Player Manipulated Turf Repair Tool Patents (Class 473/408)
  • Patent number: 6383095
    Abstract: A golf ball indicator in the nature of a stake which is pressed into the ground to mark a golf ball that would otherwise be hidden by the tall grass of a golf course “rough”, having a visible flag and of a length to extend above the height of the grass when inserted by pressing down on a surrounding flange positioned adjacent a bottom spike of the stake or in serving as a depth stop for the placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Paul A. Azotea
  • Publication number: 20020037779
    Abstract: A sand and seed divot replacer including a pour spout having a female threaded portion integrally formed on the inner surface of the pour spout at an end distal from the pouring end. A bottle is provided having an open top and a closed bottom. The bottle including a male threaded portion located on the exterior of the main body portion adjacent the top for threadably mating with the female threaded portion of the spout. The bottom wall of the bottle including an indented portion. A holder is provided having a main body portion open at the top and closed at the bottom with a bottom wall. The holder is sized for receiving the bottle and spout. The bottom wall of the holder includes an indented portion sized for nesting in the indented portion of the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: John W. Meyer, Doug Jacobe
  • Publication number: 20020034993
    Abstract: A golf green divot repair tool having one or more tines, legs or prongs, and handle or a body portion. The body portion is provided with means to facilitate conversion between a plurality of measurement systems—preferably the more commonly used golf measurement systems of yards or meters, although other distance units (feet, millimeters, etc.) and other measurement systems (temperature, etc) could be included or substituted within the teachings of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: Haldor Tosoe
    Inventor: Stanley J. Mincher
  • Publication number: 20020007955
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to repair dents formed by a golf ball impacting the surface of a golf green. A restoring tool is mounted to the top of the handle of a putter, and this tool comprises a base member and a ground penetrating portion which is formed as a pair of tines and which is rotatably mounted to move from a stowed position flush against the base, to an operating position where it extends at right angles to the base. The putter is inverted so that the end of the handle can be positioned against the raised edge of the dent. The tines (outwardly extending) are moved to penetrate into the soil at a location outwardly of the raised edge of the dent, and the compression surface of the base member presses the sod layer downwardly and displaces the underlying ground layer laterally to fill into the recess portion of the dent. This also causes the displaced portion of the sod laterally over the dent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Terry G. Wiens
  • Publication number: 20010029213
    Abstract: A multi-purpose golf tool including a body member having a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front surface and a rear surface is provided. The body member is equipped with means for selectively supporting a plurality of golf club grips off a golf playing surface. An elongate base extends from the bottom of the body member for engaging the golf playing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Ronald D. Hendren
  • Patent number: 6290617
    Abstract: A golf club accessory device is described. The device of this invention is an essentially flat plastic member having a forked end for use in replacing divots or green repair, and integral jaw members for attachment of the device to the club shaft adjacent the head. The end of the device opposite the forked portion provides a cradle, and a removable ball marker is carried by the device. The ball marker typically has a spindle that is pressed fitted through a hole in the device so that it can be physically separated to be used by the golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventors: Todd E. Cole, Patrick J. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 6270424
    Abstract: A device for protecting a putter head and repairing ball marks includes a body having a protective face for abutting a face of the putter head, at least one prong extending from the body for repairing ball marks and a detachable affixing member for detachably securing the device to the putter head to protect the putter face. In one preferred embodiment a rear face of the body is provided with an absorbent pad for cleaning a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Craig S. Holub
  • Publication number: 20010004019
    Abstract: A hand held, manually operated excavation tool, which is specifically designed for single hand use to remove turf, which has been damaged by an air borne golf ball. The device has a handle, tubular shank, an internal ramp, an entry and an evacuation port, a concentric leading edge and an internal threaded portion to receive optional repair tools A threaded two-pronged aerator or culling tool may be stored in the handle portion. The principal object's shank is of sufficient length to penetrate, to an appropriate depth, turf which is commonly associated with that portion of a golf-course referred to as the “green.” The repair tool is designed to easily penetrate, core, capture and remove damaged, dying or dead turf. The efficient removal and subsequent repair of damaged portions of grass on a putting surface would improve the consistency of a putting green and the quality of play for all golfers on a given course.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventor: James T. Wakefield
