Patent Publication Number: US-2010113188-A1

Title: Golf Accessory

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 11/978,369 to Lance Lee Prickett, filed on Sep. 27, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the game of golf. Many items can be used by a golfer, such as for example, tees, ball markers, ball mark (divot) repair tools and items for cleaning the grooves located in the frontal surface of a golf club head. These items are typically held either in the pockets of the golfer or in a golf bag. The insertion and removal of these items can cause damage to a golfer&#39;s clothes and can be cumbersome to access. 
     Many devices have been devised in an attempt to facilitate the use and access to golf accessories. Some of these devices are golf related tools connected to a housing device by either pivotable or extending/retracting means, such as those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,413,173 to Miller et al.; 5,388,824 to Reimers; 6,620,062 to Taylor et al.; 6,800,042 to Braithwaite; 6,220,973 to Hsu; and 6,837,807 to Kerr. Other devices include a fixed divot repair tool of a forked design such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,151,937 to Jarosh et al. and 4,960,239 to Wait. Other designs are holder and tool combinations such as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,155 to Jacome. Devices have also been developed to enable the height adjustment of a golf tee, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,729,977 to Young et al.; 6,811,499 to Hsien and D492,374 to Barouh. 
     The discussion of issued patents does not mean that the inventions or features contained therein are in the general body of public knowledge. 
     The applicant believes that the present invention possesses distinctions over what is known in the art and possesses advantages over what has previously been available. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a golf accessory apparatus that can include an assortment of various golf related tools. 
     The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a golf ball support height adjustment apparatus, a divot repair tool, a golf club groove cleaner and a bottle opener. The bottle opener can be capable of quickly and easily removing pry-off and/or twist-off tapered caps from bottles. The apparatus can also include a ball marker. 
     The invention can further include a carrying attachment that at least a portion of the apparatus can be inserted into. The carrying attachment can provide a degree of protection from a sharp end of the apparatus and can facilitate the carrying of the apparatus by a golfer in a pocket, purse, or other holder. The carrying attachment can allow the golfer to insert and/or remove the apparatus from a pocket or purse without the potential for damage from a sharp end or surface of the apparatus. Desirably the carrying attachment can include an attachment means to facilitate its carrying. The attachment means, such as for a non-limiting example, can be a clip or clasp type attachment that can engage to a belt, belt loop or other form of clothing or item that a golfer might be carrying. The attachment means can comprise a cord or other type handle or alternatively can comprise a snap type mechanism that can engage a corresponding snap mechanism that is attached to an article, such as a belt or golf bag. 
     The present invention provides, in another embodiment of the present invention, the combination of a golf ball support and a divot repair tool that can also serve as a golf ball height adjustment tool. The device can include one or more ball marker(s). The ball marker can be of a design as to be used as a golf ball cleaner and can be attached to the ball support in a manner to be readily attached or removed. 
     The device can further include a bottle opener and can include a golf club groove cleaner. The bottle opener can be capable of quickly and easily removing pry-off and/or twist-off tapered caps from bottles. The device can include a carrying attachment. Means for attachment can include a cord, strap, clip apparatus or a handle apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view according one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of one embodiment of the invention comprising a carrying attachment. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic side view of an additional embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a bottle and a side view of the device shown in  FIG. 5  illustrating an application of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention will be described by way of examples with reference to  FIG. 1  which are not to be construed as a limitation upon the apparatus elements of the invention. The present invention is directed to a golf accessory device that can function as a golf ball support. In some embodiments the invention can also function as a divot repair tool. Embodiments of the present invention can be used as a ball height adjustment apparatus and can facilitate other functions such as for example, ball marking, bottle/can opening and golf club cleaning. 
     A schematic side view of an embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 1  and the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  is shown from a side view in  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5  there is provided an embodiment of a golf tool  100  consisting of a first section  102  having a ball platform  104  that can be used as a golf ball support. The ball platform  104  can be of a flat or curved design that would facilitate the support of a golf ball. A concave curvature that would act to somewhat cradle a golf ball can be utilized. The contact area of the ball platform  104  with a golf ball can range from the entire upper surface area of the ball platform  104  to a minimal number of contact points, such as three, that can protrude from the upper surface of the ball platform  104 . The first section  102  of the tool can also have a bottle opener  106  feature. 
     A second section  110  can have a tapered non-linear design, which can be used as a height adjustment device. The tapered non-linear design can comprise two or more sections, such as a top section  112  and a bottom section  114 . In one embodiment the top section  112  can have a larger diameter than the bottom section to provide a stable base for the ball support while the bottom section  114  has a smaller diameter and a sharper taper for ease of insertion into the ground. 
