Patent ID: 6743113
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A golf ball retriever for engaging and retrieving a golf ball from a cup, the golf ball retriever comprising:a fitting adapted to be affixed to an end of a golf club shaft, the fitting having an inner bore therethrough, generally coaxial with the golf club shaft, the fitting including a lower annular portion with a plurality of annular tips formed on the outside thereof for engagement with the inside of the grip, the lower annular portion being adapted to be affixed about the end of the golf club shaft and enclosed within the grip; a plug sized to be received within the golf club shaft and retained by the fitting for limited longitudinal movement within the shaft; a retaining ring secured about the plug, the retaining ring having an outside diameter greater than the inner bore of the fitting for retaining the plug within the golf club shaft; a plurality of wires extending through the fitting inner bore, each having a first end secured to the plug and each having a second end; and a plurality of contact elements, each contact element being attached to the second end of one of the wires, each contact element having an external grip surface for engaging the golf ball and each contact element having a lower shoulder; whereby a user extends the wires from the golf club shaft to an upward position relative to the golf club shaft, the upward travel of the wires being limited by the retaining ring mounted on the plug retained within the golf club shaft, wherein the wires diverge in order to receive the golf ball upon being urged therebetween, the golf ball being engaged by frictional contact between it and the contact elements prior to retrieval of the golf ball from the cup.