Patent Publication Number: US-2018036609-A1

Title: Ball mark repair tool with golf club handle and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/370,529 filed Aug. 3, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of golfing of existing art and more specifically relates to ball mark repair tools. 
     RELATED ART 
     The sport of golf is typically played on a golfing green, an area of smooth, closely trimmed grass suitable for making precision golfing strokes. Golfing greens are constructed with relatively flat contours and gentle slopes so that golf balls may roll with little resistance. However, when a golfing stroke is executed, the green may be damaged by the impact of the golf ball into the green as it creates a depression known as a ball mark. These ball marks are detrimental to the function of the green when other golfers attempt to put golf balls across it. 
     A ball mark repair tool, also known as a ball mark tool, is used to repair these ball marks. Ball mark repair tools may be carried by golfers to repair their ball marks following a golfing shot. Ball mark repair tools typically have one to two tines extending from a grip or stem. The tines typically are 1 to 2 inches in length, with the overall tool having a length of approximately 3 inches. To repair a ball mark, a user pushes the tool next to the mark and pushes gently inwards from all sides, loosening the compacted turf to allow rapid regrowth of grass, and then flattens the mark with the smooth flat bottom of a putter to smooth the putting surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,609 to Albert D. Kassen relates to a golf club with green surface repair device. The described golf club with green surface repair device includes extendible fork enclosed in a housing mounted directly on the grip or handle end of a golf club, preferably a putter. The fork is extendible from the housing where it is held by a detent mechanism in order to repair ball marks in the green. When the fork is extended, the club is inverted and grasped by the putter head for use in repairing the turf without the golfer&#39;s bending or stooping over. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known ball mark repair tools art, the present disclosure provides a novel ball mark repair tool with golf club handle. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a ball mark repair tool with golf club handle. 
     A ball mark repair tool is disclosed herein. The ball mark repair tool includes an extension member, a ball mark repair head, and a head couple joining the extension member to the ball mark repair head. The ball mark repair tool is suitable for repairing a ball mark caused by a golf ball impacting a golfing green. The extension member has a handle end, a tool end, and is defined by a particular length and an axis corresponding to the length of the shaft. The ball mark repair head is a tool having at least one tine for repairing the ball mark. The head couple is configured to mechanically, and in some embodiments permanently, couple the tool end of the extension member to the ball mark repair head. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for repairing a ball mark without bending over is also disclosed herein. The method for repairing a ball mark without bending over includes firstly, providing a ball mark tool as above; secondly, inserting the tines of the ball mark repair head into the turf surrounding the ball mark; thirdly, applying leverage to the extension member in order to raise the turf surrounding the ball mark to the level of the surrounding, undamaged turf; fourthly, repeating the process of inserting the ball mark repair head and subsequently applying leverage at various points surrounding the ball mark; and finally, withdrawing the ball mark repair head from the turf when the repair is completed. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a ball mark repair tool with golf club handle, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ball mark repair tool in an in-use condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the ball mark repair tool of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the ball mark repair tool of  FIG. 1  detailing the handle and the angles of the ball mark tool, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a detail view of the head couple of the ball mark repair tool of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for repairing a ball mark without bending over, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a ball mark repair tool and more particularly to a ball mark repair tool with golf club handle as used to improve the repair of a ball mark without requiring the user to bend over. 
     Generally, the ball mark repair tool provides golfers with a method for repairing golf ball marks on golfing greens. Specifically, it enables users to repair ball marks without the need to bend over. This offers a golfing aid for individuals with limited mobility or back and knee problems. It can be used to aerate ball marks and promote growth on the course. The present disclosure replaces heavier tools often used by maintenance workers to repair greens. The tool is advantageous in that does not require much physical exertion to operate. The ball mark repair tool may be attached to a standard long golf club shaft, so as to be used by hand while standing in an upright position. The tool may be sealed to the club handle to prevent moisture from entering. Additionally, the ball mark tool head may be made to be flexible enough to be bent into various positions by a user. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the tool may measure approximately thirty-eight inches long, enabling maximum comfort for use and allowing the device to be stored in a golf bag when not in use. When golfing, the device can be inserted into the green in an upright position so that no bending is needed to retrieve it. The exact specifications may vary. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of a ball mark repair tool  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a ball mark repair tool during an ‘in-use’ condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the ball mark repair tool may be beneficial for repairing a ball mark without bending over. In particular, the ball mark repair tool  100  is configured to repair a ball mark  10  by being configured to penetrate sod  20  and being dimensioned and sized such that a user  40  may aerate and/or repair the ball mark  10  without bending over. As illustrated, the ball mark repair tool  100  may include an extension member  110 , a ball mark repair head  120 , and a head couple  130  joining the extension member  110  and the ball mark repair head  120 . 
     Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other handle or ball mark tool head arrangements such as, for example, ergonomic handles, alternative ball mark tool tines, etc., may be sufficient. 
     According to one embodiment, the ball mark repair tool  100  may be arranged as a kit  105 . The kit  105  may include a set of instructions  107 . The instructions may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the ball mark repair tool  100  (such that the support device  100  can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner). 
       FIG. 2  shows the ball mark repair tool  100  of  FIG. 1  in isolation, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the ball mark repair tool  100  may include the extension member  110 , the ball mark repair head  120 , and the head couple  130  joining the extension member  110  and the ball mark repair head  120 . According to one embodiment, the ball mark repair tool  100  may include an interface seal  140  is configured to seal head couple  130  against liquid intrusion. 
     The extension member  110  includes a handle-end  112 , a tool-end  114 , and a shaft-axis  116 . The ball mark repair head  120  includes a first tine  122  and may further include a second tine  124 . The first tine  122  and the second tine  124  of ball mark repair head  120  may have a length on the order of 1-2 inches, may be tapered, and may be made of strong, weather-resistant material such as steel and the like. 
     The head couple  130  is configured to mechanically couple ball mark repair head  120  to extension member  110  proximate tool-end  114  of extension member  110 . In a preferred embodiment, head couple  130  is configured as a permanent couple. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the ball mark repair head of the ball mark repair tool  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the ball mark repair tool  100  may include the extension member  110 , the ball mark repair head  120 , the head couple  130 , and the interface seal  140 . 
     According to one embodiment, the extension member  110  may be embodied as or otherwise include a golf club shaft  115 , which may further include a golf club handle  113  at the handle-end  112  ( FIG. 2 ) of extension member  110 . Accordingly, the golf club handle  113  may be fixed to the golf club shaft  115 . 
     As above, the interface seal  140  is configured to seal head couple  130  against liquid. Interface seal  140  may be embodied as or otherwise include a moisture resistant sleeve affixed to ball mark repair head  120  and extension member  110 . The interface seal  140  may be configured to prevent moisture from reaching head couple  130 . 
     The first tine  122  and second tine  124  may be oriented parallel to each other, and extend from extension member  110  along a first dig-axis  126 . A shown, the first dig-axis  126  of first tine  122  and second tine  124  may be parallel (and also coaxial) with the shaft-axis  116 . According to one embodiment, the first tine  122  and the second tine  124  may be reconfigurable so as to extend from extension member  110  along a second dig-axis  128 , the second dig-axis  128  being different than first dig-axis  126 . 
     As shown, the extension member  110  may have a length  118  that extends between its handle-end  112  and its tool-end  114 , along shaft-axis  116 . The length  118  may be set at least twenty-four inches. Further, the length  118  may be set at less than forty-eight inches. In a preferred embodiment, length  118  of extension member  110  may be between thirty-four inches and forty-two inches. In another preferred embodiment, length  118  of extension member  110  may be thirty-eight inches. 
       FIG. 4  is a detail view of the head couple of the ball mark repair tool of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the head couple  130  may alternately include a separable couple. In particular, the head couple  130  may include a threaded shaft  132  and a threaded receiver  134 . The threaded shaft  132  may be configured to mate with threaded receiver  134 . The threaded shaft  132  may be fixed to one of the extension member  110  and the ball mark repair head  120 , and the threaded receiver  134  may be fixed to the other of extension member  110  and ball mark repair head  120 . In a preferred embodiment and as shown, the threaded shaft  132  may fixed to the extension member  110 , and the threaded receiver  134  may be fixed to the ball mark repair head  120 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for repairing a ball mark without bending over, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for repairing a ball mark without bending over  500  may include one or more components or features of the ball mark repair tool  100  as described above. As illustrated, the method for repairing a ball mark without bending over  500  may include the steps of: step one  501 , providing a ball mark repair tool including an extension member having a handle-end, a tool-end, a shaft-axis, and a length extending between the handle-end and the tool-end along the shaft axis, the length being at least twenty-four inches, a ball mark repair head including a first tine configured to repair a ball mark, and a head couple configured to mechanically couple the ball mark repair head to the extension member proximate the tool-end of the extension member; step two  502 , inserting a ball mark repair head into a turf surrounding a ball mark; step three  503 , applying leverage to the extension member to raise the turf surrounding the ball mark; step four  504 , repeating the process of inserting the ball mark repair head and applying leverage at various points surrounding the ball mark; and step five  505 , withdrawing the ball mark repair head from the turf. 
     It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for repairing a ball mark without bending over, are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.