Abstract:
A golf tool including: a body having first and second longitudinal ends and oppositely disposed faces; a conical receptacle in one of the body faces, between the first and second longitudinal ends of the body, and opening towards the first longitudinal end of the body; a blade edge positioned within the conical receptacle; and a plurality of elongated tines longitudinally extending from the first longitudinal end of the body.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/860,181, entitled GOLF TOOL, filed Nov. 20, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if being set forth herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to golf related apparatus, and more particularly to divot or ball mark repair tools. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    When a golfer strikes a golf ball that lands on a golf green, a ball mark or divot in the green may result. It is often desirable to promptly repair such a ball mark or divot, in order to repair resulting damage and encourage green healing. 
         [0004]    Further, golfers often use a pencil to keep score throughout a round of golf. 
         [0005]    Divot repair tools and golf scoring pencils are generally known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,553, entitled MULTI-PURPOSE GOLFER&#39;S TOOL, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated as if being set forth in its entirety herein, discloses a divot repair tool. The tool includes a detailed mechanism, such that it may prove undesirably complex or expensive to manufacture though. 
         [0006]    By way of further example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,402, entitled GOLF BALL MARK REPAIR TOOL AND SCORING PENCIL, the entire disclosure of which is also hereby incorporated as if being set forth in its entirety herein, discloses another divot repair tool. The divot repair tool of the &#39;402 patent is simpler than that of the &#39;553 patent, but doesn&#39;t include any feature for sharpening a pencil. Indeed, the &#39;402 patent itself espouses that a golf pencil does not typically need to be sharpened, and that a new pencil may be readily obtained after each round. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A golf tool including: a body having first and second longitudinal ends and oppositely disposed faces; a conical receptacle in one of the body faces, between the first and second longitudinal ends of the body, and opening towards the first longitudinal end of the body; a blade edge positioned within the conical receptacle, and a plurality of elongated tines longitudinally extending from the first longitudinal end of the body. 
         [0008]    The body may further include a load bearing substantially semi-hemispherical surface adjacent the conical receptacle and opposite from the first longitudinal end, wherein the load bearing surface longitudinally supports the tines and conical receptacle when opposing loads are applied to the tines or receptacle and load bearing surface. 
         [0009]    The load bearing surface may be substantially as wide as the conical receptacle. The conical receptacle may be at least partially in a protrusion that forms the substantially semi-hemispherical surface. 
         [0010]    The tines may be directed at an obtuse angle relative to the body. A plurality of bracing members may extend between the tines and body. 
         [0011]    An aperture through the body, proximate the second longitudinal end may be provided. 
         [0012]    The body may be monolithic, and formed of plastic and/or metal. 
         [0013]    A second receptacle may be provided in the body, wherein the second receptacle is sized and shaped to detachably receive a disk-like ball marker. A magnet may be adhered within the second receptacle. The second receptacle may be in the first face of the body. 
         [0014]    The outer edges of the tines may be tapered inwardly from the body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0015]    Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a golf tool housing according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates an end view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates an A-A cross-section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a B-B cross-section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates a D-D cross-section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  illustrates a detail view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  illustrates various views of a blade suitable for use with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and the blade of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  illustrates the housing embodiment of  FIG. 1  incorporating the blade of  FIG. 8 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  illustrates a side-view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  illustrates an end-view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  illustrates a detail view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of a golf tool housing according to another embodiment of the present invention, and also suitable for use with the blade of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  illustrates a perspective view of a golf tool housing according to another embodiment of the present invention, and also suitable for use with the blade of  FIG. 8 ; and, 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  illustrates a perspective view of a golf tool housing according to another embodiment of the present invention, and also suitable for use with the blade of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in typical divot or ball mark repair tools and pencil sharpeners. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a golf tool housing  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen therein, housing  100  generally includes an elongated gripping portion  110  and longitudinally extending tines  122 ,  124 —that may be conventionally utilized as a divot repair tool. The illustrated embodiment of housing  100  has a rounded end  182  distal from tines  122 ,  124 . The width of the illustrated gripping portion  110  is slightly tapered from the rounded end  182  toward the tines  122 ,  124 . Outer edges  180  of the gripping portion  110  are convexly rounded to minimize sharp edges. While the illustrated embodiment includes two tines  122 ,  124  and a particularly shaped gripping portion  110 , other configurations of shapes and extensions may be used in addition to or in lieu of the illustrated shape and two tines. 
