U.S. patent application number 12/784302 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for golf ball mark repair tool.
Invention is credited to Hirofusa Otsubo.
Application Number | 20100248865 12/784302 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42784976 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100248865 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Otsubo; Hirofusa |
September 30, 2010 |
Golf Ball Mark Repair Tool
Abstract
This invention is a hand tool for use by a golfer to repair a
ball mark including a flat handle and long axes of two parallel
blades. The said blades have an angle against the soil to constrain
the direction of the blades movements. Furthermore, the handle of
the tool has instructions how to use the tool correctly in words
along with an iconic instruction. Therefore, allowing a golfer to
follow the unique steps in sequence applying the specially angled
and shaped two parallel prongs only toward the desired blades
movements in order and prohibiting the unwanted blades movements in
order to fix a divot mark for the fasted divot damage recovery.
Inventors: |
Otsubo; Hirofusa; (Middle
Village, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Hirofusa Otsubo
6016 83rd Place
Middle Village
NY
11379
US
|
Family ID: |
42784976 |
Appl. No.: |
12/784302 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12229894 |
Aug 28, 2008 |
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12784302 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 57/50 20151001;
A63B 2071/0694 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/408 |
International
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20060101
A63B057/00 |
Claims
1. A ball mark repair tool including a flat plane handle and two
blades; the said blades disposed in planes parallel to each other
and perpendicular to the plane of the said handle and the blade
axes inclines about 35.degree. relative to the plane of the said
handle; the said tool is made out of about 1/16' thick single metal
plate, the blade axes position in parallel distanced apart
approximately 7/16'' wide, the said blades having the thickness
1/16'', length 7/8'', width at handle inner end 1/4'', width at
outer end 1/8''; the said handle and blades axes inclined about
35.degree. relative to the plane of said handle constitutes the
said tool angle about 215.degree. between the handle and the blades
on one side and about 145.degree. on the other side; the said
handle with the 215.degree. blades angle relative to the handle
applies as the tool front and the opposite side as the tool back;
the words "Repair using" in the first line, "motion 1" in the
second line, and "followed by 2, 3" in the third line are printed
on the back of tool handle and an iconic instruction is printed on
the right of the said three line words; the said iconic instruction
is an elevation view of a divot consists of a hemispherical ball
mark indention in the mid section covered by the surface turf along
with an indented turf laying down from the surface to the
hemispherical depression left side wall; the said indented turf has
a raised region by a ball impact and connected to the surface turf
at far left upper corner of the said hemispherical depression; the
said iconic instruction further has a print of the said tool
inserted on the left just outside of the said divot depression and
the next print of the said tool is inserted on the right just
outside of the said divot depression, facing the each tool front
toward the divot center; the said tool print on left side on the
said divot depression in the said iconic instruction is in position
to stroke the 1.sup.st class lever action indicated by an upward
circular motion arrow from the bottom of the said divot depression
along with a print of numeral 1 nearby the tool handle to
correspond to the said "motion 1" in words, instructing to
reposition an indented turf to the surface as the very first step;
the said tool print on right side of the said divot depression in
the said iconic instruction is positioned to make a horizontal push
action to stretch the surrounding healthy turf toward the said
divot center accompanied by a print of a horizontal straight motion
arrow toward the divot center along with a print of numeral 2
above, to correspond to the said "followed by 2" in words in order
to secure the said repositioned indented turf at the surface with
the stretched surface turf as the second step; the said tool print
on right side of the said divot depression in the iconic
instruction has an additional circular motion arrow pointing toward
the divot center with a print of numeral 3 at the handle top to
stroke the 2.sup.nd class lever action corresponding to the numeral
"3" in words to seal a final small gap to complete divot repair job
with turf as the final step.
2. A ball mark repair tool as defined in claim 1 makes possible the
said indented turf recovery action with the 1.sup.st class lever
action applying the tool front as the first step, followed by the
said straight push motion from the different divot edges toward the
divot center to secure the repositioned indented turf to the
surface as the send step.
