Abstract:
A golf flagstick assembly includes a flagstick and an accessory aligned substantially straight with each other along a common longitudinal centerline. The flagstick and the accessory are rapidly joined together utilizing crimps upon the accessory which engage the flagstick. The accessory may be joined to the golf flagstick assembly at either end or between the ends. The method includes the steps forming an assembly by placing the rod within the accessory and joining in alignment the assembly by crimping the accessory at balanced locations around a circumference of the accessory to press against the flagstick.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the field of golf course accessories and, more particularly, to a golf flagstick assembly and method of joining the same.  
         [0002]     In prior art golf flagsticks, adhesive is used for joining a golf flagstick to an accessory placed upon the golf flagstick. Adhesive creates a number of problems and difficulties. Adhesive is difficult to place within the interface between the rod and the accessory, requires a curing time for the adhesive to set, and the prior art flagsticks provide no structure for positively aligning the golf flagstick with the accessory.  
         [0003]     The prior art golf flagstick assemblies did not require accurate alignment of golf stick accessories and flagsticks. Instead, the prior art was largely concerned with securing the accessory to the flagstick costs and therefore did not invest into the development and equipment for precise alignment of golf flagsticks. Moreover, the requirement for precisely aligned golf flagstick assemblies was not evident until precision distance measuring tools were available that utilized accessories for laser sighting placed upon the golf flagstick. This type of accessory requires a very straight golf flagstick assembly. The accessory may also require being placed between a golf flagstick rod that has been divided into a first second and a second section. In such a case the golf flagstick may have three joints in which a first joint is between a golf ferrule and the golf flagstick rod, a second joint is between a first section of the golf flagstick and the center mounted accessory, and a third joint is between the second section of the golf flagstick rod and the center mounted accessory. With several joints, the cumulative affects of using adhesive at these joints may create a misaligned golf flagstick assembly.  
         [0004]     Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is a provision of an improved golf flagstick assembly and method of joining the same.  
         [0005]     A further objective of the present invention is a provision of a golf flagstick assembly and method for joining the same that is efficient in operation, economical to manufacture and durable in use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The foregoing objectives may be achieved by a golf flagstick assembly that has a flagstick rod and an accessory that are both substantially straight and joined together rapidly such that flagstick rod and accessory are substantially aligned.  
         [0007]     The foregoing objectives may also be achieved by a golf flagstick assembly that includes a golf flagstick with a ferrule attached that is adapted for placement into a putting cup. The flagstick is substantially straight and has a longitudinal centerline and the ferrule has a body and a sleeve that is substantially straight and has a longitudinal centerline. The flagstick and the ferrule joined together by a plurality of crimps upon the sleeve that engage the flagstick such that the flagstick&#39;s longitudinal centerline and the sleeves longitudinal slant centerline are substantially aligned.  
         [0008]     According to another feature of the present invention, the golf flagstick assembly may have an accessory attached upon the flagstick by a plurality of crimps that align a longitudinal centerline of accessory with a longitudinal centerline of the flagstick.  
         [0009]     According to another feature of the invention the accessory may be joined to the flagstick assembly at either end or between the ends.  
         [0010]     According to another feature of the present invention, the golf flagstick assembly may utilize a flagstick that has a first section and a second section joined together by an accessory between the first section and the second section.  
         [0011]     According to another features of the present invention, the method of joining provides a secure attachment that provides an accurate method of centering an accessory onto a flagstick rod.  
         [0012]     According to another feature of the present invention, the method eliminates nuisance fiberglass dust during the attachment process which may create a problem on some joining applications.  
         [0013]     According to another feature of the present invention, the method provides for the removal of the connection between the flagstick rod and the accessory with relative ease and to optionally place upon another flagstick rod.  
         [0014]     According to another feature of the present invention, adhesive may be used in addition to the crimping method for extra measure strength.  
         [0015]     The foregoing objective of the present invention may also be achieved by a method of joining a golf flagstick assembly.  
