US20100248865A1

US20100248865A1 - Golf Ball Mark Repair Tool

Info

Publication number: US20100248865A1
Application number: US12/784,302
Authority: US
Inventors: Hirofusa Otsubo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-28
Filing date: 2010-05-20
Publication date: 2010-09-30

Abstract

This invention is a hand tool for use by a golfer to repair a ball mark including a flat handle and long axes of two parallel blades. The said blades have an angle against the soil to constrain the direction of the blades movements.

Furthermore, the handle of the tool has instructions how to use the tool correctly in words along with an iconic instruction. Therefore, allowing a golfer to follow the unique steps in sequence applying the specially angled and shaped two parallel prongs only toward the desired blades movements in order and prohibiting the unwanted blades movements in order to fix a divot mark for the fasted divot damage recovery.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 12/229,894 which was filed Aug. 28, 2008 and is now abandoned as of the filing hereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a hand tool for use by a golfer to repair a ball mark, i.e. divot, the depression made by a golf ball landing on a putting green.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For the sake of the following description, consider the ball mark as a hemispherical depression in a flat turf surface. A golf ball making a hard or steep landing on a green often makes a depression or “ball mark” on the green, making a tear in the turf, exposing soil, and compressing the turf to indent. The indented turf is alive and connected to the surface turf, but severed and damaged by ball impact. It is very common that many golfers tend to pry up the indented turf applying the prior art equipped with the wide flat blades, in process cutting the indented turf off from the original turf and exposing soil to the surface to create ugly “brown spot” on the green.
A very important but not well-known skill is lifting an indented turf and soil up to the surface without cutting the indented turf off from the surface turf as the first step. Immediately followed by the stretching step to fill the rest of indention, as the second step, with the surrounding healthy turf toward the divot center and secure the said repositioned indented turf at the surface with the surface turf for the fastest turf damage recovery.
The current invention consists of both a specially shaped divot tool along with a printed illustration provides golfers for the first time to repair ball marks with the skill for the fastest divot damage recovery to improve the habitual brown spots making skills with the prior art.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a flat handle and long axes of two parallel blades. The said blades incline downwardly about 35° relative to the handle angling 90° relative to the flat handle. The parallel blades are distanced apart approximately 7/16″ which is the adequate distance to fit to the average size of a stripe of turf connecting the indented turf to the surface by placing the blades thin edges toward the divot center. The parallel blades are 1/16″ thick at blades moving edge, approximately ¼″ wide at inner end, ⅛″ wide at outer ends, and ⅞″ long. Therefore, the said blades have an angle against the soil to constrain the direction of the blades movement only toward the blades thin moving edges and prevent moving the blades at wide sides. The about 35° handle inclination relative to the handle is to create about 215° blades angle relative to the handle uses as the tool front and about 145° blades angle relative to the handle uses as the tool back.
The afore said specific blades dimensions and angles relative to the handle by applying the tool front facing the divot center makes possible to recover the indented turf back to the surface with the least damage. If the 145° blades angle relative to the handle use as the tool front, the blades angle is too steep to recover the indented turf with the 1^stclass lever action resulting cutting the indented turf off from the surface turf to die out. If the blades have only 1/16″ thick front edges without blades width, these thin blades tend to cut more roots than stretching turf and soil in the process of stretching. Furthermore, if the blades have more than 2/16″ thick front edges, these blades are too wide to recover the indented turf by tearing off the indented turf at the strip connecting the indented turf to the surface turf. On the other hand, if the blades have less than 1/16″ thick fort edges, these thin blades tend to cut more roots than stretching turf and soil in the process of stretching.
