Patent Publication Number: US-2020289903-A1

Title: Devices and methods for retrieving golf balls from golf holes

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/816,484, filed Mar. 11, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The disclosed technology relates generally to the game of golf, and more specifically, to devices that facilitate the removal of golf balls from golf holes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Golf flagsticks, also referred to as golf pins, are used to provide a visual indication of a location of a golf hole, i.e., the hole in the ground on a putting green of a golf course. A flagstick typically includes an elongated pole, or flagstick body, made of metal or fiberglass; a cloth flag or other visual indicator attached at or near the upper end of the flagstick body; and metallic ferrule secured to the lower end of the flagstick body. The ferrule is configured to be inserted into an opening, or socket, formed in a liner or cup located within the golf hole. The ferrule cooperates with the liner to maintain the flagstick pole in a generally upright orientation. The flagstick can be removed from the golf hole by pulling upwardly on the flagstick body, to move the ferrule out of the socket. 
     Prior to January of 2019, hitting the flagstick with a golf ball played from anywhere on the putting green resulted in a two-stroke penalty under the Rules of Golf of the United States Golf Association. To avoid this penalty, golfers usually removed the flagstick prior to putting; or a tender would remove the flagstick after the ball was putted, but before the ball reached the hole. 
     On Jan. 1, 2019, the United States Golf Association updated the Rules of Golf to eliminate the above-noted penalty. Thus, many golfers now leave the flagstick in the golf hole during the entire time putting is underway. It can be difficult or unfeasible to pull the flag stick out of the hole when one or more golf balls are located in the hole, however, because the balls tend to adhere to, and jam against the flagstick body and the side of the cup as the flagstick is lifted. Thus, leaving the flagstick in place during putting usually necessitates removing the holed golf balls while the flagstick body is located within the hole, which can present substantial difficulties. 
     For example, the Rules of Golf require that golf holes have a diameter of 4½ inches (108 mm) and a depth of 4 inches (102 mm); and specify a minimum diameter of 1.68 inches (42.67 mm) for golf balls. The Rules also require that flagstick bodies have a circular cross section; and flagstick bodies typically have a diameter of about 0.5 inch (13 mm). Thus, the spacing between the side of the golf hole and the flag stick body is only slightly greater than the diameter of the golf ball, making it difficult to remove the golf ball from the hole when the flagstick is positioned in the cup. Also, removing golf balls from a golf hole with the flagstick in place can result in damage to the portion of the green around the perimeter of the cup; and such damage can be exacerbated when golfers try to force the ball out of the hole with a putter or other type of golf club. Moreover, many elderly individuals, and individuals with physical impairments such as hip, back, or knee problems, can have difficulties reaching down, kneeling, or squatting to remove holed balls. In some cases, these difficulties can be extreme enough to prevent from individual from playing golf. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates generally to devices and methods for retrieving golf balls from golf holes when a portion of a golf flagstick is located within the golf hole. In one aspect, the devices include a substantially circular body configured to fit within the golf hole. The body is further configured to mate with the golf flagstick so that the body forms a resting surface for the golf balls when the golf balls enter the golf hole, and the golf balls can be removed from the hole by lifting the golf flag stick. The device body is configured to resiliently deform to allow a portion of the flagstick body to pass through a narrow slot formed in the device body, so that the flagstick body can enter a centrally-located opening the device body. Once the flagstick body enters the hole, the resilience of the device body causes the device body to return, or snap back to its original state, so that the device body is retained on the golf flagstick. 
     In one aspect, the disclosed technology relates to devices for retrieving golf balls from golf holes, where the devices have a substantially circular body that includes an upper surface configured to form a resting surface for the golf balls within the golf hole. The body has a centrally-located opening formed therein and configured to receive a portion of a golf flagstick. Also, the body has a slot formed therein. The slot extends between the opening and an outer perimeter of the body. The slot is configured to permit the portion of the golf flagstick to pass between the outer perimeter of the body and the opening. 
     In another aspect, the devices have a liner configured to be positioned between the body and the golf flagstick. 
     In another aspect, the liner includes a strip of hook and loop tape configured to be fastened to a body of the golf flag stick. 
     In another aspect, the body further includes a lip forming an outer periphery of the body, and a neck. The opening is formed in the neck. 
