Golf accessory

This invention relates to the game of golf. Many items can be used by a golfer, such as for example, tees, ball markers, ball mark (divot) repair tools and items for cleaning the grooves located in the frontal surface of a golf club head. These items are typically held either in the pockets of the golfer or in a golf bag. The insertion and removal of these items can cause damage to a golfer\'s clothes and can be cumbersome to access.

Many devices have been devised in an attempt to facilitate the use and access to golf accessories. Some of these devices are golf related tools connected to a housing device by either pivotable or extending/retracting means, such as those of U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,173 to Miller et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,824 to Reimers; U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,062 to Taylor et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,042 to Braithwaite; U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,973 to Hsu; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,807 to Kerr. Other devices include a fixed divot repair tool of a forked design such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,937 to Jarosh et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,239 to Wait. Other designs are holder and tool combinations such as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,155 to Jacome. Devices have also been developed to enable the height adjustment of a golf tee, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,977 to Young et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,499 to Hsien and D492,374 to Barouh.

The discussion of issued patents does not mean that the inventions or features contained therein are in the general body of public knowledge.

The applicant believes that the present invention possesses distinctions over what is known in the art and possesses advantages over what has previously been available.

The present invention is directed to a golf accessory apparatus that can include an assortment of various golf related tools.

The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a golf ball support height adjustment apparatus, a divot repair tool, a golf club groove cleaner and a bottle opener/tab can pry tool. The apparatus can also include a ball marker.

The invention can further include a carrying attachment that at least a portion of the apparatus can be inserted into. The carrying attachment can provide a degree of protection from a sharp end of the apparatus and can facilitate the carrying of the apparatus by a golfer in a pocket, purse, or other holder. The carrying attachment can allow the golfer to insert and/or remove the apparatus from a pocket or purse without the potential for damage from a sharp end or surface of the apparatus. Desirably the carrying attachment can include an attachment means to facilitate its carrying. The attachment means, such as for a non-limiting example, can be a clip or clasp type attachment that can engage to a belt, belt loop or other form of clothing or item that a golfer might be carrying. The attachment means can comprise a cord or other type handle or alternatively can comprise a snap type mechanism that can engage a corresponding snap mechanism that is attached to an article, such as a belt or golf bag.

The present invention provides, in another embodiment of the present invention, the combination of a golf ball support and a divot repair tool that can also serve as a golf ball height adjustment tool. The device can include one or more ball marker(s). The ball marker can be of a design as to be used as a golf ball cleaner and can be attached to the ball support in a manner to be readily attached or removed.

The device can further include a bottle opener/tab can pry and can include a golf club groove cleaner. The device can include a carrying attachment. Means for attachment can include a cord, strap, clip apparatus or a handle apparatus.

The invention will be described by way of examples with reference to FIG. 1 which are not to be construed as a limitation upon the apparatus elements of the invention. The present invention is directed to a golf accessory device that can function as a golf ball support. In some embodiments the invention can also function as a divot repair tool. Embodiments of the present invention can be used as a ball height adjustment apparatus and can facilitate other functions such as for example, ball marking, bottle/can opening and golf club cleaning.