Abstract:
A golf hole painter is provided for painting an area of a golf hole above a top of a golf cup, but below the putting surface. The golf hole painter includes a base member, a liner, and a main body. The main body is rotatably attached to the base member. The main body also receives a spray canister containing paint, which is pressed and rotated along with the main body in relation to the base member to spray the entire interior periphery of a golf hole. The painted portion of the golf hole allows a golfer to more easily view a golf hole while putting on a golf green, due to the rules of golf requiring a golf cup to sit at least one inch below the putting surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a golf hole painter, and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for painting the interior wall of a golf hole at an area above the top of a golf cup. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the United States Golf Association&#39;s (USGA) rules of golf, a golf hole must be 4.25 inches (108 mm) in diameter and at least 4 inches (101.6 mm) deep. If a lining is used, it must be sunk at least one inch (25.4 mm) below the putting green surface, unless the nature of the soil makes it impracticable to do so; however, its outer diameter must not exceed 4.25 inches (108 mm). 
     While a golfer may attempt to hit his or her ball as close to the hole as possible, there is a good chance that the ball may end up on a part of the green far from the hole. Because the hole liners (i.e. cups) are sunk at least one inch below the putting green surface, the golfer may not be able to see the sunken cup from a distance. All that would be visible to the golfer would be a one inch strip of earth, which would likely be dirt. Because dirt is earthen colored and does not provide much contrast with the putting surface, the golfer may have trouble detecting the location of the golf hole, which could result in missed putts. 
     To improve the visibility of the hole, it is known to paint the one inch strip of earth between the top of the golf cup and the putting green a light color, such as white. The white paint gives the appearance of the golf cup extending all the way to the putting surface, which allows a golfer away from the hole to more easily detect the location of the golf hole, while still staying within the rules of the game. 
     One way to apply the paint is to have a golf course greenskeeper physically paint the area with a brush and a can of paint. However, this approach is time-consuming, and paint can easily spill on the cup or the putting surface of the green. 
     Another approach is to use a spray paint canister. A greenskeeper may choose to simply hold the canister in his or her hand and to spray paint the area inside the golf hole. Again, this approach is time intensive, and it is difficult to apply the paint only where desired. 
     Another approach is to use a spray paint canister as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,305 (the &#39;305 patent). However, the apparatus described in the &#39;305 patent suffers from several deficiencies. First, the apparatus rests on the putting surface and thus has the potential for damaging or altering the otherwise smooth surface around the hole. Another disadvantage is that the apparatus disclosed does not allow for the full interior periphery of a golf hole to be painted with one continuous motion. Rather, when the spray canister is depressed and rotated, the arms extending into the hole block the stream of paint from the canister, which results in areas of the hole that are not painted. To fully paint the entire interior periphery, the apparatus must be rotated and the canister reinserted to apply more paint. Further, because the apparatus only has arms and a nozzle depresser disposed inside the hole, there is nothing to block the stream of paint from contacting the golf cup. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved golf hole painting apparatus that overcomes the deficiencies in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a principal object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for painting the interior of a golf hole. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for painting the interior of a golf hole that paints only a regulation sized strip between a golf cup and a putting surface. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for painting the interior of a golf hole to aid in a golfer&#39;s view of a golf hole. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for painting the interior of a golf hole that does not rest on the putting surface. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for painting the interior of a golf hole that paints the full interior periphery of the golf hole with one continuous stream of paint. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for painting the interior of a golf hole that blocks a stream of paint from unintentionally spraying a golf cup in the hole. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for painting the interior of a golf hole that blocks a stream of paint from unintentionally spraying onto the putting surface. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for painting the interior of a golf hole, the apparatus including an offset nozzle receiver to spray a stream of paint from a shorter distance to ensure a consistent and desired amount of paint to the hole interior. 
     Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for painting the interior of a golf hole that reduces the amount of time and paint needed to paint the hole. 