  • Patent number: 6244356
    Abstract: A repair tool that attaches to the handle end of the shaft of a golf club for repairing golf ball marks on a putting green includes a body with spaced, radially arranged, circumferencial, wedge shaped prongs on a first said. A slotted skirt attached to the second side of the body, in combination with a tapered plug, a bolt and a nut, fits into the shaft and expands outward to tightly attach the tool to the golf club. A cap fits over the prongs to prevent injury to the golfer. A ridge on the prongs fits into an internal groove in the cap to prevent accidental removal of the cap while allowing the cap to be removed when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: John Luna
  • Patent number: 6234916
    Abstract: A multi-task golf tool comprising a body portion and a stem portion attached to the body portion. The body portion has a channel extending therethrough and which is sized for receiving a portion of a golf club. The body portion further includes a pair of walls wherein each wall is on a respective side of the channel and has a distal end. Each wall has a cut-out in the distal end thereof which is sized for receiving a portion of a smoking article. Each of the cut-outs has a perimetrical edge. The cut-outs are positioned directly opposite one another such that when a portion of a golf club is positioned within the channel and a smoking article is positioned within the cut-outs, the smoking article is transverse to the golf club. The stem portion has a distal end having a plurality of tines attached thereto. The golf tool further comprises a resilient member that has a first end attached to the perimetrical edge and is expandable within one of the cut-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventors: Bruce E. Carusillo, Thomas J. DeVito
  • Patent number: 6224502
    Abstract: An implement for repairing ball marks on golf greens, the implement having a grasping portion at a proximal end and at least one prong at a distal end with a ramp-like profile ending in a transversely oriented abutment in a mediate region. The abutment provides a surface against which an index finger of a user can rest to apply increased pressure to insert the implement into a golf green. The method of using the implement includes inserting the implement adjacent the ball mark and moving turf laterally. In those instances where insertion of the ramp-like prong or prongs is insufficient to repair the damage of the ball mark, the method further includes rocking the implement about the distal end to move the turf laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Grant I. Warfield
  • Patent number: 6223829
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to repair dents formed by a golf ball impacting the surface of a golf green. A restoring tool is mounted to the top of the handle of a putter, and this tool comprises a base member and a ground penetrating portion which is formed as a pair of tines and which is rotatably mounted to move from a stowed position flush against the base, to an operating position where it extends at right angles to the base. The putter is inverted so that the end of the handle can be positioned against the raised edge of the dent. The tines (outwardly extending) are moved to penetrate into the soil at a location outwardly of the raised edge of the dent, and the compression surface of the base member presses the sod layer downwardly and displaces the underlying ground layer laterally to fill into the recess portion of the dent. This also causes the displaced portion of the sod laterally over the dent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Terry G. Wiens
  • Patent number: 6220973
    Abstract: A multiple functional golf auxiliary tool comprises a receiving housing, one or more ball emitting posts, a grass removing fork, one or two sets of cleaning brushes, a counting disk, and a mark block. Two sides of the receiving housings are installed with a ball emitting post and a grass removing fork, respectively. Another end of the receiving housing is installed with cleaning brushes, a counting disk, a mark block, and other auxiliary tools sequentially. When a golf moves, by the aforesaid auxiliary tools, the function of positioning a ball at a predetermined position, smoothing the grass, removing dirt on the beating surface, recording beating number, marking the grounding point of the ball, and others. Therefore, all the auxiliary tools are combined integrally and multiple functions are concentrated in one tool. Moreover, the present invention may be combined with a key coil for being carried by the user himself (or herself).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: I-SO Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Te-Fu Hsu
  • Patent number: 6217465
    Abstract: An impact relief tool (14) comprising a handle (16) to be grasped by a hand of a person (18). A blade (20) extends from a front end (22) of the handle (16). The blade (20) has dull edges (24) formed thereon and a blunt point (26) on a forward end, so that it can be easily inserted by the person (18) below a concave ball mark (28) and compacted area (29) made by a golf ball (30) striking a golf green turf (32), to leverage the golf green turf (32) inwardly relieving the compacted area (29) and for repair and leveling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Gerald Kenia, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6176792
