Abstract:
A sand trap rake and storage apparatus, wherein a tubular storage compartment is sized to receive the sand trap rake therein. The tubular storage compartment is buried in the ground near a sand trap, so that the open top of the storage unit is above ground. A cover secures the sand trap rake in the tubular storage compartment. A compression spring pushes the rake above the top portion of the tubular storage unit for ease of access. The sand trap rake includes a head pivotally attached to the handle. A hand knob tightens the head against the handle in a first operating position perpendicular to the handle, and the hand knob is loosened to position the head in a second storage position parallel to the handle.

Description:
This utility patent application claims priority of provisional patent application 60/250,128 filed Dec. 1, 2000, and this provisional patent application is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a combination sand trap rake and storage apparatus for use at golf courses, and more specifically to a tubular storage compartment for use near golf course sand traps, and a sand trap rake designed to fit within the tubular storage compartment. 
     Golf courses are customarily designed with sand traps located around the greens as hazards to play. In playing a ball from a sand trap, the golfer leaves footprints and a divot in the sand, which must be smoothed out before leaving the hole. Out of courtesy to other players, after a golfer has cleared their ball from the sand trap, the golfer is expected to leave the sand trap in the same undisturbed condition as when the golfer found it. Consequently, to help a golfer smooth over the sand trap, most golf courses provide one or more ordinary garden rakes at each sand trap. 
     Although these rakes are usually satisfactory for smoothing the sand, they have many undesirable attributes when they are not in actual use. For example, the rakes are simply left on the ground alongside the trap, which is not aesthetically pleasing in relation to the picturesque appearance of the golf course. Additionally, the rakes present an undesirable hazard in that they may interfere with the normal roll of a golf ball in play. Course maintenance is also impeded by having to move the rake when the course is being mowed. Furthermore, a rake may present a personal safety hazard to an inattentive golfer if it is lying on the ground with its tines pointing upwards. 
     To overcome these problems it would be desirable to remove the rakes from view and from potential interference with play when the rakes are not in actual use. Unfortunately, conventional rakes are difficult to store in a concealed manner due to their long handles and right-angle heads. Additionally, when concealing the sand trap rake, the place of concealment should be obvious enough for the golfer to find, and yet blend in with the appearance of the golf course. Finally, if the means for concealing the sand trap rake is to be effective, it must be easy and convenient for the golfer to use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,739 issuing to Erichson on Jun. 15, 1971 discloses a golf course sand trap rake and container. The container is buried in the ground adjacent to a sand trap for storage and concealment of the rake. A spring loaded support raises the handle to assist a golfer in grabbing the handle of the rake when a trap door of the unit is opened. The rake has a head portion parallel with the handle, requiring the user to move the rake in an awkward side to side direction as opposed to the conventional back and forth direction. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,550 issuing to Cash on Jun. 19, 1990 discloses a rake storage system in which a rake is concealed, but not covered, in a container buried in a golf course. The container is designed to receive a conventional style rake. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,812 issuing to Tillman on Aug. 27, 1991 discloses a rake storage system for use in close proximity to golf course sand traps that includes a storage tube inserted into the ground and a rake whose handle slides into the tube so that only the head of the rake is exposed when the rake is stored. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,631 issuing to Cohn on Feb. 24, 1948 discloses a ground mounted, spring actuated vessel with a closing and sealing cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a tubular storage compartment for use near golf course sand traps, and a sand trap rake having a pivoting head designed to adjustably fit parallel with the handle in a storage position, or perpendicular with the handle in an operating position. The tubular storage compartment is sized to receive the sand trap rake therein. The tubular storage compartment is buried in the ground near a sand trap, so that the open top portion of the storage unit is above ground. A cover closes to secure the sand trap rake in the tubular storage compartment. A compression spring pushes the rake above the top portion of the tubular storage unit for ease of access. The sand trap rake includes a head with a threaded post that pivotally attaches to the handle. A hand knob tightens the head against the handle in a first operating position perpendicular to the handle, and the hand knob is loosened to position the head in a second storage position parallel to the handle. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a sand trap rake and storage apparatus that is positioned relative to the ground in a manner that does not interfere with normal play or course maintenance. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a sand trap rake and storage apparatus that is generally concealed from view due to the nature of its shape, size and orientation, but which is obvious to a golfer who treads near or in a sand trap. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a sand trap rake that is designed to fit within the storage tube, when the rake is not being used, and to thus eliminate a potential safety hazard. 
     It is further an object of the invention to provide a sand trap rake that is designed to fit within the tubular storage compartment, and to partially raise from the tubular storage compartment when the cover on the tubular storage compartment is opened. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a sand trap rake designed to fit within the storage tube that is convenient and easy for a golfer to use. 