         [0016]     The method generally comprises the steps of providing an attachment piece and a flagstick rod, forming an assembly by placing the flagstick rod into a sleeve of the attachment piece, and then joining in alignment the assembly by crimping the sleeve against the rod simultaneously from equally spaced locations around a circumference of the sleeve. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the golf flagstick assembly in position over a golf putting cup in a putting green.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the golf flagstick assembly of  FIG. 1  showing a golf stick accessory mounted upon the golf flagstick assembly.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a close up view of section  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the prior art golf flagstick utilizing adhesive to join the golf flagstick rod with the accessory.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a close up view of section  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a golf flagstick assembly prior to crimping by a crimping apparatus utilizing punches.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the flagstick of  FIG. 8  with the accessory attached to the flagstick rod by crimps.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a golf flagstick assembly with an accessory attached to the tip of the flagstick. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]     The present invention will be described as it applies to its preferred embodiment. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended that the invention covers all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows the golf flagstick assembly  10  of the present invention. The golf flagstick assembly  10  is shown in use on a putting green  12  that has a golf putting cup  14  located upon it.  
         [0029]     The golf flagstick assembly  10  has a golf flagstick  16  with attachment piece or accessory  18  located upon it.  
         [0030]     The golf flagstick has a first end  20  having an attachment piece  18  that is a ferrule  22 . The ferrule  22  is designed to mate with the golf putting cup  14  to maintain the golf flagstick assembly  10  perpendicular with a plane defined by the top of the opening of the putting cup  14 .  
         [0031]     The golf flagstick  16  has a second end  24  upon which a flag  26  is positioned.  
         [0032]     Upon the center of the golf flagstick  16  is an attachment piece  18  called a rod accessory  28 . One use of the rod accessory  28  is to cooperate with a laser distance sighting system (not shown). The rod accessory  28  may be sized to fit a variety of different flagsticks  16  that may range in size from ½ inch in diameter to 1 inch in diameter. The rod accessory  28  may have a variety of different heights but when used with a laser distance sighting system is typically between 2 inches to 5 inches tall.  
         [0033]     The flagstick  16  may be made of a variety of different materials but is typically made of fiberglass. Both the ferrule  22  and the rod accessory  28  are attached to the golf flagstick  16  by crimps  30 . Both the ferrule  22  and the rod accessory  28  are made of plastic, aluminum or other malleable material. The crimps  30  are formed in the ferrule  22  and the rod accessory  28  by forcing a crimping apparatus upon it which forces the metal to crimp or dimple downward to engage the flagstick  16  positioned underneath the crimp  30 .  
         [0034]     As seen in  FIG. 2 , a side view of the attachment piece  18  illustrated as a rod accessory  28  is shown. The crimps  30  are applied upon the attachment piece  18  at a position perpendicular the centerline of the golf flagstick  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , two crimps  30  are equally spaced around a circumference of the attachment piece  18 . Alternatively, the crimps may be placed in balanced locations around a circumference; for example, three punches may be used with two punches 100 degrees, and the third punch 130 degrees from the second punch. It is to be understood that the phrase balanced locations includes locations that achieve securing and centering of the accessory  18  to the flagstick  16 . Dimple-like crimps  30  are shown being used. The crimps  30  typically number between two and six. The number of crimps  30  may be an even number or an odd number as long as they are equally spaced around a circumference of the attachment piece. Typically, the number of crimps ranges between two to six. Therefore, if two locations are utilized, they should be spaced 180° apart, if three locations are utilized, they should be spaced 120° apart, etc. The crimps may be in a common plane around the circumference of the accessory or may offset to be in a non-common plane.  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the flagstick  16  has a first section  32  and a second section  34 . The accessory  18  has opposing sleeves  36  and a body  38 . The first section  32  fits into sleeve  36  and the second section  34  fits into a second opposite sleeve  36 . The sections  32 ,  34  are held in alignment with the accessory  18  along a common longitudinal centerline. Although the flagstick  16  is shown having a first section  32  and a second section  34 , it is to be understood that the accessory  18  may be slid upon a flagstick that does not have two separate sections.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the crimps  30  formed in the sleeve  36  of the rod accessory  28  and engaging the rod  34 . As illustrated, the crimps  30  create a slight impression  31  on the flagstick  16 .  