         [0034]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , gripping portion  110  includes an aperture  116  there-through. The illustrated aperture  116  is round and distal from the tines  122 ,  124 , nearer end  182 . Aperture  116  may be sized so as to accept a conventional key-ring, for example. Other configurations may be used though. 
         [0035]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , gripping portion  110  has two substantially planer faces  118 ,  119  being oppositely disposed from one another (see  FIGS. 2 and 10  as well). Planer faces  118 ,  119  can be decaled or otherwise printed or marked, with graphics and/or adhesive stickers, for example. Indeed, the relative shape and size of illustrated gripping portion  110  relative to tines  122 ,  124  may prove well-suited for use as advertising space, relative to any surface of the tools of the &#39;553 or &#39;402 patent, for example. 
         [0036]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , outermost edges  184  of tines  122  and  124  are tapered toward the longitudinal tips of tines  122  and  124 , such that the overall width of the housing at the tip of the tines  122  and  124  (across both tines  122 ,  124 ) is about a third of the width of the housing where the base of tines  122  and  124  meet gripping portion  110 . The inner edges  186  of tines  122  and  124  are tapered slightly toward the tip of tines  122  and  124 , such that at the base of tines  122  and  124  a gap between tines  122  and  124  is about half the width of a gap at the tip of tines  122  and  124 . 
         [0037]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , housing  100  also includes a thickened housing portion  132 . Housing portion  132  includes a conical receptacle  130 , proximate an end of the gripping portion  110  near tines  122  and  124 . Receptacle  130  opens towards tines  122 ,  124 . Receptacle  130  is sized to receive an end of a golf scoring pencil for sharpening. Other configurations may be used though. 
         [0038]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , receptacle  130  includes a longitudinally oriented, elongated slot  133 . An elongated, sharp edge of a blade coupled to housing  100  (see,  FIGS. 8-10  for example) may extend through slot  133  and into receptacle  130  to provide a pencil sharpening mechanism. When a pencil is inserted into receptacle  130  and rotated in a pre-determined direction, such a blade edge may engage and sharpen the inserted end of such a pencil in a conventional manner. 
         [0039]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , housing portion  132  has a substantially semi-hemispherical shape that spans substantially the entire width of face  118  of gripping portion  110  where gripping portion  110  adjoins tines  122 ,  124 . Housing portion  132  smoothly levels to face  118  about a quarter of the distance between where the gripping portion  110  adjoins tines  122 ,  124  and rounded end  182 . Such a configuration may exhibit enhanced structural rigidity where gripping portion  110  and housing portion  132  meet, and provide a single surface  135  (which is curved in the illustrated embodiment) that is well-suited for load bearing during both pencil sharpening and divot repairing. Other configurations may be used though. 
         [0040]    The illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1  further includes bracing members  192 ,  194  between tines  122 ,  224  and the housing portion  132 . Bracing members  192 ,  194  span from housing portion  132  to between about a third and a half the distance from where the tines  122 ,  124  adjoin the gripping portion  110  and the tips of the tines  122 ,  124 . Bracing members  1192 ,  194  may serve to provide added rigidity to when tines  122 ,  124  are used for repairing divots. 
         [0041]    In certain embodiments of the present invention housing  100  may be molded from any suitable plastic in a conventional manner, and/or may be composed of other materials, such as metal, for example. Other conventional manufacturing techniques, such as machining, may be used. In certain embodiments, housing  100  (including gripping portion  110 , housing portion  132  and tines  122 ,  124 , as well as surface  135  and braces  192 ,  194 , in the illustrated embodiment) may be unitarily formed, as a single molded piece. Such a configuration is simpler than that of the &#39;553 patent. 
