GB2357981A

GB2357981A - Golf ball retriever

Info

Publication number: GB2357981A
Application number: GB0000273A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Covell Collier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-08
Filing date: 2000-01-08
Publication date: 2001-07-11
Also published as: GB0000273D0

Abstract

A golf ball retriever comprises an arcuate plastics loop 2 pivotally attached to an elongate tubular handle 4, the loop 2 having a wide entrance shaped to gather a golf ball and funnel it into a narrower forward portion 10 when the retriever is drawn along the surface where the ball is located, eg., the bed of a lake or similar underwater location. When the loop is raised the weight of the ball causes the loop to rotate, figure 6, creating a three point support by which the ball can be lifted from the water. The loop 2 may be produced from a buoyant plastics material causing in to rotate upwards when immersed in water until protrusion 11 impinge with the tube 4, thus positioning the loop into an attitude allowing the balls to be gathered by pulling the loop over the ball. The loop may be repositioned such that protrusion 18 impinges with the tube in the ball gathering configuration (Figures 8 and 9) allowing the balls to be gathered by pushing the loop forward over the ball prior to the loop being raised to lift the ball from the water.

Description

2357981 GOLE? EQUIPMENT This invention relates to a golf ball retriever.

Golf ball retrievers comprising of nets, scoops or ball clamping devices attached to the end of extendable tubes are well known, but they have to be accurately positioned relative to the ball before endeavouring to pick the ball out of the sediment on the beds of lakes or other similar underwater locations in 5. which it is often partially immersed. Positioning errors sometimes result in sediment being disturbed impairing the golfer's visibility for any further attempts to retrieve the ball. They are also cumbersome when carried in a golf bag and often clash or become entangled with clubs being removed ftom or replaced in the bag.

According to this invention there is provided a golf ball retriever for recovering balls 10. from underwater locations, comprising an arcuate plastic loop with a wide rear entrance tapering to a narrow forward portion the end of which is curved upwards, pivotally attached to a tube with protrusions on loop impinging with tube determining angular position of loop relative to tube, causing ball to be gathered into loop and funnelled into narrow portion when loop is drawn along surface on which ball is located; elevation of 15. loop then causes it to rotate under ball creating a three point support by which ball is lifted from water.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of retriever prior to being immersed in water.

20. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever immersed in water.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of retriever sitting on bed of lake.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever shown in figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever carrying ball that has -2 been retrieved from water.

Figure 1 shows a front view of retriever 1 prior to being immersed in water, comprising loop 2 made from a flexible plastic material with a specific gravity less than water closed at the wide end with an integrally moulded mounting block 3 that is pivotally 5. attached to tubular rod 4 by pivot pin 5. This end of loop is wider than a golf ball tapering via sides 6 and 7 to parallel rails 8 and 9 the space between which is narrower than a golf ball, front end of loop is closed by a straight section 10.

The distances between protrusions 11 and 12, and 18 and 19 on sides 16 and 17 of mounting block are less than distance between flat surfaces 13 and 14 on outside of tube 10. 4, web 15 joins sides 16 and 17 of mounting block.

Figure 2, shows a side view of retriever shown in figure 1, loop 2 is cross-sectioned and it can be seen that in this free hanging position there is no contact between protrusions and tube.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever immersed in water. The 15. buoyancy of loop 2 has caused it to rotate clockwise until protrusions 11 and 12 collided with tube 4 preventing any further rotation, thus enabling user to lay it lightly on bed of lake ahead of ball, depth of penetration into sediment will be determined by force exerted on loop due to weight of various components of the retriever. Tube 4 is one of several made from aluminium or a similar lightweight material that slide into one 20. another enabling retriever to be extended to a length of several metres. Plugs 20 and 21 seal the ends of tube 4 making it airtight and therefore buoyant when immersed in water, the rear ends of the other tubes are also sealed trapping air inside them when inserted into water making these tubes or portions of these tubes buoyant when immersed in water. The combined buoyancy of loop and tubes immersed in water reduces force exerted on loop and resultant penetration into sediment, enabling the sensation of the loop striking a ball as it is drawn along the upper layer of the sediment to be transmitted via the tubes to the user. This is particularly important when for example the 5. approximate location of a ball is known but it cannot be seen because the water is not clear. As the loop with its wide entrance is drawn along the upper layer of the sediment a single strike would indicate outside of loop has contacted ball and another sweep would be required. Repeated strikes as the loop was drawn along would indicate ball was inside loop and could be retrieved by lifting loop out of water.

