Abstract:
A combination turf repair tool and golf club adjustment tool is disclosed herein. One embodiment of the combination tool comprises a turf repair portion connected to a golf club adjustment portion, and a cover portion or cap that is sized to cover at least part of the golf club adjustment portion. The cap or cover portion may be a separate, removable piece, or may be pivotally attached to another part of the tool. Another embodiment of the combination tool comprises a turf repair portion and a golf club adjustment portion, wherein the golf club adjustment portion is pivotally attached to the turf repair portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. Design patent application Nos. 29/385,609, filed on Feb. 16, 2011, 29/386,018, filed on Feb. 23, 2011, and 29/386,019, filed on Feb. 23, 2011. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tool that combines a turf repair tool and a hex wrench or screwdriver for making alterations and adjustments to a golf club head. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The golf industry provides golf enthusiasts with a myriad of products and tools to use during their golf games. For example, golf etiquette requires golfers to repair divots or damage to the turf when they are golfing. Such divots are often called “pitch marks.” As such, golfers typically carry divot (or pitch) repair tools. Furthermore, with the recent advent and popularity of golf club adjustability technology, more and more golfers are playing with adjustable golf clubs. These clubs allow golfers to adjust features such as loft, lie, face angle, and weight, thus allowing golfers to customize their clubs. 
     Weight adjustment technology often involves the use of removable weights which can be affixed to the golf club head via screws or bolts. A golfer who plays with a weight adjustable club head and wishes to make rapid, in-game adjustments to the club will have to carry a wrench or screwdriver to tighten and loosen attached weights. As such, in order to be able to make necessary adjustments to their club, as well as to repair divots or pitch marks in the turf caused by use of said club, golfers must carry at least two tools in their bags or on their person. By increasing the number of tools a golfer carries, he or she increases the likelihood of losing one or more of these tools because there are more items of which the golfer must keep track. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a combination tool that includes a divot repair aspect and a hex wrench or screwdriver aspect, such that a golfer needs to carry (and keep track of) only one tool to repair damage to turf and to adjust features of his or her golf club. 
     One aspect of the present invention is a golf tool comprising a turf repair portion, a golf club adjustment portion, and a cap sized to cover at least part of the golf club adjustment portion. The cap may be removably attached to the golf club adjustment portion. The tool may further comprise a middle portion connecting the turf repair portion to the golf club adjustment portion, and the cap may be pivotally attached to the middle portion. The turf repair portion may be a forked divot repair feature and the golf club adjustment portion may be a TORX® wrench, a hex wrench, or a screwdriver. The cap, when attached to the golf club adjustment portion, may cover the entirety of the golf club adjustment portion, or may cover only a top and two sides of the golf club adjustment portion. The golf tool may have a maximum length of 2 to 5 inches and a maximum width of 0.5 to 1.5 inches. The turf repair portion may comprise plastic, and the golf club adjustment portion may comprise steel. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a golf tool comprising a turf repair portion and a golf club adjustment portion, wherein the golf club adjustment portion is pivotally attached to the turf repair portion. The turf repair portion may be a forked divot repair feature, and the golf club adjustment portion may be a TORX® wrench, a hex wrench, or a screwdriver. The turf repair portion may comprise plastic and the golf club adjustment portion may comprise steel. The turf repair portion may further comprise a recess sized to receive the golf club adjustment portion. 
     Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  a top perspective view of a combination tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3C  is a bottom plan view of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3D  is a back side view of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of the tool portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a bottom plan view of the tool portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4C  is a side view of the tool portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4D  is a front side view of the tool portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4E  is a back side view of the tool portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a top plan view of the cover portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the cover portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5C  is a back side view of the cover portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5D  is a front side view of the cover portion of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a combination tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a combination tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention, with a golf club adjustment portion raised. 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of the combination tool shown in  FIG. 8 , with the golf club adjustment portion lowered. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a combination tool that includes a divot repair aspect and golf club adjustment portion, which may be a TORX® wrench, hex wrench, or screwdriver, such that a golfer needs to carry only one tool to repair damage to turf and to adjust features of his or her golf club. 
