US20100052344A1

US20100052344A1 - Golf ball retriever

Info

Publication number: US20100052344A1
Application number: US12/231,448
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy C. Corcoran
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-03
Filing date: 2008-09-03
Publication date: 2010-03-04

Abstract

A golf ball retriever that has a telescopic handle and an adjustable head. The retriever is unique because the ball passes through the bottom edge by simply placing the retriever over the ball and pressing down on the ball making tabs move in an upward direction. After the ball passes through the bottom edge the spring loaded tabs return to their original position and trap the ball within the confines of the ball retriever. The handle and ball receiver are adjustable to one another via the adjustable head connector allowing the operator to change the position of the head in relation to the telescopic handle. This allows the user to retrieve a ball on uneven surfaces.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf ball retrievers are not new to the art. However, the instant invention is a unique retriever that allows the user to retrieve at least one ball at a time. The retrievers designed to simply place the housing over a ball or object to be retrieved and apply a downward pressure. The spring loaded tabs located near the bottom of the housing move upward as pressure is applied. The circumference of the golf ball passes the threshold and the spring loaded tabs return to their original position with the ball entrapped within the housing.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,477 issued to Young Dec. 15, 1970 features a golf ball retriever that incorporates a spring wire ball-engaging member that when triggered will trap a ball. This requires a set position and a trigger activation to grasp the ball. The instant device requires neither. The loaded springs keep the instant device actively ready to receive a ball. The trigger must be manipulated to receive and to release the ball in Young. With the instant device the housing is placed over the ball, pressure is applied and the ball is entrapped within the housing. To release the ball the user simply inverts the housing and the ball drops out. This makes the use of the instant device much simpler. Young requires the user to set the device to a reception setting and then to manually release the trigger to retrieve and then to release the trigger to release the ball from the Young device.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,503 issued to Jeninga issued on Jan. 15, 1985 describes a generally U-shaped device with a bail arrangement that is gravity operated. This device is largely different in many aspects; however, the greatest drawback of Jeninga is it requires the user to manually remove the ball. The instant device is far superior in that the device is simply inverted and the ball drops out. This is a distinct advantage in that most balls are retrieved from water. The golfer does not have to directly touch the ball to remove it from the retriever. When the golfer has to manually remove the ball it has become wet and possibly cover in aquatic material or mud. This causes wet hands or gloves potentially affecting play.
Another embodiment uses hinged tabs instead of the pins and spring loaded tabs. The hinged portion is connected to the inside surface of the ball receiver. The hinges are spring loaded working essentially in the same manner as the main embodiment. The retriever is place over a ball and pushed downwardly forcing the tabs in an upward motion allowing the ball to enter the receiver then returning to their original position trapping the ball within the confines of the ball retriever.

THE INVENTION

Thus, this invention comprises a golf ball retriever comprising a housing, a telescopic handle, an adjustable head, at least one spring loaded tab, at least one tab pin, at least one spring and at least two tab stops.
The housing has a front, a rear, a bottom portion, and two sides and there is a telescopic handle having a series of interconnected handle sections that are expandable and collapsible, one section into another like section, the telescopic handle having a near end and a distal end, the handle having a gripping portion on the near end. The handle is capable of being locked.
The adjustable head is connected to the handle at the distal end of the handle, and connected to the housing. The head is adjustable in its relationship between the handle and the housing in an angular fashion.
The spring loaded tabs are mounted on said pins with the springs located between the tabs and the housing and there are tab stops located adjacent to the tabs and protruding from the bottom portion of the housing to stop the tabs when the device is in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a full side view of the golf ball retriever with telescopic handle.

FIG. 2 is a full top view of the golf ball retriever.

FIG. 3 is a full end view of the golf ball retriever showing the spring loaded tabs.

FIG. 4 is a full end view of the golf ball retriever showing the spring loaded tabs travel direction.

FIG. 5 is a full end view of the golf ball retriever housing showing a ball passing the threshold.

