# US 10,500,456 B1 · Golf ball retrieval system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,456 B1 - Document ID: US10500456B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/395,513 - Filed: 2019-04-26 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-26 - Applicants: Christopher Cardone - Inventors: Christopher Cardone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500456B1 ## CPC - A63B 1/00: Horizontal bars - A63B 57/357: {for golf cups or holes, e.g. flags} - A63B 47/02: for picking-up {or collecting} - A63B 57/40: Golf cups or holes - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A golf cup insert has a funnel shaped body including a wall. The wall defines a first aperture having a diameter D1 and a second aperture having a diameter D2. The diameter D1 is sized to fit within a regulation size golf hole; the diameter D2 is smaller than the diameter D1. The insert can be used in a golf ball retrieval system to lift a golf ball out of a golf hole to assist the user and to prevent damage to the hole; the system also eliminates the need for any outside ball retrieval device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf cup insert comprising: a funnel shaped body including a wall defining a first aperture having a diameter D1 and a second aperture having a diameter D2, wherein the diameter D1 is sized to fit within a regulation size golf hole and the wall includes a first plurality of slotted apertures having a length L1 and a second plurality of slotted apertures having a length L2, the length L1 being greater than the length L2. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf cup insert of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the diameter D2 to the diameter D1 is in the range of between about 15% and about 35%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The golf cup insert of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the wall defines an angle Θ formed between the wall and an axis A. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The golf cup insert of claim 3, wherein the angle Θ is between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The golf cup insert of claim 1, wherein the length L2 is between about 40% and about 60% of the length L1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The golf cup insert of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of slotted apertures and the second plurality of slotted apertures are arranged in an alternating star shaped pattern radiating from the diameter D2. ### Claim 7 A golf ball retrieval system comprising: a funnel shaped body including a wall defining a first aperture having a diameter D1 and a second aperture having a diameter D2, wherein the diameter D1 is sized to fit within a regulation size golf hole, and the wall includes a first plurality of slotted apertures having a length L1 and a second plurality of slotted apertures having a length L2, the length L1 being greater than the length L2; and a flagstick including a first cylindrical portion including a first end having a flag attached thereto, and a second end having retaining portion for engaging a golf hole to removably secure the flagstick therein, the retaining portion including a second cylindrical portion and a flange, the funnel shaped body being adapted to removably engage the flange. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The golf ball retrieval system of claim 7, wherein the ratio of the diameter D2 to the diameter D1 is in the range of between about 15% and about 35%. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The golf ball retrieval system of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the wall defines an angle Θ formed between the wall and an axis A. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The golf ball retrieval system of claim 9, wherein the angle Θ is between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The golf ball retrieval system of claim 7, wherein the length L2 is between about 40% and about 60% of the length L1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The golf ball retrieval system of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of slotted apertures and the second plurality of slotted apertures are arranged in an alternating star shaped pattern radiating from the diameter D2. ### Claim 13 A method of retrieving a golf ball from a golf hole comprising; connecting an insert to a flagstick, the insert including a funnel shaped body including a wall defining a first aperture having a diameter D1 and a second aperture having a diameter D2, wherein the diameter D1 is sized to fit within a regulation size golf hole, and the wall includes a first plurality of slotted apertures having a length L1 and a second plurality of slotted apertures having a length L2, the length L1 being greater than the length L2, the flagstick including a first cylindrical portion including a first end having a flag attached thereto, and a second end having retaining portion for engaging a golf hole to removably secure the flagstick therein, the retaining portion including a second cylindrical portion and a flange, the funnel shaped body being adapted to removably engage the flange; engaging the second cylindrical portion within a retaining aperture in the golf hole thereby securing the flagstick in a vertical position; putting a golf ball into the golf hole, whereby the golf ball is captured by the funnel shaped body; lifting the flagstick to disengage the retaining portion from the golf hole thereby causing the insert to rotate and retain the golf ball therein; and retrieving the golf ball. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the ratio of the diameter D2 to the diameter D1 is in the range of between about 15% and about 35%.