Abstract:
The purpose of this invention is to permit accurate determinations of the distance of a golf ball to a golf cup on a golf green. A golf pin shot measuring device is employed to fit within a golf cup. The golf pin shot measuring device has a string therein that may be locked in place to permit accurate determinations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The purpose of this invention is to permit accurate determinations of the distance of a golf ball to a golf cup on a golf green. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Art Practices 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,278 issued Oct. 2, 1990 to Hainey describes A pocket-sized divot repair tool which has two strong, thin metal prongs rigidly attached to a disc-shaped handle which contains a spool of very fine, high-strength, man-made line of substantial length fastened to a hookclamp which may be unsnapped from the handle, hooked around a golf flagstick and played out in order to measure relative distance to competing golf balls. The line is retrieved by opening a crank hinged to the spool, after which the crank is closed and the hook/clamp snapped back onto the handle locking itself and the spool firmly into place. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,839 issued to Krangle on Sep. 10, 1991 discloses a hand-held electro/optical range finder, sends discrete pulses of coherent light to a retroreflector which is mounted on a golf course pin. The time period required for the light pulses to traverse the distance between the golfer and the pin is converted into a distance measurement which is displayed to the golfer. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,823 issued Feb. 14, 2006 to Garza Sep. 10, 1991 recites a golf green reader includes a lens comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel lines and a line extending perpendicularly to the spaced, parallel lines. When the perpendicularly extending line is aligned with a golf ball resting on a golf green and the pin of the golf green, the spaced, parallel lines are used to read the slope or inclination of the golf green. The golf green reader includes a level for aligning the spaced, parallel lines horizontally and a handle for aligning the perpendicularly extending line with the golf ball and cup. The lens of the golf green reader further includes vertically spaced indicia useful in determining the distance within 150 yards to the pin of a golf green. A lanyard precisely positions the golf green reader relative to user thereof to facilitate an accurate reading of the distance of the pin. 
         [0007]    United States published patent application 20060148595 naming Bostock as an inventor published Jul. 6, 2006. The Bostock application recites a telescopic distance marker includes attachment means for a cardholder and writing implement. The preferred embodiment has a magnetic attachment and a separate small wallet with metal studs or strip fixed to the bottom for attaching to the magnet. This wallet is high visibility and also doubles as a flag. Inside the wallet is a pencil, eraser and pre-printed cards to enable competitors in a golf competition to record their names. The pre-printed cards are heavy duty so that names written in pencil can be erased and the cards can be used again. 
         [0008]    Shekell in United States Design patent D332,573 issued Jan. 19, 1993 provides an ornamental design for a measuring line spool housing for use in golf. 
         [0009]    To the extent that the foregoing references are relevant to the present invention, they are herein specifically incorporated by reference. Certain portions of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The invention disclosed herein is in a first aspect a golf pin shot measuring device  10  comprising: 
         [0011]    a pin shot measuring device central region  12 ; 
         [0012]    a pin shot measuring device upper section  40 ; 
         [0013]    a pin shot measuring device lower section  90 ; 
         [0014]    said pin shot measuring device central region  12  fixedly connected with a pin shot measuring device upper section  40 ; 
         [0015]    said pin shot measuring device central region  12  intermediate between said pin shot measuring device upper section  40  and said pin shot measuring device lower section  90 ; 
         [0016]    said pin shot measuring device lower section  90  rotatablely connected to said pin shot measuring device upper section  40 ; and, 
         [0017]    a pin shot measuring device spool  140 , for when in use receiving a pin shot measuring device string  60 , fixedly connected to said pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . 
         [0018]    A further aspect of the invention is a golf pin shot measuring device  10  comprising: 
         [0019]    a pin shot measuring device central region  12 ; 
         [0020]    a pin shot measuring device upper section  40 ; 
         [0021]    a pin shot measuring device lower section  90 ; 
         [0022]    said pin shot measuring device central region  12  fixedly connected with said pin shot measuring device upper section  40 ; 
         [0023]    said pin shot measuring device central region  12  intermediate between said pin shot measuring device upper section  40  and said pin shot measuring device lower section  90 ; 
         [0024]    said pin shot measuring device lower section  90  rotatablely connected to said pin shot measuring device upper section  40 ; 
         [0025]    said pin shot measuring device lower section  90  is connected with a pin shot measuring device crank arm  100 ; 
         [0026]    a pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102  is fixedly connected with said pin shot measuring device crank arm; 
         [0027]    said pin shot measuring device lower section  90  has pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece slot  96 , for when in use, to receive said pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102 ; 
         [0028]    a pin shot measuring device spool  140  fixedly connected to said pin shot measuring device lower section  90 ; 
         [0029]    a pin shot measuring device string  60  attached at a first end to said pin shot measuring device spool  140 ; and, 
         [0030]    said pin shot measuring device central region  12  has a plurality of string locking channels  180 , for when in use, to permit the pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  to be inserted into one of said string locking channels  180 . 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the pin shot measuring device; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the pin shot measuring device; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the pin shot measuring device; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  side view of a part of the pin shot measuring device pin shot measuring device; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a partial bottom plan view of the pin shot measuring device; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a part of the pin shot measuring device; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a part of the pin shot measuring device; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is an alternate top plan view of the pin shot measuring device; and, 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is an alternate top plan view of the pin shot measuring device; With more particular reference to the drawings the following is set forth. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    As best seen in  FIG. 1 , is a pin shot measuring device  10 . The first portion of the pin shot measuring device  10  is a pin shot measuring device central region  12 . The pin shot measuring device central region  12  may be made of any convenient material including plastic, metal, or wood or combinations thereof. The pin shot measuring device central region  12  may be molded, stamped or cut to the desired shape. 
