US 5,511,841 AGranted

Golf ball retriever device and method of using same

OwnerDonavan J. Alleninventor

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Abstract

A golf ball retriever device and method of using same for recovering golf balls from a water hazard. The device comprises an open frame portion having a pair of longitudinal frame members and a plurality of interconnecting ball catching members. The ball catching members are spaced to entrap golf balls while allowing smaller objects in the water hazard to pass through. The device further includes an extension portion having a tie end located forwardly of the open frame portion. A tether cord of a predetermined length is attached to the tie end of the extension portion. After being thrown into the water hazard to a location beyond the golf ball to be retrieved, the tether cord is pulled so that the golf ball is entrapped and thereby recovered. The extension portion helps the device maintain a correct orientation while it is pulled without digging into the soft bottom of the water hazard. Preferably, the extension portion is also removable so that the device can be made compact for storage.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A golf ball retriever device for recovering golf balls of a predetermined diameter from hazard situations, said device comprising:

an open frame portion having a pair of longitudinal frame members extending substantially in parallel in a longitudinal direction, said open frame portion having a greater extent in the longitudinal direction and a lesser extent in a transverse direction;
a plurality of ball catching members attached to said open frame portion and contained therein such that said longitudinal frame members of said open frame portion define respective first and second running surfaces for said open frame portion, said plurality of ball catching members being spaced by a spacing less than the predetermined diameter of the golf ball;
an extension portion including at least one elongated extension member having an attachment end situated at an axial location substantially at a midpoint of at least the longitudinal direction of said open frame portion and further having a tie end located forwardly of the open frame portion substantially at a predetermined distance from a midpoint location of both the longitudinal and transverse directions of said open frame portion, said predetermined distance being sufficient to maintain said open frame portion substantially upright when at rest on one of said longitudinal frame members;
and
a tether cord of a predetermined length extending from the tie end of said elongated extension member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.