DEVICE FOR RETRIEVING GOLF BALLS

Abstract: Device with a handle for manually retrieving golf balls from water hazards and ponds on golf courses. The device is equipped with two or more laterally oriented, partly flexible retrieving fingers (1-7, 19-20) of steel wire, plate, plastic or other material. These fingers are fastened (12) in an ordinary telescopic handle (13) with a grip, wherewith the retrieving fingers in a part connected to their free ends are arranged at a special distance to each other depending on the diameter of the golf ball in question. At close contact a certain pressure from the ball pushes the fingers apart so that the ball passes through the fingers and is held there in a cage-like space.

Description: DEVICE FOR RETRIEVING GOLF BALLS This invention concerns a device with a handle for manually retrieving golf balls from water hazards ponds etc. The most commonly used device for retrieving golf balls from water hazards is at present a circular cup with a ratchpin for the retrieved ball. There are also rings and such like for pushing under the ball in the water. Even ladle-shaped constructions are used, as are devices with coils or plate springs, which, on contact with the ball, causes a revolving frame to encompass the golf ball. A common factor for all devices is the problem of seeing the golf ball and getting precise contact with it because of the parallax and light refraction effect of the water, especially if the water is muddy and clouded and the distance between the eye and the ball is large with a fully extended handle in deep water. A rake that works without first having to calculate the exact position of the ball is therefore highly desirable. The aim of the invention is to produce a device that does not demand an exact determination of the position of the golf ball in the water and thus make possible its retrieval in a reliable way. The invention consists of one or more partly flexible retrieving fingers on one end of a handle arranged so that they, on their outer part, have a sideways distance between each other that is less than the diameter of the ball but not more in relation to the stiffness of the fingers to enable the ball to cross through to the other side of the basal plane of the retrieving fingers. On golf courses there are sand bunkers or special surfaces and pits of sand that are there to make the golf more difficult and interesting. In order to give the players the same conditions, the sand must be smoothed out if a golf ball has landed there and footprints are made when hitting the ball out again. It quite often occurs that the rake, which should sit in a special holder near the bunker, has been moved or put back somewhere else. The players then have to look for the rake if the rules of golf are to be followed correctly. It would therefore be an advantage if the players have their own foldable rake available in their golf bag. The care of the golf course and the standard of play would no doubt benefit from this. The design of the device in question offers an advantage in as much as it is also suitable for levelling out bunkers. The device can also be pushed or pulled along the bottom (like dredging), wherewith any golf balls are automatically retrieved. After use, the device can easily be folded up and supplied with a suitable cover of plastic-coated fabric or similar. Because the rake/net can be compressed sideways as well as axially through its telescopic shaft, the device takes up less room and can be taken along and quickly prepared for use. The device is described below through references to some design examples that are depicted on the enclosed drawings. Fig. 1 shows an angle of the device viewed from above. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the same design. Fig. 3 shows the appearance of the device from the nose end during the moment of retrieval. Fig. 4 shows the device in perspective with a ball retrieved ready for salvage. Fig 5 shows how a device, in accordance with the invention, is compressed and put into a cover. Fig. 6 shows an alternative design for the retrieving fingers. Figs. 7 and 8 show a modified design of an open type in plan view and side view. One submitted design of the invention is illustrated in figs. 1-4. This device has a number of retrieving fingers 1-7 made from stainless spring wire of approx. 