Abstract:
There is provided a golf ball retriever that is easy to install and convenient for any golfer, eliminating the need to bend over when retrieving a ball. The ball-retrieval system may be integrated into a golf club shaft or grip portion without interference to use of the golf club. The device can be used with any golf club, such as a putter, to retrieve a golf ball from the ground or within the cup. The system also allows the release of the golf ball after retrieval. The device includes a ball retrieval cup sized and formed of a material to allow it to flex around the diameter of the golf ball and frictionally engage the ball. The cup further allows the ball to be released by the application of a force thereto. A magnetic mounting system attachment to a golf club is provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,809, filed Aug. 28, 2009, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to golf ball equipment for use in retrieving golf balls from various locations throughout a golf course and particularly from a position on the ground or golf hole. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For some golfers, the act of retrieving the golf ball may be uncomfortable and inconvenient to the user, requiring the user to repetitively bend over or kneel to reach to the ground or within the cup. The cup is recessed in moist soil and for some golfers, due to physical limitations, it is difficult to retrieve the golf ball, and it is undesirable if contact with the perimeter tarnishes the hand or glove of the user or the hole itself. 
         [0004]    The prior art provides an assortment of golf ball retrievers for overcoming the inconveniences of retrieving a golf ball from the ground or a cup. Traditional golf ball retrievers may be complex, often requiring multiple components and corresponding manufacturing processes. These traditional golf ball retrievers tend to be costly relative to the convenience which they provide. Some conventional golf ball retrievers are sold as unitary with a putter. However, these retrievers limit the selection of a putter to one having a golf ball retriever incorporated therein. Other golf ball retrievers are sold separately from the putter such that a user may install it in any putter, or any other golf club for that matter. However, these golf ball retrievers and the assembly process required may be costly and overly burdensome to the user. Further, these golf ball retrievers may require much alteration to the golf club shaft which may be undesirable to the user. Further, prior systems may not allow for easy release of the golf ball that may be helpful for activities such as practicing putting or the like. 
         [0005]    Attempts have been made in the past to address the convenience and comfort of a user when retrieving a golf ball from a cup, however, these designs are lacking in a variety of ways, and a more effective and cost-effective system would be desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a simple, low-cost golf ball retriever that is easy to install and convenient for any golfer, particularly an individual having limited physical ability, in eliminating the need to bend over when retrieving a ball. The ball-retrieval system may be integrated into a golf club shaft or grip portion without interference to use of the golf club, thus allowing the golfer to use this device with any golf club, such as a putter, to retrieve the golf ball. The system may further allow for the release of the golf ball after retrieval to facilitate practice or other activities. In an example, the system comprises a ball retrieval cup sized and formed of a material to allow it to flex around the diameter of the golf ball and frictionally engage the ball when desired, from any position on the ground or in the cup on a putting green for example. The cup further allows the ball to be easily released by the application of a force thereto and deflection of the ball retrieval cup. The system may further comprise a magnetic mounting system for selective attachment to a golf club or other suitable structure for use or storage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  shows an exploded perspective view of a golf ball retrieval apparatus, in accordance with one example of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  shows a second exploded perspective view of a golf ball retrieval apparatus. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of a ball retriever device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  shows second perspective view of the ball retriever device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2C  shows third perspective view of the ball retriever device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2D  shows side perspective view of the ball retriever device 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the fitting assembly attached to a club. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of the ball retriever device attached to a club. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  shows a second perspective view of the ball retriever device attached to a club. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4C  shows a cross-section of the ball retriever device attached to a club. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  shows a perspective view of a ball engaged with the ball retriever device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  shows a side view of a ball engaged with the ball retriever device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5C  shows a cross-section of the ball retriever device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    An embodiment of a golf ball retrieval apparatus, generally identified by reference numeral  10 , is illustrated in the Figures. The golf ball retrieval apparatus  10  may comprise a system to allow a golf ball to be easily retrieved in association with a golf club or other support having a length to allow a user to reach the ground surface or within a golf cup for retrieval of a ball. As seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the device  10  may comprise a ball-retaining cup or cylinder  30 , having an aperture  35  formed in a bottom portion thereof. The ball retrieving cup  30  may be formed of a material which is flexible to allow deflection of portions while returning to its original shape after any force is removed. The retrieval cup  30  is sized to have a diameter which is the same or slightly smaller than the diameter of a golf ball, and can flex around the diameter of the golf ball to as to become selectively frictionally engaged to the golf ball for retrieval, by the application of a simple force or pressure of the retrieval cup  30  onto the ball to be retrieved. The golf ball is frictionally engaged about its diameter at an outer portion of the retrieval cup  30 , such that space remains between the retained golf ball and the bottom portion of the retrieval cup  30 . Upon desiring to release a retained golf ball, the user can simply apply a pressure to the retrieval cup  30  to deflect a portion below the retained golf ball, causing the shape of cup  30  to distort and release from the frictional engagement with the outer diameter of the golf ball. The openings  71  in the sides of the retrieval cup  30  may provide better flexibility of the flexible cup to assist in the release of a retained golf ball. The holes  71  may also provide a decorative or aesthetic function as shown. In this manner, both retrieval and release of the golf ball is provided by the simple application of a small force to engage or disengage the ball from the retrieval cup  30 . 
