Patent ID: 6692374
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A golf ball retrieving device, comprises:(a) a support bracket having upper and lower ends, a pair of opposite lateral sides extending between said upper and lower ends, a transverse opening formed through said lower end and between and open at said opposite lateral sides, opposite rear and front sides extending between said upper and lower ends, and first and second transverse recesses formed in said lower end respectively at said opposite rear and front sides and extending between and open at said opposite lateral sides; and (b) an expandable ball holder member including (i) a pair of arms having respective inner end portions and respective outer end portions extending from said inner end portions and capable of being flexed away from one another and being of oppositely curved configurations, and (ii) an intermediate structure extending between and rigidly interconnecting said arms at said respective inner end portions thereof, said intermediate structure being pivotally connected to said lower end of said support bracket such that said expandable ball holder member is pivotally movable between a first position in which said expandable ball holder member extends alongside said support bracket so as to place said retrieving device in a folded compact condition and a second position in which said expandable ball holder member extends transverse to said support bracket outwardly from said lower end of said support bracket and beyond said support bracket so as to place said retrieving device in an unfolded deployed condition in which when said retrieving device is used to retrieve a golf ball said respective outer end portions of said arms are forced against the golf ball causing said outer end portions to flex outwardly away from one another so as to fit around and support the golf ball for lifting the golf ball. (iii) said intermediate structure including a first cross shaft rigidly interconnecting and extending between said respective inner end portions of said arms and received within said transverse opening formed in said lower end of said support bracket such that said first cross shaft rotates within said transverse opening so as to pivotally mount said expandable ball holder member to said support bracket for undergoing pivotal movement between said first and second positions, (iv) said intermediate structure further including a second cross shaft spaced from said first cross shaft and rigidly interconnecting and extending between said respective inner end portions of said arms and receivable within one or the other of said first and second transverse recesses formed in said lower end of said support bracket respectively at said rear and front sides thereof upon pivotal movement of said expandable ball holder member correspondingly to one or the other of said first and second positions.