Abstract:
A collapsible golf fairway distance marker including a visible structure that can assume two discrete configurations, and an anchor structure. The visible structure is generally cone-shaped when raised and flat when collapsed and is comprised of a base support ring, a spring-loaded plunger assembly disposed in the center thereof, and a plurality of generally trapezoidal shaped leaves. Each leaf has its narrower end captured within an annular recess formed between the plunger top and a cap screwed into the plunger, while its wider end is captured within an annular recess formed in the base support ring. Numerals indicating distance are affixed to or embossed in an upper part of one or more leaves. The anchor structure is connected to the base support ring and is buried beneath the ground to provide a fixed location for the visible structure on the fairway.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to devices that assist in the play of golf, and more particularly, to a distance-indicating device for allowing golf players to make a quick estimate of the distance between their ball position on the fairway and the center of the green. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     For the purpose of making it easier to select the proper golf club and speeding up the play on a golf course, distance markers are placed on course fairways. Distance markers provide players a quick estimate of the distance between the ball&#39;s position on the fairway and the center of the green. It is common for these markers to be permanently fixed to the ground so that they can not be easily moved. Some golf courses use sprinkler heads as distance markers. This method of distance marking is useful since each fairway is equipped with numerous sprinkler heads and such heads remain at fixed positions. 
     A major problem that exists with such markers is that they rise above ground level and interfere with maintenance operations conducted on the fairways (e.g. grass cutting). These devices must either be removed prior to grass cutting or must be avoided by the mowers. In either case the maintenance operations are impeded. In the first instance, the mowing operation is slowed down by the constant removal and reinstallation of the markers. In the second instance, the grass cutting around the markers cannot be done by large-scale cutters without damaging the markers. Thus, alternative cutting mechanisms must be employed to cut the grass. 
     One prior art solution to this problem is to have markers that are level with respect to the surrounding ground so as not to impede these fairway maintenance operations. The teaching of Zausmer (U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,981) is an example of such a marker. In Zausmer, the marker is comprised of a base plate and a top plate. The base plate has a plurality of pins having cone-shaped barbs on the ends, and numerals raised upwards from the base. The barbs anchor the base plate permanently into the fairway turf. The raised numerals indicate the applicable fairway distance. The top plate is attached to the base plate, and features a cutout that frames the numerals rising up from the base plate. Markers of this type fail to provide easily visible information to golfers during the course of play. The numerals on such a marker are virtually invisible to a golfer standing any distance away from the marker. The numerals would only be visible if the golfer were standing overhead or virtually next to the marker. Thus, in many cases the golfer will not see the marker and therefore will not be assisted in calculating the distance from his ball to the green. 
     Another prior art solution provides markers with elastically deformable visible elements rising above the level of the surrounding fairway turf, which are not damaged even when run over by fairway maintenance equipment. The teaching of Carman (U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,669) is an example of such a marker. Carman&#39;s marker comprises an elastic dome connected to a base. The dome extends upward from the base, rises above ground level, and may be inscribed with numerals to indicate range distances along the fairway. Although a golfer does not have to stand over the element to read the distance, as in the Zausmer teaching, because of the curved surface the distance at which the inscribed numerals are visible is still quite limited. 
     A significant shortcoming of the Carman-type markers is that its visible element deforms rather than collapses out of the way of potentially damaging devices. When the element encounters a sufficient pressure only the localized area in contact with the force deforms: a simultaneous collapse of the entire element does not occur. Areas that are not exposed to such sufficient pressure remain elevated above the ground and may be damaged by the oncoming mower device. 
