| Ball retrieving device -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Ball retrieving deviceRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Practice Swingable Implement Or Indicator Associated With Swingable ImplementBall retrieving device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070066416, Ball retrieving device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/874,163 filed Jun. 24, 2004 entitled Practice Putting and Ball Retrieving Device. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to the field of golf and in particular to a device for picking up golf balls without having to bend over. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In the sport of golf it is generally understood that in order to improve a player's game, the player must practice. This is because golf, both the so-called long game and short game, requires both a high degree of eye-to-hand coordination and a developed muscle-memory for successful play. [0004] In the long game, hazards along and adjacent the fairway add an element of risk and tension, so that an inaccurate drive or hit is penalized by a hazard, if hit by the ball, causing the player a greater difficulty in recovering without a loss of a number of strokes. One such hazard typically includes water in the form of natural or man-made water bodies such as ponds, lagoons, the ocean, etc. Inevitably, a player while practicing to improve the player's golf game will drive or hit a golf ball into a water hazard. If the ball lands near the shore of the water hazard it may be retrieved if the player can reach into the water or has a ball retrieval device to hand. The present invention conveniently provides the latter. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The golf ball retrieval device according to the present invention is an annular collar sized for a snug friction fit onto a conventional golf ball. The collar is mounted onto the end of an elongate member such as a golf club at the grip end or in other embodiments onto, a pole, or the like. In use the golf ball is frictionally lodged within the collar by tapping the collar down onto the ball and the collar retrieved by the lifting or pulling on the elongate member. The golf ball's slightly resilient outer surface slightly deforms as the ball wedges into the collar. The collar may have a nominal one inch depth and a nominal two inch opening for receiving the golf ball. The collar holds the golf ball in the manner of an egg sitting in an egg cup. The rim of the collar is chamfered to accommodate a narrow range of golf ball diameters within a tolerance of, for example, ten to fifteen thousandths of an inch. [0006] The collar may have a threaded hole in its side. A threaded spike may be provided to threadably mount into the hole for mounting of the collar on the spike. The spike may be used to mount the collar into the hole typically found on the end of a golf club grip. This allows the club to be held inverted and used as the elongate member for retrieving golf balls. [0007] In summary, the golf ball retrieval device according to one aspect of the present invention may be characterized by an annular cylindrical collar having a ball-receiving bore defined by the cylinder and a corresponding bore axis of symmetry (herein the bore axis). The cylinder has a pair of parallel rims at opposite ends of the bore. The collar has a height dimension parallel to the bore axis. The height dimension is less than the diameter of the collar measured perpendicular to the bore axis. The collar has a substantially cylindrical outside surface disposed radially outwardly of the bore axis. [0008] The diameter of the bore is sufficient for a snug friction fit of the collar onto the slightly resilient outer surface of a standard sized golf ball, preferably without the maximum girth of the golf ball fitting into the bore which would otherwise make retrieving the ball from the collar more difficult. Because all so-called standard diameter golf balls in fact may have a diameter within a narrow range of diameters, that is, within a small range of different diameters, advantageously the rims are beveled to provide a ball diameter tolerance range so as to accommodate the corresponding range of sizes of golf balls. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is, in perspective view, the ball retrieving device according to the present invention picking up a golf ball. [0010] FIG. 2 is, in exploded view, the golf ball retrieving head of the golf ball retrieving device of FIG. 1. [0011] FIG. 3 is, in assembled view, the ball retrieving head of FIG. 2. [0012] FIG. 4 is, in perspective view, the ball retrieving collar of the ball retrieving head of FIG. 3. [0013] FIG. 5 is, in perspective view, the ball retrieving collar of FIG. 4 having a golf ball mounted therein. [0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 in FIG. 4. [0015] FIG. 7 is, in partially exploded perspective view, the golf ball retrieving head of FIG. 3 and a storage and carriage clip for storage and carriage of the ball retrieving head. [0016] FIG. 8 is, in perspective view, the ball retrieving head and clip of FIG. 7 with the ball retrieving head mounted into the clip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0017] With reference to the accompanying figures wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, the golf ball retrieval device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an annular cylindrical collar 10 having a ball-receiving bore 12 defined by the cylinder of the collar. Bore 12 has a corresponding bore axis of symmetry A, alternatively referred to herein as the bore axis A. Collar 10 has a height dimension h parallel to bore axis A. Height dimension h is less than the diameter d of collar 10 measured perpendicular to bore axis A. Collar 10 has a substantially cylindrical outside surface 14 disposed radially outwardly of bore axis A. [0018] In the embodiment illustrated, which is not intended to limiting, a threaded hole 18 is formed within surface 14 and extends through the side wall of collar 10 so as to open into bore 12. In a preferred embodiment, a spike 20 is provided having, at a first end, a point 22 and at its opposite end a threaded male member 24. Threaded male member 24 is sized for threaded engagement in threaded hole 18. Continue reading about Ball retrieving device... Full patent description for Ball retrieving device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ball retrieving device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Ball retrieving device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Compact golf facility and a method of playing a golf game Next Patent Application: Training device Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Ball retrieving device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.28521 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