         [0042]    At one end of the pin shot measuring device central region  12  is a pin shot measuring device tip  16 . The opposite end of the pin shot measuring device central region  12  is a pin shot measuring device circular region  14 . The pin shot measuring device central region  12  has an elongated body region between the pin shot measuring device central region  12  and the generally circular area. A pin shot measuring device tapered section  20  extends from the pin shot measuring device central region  12 . Located on the pin shot measuring device central region  12  is a pin shot measuring device channel  26 . 
         [0043]    Also as seen in  FIG. 1  is a pin shot measuring device upper section  40 . The pin shot measuring device upper section  40  has a pin shot measuring device upper section outer surface  42 . The pin shot measuring device upper section outer surface  42  as a pin shot measuring device dimpled region  48 . A pin shot measuring device fastener  50  is shown centrally located on the pin shot measuring device upper section  40 . 
         [0044]    A pin shot measuring device upper section opening  54  is located in the pin shot measuring device upper section  40 . The pin shot measuring device upper section opening  54  is conveniently positioned so as to extend through the pin shot measuring device upper section  40 . Alternatively, the pin shot measuring device upper section opening  54  may be a notch in the edge of the pin shot measuring device upper section  40 . 
         [0045]    A pin shot measuring device string  60  is shown extending through the pin shot measuring device upper section opening  54 . A pin shot measuring device end piece  70  is fixed at one end of the pin shot measuring device string  60 . A pin shot measuring device end piece opening  76  extends through the pin shot measuring device end piece  70 . 
         [0046]    As seen in  FIG. 7 , a pin shot measuring device fastener channel  198  extends through the pin shot measuring device upper section  40 . A pin shot measuring device upper section inner surface  206  partially defines a pin shot measuring device upper section chamber  210 . 
         [0047]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , there is seen the reverse side of the pin shot measuring device central region  12 .  FIG. 2  depicts the pin shot measuring device lower section  90  of the pin shot measuring device  10 . The pin shot measuring device lower section  90  is a generally cylindrical component. 
         [0048]    According to  FIG. 6 , a more detailed view of the pin shot measuring device central region  12  is shown. At one end of the pin shot measuring device central region  12  is circular region having a plurality of openings through the pin shot measuring device central region  12  labeled  180   a ,  180   b ,  180   c , and  180   d . The plurality of openings through the pin shot measuring device central region  12  surround a pin shot measuring device central region void  188 . 
         [0049]    Also shown in  FIG. 6  are a pin shot measuring device central region retention channel  170 , a pin shot measuring device central region retention channel  172 , a pin shot measuring device central region retention channel  174 , and a pin shot measuring device central region retention channel  176 . The pin shot measuring device central region retention channels serve to fasten the pin shot measuring device central region  12  to the pin shot measuring device upper section  40 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are detailed views of the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . A pin shot measuring device lower section outer wall  92  surrounds the periphery of the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . The pin shot measuring device lower section outer wall  92  is preferably cylindrical to permit easy insertion into a golf hole. A pin shot measuring device lower section inner wall  94  is opposite the pin shot measuring device lower section outer wall  92 . 
         [0051]    A pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece slot  96  extends into the pin shot measuring device lower section  90  from the pin shot measuring device lower section outer wall  92 . The pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece slot  96  ends before penetrating the pin shot measuring device lower section inner wall  94 . 
         [0052]    A pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  extends through the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . The pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  permits ease in rotating the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . The pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  is also rotatable in a channel through the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . The pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  has a spring-loaded mechanism (not shown) that permits movement in the channel through the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . 
         [0053]    A pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102  extends through the pin shot measuring device crank arm  100 . The pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102  may be swaged into a channel in the pin shot measuring device crank arm  100 . 
         [0054]    Alternatively, the pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102  may be adhered to the channel in the pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  or screwed into pin shot measuring device crank arm  100 . While the pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102  is shown extending completely through the pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  it may be constructed such as it is only partially through the pin shot measuring device crank arm  100 . The pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102  is sized to fit within the pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece slot  96 . 
         [0055]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , a pin shot measuring device retaining mechanism  108  is attached to the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . The pin shot measuring device retaining mechanism  108  is conveniently an envelope like structure. 
