Abstract:
A grabbing system uses a typical first grabber located on a main shaft to grasp golf tees for setting into and retrieving them from the ground. A secondary shaft slidably passes through the main shaft of the device and has a second grabber such that the first grabber and the second grabber are simultaneously controlled by a single trigger mechanism. This allows a tee and ball to be grasped and released together such that setting the position of the secondary shaft with respect to the main shaft allows for precise penetration placement of the tee into the ground. A clipping system allow for easy carrying of the device, while optional support legs allow the device to free stand upright on the ground.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a handheld device that allows a golfer to place a tee into the ground and set a golf ball onto the tee, all at a desired height above the ground, and once the ball is hit, to retrieve the tee, all from a standing position as well as to retrieve a ball on the ground. The device allows a golfer the ability to play a round of golf without the need to bend over. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     The game of golf is a timeless game that is played by the young and the young at heart. Unlike more vigorous sports, such as basketball, soccer, or tennis, peak physical shape is not a prerequisite for playing a solid round of golf. Although golf can be played throughout one&#39;s life, even during one&#39;s later years as a person&#39;s health declines, certain aspects of the game can make playing a round of golf difficult and much less fun. 
     During the start of each hole, the ball is teed up and driven toward the pin. The golfer bends over and inserts the tee into the ground at a desired depth of insertion, places the ball onto the tee, and hopefully shoots a beauty straight down the middle of the fairway. Thereafter, the tee, or at least what&#39;s left, is retrieved and the game continues. Additionally, after the ball is sunk, the ball is retrieved from the cup and the golfer proceeds to the next hole. While these before and after round functions are routine for most golfers, they can be unbearably painful if not outright impossible for golfers who have certain ailments. A golfer with bad hips, knees, or back, due to such causes as arthritis, injury, or simple old age, may be able to hit the ball with reasonable force, yet be unable to bend down to tee up the ball or to retrieve the tee or the ball from the cup, without serious discomfort, to the point that the round of golf may be more trouble than enjoyment. 
     Some golfers overcome such limitations by hiring a caddy for a round of golf and rely on the caddy to perform any tasks that require bending over. However, not only are caddies expensive, very few courses maintain a stable of caddies. Some golfers rely on other members in the golfer&#39;s party to perform the tasks that that ailing golfer cannot easily perform. However, such reliance can be quite embarrassing for the affected golfer, and is not a solution for a golfer playing a solo round or for a golfer practicing on the driving range. 
     To address the problem of a golfer&#39;s difficulty in bending down to tee up and retrieve balls, devices have been proposed that allow a golfer to set a tee and place a ball onto the tee and retrieve each as needed, all from a standing position. Many modern interpretations of such devices rely on a “grabber arm” architecture wherein two or more grabber fingers at a distal end of the device are opened and closed via a golfer controlled handle located at the proximal end of the device. The ball or tee or both are grabbed by the fingers of the grabber arm and are positioned as needed. While such devices allow a golfer with certain physical limitation to enjoy a game of golf, such devices are not without their drawbacks. 
     Many such devices, while effective, are unduly complex in design so that manufacture of such device is relatively expensive, thereby narrowing the potential consumer market for such devices. Some devices are awkward to control so that grasping of the generally spherical ball can be tricky. Additionally, the prior art devices do not allow precision of the depth of tee insertion into the ground per the golfer&#39;s desired depth. While the tee can be eventually manipulated to the approximate desired height, such manipulation is awkward. 
     What is needed is a device that allows a golfer to be able to insert a tee into the ground at a desired depth of insertion and place a golf ball onto the tee for hitting, with the device allowing retrieval of the tee and ball as needed. Such a device must be of relatively simple design so as to be relatively inexpensive to produce so as to be affordable for a large segment of consumer market for such devices. Such a device must be easy to operate so that grasping of the spherical ball is quick and easy without undue drops or slips. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art by providing a device that allows a golfer, from a standing position, to be able to quickly and accurately set a tee into the ground at the desired depth of tee insertion and position a ball onto the tee. The golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device also allows the golfer to retrieve the tee and ball as need, also from the standing position. The golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device is of relatively simple design and construction, produced using standard manufacturing techniques, so as to make the device relatively inexpensive to obtain and maintain. The golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device is sure of grip so that the ball can be grasped by the device with relative ease so as to allow ball manipulation using the device to be relatively quick and easy. 
