Abstract:
A device for grasping and retrieving spheroidal objects, including sport balls, and particularly suited for golf balls. A fork extending from an elongate shaft, has at least three resilient tines arranged to resiliently and circumferentially grasp an outer surface of the spheroidal object. Alternative modification to the fork incorporates provision for carriage of a plurality of objects within the device, without compromising the ability of the device to grasp additional objects.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a device for grasping and retrieving spherical objects. More particularity, the invention relates to a device for grasping and retrieving sport balls from the surface of the ground without the need to stoop or bend over to grasp the ball. With even greater particularity the invention relates to a device for retrieving a golf ball, which may be lying on or embedded in deep turf or grass. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The sport of golf is replete with various inventions for retrieving golf balls. Most golf ball retrieval devices are intended for retrieving an errant ball that may lie in a water hazard, or similar location, where it may be inadvisable or impractical for the golfer to readily retrieve the ball. Typically, retrieval devices of this sort have a basket or scoop located at the end of a telescoping shaft, so that the golfer may reach the inaccessible ball and urge it into the scoop for retrieval from the hazard. Devices of this sort are usually intended to recover a single ball at a time. Inasmuch as these devices are normally intended for retrieval of balls from water hazard, they are generally not suitable for retrieval of balls lying in turf. Given their utility on the golf course, such devices are usually capable of being carried in a golf bag with the golfer&#39;s clubs. 
         [0003]    Other types of golf ball retrievers are intended to pick up a large number of balls, such as during a practice session or on a driving range. Tractor drawn or driven ball retrievers are typically encountered on driving ranges where large numbers of golfers will practice and the volume of balls necessitates such larger equipment. In these cases, the balls are retrieved from the ground and are deposited in one or more large baskets or hoppers for subsequent distribution and reuse on the practice range. 
         [0004]    For the individual golfer, there are also retrieval devices that are readily carried which are capable of retrieving and holding a large number of golf balls, such as would be utilized during a practice session. These retrievers typically have a tube extending from a bag that may be conveniently carried by the golfer, such as being suspended by a shoulder strap or a carrying handle. With such retrieval devices, the end of the tube is placed over the ball and the tube will have a means of capturing the ball within the tube so as to prevent the ball from falling back out of the tube. Successive balls are picked up and ultimately disposed into the bag after a sufficient number of balls have been retrieved. A perceived shortcoming of such tube retrievers, is that they have difficulty in retrieving balls that may be embedded in the ground or deep turf. In the latter instance, grass may inadvertently get impinged between the ball and the tube such that upon lifting the retrieval device, the ball may be pulled out of the tube as the grasses exert forces against the ball. Even though these devices may be readily carried by a golfer, their size precludes them from being carried by a golfer on a golf course. 
         [0005]    In addition to the aforementioned retrieval devices, there is a need for a device that would permit a golfer to retrieve a single, or a limited number of balls that may otherwise be readily accessible. For example, golfers with a back condition that may limit their ability to bend over and retrieve a ball lying on the turf, or even a ball that they have successfully holed. Similarly, for golfers riding in carts, it may be desirable to be able to retrieve a ball from the ground, while remaining seated in the cart, particularly for balls that may be embedded or lying in deep turf. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention satisfies the foregoing needs and other objects of the invention by providing an apparatus for grasping spheroidal objects, such as sport balls, and which is particularly suited for grasping and retrieving golf balls. The device includes an elongate shaft having a hand grip at a first end and a fork extending from a second end. The fork has at least three resilient tines to circumferentially and resiliently grasp an outer surface of the object. 
         [0007]    Each tine has a base end proximal to the shaft and a distal end located away from the shaft. The tines are aligned around a common axis, each having an inwardly facing gripping surface facing generally towards the common axis. Preferably, the gripping surfaces are offset from the common axis by an distance RI that is slightly less than the radius of the object or ball that the device is intended to grasp and retrieve. The distal ends and griping surfaces comprise a grasping end of the fork. 
