Abstract:
Apparatus having a frame and an axle on which are two ground engaging wheels and in between the wheels is a plurality of spaced discs arranged to wedge golf balls between adjacent discs and to discharge those golf balls into a forward basket; half of the discs and wheels being in one of two separately rotatable sections mounted on the same axle, the wheels being slightly larger in diameter than the ball engaging discs and capable of functioning as load supporting wheels located at the ends of the axle, but inside the frame.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the widespread use of golf driving ranges there has come a need for devices that can rapidly pick up golf balls lying on the ground over a sizeable area of several acres. It is necessary for the proprietor of such a range to pick up hundreds or thousands of golf balls several times a day, wash them, and package them for reuse. Many different types of apparatus have been suggested although all generally involve a wheeled cart that can be rolled over the area, preferably pushed by a small electric or gasoline powered vehicle driven by a person. The method of picking up the balls has taken many different designs, although the most popular seem to be those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,365,540; 3,630,401; and 3,856,165. The varieties of design have been numerous, but there remained several reasons why improvements were still necessary. For example, some designs were too heavy and tended to mash some golf balls into the ground instead of picking them up. Other designs did not pick up enough golf balls in one pass over the area, and therefore, were not efficient. My patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,271  solves these problems by providing a novel, efficient, light weight retrieval device. Subsequent research, however, has lead to still further improvements. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and efficient apparatus for picking up large numbers of golf balls in one sweep of the area and which may be turned with ease. It is another object of this invention to provide an improved light weight golf ball retriever. A further object is to provide improved wheels to such retriever which wheels are protected and are part of the pick-up capability of the retriever. Still other objects will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a golf ball retrieving apparatus comprising a frame supported by an axle means and two ground engaging wheels mounted on opposite end portions of the axle means, a plurality of spaced generally rigid disc members mounted on the axle means between and laterally spaced inwardly from the wheels and adapted to turn respectively with the wheels. The disc members having a diameter less than the diameter of the wheels thereby spacing the outer edges of the disc members upwardly from the ground so that the outer edges do not engage the ground. A plurality of spaced, stationary fingers extend inwardly in the spaces between adjacent disc members with their fixed ends forward of the disc members and their free ends between the disc members, and basket means are located forward of the disc members adapted to catch balls stripped from between adjacent disc members by the fingers. The disc members are arranged in two substantially identical sections freely rotatable about the axle means with a substantially equal number of disc members in each section connected together by tie rod means adapted to cause all the disc members in one section to rotate together around the axle means independent of the rotation of the other section. 
     In specific and preferred embodiments of the invention the basket is removable from the frame to be emptied; the wheels are similar to the disc members except to be larger in diameter and thicker than the disc member and are located inside the perimeter of the frame; and the apparatus may be fitted with a guide wheel and a handle to be operated by a person pushing it from behind, or it may be joined to two or more others of such apparatus units to form a gang retrieval apparatus that may be pushed from behind by a power vehicle such as a tractor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken at 3----3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of this invention assembled with a front guide wheel and a rear handle bar for pushing by a person on foot; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of three units of the apparatus of this invention assembled in a gang arrangement to be pushed by a vehicle (not shown). 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section (enlarged) taken at A----A of FIG. 2 through two adjacent discs 23 in the center of section 44 or 45; and 
     FIG. 7 is a cross section (enlarged) taken at A----A of FIG. 2 through the center of shaft 25 between sections 44 and 45. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The features of the golf ball retrieving apparatus of this invention are best understood by reference to the attached drawings. 
     The apparatus unit of this invention includes a frame 20 having a forward portion 21 and a rearward portion 22 mounted on a laterally extending elongated axle 25. Forward section 21 contains a removable basket 33 to collect golf balls 34; and rearward section 22 houses axle 25 and the apparatus for picking golf balls up from the ground and delivering them for discharge into basket 33. The apparatus for picking up golf balls from the ground includes a plurality of disc members 23 which are spaced apart slightly less than the diameter of a golf ball, and which are sufficiently flexible to permit a golf ball to be wedged between two adjacent disc members 23 as at 35 and yet be sufficiently rigid as to retain that golf ball by frictional engagement between adjacent disc members 23. At the outer extremities of the plurality of disc members 23 are two ground engaging wheels 24 affixed to axle 25 so as to rotate with the rotation of shaft 25. Wheels 24 rest on the ground and are turned by friction between the ground and the wheels 24 as the apparatus is moved across the ground. Disc members 23 are slightly smaller in diameter than wheels 24 and therefore do not touch the ground. 
