Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a turf repair tool having a base member with first and second portions. The first portion has a pair of prongs for inserting into the turf. The second portion is oppositely disposed on the base member from the extension. A spinning wheel, aided by ball bearings is integrated into the tool o provide rotational movement of the first and second portions. Additionally, an angle is disposed between the first and second portions such that the two portions are not co-planar and therefore leverage is increased during the turf repair process.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a divot repair tool for quickly and effectively repairing irregularities and ball marks produced by the impact of a golf ball on a golf course putting green. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the game of golf, irregularities such as indentations on the playing turf are often formed when a golf ball or a golf club impacts the playing turf or the grounds of the golf course. Such irregularities can create undesirable playing conditions especially when the irregularities are formed on the putting green, where special care has been taken by the grounds keepers to maintain a smooth and well-manicured playing surface. These irregularities, however, are often inevitable during a regular round of golf. Fortunately, the damage may often be mitigated or minimized by lifting the soil surrounding the irregularity. Moreover, these irregularities often heal faster when they are mended shortly after they are formed. Accordingly, as common courtesy to others, golfers often fix or mend these irregularities during the course of play as a part of their game to maintain a smooth playing surface for subsequent players. 
         [0003]    One type of turf irregularity associated with the game of golf is a ball mark, or often referred to as a divot, that is formed when the golf ball lands on the ground with sufficient force as to make a mark thereon. Alternatively, irregularities of the playing turf may be formed by the golf club during the execution of a golf swing. As used herein, a ball mark refers generally to all types of irregularities formed on the playing turf of the golf course by a player during the golf game either on the putting green, fairway or any other part of the course by a golf ball or a golf club. A ball mark can be substantial in size especially when the ground is soft due to moisture. Many devices have been created to mend ball marks. These devices are often constructed so that they are compact in size and may be easily carried by the golfers to perform this function. 
         [0004]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,371 to Strahan discloses a golfer&#39;s aid having a body in the shape of a clip that is attachable to the belt loop on a golfer. A blade is rotatably attached to the clip and is rotatable to expose a divot repair tool. The divot repair tool has a general U-shape with two elongated members to serve as the divot tool. The user grips the body and inserts the elongated members into the soil surrounding the divot or ball mark. The base member is then pivoted against the index finger of the golfer to loosen the impacted soil created by the golf club or ball. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,458 to Cameron, is directed to an angled tool having first and second members and a pivot member for movement between the members. The tool includes two legs extending from a base member that are spaced part at their open ends. The legs are tapered slightly and are inserted into the sod to repair a divot. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The invention is directed to a hand-held turf repair tool for repairing impacted turf of a golf course. The tool comprises a base member having a first and second portion, wherein the first portion has a pair of extension prongs capable of being inserted into the impacted turf. The second portion incorporates a handle to provide for leverage in the divot repairing procedure. To assist in the ease of In the repairing the divot, the tool contains a pivot member with a freely rotational wheel. The wheel includes a plurality of ball bearings to aid in the substantially friction-free wheel rotation about a fixed dowell. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment the turf repair tool is about 0.00 inches in diameter, with the first and second portions forming an angle of about 135° to 175°, preferably about 160°. The extensions prongs are at least 0.84 inches in length. The tool is preferably formed from stamped steel that is heated and treated prior to being plated with such processes as copper, nickel or chrome plating. The tool could also be made from a plastic material, but might be less durable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an enlarged top plan view of a divot repair tool, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the divot tool of the preset invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective top view of the tool of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective top view of the divot repair tool of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-7 , a divot repair tool  10  constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown having a base member  12  with a first portion  14  and a second portion  16 . The first portion  14  includes at least one extension  18 , two of which are shown as two prongs  20  and  22 , extending outwardly. The prongs  20  and  22  preferably form a U-shape with an opening  24  facing away from the second portion  16 . Additional extensions having other formations are equally suitable for use with the present invention. Preferably, the prongs  20  and  22  are sufficiently sharp to assist the golfer in inserting the turf repair tool  10  into the sod surrounding the impacted area of a ball mark. The prongs  20  and  22 , however, should not be too sharp as to pose danger to the golfer while the turf repair device  10  is not in use. The second portion  16  is preferably substantially flat and elongated to provide an easily graspable handle  26  to the golfer during use. Apertures  28  are shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6  and  7 , for placement of fingers for leverage or for threading a string, Velcro, or linked chain so that the divot repair tool  10  may be attached to the golfer&#39;s attire, golf bag or other golf accessories. The preferred method of attaching to the golfer&#39;s attire is to clip-on the pants belt of the golfer. This is possible because of a clip  30  created by a U-shaped bend of the second portion  16 . The distal end  32  of the clip  30  is angled outwardly to create a gap  34  for fastening to the golfer&#39;s belt (not shown) and a bulge section  36  allows for a tight and secure fit to the belt. If the golfer preferred, the clip  30  arrangement could be used as a money clip in lieu of attaching to his belt. 
