls with openings and an open top, wherein the open top has a circular shape that has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of a golf ball, with the retrieval cup member formed of a material that allows flexing about the diameter of a golf ball to be selectively engaged with the outer surface of the golf ball by frictional engagement of the interior surface of the retrieval cup member therewith, and the cup member having a depth such that a space is created between a golf ball engaged therein and the bottom thereof, wherein the cup member is selectively flexed about the space created to release a golf ball engaged therein;

a retaining system associated with the retrieval cup to selectively attach the retrieval cup to a golf club.

2. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein the retaining system further comprises a first magnetic member associated with the retrieval cup which is selectively attachable to a second magnetic member associated with the retaining system attached to a golf club, wherein the first and second magnetic members are selectively attached to one another by magnetic force to selectively retain the retrieval cup in association with the retaining system and golf club.

3. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 2, wherein the second magnetic member is positioned within a barrel-like member and the first magnetic member is positioned within an extending portion that fits within the barrel-like portion.

4. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein the retaining system comprises a body member having a grip insert member which is selectively engaged in an aperture formed in the top portion of a golf club grip to be selectively retained therewith.

5. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 4, wherein the retrieval cup has a first magnetic member and the body member has a second magnetic member, wherein the retrieval cup is selectively attached to the body member by means of the magnetic coupling between the first and second magnetic members.

6. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein,

the retrieval cup is formed with openings that facilitate deformation of the retrieval cup for frictionally engaging the outer surface of a golf ball and to be deflected by the application of a force to selectively release a golf ball frictionally engaged therewith.

7. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 1, further comprising a clip member associated with the retrieval cup.

8. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 7, wherein the clip member is integral with the retrieval cup.

9. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein the retrieval cup includes a rigid base member having an extending portion and a channel portion.

10. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 9, wherein the retaining system includes an extending portion which is selectively positioned in the channel portion of the rigid base member.

11. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein the retaining system includes a barrel-like extending portion and the retrieval cup includes an extending portion which is selectively engaged inside the barrel-like portion.

12. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 1, the retrieval cup is formed of santoprene having a thickness between 0.05 to 0.15 inches.

13. A golf ball retrieval system comprising:

a retrieval cup member formed of a flexible polymeric material and having a rigid base member with an extending portion housing a first magnet,

a retaining system including a barrel-like housing having a second magnet therein, wherein the extending portion of the retrieval cup member is selectively inserted into the barrel-like housing of the retaining system with the first and second magnets attached to each other to selectively retain the retrieval cup member with the retaining system.

14. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 13, wherein the retaining system comprises a body member having a grip insert member which is selectively engaged in an aperture formed in the top portion of a golf club grip to be selectively retained therewith.

15. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 13, wherein,

the retrieval cup is formed with openings that facilitate deformation of the retrieval cup for frictionally engaging the outer surface of a golf ball and to be deflected by the application of a force to selectively release a golf ball frictionally engaged therewith.

16. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 13, further comprising a clip member associated with the retrieval cup.

17. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 13, wherein the clip member is integral with the retrieval cup.

18. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 13, wherein the retrieval cup includes a rigid base member having an extending portion and a channel portion.

19. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 18, wherein the retaining system includes an extending portion which is selectively positioned in the channel portion of the rigid base member.

20. A golf ball retrieval system according to claim 13, the retrieval cup is formed of santoprene having a thickness between 0.05 to 0.15 inches.