     Finally, the prior art discloses using a system of determining the distance from a point on the fairway to its associated green. KARSTEN PING discloses a system wherein a plurality of yardage markers are disposed at twenty-five yard intervals along the fairway. Each marker, set at ground level, displays the distance from its location on the fairway to various points on the green. Since the markers used in the KARSTEN PING system are set at ground level they have the same shortcomings as those identified with the Zausmer markers. That is, markers of this type can only be read by golfers standing overhead or virtually next to the marker. Golfers positioned any distance away from the marker cannot read the range information stamped on the marker and in many cases cannot even see the marker itself. Thus, a system utilizing such flat markers cannot assist the golfer in calculating the distance from his ball to the green. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a golf fairway distance marker with a numeral-bearing element that rises to a pre-determined height above the adjacent turf, and is visible from a distance and from any viewing angle on the fairway. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf fairway marker having means for avoiding damaging contact with the cutting cylinders of a typical fairway mower by having it collapse level with or below the surrounding fairway turf when any portion of its surface is subjected to compressive forces approaching from any direction. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a marker of the type described having means for automatically restoring the collapsed element to its non-collapsed configuration after the collapse-causing forces have been withdrawn from its surface. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf fairway distance marking system including a plurality of markers, of the type described, placed at regular intervals along the fairway such that a golfer may view or read at least one marker from almost any random position on the fairway or adjacent rough. 
     Briefly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a visible structure that can assume two discrete configurations, and an anchor structure. The visible structure is generally cone-shaped when raised and flat when collapsed, and is comprised of a base support ring, a spring-loaded plunger assembly disposed in the center thereof, and a plurality of generally trapezoidal shaped leaves. Each leaf has its narrower end captured within an annular recess formed between the plunger top and a cap screwed into the plunger, while its wider end is captured within an annular recess formed in the base support ring. Numerals indicating distance are affixed to or embossed in an upper part of one or more leaves. The anchor structure is connected to the base support ring and is buried beneath the ground to provide a fixed location for the visible structure on the fairway. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a golf fairway distance marker with a distance indicating surface that rises above the surrounding turf level and is visible from a distance and from any viewing angle on the fairway. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that when any portion of the surface is contacted by sufficiently large compressive forces approaching from any direction, it will collapse into a configuration in which it is level with or below the surrounding fairway turf thereby avoiding damaging contact with the cutting cylinders of a typical fairway mower. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that once the forces have subsided from all portions of the element, it automatically restores itself to its raised configuration. 
     An advantage of the systematic placement of markers at regular intervals along the fairway is that at least one of the markers may be viewed by a golfer standing at almost any location on the fairway or adjacent rough. 
     Yet another advantage of the systematic placement of markers at regular intervals along the fairway is to provide an accurate determination of the distance to the green, thereby facilitating golf club selection and enhancing speed of play along the course. 
     These and the other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the several figures of the drawing. 
    
    
     IN THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a partially broken side view of a collapsible fairway marker in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view showing additional components of the preferred embodiment. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the interlocking structure of the leaves. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are elevational views respectively showing the marker of FIG. 1 in its raised and collapsed configurations. 
     FIG. 5 depicts a system of placing the markers of FIG. 1 at regular intervals along the fairway. 
     FIG. 6 depicts the present invention with an alternate embodiment of the anchoring device. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B depict another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a preferred embodiment of an improved collapsible golf fairway distance marker in accordance with the present invention is shown. A marker 8 is comprised of an anchor assembly 10, a base support assembly 12, a marker attachment device 14, a central riser assembly 16, and a wedge assembly 18. 
     The anchor assembly 10 is entirely disposed beneath the fairway turf 20 and secures the marker to a fixed position on the fairway. The anchor assembly is cylindrical in shape, with a number of fastening holes 22 drilled through its wall at one end of the cylinder. 
     The base support assembly 12 rests on top of the anchor assembly 10 substantially level with the fairway turf 20 and is comprised of a base plate 26 and a clamp ring 28. The base plate fits within the clamp ring, with the outer periphery of the base plate fitting within a shoulder skirt 30 formed in the clamp ring. The base plate and clamp ring are joined by a plurality of screws 32. 
     The marker attachment devices 14 secure the base support assembly 12 to the anchor assembly 10. These devices include the screws 32 mentioned previously, and a plurality of latch means in the form of block fasteners 34. A peg 23, mounted to a side surface of the block fastener, passes through a hole 22. The screws 32 pass through openings provided in the clamp ring 28 and the base plate 26 and into holes 36 tapped into the upper surface of the block fastener 34 with the result that the fasteners 34 latch the base support assembly 12 to the anchor assembly 10. 