     The bottom section  114  can be of a tapered design to facilitate insertion of at least a portion of the bottom section  114  into the golf turf, sand or other ground surface. The bottom section  114  can be used for divot repair and can have a tapered, sloped or pointed end  124  that can be used as a golf club groove cleaner. 
     The bottle opener  106  feature can be of any design that is capable of quickly and easily removing crimped on pry-off and/or twist-off tapered caps from bottles. In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5  this feature can include an opening having a ledge  116  that can be utilized along with the underside  117  of the ball platform  104  such that the ledge  116  can be engaged and leveraged in a prying type action to remove the bottle cap. The underside  117  of the ball platform  104  can also be engaged with the tab opening of a container to facilitate its movement which leads to opening of the container. 
     The golf tool  100  can range from 2½ to 4 inches long, with desirable embodiments ranging from 3 to 3½ inches in length and can be constructed of a variety of materials. Embodiments can be made of wood, plastic, metal or other materials or composites of more than one material. Plastics such as, but not limited to, various grades of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and polystyrene can be used. Embodiments can also be constructed from certain metals or metal alloys, the embodiments made from metals can be coated by a second material such as plastics or rubber materials, for example, neoprene. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the invention is shown comprising a ball marker  118  that comprises a protrusion  120  and a rough surface  122  that can be utilized as a golf ball cleaner. The protrusion  120  can be used to engage the ball marker  118  with a recess  126  in the ball platform  104 . When the ball marker  118  is engaged to the ball platform  104 , the surface  122  of the ball marker can be used to support a golf ball in a golf tee arrangement. In one embodiment the surface  122  can comprise an artificial turf type material that can provide a support for the golf ball simulating actual golf turf while also providing a durable surface that can be used to clean the surface of a golf ball. In an alternate embodiment the surface  122  can comprise a number of raised protrusions, the protrusions can be made of material such as for example rubber or plastic that could provide support for the ball and also be used to clean the ball without damage to the ball or the surface  122 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the invention can further include a carrying attachment  130  that at least a portion of the apparatus  100  can be inserted into. In an embodiment the tapered, sloped or pointed end  124  of the apparatus  100  can be inserted into the carrying attachment  130  in a manner such that the apparatus end  124  will stay inserted into the carrying attachment  130  until sufficient force is applied to disengage the two. The carrying attachment  130  can provide a degree of protection from a sharp end of the apparatus and can facilitate the carrying of the apparatus by a golfer in a pocket, purse, or other holder. The carrying attachment  130  can allow the golfer to insert and/or remove the apparatus from a pocket or purse without the potential for damage from a sharp end or surface of the apparatus. Desirably the carrying attachment  130  can include an attachment means  140  to facilitate its carrying. The attachment means  140 , such as for a non-limiting example, can be a clip or clasp type attachment that can engage to a belt, belt loop or other form of clothing or item that a golfer might be carrying. The attachment means can comprise a cord or other type handle or alternatively can comprise a snap type mechanism that can engage a corresponding snap mechanism that is attached to an article, such as a belt or golf bag. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the invention can further include an embodiment wherein the first section  102  containing ball platform  104  can be removable from the second section  110 . In an embodiment, the ball marker is a ball marker ring  142  that can be stored between the first and second sections. 
     Operation of the bottle opener is shown in  FIG. 6 . To open by prying a crimped type tapered bottle cap also known as a crown cap, the opener may be tilted at an angle as shown in  FIG. 6  A. In this position, the ledge  116  is inserted beneath the bottom edge  604  of the cap  602 . The underside  117  provides a fulcrum on the top of cap  602  as the pointed end  124  is forced upward. This results in the prying off of the bottle cap  602 . In an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6  B, the opener may be tilted in the opposite direction such that the underside  117  is inserted beneath the bottom edge  604  of cap  602  as the ledge  116  provides a fulcrum on the top of cap  602  as the pointed end  124  is forced downward, which results in the prying off of the bottle cap  602 . 
     Within the present application the terms “comprise”, “comprising” and “comprises” shall have a non-exclusive meaning and that if an embodiment is said to comprise a certain feature the embodiment will have that feature but is not restricted in any way as to other features the embodiment may have. 
     Depending on the context, all references herein to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it may refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. While the foregoing is directed to embodiments, versions and examples of the present invention, which are included to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions when the information in this patent is combined with available information and technology, the inventions are not limited to only these particular embodiments, versions and examples. Other and further embodiments, versions and examples of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.