An Improved "Captive" Golf Ball.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
An Improved "Captive" Golf Ball.
I CHARLES EDWARD SHEA of The Elms, Foots Cray, Kent, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
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The invention consists of a device by means whereof a captive" golf ball may
be used without the danger to the user or bystanders resulting from the rebounding,
or return, of the ball, which attends the use of existing forms of "captive" golf
balls which are commonly attached by an elastic cord to a peg driven into the
ground, and are, therefore, liable, when struck, to return sharply to the striker.
The present invention, roughly described, consists in the attachment to the golf
ball of a piece of string, or, better still, of metal picture-cord, or wire, about six
feet long, such string, cord, or wire having attached to it, at its further end, one
or more "obstacles" in the shape of pieces of thin wood, metal, vulcanite, or, still
better, rubber, in the nature of the tail of a kite.
The ball struck by the golfing implement will proceed, with sufficient accuracy,
in the direction intended, for a longer or shorter distance (as may be desired by
the player) as the "obstacles" attached to the "tail" are small or large, or one
or more than one, and will then fall to the ground. There will be absolutely no
recoil or rebound.
Describing the invention more minutely an ordinary golf ball has a small hole
drilled right through its center, the hole constituting an axis of the ball. Through
this hole is passed the string, cord, or wire, the end of which is knotted or attached
to a small piece of rubber (to give elasticity) so that it cannot be drawn through
the hole. The other end of the string, cord or wire is attached to the center of an
"obstacle" being a flat piece of wood, metal, vulcanite, rubber or other similar
and suitable material.
The shape is not absolutely an essential point, but circular is most convenient.
The diameter and weight of this "obstacle" must depend on the distance at
which it is desired that the ball shall drop according to the strength of the player.
A diameter of four inches of sheet rubber one quarter of an inch thick, would,
roughly, be suitable for a child, six, or even eight inches for a strong man.
Dated this Sixth day of January 1894.
CHARLES E. SHEA,
The Elms, Foots Cray, Kent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
An Improved "Captive" Golf Ball.
I CHARLES EDWARD SHEA of The Elms, Foots Cray, Kent, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The invention consists of a device by means of which a "captive" golf ball may
be used without the danger to the user, or bystanders, resulting from the rebounding,
or return, of the ball which attends the use of most of the existing forms of
captive" golf balls, which are commonly attached by an elastic cord to a peg
driven into the ground, and are, therefore, liable, when struck, to return sharply
DO77

page_text: to, or in the direction of, the striker.
The present invention consists in the
attachment to the golf ball of a piece of strong string, whipcord, catgut, or picture
wire, from three to six feet long, such string, cord, &c., having attached to the
other end of it a thin piece of sheet rubber, approximately about one eighth of an
inch in thickness, and of a regular (circular for choice) shape, such piece of rubber
serving as an obstacle of an elastic nature operating to check, without sudden jerk,
the flight of the golf ball when struck. The attachment of the cord, &c., should
be in the center of the rubber disc, so as to cause it to offer the fullest resisting
surface to the air. A diameter of from three to five inches will be found to be
most convenient. One or more additional rubber discs placed along the course
of the cord, &c., and securely fixed, centrally, will be found to increase the
elasticity of the resistance offered to the flight of the ball.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The attachment to a golf ball, by a strong piece of string, whipcord, catgut or
picture wire, of one or more pieces of thin rubber whereby an impediment of
an elastic nature is provided to check the flight of the ball.
Dated this 24th day of August 1894.
CHARLES E. SHEA.