Abstract:
A storage device ( 10 ) includes an underground chamber ( 12 ) and a lid ( 31 ) hinged to the chamber ( 12 ). The lid ( 31 ) has a tab ( 36 ) and can be easily opened by a user. Flanges ( 23, 25, 27, 29 ) near the top of the chamber ( 12 ) prevent the storage device ( 10 ) from setting too deep in the ground ( 60 ) and prevent water from flowing into the chamber ( 12 ). A pipe ( 14 ) attached to the base ( 15 ) of the chamber ( 12 ) surrounding an opening ( 16 ) therein receives the handle ( 54 ) of an implement ( 50 ) when the head ( 52 ) of the implement ( 50 ) is stored in the chamber ( 12 ) and provides drainage to the chamber ( 12 ). A block ( 18 ) on the base ( 15 ) of the chamber ( 12 ) lifts the head ( 52 ) of the implement ( 50 ) off the base ( 15 ), thereby protecting the implement ( 50 ) from possible water and litter in the chamber ( 12 ).

Description:
This continuation application is a continuation of a patent application entitled “UNDERGROUND RAKE STORAGE DEVICE”, Ser. No. 09/390,611, filed on Sep. 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,926. 
    
    
     FILED OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to storage devices and, more particularly, to specifically configured underground stored devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Underground storage devices are known. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,550 issued to Cash discloses a storage device for a rake that includes a chamber buried under the ground with an upwardly opening exposed. The chamber with an opening upwardly exposes the rake stored therein to rainwater and debris, which may defile the rake and make the rake unpleasant to use. The debris may also clog the lower part of the chamber and prevent the rake handle to be inserted therein. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,739 issued to Erichson et al. discloses a rake for use in a golf course sand trap. The rake has a head portion on the same plane as the handle which extends at an angle therefrom. When not in use, the rake is horizontally stored in a container buried in the ground adjacent a sand trap. The container is provided with a hinged cover having an artificial turf surface flush with the ground. Downward pressure on the cover unlatches the cover and an internal spring opens the cover and raises the rake handle from the container. A container that stores a rake horizontally occupies a large ground area. The latch and internal spring design is complicated and cost inefficient. Further the internal spring is subject to rust and failure, thereby adversely affecting the durability of the container. 
     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a simple and inexpensive underground storage device for storing an implement such as a rake used on a golf course sand trap. It is desirable for the storage device to be reliable, durable, and user friendly. It is also desirable for the storage device to effectively protect the implement from the environment. It would be of further advantage for the storage device to be space efficient, e.g., occupying a small ground area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A general object of the present invention is to provide a simple and cost efficient storage device for storing an implement. A particular object of the present invention is to provide an underground rake storage device in a golf course. Another object of the present invention is to effectively protect the implement stored in the storage device from the environment. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a storage device that is user friendly. A further object of the present invention is to provide the storage device that occupies a relatively small surface area on the ground. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a storage device that includes a chamber for storing the head of the implement and a lid covering the chamber and protecting the implement from the environment. An opening is formed in the base of the chamber for receiving the handle of the implement when the head of the implement is stored in the chamber. The lid is pivotally mounted on the chamber and can be easily opened by a user. The chamber can be buried in the ground with the lid exposed and substantially flush with the ground. In a preferred embodiment, flanges are formed near the top of the chamber. The flanges serve to prevent the chamber from setting too deep in the ground. The flanges can also be configured to prevent water on the ground from flowing into the chamber, thereby providing additional protection to the implement stored in the chamber. In another preferred embodiment, the base of the chamber is slanted to drain any water that might be in the chamber through the opening in the base. A second chamber can be attached to the base of the chamber surrounding the opening. Preferably, the second chamber is made of a bottomless tube. The tube receives the handle of the implement when the head of the implement is stored in the chamber and provides drainage to the chamber. Furthermore, a block can be formed on the base of the chamber. The block serves to lift the head of the implement off the base of the chamber, further protecting the implement from possible water and litter in the chamber. The implement stored in the storage device is kept dry and clean and, therefore, is pleasant to use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a storage device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the storage device shown in FIG. 1 along a cross section  2 — 2 ; and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the storage device shown in FIG. 1 along a cross section  3 — 3  as the storage device is installed in the ground. 
    