    Abstract: A golf divot repair tool is combined with a golf putter club head in such a way as to provide a golfer with a golf putting practice aid that may be easily and conveniently utilized while the golfer engages in a round of golf. Typically, the putting aid of the invention can be utilized by a golfer awaiting his or her turn to putt at a golf green. A divot repair tool is configured as a small, narrow, thin, elongated, flat structure that defines a longitudinal axis of lateral symmetry. The tool has a pair of longitudinally projecting legs at one end and a disc-shaped magnet embedded in its structure at the other end. A raised, transverse hump structure is defined on the tool between its ends. The hump is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of lateral symmetry. The raised, transverse hump serves as a stop that ensures proper alignment of the tool relative to the putter club head when the tool is positioned against the sole of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: John R. Tate
  • Patent number: 6162137
    Abstract: A combination ball mark repair tool, golf club support and cigar cutter. The invention includes a prier for prying up ball marks which are depressions made particularly in golf greens by impacting golf balls. The prier includes a shank ending, in a pair of tines which are used to penetrate turf and pry up depressions in the turf. The prier is pivotally connected to an end of a handle for leverage, the handle defining a slot for retracting the prier. A push pin controls a detent which locks the shank in either a fully opened position or a fully retracted position. Depressing the push pin unlocks the shank. When the shank is unlocked, a torque spring urges the shank to pivot from its handle slot to its open position. The prier preferably has two tines to avoid damage to the turf. Inserting the tines into the turf at the edge of a ball mark and then pivoting the handle toward the surface causes the tines to raise the depressed turf, thereby repairing the ball mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventors: Todd Jones, Greg Bark
  • Patent number: 6095935
    Abstract: A turf repair system for repairing a damaged turf surface without the user having to bend over. The inventive device includes a shaft, a handle attached an end of the shaft, a stopper member attached to the shaft opposite of the handle, and a pair of prongs immovably attached to the stopper member. The stopper member preferably has a semi-spherical shape with a swaged surface adjacent the pair of prongs. The handle has a putter head shape for use as a conventional putter if desired. A length of gripping is preferably positioned about the shaft adjacent the stopper member. During use, the user grasps the handle or shaft and positions the prongs adjacent to the damaged area. The user then forces the prongs into the turf until the stopper member engages the turf. The user then twists and lifts the ends of the prongs thereby repairing the damaged area. When finished, the user may insert the prongs directly into the turf surrounding the green where it is self-standing until the user is finished with the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventors: Donald Gooselaw, Sharon Cannon
  • Patent number: 6095934
    Abstract: A multi-purpose golf accessory including a housing that allows a golfer to use a variety of golf tools through extension and retraction of the tools relative to the housing. The housing comprises a rear section attached to a front section. The rear section includes a belt clip. The front section defines a channel and includes a recessed magnetic surface within the channel for receiving and holding a metal ball marker therein. A reel is pivotally mounted about a shaft within the housing and includes a semi-flexible cord coiled about the reel and movable between retracted and extended positions. One end of the cord extends through the lower end of the housing to hold a golf tool. A spring is mounted about the shaft for biasing the cord toward the retracted position. As a result, a golfer may selectively extend the cord for using the tool a desired distance away from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Marvin W. Ohama
  • Patent number: 6062992
    Abstract: An improved ball mark repair tool which can be used to relieve compaction of the earth surrounding the ball mark in a correct manner and then gently force the earth upwardly and inwardly about the ball mark so as to raise the turf and properly fill the indentation. More particularly, in one form of the invention, a downward pressure exerted upon the handle of the device will urge spaced apart earth engaging repair prongs to penetrate the earth in an area surrounding the ball mark and then to automatically move the prongs inwardly relative to one another to loosen the soil and urge it inwardly and upwardly so as to correctly restore the surface of the green to a substantially planar condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Principle Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: David Hoyt, Gary Aldcroft
  • Patent number: 6050905
    Abstract: A golf surface repair tool is formed with a pair of mutually engageable component elements that may be releasably attached together. The component elements form a body from which a pair of narrow, elongated legs extend in generally coplanar alignment to define a gap therebetween. One of the body components is hollowed out to form an enclosure therewithin. The other body component is provided with a marking pen mounted thereon. When the two components of the tool are separated, the tip of the marking pen is exposed for use in applying identifying indicia to a golf ball. The two separable components of the golf surface repair tool can, alternatively, be releasably secured to each other so that the marking pen projects into the enclosure to isolate it from accidental contract with the golfer's skin or clothing. A thumb grip depression facilitates separation of the two separable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: John R. Tate
