APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RETRIEVING A GOLF BALL FROM A CUP
An apparatus and method is disclosed for hands-free retrieval of a golf ball from a putting green hole, where the apparatus includes a tilting disk placed in the hole that can be operated by a golf club handle to rotate the disk to pop up or eject the golf ball from the hole.
This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/024,346 filed May 13, 2020, which is incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure is related to the field of retrieving a golf ball from a cup on a putting green, in particular, an apparatus for hands-free retrieval of the golf ball from the cup.
BACKGROUNDIn light of the COVID-19 pandemic that spread world-wide in the early part of the year 2020, there is a concern that a golfer, knowingly or unknowingly, infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus could transfer that virus onto fomites such as a flagstick or putting green cup on a putting green by reaching into the cup to retrieve their golf ball thereby leaving an infected surface where a subsequent golfer retrieving their golf ball from the cup and making physical contact with the cup or flagstick could acquire the virus and become infected.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an apparatus and method for a hands-free retrieval of a golf ball from a putting green cup.
SUMMARYAn apparatus and method is provided for hands-free retrieval of a golf ball from a putting green hole, where the apparatus can comprise a tilting disk placed in the hole that can be operated by a golf club handle to rotate the disk to pop up or eject the golf ball from the hole.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, an apparatus can be provided for retrieving a golf ball from a hole comprising a hole liner cup configured for receiving a flagstick ferrule of a flagstick, the apparatus comprising: a disk configured to be disposed in the hole and further disposed around a shaft of the flagstick when the flagstick ferrule is inserted into the hole liner cup, the disk further configured to support the golf ball when the golf ball is putted into the hole; and a disk support mechanism, wherein the disk is configured to rotate or tilt on or about the disk support mechanism whereupon the golf ball is ejected out of the hole when the disk is rotated or tilted on or about the disk support mechanism.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the disk can comprise an opening disposed therethrough, the opening configured to allow the shaft of the flagstick to pass therethrough.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the disk can be substantially circular and configured to rotate or tilt within the hole without binding with the hole or the hole liner cup.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the disk can further comprise a slot opening providing communication from the opening to an edge of the disk, the slot opening permitting the disk to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick by twisting or manipulating the disk.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the disk support mechanism can comprise a tilt lever collar comprising upper and lower ends, the collar configured to be disposed around the shaft with the lower end disposed above the flagstick ferrule, the upper end comprising an angled face wherein the disk comprises an angled or tilted position when resting on top of the upper end, the disk further configured to tilt or rotate on the upper end when a linear force is applied downwardly on the disk thereby ejecting the golf ball from the hole.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the tilt lever collar can further comprise a slot opening, the slot opening permitting the tilt lever collar to be spread open and be placed around the shaft of the flagstick.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the tilt lever collar can further comprise two halves that are configured to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick and be fastened together with fasteners.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the disk support mechanism can comprise a pivot axle rotatably coupling the disk to the flagstick.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the disk support mechanism can comprise a pivot pin disposed through the flagstick, the pivot pin configured to support the disk when the disk in a resting position on top of the pivot pin.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the disk can comprise hinge pins extending outwardly on opposing edges thereof, and the disk support mechanism comprises hinge pin holes disposed on opposing sidewalls of the hole liner cup configured to receive the hinge pins, wherein the disk rotates or tilts about the hinge pins.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the disk support mechanism can comprise a cylindrical sleeve configured to be disposed in the hole liner cup, the cylindrical sleeve further comprising an apex configured for the disk to pivot thereupon.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a method can be provided for retrieving a golf ball from a hole comprising a hole liner cup configured for receiving a flagstick ferrule of a flagstick, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an apparatus for retrieving the golf ball, the apparatus comprising: a disk configured to be disposed in the hole and further disposed around a shaft of the flagstick when the flagstick ferrule is inserted into the hole liner cup, the disk further configured to support the golf ball when the golf ball is putted into the hole, and a disk support mechanism, wherein the disk is configured to rotate or tilt on or about the disk support mechanism whereupon the golf ball is ejected out of the hole when the disk is rotated or tilted on or about the disk support mechanism; installing the apparatus in the hole; and when the golf ball is in the hole, applying a downward linear force onto the disk whereupon the disk is rotated or tilted thereby ejecting the golf ball from the hole.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise rotating or tilting the disk about a pivot axle rotatably coupled the disk to the flagstick.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise rotating or tilting the disk on a pivot pin disposed through the flagstick, the pivot pin configured to support the disk when the disk in a resting position on top of the pivot pin.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise rotating or tilting the disk about hinge pins extending outwardly from opposing edges thereof.
Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can further comprise rotating or tilting the disk on an apex disposed on a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the hole liner cup.
