Patent Publication Number: US-9833673-B2

Title: Pitch mark repair tool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/219,269, filed Sep. 16, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a golf tool and, more particularly, to a pitch mark repair tool. 
     A ball mark repair tool (also known as a pitchfork or divot tool) is used to repair a ball mark (a depression in the green where a ball has hit the ground on its approach shot). To repair a ball mark, one 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 the putter to smooth the putting surface. Most ball mark repair tools are hand tools. To use current ball mark repair tools, the golfer must bend down to the green to make the repairs. This may be difficult for senior golfers or golfers with injured backs. Also, current repair tools do not include a sand delivery features, allowing the user to aerate and top dress the divot at the same time. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved pitch mark repair tool for golfers, professional greens keepers and maintenance personnel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a pitch mark repair tool comprises: a stationary tube comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein at least one spike extends from the bottom end; an handle portion secured to a top end of the stationary tube; a slide tube slidably engaged with the stationary tube and comprising a bottom end comprising at least one aperture sized to fit the at least one spike therethrough; a spring disposed about the stationary tube in between the slide tube and the handle portion, wherein the spring biases the slide tube so that the at least one spike is at least substantially disposed within the slide tube, and the at least one spike protrudes through the at least one aperture when a pressure is applied to the bottom end of the slide tube. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is section view taken along  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  in a disengaged position; and 
         FIG. 3B  is a section view taken along  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  in an engaged position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3B , the present invention includes a pitch mark repair tool  10 . The repair tool  10  includes a stationary tube  12  having a top end and a bottom end. At least one spike  18  extends from the bottom end. A handle portion  14  is secured to the top end of the stationary tube  12 . A slide tube  16  is slidably engaged with the stationary tube  12 . The slide tube  16  includes a bottom end having an aperture  22  sized to fit at least one spike  18  therethrough. A spring  20  is disposed about the stationary tube  12  in between the slide tube  16  and the handle portion  14 . The spring  20  biases the slide tube  16  so that the at least one spike  18  is at least substantially disposed within the slide tube  16 . The spike  18  protrudes through the aperture  22  when a pressure is applied to the bottom end of the slide tube  16  against the bias of the spring  20 . 
     The at least one spike  18  may include a plurality of spikes  18  protruding from the bottom of the stationary tube  12 . In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a spike support cap  50  having 4 spikes protruding therefrom. The spike support cap  50  snuggly fits within an aperture formed at the bottom end of the stationary tube  12 . 
     The present invention may further include a bottom cap  24 . The bottom cap  24  is secured to the bottom end of the slide tube  16 . The bottom cap  24  includes a sidewall secured to the slide tube  16  and an end wall covering the aperture  22 . The end wall includes a plurality of apertures  26  each sized to fit one of the plurality of spikes therethrough. In certain embodiments, a portion of an edge adjoining the end wall and the sidewall of the bottom cap  24  is a beveled edge  28 . For example, opposing sides of the bottom cap  24  may include a beveled edge  28 . 
     The handle portion  14  of the present invention may include an upper tube  30  secured to the stationary tube  12  by a coupler  32 . The spring  20  is disposed in between the coupler  32  and the slide tube  16 . In certain embodiments, a top end of the spring  20  may abut a bottom end of the coupler  32  and the bottom end of the spring  20  may abut the top end of the slide tube  16 . 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention may also deliver sand while in use. In such embodiments, the present invention includes a sand delivery tube  34  running through the stationary tube  12  from the top end to the bottom end. In such embodiments, the bottom cap  24  may include a sand delivery aperture fluidly connected to the sand delivery tube  34 . An inlet  36  may fluidly connect the upper tube  30  to the sand delivery tube  34 . A top cap  38  may be removeably secured to the top end of the upper tube  30 . Therefore, to reload the present invention with sand, a user may remove the top cap  38  and pour the sand into the upper tube  30  and the sand runs through the inlet  36  and into the sand delivery tube  34 . 
     To prevent the sand from escaping the sand delivery tube  34  while the repair tool  10  is disengaged, the present invention may include a tube crimper  40  and a guide pin  48 . In such embodiments, the sand delivery tube  34  may be formed of a hyperelastic material, such as rubber, silicone or other materials with a rubber elasticity. The tube crimper  40  may be fixedly secured to the slide tube  16  and slidably engage with the stationary tube  12 . In such embodiments, the tube crimper  40  is secured to the inner surface of the slide tube  16  via bolts  44  and protrudes though a slot  46  formed through the stationary tube  12 . The tube crimper  40  slides up and down along the slot  46  when is pressure is applied to and released from the bottom end of the slide tube  16 . The tube crimper  40  includes a lobe that presses against the sand delivery tube  34 . 
     The guide pin  48  runs through aligning apertures of the stationary tube  12  and into slots  42  formed through the slide tube  16 . Therefore, the guide pin  48  may be fixedly secured to the stationary tube  12  and slidably engaged with the slide tube  16 . The guide pin  48  may be disposed below the tube crimper  40 . When in the initial position, sand delivery tube  34  is squeezed in between the lobe of the tube crimper  40  and the guide pin  48 . When pressure is applied to the bottom end of the slide tube  16 , the guide pin  48  slides downward with the stationary tube  12  along the slots  42  formed through the slide tube  16 . The tube crimper  40  slides upward with the slide tube  16  along the slot  46  formed through the stationary tube  12 . Since the tube crimper  40  and the guide pin  48  slide away from one another, the sand delivery tube  34  is no longer crimped between the two, and sand may run through the sand delivery tube  34  and out of the sand delivery aperture. 
     A method of using the present invention may include the following. Remove the cap and fill the tube with dry sand, and secure the cap back onto the upper tube. If sand is used to repair the pitch mark, the present invention may be rotated to the ‘Flow’ side of the tool. Hold the tool of the present invention at about a 30 degree angle for a few seconds to allow sand to flow into the chamber before pushing on the tool to engage the spikes. Push on the present invention at a 30 degree angle from perpendicular to engage the spikes from the bottom of the tool. Tilt the present invention until it is perpendicular with the ground. Then release the pressure and allow the spikes to return to their original position. This allows a small amount of sand to be released. The application of the sand and the tilting action helps to repair the damaged turf and close the indentation caused by the golf ball hitting the green. Place the present invention in a perpendicular position relative to the ground and begin pushing up and down to aerate and flatten the damaged area. If sand is not required to repair a minor pitch mark, rotate the present invention in an opposite direction of the ‘Flow’ side and repeat the above steps. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.