     Disc members 23 and wheels 24 are divided into two substantially equal sized sections 43 and 44, such that each section includes half of the disc members 23 and one wheel 24. Each section 43 and 44 functions as a separate unit in rotating around shaft 25; i.e., they each rotate separately with no connection between the two sections except that they both rotate around a central axle 25. A single hollow sleeve 29 extends concentrically around shaft 25 through all of the disc members 23 and wheel 24 in one section 43 or 44, and a second such sleeve extends through all of the disc members and wheel in the other section 44 or 43. Between sections 43 and 44 there is a single spacer sleeve 46. The disc members 23 and the wheel 24 of each section 43 or 44 are connected together so that all elements rotate around axle 25 in the direction of arrow 45 by reason of a plurality (e.g., four as shown) of tie rods 27 extending through appropriate holes in each disc member 23 and wheel 24 and fastened with nuts 28. Between adjacent disc members 23 are hollow tubular spacer sleeves around each tie rod 27 between adjacent disc members 23 to maintain disc members 23 and wheels 24 parallel and perpendicular to axle 25 and allow nuts 28 to be tightened. In order to provide appropriate stiffness and backing for the forces generated in tightening nuts 28 it is preferred to employ support plates 26 at opposite ends or each of sections 43 and 44. Preferably sleeves 29 are provided with one or more grease fittings (not shown) to admit grease to lubricate the space between sleeve 29 and axle 25. The purpose for having two sections 43 and 44 is to provide a differential effect for ease in running the golf ball retrieval apparatus on an arcuate path wherein the outside section 43 or 44 is required to turn faster than the inside section 44 or 43. It may be seen that in this apparatus sections 43 and 44 may be rolled over the ground where there are golf balls to be picked up and many will be wedged between adjacent disc members and picked up from the ground. 
     The golf balls 35 that are caught between adjacent disc members 23 are discharged by the fingers 32 of finger plate 31 that extend inwardly between adjacent disc members 23. Fingers 32 are stationary, and as sections 43 and 44 rotate, golf balls 35 will be dislodged from between disc members 23 and directed into basket 33 in forward section 21 of the apparatus. Preferably balls 35 are discharged into a basket 33 which is readily removable from forward section 21. It is to be understood that basket 33 need not be removable, and furthermore, forward section 21 may be structured to hold two or more smaller baskets 33 rather than one larger basket 33. 
     Disc members 23 are preferably made of synthetic plastic materials such as polyolefins, polyacrylates, polyacetates, polyamides, polycarbonates, elastomeric materials, etc. The preferred material is polycarbonate. Wheels 24 may be made of metal rims and rubber tires, but it is preferred that wheel 24 be a slightly larger, thicker version of disc member 23 and made of the same material as disc member 23. This preferred structure provides the ability to pick up golf balls between the wheel 24 and the next adjacent disc member 23, and also the possibility of mounting wheel 24 inside the perimeter of frame 20. This arrangement saves space and weight, and maximizes the efficiency of the unit. 
     In FIG. 4 there is disclosed the use of a single apparatus unit, such as that described above and shown in FIGS. 1-3, for a person to push around in collecting golf balls. An extension triangular framework 38 is attached to the front of section 21, as by bolts and nuts, and a guide wheel 37 is rotatably affixed to the extension framework 38. A handle bar 39 is attached to the rear of rear section 22. In this form the apparatus unit may be pushed around like a lawn mower. 
     If a larger operation is preferred three or more of the units may be connected by a gang assembly frame 40. Rearwardly extending bars may be attached to a tractor or other power vehicle for pushing the entire assembly over the area for retrieving golf balls. More than three units may be employed by suitably enlarging framework 40. A pintle connection 42 for each unit is normally suitable for attaching each unit to the framework. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show in enlarged views how sleeve 29 fits closely around axle 25 except for the central space between sections 43 and 44 where a spacer sleeve 46 is located. This arrangement shows how sections 43 and 44 can rotate separately around axle 25. Spacers 30 around tie rods 27 maintain the proper spacing between adjacent disc members 23 for picking up golf balls. The ends of tie rods 27 are threaded and nuts 28 are tightened so as to make all of the disc members 23 in each section 43 and 44 rotate separately around shaft 25. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.