     In the broader aspects of the invention, the tubular storage compartment has a closed bottom, and is buried into the ground near a golf course sand trap in a vertical orientation so that the top of the storage apparatus is generally above the surface of the ground. The storage apparatus includes a cover that may be manually opened to insert or retrieve a sand trap rake, or closed in order to store the rake out of view. The storage unit contains a vertically oriented spring attached to its bottom, the spring pushing up against the handle to partially raise the handle above the top of the tubular storage compartment. 
     The rake includes a head attached to the handle that is oriented perpendicularly to the handle in a first operating position, at which time the rake is used in a conventional back and forth direction. In a second stored position, the head is rotated parallel to the handle for storage. When the cover is unfastened and opened in order to retrieve the rake, the potential energy of a spring is released, partially raising the sand trap rake. A golfer may easily grasp the rake for use in the adjoining sand trap. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features and objects of the invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the storage apparatus containing the sand trap rake in a closed position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the storage apparatus shown in FIG.  1 . with the top opened and the sand trap rake partially raised for ease of access. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sand trap rake in a first operational position (in bold lines) wherein the rake head is perpendicular to the handle and alternate operational positions (in dashed lines). 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the sand trap rake shown in second stored position, wherein the rake head is parallel to the handle. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the threaded post on the rake head positioned for insertion into an aperture in the handle. Also shown is a hand knob positioned for threaded engagement with the threaded post. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings FIG.  1  through FIG. 5, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, there is shown a sand trap rake and tubular storage apparatus  10 , preferably comprising PVC tubing  12 , having an open top end  30  and a closed bottom end  32 . The tubing  12  may be of various shapes, sizes and lengths depending on the dimensions of the sand trap rake  20  to be stored. 
     A cover  14  is attached to the edge of the open top end  30  of the tubular storage compartment  12 . The cover  14  is preferably made of PVC material. A hinge means  13  pivotally secures the cover  14  to the open top end  30  of the tubular storage compartment  12 . An O-ring seal  15  is preferably provided around the edge of the open top end  30 , between the cover  14  and open top end  30  of the tubular storage compartment  12 , in order to form a tighter seal upon closing and releasably securing the cover  14 , which aids in keeping unwanted moisture and debris from entering the tubular storage compartment  12 . Various mechanisms for releasably securing the cover  14  to the open top end  30  of the tubular storage compartment  12  are well known in the art, and are intended to fall within the scope of this specification and the following claims. 
     As best shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, a compressible spring  18  is positioned adjacent to the closed end  32  of the tubular storage compartment  12 . A spring top  16  is preferably located directly adjacent to the spring  18 , and is slidably positioned in the tubular storage compartment  12  to partially bias the handle  22  of the sand trap rake  20 , to raise the sand trap rake  20  above the open top end  32  of the tubular storage compartment  12 , when the cover  14  is opened. 
     FIG.  3  and FIG. 4 show details of the sand trap rake  20 . The sand trap rake  20  comprises a handle  22 , preferably with a textured grip  23  at the grip end  38  of the handle  22 . An aperture  42  extends through the handle  22  at the head end  40  of the handle  22 . The aperture  42  extends perpendicular to the length of the handle. 
     A rake head  24  has a base portion  44 , with a plurality of spaced, parallel tines  26  positioned perpendicular to the rake head  24 . The rake head  24  has a threaded post  46  extending from the midpoint  48  of the base portion  44 , on the side opposite the plurality of tines  26 . The threaded post  46  is sized to pass through the aperture  42  on the handle  22 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the threaded post  46  on the rake head  24  positioned for insertion into an aperture  42  in the handle  22 . Also shown is a hand knob  50  positioned for threaded engagement with the threaded post  46 . The hand knob  50  is loosened to rotate the rake head  24  between a first operating position  34  with the tines  26  positioned perpendicular to the length of the handle  22  and a second storage position  36  with the tines positioned parallel with the length of the handle  22 . 
     Operating position  34  and storage position  36  represent opposite ends of the spectrum of positions that may be selected by a user of the rake  20 . As shown in FIG.  3  and FIG. 4, the rake head  24  may be selectively secured in any position along the complete arcuate range  56  of positions possible in relation to the handle  22  by rotating the head  24  about the threaded post  46  in the aperture  42  when the hand knob  50  is loosened. When the desired operating position is reached, whether perpendicular to the handle  22  or at an acute or obtuse angled position  54  to the handle  22  the hand knob  50  is tightened to secure the rake head  24  in that position in relation to the handle  22 . As a result, a user of the rake may position the rake head  24  at an angle of less than or more than perpendicular in relation to the handle  22 . This sand trap rake  20  may thus be secured at any desired angled position  54  between first operating position  34  and storage position  36 , including angles in both directions away from perpendicular to suit both left and right handed players. 