    
     It should be noted that the figures are merely schematic representations, which are not intended to portray specific parameters of the present invention. The figures should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. In addition, the figures are not drawn to scale. Elements having similar functions are labeled using the same reference numerals in the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described herein below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a storage device  10  in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of storage device  10  along a cross section  2 — 2  shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of storage device  10  along a cross section  3 — 3  shown in FIG. 1 as storage device  10  is installed in ground. 
     The present invention provides storage device  10  for storing an implement. By way of example, the implement is a rake  50  (shown in FIG. 3) used in a golf course, and storage device  10  is buried under ground  60  (shown in FIG. 3) near a sand trap in the golf course. Therefore, storage device  10  is also referred to as an underground rake storage. Storage device  10  includes chambers  12  and  14  attached to each other. Chambers  12  and  14  are adapted for receiving a head  52  and a handle  54 , respectively, rake  50  (shown in FIG. 3) and are also referred to as a head chamber and a handle chamber, respectively. 
     Head chamber  12  is comprised of a base  15  and a plurality of side walls coupled to base  15 . More particularly, head chamber  12  has a back side wall  22  and a front side wall  24  opposite to each other, and a left side wall  26  and a right side wall  28  opposite to each other and coupled between front side wall  22  and front side wall  24 . When storage device  10  is buried under ground  60 , the tops of side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28  are substantially flush with ground  60 . Base  15  is coupled to the bottoms of side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 . Base  15  has an opening  16  (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) therein adapted for receiving handle  54  of rake  50 . Head chamber  12  can be made of any kind of solid materials such as, for example, plastic, metal, wood, etc. Molded plastic is usually preferred because of its low cost and resistance to deterioration under various weather and ground conditions that may be present in a golf course. 
     Base  15  of head chamber  12  is optionally slanted as shown in FIG. 3 so that the a depth of head chamber  12  adjacent opening  16  in base  15  is greater than a depth head chamber  12  adjacent side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 . Slanted base  15  facilitates the drainage of head chamber  12  and helps to keep rake  50  dry and clean. Additional preferred but optional features that benefit the upkeep of rake  50  stored in storage device  10  include a block  18  (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) on base  15  and flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  extending from side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 , respectively. Block  18  preferably surrounds opening  16  in base  15 . However, this is not a limitation of the present invention. Further, head chamber  12  may include more than one block on base  15 . When block  18  surrounds opening  16 , it is also referred to as a collar surrounding opening  16 . Block  18  lifts head  52  of rake  50  off base  15  and helps to keep rake  50  dry and clean. Flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  extend from side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 , respectively, near their tops. They prevent further deepening of storage device  10  in ground  60  (shown in FIG.  3 ). In one preferred embodiment, ground  60  has a recess  62  (shown in FIG. 3) for receiving flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  so that the tops of flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  are substantially flush with ground  60 . In another preferred embodiment (not shown), the bottoms of flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  sit on ground  60 . In addition, flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  can be tapered off toward the edges. Furthermore, the tops of side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28  can protrude above flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29 , respectively. These optional features facilitate to prevent ground water from leaking into head chamber  12 . It should be noted that head chamber  12  is not limited to having four flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  extending from side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 , respectively. In alternative embodiments, head chamber  12  can include no flange at all or include one, two, or three flanges extending from selected side walls of head chamber  12 . Flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  can also be molded as a single flange extending from the tops of side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28  of head chamber  12 . Block  18  and flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29  can be either formed integral with base  15  and side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28  of head chamber  12  or formed as separate parts and subsequently attached to head chamber  12 . In a preferred embodiment, head chamber  12  is made of molded plastic and includes all desired features such as, for example, block  18  and flanges  23 ,  25 ,  27 , and  29 . 
     A cover or lid  31  is removably and pivotally coupled to the top of back side wall  22  of head chamber  12 . In a preferred embodiment, a hinge  35  is used to couple a side  32  of lid  31  to the top of back side wall  22  of head chamber  12 . In order to achieve a lower cost and better reliability, head chamber  12  and lid  31  are preferably made of the same plastic material and the molding processes of forming head chamber  12  and lid  31  also form hinge  35 . Alternatively, hinge  35  can be attached to the top of back side wall  22  and side  32  of lid  31  using glues, bolts, or other fastening mechanisms. Depending on how storage device  10  is buried, lid  31  can be either substantially flush with or slightly above ground  60 . Further, lid  31  can be covered with an artificial turf (not shown) for desired visual appearance. 
     For easy opening, lid  31  preferably includes a tab  36  on a side  34  (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) opposite to hinge  35  at side  32 . A user can open lid  31  by putting his/her finger under tab  36  and lifting it. Tab  36  is also referred to as a lift tab. Further, storage device  10  preferably includes a compartment  41  (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) at the top of front side wall  24  under tab  36  when lid  31  is closed on head chamber  12 . Compartment  41  has an opening into which the user can insert his/her finger under tab  36  to open lid  31 . Compartment  41  also helps to keep tab  36  clean of dirt and other undesirable debris that may be present near storage device  10 . Preferably, tab  36  is an integral part of lid  31 . Likewise, compartment  41  is preferably integral with front side wall  24  and formed in the same molding or casting process that forms head chamber  12 . Compared with prior art spring loaded mechanism, lift tab  36  and compartment  41  of the present invention are simpler, more cost efficiency, and more durable. It should be noted that, although preferred, both lift tab  36  and compartment  41  are optional features in storage device  10 . Further, compartment  41  is not limited to having a semicircular cross section as shown in FIG.  1 . Compartment  41  can have a cross section of any shape, e.g., rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, etc. 
     Handle chamber  14  is an elongated tube or pipe for receiving handle  54  of rake  50 . An upper end  17  (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) of handle chamber  14  is coupled to base  15  of head chamber  12 . Upper end  17  surrounds opening  16  in base  15  so that handle chamber  14  communicates with head chamber  12  through opening  16 . A lower end  19  (Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) of handle chamber  14  is preferably an open end, thereby providing drainage for storage device  10 . Possible methods of coupling handle chamber  14  to head chamber  12  include molding, gluing, pipefitting, welding, etc. Further, storage device  10  can include a rubber seal (not shown) over opening  16 . The optional seal has a slit through which handle  54  of rake  50  is inserted into handle chamber  14 . The seal helps to prevent debris falling into handle chamber  14  and clogging handle chamber  14 . 
     By now it should be appreciated that a simple and inexpensive storage device for storing an implement such as a rake used in a golf course has been provided. The storage device of the present invention is simple, easy to make, cost efficient, and durable. Compared with prior art storage devices, the storage device of the present invention provides better protection to the implement stored therein from the environment and is more user friendly. Further, the storage device of the present invention is space efficient, i.e., it occupies a small ground area. 
     While specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. Specifically, the storage device of the present invention is not limited to storing a rake in a golf course. Storage devices in accordance with the present invention can be used in storing other implements such as, for example, sledge hammers, axes, picks, hoes, etc.