Abstract:
A multi-purpose golf tool including a body member having a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front surface and a rear surface is provided. The body member is equipped with one or more pivotable support arms for selectively supporting a plurality of golf club grips off a golf playing surface. An enclosure is removably secured to the body member for selectively storing or displaying various items contained therewithin.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 09/790,424 filed Feb. 21, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,159 which itself claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1), of U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/189,928, having a filing date of Mar. 16, 2000. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally, and more particularly to a multi-purpose golf tool, more particularly to a golf accessory useful as a golf playing surface repair tool, ball marker carrier, and a golf club grip rest for a plurality of clubs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has become popular for many golf tools to have the structure necessary for accomplishing a plurality of tasks. One of such tasks is to repair ball marks (e.g. indentations in the ground surface resulting from a driven ball impacting the fairway, green etc.), as has been the custom with a two pronged device. 
     Conventional divot tools are often configured to include a body portion from which a pair of elongated legs extend in a generally mutually parallel arrangement. A golfer utilizes such divot repair tool by inserting the legs into a golf surface, either a fairway or a green, in order to spruce up the ground surface following a shot (i.e. restore the ground surface to its pre-shot condition). Such tools consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Beyond ground surface repair, a variety of devices, many of which have a multi-function, Swiss Army Knife-like character, are known to accomplish anything from ball marking to bottle opening. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,905 discloses a divot tool formed from a pair of cooperating body components which effectively house a golf ball marking pen therein. U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,322 discloses a divot tool which is adapted to hold a convention ball marker (i.e. a marker having a “stem” in the parlance of the disclosure). U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,280 depicts and describes a multi-purpose golf tool which includes a divot fixer, cleat-tightener club or cigar/cigarette rest, ball marker, and hinged money clip. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,229 discloses a divot tool configured for equipment maintenance (e.g. cleats and club heads) and equipped with a knife and bottle opener. 
     While heretofore known devices work with varying levels of efficiency, they suffer from one or more drawbacks. Among these drawbacks is complexity of design which increases device cost. Some devices are funtionally difficult to manipulate. Further still, some devices are inefficient in the method of ball marker storage, limited in their ability to support golf club grips off the playing surface, inefficient in divot repair, or aesthetically undesirable. Thus, it is highly desirable to provide a multi-purpose golf tool, which in addition to having the ability to efficiently repair ground surface marks and temporarily mark ball position, is adapted to securely support a plurality of golf club grips off the ground surface, as may be the case when several clubs are brought to a ball location in anticipation of the pending, or subsequent shot(s). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As product evolution (i.e. improvements in form and function) is for all practical purposes never ending, and in consideration of the shortcomings of heretofore known golf tools, a multi-purpose golf tool capable of selectively holding a plurality of golf club grips off a golf playing surface is provided. The tool includes a body member having a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front surface and a rear surface. The body member is equipped with means for selectively supporting a plurality of golf club grips off a golf playing surface. The tool further includes an enclosure means removably secured to the body member for selectively storing and displaying items contained within the enclosure means. 
     Preferably, an elongate base extends from the bottom of the body member for engaging the golf playing surface. In addition, pivotable arms, adapted to be reversibly extendible from the lateral sides of the body member in furtherance of receiving a golf club grip, are further provided. 
    
    
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the figures and from the following Detailed Description of the Invention. The figures are not necessarily to dimensional or to geometric scale, nor do they necessarily represent structures in accurate or representative relative scale. Emphasis rather is placed upon illustrating principals of the invention in a clear manner. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the subject invention, particularly illustrating the lower or rear surface thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the device of the subject invention, particularly illustrating the upper or front surface thereof. 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of the device of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 2B is a rear elevation view of the device of FIG. 2, particularly illustrating the rear surface thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the device of FIG. 2, particularly illustrating the arms thereof in a deployed condition. 
     FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of the device of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 3B is a rear elevation view of the device of FIG. 3, particularly illustrating the rear surface thereof. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention, particularly illustrating the rear surface thereof, including removable enclosure means. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device of the present invention, particularly illustrating the pivotable arms and the removable enclosure means. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the device of the present invention, particularly illustrating the removable enclosure means. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the figures, it is generally seen that the golf tool  10  of the present invention is comprised of a body member  12  and an elongate base  14  extending from a portion thereof. More particularly the body member  12  has a top  16 , a bottom  18 , a first lateral side  20 , a second lateral side  22 , a front surface  24 , and a rear surface  26 , with the elongate base  14  extending from the bottom  18  of the body member  12  (i.e. in a direction away from the top  16  of the body member  12 ). It should be appreciated that terms, such as “front” and “rear” or “top” and “bottom” are used herein to establish a frame of reference for discussion and are in no way limiting. 