     The tines  26  make contact with the sand when in a first operating position  34 , enabling the golfer to smooth the sand in the sand trap with a natural push and pull motion. Upon completion of smoothing the sand, the hand knob  50  is loosened, and the rake head  24  is rotated parallel with the handle  22 . The hand knob  50  is tightened to secure the rake head  24  in the storage position  36 , in preparation for insertion of the sand trap rake into the tubular storage container  12 . 
     The sand trap rake  20  may be made of metal, plastic or wood, or combinations thereof. The dimensions for the sand trap rake  20  may vary in accordance with respect to ergonomic and manufacturing considerations. The sand trap rake  20  is sized to fit within the storage tubing  12 , when the head  24  is rotatably positioned in a second storage position  36  with the head  24  parallel to the handle  22 . The head  24  is connected to the handle  22  by the threaded post  46 , which extends through the aperture  42  in the head end  40  of the handle  22 . The hand knob  50  is selectively loosened to pivot the rake head  24  in relation to the handle  22 . 
     Once positioned, the hand knob  50  is tightened to secure the rake head  24  to the handle  22 . In this way, the rake head  24  is selectively positioned as needed to accomplish the task of raking the sand, even when the sand extends into a crevice too narrow to fit the rake head  24 , when the rake head  24  is perpendicular to the handle  22 . 
     The storage tubing  12  is preferably buried into the ground near a sand trap (not shown) in a vertical orientation so that the top of the storage tube  12  is substantially level or slightly above the surface of the ground. 
     During operation of the sand trap rake  20 , hand knob  50  is loosened, and the head  24  is rotated, to position the rake head  24  in a first operating position  34 , with the head  24  perpendicular to the handle  22 . Once in position, the hand knob  50  is tightened to secure the rake head  24  in relation to the handle  22 . In the first operating position  34 , sand in the sand trap may be smoothed out using a comfortable back and forth motion. 
     When the sand trap rake  20  is to be stored in the tubular storage container  12 , the hand knob  50  is loosened and the rake head  24  is rotated to a second storage position  36 , parallel to the handle  22 . Once positioned, the hand knob  50  is tightened, securing the rake head  24  in the storage position  36 . The hand knob  50  threadably engages the threaded post  46  which extends from the base portion  44  of the rake head  24 . The hand knob  50  is loosened to enable the rake head  24  pivot about the aperture  42  in the handle  22 . When the desired raking position is reached, the hand knob  50  is tightened to secure the rake head  24  in the desired position in relation to the handle  22 . 
     In order to store the rake in the tube tubular storage compartment  12 , the sand trap rake  20  is preferably inserted lengthwise, grip first, into the tubular storage compartment  12 . The sand trap rake  20  is then pushed down into the tubular storage compartment  12 , with the grip  23  of the handle  22  pushing down on the spring top  16 , thereby compressing the spring  18 . Once the entire length of the sand trap rake  20  is inserted into the tubular storage compartment  12 , the cover  14  is pivoted closed about a hinge  13 , so as to cover the open top end  30  of the tubular storage compartment  12 . The cover  14  is then releasably secured to the open end  30  of the tubular storage compartment  12 , with a suitable releasable fastening means  52 . 
     This creates a certain potential energy in the spring  18 , resulting in a constant stored-up force directed upwards through the handle  22 , and against the cover  14 . When the cover  14  is opened, the handle partially extends beyond the open top end  30  of the tubular storage container  12 , allowing a golfer to easily grasp the sand trap rake  20  and pull it out of the tubular storage container  12 . 
     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein for purposes of illustration, the protection afforded by any patent which may issue upon this application is not strictly limited to the disclosed embodiment; but rather extends to all structures and arrangements which fall fairly within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto. 
     PARTS LIST 
       10  sand trap rake and storage apparatus 
       12  tubular storage compartment 
       13  hinge 
       14  cover 
       15  O-ring seal 
       16  spring top 
       18  spring 
       20  sand trap rake 
       22  handle 
       23  textured grip 
       24  rake head 
       26  spaced, parallel tines 
       30  open top end 
       32  closed bottom end 
       34  first operating position 
       36  second storage position 
       38  grip end of handle 
       40  head end of handle 
       42 —aperture 
       44 —base portion 
       46 —threaded post 
       48 —midpoint 
       50 —hand knob