     The central riser assembly 16 is disposed partially above and partially below ground level . It consists of a housing 38, a spring 40, a plunger 42, a disc cap 44, and a cap screw 46. Housing 38 is located in a hole formed in the center of base plate 26 such that the housing&#39;s longitudinal axis 48 runs through the center of the hole. Housing 38 has a circumscribing upper flange 50 that rests upon an internal shoulder 51 formed in base plate 26 surrounding the central opening. The spring 40 and plunger 42 are coaxially disposed relative to housing 38 with plunger 42 being telescopically slidable into housing 38. Spring 40 resiliently biases plunger 42 toward its upper position illustrated. The disc cap 44 sits on the upper end of plunger 42, and the screw 46 attaches the cap to the plunger. 
     The wedge assembly 18 is comprised of a plurality of generally trapezoidal shaped leaves 52, the upper ends 54 of which are captured between a radially extending flanged portion 45 of cap 44 and a shoulder portion 47 extending radially outwardly from the top of plunger 42. The lower ends 55 of leaves 52 are captured between base plate 26 and an inwardly extending flange 57 formed around the inner perimeter of ring 28. Alternatively stated, the narrower upper ends 54 of the leaves 52 are contained within an annular cavity 56 formed by the disc cap 44 and the plunger 42. Note that a substantial clearance is provided between the ends 54 and the cylindrical cap surface 43. The ends 54 have a down-turned lip 58 that hooks over the rim 47 surrounding the plunger top creating a definite upper limit stop for the wedge assembly. This hook and rim engagement of the leaf with the plunger 42 causes the plunger to remain squarely positioned within housing 38 and poised for downward vertical movement. The base or lower end 55 of each leaf 52 rests within an annular recess formed by the base plate 26 and the inner perimeter of clamp ring 28. Each leaf base has an up-turned lip 62 that wraps around and interlocks with a mating surface of the clamping ring 28 so that the leaves cannot become disengaged while the wedge assembly is raised. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 which depicts a plan view of the marker and in which the arrangement of the leaves 52 will be appreciated. Each leaf 52 is generally trapezoidal in shape, separate, and individually replaceable. Note that some of the leaves are embossed, etched or labelled with numerical impressions 64 that indicate the distance from the marker to a specified location on the associated green. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B of the drawing depict the interaction and overlap between adjacent leaves of the wedge assembly. FIG. 3A depicts a plan view of two adjacent leaves 52A and 52B juxtaposed but separated from engagement with each other. In this view an overlapping edge projection 66 and a relief ledge 68 associated with each leaf may be seen. As shown in the figure, the ledge 68 is formed along the side and the upper end 54 of each leaf. FIG. 3B depicts a sectional view of the same two adjacent leaves with the overlapping relationship shown. In this view the overlapping edge 66 of the leaf 52B is shown slidably disposed over the relief ledge 68 of the leaf 52A. 
     In operation, referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the two discrete operational configurations of the marker are shown. In FIG. 4A the marker is shown in its raised configuration with the bed knife 70 of an oncoming mower about to make contact with the wedge assembly 18. As was pointed out above with reference to FIG. 2, the internal spring 40 keeps the plunger 42, and the disc cap 44 in the raised position. The upward action on the plunger also pushes upward on the upper ends of leaves 52 through the lip and rim engagement such that the wedge assembly 18 is caused to extend above the surface of the surrounding fairway turf 20. While in the raised position the upper portions of adjacent leaves are slightly separated, but the gaps between adjacent leaves are not noticeable because the overlapping edge 66 of one leaf is slidably disposed over the relief ledge 68 of the adjacent leaf thereby covering these gaps. 