         [0056]    A pin shot measuring device marker retaining mechanism  110  is also attached to the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . A pin shot measuring device marker retaining mechanism  110  may alternatively be attached to the pin shot measuring device retaining mechanism  108 . The pin shot measuring device marker retaining mechanism  110  is comprised of a pin shot measuring device wall  114  and a pin shot measuring device wall  116 . 
         [0057]    Together the pin shot measuring device wall  114  and the pin shot measuring device wall  116  form a pin shot measuring device wall channel  118 . A marking device such as a pencil may be inserted into the pin shot measuring device wall channel  118 . 
         [0058]    Turning again to  FIG. 4 , a pin shot measuring device spool  140  is attached to the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . The pin shot measuring device spool  140  is a coaxially located on the pin shot measuring device lower section inner wall  94 . The pin shot measuring device spool  140  has a pin shot measuring device arm  146  and a pin shot measuring device arm  148 . A pin shot measuring device spool shaft  160  extends axially through the pin shot measuring device spool  140 . 
         [0059]    In use the pin shot measuring device spool shaft  160  is threaded and receives the pin shot measuring device fastener  50  through the pin shot measuring device fastener channel  198  to attach the pin shot measuring device upper section  40  to the pin shot measuring device lower section  90 . 
         [0060]    The pin shot measuring device  10  is assembled through pin shot measuring device central region retention channels  170 ,  172 ,  174 , and  176  by screws to the pin shot measuring device upper section  40 . 
         [0061]    The pin shot measuring device lower section  90  is connected to the pin shot measuring device spool  140 . The pin shot measuring device string  60  is fixed at one end to the  140 . The pin shot measuring device string  60  is passed through the pin shot measuring device central region void  188  of the pin shot measuring device central region  12 . 
         [0062]    The pin shot measuring device string  60  exits through the pin shot measuring device upper section opening  54 . The pin shot measuring device end piece  70  is then attached to the pin shot measuring device string  60 . 
         [0063]    In use, a first golfer hits a golf ball onto a golf green  300 . The first golfer is the first to reach the golf green  300 . The first golfer is entitled to win a prize or honor for being the first to reach the golf green  300 . The first golfer then enters the first golfer&#39;s name on a sheet of paper and places that paper in the shot measuring device retaining mechanism  108 . The first golfer may use a pencil attached to the pin shot measuring device marker retaining mechanism  110 . The first golfer then places the pin shot measuring device  10  in the golf green  300  using the pin shot measuring device tip  16 . 
         [0064]    Thereafter, a second golfer and a third golfer each hit a golf shot onto a golf green  300 . The second golfer and the third golfer each believe that they are closer to the golf cup  306  (or pin) than the first golfer. A neutral party then removes the pin shot measuring device  10  from where it was placed by the first golfer taking care to place a coin or other object in the original location of the pin shot measuring device  10 . 
         [0065]    The neutral party then takes the pin shot measuring device  10  to the golf cup  306 . The pin shot measuring device lower section  90  is then placed in the golf cup  306  so that the pin shot measuring device lower section outer wall  92  is firmly against the golf cup outer wall  304  in the direction of the second golfer&#39;s golf ball. The pin shot measuring device central region  12  may be firmly connected to the golf green  300  by a golf tee  310  inserted through the pin shot measuring device channel  26 . 
         [0066]    The neutral party then unrolls the pin shot measuring device string  60  by gently pulling the second end a pin shot measuring device end piece  70  a sufficient distance until the second golfer&#39;s golf ball is reached. The very end of the pin shot measuring device end piece  70  is then allowed to touch the closest point of that golf ball to the golf cup  306 . 
         [0067]    A second neutral party then carefully removes the pin shot measuring device  10  from the golf cup  306  and turns the pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  to the point where the pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102  is longitudinally aligned with the pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece slot  96 . Through the action of the spring in the pin shot measuring device crank arm  100  the pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece  102  is aligned urged into pin shot measuring device crank arm cross piece slot  96 . 
         [0068]    The pin shot measuring device crank arm shaft  104  then engages one of the string locking channels  180   a - d  and locks the pin shot measuring device string  60  in place. The second neutral party then replaces the pin shot measuring device  10  in the golf cup  306  and the first neutral party measures the distanced to the third golfer&#39;s golf ball as previously described. 
         [0069]    If, for example, the second golfer&#39;s golf ball is closer to the hole than either the first golfer&#39;s golf ball or the third golfer&#39;s golf ball then the pin shot measuring device  10  is inserted into the golf green  300  as previously described. If the first golfer&#39;s golf ball is still the closest to the golf cup  306  then the pin shot measuring device  10  is returned to its prior location. 
         [0070]    An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . In the alternative embodiment the pin shot measuring device circular region  14  diameter of the pin shot measuring device central region  12  is greater than that of the golf cup  306 . In such an arrangement the pin shot measuring device central region  12  lies upon the golf green  300  while the pin shot measuring device lower section  90  is within the golf hole  306 . 
         [0071]    From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.