WO1988006910A1

WO1988006910A1 - Golf ball retriever

Info

Publication number: WO1988006910A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Avon Garren Phillips; Milan Paul Tucek
Original assignee: Avon Garren Phillips; Milan Paul Tucek
Priority date: 1987-03-20
Filing date: 1988-03-21
Publication date: 1988-09-22
Also published as: JPH02503990A

Abstract

A collection device for golf balls or the like includes a trailerable frame (11, 12) having a plurality of parallel positioned rotating discs or the like (19), each secured to respective independent axles (23). Each axle (23) is secured to a respective vertically pivotable frame (22). Each disc has a continuous peripheral housing (37) which engages golf balls directed thereto by guide means (25) aligned with each housing (37). The housing (37) may be a U-shaped channel about the periphery of the disc (19). Golf balls may be extracted from the housing (37) by a finger plate (38) and directed to a storage container (13) by a chute (40). The guide means (25) may be vertically pivotally mounted to the axle frame (22) and may include guide wheels (50) so that the guide means (25) can follow undulations in the ground independently of the rotating discs (19).

Description

GOLF BALL RETRIEVER FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to an improved golf retriever of the type employing a plurality of indepen golf ball collectors, each collector having a collector w adapted to traverse a surface and automatically collect balls from the. surface while each collector w independently follows undulations in the surface.

BACKGROUND ART US Patent No. 2,605,005 describes a golf retriever having a plurality of golf ball collec pivotally attached to a trailerable frame.

Each collector includes a pivot arm one en which is pivotally connected to the frame. A collector w is mounted for rotation on the other end of the pivot arm

Two semi-circular golf ball guide channels secured to the pivot arm concentrically with and on each of the collector wheel. Each channel has a guide m located at an end adjacent the surface contacting perip of the collector wheel.

Golf balls on the surface are directed into guide mouth by guide arms extending from the guide mo In plan view the guide arms diverge outwardly forming a shape in front of the guide mouth.

The guide channels, guide mouth and guide arms rigidly fixed to the pivot arm and follow the surf contacting periphery of the wheel as it follows undulat in the surface.

Golf balls are physically rolled around the gu channel by the rotating wheel.

Not withstanding that the collector employed this retriever are of very complex construction the gu arms are spaced from the surface contacting periphery of collector wheel that is where the surface undulations being followed. As a result the guide arms tend to gouge surface when the collector wheel passes into a hollow in surface.

In addition the collectors are spaced so far ap that the guide arms can actually pass over balls which located in hollows.

US Patent No. 2 , 792, 955 describes a golf b retriever having golf ball collectors which physically r golf balls around a guide channel in similar fashion to collector of 2, 605, 005.

In this case however, the collectors are loca closer together. Again a pivot arm is pivotally connected a frame but in this case a disc is rotatably mounted o shaft at the other end of the pivot arm. A pneumatic wh is mounted for rotation on the shaft at a laterally spa location from the disc. The pneumatic wheel is of smal diameter than the disc.

A peripheral guide channel is spaced radially laterally from the pneumatic wheel. The guide channel ha guide mouth located adjacent and extending forwardly o surface contacting periphery of the disc. The guide ch is fixed relative to the disc and the pneumatic wheel.

Golf balls entering the guide channel are r around the channel by the pneumatic wheel.

This retriever is also of very complex constru involving many parts which are easily damaged and diff to repair. In addition the guide mouth is spaced from surface connecting periphery of the disc and is apt to the surface. Particles removed from the surface can clo guide channel and reduce the efficiency of the retrie The narrow discs can also damage the surface.

U.S. Patents Nos. 2,658,637 and 2,656,061 desc golf ball retrievers where the guides deflect when collide with undulations in a surface. However t collisions cause damage to the surface.

Thus the aforementioned retrievers fail adequately track an undulating surface and in particular guide in each case fails to track the surface and is ap cause damage to the surface.

It is therefor a principal object of the pre invention to provide a golf ball retriever which overcome substantially alleviates the deficiencies of the prior ar

With the foregoing and other objects in view present invention resides in one broad aspect in a golf retriever for traversing a surface, the retriever havi main frame and at least one collector wheel rotatably moun to a subframe, said s bframe being mounted to said m frame to enable the collector wheel to track undulations the surface, a respective guide located in front of e collector wheel and spaced therefrom to firect golf balls the associated collector wheel as the retriever traverses surface, the guide being mounted to the subframe or the m frame and being adapted to track undulations in the surfac

Advantageously two or more collector arrays can pivotally connected together. In one particula advantageous form the retriever includes locking means hold the collector wheels in a transport position from surface. Preferably the locking means comprises a positionable between the surface and the collector wheel.

The collector wheel can be biased against surface so that the periphery of the wheel follows surface. The wheel can be biased under its own weight or biasing means such as a spring. Preferably however collector wheel is rotatably mounted at the end of collector wheel pivot arm so that it is biased against surface by its own weight. The other end of the collec wheel pivot arm is preferably adapted for pivotal connect to a collector wheel frame member.