     These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features and advantages. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a new golf hole painter is provided. The golf hole painter includes a base member, a liner, and a main body. The base member is generally circularly shaped and has a top member, an aperture through the top member and a wall extending downwardly from the top member. The liner is positioned in the aperture of the base member. The main body includes a canister receiving member connected to a nozzle receiving member, and a clevis pin extending outwardly from the nozzle receiving member. The main body is rotatably connected to the liner such that the canister receiving member is configured to rotate about the entire interior periphery of a golf hole. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for painting an interior of a golf hole is provided. The method includes providing a golf hole painter including a base member having a top member, an aperture through the top member and a base member wall, a liner positioned in the aperture of the base member, and a main body having a canister receiving member, a nozzle receiving member, a clevis pin extending outwardly from the nozzle receiving member and rotatably connected to the liner, and a spraying canister containing paint and having a spraying nozzle. The golf hole painter is inserted into a golf hole having a golf cup disposed therein, with the top member of the base resting on the rim of the golf cup. The spraying canister is inserted into the canister receiving member, and the spraying nozzle is inserted into the nozzle receiving member. The spraying canister is then depressed to initiate spraying paint from the canister towards the interior wall of the golf hole. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a golf hole painting apparatus is provided. The golf hole painting apparatus includes a base member, a liner, and a main body. The base member has a generally circular shape and has a top member, a base member wall extending downwardly from the top member, a circular aperture through the top member and having an axis though the center of the base member, and an annular groove in the base member wall below the top member. The liner is forcibly fit into the circular aperture and has first and second ends, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the circular aperture of the base member. The main body is rotatably connected to the liner such that the canister receiving member is configured to rotate about the entire interior periphery of a golf hole. The main body includes a circular canister receiving member having an canister receiver axis through the center of the canister receiving member; a nozzle receiving member attached to the canister receiving member and having a nozzle receiver, wherein the nozzle receiver is aligned with the canister receiver axis; and a clevis pin extending outwardly from the nozzle receiving member having a clevis axis through the center of the clevis pin, a clevis pin end away from the nozzle receiving member, and a clevis groove at a position proximate the clevis pin end, wherein the clevis axis is offset from the canister receiver axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the golf hole painter of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of the golf hole painter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective front view of the golf hole painter of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of the golf hole painter of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional front view according to line A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective top view of the base member of the golf hole painter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective side view of the base member of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the base member according to the line B-B of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective top view of the main body of the golf hole painter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective front view of the main body of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the main body according to line C-C of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11A  is a sectional view of a golf hole having a golf cup residing within. 
         FIG. 11B  is a sectional view of a golf hole and cup with the golf hole painter in place. 
         FIG. 11C  is a sectional view of  FIG. 11B  with a spraying canister placed in the golf hole painter. 
         FIG. 11D  is a sectional view of  FIG. 11A  after the spraying canister has been rotated partially about the interior periphery of the golf hole, and the golf hole painter has been used to paint the uncovered interior of the golf hole. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a golf hole painter is generally designated by the numeral  10 . The golf hole painter  10  includes a base member  12 , a liner  14 , and a main body  16 . As later discussed herein, the golf hole painter  10  may also include a washer  40  and an O-ring  42 . Additionally, a snap ring  48  may be used. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the base member  12  will be described in more detail. The base member  12  includes a top member  18 , an aperture  20  through the top member  18 , a wall  22  extending downwardly from the top member, and a base wall annular groove  46  around the wall  22 . While the base wall annular groove  46  may be desired, it is not necessary in a preferred embodiment. A liner  14  may be press fit into the aperture  20  through the top member  18  of the base member  12 . The base member may also include support members  60 , which extend from the interior of the wall  22  towards the base member axis  68 , but ending at the outer wall of the liner  14 . As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the liner  14  and the base member  12  have overlapping axes  62  and  68 , and the diameter of the aperture  20  may be approximately the same size as the liner outer diameter D 2 , so as to create a tight fit of the liner  14  in the aperture  20  of the base member  12 , to thereby prevent the liner  14  from sliding. Additionally, the liner  14  includes a first end  64  and a second end  66 , wherein the first end  64  is generally flush with the surface of the top member  18  when the liner  14  is pressed into the aperture  20 . Further, as seen in  FIG. 7 , the liner  14  includes a liner inner diameter D 1 . The base member  12  has a wall diameter D 6  and a top member diameter D 5 , which is slightly larger than the wall diameter D 6 . This creates a top member lip  84 , extending wider than the wall  22 . In an additional embodiment, the base member  12  may include base wall annular groove  46 . 
     The base member  12  may be made of die cast aluminum or other suitable materials. The liner  14  may be made of a hard plastic or other suitable material. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , the main body  16  will be described in greater detail. The main body  16  may include a canister receiving member  24 , a nozzle receiving member  26 , a main body support  86 , which connects the canister receiving member  24  and the nozzle receiving member  26 , and also a clevis pin  28 , which extends downwardly from the bottom of the nozzle receiving member  26 . Additionally, the main body  16  may also include a paint blocking member  94 , which extends slightly downward from the canister receiving member  24 . As is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 , the canister receiving member  24  is generally circular shaped and includes a canister receiver axis  56 . The clevis pin  28  includes an axis  58 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the canister receiver axis  56  is offset from the clevis pin axis  58 . The canister receiving member  24  also includes a canister receiver diameter D 9 , which is sized to receive a spray canister  50 . The nozzle receiving member  26  includes a nozzle receiver  74 , which is shaped to receive a standard spray canister nozzle  52 . It may also be acceptable to use a spray canister that includes a spray canister nozzle  52  that rotates independent of the canister. Additionally, the clevis pin  28  has a clevis pin diameter D 3 , and may include a clevis pin annular groove  44  around the clevis pin  28 . The clevis pin diameter D 3  is smaller than the liner inner diameter D 1  such that the clevis pin  28  can be inserted into the liner  14 . As mentioned above, it may be desired to include a paint blocking member  94  extending partially downward from the canister receiving member  24  of the main body  16 , which ensures that paint will not be sprayed where it is not wanted, i.e. on the putting surface  80 . 
