U.S. patent number 3,808,739 [Application Number 05/356,790] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-07 for golf course water collector apparatus.
Invention is credited to Jack S. Newgent.
United States Patent |
3,808,739 |
Newgent |
May 7, 1974 |
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.
Inventors: |
Newgent; Jack S. (Kissimmee,
FL) |
Family
ID: |
23402966 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/356,790 |
Filed: |
May 3, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
47/1.5; 15/245;
401/14; 401/48; 404/101 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
57/50 (20151001); E01H 1/108 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E01H
1/00 (20060101); E01H 1/10 (20060101); A63B
57/00 (20060101); A01c 023/00 (); A46b
015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;47/1.5,1 ;37/48
;172/439 ;15/236A,245,118,121,29R ;404/101 ;401/14,48,261 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Fisher; J. Reed
Assistant Examiner: Eickholt; Eugene H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Duckworth, Hobby & Allen
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.
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.
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