  • Patent number: 6033322
    Abstract: A golf tool for holding a ball marker and for repairing divots is comprised of a body member having a top, a bottom, a pair of sides, an upper surface and a lower surface with a pair of curved prongs extending from the bottom. A first cavity is located within the upper surface while a slot, either open or closed, is located within the first cavity and may extend through to the lower surface. A portion of the outer periphery of the first cavity and the outer periphery of the slot may be magnetic, or the top surface of the first cavity may be magnetic for holding a ball marker received within the first cavity. A second cavity may be located within the first cavity for ease of ball marker retrieval. A holster is provided for receiving and carrying the golf tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventor: Robert L. England
  • Patent number: 6030298
    Abstract: A golf surface repair tool having a pair of legs for repairing a golfing surface following a shot is provided with internal implements that may be utilized as well. Specifically, the golf surface repair tool is fabricated utilizing at least three releasably interengageable body members. The legs of the repair tool extend from the first body member, which also defines an open mouth and a hollow cavity therewithin at its opposite end. The second body member has a closed end and an opposing open mouth and also defines at least one hollow cavity therewithin. A third body member is formed with a central base and a pair of pedestals which project from the base in opposite directions from each other. The pedestals have sides that respectively fit snugly in frictional or other engagement into the open mouths of the first and second body members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: John R. Tate
  • Patent number: 6022280
    Abstract: A multiple purpose golf tool includes a planar body portion having top and bottom ends. A pair of elongated leg members extend from the bottom end of the body portion for loosening sod on the greens of a golf course for repairing divots. A pair of reversely bent spaced shoulder members extend rearwardly from the top end of the body portion communicating with a solid plate portion in spaced generally parallel relation to the body portion. A fork shaped plate is hingedly attached to the terminal end of the solid plate portion and is movable between a closed clamping position wherein an edge thereof bears against the body portion for use as a money clip, and an open position wherein the fork shaped plate extends away from the body portion for use as a golf shoe cleat tightener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventors: Jason Arenburg, Robert Arenburg
  • Patent number: 6004229
    Abstract: A multi-purpose golf tool having a round recess with a surrounding wall. A magnetic post in the center of the recess holds a round metallic ball marker in the recess. By pushing down on one edge of the marker an opposite edge is lifted up over the adjacent wall and the marker can be slid forward off of the tool body into a ball marking position. A ribbed or jagged front edge allows the tool to fit into and clean golf club grooves. A pair of elongate rearwardly-extending elongate prongs are uniquely dimensioned and configured to function as both a turf repair tool and as a cleat or spike wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Craig A. Fazekas
  • Patent number: 5997411
    Abstract: A device for protecting a putter head and repairing ball marks includes a body having a substantially planar face for abutting a face of the putter head, prongs extending from the body for repairing ball marks and a clip projecting from the body for detachably securing the device to the putter head to protect the putter face. In the preferred embodiment an rear face of the body is provided with an absorbent pad for cleaning a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Craig S. Holub
  • Patent number: 5853336
    Abstract: A golf club handle support for keeping handles of golf clubs lying on the ground in a raised position above the ground. The handle support comprises a stiff sheet defining a central foldline to form sidewalls on each side of the foldline. This permits the sheet to assume a substantially inverted V-shape in cross section so that the remote edges parallel to the foldline may engage the ground and a golf club may rest on the sidewalls at or adjacent to the foldline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Inventor: John W. Hufgard
  • Patent number: 5788197
    Abstract: A golf accessory is provided for supporting a cigar in spaced relationship to the turf for preventing the cigar from contacting chemicals applied to the turf. The accessory includes a bottom supporting surface for placement on the turf. The accessory further includes a top surface characterized by at least one array of corrugations. Each array of corrugations includes an arcuately concave corrugation extending entirely across the accessory and a pair of arcuately convex corrugations on opposite respective sides of the concave corrugations. The concave corrugation has a radius dimensioned to support a cigar of a selected ring size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Rocco R. Tutela
  • Patent number: 5782708
    Abstract: A golfing tool for repairing golf ball divots. The device comprises a divot repair tool attached to a retractable cord emerging from a housing. The divot repair tool is retracted back to the device after use by the golfer. A fastener, such as a belt clip or an alligator clip, attaches the device to the golfer's clothing. Furthermore, channels in the body receive golf tees and a ball marker is releasably attached to either the divot repair tool or the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Madison D. Kimball, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5778986
