Patent Publication Number: US-2011049919-A1

Title: Golf Ball Retriever

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to golf equipment and, more particularly, to golf ball retrievers. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     While playing golf, a player is often faced with a need to retrieve a golf ball from a water hazard or other place where the player does not wish to tread or cannot reach. Prior art golf ball retrievers are exemplified by equipment disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,178,844, 6,962,536, D457,932, 5,513,884, 5,368,352, 4,509,751 and 3,141,696, as well as Japanese Pat. No. 2006116263 and PCT Pat. Appl. No. PCT/N097/00098. However, each of these prior-art golf ball retrievers suffers from drawbacks and deficiencies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides a golf ball retriever. The golf ball retriever includes an elongated handle and a ring attached proximate one end of the handle. The ring has a circumference. A net pocket is attached to the ring. The net pocket has an opening and an end opposite the opening. The opening has a circumference. The pocket is attached along the circumference of the pocket opening to the circumference of the ring. The net pocket defines a constricted waist portion intermediate the pocket opening and the end of the pocket opposite the pocket opening. 
     The ring has a length and first and second ends. One end of the ring may define a chamfer on an inside edge of the ring. Optionally, the other end of the ring may define a second chamfer on an inside edge of the ring. 
     The ring may be circular in cross section. A diameter of the ring may be substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle. The ring may have an inside diameter of at least about 3.2 inches or at least about 3.5 inches or at least twice the diameter of a standard US golf ball. The ring may be made of, or include, a rigid material. 
     The ring may be fixed to the elongated handle, so the ring does not rotate, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis of the handle. Optionally or alternatively, the golf ball retriever may include an adjustable member configured, in one mode, to prevent rotation of the ring, with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis of the handle. The ring may be attached to the handle such that the axis of the ring is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle. 
     The constricted waist portion of the pocket may include or be defined by a resilient material. The net pocket may include, or be made of, a flexible mesh net. 
     At least a portion of the ring may be colored a high-visibility color, such as a shade of fluorescent orange, a shade of fluorescent red, a shade of fluorescent yellow, a shade of fluorescent green or white. 
     Optionally, the ring may include at least one electric lamp and/or the golf ball retriever may include at least one lamp configured to illuminate the ring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments in conjunction with the Drawings, of which: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective and side views, respectively, of a golf boll retriever, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along section plane A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along section plane A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along section line B-B of a portion of the golf ball retriever of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a first mode of use; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along section line B-B of the portion of the golf ball retriever of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a second mode of use; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view along section place A of a portion of the golf ball retriever of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a golf boll retriever, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, apparatus are disclosed for retrieving golf balls, such as from water hazards or other inaccessible or difficult to access locations.  FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective and side views, respectively, of an embodiment of a golf ball retriever. The golf ball retriever includes a ring  100  attached to an elongated handle  102  and a net pocket  104  attached to one end  106  of the ring  100 . The handle  102  may, but need not, include a telescoping section (not shown). The net pocket  104  may be made from a flexible mesh net material. 
     In some embodiments, the ring  100  resembles a short length of tube having two ends  105  and  107 . Each end  105  or  107  is referred to herein as an end or a face. In one embodiment, an inside edge  108  of one end  105  of the ring  100  is chamfered, as best seen in the cross-sectional view Section A of  FIG. 3  or Alternative Section A of  FIG. 4 . The length of the ring  100  is indicated at  111  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the chamfer on the inside edge  108  may create a sharp edge  109   a  around the circumference of the ring  100 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the chamfer may create a small step  109   b  before the beveled portion of the edge  108 . The pocket  104  is attached to the ring, such as to the end of the ring  100  opposite the chamfered end. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the inside diameter  110  of the ring  100  is larger than the diameter of a golf ball. In some embodiments, the inside diameter  110  of the ring  100  is at least about twice the diameter of a golf ball. In one embodiment, the inside diameter  110  of the ring  100  is at least about 3.2 inches. In another embodiment, the inside diameter  110  of the ring  100  is at least about 3.5 inches. 
     The ring  100  may be made of a suitable rigid material, such as plastic or metal. The ring  100  may be coated (such as by painting, plating or anodizing) with, or made of, a bright high-visibility colored material to enhance visibility of the ring  100 , such as when the ring  100  is submerged in water. Exemplary colors include shades of: fluorescent red, fluorescent orange, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent green and white. 
     Optionally or alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the ring  100  may include a plurality of lamps  500 , such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), connected by a cable  504  and a switch  508  to a battery, generator or other suitable source of electrical power (not visible) in the handle  102 . For example, a threaded or other type of removable cap  510  may provide access to a battery compartment in the handle  102 . These lamps  500  may be activated by a user to increase visibility of the ring  100  in murky water or at night and/or to illuminate a region proximate the ring  100  to facilitate locating a golf ball in murky water. In another embodiment (not shown), the ring  100  may be made partially or completely of a transparent or translucent material, and one or more lamps in the ring  100  or in the handle  102  may introduce light into the transparent or translucent material to make the material radiate visible light, thereby increasing visibility of the ring  100  and/or illuminating a region proximate the ring  100 . In either case, the lamps  500  may produce any suitable color or combination of colors of light, such as red, yellow, green and/or white. 
     Returning again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pocket  104  may be made of filamentous or other material having net-like mesh or generally open construction. The pocket  104  may be made of nylon, another light-weight fast-drying material or any other suitable material. 