3. The said instructions as defined in claim 1 make possible the
current invention to save the said indented turf by repositioning
with the 1.sup.st class lever action applying the tool front toward
the divot center as the first action, followed by the said
horizontal straight push motion from the different angles toward
the divot center to secure the said repositioned indented turf to
the surface with the stretched surrounding surface turf.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application
Ser. No. 12/229,894 which was filed Aug. 28, 2008 and is now
abandoned as of the filing hereof.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention is a hand tool for use by a golfer to repair
a ball mark, i.e. divot, the depression made by a golf ball landing
on a putting green.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] For the sake of the following description, consider the ball
mark as a hemispherical depression in a flat turf surface. A golf
ball making a hard or steep landing on a green often makes a
depression or "ball mark" on the green, making a tear in the turf,
exposing soil, and compressing the turf to indent. The indented
turf is alive and connected to the surface turf, but severed and
damaged by ball impact. It is very common that many golfers tend to
pry up the indented turf applying the prior art equipped with the
wide flat blades, in process cutting the indented turf off from the
original turf and exposing soil to the surface to create ugly
"brown spot" on the green.
[0004] A very important but not well-known skill is lifting an
indented turf and soil up to the surface without cutting the
indented turf off from the surface turf as the first step.
Immediately followed by the stretching step to fill the rest of
indention, as the second step, with the surrounding healthy turf
toward the divot center and secure the said repositioned indented
turf at the surface with the surface turf for the fastest turf
damage recovery.
[0005] The current invention consists of both a specially shaped
divot tool along with a printed illustration provides golfers for
the first time to repair ball marks with the skill for the fastest
divot damage recovery to improve the habitual brown spots making
skills with the prior art.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention includes a flat handle and long axes
of two parallel blades. The said blades incline downwardly about
35.degree. relative to the handle angling 90.degree. relative to
the flat handle. The parallel blades are distanced apart
approximately 7/16'' which is the adequate distance to fit to the
average size of a stripe of turf connecting the indented turf to
the surface by placing the blades thin edges toward the divot
center. The parallel blades are 1/16'' thick at blades moving edge,
approximately 1/4'' wide at inner end, 1/8'' wide at outer ends,
and 7/8'' long. Therefore, the said blades have an angle against
the soil to constrain the direction of the blades movement only
toward the blades thin moving edges and prevent moving the blades
at wide sides. The about 35.degree. handle inclination relative to
the handle is to create about 215.degree. blades angle relative to
the handle uses as the tool front and about 145.degree. blades
angle relative to the handle uses as the tool back.
[0007] The afore said specific blades dimensions and angles
relative to the handle by applying the tool front facing the divot
center makes possible to recover the indented turf back to the
surface with the least damage. If the 145.degree. blades angle
relative to the handle use as the tool front, the blades angle is
too steep to recover the indented turf with the 1.sup.st class
lever action resulting cutting the indented turf off from the
surface turf to die out. If the blades have only 1/16'' thick front
edges without blades width, these thin blades tend to cut more
roots than stretching turf and soil in the process of stretching.
Furthermore, if the blades have more than 2/16'' thick front edges,
these blades are too wide to recover the indented turf by tearing
off the indented turf at the strip connecting the indented turf to
the surface turf. On the other hand, if the blades have less than
1/16'' thick fort edges, these thin blades tend to cut more roots
than stretching turf and soil in the process of stretching.
