U.S. patent application number 11/511896 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-28 for golf ball mark repair tool.
Invention is credited to Hirofusa Otsubo.
Application Number | 20080051227 11/511896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39197358 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080051227 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Otsubo; Hirofusa |
February 28, 2008 |
Golf ball mark repair tool
Abstract
A ball mark repair tool includes a flat handle and vertical
blades extending forward of the handle on parallel blade axes. The
blades are oriented in planes parallel to each other and normal to
the plane of the handle. The handle is adapted to be grasped
between a user's thumb and fingers, and the blades are adapted for
incremental movement through turf and soil.
Inventors: |
Otsubo; Hirofusa; (Middle
Village, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT J. BIRD, ATTY
86 FRENCH ROAD
ROCHESTER
NY
14618
US
|
Family ID: |
39197358 |
Appl. No.: |
11/511896 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 57/50 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/408 |
International
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20060101
A63B057/00 |
Claims
1. A ball mark repair tool, including a flat and substantially
horizontal handle, and a plurality of flat vertical blades
extending forward of said handle on parallel blade axes; said
blades oriented in planes parallel to each other and normal to the
plane of said handle; whereby said handle is adapted to be grasped
between a user's thumb and fingers, and said blades are adapted for
incremental combing movement through turf and soil.
2. A ball mark repair tool as defined in claim 1, in which each of
said blades, at the juncture thereof with said handle, is turned
relative to the plane of said handle, so that the planes of said
blades are perpendicular to the plane of said handle.
3. A ball mark repair tool as defined in claim 1, said tool being
formed of a single piece, and each of said blades, at the juncture
thereof with said handle, is turned relative to the plane of said
handle, so that the planes of said blades are perpendicular to the
plane of said handle.
4. A ball mark repair tool, including a flat handle and a plurality
of flat blades extending forward of said handle on parallel blade
axes; said blades oriented in planes parallel to each other and
normal to the plane of said handle; whereby said handle is adapted
to be grasped between a user's thumb and fingers, and a said blades
are adapted for incremental combing movement through turf and soil.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is a hand tool for use by a golfer to repair
a mark or depression in a putting green surface made by a golf ball
landing on the green.
[0002] A golf ball making a hard landing on a green often makes a
dent or "ball mark" on the green, exposing soil in the middle of
the ball mark. (For the sake of the following description, consider
the ball mark as a hemispherical depression in a flat turf
surface). To preserve the putting surface of the green, golfers
typically attempt to repair ball marks, first with a conventional
flat, pry-up style tool, then with a putter head or the golfer's
own shoe to pat down the uneven repair mark.
[0003] Conventionally, these repairs are made by: (1) inserting a
flat blade into the ground with the flat of the blade "facing" the
center of the ball mark, and; (2) levering the lower end of the
inserted blade upward to pry the turf, under the ball mark, up and
in toward the center of the ball mark.
[0004] Inserting a wide blade into turf, and then prying or
twisting the blade to raise the dented and damaged turf (and
exposed soil), severs the roots and tears the turf. Such ball marks
become brown spots on the green. This action causes direct damage
to grass in the ball mark area, and it impedes recovery of the
turf. It may also affect putting.
[0005] Prior art that I am aware of includes U.S. Pat. No.
6,565,458 issued May 20, 1993 to Cameron. Cameron discloses a ball
mark repair tool having a flat handle and two flat prongs extending
forward from it. Handle and prong surfaces all face up and down.
Cameron is typical of the prior art which it is the object of this
inventon to improve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In summary, this invention is a ball mark repair tool with a
flat handle and vertical blades extending forward of the handle on
parallel blade axes. The blades are oriented in planes parallel to
each other and normal to the plane of the handle. The handle is
adapted to be grasped between a user's thumb and fingers, and the
blades are adapted for incremental movement through turf and
soil.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] In the accompanying drawing:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a typical conventional ball mark tool.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an end view, as from the right end of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the action of the tool of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a ball mark tool according to this
invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an end view from the right end of FIG. 4.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates the action of the tool of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 1-3 show a typical prior art
ball mark tool 10, and its mode of operation. The tool 10 includes
a flat handle 12 and flat blades 14 extending forward of the
handle. The blades 14 are formed of the same flat piece as the
handle 12, so the flat of the blades is generally coplanar with the
flat of the handle (or slightly inclined relative to it, as shown).
FIG. 3 illustrates the prying action of this prior art tool 10.
[0015] In FIGS. 4, 5, a ball mark tool 20 of this invention
includes a flat or planar handle 21, and vertical planar blades 22
extending forward from the handle on parallel blade axes A1, A2
(FIG.5). Handle 21 is of a size to be grasped between a user's
thumb and forefinger. Blades 22 include sides 24 of sufficient
height to provide blade strength, i.e. vertical rigidity, and
top/bottom blade edges 25 to permit the blade to move through turf
and soil.
[0016] Blades 22 are in planes parallel to each other and normal to
the plane of the handle 21. Preferably, the tool 20 is formed from
a single piece with each blade 22 turned 90.degree. on its axis
relative to the plane of the handle 21.
[0017] In FIG. 4, the axes A1, A2 of the blades 22 are shown
slightly inclined relative to the handle 21.
[0018] The action of the tool 20 is illustrated in FIG. 6. With the
tool stuck into turf T and urged in the direction indicated, the
action is in the nature of a "combing" action to coax turf and
roots back to normal condition by stretching adjacent healthy turf
toward the damaged area to cover exposed soil with grass. In
addition, the combing action of this invention not only covers
exposed soil with healthy turf, and coaxes the turf and roots, it
also enhances aeration of turf and roots to promote their quick
recovery.
[0019] By comparison, the prying, compression and tearing action of
the wide flat prior art tools 10 kills grass and exposes brown
soil. The prior art tool 10, with its transverse blades, inherently
severs more roots than do the vertical blades of this invention
because grass roots extend more downward than outward.
[0020] Any terms indicative of orientation are used with reference
to drawing illustrations. Such terms are not intended as
limitations but as descriptive words. Apparatus described herein
retains its described character whether it be oriented as shown or
otherwise.
[0021] The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of this
invention sets forth the best mode presently contemplated by the
inventor of carrying out this invention. Any details as to
materials, quantities, dimensions, and the like are intended as
illustrative. The concept and scope of the invention are limited
not by the description but only by the following claims and
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *