Abstract:
A device utilizing an adhesive on the end of the handle of a golf club to permit recovering golf balls, most specifically from within the holes used in the game, without bending over and also providing a convenient place to store a marker for use in the game.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This Application is based upon a Provisional Application filed Jun. 24, 2000 and assigned Provisional Application No. 60/213,980. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to the game of golf and more specifically relates to a device that is readily affixed to the handle end of a golf club, most usually a putter, to be used to recover golf balls as well as other objects without bending over and, of greatest importance, to recover golf balls from the holes used in the game of golf, where the ball is lower than the surface on which the player is standing.  
           [0004]    2. Prior Art and Objects  
           [0005]    The game of golf is extremely popular. Many people play the game and it is most popular with older and retired people. Frequently, many of these people have problems with bending over and that problem is aggravated when there is a need to pick up a golf ball which is below the surface on which the player is standing. In the game of golf, as is well-known, a player strives to place the ball within a hole which is several inches deep. Then it becomes necessary to remove the ball which requires bending over to the extent that the hand of the player can reach below the surface of the ground.  
           [0006]    Devices are known in the game of golf which permit players to recover a ball from a hole without bending over but such devices require substantial equipment beyond what is already needed to play the game of golf.  
           [0007]    Also, in playing golf, a marker is used to spot the last location of the golf ball before being played into the hole. A marker is used which is a colored disc on a pin. The markers are small and easy to misplace.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device which may be conveniently affixed to the end of the handle of a golf club, most likely a putter, and which permits the golf club to be used in an inverted position to pick up a golf ball from a hole without any bending being required.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a readily assessable place to store a marker to spot the location of a golf ball when removal of the ball from the playing field is needed.  
           [0010]    It is still another object of this invention to provide a device for picking up a golf ball which is both inexpensive and durable.  
           [0011]    It is another object of this invention to provide a device which can be conveniently carried while on a golf course.  
           [0012]    It is another object of this invention to provide a device which can be easily secured on the end of the handle of the golf club without interfering with the use of the golf club.  
           [0013]    These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in connection with the appended drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that these are given by way of illustration and not of limitation and that changes may be made in the detailed construction, form and size of the parts and the material used, without affecting the scope of the invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    In one embodiment, a ring is placed generally concentrically on the end of the grip on the handle of a golf club. The ring or retainer is placed about the opening normally provided at the outside end grip. As an alternative to this same embodiment, a recess or cavity is formed in the end of the grip. The only difference is that with the latter version, the ring is actually constructed as part of the grip itself rather than being added on and secured to the end of the grip. An adhesive, which is tacky and remains tacky without hardening is placed within the ring and about the opening in the handle so as to avoid obstructing the opening in the handle.  
           [0015]    Markers are used in the game of golf to locate the last place a ball has come to rest on the playing field. Such markers are disks with a pin located generally concentrically from one surface and generally at right angles to that surface of the disk. The marker is placed through the space in the center of the ring and into the opening in the handle. A tape or coating is located on the pin and surface of the marker from which the pin extends so that the marker does not adhere to the adhesive.  
           [0016]    The foregoing description pertains to both the version where the ring is secured to the handle, probably using the same adhesive used to pick up the ball, and the version where the cavity is part of the handle, the handle having a generally concentric recessed section formed in the end of the handle.  
           [0017]    In a second embodiment, a cup which is flexible, is mounted on a hollow stem. The stem is placed in the opening in the handle of the golf club. An adhesive film is placed on the cup on the side opposite from the stem. As an alternative to the same second embodiment, a retainer is placed on the stem to secure the stem on the handle to prevent the stem from being pulled out of the handle.  
           [0018]    The marker, which is identical to the marker used in the first embodiment and also has the same protection from adhering to the adhesive, is mounted in the hollow stem with the same coating to prevent adhesion. The same adhesive is used as a film on the cup as is used in both versions of the first embodiment. The adhesive is provided in blanks of suitable size for ready replacement. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a golf club standing vertically showing the various components of the golf club.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the first version of the first embodiment showing the ring or retainer mounted on the end of the grip of the golf club and showing the marker aligned with the opening in the grip.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the second version of the first embodiment in which a cavity is formed in the end of the grip rather than by adding a ring to the end of the grip.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a side view showing the ring in cross section with a golf ball held in place on the end of the grip of the inverted golf club.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but with the cavity formed within the end of the grip.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the first version of the second embodiment with a flexible surface on a hollow pin with the marker held in the hollow stem.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is an exploded view similar to FIG. 6, showing a second version of the second embodiment with a washer located on the stem to prevent the stem from pulling out of the opening in the grip on the handle of he golf club.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the end of the golf club with the second version of the second embodiment installed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    As best seen in FIG. 1, a golf club  11 , more specifically a putter, is shown. The golf club  11  includes a mallet  13 , a handle  15  and a grip  17 . The grip  17  is mounted on the handle  15 . At the outside end  18  of the grip  17  which is the end most remote from the mallet  13 , an opening  19  (FIG. 7) is universally provided in the grip, apparently to permit ventilation into the handle  15  which is hollow.  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the first version of the first embodiment can be seen. The end of the grip  17  is shown with the opening  19  in it at the outside end as is a consistent feature for golf clubs regardless of manufacturer. A ring  21 , which is shallow, is placed about the opening  19 . The ring or retainer  21  may be cylindrical or may be a concave bowl with the opening  19  and with a space  23  about the opening  19  in the center. An adhesive  25  that is soft and pliable and that does not harden but rather remains tacky is placed in the ring or retainer to form a concave surface about the space  23  but the space  23  about the opening does not have any adhesive  25 .. An example of such a product is Scotch 1  Double Face Adhesive Numbers  950  and  964 . which will not dry out. The adhesive  25  is formed about the ring  21  leaving the space  23  at the center of the ring  21  and about the opening  19 . The adhesive  25  is formed to create a concave surface having a radius which generally is that of a golf ball  26 . However, even a flat surface can be used but it is not as satisfactory.  
         [0029]    As is known in the game of golf, a marker  27  is used to spot the location of a golf ball  26  when the golf ball  26  must be removed, as for example, to provide access to a hole for a different player. A marker  27  is a disk  29 , usually brightly colored, which has a pin  31  extending at right angles from one side of the disk  29  and generally at right angles to the disk  29 . The pin  31  of the marker  27  is placed through the space  23  at the center of the adhesive  25  provided at the center of the ring  21  where no adhesive  25  is present and into the opening  19  at the outside end  18  of the grip l 7  on the handle  15  of the golf club  11 .  
         [0030]    As a result, the outside end  18  of the grip  17  on the handle  15  of the golf club  11  has a ring or retainer  21  secured to it most usually with the same adhesive  25  that is placed within it. The adhesive  25  tapers from the ring or retainer  21  down toward the opening  19  in the grip  17 . The marker  27 , having a pin  31  and a disc  29 , has the pin  31  located in the opening  19  of the grip  17 . A film  33  may be located on the pin  31  and on the side of the disk  29  where the pin  31  located. The film  33 , which could be masking tape, serves to prevent the marker  27  from adhering to the adhesive  25 . Preferably, the adhesive  25  is kept a safe distance, which is the space  23 , from the opening  19 .  
         [0031]    In the second version of the embodiment just previously described, the ring or retainer  21  for the adhesive  25  is generally a circular cavity  35  in the outside end  18  of the grip  17 . The cavity  35  is generally concentric about the opening  19  at the outside end  18  of the grip  17 . The same adhesive  25  is placed in the cavity  35  as when a ring or retainer  21  is affixed to the outside end  18  of the grip  17  and once again should be kept a safe distance from the opening  19  which is the space  23 . This second version is most applicable when the golf club  11  is being manufactured or where a new grip  17  is being placed on the handle  15  of an existing golf club  11 . As to existing golf clubs  11 , without changing the grip  17 , the ring  21  serves the same purpose as the cavity  35  in the grip  17  and at a low cost.  
         [0032]    In a first and most simple version of a second embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 6, the same opening  19  in the grip  17  of the golf club  11  is utilized. A retainer  37  is used which is formed from a flexible material. The retainer  37  is mounted on a stem  39  which extends generally at right angles from the center point on one side of the retainer  37 . A channel  40  extends through the stem  39 . The retainer  37  preferably has a concave surface on the side of the retainer  37  opposite from the stem  39 . A cup shape for the cup  37  is preferable but a flat flexible plate, preferably circular, will function as the retainer  37 . The marker  27 , as used in this embodiment, may use the same film  33 , as previously described, to prevent the marker  27  from becoming affixed to the adhesive  25  and keeping the adhesive a safe distance from the channel  40  prevents the pin  31  from being contaminated with adhesive  25  when the stem  39  is placed in the channel  40 . The disk  29  of the marker  27  is directly above the retainer  37 . The outside surface  41  of the retainer  37  is coated with the same adhesive  25  as has been previously described.  
         [0033]    The embodiment set forth immediately above is best for use with a very large number of existing golf clubs  11 , as it may be easily installed and may also be removed if, for any reason, such removal be desired.  
         [0034]    There are some golf clubs  11 , where the opening  19  is sufficiently large that the weight of the golf ball  26  extracts the stem  39  from the opening  19 . To prevent this, a second version of the second embodiment may be used. The stem  39  is formed with a larger diameter to fit more securely into the opening  19 . The stem  39 , however, beyond the depth of the opening  19 , reduces in diameter forming an end shank  43 .  
         [0035]    A washer  45  is secured to the end shank  43  or may be formed with the stem  39 . Based upon manufacturing costs, it is preferable to produce the washer  45  as a separate part and glue it to the end shank  43  but the stem  39  and the washer  45  may be produced together as one piece.  
         [0036]    The washer  45  has a flat circular surface facing the retainer  37  and tapers away from the retainer  37  inwardly to a reduced diameter.  
         [0037]    With the washer  45  installed, the retainer  37  and stem  39  is forced into the opening  39 . The washer  45 , as can readily be seen, prevents the stem  39  from being pulled out of the opening. However, if removal is desired, it can be accomplished, due to the flexibility of the opening in the handle  17 , providing a pair of pliers are used.  
         [0038]    When playing golf, the marker  27  is used to spot the location of the golf ball  26  when the golf ball  26  must be removed, as for example, when the golf ball  26  obstructs the path of another player. To use the marker  27 , it is removed from the channel  40  in the stem  39  of the retainer  37 . In the first embodiment, the marker  27  is removed directly from the opening  19  within the ring  21  or cavity  35 . The marker  27  is placed on the ground with the pin  31  in the ground to prevent the marker from moving.  
         [0039]    To remove a golf ball  26  from a hole in the golf course, the golf club  11  is inverted and the outside end  18  of the grip  17  with the marker  27  removed, is placed into the hole in contact with the golf ball  26 . The golf ball  26  adheres to the adhesive  25  either within the ring  21  or cavity  35  or on the cup  37  and the golf ball  26  is thus pulled out of the hole. The golf ball  26  is readily removed from the adhesive  25  without any adhesive  25  remaining on the golf ball  26 . The adhesive  25  can also be used to pick up the marker  27  as well as any other article having a hard surface.  
         [0040]    In this way, the golf player need not bend over, most particularly to recover the golf ball  26  from down within a hole. Limitations on a player&#39;s ability to bend over comfortably thus do not prevent such a player from enjoying the game.  
         [0041]    Thus while two embodiments, each embodiment having two versions, have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other changes may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.