       FIGS. 1-5D  show a preferred embodiment of the combination tool  10  of the present invention. This embodiment has a two-part construction comprising a tool portion  20  and a cover portion  30 . When the tool and cover portions  20 ,  30  are fully assembled to form the combination tool  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 A,  3 B,  3 C, and  3 D, the tool  10  has a total length L from the end of the tool portion  20  to the end of the cover portion  30  of 3.50 to 4.50 inches, and most preferably 3.845 inches, a maximum width W of 0.50 to 1.50 inches, and most preferably 1.024 inches, and a maximum thickness T of 0.100 to 0.400, and most preferably 0.223. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4E , the tool portion  20  has a front side  21 , a back side  23 , a left side  25 , and a right side  27 , and includes a turf repair section  22  and a TORX® wrench  40 . In an alternative embodiment, the TORX® wrench  40  may be replaced with a hex wrench or a screwdriver. The turf repair section  22  is connected to the TORX® wrench  40  by a middle section  26 , which is sized to display a logo or decoration  24 , preferably on the front side  21 . The turf repair section  22  preferably is forked into two prongs  22   a ,  22   b  which, when the tool  10  is laid flat on its back side  23  along a ground plane  15  as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 4C , are angled upwards and form an angle A 1  with the ground plane  15  between 15 and 20 degrees, and most preferably 18.8 degrees. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the prongs  22   a ,  22   b  form an angle A 2  of between 2 and 6 degrees from each other, and most preferably 4 degrees from each other. The tops of the prongs  22   a ,  22   b  have a distance D 1  from the ground plane  15  of 0.25 to 1.00 inch, and most preferably 0.584 inch, and a distance D 2  from the front side  21  of the tool portion  20  of 0.200 to 0.500 inch, and most preferably 0.361 inch. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the turf repair section  22  preferably has a length L 1  of 0.75 to 1.50 inches long, and most preferably of 1.194 inches long. The turf repair section  22  in combination with the middle section  26  preferably has a length L 2  of 2 to 3 inches long, and most preferably of 2.577 inches long. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the tool portion  20  preferably has a total length L 3  of 3 to 4 inches long, and most preferably of 3.6 inches long. As shown in  FIGS. 4D and 4B , respectively, the tool portion  20  has a maximum width W 1  of 0.50 to 1.50 inches, and most preferably 0.974 inch, and a medium width W 2  of 0.400 to 0.600 inch, and most preferably 0.508 inch. The tool portion  20  has a maximum thickness T of 0.100 to 0.400, and most preferably 0.223 as shown in  FIG. 4C . 
     The tool portion  20  further has protrusions  28 ,  29  extending from the left and right sides  25 ,  27  to engage the cover portion  30  and hold it in place. The protrusions  28 ,  29  are shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 A,  4 B,  4 C, and  4 E. These protrusions  28 ,  29  are between 0.050 and 0.085 inch wide, and most preferably 0.075 inch wide, and have a thickness T 1  of 0.025 to 0.080 inch, and most preferably 0.067 inch. 
     The TORX® wrench  40  of the tool portion  20  has a length L 4  of 0.50 to 1.50 inches, and preferably approximately 1.00 inch, and a diameter Dm of 0.050 to 0.200 inch, and preferably 0.128 inch. The TORX® wrench  40  preferably is composed of a steel material, and more preferably of 1045 carbon steel. In alternative embodiments that include a hex wrench or a screwdriver instead of a TORX® wrench, the hex wrench or screwdriver also preferably are composed of a steel material. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D , the cover portion  30  is a unitary piece having a length L 6  of 2.00 to 4.00 inches, and most preferably 2.244 inches, and a maximum thickness T equivalent to the maximum thickness T of the tool portion  20 . The upper part of the cover portion  30  is forked into two extension portions  31 ,  32  that, when the combination tool  10  is fully assembled, receive the tool portion  20  and cover at least part of the left and right sides  25 ,  27  of the tool portion  20 . 
