U.S. patent application number 10/428599 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-04 for ball mark repair tool and method for repairing a ball mark.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fore-Products LLC. Invention is credited to Champion, Michael.
Application Number | 20040219997 10/428599 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33310446 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040219997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Champion, Michael |
November 4, 2004 |
Ball mark repair tool and method for repairing a ball mark
Abstract
The present invention discloses an improved ball mark repair
tool and method that quickly and easily repairs ball mark
indentations in golf course greens One embodiment of a tool for
repairing ball marks according to the present invention, comprises
a body and a corkscrew housed within and extendible from the body.
The corkscrew turns when extending from the body to turn into a
ball mark indentation and raise the indentation. One embodiment of
a method for repairing a ball mark indentation according to the
present invention, comprises driving a corkscrew into the ball mark
indentation area while the corkscrew is turning. The corkscrew is
then turned to allow the spiral of the corkscrew to pull up the
soil and turf in the indentation. The turning of the corkscrew is
then reversed to withdraw the corkscrew from the indentation.
Inventors: |
Champion, Michael; (Santa
Barbara, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jaye G. Heybl
KOPPEL, JACOBS, PATRICK & HEYBL
Suite 107
555 St. Charles Drive
Thousand Oaks
CA
91360
US
|
Assignee: |
Fore-Products LLC
|
Family ID: |
33310446 |
Appl. No.: |
10/428599 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 57/50 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/408 |
International
Class: |
A63B 057/00 |
Claims
1. A tool for repairing ball marks on golf course greens,
comprising: a body; and a corkscrew housed within and extendible
from said body, said corkscrew turning when extending from said
body to turn into a ball mark indentation and raise said
indentation to repair said indentation.
2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said body is cylindrical and
elongated, said corkscrew extending from one end of said
cylindrical body.
3. The tool of claim 2, further comprising a handle mounted on and
capable of sliding on said cylindrical body, the sliding of said
handle in one direction causing said corkscrew to turn in one
direction and extend from an end of said cylindrical body.
4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the sliding of said handle the
other direction causes the corkscrew to turn in the opposite
direction and retract into said cylindrical body.
5. The tool of claim 3, wherein said handle compresses a spring
when sliding to extend said corkscrew, said spring biasing said
handle to slide back and retract said corkscrew in said body.
6. The tool of claim 1, wherein said corkscrew turns into the ball
mark indentation as it extends from said body, said corkscrew
continuing to turn after it is fully extended to raise the
indentation to the level of the surrounding green.
7. A tool for repairing ball mark indentations on golf course
greens, comprising: a cylindrical body; a handle mounted at one end
of said cylindrical body; a base mounted to the end of said
cylindrical body opposite said handle, said cylindrical body
vertically arranged with said base at the bottom of said body over
the ball mark indentation and said handle at the top of said body;
and a corkscrew arranged in said base, said handle being operable
to cause said corkscrew to rotate and extend from said base to turn
into and raise the ball mark indentation.
8. The tool of claim 7, wherein said handle is capable of sliding
along said cylindrical body to cause said corkscrew to extend from
and retract into said base.
9. The tool of claim 7, wherein said base is capable of sliding
along said cylindrical body, said corkscrew extending from said
base when said base slides up said cylindrical body and retracts
into said base when said base slides down said cylindrical
body.
10. The tool of claim 9, wherein said base slides up said
cylindrical body when said handle slides down said cylindrical body
and said base sliding down said cylindrical body when said handle
slides up said cylindrical body.
11. The tool of claim 8, further comprising a first spring on said
cylindrical body, the sliding of said handle down said body
compressing said first spring, said first spring biasing said
handle up said cylindrical body.
12. The tool of claim 9, further comprising a second spring on said
cylindrical body, the sliding of said base up said cylindrical body
compressing said second spring, said second spring biasing said
handle down said cylindrical body.
13. The tool of claim 7, further comprising a helical shaft
arranged within said body and engaged by said handle, the operation
of said handle causing said helical shaft to rotate and causes said
corkscrew to rotate.
14. The tool of claim 7, wherein the length of said handle is
extendible.