         [0037]      FIGS. 5-7  illustrate the prior art use of adhesive to hold the flagstick  16  and the accessory  18  together. As shown, the flagstick  16  may become crooked or misaligned within the sleeve  36 . The misalignment may occur because of the effects of gravity. The misalignment may occur regardless of the angle the assembly  10  is held to cure or dry. With the prior art system, the misalignment may be ameliorated by significant external clamping over the long period of time required for the adhesive to set. The misalignment is further complicated by the fact that the sleeve is often formed with a larger diameter than necessary in order to permit placement of adhesive between the interface of the rod  34  and the sleeve  36 .  
         [0038]     As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in use the accessory  18  which in these figures is a ferrule  22  is affixed to the fiberglass rod by creating a number of small crimps or dimples  30  in the accessory  18 . As illustrated, a round punch  42  is used making a round impression. Alternatively, a square or other shaped punch  42  may be used to form square or other shaped dimples  30 . These dimples engage the first end  20  of the golf flagstick  16  to substantially align the flagstick  16  and the ferrule  22  along a common longitudinal centerline. As illustrated, the number of dimples  30  is at least two 180° apart but may alternatively have three to six dimples  30 .  
         [0039]     As seen in  FIG. 10 , the crimping method may be used with an accessory  18  at the top end  24  of the flagstick  16  to form golf flagstick assembly  10 . The crimps  30  provide sufficient attachment to bind accessories  18  to the flagstick  16  independent of locations on the flagstick  16 .  
         [0040]     In use, the beginning step of the method is that the accessory  18  is placed upon the golf flagstick  16  to form an assembly  10 . This assembly  10  is then placed into jaws (not shown) machined to hold the accessory  18  firmly. Each specific component requires jaws manufactured for the specific application so that the accessory is held firmly in place upon the golf flagstick  16  with the accessory  18  maintained in accurate alignment along a common longitudinal centerline during the attachment process.  
         [0041]     Next, the assembly is joined in alignment by actuating a cylinder that builds pressure and forces punches  42  into the accessory  18 . The force of the punches  42  on the exterior of the accessory  18  compresses the inside dimension of the accessory  18  onto the golf flagstick  16 . This, in effect, squeezes the accessory  18  onto the rod, holding it firmly in place. The punches  42  leave a crimp or dimple  30  in the face of the accessory  18 . This crimp  30  is evidence that the accessory  18  has been moved into contact with the flagstick  16  and is useful for quality inspection purposes.  
         [0042]     After the cycle has been actuated, the punches  42  are cycled and the cylinder returned to complete the cycle. Depending on the application, additional cycles may be completed upon the same golf accessory  18 . To permit maximum alignment between the flagstick  16  and the accessory  18 , punches  42  are spaced at 180° from one another. Alternatively, a plurality of punches greater than two may compress the accessory  28  onto the flagstick  16 . When securing the accessory  18  to the flagstick  16 , it is important to press them at balanced locations around the circumference of the sleeve  36 . The crimping may be at equally spaced locations or balanced locations to substantially align the flagstick  16  and accessory  18  along a common longitudinal centerline.  
         [0043]     This crimping process may be done to accessories  18  positioned at an end of the flagstick  16  in which only one sleeve  36  has dimples  30  applied to it or within the center of the rod  16  in which may use two sleeves  36  have dimples  30  applied to it.  
         [0044]     An additional step may utilize removing the crimped joint by using a boring tool such as one using a drill bit larger than the crimped dimples  30 . Once this hole has been drilled the assembly  10  made of the flagstick  16  and the accessory  18  may be separated and then each reused.  
         [0045]     Additionally, the assembly may utilize an adhesive applying step which places adhesive within the interface of the sleeve and the flagstick  16 . Using adhesive makes it virtually impossible to remove the accessory from the flagstick and provides an extra measure of strength. The adhesive used in combination with the dimples  30  permits the adhesive to set up with the flagstick and the accessory  18  in substantial alignment along a common longitudinal centerline. In this fashion, the crimps  30  not only may secure the accessory  30  to the flagstick  16  but also serve as internal clamping while the adhesive sets.