     In another aspect, the body further includes a web adjoining the lip and the neck. 
     In another aspect, the web is substantially flat and has plurality of holes formed therein. 
     In another aspect, the body has a lower surface portion configured to abut a ferrule of the golf flagstick. 
     In another aspect, the slot is a first slot; the body has a second and a third slot formed therein; the second slot extends between the opening and a first hole formed in the body; and the third slot extends between the opening and a second hole formed in the body. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed technology relates to devices for removing golf balls from a golf hole when a portion of a golf flagstick is located within the golf hole. The devices include a substantially circular body configured to fit within the golf hole. The body has a lip forming an outer perimeter of the body; and a neck adjoining the lip. The neck forms an inner perimeter of the body, and is configured to mate with the portion of the golf flag stick so that the body forms a resting surface for the golf balls when the portion of the golf flagstick is located within the golf hole. 
     In another aspect, the body is configured to span a substantial entirety of a diameter of the golf hole when the portion of the golf flagstick is located within the golf hole. 
     In another aspect, the devices further include a liner configured to be attached to the portion of the flagstick so that the liner is positioned between the portion of the flag stick and the neck of the device. 
     In another aspect, the liner is further configured so the inner perimeter of the body is seated in the liner. 
     In another aspect, the neck has an opening formed therein; and the opening is configured to receive the portion of the golf flag stick. 
     In another aspect, the body has a first slot formed therein and extending between the opening and the outer perimeter of the body. The slot is configured to receive the portion of the golf flag stick as the portion of the golf flag stick is moved between the outer perimeter of the body and the opening. 
     In another aspect, the body further includes a web adjoining the lip and the neck; the body has a second and a third slot formed therein; the second slot extends between the opening and a first hole formed in the web; and the third slot extends between the opening and a second hole formed in the web. 
     In another aspect, the body further includes a lower surface portion configured to abut a ferrule of the golf flag stick. 
     In another aspect, the lip and the neck each have a curvature that substantially matches a curvature of outer surfaces of the golf balls. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed technology relates to methods for retrieving a golf ball from a golf hole. The methods include providing a golf flagstick having a flagstick body; and providing a device having a substantially circular body, and an upper surface configured to form a resting surface for the golf ball within the golf hole. The device body has a centrally-located opening formed therein; and a portion of the flagstick body is located in the opening and secured to the device body. The methods further include grasping the flagstick and lifting the flagstick while the golf ball is resting on the upper surface of the device body. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed technology relates to methods that include providing a device for retrieving golf balls from golf holes. The device includes a substantially circular body having an upper surface configured to form a resting surface for the golf balls within the golf hole. The device body has a centrally-located opening formed therein and configured to receive a portion of a flagstick body of a golf flagstick. The device body also has a slot formed therein and extending between the opening and an outer perimeter of the body. The methods also include urging the portion of the flagstick body though the slot so that the portion of the flagstick body enters the opening in the device body. 
     In another aspect, the methods also include securing a liner of the device to a portion of the flag stick body; pushing the device body onto the liner; and rotating the device body in relation to the flagstick body and the liner. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed technology relates to systems for removing golf balls from a golf hole when a portion of a golf flagstick is located within the golf hole. The systems include the golf flagstick; and devices that include a substantially circular body configured to fit within the golf hole. The body has a lip forming an outer perimeter of the body; and a neck adjoining the lip. The neck forms an inner perimeter of the body, and is configured to mate with the portion of the golf flagstick so that the body forms a resting surface for the golf balls when the portion of the golf flag stick is located within the golf hole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a body of a device for retrieving holed golf balls. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the device body shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the device body shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the device body shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and a liner of the device, taken through the line “A-A” of  FIG. 2 , installed on a golf flagstick. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIGS. 1-4  installed on the flagstick shown in  FIG. 4 , depicting the device in a golf hole with a plurality of golf balls resting on the device. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIGS. 1-5  installed on the flagstick shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , depicting the device and the flagstick being lifted from the golf hole shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The inventive concepts are described with reference to the attached figures. The figures are not drawn to scale and are provided merely to illustrate the instant inventive concepts. The figures do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Several aspects of the inventive concepts are described below with reference to example applications for illustration. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of the inventive concepts. One having ordinary skill in the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the inventive concepts can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods. In other instances, well-known structures or operation are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring the inventive concepts. 