[0008] The print in words "Repair using". "motion 1", "followed by
2, and 3" in three lines is on the back of the said handle and the
print of iconic instruction corresponding to the said words is
positioned on the right side of the said words. The said iconic
instruction is an elevation view of the divot consists of a
hemispherical ball mark indention in mid section of a block of soil
with surface turf with the indented turf laying down at the left
corner of the hemispherical depression wall. The said indented turf
has a portion of raised stripe region, by a ball impact, connecting
the indented turf to the surface turf at the far left side upper
corner. Furthermore, the said iconic instruction has two prints of
the present invention inserted just outsides of the divot
depression at each opposite ends, positioning the each tool front
toward the divot center. The said first print of the present
invention placed on the left poses to stroke the 1.sup.st class
lever action accompanied with an upward circular motion arrow drawn
from the divot bottom with a print of numeral 1 nearby to
correspond to the print "Repair using motion 1," in words, as the
first step. The said first step is to reposition the said indented
turf back to the surface while maintaining its connection to the
surface turf. The said second print of the present invention placed
on the right poses to make a push action to stretch the surface
turf toward the divot center accompanied by a straight motion arrow
pointing toward the divot center along with a print of numeral 2
above, as the second step. The said second step is to correspond to
the print "followed by 2," in words. Finally, a print of additional
circular motion arrow pointing toward the divot center is placed
near at the said second tool handle end, with a print of numeral 3
above the said straight motion arrow 2, posing to stroke the
2.sup.nd class lever action corresponding the print, "and 3" in
words, as the third step. The said third step is to seal a final
small gap to complete divot repair work with the surface turf.
[0009] Only the current invention provides a printed media on the
back of handle to instruct golfers to perform the said unique steps
in sequence applying the specially angled and shaped two parallel
prongs allowing only the desired blades movements and prohibiting
the unwanted blades movements to fix a divot mark for the fasted
divot damage recovery.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0010] Prior Art that I am aware of includes U.S. Pat. No.
6,565,458 issued 1993 to Cameron, U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,983 issued
2006 to Pietsch, U.S. Pat. No. D272,461 issued 1984 to Burns, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,529,299 issued 1996 to Bellagamba, and U.S. Pat. No.
6,733,402 issued 2004 to Chistensen.
[0011] Bellagamba and Cameron disclose a divot repair tool having a
flat handle and two flat prongs in the same plane of the handle
extending forward. They fails to prevent the blades to move side
ways; therefore, their prongs slide sideways all around an divot
edge by prying up soil while cutting roots underneath to creates
more brown spot damages. Bellagamba and Cameron are typical of the
Prior Art that is the object of the current invention to
improve.
[0012] Pietsch discloses a divot repair tool including blades
extending from a flat handle, the blades twisted in a helix along
their lengths. Pietsch fails to install 35.degree. inclination
relative to the handle; therefore, it does not suit to perform the
said motion 2 with the straight stretch stroke to push the surface
turf toward the divot center. Furthermore, Pietsch fails to provide
a proper instruction printed on the handle to recover an indented
turf at the very first step, therefore the helical blades and their
non-smooth surfaces are intended to achieve mechanical agitation,
manipulation of the soil resulting to create more brown spot
damages on the green. Pietsch is typical of the Prior Art that is
the object of the current invention to improve.
[0013] Burns discloses a divot repair tool including two blades
resembling a nail puller. By applying these thick two blades to the
said motion 1 to recover an indented turf, the Burns tents to cut
off the already damaged indented turf from the rest of the surface
turf to die out. Furthermore, Burns fails to provide a proper
instruction printed on the handle as the current invention to
recover an indented turf at the first action, the blades are
intended to achieve mechanical agitation, and manipulation of the
soil once inserted resulting to create more brown spot damages on
the green. Burns is typical of the Prior Art that is the object of
the current invention to improve.
[0014] Christensen discloses a divot repair tool with a pair of
prongs with about 30.degree. inclined to the handle on the front
and 180.degree. flat blades relative to the handle on the back.
Therefore, Christensen's blades naturally fit to move the 2.sup.nd
class lever action. The 180.degree. flat blades relative to the
handle on the back does not suit to perform the said motion 2
straight stretch stroke to push the surface turf toward the divot
center. Furthermore, Christensen fails to provide the adequate
blades thickness as 1/16'' and the blades distance 7/16'' apart to
each other; therefore, the prior art tends to damage the stripe
connecting the indented turf to the surface turf resulting more
brown spots damages. Finally, it fails to provide a proper
instruction printed on the handle to recover the indented turf at
the first action; therefore, the said indented turf will be buried
in the soil to die out with the 2.sup.nd class lever action.
