Patent Publication Number: US-2005137033-A1

Title: Golf ball and tee placement and retrieval apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to golf accessories and more particularly to a golf ball and tee placement and retrieval apparatus for use on a playing surface.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Many golfers have a difficult time bending over to position a golf ball and tee into the ground during a round of golf. This may be due to factors such as bad backs, knees, hips or any number of similar ailments. This invention seeks to relieve such persons from the stress these acts place on their bodies.  
      Prior art devices for assisting golfers to retrieve a golf ball or tee presents a number of problems. For example, there is not a size small enough to fit into one pants pocket. One prior art reference shows a tee positioning apparatus that requires a spring and plunger mechanism to provide functionality. Additionally, it cannot be readily transported on the golf course because of its size.  
      Another reference shows a device that shows a spring for functioning and requires a permanently affixed pole and cannot be used to properly position the ball and tee without many attempts.  
      In golf, the ball sometimes is to be put on a very small pedestal to elevate it from the ground. The pedestal, called a “tee” is made of wood or plastic and its top is a dish-like cup on which the golf all is placed. The opposite end of the tee is pointed so that it may be inserted into the ground for stability with the ball sitting on the dish end. This allows the golf ball to remain stationary approximately 1½″ to 2″ above the ground. In instances when the ball must hit as far as possible to make subsequent shots easier, one club designed to accomplish this task is the “driver”. This club&#39;s face has only 10 to 12 degrees of loft so that the ball can be hit on a relatively flat trajectory for distance. It would be virtually impossible to hit the ball with a driver if the ball simply rested on the ground and even skilled golf professionals use a tee to elevate the ball when appropriate. Without a tee to put the ball into position for a drive, the amateur golfer would find the game almost impossible to play well.  
      Since “teeing” the ball requires that the player bend close enough to the ground to touch the ground with the ball and tee, a reasonable amount of flexibility is required of the golfer. For the golfer who, through the stiffness associate with age or a disability, finds that he or she can no longer tee the ball, the penalty is so great that they give up the game or else hit a ball dropped on the ground with an “iron”. The iron does not require teeing but there is a consequence loss of distance, competitiveness and satisfaction.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is a golf ball and tee placement and retrieval apparatus formed from a hollow elongated shaft within which is positioned a first plate that is secured to one end shaft and a second plate is secured at the end of the elongated rod. A third plate has a tee receiving recessed and two support members fixedly secured thereto. Each support member passes through an apertures in the first and second plates to maintain the second plate in alignment with the first and third plates. Resilient means are positioned between and engaging both the first and second plates and normally bias the second plate away from the first plate. The second plate is movable by the elongated rod upwardly toward the first plate until the distance between the second plate and third plate is sufficient to receive a golf ball and cooperatively positioned tee. The second plate is movable toward the third plate by displacing the elongated rod downwardly toward the playing surface and thereby positioning the tee into the playing surface and the ball in a playable position on the tee when the elongated rod and second plate are moved upwardly and away from the ball and tee.  
      Thus there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In that respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.  
      It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent methods and products resulting there from that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The application is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by its claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.  
      Thus, the objects of the invention set forth above, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are noted with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific results obtained by its use, reference should be made to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.  
      The drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the placement and retrieval apparatus with a ball and tee positioned therein for placement;  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the placement and retrieval apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the placement and retrieval apparatus shown in FIGS.  1  and;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the complete placement and retrieval apparatus making up the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the placement and retrieval apparatus comprising the present invention having an attached support member in a collapsed condition; and  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the placement and retrieval apparatus shown in  FIG. 5  with the support member maintaining the handle of the apparatus in an elevated condition away from the ground. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 4 , a golf ball and tee placement and retrieval apparatus shown generally as  10  is made of a hollow elongated shaft having a body portion and first and second ends  14 ,  16 . An elongated rod  18  is cooperatively received and slightly movable within shaft  12 . A first plate  20  is fixably secured to the elongated shaft second end and has spaced apart apertures  22  ( FIG. 3 ). A second plate  24  is secured to the elongated rod second end  26  and also has spaced apart apertures  28 . A third plate  30  has a tee receiving recess  32  best shown in  FIG. 3 . First and second support members  34  are secured to third plate  30  and extend upwardly to pass through apertures  28 ,  22  in the second and first plates thereby maintaining second plate  24  in alignment with first and third plates  24 .  
      Resilient means such as springs are positioned between and engage both first and second plates  24  and normally bias second plate  24  away from first plate  20 . Second plate  24  is movable by rod  26  upwardly toward first plate  20  until the distance between second plate  24  and third plate  30  is sufficient to receive a golf ball  38  and a cooperatively positioned tee  40 .  
      Second plate  24  is movable toward third plate  30  by displacing elongated rod  26  downwardly toward the playing surface and thereby positioning tee  40  into the playing surface and the ball  38  in a playable position on tee  40  when elongated rod  26  and second plate  24  are moved upwardly and away from ball  38  and tee  40 .  
      A convenient stand  42  is shown in  FIG. 5  in the retracted or stored position and, in  FIG. 6 , in the active position maintaining the upper end of rod  18  in an elevated position for convenience to the user. Utilizing stand  42  in this manner will keep moisture from the ground away from the end of the device being used by the player.  
      From the proceeding description, it can be seen that a golf ball and tee placement and retrieval apparatus for use on a playing surface has been provided that will meet all the advantages of all prior art devices and offer additional advantages not heretofore achievable. With respect to the foregoing invention, the optimum dimensional relationship to the parts of the invention including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation use and assembly are deemed readily apparent to those skilled in the yard, and all equivalent relationships illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed herein.  
      The foregoing is considered a illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the yard, and it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. All suitable modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of the impended claims are deemed with the present inventive concept.