15. A method for repairing a ball mark indentation, comprising:
driving a corkscrew into the ball mark indentation area while said
corkscrew is turning; turning said corkscrew to allow the spiral of
said corkscrew to pull up the soil and turf in said indentation to
repair said indentation; and reversing the turning of said
corkscrew to withdraw said corkscrew from said indentation
area.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said corkscrew is arranged at
the end of a body and said body further comprises a handle operable
to drive and turn said corkscrew.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said corkscrew is driven and
turned into the indentation by sliding said handle along said body
in one direction and said corkscrew is withdrawn from said
indentation by sliding said handle the opposite direction.
18. A hand tool, comprising: a body arranged over an area of turf
and soil; and a corkscrew housed within and extendible from said
body, said corkscrew turning when extending from said body to turn
into the turf and soil beneath said body, said corkscrew turning
further to raise the turf and soil beneath said body.
19. The tool of claim 18, further comprising a handle mounted on
and capable of sliding on said cylindrical body, the sliding of
said handle in one direction causing said corkscrew to turn in one
direction and extend from an end of said cylindrical body.
20. The tool of claim 19, wherein the sliding of said handle the
other direction causes the corkscrew to turn in the opposite
direction and retract into said cylindrical body.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to hand tools and more
particularly to a hand tool used to repair ball marks on golf
course greens.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One of the primary concerns in golf course maintenance is
keeping the greens in good repair, which generally means keeping
the surface smooth and keeping the grass green. This not only makes
the golf course more aesthetically pleasing but also allows puts to
roll truer on greens; both of which add to the enjoyment
experienced by the golfers on the course.
[0003] One of the objects of golf is to hit the ball on a green
from far away as possible. Golf balls can land on a green after
being hit from a distance of more than 200 yards. When the ball
hits the green, the surface of the green suffers an indentation
from the compression of the turf and soil on impact, referred to as
a ball mark. If the indentation is not repaired, the surface of the
green is less level and the compressed grass in the indentation can
die. This can result in a small brown patch of dead grass in an
otherwise green surface.
[0004] One of the most popular ball mark repair tools is a small
hand held device comprising a body with two parallel prongs
extending from the body. The body is held in the golfer's hand
between the thumb and forefinger with the two parallel prongs
extending away from the hand. To repair a ball mark using this
tool, the golfer must hold the tool in his hand with the prongs
directed down and bend over until the prong and hand are at the
level of the green's surface. The golfer then forces the prongs
into the surface of the green in and around the ball mark and lifts
the indented turf and soil. It can take several motions to fully
lift the indentation and after it is lifted, the golfer usually
steps on the lifted indentation to align the lifted area with the
surrounding surface of the green.
[0005] This process can be burdensome and awkward because the
golfer must bend dramatically and because of the numerous motions
required to properly repair the ball mark. The bending motion can
also result in back injury or fatigue. As a result, many golfers do
not properly repair their ball marks as can be evidenced by ball
mark damage to many greens.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention discloses an improved ball mark repair
tool and method that quickly and easily repairs a ball mark in
typically one or two motions. One embodiment of a tool for
repairing ball marks on golf course greens according to the present
invention, comprises a body and a corkscrew housed within and
extendible from the body. The corkscrew turns when extending from
the body to turn into a ball mark indentation and raise the
indentation.
[0007] Another embodiment of a tool for repairing ball mark
indentations on golf course greens according to the present
invention comprises a cylindrical body with a handle mounted at one
end of the cylindrical body. A base is mounted to the end of the
cylindrical body opposite the handle, the cylindrical body
vertically arranged with the base at the bottom of the body over
the ball mark indentation and the handle at the top of the body. A
corkscrew is arranged in the base, with the handle being operable
to cause the corkscrew to rotate and extend from the base to turn
into and raise the ball mark indentation.
[0008] One embodiment of a method for repairing a ball mark
indentation according to the present invention, comprises driving a
corkscrew into the ball mark indentation area while the corkscrew
is turning. The corkscrew is then turned to allow the spiral of the
corkscrew to pull up the soil and turf in the indentation. The
turning of the corkscrew is then reversed to withdraw the corkscrew
from the indentation.
