U.S. patent application number 10/958615 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for object retrieving device.
Invention is credited to Donald R. Novak.
Application Number | 20060073904 10/958615 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36126245 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060073904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Novak; Donald R. |
April 6, 2006 |
Object retrieving device
Abstract
An object retrieving device for use with an elongated member
includes a holder secured to the elongated member. A first recess
is provided in a first side of the holder, and a second recess is
provided in a second side of the holder. The first recess is
longitudinally offset from the second recess. A hoop has a first
end secured in the first recess of the holder, and a second end
secured in the second recess of the holder. The hoop is held in a
state of constant spring tension by the holder.
Inventors: |
Novak; Donald R.; (Chicago
Heights, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael R. McKenna
Suite 3800
500 West Madison Street
Chicago
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
36126245 |
Appl. No.: |
10/958615 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/286 ;
294/19.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 47/02 20130101;
A63B 60/00 20151001; A63B 60/06 20151001; A63B 53/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/286 ;
294/019.2 |
International
Class: |
A63B 47/02 20060101
A63B047/02 |
Claims
1. An object retrieving device comprising: A. an elongated member
with a primary end and a secondary end, and B. a hoop extending
from at least one transverse recess in a first end of a pin, 1.
said pin having a second end that is disposed in the primary end of
the elongated member, 2. said hoop having a proximal section that
is disposed in the at least one recess and a distal section
disposed opposite the proximal section, a) said hoop being
positionable in the at least one recess in one of a first position
in which the distal section of the hoop is disposed adjacent to the
elongated member near the primary end and a second position in
which the distal section of the hoop extends away from the
elongated member, whereby, a user can grasp the elongated member
and retrieve an object with the hoop disposed in the second
position.
2. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 1, wherein
said elongated member comprises a golf club, and said primary end
of said elongated member comprises a handle of said golf club.
3. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 2, wherein
said pin is inserted into said handle of said golf club.
4. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 3, wherein
said pin comprises a frustoconical tip.
5. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 3, wherein
said pin comprises an annular recess.
6. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 1, further
comprising a grip-enhancing surface on said hoop.
7. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 6, wherein
said grip-enhancing surface on said hoop comprises a rubber
coating.
8. An object retrieving device for use with an elongated member,
the object retrieving device comprising the following: a holder
secured to an end of the elongated member, the holder including a
first recess in a first side of the holder, and a second recess in
a second side of the holder, the first recess being longitudinally
offset from the second recess; and a hoop having a first end
secured in the first recess of the holder, and a second end secured
in the second recess of the holder, the hoop being held in a state
of constant spring tension by the holder whereby, a user can grasp
the elongated member and retrieve an object with the hoop.
9. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 8, wherein
the first recess is longitudinally offset from the second recess in
a horizontal direction.
10. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 8, wherein
the first recess is longitudinally offset from the second recess in
a vertical direction.
11. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 8, wherein
the elongated member comprises a golf club, and the holder is
secured to a handle of the golf club.
12. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 8, further
comprising a pin securing the holder to the elongated member.
13. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 12,
wherein the pin comprises a frustoconical tip.
14. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 13,
wherein the pin comprises an annular recess.
15. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 8, further
comprising a grip-enhancing surface on the hoop.
16. An object retrieving device in accordance with claim 15,
wherein the grip-enhancing surface on the hoop comprises a rubber
coating.
17. A method for converting a golf club into an object retrieval
device, the method comprising the following steps: providing a golf
club having a handle with a primary end having a centrally-disposed
hole; providing a tractor lynch pin including a pin, a holder
connected to the pin, and a hoop secured to the holder, the hoop
having a diameter sufficient to support a golf ball; and inserting
the tractor lynch pin into the centrally-disposed hole of the
primary end of the golf club handle.
18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the step of
providing a tractor lynch pin comprises providing a tractor lynch
pin including an annular recess, and wherein the step of inserting
the tractor lynch pin into the primary end of the golf club
comprises inserting the pin to cause the annular recess to engage
the golf club handle
19. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising the
step of providing the hoop with a grip-enhancing surface.
