NOVEL GOLF FLAGSTICK INCORPORATING A MECHANIZED SYSTEM FOR EJECTION OF GOLF BALL FROM THE GOLF HOLE

The present invention comprises a novel golf flagstick which complies with the official rules of golf and consists of a flagstick with a ball ejection cylinder located four feet above ground level. The ball ejection cylinder is lifted by hand or with the shaft or grip of a golf club to eject the golf ball from the golf hole without the need to reach into the hole and without any damage to the sensitive grass turf surrounding the golf hole. In preferred embodiments, the ball ejection cylinder is color coded to provide golfers with an indication of the position of the golf hole on the golf green (red: front, white: middle, blue: rear) and incorporates a reflective strip for easy targeting of the flagstick by commercial laser distance measuring devices. In preferred embodiments, the ball ejection cylinder easily snaps on and off of the flagstick allowing for easy changing of the cylinder color with the daily repositioning of the golf hole on the golf green.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel golf flagstick that adheres to the rules of golf and incorporates a self contained mechanized system for ejection of a golf ball from the golf hole without removal of the flagstick and without the need to reach into the golf hole.

BACKGROUND

In 2019 the official rules of golf were changed allowing for a golf ball to be holed from the surface of the golf green without removal of the flagstick from the golf hole. While it is still permissible to remove the flagstick prior to holing the ball, many players are choosing to putt with the flagstick in place.

Removal of the golf ball from the golf hole with the flagstick in place is difficult, as the space between the flagstick and the hole edge is only two inches and the ball rests a minimum of four inches below the surface of the golf green. Furthermore, removal of the golf ball under these circumstances can result in damage to the sensitive live turf that surrounds the golf hole.

In 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic lead to the development of certain devices for ejection of a holed golf ball in an attempt to reduce the number of contact points in and around the golf hole. Some of these devices can result in turf damage around the golf hole and some do not comply with the official rules of the game of golf.

Therefore, a need exists in the field for a novel flagstick that complies with the rules of golf and allows for easy ejection of a golf ball from the golf hole without damage to the surrounding turf. Other features, such as color coded indication of flagstick position on the golf green, (red: front, white: middle, blue: rear) and reflective surfaces for easy targeting by commercial laser distance measuring devices can also be incorporated in the novel design.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a novel golf flagstick which complies with the official rules of golf and consists of a flagstick with a ball ejection cylinder located four feet above ground level. The ball ejection cylinder is lifted by hand or with the shaft or grip of a golf club to eject the golf ball from the golf hole without the need to reach into the hole and without any damage to the sensitive grass turf surrounding the golf hole. In preferred embodiments, the ball ejection cylinder is color coded to provide golfers with an indication of the position of the golf hole on the golf green (red: front, white: middle, blue: rear) and incorporates a reflective strip for easy targeting of the flagstick by commercial laser distance measuring devices. In preferred embodiments, the ball ejection cylinder easily snaps on and off of the flagstick allowing for easy changing of the cylinder color with the daily repositioning of the golf hole on the golf green.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not meant to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms of “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms unless the text specifies otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, refer to the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

A novel golf flagstick, adhering to all of the official rules of golf, and incorporating a mechanized system for ejection of a golf ball from a golf hole is described herein. In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended the limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments. For all figures, scale and measurements are subject to minor modification in subsequent development of the invention.

A list of invention parts and related items for the appended figures follows. Parts associated with the invention include but are not limited to items on this list.1. Flag;2. Flagstick;3. Ball ejection cylinder;4. Reflective strip;5. Golf hole6. Ball ejection saucer7. Flagstick well in ball ejection cylinder (part no.3);8. Female connection receptacles in ball ejection cylinder (part no.3);9. Round lift mechanism receptacle in ball ejection cylinder (part no.3);10. Hexagonal lift mechanism receptacle in ball ejection cylinder (part no.3);11. Male connection pins in ball ejection cylinder (part no.3);12. Round male connector on upper lift mechanism (part no.25);13. Hexagonal male connector on upper lift mechanism (part no.25);14. Flagstick slot for lower lift mechanism (part no.25);15. Center hole in ball ejection saucer (part no.6);16. Well in ball ejection saucer (part no.6) for hexagonal end of lower lift mechanism (part no.25);17. Well in ball ejection saucer (part no.6) for round end of lower lift mechanism (part no.25);18. Shaft well in ball ejection saucer (part no.6);19. Round fixed head of upper lift mechanism (part no.25);20. Hexagonal detachable end of upper lift mechanism (part no.25);21. Shaft in upper and lower lift mechanisms (part no.25);22. Lift cable;23. End view of round fixed head of lower lift mechanism (part no.25);24. End view of hexagonal detachable end of lower lift mechanism (part no.25);25. Assembled upper and lower lift mechanism;26. Cutaway view of round fixed end of lower lift mechanism (part no.25);27. Cutaway view of hexagonal detachable end of lower lift mechanism (part no.25)28. Golf ball.