[0009] In operation, the tool's base is placed over the ball mark
with the base's central hole over the center of the ball mark
indentation. The handle slides down the cylindrical body, causing
the corkscrew to extend from the body while it is turning. The
corkscrew turns into the turf and soil of the indentation. Once the
corkscrew is fully extended the handle slides further down the
cylindrical body and continues to turn the corkscrew, which results
in the grass and soil below being pulled up by the corkscrew. When
the handle is released and slides back up the body, the corkscrew
turns out of the raised grass and soil, and is retracted back into
the delrin base.
[0010] The holes left in the turf and soil by the corkscrew provide
the additional advantage of aeration. The holes leave an opening
for air and water to pass into the turf and soil, which allows for
faster re-growth of the turf and repair of the ball mark.
[0011] The present invention allows ball mark indentations to be
more easily and conveniently repaired. The user does not need to
bend over as far compared to the more popular ball mark repair
tool, and the ball mark can be repaired in fewer motions. This make
the entire process less burdensome and awkward, which can lead to
more golfers repairing their ball mark indentation. This in turn
can lead to golf course greens being kept in better condition for
the enjoyment of all golfers.
[0012] The tool and method according to the present invention have
been described for use in the context of ball mark indentation
repair, but they can also be used for other purposes. They can be
used in any application where turf and soil can be raised. For
example, the tool can be used to pull weeds by placing the tool
over the weed and allowing the tool's corkscrew action to pull up
the weed.
[0013] These and other further features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following detailed description, taken together with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ball mark
repair tool in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the tool shown in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the tool in FIG. 2, taken
along section lines 3-3;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation view of the bottom delrin base
used in the tool of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the bottom delrin base
shown in FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the top delrin base used
in the tool of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the delrin handle used in
the tool of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the main body used in the
tool of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a helical shaft used in
the tool of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a top bearing stop used
in the tool of FIG. 1; and
[0024] FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a bottom-bearing stop
used in the tool of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] FIGS. 1-3 show one embodiment of a ball mark repair tool 10
in accordance with the present invention. It generally includes a
cylindrical body 12, with a handle 14 at one end and a base 15 at
the opposite end. The body 12, handle 14 and base 15 can be made of
different metal or plastic materials with a suitable material for
the body 12 being aluminum and the handle 12 and base 14 being
black delrin.
[0026] The base 15 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, and
FIG. 6 shows the base's mounting component 16. The base 15 and
mounting component 16 are discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 and
3-6. The base 15 has an axial disk section 18, and a cylindrical
section 20, with the disk section 18 having a central hole 22 that
is aligned with the tool's longitudinal axis and opens to the
cylindrical section 20. The section 20 houses a corkscrew 24 that
is also aligned along the tool's longitudinal axis, with the
pointed end of the corkscrew aligned with and directed out the
central hole 22.
[0027] The base mounting component 16 is arranged to mount the base
15 to one end of the cylindrical body 12 such that the base 15
becomes an integral part of the body 12. The component 16 can be
made of many different materials, with a suitable material being
aluminum. The component 16 has a cylindrical shape with an inner
diameter slightly larger diameter than the cylindrical body 12 so
that the component 16 can slide up and down the body 12 with a
close fit between the two. The component 16 also has an outer
threaded surface 24 that mates with an inner threaded surface 26
(best shown in FIG. 3) on the inside surface of the base's
cylindrical section 20. After the mounting component 16 is
positioned on the body 12, the base 15 is threaded onto the
component 16 to fix the two together as on the body 12.
[0028] The handle 14 is shown in more detail in FIG. 7 and the body
12 is shown in more detail in FIG. 8, both of which are discussed
with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8. The handle 14 is sized so
that it can be gripped by the user's hand to operate the tool 10,
with the handle 14 being positioned at the end of the body 12
opposite the base 15. It has a cylindrical gripping section 28 and
a disk shaped pushing disk 30, although other embodiments of a
handle according to the present invention do not have a disk. The
disk 30 has a central axial hole 32 having a diameter that is
slightly larger than the diameter of the outside surface of the
cylindrical body 12, so that the component 32 can slide up and down
the body 12 with a close fit between the two. The inner surface of
the gripping section 28 has first and second regions 28, 28b with
different inner diameters. The inner surface of the first region
28a has an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter
of the outer surface of the body 12, while the second region 28b
has a slightly larger inside diameter than the first region 28a.