The collector wheel can be of unitary or multi-p construction. Where the wheel is of unitary construction golf ball receiver can be formed as part of a rim portion the wheel. Preferably however, the wheel is of mult construction. Advantageously, the wheel has a hub and a Preferably the hub is made from two disc-like members h spaced peripheral edges forming the rim of the wheel. rim can be of rigid construction in full or in p Preferably however, the rim is made at least in part fr flexible or resilient material.

The golf ball receiver can be formed as part of collector wheel rim or as a removable tyre seσurable to rim.

Where the golf ball receiver is formed as par the rim, the rim preferably includes a continuous periph channel or open slot adapted to fictionally engage a ball. The channel walls can be roughened or striate improve the friσtional engagement of the channel with golf ball. Advantageously, the channel walls conv inwardly from the periphery so golf balls wedge in channel.

Where the golf ball receiver is formed a removable tyre, the tyre can fit into a channel in the ri over the spaced edges of the discs. Advantageously the is a hoop of thin walled resilient material having a gen U-shape cross-section. Preferably the inner walls of tyre converge inwardly so that golf balls can wedge bet the walls.

Where the golf ball receiving means grasps fictionally engages a golf ball the collector furth includes a golf ball dislodger or ejector. The dislodger c be a stop which engages golf balls to dislodge the golf bal from the collector so the golf balls fall into a receptacl Preferably the dislodger is a finger plate extendi tangentially of the upper periphery of the wheel. Where channel is employed the finger plate can extend into t channel. Advantageously, the finger plate is V-shaped a communicates with a delivery chute along which golf bal roll before falling into a receptacle.

The golf ball guide can be biased toward t surface by its own weight or by a biasing means such spring. Preferably however, the golf ball guide is mount on the end of a guide pivot arm so that it is biased und its own weight. Advantageously the guide bias is provid by a combination of its own weight and a separate biasi means such as a spring. The other end of the guide pivot a is preferably adapted for pivotal connection to a guide fra member. The guide frame member can be the collector whe pivot arm, the collector wheel frame member or a anoth frame member. The golf ball guide can include a single gui member or a plurality of guide members. Preferably the go ball guide includes a guide mouth alienable with the go ball receiver. Preferably guide arms converge to the gui mout .

The peripheral bearing surface of the golf ba guide can be in contact with surface being traversed pa the time or can follow the surface continuously. In latter form a wheel or roller can be employed. Prefe the golf ball guide can include at least one guide which rides over the surface being traversed. Preferabl wheels are employed. The guide wheels can be locate either side of the guide mouth or can define the guide m In one form the guide is in the form of two opposed fr conical rollers having their narrow ends located adjacen guide mouth. In another form upright guide plates located in front of guide wheels. The guide plates preferably spaced from the surface being traversed and up or down as the guide wheels follow the surface.

In order that the invention may be more rea understood and put into practical effect reference will be made to the accompanying drawings and wherein:

Fig 1 is a plan view of a golf ball retri constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig 2 is a front perspective view illustrati preferred golf ball collector according to the invention.

Fig 3 is a rear perspective view of the golf collector or Fig 2.

Fig 4 is a vertical transverse cross-sec through the collector of Figs 2, 3.

Fig 5 is a longitudinal cross-section through centre of the collector of Figs 2 and 3 and Figs 6 and 7 are cutaway perspective vi illustrating a further preferred embodiment of a retrie according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fi there is illustrated in plan view a golf ball retriever In ^"the illustrated embodiment the golf ball retriever 10 trailerable behind a towing vehicle (not shown) , it will appreciated however, that the retriever of the invention be towed or pushed across a surface or can extend fro motive vehicle boom.

The retriever 10 includes a draw bar 11 and a m frame 12. Five receptacles 13 for collected golf balls mounted on the main frame 12. Wheels 14 are mounted at ends of an axle 15. The main frame 12 includes a rear r 16 extending across the retriever 10.

A plurality of golf ball collectors 17 pivotally connected to the rail 16 at pivot connections for independent pivotal movement relative to the rail Each collector 17 includes a collector wheel 19 loca behind a golf ball guide 20 and a golf ball dislodger 21. top section of the retriever 10 has been cut away for purpose of illustrating the golf ball guides 20, collector wheels are rotably mounted on the end of collec wheel pivot arms 22.

One preferred golf ball collector will described below with respect to Fig 2-5 of the drawings. Referring to Figs 2 and 3 there is illust respective front and rear perspective views of a golf collector 17. The golf ball collector 17 is adapte traverse a surface and retrieve golf balls from the su and transfer the golf balls to a receptacle. The coll wheel 19 is rotatably mounted at the end of collector pivot arms 22 on a collector wheel shaft 23. The coll wheel 19 is biased against a surface by its own weight moves up and down about pivotal connection 18 mounte frame member 24 and thus the collector wheel 19 fol undulations in a surface being traversed.

A golf ball guide 25 is located in front of surface contacting periphery 26 of the collector wheel The golf ball guide 25 is mounted on golf ball guide p arms 27 which pivot on a pivot shaft 28 mounted on f member 24.