     The extension portions  31 ,  32  each have a length L 5  of 0.75 to 1.50 inch, and most preferably 0.976 inch. The extension portions  31 ,  32  are spaced from each other to receive part of the middle portion  26  of the tool portion  20 , and particularly the part of the tool portion  20  having a medium width W 2 . As such, the extension portions  31 ,  32  are spaced from each other at least as many inches as the medium width W 2  of the tool portion  20 . The extension portions  31 ,  32  also each include a depression  33 ,  34  to receive the protrusions  28 ,  29  on the tool portion  20 , as shown in  FIG. 5D . The depressions  33 ,  34  are spaced from each other and sized to snugly but removably receive the protrusions  28 ,  29 . 
     The cover portion  30  further includes a bore  50  having a length L 7  of 0.750 to 1.50 inches, and most preferably 1.100 inches, and having single opening at the fork between the extension portions  31 ,  32 . The bore is sized to receive and cover the TORX® wrench  40 , and thus has a diameter Dm′ that is at least equivalent to the diameter of the hex wrench  40  Dm, and preferably is 0.148 inch. 
     The turf repair section  22 , middle section  26 , and cover portion  30  of the combination tool  10  preferably are composed of a moldable plastic. In alternative embodiments, these sections of the combination tool  10  may be composed of lightweight metal materials, such as aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, and titanium alloys, or composite materials. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show a second embodiment of the present invention. The tool portion  20  of this embodiment has the same dimensions and is made of the same material as the tool portion  20  of the first embodiment. The cover portion  30  has many of the same dimensions and is made of the same material as the cover portion  30  of the first embodiment, but differs in several ways. 
     First, the cover portion  30  is pivotally attached to the tool portion  20  along rotation axis  60 . In this embodiment, the extension portions  31 ,  32  of the cover portion  30  are attached to the left and right sides  25 ,  27  of the middle section  26  of the tool portion  20  with one or more screws or pins  65 . Instead of removing the tool portion  20  from the cover portion  30  to access the hex wrench  40 , the tool portion  20  is pivoted around the rotation axis  60  such that the TORX® wrench  40  is completely exposed. 
     The cover portion  30  of the second embodiment also differs from that of the first embodiment because, when the majority of the tool portion  20  shares a plane  70  with the cover portion  30  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the cover portion  30  only partially covers the TORX® wrench  40 . Specifically, the cover portion  30  covers two sides  41 ,  42  of the TORX® wrench  40 , but not the front side  43  or the back side (not shown) of the TORX® wrench  40 . In this way, the cover portion  30  allows the TORX® wrench  40  to be pivoted with the rest of the tool portion  20  around the rotation axis  60  and become exposed for use. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the combination tool  100  has a turf repair portion  120  and a golf club adjustment portion  150 . The turf repair portion  120  includes two prongs  122 ,  124  angled upwards from a ground plane  110  at a desired angle A 3 , a handle portion  126 , and a middle portion  128  comprising a rectangular depression  129  sized to hold the golf club adjustment portion  150 . The golf club adjustment portion  150 , which may be a hex wrench or a screwdriver, but is preferably a TORX® wrench, is pivotally fixed within the rectangular depression  129  with a screw or pin  155 . The turf repair portion  120  is preferably composed of a moldable plastic and the golf club adjustment portion  150  is preferably composed of steel, most preferably carbon steel. The turf repair portion  120  may have many of the same dimensions as the turf repair section  22  of the first embodiment described herein, particularly with respect to the prongs  122 ,  124 . 
     When a user needs to access the TORX® wrench of the third embodiment, he or she can pull it upwards out of the depression  129 , thereby rotating it around a rotation axis  158  defined by the screw or pin  155  such that the TORX® wrench is fully exposed and ready for use. When the user is finished using the TORX® wrench, he or she can rotate it around the rotation axis  158  again so that the TORX® wrench is completely disposed within the depression  129  such that only one side  151  of the TORX® wrench is visible. 
     In all embodiments of the present invention, the golf club adjustment tool may be used to adjust weighting of the club, adjust various angles such as loft, lie, and face, and adjust other elements of the golf club that are designed to be adjustable. The turf repair tool may be used to repair various types of damage to the terrain of a golf course during play. 
     From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.