     The figures depict a device  10  for removing golf balls from golf holes. The device  10  is configured for use with a golf flagstick  100 . The term “golf flagstick,” as used herein, is intended to be synonymous with the term “pin.” The flagstick  100  has a flagstick body  102 ; a ferrule  104  secured to a lower portion of the flagstick  100 ; and a visual marker or flag  106  attached to an upper portion of the flagstick body  102 . The ferrule  104  is configured to fit snugly within a socket (not shown) formed in a liner  110  of a golf hole  112 . The ferrule  104  and the socket cooperate to maintain to flagstick  100  in a generally upright orientation, shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the device  10  is configured to fit over the flagstick body  102 , and can be positioned in the golf hole  112  so that golf balls  114  entering the hole  112  rest on the device  10 . The device  10 , and any golf balls  114  located in the golf hole  112 , can be removed from the hole  112  by lifting the flagstick  100 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The device  10  thus facilitates easy retrieval of holed golf balls  114 , without a need for the individual retrieving the golf balls  114  to stoop, bend over, or squat; and without damaging the liner  110 , the hole  112 , or the adjacent portion of the putting green  116  in which the hole  112  is located. 
     The device  10  includes a body  12 . The outer perimeter of the body  12  is circular, to match the shape of the periphery of the golf hole  112 . The body  12  has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the liner  110  of the golf hole  112 , to permit the device  10  to be moved freely into and out of the hole  112 , while maintaining minimal clearance between the outer perimeter of the body  12  and the adjacent surface of the liner  110 . For example, the body  12  can have a diameter of about 4.0 inches (102 mm) in applications where the device  10  will be used in standard-size golf holes  112 . The use of the device  10  in connection with a liner-equipped golf hole  112  is described for illustrative purposes only; the device  10  also can be used in golf holes  112  not equipped with a liner  110 . 
     The body  12  has an outer portion or lip  20 ; a middle portion or web  22  that adjoins the lip  20 ; and an inner portion or neck  24  that adjoins the web  22 . The body  12  can be integrally formed as a single piece; alternatively, the lip  20 , web  22 , and neck  24  can be formed separately and joined by a suitable means such as adhesive. 
     The lip  20  forms the outer periphery of the body  12 , and extends upwardly and outwardly from the web  22  from the perspective of  FIGS. 2 and 4-6 . The curvature of the lip  20  approximately matches the curvature of the outer surface of a standard golf ball  114 . The lip  20  helps retain the golf balls  114  on the device  10  as the device  10  and the golf balls  114  are lifted from the golf hole  112  during retrieval of the golf balls  114 , as can be seen in  FIG. 6 . 
     The web  22  is substantially flat. The web has eight holes  26  formed therein to permit irrigation and rain water to drain through the device  10 ; the holes  26  also help to stabilize the golf balls  114  on the device  10  as the device  10  and the golfs balls  114  are lifted from the golf hole  112 . Alternative embodiments include more, or less than eight of the holes  26 ; other alternative embodiments can be formed without the holes  26 . 
     The neck  24  forms the inner periphery of the body  12 , and extends upwardly and inwardly from the web  22  from the perspective of  FIGS. 2 and 4-6 . The curvature of the neck  24  approximately matches the curvature of the outer surface of a standard golf ball  114 . 
     The neck  24  defines a centrally-located opening  28  in the body  12 . The opening  28  receives the flagstick body  102 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The opening  28  has a diameter that is slightly greater that the diameter of the flagstick body  102 , so that the flagstick body  102  can fit within the opening  28  with minimal clearance between the perimeter of the opening  28  and the adjacent surface of the flag stick body  102 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the underside of the neck  24  has a shape that substantially matches the shape of the upper portion of the ferrule  104 . In particular, the neck  24  has a lower surface  40 . The lower surface  40  includes a substantially flat portion  42  that substantially matches the shape of an upper surface  120  of the ferrule  104 ; and an adjoining angled portion  44  having a shape that substantially matches the shape of an upwardly-facing angled surface  122  of the ferrule  104 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the body  12  has a plurality of discontinuities or gaps formed therein to facilitate installation of the device  10  on the flag stick. In particular, the body  12  has an elongated gap, or slot  34   a  formed therein. The slot  34   a  extends radially, between the opening  28  and the outer periphery of the body  12 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . Two shorter gaps, or slots  34   b  also are formed in the body  12 , at respective angular positions offset by about 115 degrees from the slot  34   a . Each of the slots  34   b  extends between the opening  28  and a respective one of the holes  26  in the web  22 . 