         [0017]    A key inventive concept of the tool  10  is the spinning wheel  40  rotationally connected to the base member  12  to aid the golfer in the pivotal movement of the tool. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the spinning wheel  40  is shown as a substantially circular wheel having a plurality of ball bearings  42  seated in an outer circular pocket  44 . A hole  46  through the wheel  40  and body of the tool  10  allows for passage of an internally threaded cylindrical dowel pin  48  which is securely connected to the tool  10  by a pair of washers  52  and threaded screws  54 . The circular shape of the wheel  40  provides a rounded outer surface  50  that facilitates rolling or pivotal movement of the repair tool  10 . The spinning wheel  40  is preferably attached substantially to the center of the base member  12  such that first and second portions  14  and  16  are disposed on opposite sides thereof. In this manner, the spinning wheel  40  provides leverage for pivoting the first and second portions  14  and  16  with respect to each other. 
         [0018]    The spinning wheel  40  additionally has a diameter D, best shown in  FIG. 3 , that is preferably less than 1 inch, more preferably between about ¼ to ¾ inches, and most preferably a diameter D about ½ inch. Alternatively, the diameter D of the pivot member  11  may be modified to accommodate different sizes of the base member  12 . A larger diameter D will provide greater leverage during the use of the turf repair tool. As the diameter increases, however, the overall dimensions of turf repair tool  10  also increases, which may be a disadvantage to the compactness of the tool. Accordingly, the diameter D of the pivot member is preferably selected to facilitate the use of the turf repair tool  10  while ensuring that the overall dimension of the tool is sufficiently compact so that it can be easily fitted in the golfer&#39;s pocket. 
         [0019]    The first and second portions  14  and  16  define an angle a on the side of the clip  30 , forming an angled base member  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Preferably, the angle a defined by the first and second portions  14  and  16  is between about 135° and 175°. Most preferably, the angle a is about 160.degree. The angled base member  12 , in combination with the spinning wheel  40 , further assists the pivotal movement of the turf repair tool  10  in repairing the ball mark. The wheel  40  is shown as secured to the base member  12 , at the angled portion of the base member  12 . This construction maximizes the pivotal movement of the base member  12 . Other locations along the base member  12  are also suitable for securing the wheel  40 . Moreover, the second portion  16  is shown as having a greater length than the first portion  14 . This construction also facilitates the pivotal movement of the base member  12  by increasing the leverage provided by the second portion  16 . Alternatively, the first and second portions  14  and  16  may be equal in length or the first portion  14  may be longer than the second portion  16 . 
         [0020]    In use, the golfer holds the second portion  16  of the turf repair tool  10  in the palm of his hand and inserts the prongs  20  and  22  of the first portion  14  into the sod area surrounding a ball mark and with the spinning wheel  40  resting against the non-impacted portions of the playing turf. The prongs  20  and  22  are positioned with the ball mark positioned in the opening  24 . When so inserted, the golfer presses down on the handle  26  of the second portion  16  and pivots the prongs  20  and  22  of the first portion  14  against the wheel  40 . The rounded outer surface  50  of the wheel  40  facilitates the pivotal movement of the turf repair tool  10  and substantially alleviates the need for the golfer&#39;s hand to come in contact with the sod, while providing greater leverage to the turf repair tool  10  in repairing the ball mark. Additionally, the angled base member  12  further facilitates the pivotal movement by maximizing the leverage provided by the handle  26  of the second portion  16  of the base member. Accordingly, by easily pressing down on the handle  26  of the second portion  16  several times, the golfer may easily move, lift and rearrange the sod surrounding the ball mark to fill and repair the ball mark. 
         [0021]    Preferably the base member  12  of the turf repair tool  10  is sized to be gripped comfortably in the palm of the golfer&#39;s hand. In this manner, the tool  10  is easily manipulated during use. The prongs  20  and  22  are preferably configured and dimensioned to extend sufficiently into the sod to cover the impacted area formed by the golf ball. As stated above, ball marks are formed when the ball strikes the ground. Accordingly, the shape of ball marks typically conforms to a portion of the golf ball, with the size of the ball mark depending on the force of impact the ball makes with the ground and the condition of the ground. Since most golf balls have a diameter of approximately 1.68 inches, the length of the prongs  20  and  22  should be greater than ½ of the diameter of the ball, or at least 0.84 inches. Preferable, the length of the prongs  20  and  22  are at least 1.25 inches to provide ample leverage and assist the pivotal movement of the base member  12 . 
         [0022]    The turf repair tool  10  may be constructed from any material having sufficient flexural strength to suit various desirable taste and purposes. For example, the tool  10  may be stamped from steel that is heated and treated. The tool  10  may thereafter be plated with copper, nickel and chrome or other suitable quality finishes. Alternatively, the tool  10  may be constructed from plastic materials. The tool  10  may further be embellished with logos or other trademarks for advertising purposes. 
         [0023]    While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention herein disclose and fulfills the objective stated above, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments which come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.