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US 2003/0195054 A1Published application
Retractible golf ball retriever
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorConrad Joseph Rioux
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorConrad Joseph Rioux
Estimating the term…
A golf ball retriever is adapted to be placed in the butt end of a golf club by way of inserting a three pronged device into the shaft of the golf club. The retriever includes the three-pronged device, which is placed equidistantly and concentrically in copper tubing, and anchored with a cylindrical dowel The three-pronged device is permanently affixed within the shaft by way of a retaining clip, which likewise maintains the relative position of the prongs within the shaft of the golf club. The prongs are easily reinserted and retained in the shaft of the golf club when not in use. Use of the three-pronged device enables a ball to be lifted from the putting green or cup.
Apparatus for retrieving a golf ball from a playing surface of the type comprising an elongated angled prong, each of three prongs arranged about a cylindrical axis for attachment to a cylindrical tube lying substantially in a common plane arcuately curved toward each other, said tube means for inserting said prongs into an elongated hollow shaft with a handle end and an opposite end, wherein said insertion allows said prongs to retreat into said shaft or, in the alternative, exit said shaft, so as to receive and cradle a golf ball therein said prongs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Devices for handling or treating balls , e.g. for holding or carrying balls: for picking-up or collecting
Apparatus for physical training, gymnastics, swimming, climbing, or fencing
Term end not estimated
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to golf ball retrievers, specifically to retrievers that are used to lift golf balls from the ground or the putting green cup.
2. Description of Prior Art
In the drawings, closely related figures have the same numbers.
FIG. 1 shows the un-assembled golf ball retriever, with related specifications for each component.
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the device, with special attention to the placement of the spring steel prong and retainer clip.
1 1 3 {fraction (1/2 )}inch steel strip (0.030 inch thick and 0.135 inch wide) 1A external prong 1B internal end 2 3 {fraction (1/2 )}inch steel strip (0.030 inchthickand 0.135 inch wide) 2A external prong 2B internal end 3 4 inch steel strip (0.030 inch thick and 0.135 inch wide) 3A external prong 3B internal end 4 1 {fraction (1/8 )}inch retainer clip (0.030 inch thick and 0.135 inch wide) 5 {fraction (3/4 )}inch hardwood dowel, (O.D. {fraction (3/8 )}inch) 6 {fraction (3/4 )}inch copper tubing, (O.D. {fraction (1/2 )}inch, LD. {fraction (7/16 )}inch) 7 golf club shaft 8 golf club rubber grip 9 manufacturing die 10 left tension spring on die 11 right tension spring on die 12 insertion point for steel strip internal end 13 bolt
A preferred embodiment of the golf ball retriever of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 (front view, un-assembled), FIG. 4(front view, assembled), and FIG. 5 (front view assemble, retracted). The retriever is comprised of three spring steel strips 1A, 1B, 1C, two measuring 3¾ inches long 1A, 1B, and one measuring 4 inches long. Each strip is 0.030 inches thick and 0.135 inches wide. One prong 1C is longer than the other two so that when it is positioned in the shaft 8 of the golf club handle, it overlaps the tip of the shaft by ⅛ inch. This keeps the device from going down into the shaft, and allows the retriever to be pulled up out of the shaft. Spring steel is the preferred embodiment, as it retains its shape in and out of the shaft, and is strong enough to hold the ball, once captured. However, any resilient material that maintains these same properties would be acceptable.
A special die shown in FIG. 6 is placed in a press to bend each prong into its desired form One end of a spring steel strip is placed at insertion point 12. The pressure exerted by the press alters the bending moment of the steel spring. This permanently sets the desired form of each prong. Tension springs 10, 11 allow the die to return to its resting position, ready to receive the next spring steel strip.