Patent ID: 7845048
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: A63B,E01H

Abstract:
1. A light-weight air-blower for use on a putting green such that a golfer can remove sand, leaves, grass clippings and other loose impediments during putting procedures, said air-blower comprising: a cylindrical housing formed from non-corrosive material and suitably sized for being transported during a round a golf, said housing having a centrally registered longitudinal axis and a cavity concentrically centered about the axis, said housing further having an open distal end portion in fluid communication with the cavity and a closed proximal end portion; a tubular conduit directly conjoined to said housing and provided with proximal and distal end portions oppositely registered along the longitudinal axis, said conduit being telescopically adjustable along a rectilinear length; means for discharging a selected volume of air away from said conduit; a power supply source electrically coupled to said air discharging means, said power supply source being contained within said housing, wherein said power supply source comprises a 6-volt rechargeable battery pack, said power supply source further including first and second power cords selectively connectable to said battery pack so that the golfer can recharge said battery pack from a cigarette lighter or a electrical wall outlet respectively; a quick-release fastener directly connected to said proximal end portion of said housing so that the golfer can effectively attach said air-blower directly to a belt region of the golfer's pants; and means for splitting the volume of air along a plurality of unique paths such that the air flows substantially parallel to the putting green surface while said conduit is oriented at an oblique angle sloping distally and downwardly towards the putting green surface; wherein said air volume splitting means is directly conjoined to said distal end of said conduit and is further situated exterior of said conduit such that said air volume splitting means is located downstream of said distal end of said conduit; wherein said plurality of unique paths are defined external of said distal end of said conduit and are located downstream of said distal end of said conduit; wherein said air-splitting means comprises: a nozzle having an annular proximal end portion directly conjoined to said distal end portion of said conduit, said nozzle including a plurality of linear dividers nested within said nozzle and having opposed end portions abutted directly against said proximal end portion of said nozzle and a distal end portion of said nozzle respectively, said dividers splitting the air into three distinct and isolated paths wherein a first one of said paths is registered parallel to a longitudinal length of said dividers, second and third ones of said paths diverging outwardly from the longitudinal axis wherein the air flows along a coextensive plane with said first path; wherein said air-discharging means comprises: a plurality of flaps suitably sized and shaped for covering said second and third paths such that the air is prevented from flowing therethrough, each said flaps including a hinge directly conjoined to one said end portions of said dividers, said flaps being independently adaptable between open and closed positions, each said flaps further including a plurality of tabs protruding outwardly from a perimeter thereof respectively; and wherein said nozzle further has distally flaring side walls being provided with a plurality of slots wherein said tabs are removably positional into the slots for maintaining said flaps at the closed position during operating conditions.