FIG. 6 is a full end view of the golf ball retriever housing showing a ball moved past the threshold.

FIG. 7 is a full top view of another embodiment of the golf ball retriever.

FIG. 8 is full end view of the golf ball retriever housing the spring loaded hinges and the direction of travel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a full side view of the golf ball retriever 2 with telescopic handle 14. The ball receiver 4 has a near end 6 and a distal end 8. The telescopic handle 14 is attached to the ball retriever 2 at the distal end 8 of the ball retriever. The telescopic handle 14 has near end 16 and a distal end 18. The near end 16 of the handle 14 is attached to the distal end 8 of the ball receiver 8. This attachment is accomplished by the adjustable head connector 20. The connector 20 has near end 22 and a distal end 24. The near end 22 is attached to the ball receiver 4 while the distal end 24 is attached to the near end 16 of the handle 14. This embodiment shows a set screw 56 in connector 20 attaching handle 14.
The ball receiver 4 has a top edge 10 and a bottom edge 12. The ball retriever 2 allows the ball 58 to pass through the bottom edge 10 and become trapped within the confines of the of the ball receiver 4. In this view the ball 58 is present behind the first side 60 in phantom.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the golf ball retriever 2. This view better illustrates the functions of the ball retriever 2. One can observe the handle 14 and its near end 16 attached to adjustable head connector 20 at the distal end 24 of the connectors 20. The near end 22 is attached to the ball receiver 4 at its distal end 8.
The ball receiver 2 has a ball retrieving mechanism that is made up of a tab on each opposing side of the receiver 4. The first tab 26 and a second tab 28 are supported by a first tab pin 34 and a second tab pin 36, respectively. There are at least two bias springs 54 on each the first and second tab pins 34 and 36. The first tab 26 has a near end 38 and a distal end 40. The second tab 28 also has a near end 42 and a distal end 44. The near end 6 of receiver 4 has two tab stops 30 and 32. These tab stop 30 and 32 stop the tabs from moving beyond the bottom edge 12 of the ball receiver 4. The tabs 26 and 28 move freely in an upward direction but are stopped by the tab stops 30 and 32 from moving beyond the bottom edge 12 of ball receiver 4, this traps the ball 58 after it passes through the bottom edge 12 and retains it within the confines of the receiver 4. Also shown in this view are the first side 60 and second side 62 of the receiver 4.
FIG. 3 is an end view of the golf ball retriever 2 featuring the spring loaded tabs. This view is through the near end 6 of the ball receiver 6. The ball receiver 4 has a top edge 10, a bottom edge 12, a first side 60 and a second side 62. The first tab 26 and the second tab 28 are attached to each corresponding tab pin 34 and 36. The near end 38 of the first tab 34 and the near end 46 of the first tab pin 34 are shown. The near end 42 of the second tab 28 and the distal end 50 of the second tab 28 are also shown.
FIG. 4 is an end view of the golf ball retriever 2 showing the spring loaded tabs travel direction. This view is through the near end 6 of the ball receiver 4. The ball receiver 4 has a top edge 10, a bottom edge 12, a first side 60 and a second side 62. The first tab 26 and the second tab 28 are attached to each corresponding tab pin 34 and 36. The near end 38 of the first tab 34 and the near end 46 of the first tab pin 34 are shown. The near end 42 of the second tab 42 and the near end 50 of the second tab 28 are also shown. This Figure shows the direction of travel of the tabs 26 and 28. The tab stops 30 and 32 are not shown but it is clear that the tab 26 and 28 move freely in an upward motion allowing the ball 58 to pass through the bottom edge 12. Once the ball passes the bottom edge 12 the tabs 26 and 28 return via the springs 54 and are stopped by the tab stops 30 and 32. This retains the ball 58 within the confines of the ball receiver 4.
FIG. 5 shows the ball 58 passing through the bottom edge 12. Both tabs 26 and 28 move in an upward direction allowing the ball 58 to enter the ball receiver 4. Once the ball passes over half way through the springs return the tabs 26 and 28 to their original position trapping the ball inside the ball receiver 4.
FIG. 6 is an end view of the golf ball retriever 4 showing a ball moved past the threshold. The ball 58 has been trapped within the confines of the ball receiver 4. The springs 54 have returned the tabs 26 and 28 to their original position against the ball stops 30 and 32.
FIG. 7 is a full top view of another embodiment of the golf ball retriever 2. In this embodiment the tabs 26 and 28 are hinged 72 and attached to hinge supports 74 which are in turn attached to the receiver 4 at the fasteners 74. It operates essentially the same as the main embodiment except the hinges 72 allow for movement of the tabs in the upward direction. The springs 54 again return the tabs to their original position.
FIG. 8 is full end view of the golf ball retriever 2 housing 4 and the spring loaded hinges 72 and the direction of travel of he tabs 26 and 28. This view better illustrates the relationship between the tabs 26, 28 and the hinge 72, hinge support 74 and its attachment 70 to the receiver 4. The ball 58 not shown comes through the bottom edge 12 when the user applies pressure in a downward motion forcing the ball into the receiver 4 while moving the tabs 26 and 28 upward until the ball 58 not shown center diameter passes the tabs and the tabs fall back to their original position via the urging of the springs capturing the ball within the confines of the ball retriever 2.
The operator extends the handle 14 telescopically to reach out into hazards such as water on the golf course. Then the operator lowers the device over a ball, as the tab forces the tabs 26 and 28 upward the ball passes through the bottom edge until the tabs 26 and 28 allow passage of the ball 58 to the midpoint or widest portion then the springs 54 force the tabs 26 and 28 to their original position against the tab stops 30 and 32. The ball is thus trapped within the confines of the ball receiver 4 and the operator moves the ball retriever 2 to a safe location and inverts the device thus freeing the ball.