     The main body  16  may be formed of die cast aluminum, but other suitable materials may be used as desired. Additionally, in another embodiment, the clevis pin  28  may be formed separate from the rest of the main body. In this additional embodiment, the nozzle receiving member  26  may contain an aperture, into which the separate clevis pin would be attached. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 2-4 , the golf hole painter  10  is provided. To assemble the golf hole painter  10 , the liner  14  is first press fit into the base aperture  20 , wherein the first end  64  of the liner  14  is approximately flush with the top member  18 . The clevis pin  28  of the main body  16  is then inserted into the liner  14 . Additionally, a washer  40  may first be included around the clevis pin between the main body  16  and the base  12 , and a snap ring  48  may be attached to the clevis pin  28  at the clevis pin annular groove  44  after the clevis pin  28  has been inserted into the liner  14 . This may be done to ensure that the golf hole painter  10  does not come apart. Further, a O-ring  42 , preferably made of rubber, may be attached to the base member  12  at the base wall annular groove  46  and just below the top member  18 , to rest on a golf cup rim  38  to better seal the interior of a golf cup  36  from paint from a spray canister  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the canister receiver axis  56  is offset from the base member axis  68 , the liner axis  62 , and the clevis pin axis  58 , which are all aligned when assembled. Because the canister receiving member  24  is offset from the center of the golf hole painter  10 , the spray canister nozzle  52  in the nozzle receiver  74  will be closer to the golf hole interior periphery  34 , such that the resulting spray will be more consistent and desired. 
       FIGS. 11A-D  are step by step drawings of the method of use of the golf hole painter  10 .  FIG. 11A  is a sectional view of a golf hole  30  having a golf cup  32  residing within. The golf cup rim  38  of the golf cup  32  must sit at least one inch below the putting surface  80 , as stated in the rules of golf. The golf cup  32 , including the interior of the golf cup  36 , is generally a white or lighter color so as to distinguish the cup from the soil and earth from which it is cut out of. However, there remains an unpainted portion  70  of the golf hole  30 , which remains earth colored, i.e. brown. This section may cause a golf hole  30  to be hard to see from a distance away from the hole. 
       FIG. 11B  is a sectional view of the golf hole  30  and cup  32  of  FIG. 11A , but with the golf hole painter  10  in place. The top member lip  84  of the base member  12  is sized to rest upon the golf cup rim  38 . The wall diameter D 6  is less than the diameter of the golf cup  32 , such that the wall  22  will reside within the golf cup  32  when the golf hole painter  10  is in place. A rubber O-ring  42  may be placed in the base wall annular groove  46 , wherein the O-ring  42  will rest on the golf cup rim  38 . The O-ring  42  may provide a better seal to ensure that paint will not drip into the golf cup  32 . 
       FIG. 11C  is a sectional view of  FIG. 11B  after a spraying canister  50  has been placed in the golf hole painter  10 . The spraying canister  50  is inserted through the canister receiving member  24  to a position where the spray canister nozzle  52  is placed into the nozzle receiver  74  such that the opened end of the spray canister nozzle (not shown) is facing a generally outwardly direction. The user may then press down on the spray canister  50  to initiate a paint stream  54  to emit from the spray canister nozzle  52 . The paint stream  54  spreads and reaches the golf hole interior periphery  34 , painting the interior a desired color. While continuing to press down on the spray canister  50 , the main body  16  of the golf hole painter  10  may be rotated around the golf hole interior periphery  34 , to paint the entire uncovered interior of the golf hole  30 . The top member lip  84  and the paint blocking member  94  ensure that the paint stream  54  does not spread more than what is desired, which is the approximately one inch strip of the interior of the golf hole  30  as required by the USGA, and which has been previously earth in color. When the spray canister  50  has painted the entire 360° of the interior of the golf hole  30 , first the spray canister  50  is removed from the golf hole painter  10 , and then the golf hole painter  10  is removed from the golf hole  30 . The result is shown in  FIG. 11D , which is the interior of the golf hole  30  being painted a color similar to the color of the golf cup  32 , such that a golfer may more easily see the golf hole  30  from a distance away from the golf hole  30 . The painted strip  96  will stand out from the putting surface  80 . 
     While the method has been described above, it may also be accomplished by inserting the spraying canister  50  into the golf hole painter  10  prior to inserting the golf hole painter  10  into the golf hole  30 . Additionally, the golf hole painter  10  may be removed from the golf hole  30  with the spray canister  50  still inserted in the canister receiving member  24  of the golf hole painter. The other steps (pressing, rotating, etc.) will remain the same. 
     The invention has been shown and described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is only to be limited by claims pended hereto.