         [0008]    The arrangement and disposition of the resilient tines permits the grasping end of the fork to circumferentially grasp the object about its effective circumference. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tines are disposed about the common axis at equal angles and at equal distances RI. Suitable contemplated alternative arrangements of the tines may be described where a circle inscribed by the distal ends of the tines has a circumference that is slightly less than the effective circumference of the object intended to be grasped, and would likewise provide the desired circumferential grasping. 
         [0009]    In an additional embodiment of the invention, the fork may also be formed with a storage sleeve, capable of retaining one or more additional objects or balls, without interfering with or compromising the functioning of the grasping end. The tines are modified along the length of the storage sleeve portion so that an intermediate portion of the tine is offset by a distance R 2 , that is at least as large as the radius of the object or ball to be grasped. Embodiments contemplated for the storage sleeve would include those where the circumference of a circle inscribed by the intermediate portions of tines is at least as large as the circumference of the object intended to be grasped. 
         [0010]    The length of the shaft is selected so that the user may utilize the fork to grasp an object from the ground without the need to bend over. The device has particular utility for grasping sport balls, including golf balls. By selecting a grip and/or shaft combination corresponding to the intended sport ball, the grip and/or shaft combination provides an indicia of the sport ball for which the device is intended. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a frontal elevation view of a ball retriever according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention demonstrated with a golf ball; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a bottom end view of a single ball retriever showing a preferred disposition of tines about a common axis; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts a frontal elevation view of a multiple ball retriever having a storage sleeve demonstrated with a plurality of golf balls; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts a cross sectional view along line B of  FIG. 3 , showing a ball retained in the storage sleeve. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The device  10  of the present invention is particularly adapted for grasping and retrieving golf balls. However, it may be readily adapted and suited for grasping and retrieving a variety sport balls, or other spheroidal objects. The device  10  includes an elongate shaft  11 , having a handle or grip  12  at its first end, and a fork  13  having at least three resilient tines or fingers  14  extending from a second end of elongate shaft  11 . In the exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, shaft  11  may simply be made from a golf club shaft  11  having a grip  12  typical for a golf club. This arrangement would make the device  10  readily adapted to use as a golf ball retrieval device since it may be easily and conveniently carried in a golf bag along with a golfer&#39;s clubs. Moreover, the length of shaft  11  would be sufficient to permit grasping and retrieval of a golf ball  30  with the device without the need for the golfer to bend over. The length would and be such as to also allow a seated golf cart occupant to grasp a ball  30  without the need to exit the cart. Such arrangement would also provide indicia for identifying the sport or sport ball  30  for which the device  10  is designed, as the user would recognize the characteristic golf grip and shaft and associate the device with that sport. 
         [0016]    In a first exemplary embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 1 , fingers or tines  14  are arranged around a common axis A, defining the orientation of fork  13 . Tines  14  have a base end  15  and a distal end  16 , such that distal ends  16  are radially offset from axis A at a distance R 1 , corresponding to a radius of the object or ball  30  for which the device  10  is intended to retrieve. Distance R 1  is selected such that an inwardly facing gripping surface  17  of distal ends  16  are offset from axis A by a distance that is slightly smaller than the radius of object  30 . Preferably, distal ends  16  are also generally aligned in parallel arrangement about axis A and disposed thereabout at predetermined angles relative to each other, such that the distance between successive distal ends  16  is less than the diameter of object  30 . Preferably, axis A is aligned coaxial with a longitudinal axis of shaft  11 . Distal ends  16  should also have a length sufficient to receive a substantial portion of at least one ball  30  between gripping surfaces  17 . The disposition and arrangement of distal ends  16  as thus described define a grasping end  18  of fork  14 . 