     The slot  34   a  provides a path through which the flagstick body  102  can be inserted into the opening  28 . Edges  35  of the lip  20  located adjacent to the slot  34   a  can be rounded, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , to facilitate insertion of the flagstick into the slot  34   a . The shorter slots  34   b  facilitate flexing of the portions body  12  adjacent the slot  34   a , to allow the slot  34   a  to widen to accommodate the flagstick body  102  as the flagstick body  102  is inserted into the opening  28  via the slot  34   a . Alternative embodiments of the body  12  can have discontinuities or gaps configured differently than the slots  34   a ,  34   b . For example, alternative embodiments can includes more, or less than two of the slots  34   b.    
     The body  12  can be formed from a material having suitable durability and weather resistance for outdoor use; and sufficient flexibility and resilience to permit the body  12  to deflect as the flagstick body  102  is inserted through the slot  34   a , and return or snap back to its un-deflected position once the flagstick body  102  reaches the opening  28 . For example, the body  12  can be formed from plastic; other materials, such but not limited to neoprene, can be used in the alternative. 
     The device  10  optionally can include a liner  46 , shown in  FIG. 4 . The liner  46  can be positioned between the body  12  of the device  10  and the flag stick body  102 . The liner  46  can help provide a more secure and stable connection between the body  12  and the flagstick body  102 , in comparison to a connection made directly between the body  12  and the flagstick body  102 . The liner  46  can be, for example, a strip of loop tape, i.e., the loop tape that removably attaches to the hook tape in a hook and loop fastener system such as VELCRO®. The adhesive side of the liner  46  can be securely attached to the flagstick body  102  directly above the ferrule  104 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The device  10  can be installed on the flagstick body  102  as follows. The installer can place the rounded edges  35  of the lip  20  of the body  12  against the outer surface of the flagstick body  102 , at a location on the flagstick body  102  above the liner  46 . The installer then can exert a force on the body  12  to urge the body  12  inwardly, toward the flagstick body  102 . In response to the force acting against the rounded edges  35 , and as a result of the relative flexibility of the body  12 , the portions of the body  12  adjacent the slot  34   a  spread apart to permit the flagstick body  102  to enter, and move through the now-widened slot  34   a . To assist the flagstick body  102  to enter the slot  34   a , the user optionally can grasp the body  12  on either side of the slot  34   a  and pull the body  12  apart so as to increase the width of the slot  34   a , while continuing to urge the body  12  toward the flagstick. 
     Continued movement of the flagstick body  102  through the slot  34   a  eventually causes the flag stick body  102  to reach the opening  28  in the neck  24  of the flagstick body  12 . Once the flagstick body  102  has become disposed in the opening  28 , the resilience of the body  12  causes the body  12  to return to its initial position, i.e., the portions of the body  12  adjacent the slot  34   a  return, or snap back to their original relative positions, causing the slot  34   a  to return to its original dimensions. 
     At this point, the flagstick body  102  is captured within the opening  28 . The installer can exert downward force on the body  12 , to urge the body  12  over the liner  46  so that the liner  46  becomes disposed within the opening  28 ; and the portions  42 ,  44  of the lower surface  40  of the neck  24  abut the respective surface portions  120 ,  122  of the ferrule  104 . Because the diameter of the opening  28  is only slighter greater than the diameter of the flag stick body  102 , the liner  46  is compressed as the body  12  is pressed over the liner  46 , and interference occurs between the liner  46  and the perimeter of the hole  28  as the liner  46  becomes disposed in the hole  28 . This interference results in a frictional force that helps to secure the body  12  on the flagstick body  102 . The user can enhance the securing contact between the body  12  and the liner  46  by rotating the body  12  through several revolutions in relation to the flagstick body  102 , to cause the neck  24  of the body  12  to seat itself within the liner  46 . 
