Golf putter attachment to lift golf balls and to prop golf putters

The golf putter attachment is an apparatus that is able to grasp golf balls from hard-to-reach places and is able to prop up the grip of a golf putter. The apparatus includes a grip insert, two separate bodies, a locking mechanism, a hinge, a thumbnail opener, a suction cup, and a ball marker. The grip insert attaches the apparatus to a golf putter. The suction cup is used to grasp a golf ball by using the full length of a golf putter. The locking mechanism allows the two bodies to attach and detach from each other, which allows the two bodies to reconfigure themselves and prop up the golf putter. The thumbnail opener can separate the two bodies, and the hinge keeps the two bodies adjoined while the two bodies are separated. The ball marker is detachable component used to mark the location of a golf ball during a game.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for a golf ball retriever. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus that holds a golf ball with a suction cup, screws into a golf grip, opens on a hinge keeping the grip off of the wet turf, and also holds a ball marker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are also many situations in which the golfer needs to lay down his or her golf club. In wet conditions, unfortunately, this results in the golf club getting wet, which can damage the club and makes the club harder for the golfer to grip.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball holder that screws into a golf club grip. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hinge on the device that allows the golfer to stand up the golf club grip so that the grip does not get in the water when the golfer lays down the club.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen fromFIG. 1, the present invention is a golf putter attachment to lift golf balls and to prop up golf putters, which allows a user to perform a variety of utilities that are related to golf balls. The present invention mainly comprises a grip insert1, a first body4, a second body5, a locking mechanism6, a hinge9, a thumbnail opener11, a suction cup12, and a ball marker16. The first body4and the second body5are the structural components of the present invention, which are used position and configure the other components of the present invention. The grip insert1allows the present invention to attach to a typically golf putter. The suction cup12allows the present invention to grasp a golf ball from a golf cup hole or to fetch a golf ball from other hard-to-reach places. The ball marker16is a detachable component of the present invention and is used to mark the location of a golf ball during the course of a game. The locking mechanism6is used to couple the first body4and the second body5. The thumbnail opener11is used to disengage the locking mechanism6and reconfigure the positioning of the first body4from the second body5as a means to prop the grip of the golf putter off the ground. The hinge9allows the first body4to stay attached to the second body5while the locking mechanism6is disengaged.

A user presses the grip insert1into the back end of a golf putter's grip in order to properly secure the present invention to the golf putter. The grip insert1comprises a prong2and a plurality of barbs3, which are shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The prong2is an elongated member that traverses into and is situated within the back end of a golf putter's grip. The prong2is positioned adjacent to the first body4and is centrally connected on the first body4, which allows for the rest of the present invention to be properly positioned on the back end of a golf putter. The plurality of barbs3is used to further secure the grip insert1within the back end of a golf putter's grip. The plurality of barbs3is angled away from the direction that the grip insert1traverses into the golf putter, which allows the grip insert1to resist movement out of the golf putter. The plurality of barbs3is connected along the prong2, which allows the grip insert1to resist movement out of the golf putter for the entire length of the prong2.

Once the grip insert1attaches the present invention to a golf putter, the suction cup12can be used to grasp a golf ball from a hard-to-reach place by turning the golf putter around and using the full length of the golf putter to fetch the golf ball. The suction cup12comprises a base portion13, a flared annular portion14, and a gripped hole15. The base portion13is used to structurally stabilize the suction cup12while the suction cup12grasps and un-grasps a golf ball. The base portion13is positioned adjacent to the second body5and is concentrically connected to the second body5, which allows the suction cup12to remain properly situated on the second body5. The flared annular portion14is perimetrically connected to the base portion13opposite to the second body5. The flared annular portion14is the means by which the suction cup12is able to grasp a golf ball because the flared annular portion14creates a negative fluid pressure between the suction cup12and the golf ball. The gripped hole15is used to hold the ball marker16within the suction cup12while the ball marker16is not being utilized. The gripped hole15is concentrically positioned with the flared annular portion14and traverses into the base portion13, which allows the ball marker16to be held in place without disrupting the grasping function for the rest of the suction cup12.

The locking mechanism6allows the first body4and the second body5to attach and detach from each other. The first body4needs to be engaged to the second body5while the present invention is being used to grasp a golf ball from a hard-to-reach place. Conversely, the second body5needs to be disengaged from the first body4while the present invention is being used to hold the grip of a golf putter off the ground. Thus, the present invention can be used to keep the grip of a golf putter clean from the dirt or moisture on the ground. As can be seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the locking mechanism6comprises a first piece7and a second piece8. The first piece7and the second piece8are mechanical components that are able engage and disengage each other upon user command. In order for the first body4and the second body5to attach or detach from each other, the first piece7and the second piece8must be properly configured onto the first body4and the second body5. Thus, the first piece7is positioned adjacent to the first body4opposite to the grip insert1and is integrated to the first body4. In addition, the second piece8is positioned adjacent to the second body5opposite to the suction cup12and is integrated to the second body5. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first piece7is a stubby protrusion with a center hole, and the second piece8is a stubby-protrusion-receiving cavity with a center rod.

When the first body4and the second body5are engaged to each other, the first body4and the second body5form a combined body. The combined body is beneficial to describe the positioning of the thumbnail opener11and the hinge9. The thumbnail opener11and the hinge9are positioned in between the first body4and the second body5in order to control the present invention once the first piece7disengages from the second piece8. The thumbnail opener11and the hinge9are positioned opposite to each other around the combined body. Consequently, a user can pull apart the second body5and the first body4with the thumbnail opener11from one side of the combined body, and the hinge9can guide the movement of the second body5from the other side of combined body. The thumbnail opener11is integrated into the first body4and the second body5, which allows the combined body to have a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition, the hinge9comprises a plurality of bands10, and the hinge9specifically comprises three bands in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first body4and the second body5are hingedly connected by the plurality of bands10. While the second piece8is disengaged from the first piece7, the second body5can rotate about the hinge9at180degrees so that the second body5can press against the first body4and prop up the grip for a golf putter. The plurality of bands10allows the second body5to fully rotate about the hinge9and properly supports the second body5with the first body4.

The ball marker16can be tucked away on a convenient location on the present invention while the ball marker16is not being used, which is shown inFIG. 4. The ball marker16is positioned within the suction cup12, which is the convenient location for the ball marker16. The ball marker16comprises a flat tab17and a short stake18. The flat tab17is a prominently visual piece of the ball marker16, which allows a user to mark the location of their ball on a golf course. The short stake18is used to hold the ball marker16within the suction cup12. The short stake18is centrally positioned with the flat tab17and is connected normal to the flat tab17. The short stake18is positioned within the gripped hole15in order to situate and stabilize the ball marker16within the suction cup12, which is shown inFIG. 5.