         [0042]    Housing  100  may be composed of a combination of materials, such as an embodiment having a plastic gripping section  110 , housing  132  that are adjoined to metal tines  122 ,  124 . Each of the parts could be composed of separate materials, such as plastic or metal, and produced through conventional manufacturing techniques. 
         [0043]    Referring now also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there are shown side- and end-views of housing  100  of  FIG. 1 . As can be seen therein, tines  122 ,  124  may be directed at an angle θ relative to the gripping portion  110 . In certain embodiments of the invention, angle θ may be about 40 degrees or less. Other configurations may be used though.  FIGS. 3-7  show various other views of housing  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]    Referring now also to  FIG. 8 , there are shown various views of a blade  140  suitable for use with the housing  100  of  FIG. 1  to facilitate the sharpening of a golf pencil, such as by a golfer during a round of golf. Blade  140  may be attached to the receptacle housing  132  with a #2 pan head phillips plastite screw affixed within a threaded bore. Blade  140  may be affixed such that the sharpened edge protrudes into the pencil receptacle  130  of the housing  110  of  FIG. 1 , as shown in  FIGS. 9-13 , in any conventional manner—such as nailing, screwing, press-fitting and/adhering, all by way of non-limiting example only. 
         [0045]    In certain embodiments of the invention, blade  140  may be composed of 1095 steel hardness rc 58-60, with a single cutting edge  142  having an about 19 degree bevel. The blade  140  may be made out of other similar materials, such as other metals, composites, or ceramics, for example. 
         [0046]    Blade  140  is positioned within or adjacent to receptacle  130  such that an elongated edge  144  of blade  140  protrudes slightly into receptacle  130 . Blade  140  may be angled/positioned such that when an end of a golf pencil is fit into receptacle  130 , and axially rotated in a given direction, edge  144  removes at least one portion of the pencil, thus sharpening the pencil, in a conventional manner. 
         [0047]    Referring again to  FIG. 10  for example, face  119  of gripping section  110  opposite receptacle housing  132  may have a cavity  114  of suitable dimensions for receiving blade  140  in the manner explained. Cavity  114  may span from the receptacle housing  130  (adjacent slot  133 ) to face  119 . Blade  140  may be affixed to gripping portion  110  within cavity  114  so as to allow for pencil shavings to escape receptacle  130  via cavity  114 . 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , there are shown perspective views of golf tool housings  100   a  and  100   b  according to embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments of  FIGS. 14 and 15  additionally include a disc-like, indented receptacle  160  in gripping portion  110 . Such an indented receptacle  160  may be particularly well suited for detachably receiving a disc-like ball marker  164  (as shown in  FIG. 16 ). Such ball markers  164  are conventionally used by golfers to mark the position of a golf ball on a green, so that the golf ball may be removed from the green and later placed back onto the green at a substantially identical location. Ball marker  164  may be composed of metal and/or plastic materials, for example. 
         [0049]    Ball marker  164  may be detachably received in the indented receptacle  160  in any suitable manner, such as by press-fitting, adhesion and/or magnetism. The illustrated embodiments of  FIGS. 14 and 15  each include a substantially planar magnet  162  being adhered (such as with a commercially available adhesive) to a lower surface of receptacle  160 . When a conventional, metallic ball marker  164  is positioned substantially proximate to the magnet  162 , it may be retained their according to well-known magnetic principles. For example, a metallic ball marker  164  may be retained in the indented receptacle  160 . Sufficient physical force to overcome the magnetic attraction may be used to detach the ball marker. Other configurations may be used though. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIG. 16 , there is shown a perspective view of golf tool housing  100   c  according to other embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of  FIG. 16  additionally includes an edge opening  170  in the edge of the gripping portion  110  of the housing  100   c  distal to the tines  122 ,  124 , and being suitable for receiving a disc-like, ball marker  164 . Such a slot  170  is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,299, entitled GOLF ACCESSORY, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0051]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.