         [0021]    In general, the apparatus  10  is designed to allow a golf ball to be easily engaged and retained by the ball-retaining cup  30 . As seen in  FIGS. 2A-2D , the retrieval cup or member  30  may comprise a bottom surface  31  having an aperture  35 . A side wall  32  extends to an open top  36 , thereby forming a cup type of configuration, with a golf ball able to be inserted into the open top  36  and engaged and retained with the interior surface  34  of side wall  32 . The cup or member  30  may comprise a flexible material, and a material having some tackiness to the surfaces of a golf ball for example, thus allowing the cylinder  30  to engage a golf ball as described. The materials from which retrieval cup  30  is made may be a polymeric, plastic or rubber type of material having a thickness to allow the desired deflection to engage or disengage from the diameter of the golf ball. A suitable material has been found to be santoprene or vinyl having a thickness in the range of 0.05 to 0.15 inches, but other configurations may be acceptable. Such a material allows the cup  30  to be flexible and enables it to easily form to the shape of the golf ball when on the ground, in the cup, or in any other position, while effectively grasping and retaining the ball therein. The member  30  can thus deflect by contact with the ball, ground or other surface and mold about the ball for retaining the ball therein. The dimension of the member  30  is such that once engaged with a portion of the ball by the application of a small force, the member  30  will frictionally engage the outer diameter of the ball to retain it therewith. The ball is then easily removed from the member  30  by deflecting the outer surface of the cylinder  30  to release the engaged ball therefrom. 
         [0022]    To facilitate use of the retrieval cup  30 , as seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a magnetic mounting system may be employed, such as comprising a first magnetic member  40  positioned adjacent the bottom of retrieval cup  30 . The first magnetic member  40  may be retained in association with the retrieval cup  30  in any suitable manner, such as by means of a retaining member  20 . The retaining member  20  may be a member formed of a rigid plastic material, and in this embodiment, is formed as a belt clip. The retaining member  20  may have a boss  24  on a top side thereof. The boss  24  may be attached to a release cup cap  41  positioned on the interior of cup  30  to retain cup  30  with member  20  on the opposite face of member  20 , a magnet retaining portion  25  may extend from the back of member  20  and have a shape and size to match the first magnetic member  40  and frictionally or otherwise engage and retain the first magnetic member  40  therein. The depth of the retaining recess  25  may be sufficient to engage at least a portion of the first magnetic member  40 . The retaining member  20  may also have an extending portion  26 , which in conjunction with the magnet retaining portion  25 , produce a channel portion. The retaining member  20  may further have an outer diameter  22  to be engaged by the retrieval cup  30  at a bottom portion thereof. The first magnetic member  40  is positioned adjacent the bottom portion of cup  30 , so as to be exposed to the exterior of the retrieval cup  30 . As should be recognized, the first magnetic member  40  may then be selectively attached to any other magnetic member or metallic surface, for storage or for use of the retrieval cup  30 . 
         [0023]    The retaining member  20  formed with an integral belt clip  60  as shown, allows the retaining member  20  and attached retrieval cup  30  to be conveniently placed on a users belt, in association with a golf bag or other convenient locations for subsequent use. As seen in  FIG. 2 , the belt clip  60  may have an opening which exposes the first magnetic member  40  therethrough. Other suitable types of arrangements to allow storage/use of the retaining member  20  and retrieval cup  30  are contemplated. 