The golf ball guide is biased against the sur being traversed by a combination of its own weight biasing spring 29. Each biasing spring 29 is fixed at one end 30 to the collector wheel pivot arm 22. The o end 31 of the biasing spring is fixed to a plate 32 (thi more clearly shown in Fig 5). A spring roller 33 is cap in spring roller housing 34 and rolls along spring ro housing 34 as the guide pivot arm 27 pivots about 28. T the spring roller housing limits the travel of the g pivot arm 27 relative to the collector wheel pivot arm

SUBSTITUTE SHEET In the illustrated The guide bearing surface is provided guide wheels 50.

The golf ball guide 25 includes guide arms 35 wh converge to a guide mouth 36 in plate 32. The plate 32 mounted only to the spring ends 31 and is free to move roller 33 moves back and forth in the spring roller hous 34. In this wa the guide mouth 36 is maintained substantial alignment with the periphery 26 of the collec wheel 19.

The collector wheel includes a golf ball recei which in this case is a channelled rim 37 in which golf ba passing through the guide mouth are wedged. A golf b dislodging means in the form of finger plate 38 of V-cros seσtion (On one end of which is seen at 39) extends into channel 37. Golf balls wedged in the channel 37 a dislodged by the finger 38 and then roll along a chute 4 Chute end 41 is normally located above a basket 53 (see Fi 6 and 7) in which the collected golf balls are stored.

The frame member 24 includes holes 42 so that collector 17 can be attached to the rear rail 16 of the m frame 12 (see Fig. 1) .

Referring to Fig. 4 there is illustrated a cr section through 4-4 of the collector 17 of Figs. 2 and 3 like numerals have been used to illustrate like features. can be seen the collector wheel is of three pa construction. Two disc-like members 42 having spac peripheral edges 43 over which a removable tyre 4 mounted are assembled to form the collector wheel. The 44 is made from resilient material and forms the channe The channel walls 45 are inwardly convergent so golf wedge in the channel 37. Bearings 46 are housed in the 47.

The disc-like members are secured togethe spaced fastening bolts 48 (see also Figs. 2 and 3). In o to replace the tyre 44 the shaft 23 is removed and the b 48 removed so that the disc-like members can be manipul and the tyre 44 exchanged.

Referring to Fig. 5 which is a cross-sec through 5-5 of the collector of Fig. 3 the operation of collector will now be described. Like numerals have used to illustrate like features.

As can be seen the collector 17 is illustr moving up a slight incline 49. The golf ball guide 2 located at a higher location on the incline than periphery 26 of the collector wheel 19. The guide wheel are therefore following undulations in the surface which spaced from the undulations being followed by the colle wheel 19.

The guide 25 is shown approaching a golf bal the passage of which is shown in dot-dash outline. After golf ball Slpasses through the guide mount 36 it is wedge the channel 37 and carried upwardly, as shown at positio toward finger plate 38. The finger plate 38 then dislod the golf ball from the channel 37 whereafter it rolls al chute 40 as shown at position 53 to fall into a basket ( shown) .

The arrangement of the plate 32, spring 29, spr roller 33 and spring roller housing 34 is such as to maint the relative orientation of the guide mouth 36 with resp to the channel 37. Thus the guide wheels 51 can ride o undulations while the guide mouth maintains a substantia constant guiding geometry with the channel 37.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 there is illustra in cutaway perspective views a further embodiment of present invention. The respective ends only of a retrie are shown but it will be realised that a number of s retrievers can be mounted end on end in a cascade. Fig. illustrates a golf ball retriever 10 in a retriev position. That is, the array of collector wheels 19 are contact with the surface being traversed. As can be seen Fig. 6 a bar 54 extends along the rear of the retriever. extensions 55 at each end of the retriever (only one is sh in Fig. 6) allow the bar to be moved from the posit illustrated in Fig. 6 to the position illustrated in Fig. Likewise the collectors 17 can be pivoted upwardly ab their pivotal connection to rail 16 into the posit illustrated in Fig. 7 so that the collectors 17 are held a from the surface being traversed by the bar 5.4. The posit

SUBSTITUTE SHEET of collectors 17 as illustrated in Fig. 7 is a tran position so that the retriever can be towed at speed.

A number of golf ball retrievers of the type in Figs. 6 and 7 can be connected side by side in a ca and to facilitate this connection, additional for supporting wheels 56 and end brackets 57 are provided. ball deflectors 58 are positioned forward of the wheels A suitable linkage (not shown) to enable the retriever pivot relative to each other can be employed between opp sets of brackets 57.

It is to be noted that the location of wheels 1 Figs. 6 and 7 are co-axial with the shafts of the colle wheels 19. As a result the turning action of the retri is improved and less damage to greens is caused by collector wheels when the retriever is turned.

Whilst the above has been given by wa illustrative example of the invention, modifications improvements to the invention will be apparent to t skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIM 1. A collection device for use in collecting g balls or the like including a trailable frame, said traila frame having a plurality of parallel positioned rotat discs or the like, said rotating discs being secured independent axles, each said axle being secured to a fra each said frame being vertically pivotable, each s rotating disc or the like having a continuous periphe housing, said housing being aligned with guide means, s guide means being adapted to direct golf balls or the l into said housing, said directed golf balls being engaged said housing and being transferred thereby into a stor container.