The handle is positioned on the body 12 with its pushing disk 30
closest to the base 15. The handle 14 slides up and down the body
12 with a close fit between the two. In operation the user grasps
the gripping section 28 and applies a pushing force to the disk 30,
causing the handle to slide down the body 12.
[0029] The body 12 has a longitudinal slot 33 running down much of
its length. The handle has an internal pin 34 that extends from its
inner surface toward its longitudinal axis. The pin 34 is sized to
fit within the slot 33 and ride within the slot 33 as the handle 14
slides up and down the body 12.
[0030] FIG. 9 shows a helical shaft 36 that is disposed within the
cylindrical body 12 and is discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 and
2. The shaft 36 can be made of many materials, with a suitable
material being stainless steel. The shaft 36 has a corkscrew track
38 running along its length. When the shaft 36 is disposed within
the body 12, a portion of the track 38 is accessible through the
body's slot 33 such that the handle's pin 34 fits can pass through
the slot 33 and into the track 38. When the handle 14 slides up and
down the body 12, the pin 34, slot 33 and track 38 combination
causes the shaft 36 to rotate within the body 12. The shaft 36
rotates one direction as the handle 14 slides down the body 12 and
rotates the opposite direction as the handle 14 slides back up the
body 12. The corkscrew 24 is mounted to the end of the helical
shaft 36, opposite the handle 14 so that the corkscrew is housed
within the cylindrical section 20 of the base 15.
[0031] The helical shaft 36 is held within the body 12 between a
top bearing stop 40 at the handle end of the body 12, and a bottom
bearing stop 42 and the delrin base end of the body 12. The top and
bottom bearing stops 40, 42 can also be made of many different
materials, with a suitable material being aluminum. FIGS. 10 and 11
show the top bearing stop and bottom bearing stop in more detail,
respectively and are discussed in combination with FIGS. 1 and 3.
The top bearing stop 40 has a cylindrical shape and generally
comprises a threaded section 44 and a larger diameter top stop
section 46. The threaded section 44 has threads designed to mate
with first threads 50 on the top inner surface of the body 12 (best
shown in FIG. 3), to mount the top-bearing stop 40 to the end of
the body 12.
[0032] The top stop section 46 has a slightly larger diameter than
the outer surface of the body 12 and the inner surface of the
handle's cylindrical gripping section 28. When the handle is at the
top of the body 12, the handle's inner edge 50 butts against the
wider diameter stop section 46, which prevents the handle 14 from
sliding off the body 12. The handle's second region 28b has a wider
diameter than its first region 28b, to allow the top stop section
to slide within the region 28b when the handle 14 slides down the
body 12.
[0033] The top bearing stop 40 also has top bearings 52 housed
within the threaded section 44. The smaller diameter section 54 of
the helical shaft is positioned with the bearings 52. This
arrangement allows the top bearing stop 40 to hold the helical
shaft 36 within the body while at the same time allowing the shaft
to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
[0034] The bottom bearing stop 42 also has a cylindrical shape,
with different sections having different diameters at their outer
surfaces. It has a threaded surface 56 designed to mate with the
second threads 58 in the body 12. To mount the bottom-bearing stop
42 to the body 12, the bottom-bearding stop 42 is turned onto the
body 12 causing threads 56 to mate with the second threads 58.
[0035] The bottom bearing stop 42 also has a bottom stop section
60, which has a slightly larger diameter than the outer surface of
the body 12 and the inner surface of the base mounting component
16. When the stop 42 is mounted to the body 12 and the base 15 is
at the bottom of the body 12, the inner edge 62 of the mounting
component butts against the wider diameter stop section 60, which
prevents the base 15 from sliding off the body 12.