         [0024]    In one example, the use of the retrieval cup  30  with a golf club, such as a putter is facilitated by a club fitting assembly  50 . The golf ball retrieval apparatus  10  may be used for retrieving golf balls from the golf putting cup, any location on the ground and from other various locations throughout the golf course. The apparatus  10  may be associated with any golf club or other structure having a length to allow the retrieval cup  30  to extend to a position for engaging the golf ball without bending or stooping down significantly. As various locations around the golf course may require the golfer to be using different clubs, the club fitting assembly  50  could be provided on multiple clubs or all clubs, such that the retrieval cup  30  could simply be used in association with any club if needed. The club fitting assembly  50 , as shown in an example set forth in  FIG. 5C , may comprise a base  51 , and a club grip retention system comprising an outwardly extending shaft  52 , and a grip insert member  54 . The base  51  may further comprise a recess  53 , and a second magnetic member  56  positioned in the recess  53 . Typically, a golf club consists of a flexible grip member having an aperture in its end, in which insert member  54  may be secured for attachment to the end of the grip member  69  and therefore to the golf club (as shown in  FIG. 4C ). The golf ball retrieval apparatus  10  may be connected to the golf club via the grip aperture by a friction fit with the insert member  54 , thus securing the golf ball retrieval apparatus  10  to the golf club grip. In this way, the club fitting assembly  50  is selectively attached to any golf club, such as the putter, for use. The fitting assembly  50  can easily be detached and attached to any other club as desired, or a plurality of club fitting members  50  may be associated with multiple clubs for use with one or more retaining cup members  30 . 
         [0025]    A second magnetic member  56  is attached within the grip magnet holder  51 , which may then be selectively attached via magnetic attachment to the first magnetic member  40  and retrieval cup  30 . The first and second magnetic members  40  and  56  are arranged with opposing poles facing each other so as to be attracted to one another when positioned adjacent each other. In this manner, upon bringing the fitting assembly  50 , and second magnetic member  56  into proximity of the ball retaining cup  30  and first magnetic member  40  associated therewith, the ball retaining member  30  is selectively secured in association with the fitting assembly  50  and club (or other member) with which it is associated. The use of first and second magnetic members  40  and  56  provide a strong attachment to one another via magnetic forces within the housing  51 . The channel formed by the magnet retaining portion  25  and extension  26  is aligned with the barrel-like portion of housing  51 . The ball retrieval cup  30  is aligned with and generally securely attached to the fitting assembly  50  when desired, but also is relatively easily released by applying sufficient force to the ball retrieval cup  30  and/or retaining member  20  to break the magnetic connection. The housing  51  of assembly  50  may be formed with an extending barrel-like portion to facilitate alignment between fitting assembly  50  and retaining member  20 . The retaining member  20  may also include the channel portion into which the housing fits to provide a more secure coupling as seen in  FIG. 4C . Also, as seen in this Figure, the belt clip portion  60  may engage or fit within a recessed area  55  to help retain the coupling between member  20  and assembly  50  when desired. It should also be recognized that alternatively, it may be possible to use only one magnetic member with the retrieval cup  30  or fitting assembly  50 , along with a metallic surface on the other member, may be sufficient to form a connection between the members if desired. Other forms of connection between the retrieval cup  30  and fitting member  50  are also contemplated, to allow selective separation of the cup  30  from the fitting assembly if desired. It is also contemplated that the retrieval cup  30  could be fixed to the fitting assembly so as to be associated with the golf club for use at all times if desired, as the retrieval cup  30  is basically of low profile and doesn&#39;t interfere with use of the golf club to which it may be attached. At the same time, the ability to selectively separate the retrieval cup  30  from the fitting assembly  50  may be desirable to provide use thereof with different clubs or to alleviate any possible effect thereof on use of the golf club itself during play of the game of golf. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the retaining member  20  may be inserted into the retrieval cup  30  with the first magnetic member  40  positioned within the recess  24  so as to extend through the aperture  35  and to the exterior of the cup  30 . The first magnetic member  40  may then be selectively secured to the club fitting assembly  50  via the second magnetic member  56  (as shown in  FIG. 5C ). 
         [0027]    Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to a various examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.