FIG.1depicts, according to various embodiments of the present invention, an assembled and installed view of the external elements that may comprise a novel golf flagstick, which complies with the official rules of golf and incorporates a mechanized system for ejection of a golf ball from the golf hole. In preferred embodiments, the main external elements of the device include a fabric or canvas flag1measuring 14″×20″, a metal or composite hollow cylindrical flagstick2measuring 7′ in length and 0.5″ in diameter, a plastic ball ejection cylinder incorporating a reflective strip4, and a ball ejection saucer6that elevates to eject a golf ball from the golf hole5upon raising the ball ejection cylinder3.

FIG.2shows an expanded external view of the ball ejection cylinder3in position around the flagstick4. In preferred embodiments, the ball ejection cylinder may be made of plastic and may be colored (red, white, or blue) to indicate the relative position (front, middle, or back) of the golf hole on the golf putting surface (green). In preferred embodiments, a reflective strip4may circle the equator of the ball ejection cylinder3allowing for easy targeting of the invention by commercially available distance measuring laser devices.

FIG.3adepicts a cross section (internal) view of one half (“left half”) of the ball ejection cylinder3. A flagstick well7runs through the center of the ball ejection cylinder3. In preferred embodiments, female connection receptacles8allow for fastening together of the left and right halves of the ball ejection cylinder. A round receptacle (well)9allows for connection of the left half of the ball ejection cylinder to the upper lift mechanism25depicted in subsequent figures.

FIG.3bdepicts a cross section (internal) view of one half (“right half”) of the ball ejection cylinder3. A flagstick well7runs through the center of the ball ejection cylinder3. In preferred embodiments, male connection pins11allow for fastening together of the left and right halves of the ball ejection cylinder. A hexagonal receptacle (well)10allows for connection of the left half of the ball ejection cylinder to the upper lift mechanism25depicted in subsequent figures.

In preferred embodiments the left and right halves of the ball ejection cylinder3fasten together around the flagstick2as depicted inFIG.4. The male connection pins11fit snugly into the female connection receptacles8. The round male connector on the upper lift mechanism12fits into the round lift mechanism receptacle9. The hexagonal male connector on the upper lift mechanism13fits into the hexagonal lift mechanism receptacle10thereby attaching the assembled ball ejection cylinder3to the upper lift mechanism25(depicted in subsequent figures).

FIG.5depicts the ball ejection saucer, which may be made of durable plastic, encircling the flagstick2. In preferred embodiments, upper and lower flagstick slots14are cut into the flagstick allowing for connection of the external and internal components of the present invention.

FIG.6presents both a top view and a bottom view of the plastic ball ejection saucer6. A ⅝″ to ¾″ hole is cut in the center of the ball ejection saucer to accommodate the flagstick2. Wells are molded into the bottom of the ball ejection saucer6to accommodate the various components of the lower lift mechanism25. These include a well for the hexagonal end of the lower lift mechanism16, a well for the round end of the lower lift mechanism17, and a well for the shaft of the lower lift mechanism18.

FIG.7depicts the assembly of the ball ejection saucer6, the flagstick2, and the lower lift mechanism25. The ball ejection saucer is fed onto the flagstick from the top and is secured onto the lower lift mechanism.

FIG.8adepicts the lower end of the device in place within the golf hole5. The holed golf ball28rests on top of the ball ejection saucer6. In preferred embodiments, the upper surface of the ball ejection saucer slopes away from the flagstick2such that the golf ball28rests against the edge of the golf hole5.

FIG.8bdemonstrates ejection of the golf ball28from the golf hole5. When the ball ejection cylinder3is raised approximately 4″, the ball ejection saucer6, which is connected to the ball ejection cylinder3via the upper and lower connection mechanisms25and the internal lift cable22, moves up approximately 4″ from the bottom of the golf hole5to just above surface level. The vertical arrows inFIG.8bdepict this movement. The golf ball28is lifted above surface level and rolls down the slope of the upper surface of the ball ejection saucer6and away from the golf hole5. The horizontal arrow inFIG.8bdepicts this motion. When the golf ejection cylinder3is released, the ball ejection saucer6returns to the bottom of the golf hole5.

In preferred embodiments, the upper and lower lift mechanisms25are connected by a lift cable22than runs through the hollow shaft of the flagstick2.FIG.9depicts this connection. The round ends of the upper and lower lift mechanisms19,23are fixed to the shaft22. The hexagonal ends of the upper and lower lift mechanisms20,24thread on to the shaft22allowing for assembly of the invention. All parts of the upper and lower lift mechanisms25are fabricated from durable rustproof metal.

FIG.10depicts the assembly of the upper and lower lift mechanisms25on the flagstick2. The shaft21feeds loosely through the flagstick slots14and through the loops in the connection cable22. The hexagonal ends of the upper and lower lift mechanisms25thread on to the shaft21securing the left mechanisms in place on the flagstick2.

Preferred materials for elements of the present invention have been described however the device is not limited by these materials.

The present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments however, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, that other embodiments may perform similar functions and may achieve similar results. All equivalent embodiments are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.