     The golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device of the present invention is comprised of a hollow main shaft that has a first proximal end and a first distal end. A first grabber arm is located on the main shaft proximate the first distal end such that the first grabber arm has a pair (or more) of first fingers pivotally attached to the main shaft proximate the first distal end and capable of being opened and closed. A secondary shaft is slidably disposed within the main shaft. The secondary shaft has a second proximal end that extends outwardly from the first proximal end of the main shaft and also has a second distal end that extends outwardly from the first distal end of the main shaft. A second grabber arm is located on the secondary shaft proximate the second distal end such that the second grabber arm has a pair (or more) of second fingers (acting as a ball basket) pivotally attached to the secondary shaft proximate the second distal end which second grabber arm is capable of releasably holding a golf ball. A trigger mechanism is attached to the main shaft and simultaneously controls the opening of the first fingers of the first grabber arm and the second fingers of the second grabber arm. At least one visual aid marking is located on the secondary shaft proximate the second proximal end. A cap is located on the second proximal end of the secondary shaft and is used both as a handle and a stop. A lock is provided and locks the secondary shaft in a fixed position with respect to the main shaft. A clipping system has a main body that encircles the main shaft, a closed loop clip with a spring loaded jaw extending from a first side of the main body and a scissors clip extending from an opposing second side of the main body. An optional pair of support legs is pivotally attached to the main shaft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the proximal end of the golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view, partially sectioned, illustrating the clip used with the golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device holding a tee and a golf ball. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a generally hollow main shaft  12 , having a proximal end  14  and a distal end  16 . An outer or first grabber has two or more first fingers  18  that are pivotally attached to the main shaft  12  proximate the distal end  16 . Each of the first fingers  18  has apposing first ends  20  and second ends  22 , such that the pivotal point of attachment  24  of the first fingers  18  to the main shaft  12  is between first end  20  and the second end  22  of each first finger  18 , but closer to the second end  22 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , each first finger  18  extends diagonally outwardly from the pivot point of attachment  24  to the second end  22 . The first end  20  of each first finger  18  are curled upwardly and may be slotted so as to be able to firmly grab the shaft of a golf tee T, whenever the fingers  18  are brought together. If desired, each pivot point of attachment  24  may be spring loaded so as to normally bias the first ends  20  of the first fingers  18  together. 
     A handle  26  is located on the proximal  14  end of the main shaft  12  while a trigger  28  is pivotally attached to either directly to a point on the main shaft  12 , or as seen, to a pivot housing  30  located on the main shaft  12  opposite the trigger  28 , the trigger  28  passing through the main shaft  12  with a pin  32  pivotally attaching the trigger  28  to the housing  30 . The pivotal attachment of the trigger  28  to the main shaft  12  or the pivot housing  30  can be spring loaded which spring loading may be in addition to or in lieu of the spring loaded pivotal attachment of the fingers  18  to the main shaft  12 . A first cable  34 , which can be string, filament, metal, etc., is attached to the trigger  28  and also to the second end  22  of each finger  18 , one cable  34  per first finger  18  (or a single cable that branches to each finger  18 ), the first cable  34  passing through the interior of the main shaft  12  and exiting out from the main shaft  12  through appropriate openings  36  located proximate the second end  22  of each finger  18 . Whenever the trigger  28  is squeezed toward the handle  26 , the backwardly traveling (toward the proximal end  14  of the main shaft) trigger  28  pulls on the first cables  34  causing them to partially retract into the main shaft  12  via the openings  36  which pivots the second end  22  of each finger  18  toward the main shaft  12  so as to spread the first ends  20  of the fingers  18  apart thereby opening the first grabber. Whenever the trigger  28  is released, the fingers  18 , either via the spring loaded attachment of fingers  18  to main shaft  12  (or each other), or spring loaded trigger  28 , causes the first ends  20  of the fingers  18  to be brought back together, thereby closing the first grabber. Of course, other mechanisms can be used to actuate the fingers  18  of the first grabber as is well known in the art 
     A secondary shaft  38  also has a proximal end  40  ad a distal end  42  such that the secondary shaft  38  is slidably disposed within the main shaft  12  and such that the proximal end  40  of the secondary shaft  38  extends outwardly from the proximal end  14  of the main shaft  12  and the distal end  42  of the secondary shaft  38  extends outwardly from the distal end  16  of the main shaft  12 . A collar  44  is located on the proximal end  14  of the main shaft  12  such that the secondary shaft  38  passes through the collar  44  and such that the collar  44  frictionally engages the secondary shaft  38  so as allow controlled positioning of the secondary shaft  38  with respect to the main shaft  12 . A locking pin  46  can be threadably positioned on the collar  44  such that rotation of the locking pin  46  frictionally engages the secondary shaft  38  so as to lock the secondary shaft  38  in position with respect to the main shaft  12  and counterrotating the locking pin  46  causes the locking pin  46  to disengage from the secondary shaft  38  so as to allow the secondary shaft  38  to slide relative to the main shaft  12 . The body of the trigger  28  is constructed so as to not interfere with the secondary shaft&#39;s position within the main shaft  12 , such as by straddling the secondary shaft  38 , jogging around the secondary shaft  38 , etc. 
     A cap  48  is located on the proximal end  40  of the secondary shaft  38 , which cap  48  acts as a grasping element and as a stop to prevent the secondary shaft  38  from being fully inserted into the main shaft  12  at its proximal end  14 . As seen, a series of rings or other visual markings  50  are located on the secondary shaft  38  below the cap  48 . 