         [0017]    In the preferred exemplary embodiments, distal ends  16  are depicted as disposed about axis A at the same angle and the same radius R 1  to define grasping end  18 . As may be seen, a circle inscribed by the points corresponding to distal ends  16 , will have a circumference sufficiently smaller than that of the spheroidal object  30  the device is intended to grasp. As such, that the gripping surfaces  17  will resiliently engage the outer surface  31  of the object  30  at or substantially close to its meridian. It will be appreciated, that the angular displacement and/or radial offset R 1  for each tine  14  and its associated distal end  16  may be varied and still accomplish the objects of the invention. Namely, that the circumference of a circle inscribed by distal ends  16  be slightly less than the effective circumference of the spheroidal object  30  intended to be grasped. 
         [0018]    As may be appreciated grasping end  18  is configured such that ball  30  is circumferentially grasped by resilient engagement of tines  14  with an outer surface  31  of ball  30 . In use, the device  10  is grasped by handle  12  and fork  13  is directed towards ball  30 . Upon contact of ball  30  by tines  14 , the resilience of tines  14  in combination with the curvature of the outer surface  31  and any rolling action of ball  30  will substantially align ball  30  with axis A. With continued urging of fork  13  against surface  31 , the ball  30  will quickly be engaged by each of gripping surfaces  17 . Once a sufficient portion of ball  30  is received in grasping end  18 , the resilient engagement of tines  14  against outer surface  31  will effectively retain ball  30  within grasping end  18 . 
         [0019]    It may further be appreciated, that device  10  is particularly adapted to retrieve a ball  30  that may be embedded in the ground or in deep turf. The use of the device is essentially as described in the preceding paragraph. Where the ball  30  may be embedded in the ground, contact of the tines  14  with the outer surface  31  of the ball  30  will substantially align ball  30  with axis A. However, since the ball  30  will not roll, the length of the device will provide sufficient leverage such that, provided the grip  12  is not held too tightly, grasping end  18  will be guided over the ball  30  by deflection of the tines  14  against the outer surface of the ball  30 . Tines  14  may be urged into the ground surrounding ball  30  where gripping surfaces  17  will engage outer surface  31 , permitting ball  30  to be retrieved when the device  10  is retracted, provided that the ball  30  is not too deeply embedded. If too deeply embedded, the device  10  may then be manipulated around the ball  30  to loosen the ground surface, or alternatively, to pry the ball  30  from its embedded condition. In the case where ball  30  is lying in deep turf, the disposition of tines  14  allow them easily to push through the deep grasses and still reach and grasp ball  30 . Finally, it should be noted that the circumferential grasping of the device  10 , is particularly suited to retrieval of a golf ball  30  that the golfer has successfully holed. 
         [0020]    In a second exemplary embodiment, depicted in  FIGS. 3-4 , device  10  further comprises a storage sleeve  19 , to retain a plurality of balls  30  while still permitting grasping end  18  to remain operational to grab subsequent balls  30 . This aspect of the invention is particularly useful where a golfer, after locating his or her ball  30  in some deep turf, discovers a subsequent ball  30  or balls that may have been lost or abandoned by another golfer. The subsequent ball  30  may be grasped and retrieved without the need to remove a preceding ball from the device  10 . Along the length of storage sleeve  19 , tines  14  have an intermediate portion  20  that is radially offset from axis A at a distance R 2 . In this instance R 2  is sufficiently greater than R 1 , such that ball  30  may be retained within storage sleeve  19  without distending tines  14  so as to prevent gripping surfaces  17  from grasping a subsequent ball  30 . As with grasping end  18 , storage sleeve  19  is defined by the preceding description of the arrangement and disposition of tine intermediate portions  20 . As will be appreciated, a circle inscribed by intermediate portions  20 , should have a circumference at least as large as the effective circumference of the intended object  30 . The length of intermediate portions  20  may be varied according to the number of objects  30  to be stored within storage sleeve  19 . 
         [0021]    While certain exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail, by way of illustration and for clarity of understanding, a number of modifications, adaptations, and changes will be recognized to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is limited solely by the appended claims.