     As is best seen with reference to FIGS. 1,  2 B, and  3 B, the golf tool  10  of the subject invention further includes first  28  and second  30  pivotable arms adapted to be reversibly extendible from the first  20  and second  22  lateral sides of the body member  12  so as to receive a golf club grip in furtherance selectively support same over a golf playing surface. FIGS. 1,  2 ,  2 A and  2 B generally depict the tool of the subject invention with retracted arms (i.e. a closed configuration), whereas FIGS. 3,  3 A, and  3 B depict the tool with arms extended (i.e. an open configurations). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3,  3 A, and  3 B, the body member  12  generally has an outer perimeter edge  32  which is preferably, but not necessarily, symmetrical about a longitudinal axis  34  of the tool  10 . A portion  36  of the top  16  of the body member  12  (i.e. a portion of the top outer perimeter edge) is contoured to receivingly support a golf club grip off the golf playing surface. More particularly, the top  16  of the body member  12  is preferably concave across a lateral extent thereof. Such curvature permits sure placement and retention of a golf club grip so placed such that the grip may be elevated off the golf playing surface (i.e. when the base is received in the ground surface so that the tool performs its club rest function). 
     Adjacent the outer perimeter edge  32  of the body member  12  is a profiled surface  37  having first  38  and second  40  portions for receiving the first  28  and second  30  pivoting arms, as will be later discussed. Each portion  38 ,  40  of the profiled surface  37  includes a detent  42 , shown proximal to the contoured top portion  36  of the body member  12 , for receiving a knob or protuberance  44  carried by each of the pivotable arms  28 ,  30 . Rivets, screws, pins, etc.  46  are positioned in the lower portion (i.e. to the right in FIGS. 3 and 3B) of the profiled surface  37 , to extend through the thickness thereof, or extend from the surface of the body member, so as to operatively secure or fasten the pivotable arms  28 ,  30  to the body  12  in one of the many ways known to those of skill in the art. In a particular embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, respective lower portions of pivotable arms  28 ,  30  preferably include locking tabs  82  extending therefrom. Such locking tabs  82  preferably lockingly engage with body member  12  by extending through corresponding apertures  84  disposed in profiled surface  37 . Preferably, locking tabs  82  extend through apertures  84  in a relatively compressed configuration, and are allowed to expand once respective retention rings  86  emerge through aperture  84  at front surface  24 , thereby pivotally retaining respective pivotable arms  28 ,  30  to body member  12 . 
     Adjacent the profiled surface  37  is a thumb contact  48  (i.e. finger engaging structure) which, as best seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, appears to depend or extend in a rearward direction from the profiled surface  37 . This structure  48  generally has an increasing thickness (i.e. wedge like configuration) in a direction from body top  16  to body bottom  18  so as to permit a more particular transfer of hand motions, and thereby more efficiently direct same, to the elongate base  14  for divot repairs and the like, and preferably has a contoured surface  50  to facilitate finger (e.g. thumb) placement and grip. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, thumb contact  48  is removably attachable to rear surface  26  of body member  12 . Preferably, thumb contact  48  is threadably engaged with boss  92  disposed on rear surface  26 . In other embodiments, thumb contact  48  may be snappingly or otherwise removably engaged to rear surface  26  of body member  12 . 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, thumb contact  48  may comprise a self-contained compartment defined by front surface  96 , side surface  97 , and rear surface  98 . Such an enclosure may preferably store various items, including advertisements and messages. In preferred embodiments, front surface  96  of thumb contact  48 , as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, is fabricated from a substantially transparent material, such as a clear plastic. In such a manner, items stored within the compartment defined by thumb contact  48  may be viewed by users. It is contemplated by the present invention that such items within the enclosure may be used for advertising or other such purposes. 
     In other embodiments of the invention, thumb contact  48  may be fabricated from a substantially opaque material, whereby labels, indicia, or other information may be secured or integrated with front surface  96  of thumb contact  48 . Such indicia, labels, or the like may also be utilized with thumb contact  48  being fabricated from a substantially transparent material. 