     A second grabber  52  is located on the distal end  42  of the secondary shaft  38 . The second grabber  52  has a series of evenly spaced apart second fingers  54  having a first end  56  that can grasp and hold a typical golf ball B and a second end  58 , these second fingers  54  pivotally attached to the secondary shaft  38  in similar fashion to the attachment of the first fingers  18  to the main shaft  12 . These second fingers  54  may also be spring loaded. As seen, a series of second cables  60  are attached to the second end  58  of each second finger  54 , one cable  60  per finger  54 , with the opposing end of each second cable  60  being attached to a collector ring  62 . A pull cable  64 , which is a closed loop cable, passes through the collector ring  62  and also passes through an opposing ring or over a pulley  66  located on the opposing side of the secondary shaft  38 . As seen, the trigger  28  has a bar  68  that has a pull ring  70  on an end thereof, such that the pull cable  64  passes through the pull ring  70 . Whenever the trigger  28  is squeezed, the bar  68  pulls the pull ring  70  diagonally downwardly toward the trigger  28  causing the collector ring  62  to be pulled upwardly into the secondary shaft  38 , toward the trigger  28 , thereby pulling on the second cables  60  which causes each of the second fingers  54  to pivot to an open position. Release of the trigger  28  allows the pull cable  64  to return to its normal relaxed position and thereby allows the second fingers  54  to close, either under the force of gravity, or if spring-loaded, under the spring load. In this way, the squeezing of the trigger  28  simultaneously opens both the first fingers  18  and the second fingers  54 , yet allows the secondary shaft  38  to slide with respect to the main shaft  12  and the trigger  28 . 
     As seen, a clipping system  72  has a main body  74  that encircles the main shaft  12  at a desired point (and may be secured at that point in any desired fashion) with a closed loop clip  76  having a spring loaded openable jaw  78  (which can include carabineer and other similar clips) extending from one side of the main body  74  and a scissors-type clip  80  extending from the opposing side of the main body  78 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , a pair of support legs  82  is pivotally attachable to the main shaft  12  and capable of folding outwardly therefrom in order to allow the device  10  to be supported on the ground G in tripod fashion. 
     In order to use the golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device  10  of the present invention, the device  10  is positioned so that the second grabber  52  is overtop a ball B and the first fingers  18  overtop a tee T. The trigger  28  is squeezed so as to open both the fingers first  18  and the second fingers  54 . The device  10  is manipulated so that the first fingers  18  pick up the tee T and the second fingers  54  pick up the ball B. The tee T is positioned as desired and pushed into the ground G until the first fingers  18  hit the ground G. As the secondary shaft  38  is set at the desired height with respect to the main shaft  12 , the ball B height above the ground G is as desired by the golfer. The trigger  28  is once again squeezed in order to open the first fingers  18  and the second fingers  54  so as to release the first fingers&#39; grip on the tee T, which is secure in the ground G, and the second fingers&#39; grip on the ball B which now rests on the tee T. The markings  50  on the secondary shaft  38  aid the golfer in assuring that the ball B is at the proper height. If the secondary shaft  38  is not needed for the second grabber&#39;s retrieval of a ball B and the golfer sets the ball B at the same height irrespective of the shot to be played, then the secondary shaft  38  height with respect to the main shaft  12  is locked in via the locking pin  46 . 
     Once the shot is taken, the tee T is retrieved via the first fingers  18  of the main shaft  12 . When the ball B is in a cup, or other pickup location, the second fingers  54  of the secondary shaft  38  are opened and used to retrieve the ball B. As the trigger  28  opens both the first fingers  18  and the second fingers  54 , the opening of the first fingers  18  allows the second fingers  54  to be able to retrieve the ball B from the cup. However, if insufficient clearance is available, then the secondary shaft  38  can be slid downwardly with respect to the main shaft  12  in order to achieve the required clearance, the secondary shaft  38  thereafter being returned to its desired position with respect to the main shaft  12  under the aid of the markings  50 . 
     The golf ball and tee setting and retrieving device  10  can be carried in the golfer&#39;s bag or on the cart or other appropriate place, or can be clipped to the golfer&#39;s pants belt loop via the closed loop clip  76 . The scissors clip  80  can secure a golf club so that the golfer, having the device  10  clipped to his or her body via the closed loop clip  76  can clip a desired club, such as a putter to the scissors clip  80 . At shot time, the club is released by the scissors clip  80  and the shot taken all the while the device  10  is safely secured to the golfer. Alternately, or in additional, the support legs  82  can hold the device  10  in an upright fashion whenever the golfer is taking a shot. In this way, the golfer can place and retrieve tees T, can place a ball B onto the tee T and retrieve the ball B from the cup (or from the rough, from water, etc.,), hold a club, and otherwise remain upright so that the golfer can play an entire round of golf without the need to ever bend over. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.