[0036] The corkscrew end of the helical shaft 36 has a smaller
diameter section 64 that passes through the bottom bearing stop 42
and into the bottom delrin base 17. The bottom-bearing stop 42
includes bearing 66 having an inner surface with a diameter
slightly larger than the outer surface diameter of the shaft
section 64. The bearings allow the shaft 36 to rotate about its
longitudinal axis.
[0037] A first spring 68 is mounted on the body 12 and is disposed
between the handle 14 and an axial ridge 70 on the body 12, with
the spring urging the handle 14 to the end of the body 12 opposite
the delrin base 17. When not in operation the spring holds the
handle 14 at the end of the body 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,
with the handle's inner edge 50 against the wider diameter stop
section 46 of the top bearing stop 40. A second spring 72 is also
mounted on the body 12 between the ridge 70 and the base 15, urging
the base 15 to the end of the body 12 opposite the handle 14, also
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. When not in operation, the second spring
72 holds the inner edge 62 of the mounting component 16 against the
wider diameter stop section 60 of the bottom bearing stop 16, which
holds the base 15 on the body 12. Many different springs can be
used for the first and second springs, with suitable springs being
commercially available from Century Spring, Inc.
[0038] In operation, the tool 10 can be used in a new method
according to the present invention for repairing ball mark
indentations, although the tool 10 can be similarly used for other
purposes such as weed pulling. The user holds the tool 10 by the
handle's gripping section 28. The tool 10 is then placed on the
green over a ball mark with the disk 18 of the base 15 over the
ball mark such that base hole 22 is over the center of the ball
mark indentation. The user then pushes the handle 14 down the body
12, against the pressure of the first spring 68 and toward the ball
mark indentation. This causes the first and second springs 68, 72
to compress simultaneously. The compression of the second spring 72
causes the base 15 to slide up the body 12, which allows the
corkscrew 24 to extend from the base 15 through the central hole
22. The compression of the first spring 68 allows the handle 14 to
slide down the body 12. The pin 34 of the handle 14 riding in the
body slot 33 and shaft track 38 causes the shaft 36 to rotate as
the handle slides down the body. Accordingly, the corkscrew 24
rotates as it extends from the central hole 22, causing the
corkscrew 24 to be driven into the turf and soil of the indentation
as it rotates.
[0039] The base 15 continues to slide up the body 12 until the
second spring 72 is fully compressed between the ridge 73 and base
15. At this point the corkscrew 24 is fully extended from the
central hole 22 and has reached its maximum depth in the turf and
soil.
[0040] After the base 15 stops sliding up the body 12, the handle
14 continues to slide down the body 12. This causes the corkscrew
24 to continue turning without reaching any deeper into the turf
and soil. This turning action causes the turf and soil to ride up
the spirals of the corkscrew 24, effectively pulling up the turf
and soil of the ball mark indentation. As the handle 14 continues
sliding down the body, the first spring 68 eventually becomes fully
compressed between the handle 14 and the ridge 70. At this point
the turf and soil of the ball mark indentation will have been
pulled up to the level of the surrounding green. When the first and
second springs 68, 72 are compressed they urge the handle and base,
respectively, to the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
[0041] When the user releases the downward pressure on the handle
14, the first and second springs 68, 72 expand. This expansion
causes the handle 14 to slide to one end (top) of the body 12 and
the delrin base 15 to slide to the other end (bottom) of the body
12. This causes the helical shaft 36 to turn in the opposite
direction from when the handle 14 is sliding down the body 12. This
results in the corkscrew 24 also turning in the opposite direction
so that it turns out of the now raised turf and soil. At the same
time, the base 15 slides down the body 12, causing the corkscrew 24
to retract into the delrin base 15. This action allows the
corkscrew 24 to turn out of the raised turf and soil while keeping
the base at the raised height of the turf and soil.
[0042] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred
configurations thereof, other versions are possible. The tool 10
can use different components with in different ways. The components
can have different sizes and lengths. The handle 14 can be
extendible by using a telescoping type arrangement. Therefore, the
spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to the
preferred versions of the invention described above.
* * * * *