Claims

1. A golf ball retriever comprising in combination, a housing, a telescopic handle, an adjustable head, at least one spring loaded tab, at least one tab pin, at least one spring and at least two tab stops;

the housing having a front, a rear, a bottom portion, and two sides;

the telescopic handle having a series of interconnected handle sections that are expandable and collapsible, one section into another like section, said telescopic handle having a near end and a distal end, said handle having a gripping portion on the near end, said handle being capable of being lockable;

said adjustable head being connected to said handle at the distal end of the handle, and connected to said housing, said head being adjustable in its relationship between said handle and said housing in an angular fashion;

said spring loaded tabs being mounted on said pins with said springs located between said tabs and said housing;

tab stops being located adjacent to said tabs and protruding from the bottom portion of said housing to stop said tabs when the device is in use.

2. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is fixed.

3. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is lockable.

4. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is large enough for at least one golf ball.

5. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is of variable lengths.

6. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiver is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, fiber glass and graphite.

7. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable head connector is fixed.

8. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable head connector is rigidly attached.

9. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable head connector is attached with a set screw.

10. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable head connector is attached with a pin.

11. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable head connector is attached with a fastener.

12. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable head connector is attached with a bolt and wing nut.

13. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable head connector is attached with a bolt and knob.

14. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable head connector is attached by adhesion.

15. A golf ball retriever comprising in combination, a housing, a telescopic handle, an adjustable head, at least one spring loaded tab, a hinged portion, a hinge support, at least one spring and at least two tab stops;

the housing having a front, a rear, a bottom portion, and two sides;

said spring loaded tabs being mounted on said hinge with said springs located between said tabs and said housing; said hinge being mounted to said hinge support and said hinge support being mounted to said housing;

16. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 15 wherein said hinge is manufactured from material selected from a group consisting of plastic, metal and wood.

17. A golf ball retriever as claimed in claim 15 wherein said tab, hinge and hinge support are unitary.