20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the step of
providing the hoop with a grip-enhancing surface comprises
providing the hoop with a rubber coating.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY-SPONSORED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
[0002] None
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates generally to object retrieval,
specifically to arrangements for retrieving remotely-located
objects such as golf balls.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0004] According to The Rules of Golf, "The Game of Golf consists
of playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole
by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules."
Golf is believed to have originated in Scotland and has been played
for several centuries in the British Isles. What we think of as the
modern game really came into being in the second half of the 19th
century in Scotland. The basic rules of the game and the design of
equipment and courses strongly resemble those of today. The major
changes in equipment since then were better mowers, especially for
the greens, better golf ball designs using rubber and man-made
materials beginning around 1900 and the introduction of the metal
shaft beginning in the 1930s. Also in the 1930s the wooden golf tee
was invented. In the 1970s the use of metal to replace wood heads
began, and shafts made of graphite composite materials were
introduced in the 1980s.
[0005] Although often viewed as an elite pastime, golf is now
increasingly popular and continues to attract ever more players
around the world. Golf is seen as "lifetime sport", capable of
being played from early youth until late old age. In addition to
providing beneficial social opportunities, the sport of golf is a
valuable source of low-impact exercise. A golfer walks an average
of 4.5 miles while playing a typical, 18-hole round.
[0006] While golf provides excellent exercise, there are some
aspects of the sport that present potential hazards. For example,
it has been estimated that a golfer bends over around 70 times
during 18 holes of golf. Although many of these instances occur in
placing tees, replacing divots, and other activities, the most
frequent reason for bending over is to pick up a golf ball. Bending
over repeatedly can cause undue stress on a golfer's back, neck,
and upper legs. This can be particularly risky for elderly or
handicapped golfers, who may have balance issues as well.
[0007] Not surprisingly, the need for assisting golfers in
retrieving golf balls has been the subject of a high degree of
inventive activity. Representative of such activity is U.S. Pat.
No. 6,692,374 to Colbo, which is directed to a retrieving device
including a support bracket and an expandable ball holder member
which has a pair of arms with outer end portions capable of being
flexed away from one another and having oppositely curved
configurations, and an intermediate structure rigidly
interconnecting inner end portions of the arms and pivotally
connected to the lower end of the support bracket such that the
expandable member is pivotally movable between a first position in
which it extends alongside the support bracket and a second
position in which it extends outwardly from the lower end of the
support bracket such that when the retrieving device is used to
retrieve a golf ball with the expandable member in the second
position the outer end portions of the arms thereof are forced
against the golf ball causing their outward flexing from one
another to fit around and support the golf ball for lifting it.
[0008] In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,558 to Huber deals
with a golf ball retriever attached to the handle of a golf putter
used to retrieve a golf ball from a playing surface and to
concurrently deposit a golf ball marker in place of the golf ball.
The apparatus includes a fork rotatably mounted to a support body
that is secured to the extremity of the handle of a golf club
shaft. The fork has a pair of arms which lie substantially in a
common plane and are arcuately curved toward each other. One of the
arms is longer than the other. A golf ball marker with a
turf-engaging spike is placed on the underside of the body
supporting the fork and is held thereto by a magnet within the
support body. The fork is moved toward the golf ball while residing
at a lifting angle inclined about fifteen degrees downwardly
relative to the golf club shaft. The arms of the fork engage the
undersurface of the golf ball and cradle it therebetween. Once the
golf ball has been cradled within the arms of the fork, the shaft
is pressed downwardly, thereby engaging the spike of the ball
marker in the turf. The fork is then moved laterally away from the
ball marker in a scooping motion, thereby overcoming the magnetic
force of attraction holding the ball marker to the support. This
leaves the golf ball marker in the former position of the golf
ball, while the golf ball itself is scooped up.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,389 to Furrow shows a golf ball
retrieval device adapted to be removeably secured to the handle end
of a golf club comprising: a golf club handle receiving member,
said receiving member being hollow and having a circular
cross-section throughout the length thereof, said circular
cross-section decreasing in diameter from an exterior end thereof
to an interior end thereof to form a hollow truncated conical shape
adapted to receive golf club handles of varying diameters therein
and to frictionally engage such handles by contact with the
internal surfaces of said hollow truncated conical shape; an end
plate radially disposed across the interior end of said truncated
conical shape to prevent entrance or egress therefrom; and, a thin
annular member affixed to said end plate at one edge thereof, said
annular member extending from said plate and from the truncated
conical shape to which it is affixed.
