Patent Publication Number: US-5423530-A

Title: Device for the practice of golf

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the invention is a device for the practice of golf, particularly useful for the amateur who plays alone or in company without assistance, in comparison with the case of people of high economic standard who are members of private clubs. 
     This kind of amateur carries a reduced amount of equipment and walks from hole to hole until he finishes the game. 
     The author does not know any patent application he could mention as an antecedent. It constitutes an original idea, the practical realization of which will be further explained, and no similar device has been found in the market which could serve for the same purpose as this device for the practice of golf. 
     According to the statistics, in the Western world a hundred million people play golf, of which only three million play in luxury resorts with all the necessary equipment. 
     According to the statistics, there is a considerable market for the device of this invention, since all those people who play alone without assistance are potential clients for this device, which would be very helpful for them all through the golf game. 
     In fact, there are several times when a ball is lost or a marker of the position of the ball is necessary when it is near a hole in the middle of a game. 
     It is also frequent that, when beginning a new hole, you have to hit the base and you do not find a TEE at hand. 
     Then, in all cases it is necessary to go back to look for another ball or other equipment, and the player has to walk from hole to hole at least three times. 
     This invention aims to provide the player with a new device for the practice of golf which would allow him to carry in a very comfortable way all those items, except for the clubs, thus solving the problems mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention consists of a base plate with two nipping tubular appendages able to lodge and retain two golf balls. 
     The base plate is slightly curved, so that it can adapt longitudinally to the waist of the user, incorporating both clasps to fasten it to the belt. 
     Between these tubular appendages there are two partitions which join the adjacent parts of both and from a space where a front shield can be interlocked. 
     The front shield provides a space to insert and retain, with the possibility of extraction, a marker of the position of the ball when it is near a hole and the ground has to be cleared out for another putt. 
     The partitions are perforated, thus providing a space to put both TEES, so that they are always at hand when starting a new hole. 
     The tubular appendages have two openings with nipping effect so that they can retain balls of the American type (4,27 cm. diameter) or of the English type (4,11 cm.). 
     The retaining of the balls is complemented and intensified with a series of internal edges or grooves in the opening. 
     Some openings in the base plate give the possibility to force the balls out, although the lateral openings of the tubular appendages are enough to facilitate the extraction of the balls. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Some drawings are attached to this document in order to complement what has been explained before. These drawings show two figures: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective of the different pieces of the device, and FIG. 2 is a side elevation. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF REALIZATION 
     It can be noticed in the drawings that the device consists of a base plate (1) which is slightly curved so that it can be adapted longitudinally to the waist of the golf player. Base plate (1) has clasps (110) on one side for fastening to a belt of a person. 
     Base plate (1) has two tubular appendages (2) on the other side, able to lodge and retain two golf balls (4). 
     Each one of these tubular appendages (2) present, diametrically and in vertical sense, two openings 5 in which the fingers can be introduced to extract balls (4). 
     They can be introduced by pushing them into the opening, which gives way due to the openings (5) which also give the tubular appendages (2) a nipping effect, since they have in the interior part of the opening some edges or grooves (6). 
     Two partitions (7) join the appendages and fasten them to the base (1); these partitions constitute a place for a shield (8) that at the same time incorporates a space (9) for the button (10), which marks the position of the ball near the hole. 
     In each partition (7) there are at least two holes to put at least two TEES, so that the set constitutes a device to carry all the equipment in the waist, since behind base plate (1) there are two clasps (110). Two holes (11) make it lighter and allow to force the ball (4) out if it gets stuck. 
     Since the device can be turned into an advertising item, it must be said that promotional or other signs which can be identified with trademarks or sponsors can be indicated both in shield (8) and in button (10).