     In FIG. 4B the marker is shown in the collapsed configuration. In this figure, the bed knife 70 has moved into contact with a portion of one or more leaves 52. The forces applied by the knife are transferred through the leaves 52 to the plunger 42, and finally to the spring 40. The knife forces overcome the spring resistance, the spring compresses, and the plunger slides down into the housing, allowing the leaves to rotate downwardly as the leaf bases pivot about their lower extremities. As the leaves pivot, their upper ends 54 converge. The relief ledge 68 formed along the leaf upper end 54 is slidably disposed into the cavity 56 (FIG. 1) provided between the leaf upper end 54 and the cylindrical cap surface 43. As the marker collapses, the overlap ledge 66 of the leaf slides over the relief ledge 68 of its adjacent leaf. 
     Once the mower has passed, the spring lifts the plunger and in turn rotates the wedge sections upwardly back into their raised configuration. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a system for quickly determining the distance from any location on the fairway to a specified location on the associated green. More specifically, FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of a typical fairway 72 and green 73. Collapsible markers 74, of the type previously described, are installed at regular intervals (preferably twenty-five yards) along the fairway. Markers are located at specified radial distances, as indicated by the arcs 75, away from the green and are typically placed about twelve yards to the right and about twelve yards to the left of the fairway centerline 76. Depending on the eye level and visual acuity of the player, the maximum range of legibility of the numerals on a marker will vary between approximately 12 and 20 yards, as indicated by the circles 77 and 78, respectively. Nearly all golfers standing at or within a circle 77 will be able to read numerals on the corresponding marker. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 5, for nearly all golfers at least one marker will be legible when standing almost anywhere on the fairway and nearby rough. 
     Although an improved collapsible golf fairway distance marker attached to a cylindrical structure by a block fastener has been disclosed above it will be appreciated that, in the alternative, another means of attachment may be utilized. Referring now to FIG. 6, the marker attachment devices 80 secure the base support assembly 12 to the anchor assembly 10. These devices include the screws 32 mentioned previously, and a plurality of hook fasteners 82. One end of each hook fastener passes through the hole 22, while the hook&#39;s other end is attached to the base plate 26 and the clamp ring 28 by the screws 32. The screws 32 pass through Openings provided in the clamp ring 28 and the base plate 26 and into holes 84 tapped into the upper end of the hook fastener 82. 
     As an alternative to anchoring the collapsible golf fairway distance marker to a cylindrical structure, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be designed to fit on and replace the top of a number of popular sprinkler heads used in golf course fairways. Referring now to FIG. 7, the sprinkler head 90 when in use is lifted by water pressure out of its encasement 92 and retracts into its encasement when the water pressure is shut off. The base support assembly 12 in this embodiment is adapted to replace the cover of the sprinkler head. In this configuration the base plate is fitted with a threaded post 94 that engages a matching threaded insert 96 of the sprinkler head. Since the sprinkler heads may be installed at varying depths below the grass level, height adjustment is accommodated by the threaded post 94. Since raising the height of the device above the sprinkler head may create a gap between the support ring assembly and the encasement 92, it might also be desirable to add a support spacer 98 beneath the base plate 26 to support the outer edges of the mounting base above the sprinkler encasement. 
     An alternative embodiment of the improved collapsible golf fairway distance marker disclosed above can be implemented in the form of a sampler two-sided collapsible marker. Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the alternative marker design incorporates two generally rectangular shaped plates 100. The plates are embossed, etched, or labelled with numerical impressions 102 that indicate distance from the marker to a specified location on the associated green. The plates 100 are attached together, at their upper end 104, by a hinge 106. The lower end 108 of the plate is contained within a cavity 110 formed at the end of a generally rectangular shaped base support plate 112. The lower end 108 of the plate has a down turned lip 107 that hooks over a rim 109 formed in the support plate 112. This hook and rim engagement prevents the plate 100 from sliding out of the cavity and also provides a definite upper limit stop as the plates 100 rotate in an upward fashion. As a fairway mower, or similar device, runs over the plates the spring 116 is compressed and the lower end 108 of each plate slides into the cavity 110 thereby collapsing ht marker. As the mower passes, the spring lifts and in turn the plates rotate upwardly into their raised configuration. 
     Although preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed above, it will be appreciated that numerous alterations and modifications thereof will not doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after having read the above disclosures. It is therefore intended that the following claims be interpreted as covering all such alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.