Patent Publication Number: US-11389807-B2

Title: Golf bunker filtration device and related methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/963,851 filed Jan. 21, 2020, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of golf course maintenance, and, more particularly, to a golf bunker filtration device and related methods. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Golf course bunkers are depressions near the green or fairway of a golf course and are filled with sand. The bunkers are easy to construct but can be difficult to maintain. The bunker sand needs to be clean and consistent so that the players can hit the ball from the bunker. However, dirt and other small debris often gets mixed into the sand and contaminates the bunker sand, which reduces the quality of the bunker. This can be caused by rain, wind, and irrigation water being washed into the bunker so that the sand is not clean. Dirty sand in golf course bunkers is highly undesirable and typically must be removed and replaced with clean sand, which can be expensive and time consuming. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device that can efficiently clean the bunker sand. 
     SUMMARY 
     A golf bunker cleaning device is disclosed. The device includes a base having an open top end and an open bottom end defining an interior open space therebetween and the base configured to be buried below a ground surface of a golf bunker without filling in the interior open space, an extension collar configured to be removably secured over the open top end of the base to increase a height of the interior open space to above the ground surface of the golf bunker, and a lid configured to be removably secured over either the top end of the base or over the extension collar to enclose the interior open space. The extension collar has a plurality of collar latches each extending to a respective free end, and the base has a plurality of base locking apertures configured to releasable engage the respective free end of the plurality of collar latches, and a front archway and a rear archway configured to accommodate a drain pipe. In addition, the lid includes a plurality of lid latches each extending to a respective free end, and the extension collar has a plurality of collar locking apertures configured to releasable engage the respective free end of the plurality of lid latches. 
     The device may also include at least one additional extension collar configured to be stacked directly over the extension collar to further increase a height of the interior open space, and the base may have a plurality of drainage slots configured to allow water to pass into the interior space. A shape of the base may narrow from the bottom end to the top end. 
     In another particular aspect, a method for cleaning a golf bunker is disclosed. The method includes using a device comprising a base installed over a drainage pipe buried in the golf bunker, where the base has an open top end and an open bottom end defining an interior open space therebetween, an extension collar configured to be removably secured over the open top end of the base, and a lid configured to be removably secured over either the top end of the base or over the extension collar to enclose the interior open space. The method includes removing the lid, securing the extension collar over the open top end of the base to increase a height of the interior open space to above a ground surface of the golf bunker, and pumping water into the golf bunker until the water flows over a top edge of the extension collar and into the interior open space to the drainage pipe so that sand of the golf bunker is cleaned. 
     The method may also include removing the extension collar after the sand has been cleaned, and replacing the lid over the top end of the base. In addition, the method may include leaving at least one extension collar secured to the base when the drainage pipe is deeper below the ground surface than a height of the base. In addition, the method includes releasably engaging a plurality of collar latches of the extension collar with a plurality of base locking apertures of the base, and releasably engaging a plurality of lid latches with a plurality of lid locking apertures of the extension collar or base locking apertures of the base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf bunker filtration device in which various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the golf bunker filtration device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded elevational view of the golf bunker filtration device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the golf bunker filtration device of  FIG. 1  with an additional collar extension. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an excavation of a golf bunker with a base of the golf bunker filtration device of  FIG. 1  being installed within a trench. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the trench being filled around the base of the golf bunker filtration device. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the base and extension collar of the golf bunker filtration device of  FIG. 1  installed within the golf bunker. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the golf bunker being flooded with water. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of water flowing into the golf bunker filtration device and filtering the bunker of debris. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a golf bunker filtration device is disclosed and generally designated  100 . The device  100  includes a base  102  having an open top end and an open bottom end defining an interior open space therebetween. The base  102  is configured to be buried below a ground surface of a golf bunker without filling in the interior open space. The base  102  may narrow from the bottom end to the top end to increase its structural stability and have a truncated rectangular pyramid shape. 
     The base  102  includes a front archway  108  and a rear archway  110  configured to accommodate a drainage pipe  130  located below ground in the bunker and passing through the device  100 . The base  102  also includes a plurality of drainage slots  122  that are configured to allow water to pass into the interior space to reach the drainage pipe  130  when the device  100  is not being used to wash the bunker sand. 
     An extension collar  104  of the device  100  is configured to be removably secured over the open top end of the base  102  to increase a height of the interior open space to reach above the ground surface of the golf bunker. A top of the extension collar  104  extends up from the ground surface to create a lip so that the device  100  will function properly when the bunker sand is being washed and keep debris from being washed down into the base  102  and clog the drainage pipe  130 . The device  100  includes a lid  106  that is configured to be removably secured over either the top end of the base  102  or over the extension collar  104  to enclose the interior open space. 