[0010] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,204 to Lempio, a golf ball retriever
is adapted for attachment to the butt end of a golf club to form an
extension thereof. The retriever includes a scoop adapted to
retrieve and retain a golf ball therein and a bent wire-like
attachment secured to the scoop and insertable through a standard
hole formed axially through the golf club grip for frictionally
attaching the retriever to the golf club.
[0011] In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,273,927 to Carlson is
directed to a golf ball retriever including a handle engaging
member in the form of a resiliennt collar which may be easily
slip-fitted over any suitable handle such as the hand grip end of a
golf club for example, or over an end of any suitable pole or rod.
Secured to the collar is a flexible and resilient strap defining a
loop which bulges so that its widest diameter is greater than that
of the collar and is of a size which will conveniently receive and
retain an ordinary golf ball.
[0012] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,264 to Dupont, a ball pick-up device
consists of a member that is adapted to be readily attached to an
end of a golf club, and wherein the pick-up device may be made of
an integral construction so that it embodies a resilient or
yieldable sleeve having an integral chink with a generally circular
ball pick-up member integral therewith, or else the ball pick-up
device may be made in the form of a yieldable sleeve having a
separate shank portion or support member affixed thereto and with
the circular element formed integral with or secured to the shank
portion as desired or required.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 2,524,527 to Jasmer deals with a golf ball
retriever in which the ball holding means is thereof is hingedly
connected to the base portion of the retriever, which is adapted to
be detachably connected to the iron head of a golf club. The ball
holding means may be swung between a working position in which the
ball holding means extends angularly away from the base portion,
and a storage position in which the ball holding means is disposed
substantially coplanar with and adjacent to the base portion.
[0014] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 380,026 to Frankel is directed
to an ornamental design for a golf ball retrieval device. The
device shows a fixed loop extending from the handle end of a golf
club.
[0015] Although these known retrieval apparatus provide assistance
in picking up golf balls, they present significant drawbacks. Many
known retrieval systems are relatively complex, resulting in
correspondingly high manufacturing and purchase costs, and low
reliability. Others are simple, rigid devices that are cumbersome
to use and carry.
[0016] It can be seen from the foregoing that the need exists for a
golf ball retrieving device that overcomes the shortfalls of known
arrangements in this technology.
SUMMARY
[0017] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
an object retrieving device for use with an elongated member
includes a holder secured to the elongated member. A first recess
is provided in a first side of the holder, and a second recess is
provided in a second side of the holder. The first recess is
longitudinally offset from the second recess. A hoop has a first
end secured in the first recess of the holder, and a second end
secured in the second recess of the holder. The hoop is rotatably
held in a state of constant spring tension by the holder.
[0018] The invention itself, however, both as to organization and
method of operation, together with further objects and advantages
thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an object
retrieval device in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed schematic perspective view of
an object retrieval device in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic front elevational view of an
object retrieval device in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic plan view of an object
retrieval device in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic side elevational view showing
various positions of an object retrieval device.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic side elevational view of an
object retrieval device used to retrieve an object.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be
described in detail, exemplary embodiments, with the understanding
that the present disclosure is to be considered as illustrative of
the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the
invention to the exemplary embodiments shown and described.