     Thus, the device  10  can installed on the golf flagstick  100  quickly and easily by snapping the body  12  onto the flagstick pole  102 . The device  10  can be installed without any need to disassemble or modify the golf flagstick  100 , and without the need for any tools. This installation style allows the use of existing golf flagstick poles  102 , e.g., its ability to snap on to existing golf flagsticks  100 , saving cost of having to obtain new ones. The body  12  can be removed from the golf flagstick  100  by lifting the body  12  to free the body  12  from the liner  46 ; and then pulling the body  12  away from the flagstick body  102  so that the flagstick body  102  exits the body  12  by way of the slot  34   a , as the body  12  resiliently deforms to allow the passage of the flagstick body  102  through the slot  34   a . Once the flagstick body  102  has cleared the slot  34   a , the resilience of the body  12  causes the body  12  to return, or snap back to its original state. 
     The liner  46  can be formed from materials other than VELCRO® loop tape. For example, the liner  46  can be formed from adhesive-backed polyester felt tape, neoprene, or other materials that can deform as the body  12  is pressed over the liner  46  so as to give rise to the above-noted frictional force that helps to retain the body  12  on the flagstick body  102 . In other alternative embodiments, the body  12  can be installed without the liner  46 , and can be attached directly and permanently to the flagstick body  102  using adhesive or other suitable means. 
     The flagstick  100 , with the device  10  attached thereto, can be installed in the golf hole  112  in the normal manner. In particular, the flag stick  100  can be positioned above the golf hole  112 , so that the ferrule  104  is aligned with the socket in the liner  110 . The flag stick  100  then can be lowered so that the ferrule  104  enters the socket, and the device  10  becomes disposed in the golf hole  112  and the liner  110 , proximate the bottom of the golf hole  112 . If a golfer chooses to putt with the flagstick  100  installed, the golfer can do so normally, without any interference or other effect from the device  10 , i.e., once the flagstick  100  and the device  10  have been installed in the golf hole  112 , the presence of the device  10  is transparent to any golfers using the putting green  116 . 
     Because the body  12  spans a substantial entirely of the diameter of the golf hole  112 , any golf balls  114  entering the hole  112  come to rest on top of the body  12 . In particular, the upwardly-facing surfaces of the lip  20 , web  22 , and neck  22  collectively form a resting surface  48  on which the golf balls  114  reside after entering the golf hole  112 . When a user, i.e., a player or caddy, wishes to retrieve the golf balls  114 , the user can grasp the flagstick body  102  at a height on the flagstick body  102  comfortable to the user, and lift the flag stick  100  so as to lift the attached device  10  and the golf balls  114  out of the golf hole  112 . As noted above, the upturned lip  20  on the body  12 , the holes  26  in the web  22 , and the curved configuration of the neck  24  stabilize the golf balls  114  on the body  12 , and help the golf balls  114  to remain on the body  12  as the device  10  is lifted and tilted. The user can lift the flagstick  100  so that the device  10  and the golf balls  114  are approximately waist-high to the user, at which point the user can conveniently retrieve the golf balls  114  by hand directly from the device  10 ; alternatively, the flag stick  100  can be moved and manipulated by the user so as to dump the golf balls  114  into a bucket or other collection location. Because the device  10  remains securely attached to the flagstick  100 , the device  10  can be reinserted into the golf hole  112  along with the flagstick  100  once the golf balls  114  have been retrieved, without any further action required by the user. 
     Thus, the user does need to bend over, kneel, or squat to retrieve the golf balls  114  from the golf hole  112 . This feature can be particularly advantageous to players with knee, back, or hip problems, or other mobility issue that make it difficult to retrieve holed golf balls  114 . Also, multiple holed golf balls  114  can be removed simultaneously with a single motion, potentially speeding up play. Furthermore, the difficulties, delays, and potential damage to the liner  110  and putting green  116  associated with removing holed balls  114  from a confined area only slightly larger than the balls  114  themselves can be eliminated through the use of the device  10 . 
     By eliminating the difficulties and inconvenience associated with removing holed balls  114  while the flagstick  100  is located in the golf hole  112 , the device  10  can eliminate any need to remove the flagstick  100  during putting. This in turn can help golfers improve the accuracy of their putts by better visualizing the line of the shot, and can eliminate the distraction and inconvenience to golfers resulting from need to tend the flagstick  100  while other golfers are putting.