     Thumb contact  48 , as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, preferably includes a means for accessing the enclosure defined by respective outer surfaces of thumb contact  48 . In such a manner, items may be removably placed within such an enclosure for display or storage purposes. In other embodiments, however, the enclosure within thumb contact  48  may be permanently sealed, such that items within the enclosure defined by thumb contact  48  are permanently held therewithin. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a ball marker  52  is carried by the body member  12 , more particularly, the ball marker  52  is receivable in a recess (not shown) in the front or upper surface  24  of the body  12  (i.e. the body surface opposite the finger engaging structure). Preferably, the recess is equipped with a magnetic strip, or otherwise adapted as known to those of skill in the art, so as to secure a ball marker susceptible to magnetization within the recess. It is desirable, but not necessary that the magnetic strip have a surface area less than that of the ball marker so as to facilitate marker release from the recess as by applying pressure to the marker in an area having no underlying magnetic strip. It is to be understood that other ball marker retention schemes, magnetic or otherwise, are widely known, with the subject golf tool being readily adapted by those of skill in the art to include such alternate schemes without departing from the spirit of the subject invention. 
     The ball marker  52  preferably includes die struck indicia (not shown), such as a logo, etc. in furtherance of business promotion and the like. Painted enamel indicia is likewise contemplated for the exterior or outwardly facing surface of the ball marker (i.e. the visible marker surface of FIG. 2 or  3 ). 
     The elongated base  14  is preferably configured as shown in the figures so as to define a pair of legs  54 , the nature of the base  14  being contingent upon the desired or sought after functionality (e.g. a pair of legs or prongs facilitate divot repair and likewise permit receipt of the tool in the ground in furtherance of elevating clubs off the ground surface). It should be appreciated that other base configuration are suitable without appreciably deviating from the scope of the subject invention. As is best seen with reference to FIGS. 2A and 3A, the legs  54  preferably extend angularly from a plane  56  substantially coextensive with the front surface  24  of the body  12 , that is to say that the legs  54  angle or slant away from the finger engaging structure  48 . An angle θ (FIGS. 2A and 3A) of between about 7 and 8 degrees, in combination with the configuration of finger engaging structure  48 , and the overall tool geometry, yield a tool possessing superior ergonomics and divot repair capability. 
     Again referring to FIGS. 3 and 3B, pivotable arms  28 ,  30  are shown extended from the lateral sides  20 ,  22  of the body member  12 . The arms  28 ,  30  are preferably curved so as to securingly cradle a golf club grip therein. Each of the arms has free  58  and fixed  60  ends. The distal surface of the free ends  58  of the arms  28 ,  30  are contoured to match a portion of the contour  36  of the top  16  of the body  12  (i.e. the arms, when retracted, do not intersect or otherwise interrupt the curvature of the top of the body, see FIG.  2 B). Similarly, the arms  28 ,  30  have outer surfaces contoured to “fill” the profiled surface  37  of the body  12  (i.e. complete an exterior surface for the body, more particularly provide an aesthetic and functional transition between the outer perimeter edge  32  and the finger engaging structure  48 , see FIGS. 1,  2 A, and  3 A). The arms  28 ,  30 , in their closed configuration “hug” the finger engaging structure  48 . 
     Knobs  44  are positioned proximal to the free ends  58  of the arms  28 ,  30  (FIGS. 3 and 3A) so as to be receivable in the detents  42  of the profiled surface  37  to secure the arms  28 ,  30  (i.e. latch the free ends  58  thereof) to or against the body  12  (i.e. prevent unintended deployment of the arms). As previously noted, the fixed ends  60  of the arms  28 ,  30  are operatively attached to the body member  12  for pivot motion using rivets, screws (with lock nuts and Teflon® washers), etc.  46 . The range of pivot motion for each of the arms is defined by the extent of the profiled surface of the body member  12 . More particularly, the profiled surface  37  has a longitudinal extent greater than that of the arms so as to define gaps  62  (FIGS. 1 and 2B) that the arms, when extended, “fill” (FIG.  3 B). The extending arms  28 ,  30  eventually fill the gaps  62  so as to abut a portion of the bottom portion  18  of the body member  12 , thereby preventing continued lateral extension of the arms  28 ,  30  in relation to the body member  12 . 
     The tool of the subject invention is preferably cast using a strong metal alloy having a brushed nickel finish. An important consideration for the tool is durability: it must be strong enough to withstand heavy use in repairing divots, with the arms being resistant to bending or deformation, and likewise capable of withstanding years of opening and closing without failure of the pivot linkage. 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted in an illustrative and not limiting sense.