    Abstract: A golf divot repair device having downwardly and inwardly disposed fingers to be forced into the green around a divot by foot pressure and/or pushing down on attached golf club, the fingers being rotatable into a flat position to provide a compact package than can be carried in the golfer's pocket or golf bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Floyd A. Davis
  • Patent number: 5769740
    Abstract: A golf club tool, timepiece, and scoring apparatus has an elongated body having a pair of prongs on one end thereof shaped to form a divot tool and a pair of lobes formed on the other end shaped to cradle a golf club shaft therebetween. The body has a watch mechanism mounted therein having a display face and a bezel. The bezel has predetermined markings thereon mounted in the elongated body with the display face opened to the front side thereof. A scoring ring or bezel is rotatably mounted under a front side cover adjacent to and around the timekeeper bezel and is marked for keeping a golf score when rotated relative to the cover and aligning the markings with an aperture in the cover so that a golf tool can keep a golfer's score and time. The body has a snap-on back cover which may also have a ball marker holder formed therein removably supporting a ball marker with a display of an image on the ball marker positioned in a window on the rear of the body or a money or belt clip may be formed on the back cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Sun Time Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: David Colangelo
  • Patent number: 5765647
    Abstract: A golfing aid is provided in which a pitch mark repair tool is mounted on the end of a shaft. The grip of the shaft can optionally have a ball retrieval device in the form of a suction cup having a plurality of inwardly biased or resilient fingers extending from its periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Richard C. Hood
  • Patent number: 5759120
    Abstract: A multi-function golfer's cigar tool includes a body with a cigar cutter having a blade movably mounted therein, an arrangement for repairing a ball mark on a golf course associated with the body, a cigar support stand and a golf club support stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventors: James E. Mathis, Charles M. Lykins, Ronald W. Rose
  • Patent number: 5755629
    Abstract: A golf accessory (10) is disclosed in the form of an elongate pitch mark repairer (12) extending along a longitudinal axis (14). The pitch mark repairer has a pair of spaced-apart prongs (16) extending from a body portion (18). The body portion (18) presents a transversely extending axis (20) about which a tee (22) is pivotally disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Hans Blomgren
  • Patent number: 5733208
    Abstract: A multi-purpose golf tool having a round recess with a surrounding wall. A magnetic post in the center of the recess holds a round metallic ball marker in the recess. By pushing down on one edge of the marker an opposite edge is lifted up over the adjacent wall and the marker can be slid forward off of the tool body into a ball marking position. A ribbed or jagged front edge allows the tool to fit into and clean golf club grooves. A pair of elongate rearwardly-extending elongate prongs are uniquely dimensioned and configured to function as both a turf repair tool and as a cleat or spike wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Craig A. Fazekas
  • Patent number: 5730226
    Abstract: While playing golf, it is common to land a ball on the green and leave a divot or indentation. It is proper golf etiquette to repair this divot so as not to affect the game of a subsequent golfer. But, many golfers do not repair their own divots, either because they are not aware they should, or because repair takes too much effort. For those that do attempt to repair their own divots, they often do it incorrectly and damage the fragile green turf even more. Either way, the golf course keeper must expend considerable resource in repairing unfixed or incorrectly fixed divots. The device disclosed herein allows a golfer or grounds keeper to easily, quickly, and correctly repair green divots while standing. The user simply centers the device over a divot and presses down on the engagement knob. As the device is engaged, blades are angled into the turf under the divot, and then tilted inwardly to fill in the indentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: George Kendall
  • Patent number: 5690559
    Abstract: A sand-rake comprises a rake head portion attached to a golf club head cover that has a golf club inserted into it. This arrangement allows a golfer to dress the surface of sand in a sand trap by holding the shaft of the club and raking the sand with the teeth of the rake head to yield a desired ridged sand surface. The head, or face, cover portion is made from a resilient plastic material and has a pocket-like shape with an aperture allowing insertion or removal of the club head. A rake head portion having teeth substantially wider than a groove in the face of the golf club, may be integrally formed with, or otherwise attached to the cover. In one embodiment, the rake teeth are individually attached to the head cover in order to adapt the sand-rake to local conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Gloria R. Julius
  • Patent number: 5645500