3 mm which at their frees ends are a certain distance from each other according to a basic plan. The retrieving fingers are shaped into a rectangular or trapezoidal loop 8 where the two opposite principally parallel top and bottom ends 9, 10 have an relative distance that is less than the diameter of a golf ball. The retrieving fingers are mounted in a holder 12. This in its turn is fixed to a telescopic handle 13 with a grip at its upper end. Because the wire probably needs to be stronger vertically than sideways, the wire is doubled and fixed into the part attached to the holder 12. As illustrated in fig. 5, the fingers 1-7 can be pushed together and put into a cover 14 made from cloth, leather or plastic material, which makes the device less bulky for storage and transportation. As illustrated in fig 6, the retrieving fingers 1-7 can also be pressed from a standard plate or made of plastic or band steel. Because the retrieving fingers are shaped into a closed eye or cavity and project in a lateral direction towards the cage, it is also possible to use as a rake. And because the construction according to figs. 1-6 lacks pointed or abruptly cut off wires or fingers, it does not pose a threat to eyes and limbs. The relative distance between the retrieving fingers should be in relation to the length and bending resistance of the fingers and the diameter of the boll at the point of connection with the outer part. A preferable distance is approx. 26-34 mm for a golf ball diameter of approx. 42 mm. One or more fingers can be stiff if the adjoining fingers are flexible. Figs. 7 and 8 show a modified design of the wire material where the inner retrieving fingers 15-18 are bent into an L-shape to create an open end that can support a retrieved ball without enclosing it in a cage, loop or similar. The two exterior retrieving fingers 19 and 20 are shaped into a flexible edging or side by bending the wires into a U-shape or similar. A golf ball can also be retrieved "from the side" in holes and tight places if the bent wire's free parts 21, 22 are roughly parallel with their respective opposite wire part with a distance between them of somewhat less than the diameter of a golf ball. A retrieved ball can be tipped out of such a device if it is turned upside down. There is no need to shake the ball loose or manually open the device, which is required for devices with finger design as shown in figs. 1-4 and 6. Further modifications could be considered within the framework of the invention. Devices based on the invention could also function with only two retrieving fingers for instance. Even one finger is sufficient if it is shaped like wires 20 and 22, and 19 and 21 in figs. 7-8.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device with a handle for manually retrieving golf balls from water hazards and ponds etc characterised by one or several partly flexible retrieving fingers (1-7, 19-22) on one end of a handle (13) arranged so that they, on their outer part, have a sideways distance between each other that is less than the diameter of the ball but not more in relation to the stiffness of the fingers to enable the ball to cross through to the other side of the basal plan of the retrieving fingers. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterised by the retrieving fingers in a flexible section being approximately parallel to each other. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterised by the retrieving fingers (15-18) being designed in wire or plate material the exterior part of which is bent in roughly the same direction and angle towards the basal plan in its lateral direction in order to create a wall or obstacle in its axial direction for the ball (11) that passes over to this side of the retrieving fingers after having retreated from a couple of the fingers. 4. Device according to claim 1, characterised by two or more retrieving fingers (1-7) designed from wire, plate or flat material of metal, plastic or similar that each contain a notch or cavity similar to an oval, rectangular or trapezium-shaped loop (8) placed in the retrieving finger's lengthwise direction and the basal plan's latitudinal direction where the distance between at least two of the loop's opposite sides (9, 10) does not exceed the diameter of a golf ball. 5. Device according to claim 1-3, characterised by two of the outer retrieving fingers (19, 20, 21, 22) are bent and arranged so that their exterior parts each form an obstacle or wall (21, 22) that limits the movements of the ball (11) laterally. 6. Device according to claim 1-5, characterised by two or more of the retrieving fingers being bent or formed in relation to the lengthwise direction of the handle so that when negotiating ground and grass surfaces or bottoms of ponds a wedge-shaped space is formed so that the ball can easily push apart the retrieving fingers in question and pass between them, particularly when the device is pulled, or pushed in the lengthwise direction of the handle. 7. Device according to claim 1-6, characterised by the retrieving fingers (1-7, 19-20) being so arranged that they can easily be folded together and put into a space-saving cover (14) made of textile, plastic, leather or rubber material.

Inventors: BURSTROEM BERTIL INGVAR, BURSTROEM, BERTIL, INGVAR
Applicants: BURSTROEM BERTIL INGVAR, BURSTROEM, BERTIL, INGVAR
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A63B47
IPC codes: A63B47