     The pocket  104  defines an opening  114 . The pocket  104  may be attached to the end  106  of the ring  100  opposite the chamfered  108  end of the ring  100 . The pocket  104  may be suitably attached along the circumference of the opening  114  of the pocket  104  to the circumference of the end  106  of the ring  100 . In one embodiment, the end  106  of the ring defines a groove  116  (best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), and a portion of the edge of the pocket  104  is tucked into the groove  116  to form a U-shaped channel. A rigid or resilient member  118 , such as a rubber O-ring, may be press-fitted into the channel to create a friction fit between the channel formed by the pocket  104  and the sides of the groove  116 . Other attachment mechanisms and methods include: ultrasonic, radio-frequency or chemical welding of the pocket  104  to the ring  100 ; adhesives, rivets, screws and the like. 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , the pocket  104  may define a constricted “waist” portion  120 , between the ring  100  and the bottom  121  of the pocket  104 . The waist portion  120  inhibits a ball (shown in phantom at  122 ) inside the pocket  104  from unexpectedly falling out of the pocket  104 . The pocket  104  may be large enough to simultaneously hold more than one golf ball, and the waist  120  may be configured such that the waist  120  inhibits all the golf balls from unexpectedly falling out of the pocket  104 . The filaments of the pocket  104  may be woven so as to form the narrow waist portion  120 . Optionally or alternatively, the pocket  104  may include resilient (such as elastic) material to define the shape and/or size of the waist portion  120 . 
     The ring  100  may be attached to the handle  102  such that a diameter (such as the diameter indicated at  110 ) of the ring  100  is substantially in line with the longitudinal axis  124  of the handle  102  and/or the axis  126  of the ring  100  is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  124  of the handle  102 . The ring  100  may be attached to the handle  102  such that the ring  100  does not pivot, with respect to the handle  102 , about the longitudinal axis  124 . 
     Optionally or alternatively, the handle  102  or the ring  100  may include an adjustable member configured to selectively prevent or allow rotation of the ring  100 , with respect to the handle, about the longitudinal axis  124  of the handle  102 . In one embodiment, the handle includes a telescopic section, a compression nut and an optional ferrule (not shown). In one mode, ex., when the compression nut is loose, the telescopic handle  102  may be extended or collapsed, and telescopic sections of the handle  102  may be rotated, with respect to each other, about the longitudinal axis  124 . The ring  100 , being fixedly attached to one of the telescopic sections, may be rotated about the longitudinal axis  124 . In another mode, ex., when the compression nut is tight, the telescopic sections are prevented from rotating with respect to each other, and the ring  100  is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis  124 . Optionally, the telescopic sections of the handle  102  may include a key and guide configured to prevent the telescopic sections from rotating, relative to each other, even while the compression nut is loose. 
     The handle  102  may be equipped with a comfortable grip  128 , such as a resilient grip. In use, the handle  102  is manipulated so the pocket  104  trails the ring  100 , and the ring  100  and pocket  104  scoop up one or more golf balls. The chamfered edge  108  facilitates working the lower edge of the ring  100  under a golf ball. 
     As described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the golf ball retriever may be used to scoop a golf ball by moving the handle  102  so as to make the ring  100  pass around the golf ball and catch the golf ball in the pocket  104 . In this mode of operation, illustrated by cross-sectional view B-B in  FIG. 6 , the ring  100  is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow  600 , and the pocket  104  is typically attached to the trailing side  106  of the ring  100 . However, in another mode of operation, illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the pocket  104  may pass through the ring  100  and trail behind the ring  100 . This mode of operation may be used if, for example, a user misses capturing a golf ball on a first attempt and tries again to capture the golf ball by moving the ring in the opposite direction. To facilitate the second mode of operation, both sides of the ring  100  may be chamfered, as shown in  FIG. 8  That is, the side  800  of the ring  100  to which the pocket  104  is attached may be chamfered, and the side  108  opposite where the pocket  104  is attached may also be chamfered. 
     Optionally or alternatively, the pocket  104  may be attached to the ring  100  at a location other than one side  800  or the other side  108  of the ring. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the pocket  104  is attached along an inside diameter of the ring  100  at a position intermediate the two sides  108  and  800  of the ring  100 . Alternatively (not shown), the pocket  104  may be attached along an outside diameter of the ring  100 . 
     Although embodiments of the ring  100  described thus far have approximately rectangular cross-sectional shapes (preferably with one or two chamfers), as seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  8  and  9 , rings with other cross-sectional shapes may be used. In one embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the ring  100  has a circular cross-sectional shape. The ring  100  may be solid, as shown in  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, the ring  100  may be hollow, such as a ring fabricated from a tube (not shown). 
     The one or two chamfers  108  and  800  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) described above increase the ease with which a golf ball may be scooped by a golf ball retriever, such as by the above-described embodiments. However, some ring  100  embodiments may omit one or both chamfers  108  and  800 . Absence of a chamfer (such as on some embodiments with circular cross-sectional rings  100 , as in  FIG. 10 ) may reduce the ease with which a golf ball may be scooped. The waisted ( 120 ) pocket  104  decreases the likelihood that a captured golf ball unexpectedly falls out of the pocket  104  after the golf ball is scooped by the retriever. A golf ball retriever with a pocket  104  that is large enough to simultaneously hold several golf balls provides advantages over a golf ball retriever that is capable of holding at most one ball. For example, each time a golf ball retriever is inserted into or withdrawn from a water hazard, the retriever is likely to stir up sediment and, thus, increase the cloudiness of the water. Thus, with a large enough pocket  104 , several golf balls may be retrieved from a water hazard, without withdrawing the golf ball retriever from the water between retrieving each golf ball. These and other features may be used in any combination, according to the present disclosure. 
     In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a golf ball retriever is provided. While specific values chosen for these embodiments are recited, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the invention, the values of all parameters may vary over wide ranges to suit different applications. While exemplary embodiments are described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to, and variations of, the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Furthermore, disclosed aspects, or portions of these aspects, may be combined in ways not listed above. Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed as being limited to the disclosed embodiments.