[0026] FIG. 1. illustrates an object retrieval device 10 in
accordance with the principles of the present invention. The object
retrieval device 10 is adapted to be secured to an elongated member
12, such as a golf club. The elongated member 12 has a primary end
14, here the handle end, and a secondary end 16, here illustrated
as the head end of the club. The retrieval device 10 is secured to
the primary end 14 of the elongated member 12. As shown in FIG. 2,
the object retrieval device 10 includes a holder 18 and a bale or
hoop 20. In FIG. 2, the retrieval device 10 is shown in a first
position in which the hoop 20 is disposed adjacent to the elongated
member 12. In this position, the retrieval device 10 is relatively
unobtrusive, and facilitates use of the elongated member 12, such
as in using a golf club to strike a ball, or easy storage of the
elongated member 12, such as placement of a golf club into a golf
bag.
[0027] Particulars of the construction of the retrieval device 10
can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The holder 18 of the retrieval device
10 includes a first recess 22 in a first side of the holder 18, and
a second recess 24 in a second side of the holder 18. The first
recess 22 is longitudinally offset from the second recess 24, in a
vertical direction D1 and a horizontal direction D2. The hoop 20 of
the retrieval device 10 includes a first end 26 secured in the
first recess 22 of the holder 18, and a second end 28 secured in
the second recess 24 of the holder 18. As illustrated, the
retrieval device 10 can be provided as a standard tractor lynch
pin, such as those available from a variety of tractor replacement
part supply sources. In the illustrated construction, the holder 18
of the retrieval device 10 is secured to a pin 30. The pin 30
preferably includes a shaft 32 provided with an annular recess 32
at a first end of the shaft, and a frustoconical point 34 at a
second end of the shaft. When used in association with a golf club,
the frustoconical point 34 facilitates insertion of the retrieval
device 10 into a centrally-disposed hole in the golf club handle,
and the annular recess 32 provides a shoulder for retaining the
retrieval device 10 within an end of the golf club handle. The
holder 18 and/or the hoop 20 can be provided with a grip-enhancing
coating or texture to further assist in object retrieval. In the
illustrated embodiments, the holder 18 and hoop 20 are provided
with a flexible rubber coating.
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates the range of motion of the retrieval
device 10. Due to the offset of the ends 26, 28 of the hoop 20, the
hoop 20 is rotatably held in a constant state of spring tension by
the holder 18. As a result, the hoop 20 remains stabile when
rotated to any position within approximately 110.degree. in either
direction from a vertical position P, as shown by arrows A1 and A2.
However, when rotated beyond approximately 1100 in either direction
from a vertical position P as shown by arrows A3 and A4, the the
hoop 20 is urged into its first position, wherein the hoop 20 is
disposed adjacent to the elongated member 12.
[0029] The retrieval device 10 is shown in a second, retrieval
position in FIG. 6. In this position, the hoop 20 of the retrieval
device 10 is placed in a desired angle to the elongated member 12,
and can then be used to retrieve an object 36, such as a golf ball.
In the illustrated example, the diameter of the hoop 20 has been
chosen to accommodate retrieval of golf balls. Since the hoop 20 of
the retrieval device 10 is held in position by spring tension, the
angle of the hoop 20 can be set to facilitate easy retrieval of the
object 36 in a wide variety of locations. Once the object 36 has
been retrieved, it can be removed from the hoop 20, after which the
hoop 20 is rotated into its first position for further use or
storage of the elongated element 12.
[0030] While details of the invention are discussed herein with
reference to some specific examples to which the principles of the
present invention can be applied, the applicability of the
invention to other devices and equivalent components thereof will
become readily apparent to those of skill in the art. For example,
it is contemplated that the object retrieval device of the present
invention will find utility in contexts outside of retrieving golf
balls. It will become apparent that other hoop sizes and
configurations can be applied in the present invention to
accomplish a variety of object retrieval tasks, such as assisting
handicapped individuals in reaching any manner of remotely-located
objects. Accordingly, it is intended that all such alternatives,
modifications, permutations, and variations to the exemplary
embodiments can be made without departing from the scope and spirit
of the present invention.
* * * * *