    Abstract: A multipurpose golf tool having an unique construction that makes it easy to incorporate multiple features and functions within a single, rigid and generally flat body section that fits in the palm of the golfer hand yet can be stored in a pocket without causing damage to the clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Teddy H. Borden
  • Patent number: 5643114
    Abstract: A golf accessory which is a combined ball-mark repairer and cigar cutter and/or holder is disclosed. In a first embodiment the device includes a ball mark repairer at one end and a cigar cutter located at the other end. The device includes a sliding mechanism whereby the cigar cutter can be actuated by pulling on one end of the device while holding the other end of the device firmly. The device may optionally include projections for firmly embedding the device in the ground to provide a cigar holder for a golfer and may optionally include a ball marker as well associated magnetically with the golf accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Jenny Wyatt Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ira Marcus
  • Patent number: 5643113
    Abstract: A device for facilitating forced insertion of a golf tee into a ground surface at a predetermined height. The inventive device includes a clamp for engaging a shaft of a golf tee. A positioning screw engages a head of the golf tee such that a predetermined length of the shaft projects beyond the clamp for insertion into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: John Rodgers
  • Patent number: 5609533
    Abstract: A tool for use in the game of golf, comprised of a polygonal prongs along with a radiused edge, which is used to remove ball marks such as indentions and ridges from golf ground surfaces. These ball marks are formed when the ball impacts the ground surface. The tool additionally incorporates a case for the carrying of small objects. These small objects include a moistened sponge or similar material to clean golf balls or club heads. A substantially leak-proof engagement between the body and the cover of the case allows the sponge or similar material to remain moist over extended periods of time, thus prolonging the material's cleaning capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventor: Robert A. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 5582554
    Abstract: A device for ascertaining the natural break to the west of a golf green is obtained by the incorporation of a compass with an existing golf implement in accordance with one or more of a plurality of embodiments. The compass includes indicia indicating west, the direction of the natural green break, and, in one preferred configuration, the indicia directly indicates only west. The several embodiments disclosed and discussed include the combination of a compass and a golf glove, a compass and a ball marker, a compass and a golf club (in variant configurations) as well as broadly adaptable compass golf accessory embodiments which include special purpose structure by which the break finder may be removable or permanently fixed to a golf implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Strystar International, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael E. Stryczek
  • Patent number: 5562553
    Abstract: A multipurpose golfer's tool is disclosed comprising a body and a divot repair tool slidably received within the body. The divot repair tool comprises a fork-like end and a distal end opposite the fork-like end. A cover is hingedly attached to the distal end and is positioned on the exterior of the body. The cover is easily manipulable to slide the divot repair tool from a retracted position within the body to an operating position. The cover also has a generally planar surface for imprinting indicia thereon. The tool further comprises a pencil sharpener mounted in the body, a detachable ball marker mounted on the body, and a club head groove cleaner mounted on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Robert L. Digerness
    Inventors: Robert L. Digerness, Chris M. Stalzer, Scott C. Smith, Charles S. Lord
  • Patent number: 5529299
    Abstract: A golf accessory apparatus has a divot tool having a removable ball marker attached thereto along with a golf club shaft cradle. The accessory body has a pair of prongs on one end thereof with each prong having a wedged-shaped tip to form a divot tool. The other end of the accessory body has a golf club shaft cradle thereon formed with a pair of lobes forming an arcuate seat therebetween so that when the prongs are pushed into the earth, the golf club can have the shaft laid upon the cradle to keep it off the ground. The golf accessory body also has a ball marker support thereon including an edge opening and a front window in the body. The window allows for removing a ball marker of predetermined shape into the edge slot behind the window and to display the face of the ball marker through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: Miro D. Bellagamba
  • Patent number: 5511785
    Abstract: An improved golf club including a shaft recessing divot tool is provided. The divot tool is a body having a first end portion connected to the club, and a second end portion including two extending prongs. The first end portion of the tool is cylindrical and includes a slot which engages a pin located in the hollow end of the shaft of the club. The prongs at the second end portion are located side-by-side and include tapered end portions for penetrating turf or soil. The tool is movable from a first locked position in which the tool is recessed substantially within the shaft of the club, to a second locked and extended position in which the prongs of the tool extend outwardly from the end of the shaft for use by a golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventor: Richard E. Rusin, Jr.