In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment can also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.
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Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to these embodiments without changing or departing from their scope, intent or functionality. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. An apparatus for retrieving a golf ball from a hole comprising a hole liner cup configured for receiving a flagstick ferrule of a flagstick, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a disk configured to be disposed in the hole and further disposed around a shaft of the flagstick when the flagstick ferrule is inserted into the hole liner cup, the disk further configured to support the golf ball when the golf ball is putted into the hole; and
- b) a disk support mechanism, wherein the disk is configured to rotate or tilt on or about the disk support mechanism whereupon the golf ball is ejected out of the hole when the disk is rotated or tilted on or about the disk support mechanism.
2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disk comprises an opening disposed therethrough, the opening configured to allow the shaft of the flagstick to pass therethrough.
3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disk is substantially circular and is configured to rotate or tilt within the hole without binding with the hole or the hole liner cup.
4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the disk further comprises a slot opening providing communication from the opening to an edge of the disk, the slot opening permitting the disk to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick by twisting or manipulating the disk.
5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a tilt lever collar comprising upper and lower ends, the collar configured to be disposed around the shaft with the lower end disposed above the flagstick ferrule, the upper end comprising an angled face wherein the disk comprises an angled or tilted position when resting on top of the upper end, the disk further configured to tilt or rotate on the upper end when a linear force is applied downwardly on the disk thereby ejecting the golf ball from the hole.
6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tilt lever collar further comprises a slot opening, the slot opening permitting the tilt lever collar to be spread open and be placed around the shaft of the flagstick.
7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tilt lever collar further comprises two halves that are configured to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick and be fastened together with fasteners.
8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a pivot axle rotatably coupling the disk to the flagstick.
9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a pivot pin disposed through the flagstick, the pivot pin configured to support the disk when the disk in a resting position on top of the pivot pin.
10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disk comprises hinge pins extending outwardly on opposing edges thereof, and the disk support mechanism comprises hinge pin holes disposed on opposing sidewalls of the hole liner cup configured to receive the hinge pins, wherein the disk rotates or tilts about the hinge pins.
11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a cylindrical sleeve configured to be disposed in the hole liner cup, the cylindrical sleeve further comprising an apex configured for the disk to pivot thereupon.
12. A method for retrieving a golf ball from a hole comprising a hole liner cup configured for receiving a flagstick ferrule of a flagstick, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving an apparatus for retrieving the golf ball, the apparatus comprising: i) a disk configured to be disposed in the hole and further disposed around a shaft of the flagstick when the flagstick ferrule is inserted into the hole liner cup, the disk further configured to support the golf ball when the golf ball is putted into the hole, and ii) a disk support mechanism, wherein the disk is configured to rotate or tilt on or about the disk support mechanism whereupon the golf ball is ejected out of the hole when the disk is rotated or tilted on or about the disk support mechanism;
- b) installing the apparatus in the hole; and
- c) when the golf ball is in the hole, applying a downward linear force onto the disk whereupon the disk is rotated or tilted thereby ejecting the golf ball from the hole.
13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the disk comprises an opening disposed therethrough, the opening configured to allow the shaft of the flagstick to pass therethrough.
14. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the disk is substantially circular and is configured to rotate or tilt within the hole without binding with the hole or the hole liner cup.
15. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the disk further comprises a slot opening providing communication from the opening to an edge of the disk, the slot opening permitting the disk to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick by twisting or manipulating the disk.
16. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a tilt lever collar comprising upper and lower ends, the collar configured to be disposed around the shaft with the lower end disposed above the flagstick ferrule, the upper end comprising an angled face wherein the disk comprises an angled or tilted position when resting on top of the upper end, the disk further configured to tilt or rotate on the upper end when a linear force is applied downwardly on the disk thereby ejecting the golf ball from the hole.
17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the tilt lever collar further comprises a slot opening, the slot opening permitting the tilt lever collar to be spread open and be placed around the shaft of the flagstick.
18. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the tilt lever collar further comprises two halves that are configured to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick and be fastened together with fasteners.
19. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising rotating or tilting the disk about a pivot axle rotatably coupled the disk to the flagstick.
20. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising rotating or tilting the disk on a pivot pin disposed through the flagstick, the pivot pin configured to support the disk when the disk in a resting position on top of the pivot pin.
21. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising rotating or tilting the disk about hinge pins extending outwardly from opposing edges thereof.
22. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising rotating or tilting the disk on an apex disposed on a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the hole liner cup.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 10, 2021
Publication Date: Nov 18, 2021
Inventors: Lyle Wayne Knittig (Barrhead), Mark Vernon Fedorak (Edmonton), Liam Joseph Abrams (Edmonton)
Application Number: 17/172,703