     For example, when the device  100  is not in use, the extension collar  104  may be removed so that it no longer extends above the ground surface. The top end of the base  102  is below the ground surface so that when the lid  106  is installed to the base  102  and the extension collar  104  has been removed, sand will not fill in the interior space. Accordingly, the device  100  can be completely buried so as to not interfere with game play when a golf ball enters the bunker. In another aspect, the lid  106  can be secured to the extension collar  104  and then buried in the bunker. The specific arrangement of the device  100  will depend, in part, on the depth of the drainage pipe in the bunker and its location. 
     In order to secure the extension collar  104  to the base  102 , the extension collar  104  has a plurality of collar latches  114 , each extending to a respective free end  115 . As those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, there may be more or less collar latches  114  than two on each end as depicted in the drawings. The base  102  has a plurality of base locking apertures  112  configured to releasable engage the respective free end  115  of the plurality of collar latches  114 . 
     Similar to the extension collar  104 , the lid  106  has a plurality of lid latches  116  each extending to a respective free end  117 . The extension collar  104  has a plurality of collar locking apertures  124  configured to releasable engage the respective free end  117  of the plurality of lid latches  116 . 
     In a particular aspect, there may be more than one extension collar required in order to reach from the drainage pipe  130  to above the ground surface of the bunker. As shown in  FIG. 4 , an additional extension collar  204  may be stacked directly over the extension collar  104  to further increase a height of the interior open space. The additional extension collar  204  includes a plurality of collar latches  214 , each extending to a respective free end  215 . The extension collar  104  has a plurality of collar locking apertures  124  configured to releasable engage the respective free end  215  of the plurality of collar latches  214  of the additional extension collar  204 . 
     The lid  106  is secured to the additional extension collar  204  in the same manner as it is to the extension collar  104  explained above. The additional extension collar  204  has a plurality of collar locking apertures  224  configured to releasable engage the respective free end  117  of the plurality of lid latches  116 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , the base  102  of the golf bunker filtration device  100  is placed within a trench  134  of the bunker  132 . The base  102  is mounted over the drainage pipe  130  within the trench  134 . The drainage pipe  130  passes through the front archway  108  and into the interior space of the base  102  and out the rear archway  110 . The front and rear archways  108 ,  110  are configured to prevent dirt, sand or other materials from entering the base  102 . The drainage pipe  130  is typically found in the base of every bunker and usually comprises a type of perforated pipe that collects water and discharges the water to a pond or proximate water feature. 
     Once the base  102  has been installed over the drainage pipe  130  in the trench  134 , dirt and sand is used to fill the trench  134  around the base  102  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The top end of the base  102  may be at ground level so that the lid  106  can be secured to it. More sand can be heaped over the top of the lid  106  so that the device  100  does not interfere with game play. As explained above, if the drainage pipe  130  is relatively deep in the ground so that the top of the base  102  is not close enough to the ground surface, one or more extension collars  104 ,  204  may be used to reach the height of the ground surface. 
     In another particular aspect, a method for cleaning a golf bunker using the device  100  installed in the golf bunker  132  is disclosed. The method includes removing the lid  106 , and securing one or more extension collars  104 ,  204  over the open top end of the base  102  to increase a height of the interior open space to above a ground surface of the golf bunker  132  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, once the lid  106  is removed, the sand around the open end of the base  102  can be excavated to create the lip instead of using an extension collar  104 ,  204 . 
     Next, water is pumped into the golf bunker  132 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . Water is continued to be flooded into the bunker  132  so that the water reaches a depth to flow over a top edge of the extension collar  104  (or  204 ), as shown in  FIG. 9 , and into the interior open space to the drainage pipe  130  to be discharged. The rinsing action of the water flowing through the sand of the golf bunker  132  causes the dirt and other lighter debris to float as the fine particles and dirt are slurred into the water and are removed from the sand while leaving the sand behind. The bunker  132  continues to be flooded with water until the sand is relatively cleaned or for a predetermined time duration. Once the bunker has been filtered and cleaned, the bunker is playable and the water drainage rate of the bunker will be improved because the device  100  causes the sand particles to remain in the bunker but the dirt and silt/clay are removed. 
     After the bunker  132  has been cleaned, the extension collar  104  can be removed as needed, and the lid  106  is secured over the top end of the base  102 . The method may include leaving one or more extension collars secured to the base  102  when the drainage pipe  103  is deep below the ground surface relative to a height of the base  102 . The lid  106 , collar extensions  104  and base  102  are secured together by releasably engaging a plurality of collar latches  114  of the extension collar  104  with a plurality of base locking apertures  112  of the base  102 , and releasably engaging a plurality of lid latches  116  with a plurality of lid locking apertures  124  of the extension collar  104  or base locking apertures  112  of the base  102 . 
     The device  100  may also include or be coupled to a moisture meter to monitor moisture levels in the bunker  132 . In addition, some or all the components of the device  100  may be comprised in part, or in whole, of mesh netting that will allow fine dirt particles to pass but prevent sand particles from entering. Mesh netting may also be used as a lid for the device  100 . 
     The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope possible consistent with the principles and novel features as defined herein.