Christensen is typical of the Prior Art that is the object of the
current invention to improve.
[0015] There is no prior art to provide a printed instruction on
the handle with the special skill to reposition an indented turf
and soil toward the surface along with a specially formed divot
tool to constrain unwanted motions and allow only desired motions
to fix a divot mark for divot quick recovery.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] In the accompanying drawing:
[0017] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view representing the present
invention exposing a tool front.
[0018] FIG. 1(b) illustrates an end view, as from the right end of
FIG. 1(a).
[0019] FIG. 2(a) is a top view of FIG. 1(a) exposing the tool
front.
[0020] FIG. 2(b) is a side view of FIG. 2(a).
[0021] FIG. 2(c) is a back view FIG. 2(a) exposing the tool back
with the print of instructions.
[0022] FIG. 3(a) is an elevation view representing a horizontal
push action to stretch the surface turf toward the divot center
with the prior art Chistensen US Patent No. 6,733,402.
[0023] FIG. 3(b) is an elevation view representing a straight turf
stretch action applying the tool front of FIG. 2(b).
[0024] FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view representing FIG. 1(a)
inserted just outside of the indented turf upper raised region
where the indented turf connects to the surface turf, facing the
tool front toward the divot center.
[0025] FIG. 4(b) is an elevation view representing the limited
actions of FIG. 1(a).
[0026] FIG. 4(c)-4(e) are elevation view of FIG. 4(a) illustrating
the use of the current invention in increment order of the motion 1
represented with FIG. 4(c), 2 represented with FIGS. 4(d) and 3
represented with FIG. 4(e) to fix a divot mark in sequence.
[0027] FIG. 4(f) is an elevation view of a preferred divot repair
result after the series of actions FIG. 4(c)-4(e).
[0028] FIG. 5(a) is a perspective view representing a prior art
inserted facing the tool front toward the divot center at just
outside of the indented turf upper raised region where the indented
turf still connected to the surface turf.
[0029] FIG. 5(b) is an elevation view representing the actions of
FIG. 5(a).
[0030] FIG. 5(c)-5(d) are elevation view of FIG. 5(a) illustrating
the use of the prior art with the said motion 1, the 1.sup.st class
lever action.
[0031] FIG. 5(e) is an elevation view of a poor divot repair result
after actions of FIG. 5(c)-5(d).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] In the drawing, FIGS. 1(a) to 2(c) shows the current
invention 20 from different views. The tool 20 includes a flat
handle 21 and the long axes of the blades 22 made with the same
material. The blades 22 is angled 90.degree. relative to the flat
handle 21 extending forward of said handle in planes parallel to
each other. The blade axes A1 and A2 are distanced approximately
7/16'' to each other in parallel position inclining downwardly
about 35.degree. relative to the handle 21. The blades sides 24 are
approximately 1/4'' wide at inner end, 1/8'' wide at outer ends,
the blades front edges 25 are 1/16'' thick, and the blades 22 are
7/8'' long.
[0033] FIG. 2(b) is a side view of FIG. 2(a) exposing 145.degree.
angle C between handle 21 and the blades 22 respectively of the
tool 20. The tool 20 applies the blades angle 145.degree. C.
relative to the handle as the tool back 21c and the opposite
215.degree. B angle as the tool front 21b.
