Golf Course Water Collector Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting standing water on a golf course and spreading the water over a larger area of the golf course thereby allowing the use of the course following heavy rains. An elongated frame has a three-point hitch for connection to a golf course tractor and has a rolled rubber flap water collector for pulling across the turf which collects the water in the front of the frame and flap and distributes it over the golf course.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf course maintenance equipment and especially to equipment for collecting water in low spots on a golf course following heavy rains and spreading the water over other areas of the golf course so that the golf course can be used after heavy rains.

In the past various types of golf course equipment have been utilized in the maintenance and use of golf courses which includes equipment, such as devices for collecting golf balls, and mowing and maintaining grass on the golf course. One such device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,730 for Golf Green Drag in which an apparatus is dragged over golf greens to remove dew or other moisture as well as fungus growth, leaves and twigs from the green surfaces. Other golf instruments include U.S. Pat. No. 1,657,322 which illustrates an implement attached to a golf club for smoothing turf on a golf course; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,524,421 illustrates a Sand Green Scraper for Golf Links, which is also attachable to a golf club. U.S. Pat. No. 2,694,880 illustrates a Putting Green Sweeper for improving the condition of putting greens where it is necessary to have an extremely smooth and unobstructed area.

The present invention is used to remove casual water which is settled in low spots on the fairways and other parts of the golf course following a heavy rain in which the apparatus may be hooked to a golf course turf tractor and run over the golf course so that in an hour or so following the rain the golf course can be ready for use again, whereas in some areas it requires waiting two or three days before the golf course would be in condition for use. This was especially so in areas of high water levels with slow drainage. The present device is pulled by a tractor and pulls standing water on rough spots or high areas on the course where it can drain properly, allowing the use of the course considerably sooner than was previously the case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf course water collector apparatus in which an elongated frame can act as a dam portion that has two ends to prevent the flow of water around the edges of the elongated frame. The top edge of the frame may have a top covering portion attached thereto along with a three-point hitch for hitching to golf course turf tractors. A resilient rolled rubber flap is connected to the bottom edge of the frame for riding on the turf. The apparatus can be quickly hooked to a golf course turf tractor and pulled behing the tractor over the low spots and water puddles so that the flap pulls the water in front thereof and in front of the frame dam while the tractor is driven over high areas where the water is distributed in a thin even manner for more rapid drainage and evaporation. The frame has end portions angled to prevent the water from running around the edges.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a study of the written description and the drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf course water collector apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end sectional view of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, a golf course water collecting apparatus 10 is illustrated having a frame 11 which has end portions 12 and 13 and a top 14. The frame has top edge 15, bottom edge 16 and a three-point tractor hitch 17 attached to the top thereof, which hitch connects with the golf course turf tractors. The bottom edge 16 has a resilient rolled rubber flap 18 attached thereto and wrapped around the edge to form a dam with the frame 11. The rolled rubber flap is attached with bolts 20 but could be attached in any manner desired, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The flap 18 has a bottom edge 21 which rides across the turf for collecting the water in front thereof and in front of frame 11. A reinforcing bar 22 may also be provided for reinforcing the frame against the stresses encountered in dragging over the turf without wheels or rolling surfaces. It should be noted that the flap 18 can be easily changed when worn out by removing the bolts 20 and attaching a new rolled rubber flat member. The flap 18 may be made of rubber, or a synthetic rubber or any resilient rubber-like material without departing from the scope of the invention.

A three-point hitch 17 has a center point 23 having a protruding hitching element 24 with an opening 25 therein which is attached to the frame 11 at a point 27, such as by welding. Extended hitch attachment bars 27 and 28 form the other two points of the three-point hitch 17 and are interconnected by a pair of reinforcing bars 30 and 31 which may be welded to the bar 23 and to the bars 27 and 28. Hitch bars 27 and 28 are attached to the top 14 and may also be attached to the frame 11 and each includes pin members 33 for attaching to a three-point hitch golf course tractor.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the end and front views are illustrated in which the apparatus 10 has the hitching 17 attached thereto and the frame 11 has end portions 12 and 13 thereon and rubber flap 18 attached on the bottom edge 16 by bolts 20 and has reinforcing member 22 attached to the front of the frame 11. The top portion of the frame 14 along with the top edge 15 of the frame 11 has the central member 23 of the hitch 17 attached thereto which can be seen to be angled upward, then at a lesser angle outward where it has the attaching tabs 24 with openings 24 therethrough and has reinforcing members 30 and 31 attached to the other two points 27 and 28 of the three-point hitch. The end portion of bar 28 has an opening 32 for use with the pins 33 (FIG. 1) for attaching to the back of the tractor. In operation the apparatus 10 is connected to the back of the golf course turf tractor with the three-point hitch 17 and then pulled so that the bottom 21 of the flaps 18 rides over the turf and the tractor directed through puddles with one or more passes which collects the water in the dam formed by the flap 18 and frame 11 and drags it out where it is evenly spread over high areas where it rapidly drains and evaporates so that the entire golf course becomes sufficiently dry more rapidly for use after a heavy rain. The rolled flap 18 allows the apparatus 10 to ride over turf while providing a water collecting surface and shock absorbing characteristics.

It should of course be clear that other embodiments are contemplated and this invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed herein since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims

I claim:

1. A golf course water collecting and spreading apparatus comprising in combination:

a. an elongated frame having two end portions, and top and bottom edges;

b. a resilient rolled flap connected to the bottom edge of said elongated frame for riding over turf, said flap being an elongated flat flexible piece of material having its elongated edges attached to the bottom edge of said elongated frame to provide a smooth resilient surface to ride on turf;

c. hitching means for removably hitching said frame to a turf tractor, said hitching means having a three point turf tractor hitch, whereby said apparatus can be pulled along to collect water in front of said frame and resilient rolled edge for spreading water collected over the turf.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said elongated frame has an elongated reinforcing member attached thereto for reinforcing said frame.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said elongated frame includes a top portion thereby forming a water dam having a front, side and top damming portions.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said frame end portions are angled from the remainder of said elongated frame to prevent the escape of water around the ends of said frame.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said rolled flap is removably bolted to the bottom edge of said elongated frame.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said three-point hitching means includes three hitching bars extending from said frame in predetermined spaced relationship and having openings therein for pinning to a tractor hitch.