10. Conversely, if for example a deeper penetration is required to retrieve a ball deeply embedded in sediment, this can be obtained by applying a downward force on tube, clockwise rotation of loop being prevented by protrusions 11 and 12 impinging against tube. Figure 4 shows a plan view of retriever with rails 8 and 9 of loop sitting for example on the bed of a lake. To simulate what occurs when retriever is drawn 15. backwards three positions of golf balls relative to loop are shown as 22, 23 and 24.

At 22 ball is behind loop but not in line with it. At 23 retriever has been drawn back ball has been gathered into loop and is being pushed towards centre by tapering side 6, with ball at 24 parallel side rails 8 and 9 have moved under both sides of ball.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever as shown in figure 4, with the 20. same simulation showing balls in three positions relative to loop. Rails 8 and 9 are sitting on bed of lake 28, protrusions 11 and 12 impinging against tube 4 restricting any clockwise rotation of loop, this combined with arcuate shape of loop ensures base 25 is above level of ball 22 when retriever is drawn back. With ball at 23 point on side 6 of loop touching ball has moved down to a position below centre line of ball and any -4further backward movement will cause this side of loop to move further under ball until with ball at 24 parallel side rails 8 and 9 have moved under both sides of ball. If loop is now lifted by an upward movement of tube 4 rails 8 and 9 of loop contact underside of ball, weight of ball exceeds buoyancy of loop causing loop to rotate anti-clockwise 5. around pivot pin 5 until straight section 10 of loop contacts ball creating a three point support in V shaped forward end of loop between rails 8 and 9 and straight section 10 by which ball is lifted from water as loop and ball swing freely as shown in Figure 6, thus retrieving ball from bed of lake or similar underwater location.

A further embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example with 10. reference to the following drawings:

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever in a fixed mode.

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever in a forward ball gathering mode.

Figure9 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever carrying ball retrieved 15. from water.

Figure 10 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever stowed in golf bag.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever when tube 4 has been rotated anti-clockwise with sufficient force to prise apart protrusions 11 and 12 by flexing of mounting block 3 and causing flat sides 13 and 14 of tube 4 to be gripped by 20. protrusionsI 1 and 12, restricting movement of loop 2 in either direction, thus enabling V shaped forward portion of loop to be used as a spoon, or when inverted as a rake, to retrieve balls located underwater or on land, or to move balls located underwater or on land that are for example entangled in debris, to a more accessible position for subsequent retrieval by methods described in figure 4, figure 5 and figure 6.

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever in forward ball gathering mode, with tube 4 rotated to impinge against protrusions 18 and 19 thus restricting clockwise rotation of loop 2. To simulate what occurs when loop is pushed forward three positions of a golf ball relative to loop are shown at 27, 28 and 29. At 27 ball is ahead of loop, at 5. 28 ball is enclosed within loop, at 29 side rails 8 and 9 have moved under both sides of ball. If loop is now lifted by upward movement of tube, weight of ball exceeds buoyancy. of loop causing it to rotate anticlockwise under ball, creating a three point support by which ball is lifted out of water as shown in figure 9. Figure 10 shows a cross-sectioned side view of retriever stowed in golf bag 26, loop 2 10. has been rotated with sufficient force to prise apart protrusions 18 and 19 the undersides of which are now impinging against tube 4 holding loop in a folded position, enabling retracted tubes 27 to be placed inside bag with loop outside where retriever cannot damage or be damaged by clashing or becoming entangled with the heads of clubs being removed from or replaced in bag.

-6

Claims

CLAIMS (1) A golf ball retriever for recovering balls from underwater

locations, comprising an arcuate plastic loop with a wide rear entrance tapering to a narrow forward portion the end of which is curved upwards, pivotally attached to a tube with protrusions on loop impinging with tube determining angular position of loop 5. relative to tube, causing ball to be gathered into loop and funnelled into narrow portion when loop is drawn along surface on which ball is located; elevation of loop then causes it to rotate under ball creating a three point support by which ball is lifted from water.

(2) A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 whereby loop is produced from a 10. buoyant plastic causing it to rotate when immersed in water until protrusions impinge with tube, thus positioning loop in ball gathering attitude prior to being placed on surface adjacent to ball.

(3) A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 whereby sensitivity provided by the combination ofa buoyant loop and buoyant tubes enables is. vibrations created by loop striking a ball to be transmitted to user, enabling bal Is not visible to be located and retrieved.

(4) A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 whereby with tube positioned to impinge with protrusions at forward end of loop, balls are gathered by pushing loop forward over ball prior to loop being elevated to lift 20. ball from water.

(5) A golf ball retriever as claimed in any preceding claim whereby interaction between protrusions on loop and tube retain loop in a folded position relative to tube, enabling retriever to be stowed with tubes placed inside and loop outside of bag remote from heads of clubs being removed from or replaced in bag.

(6) A golf ball retriever substantially as described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.