[0034] FIG. 2(c) is a view of the tool back 21c exhibiting the
printed instructions in three line words 28 and the corresponding
iconic instruction 29; [0035] the said iconic instruction 29 is a
block of divot at elevation view consists of a hemispherical ball
mark indention in the mid section covered with the surface turf and
with the indented turf laying down from the surface to the
hemispherical depression left wall; [0036] the words 28 "REPAIR
USING", "MOTION 1", and "FOLLOWED BY 2,3" are printed in three
lines at left side in relationship to the iconic instruction 29 on
the handle back 21c; [0037] the said indented turf contains a
raised region by a ball impact at far left side upper corner of the
indention; [0038] the said iconic instruction 29 contains two
prints of the tool 20; [0039] the said first print of the tool 20
is inserted at left side of the divot facing the tool front 21b
toward the divot center indicating the 1.sup.st class lever action
accompanied by a upward circular motion arrow from the bottom of
depression with a print of numeral 1 to correspond to the "MOTION
1" in the words 28; [0040] the second print of the tool 20 is
inserted at right side of the divot, facing tool front 21b toward
the divot center accompanied by a straight push motion arrow toward
the divot center with a numeral 2 printed above the straight push
motion arrow corresponding to the "FOLLOWED BY 2," in the words 28;
[0041] the 2.sup.nd class lever action is marked with a circular
motion arrow print toward the divot center at the handle top
accompanied by a numeral 3 print corresponding to the "3" in the
words 28 as the final step.
[0042] FIG. 3(a) represents the prior art Chistensen 30 applying
the said straight push motion 2 to stretch health turf toward the
center of depression. However, the flat 180.degree. angle on the
back of tool does not suit to the straight push motion, instead the
blades act toward the 2.sup.nd class lever action naturally due to
the flat angle of the tool back in relationship to the blades.
[0043] FIG. 3(b) represents the tool 20 applying the said straight
push motion to stretch the health surface turf toward the divot
center. The present invention 20, defined as the blade axes A1 and
A2 distanced approximately 7/16'' to each other in parallel
position inclining downwardly about 35.degree. relative to the
handle 21, the blades sides 24 approximately 1/4'' wide at inner
end, 1/8'' wide at outer ends, the blades front edges 25 1/16''
thick, and the blades 22 are 7/8'' long, facing the tool front
toward the divot center, allows the said motion 2 horizontal
straight stretch stroke, then able to follow the 2.sup.nd class
lever action to complete the final step 3 by sealing a remaining
small gap.
[0044] FIG. 4(a) exhibits the tool 20 inserted just outside of the
indented turf facing the tool front 21b and the leading blades
edges 25 toward the center of depression avoiding the blades to cut
off the indented turf from the surface turf.
[0045] FIG. 4(b) represents the parallel blades 22 limited
movements with the single straight motion arrow toward the blades
thin moving edges 25 in the soil 17.
[0046] FIG. 4(c) represents the FIG. 4(a) in the elevation side
view in the motion 1 as the very first step to recover the indented
turf with the 1.sup.st class lever action accompanied with the two
circular motion arrows.
[0047] FIG. 4(d) represents FIG. 4(c) in continuation motion from
the other side of the divot to fill the divot with the said motion
2 to stretch the surface turf toward the divot center accompanied
by the two straight motion arrows. The motion FIG. 4(d) is the
essential following step to secure the repositioned indented turf
at the surface.
[0048] FIG. 4(e) represents FIG. 4(d) in continuation to fill the
divot with the motion 3, the 2.sup.nd class lever action, to seal a
final small gap to complete divot repair step.
[0049] FIG. 4(f) represents a favored result covering the divot
depression with the turf.
[0050] FIG. 5(a) exhibits the ordinary prior art 10 is inserted
just outside of the indented turf facing the wide blades 14 toward
the divot center. These wide blades application perpendicular to
the turf stripe, connecting the indented turf and the surface turf
18, is to tear off the indented turf from the surface turf 18 to
die out.
[0051] FIG. 5(b) represents the prior art 10 movements in both the
sideways toward thin edges of blades and the pry up move toward the
surface to expose the soil to the surface.
[0052] FIG. 5(c) represents the elevation side view of the FIG.
5(a)
[0053] FIG. 5(d) represents the FIG. 5(c) in motion as the very
first step to recover the indented turf with the 1.sup.st class
lever action by tearing off the indented turf from the surface turf
applying the wide blades 14 perpendicular to the indented turf.
[0054] FIG. 5(e) represents a poor result covering the divot
depression with the soil without the indented turf.
[0055] 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 is oriented as shown or
otherwise.
* * * * *