The print in words “Repair using”. “motion 1”, “followed by 2, and 3” in three lines is on the back of the said handle and the print of iconic instruction corresponding to the said words is positioned on the right side of the said words. The said iconic instruction is an elevation view of the divot consists of a hemispherical ball mark indention in mid section of a block of soil with surface turf with the indented turf laying down at the left corner of the hemispherical depression wall. The said indented turf has a portion of raised stripe region, by a ball impact, connecting the indented turf to the surface turf at the far left side upper corner. Furthermore, the said iconic instruction has two prints of the present invention inserted just outsides of the divot depression at each opposite ends, positioning the each tool front toward the divot center. The said first print of the present invention placed on the left poses to stroke the 1^stclass lever action accompanied with an upward circular motion arrow drawn from the divot bottom with a print of numeral 1 nearby to correspond to the print “Repair using motion 1,” in words, as the first step. The said first step is to reposition the said indented turf back to the surface while maintaining its connection to the surface turf. The said second print of the present invention placed on the right poses to make a push action to stretch the surface turf toward the divot center accompanied by a straight motion arrow pointing toward the divot center along with a print of numeral 2 above, as the second step. The said second step is to correspond to the print “followed by 2,” in words. Finally, a print of additional circular motion arrow pointing toward the divot center is placed near at the said second tool handle end, with a print of numeral 3 above the said straight motion arrow 2, posing to stroke the 2^ndclass lever action corresponding the print, “and 3” in words, as the third step. The said third step is to seal a final small gap to complete divot repair work with the surface turf.
Only the current invention provides a printed media on the back of handle to instruct golfers to perform the said unique steps in sequence applying the specially angled and shaped two parallel prongs allowing only the desired blades movements and prohibiting the unwanted blades movements to fix a divot mark for the fasted divot damage recovery.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Prior Art that I am aware of includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,458 issued 1993 to Cameron, U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,983 issued 2006 to Pietsch, U.S. Pat. No. D272,461 issued 1984 to Burns, U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,299 issued 1996 to Bellagamba, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,402 issued 2004 to Chistensen.
Bellagamba and Cameron disclose a divot repair tool having a flat handle and two flat prongs in the same plane of the handle extending forward. They fails to prevent the blades to move side ways; therefore, their prongs slide sideways all around an divot edge by prying up soil while cutting roots underneath to creates more brown spot damages. Bellagamba and Cameron are typical of the Prior Art that is the object of the current invention to improve.
Pietsch discloses a divot repair tool including blades extending from a flat handle, the blades twisted in a helix along their lengths. Pietsch fails to install 35° inclination relative to the handle; therefore, it does not suit to perform the said motion 2 with the straight stretch stroke to push the surface turf toward the divot center. Furthermore, Pietsch fails to provide a proper instruction printed on the handle to recover an indented turf at the very first step, therefore the helical blades and their non-smooth surfaces are intended to achieve mechanical agitation, manipulation of the soil resulting to create more brown spot damages on the green. Pietsch is typical of the Prior Art that is the object of the current invention to improve.
Burns discloses a divot repair tool including two blades resembling a nail puller. By applying these thick two blades to the said motion 1 to recover an indented turf, the Burns tents to cut off the already damaged indented turf from the rest of the surface turf to die out. Furthermore, Burns fails to provide a proper instruction printed on the handle as the current invention to recover an indented turf at the first action, the blades are intended to achieve mechanical agitation, and manipulation of the soil once inserted resulting to create more brown spot damages on the green. Burns is typical of the Prior Art that is the object of the current invention to improve.
Christensen discloses a divot repair tool with a pair of prongs with about 30° inclined to the handle on the front and 180° flat blades relative to the handle on the back. Therefore, Christensen's blades naturally fit to move the 2^ndclass lever action. The 180° flat blades relative to the handle on the back does not suit to perform the said motion 2 straight stretch stroke to push the surface turf toward the divot center. Furthermore, Christensen fails to provide the adequate blades thickness as 1/16″ and the blades distance 7/16″ apart to each other; therefore, the prior art tends to damage the stripe connecting the indented turf to the surface turf resulting more brown spots damages. Finally, it fails to provide a proper instruction printed on the handle to recover the indented turf at the first action; therefore, the said indented turf will be buried in the soil to die out with the 2^ndclass lever action. Christensen is typical of the Prior Art that is the object of the current invention to improve.
There is no prior art to provide a printed instruction on the handle with the special skill to reposition an indented turf and soil toward the surface along with a specially formed divot tool to constrain unwanted motions and allow only desired motions to fix a divot mark for divot quick recovery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1( a) is a perspective view representing the present invention exposing a tool front.

FIG. 1( b) illustrates an end view, as from the right end of FIG. 1( a).

FIG. 2( a) is a top view of FIG. 1( a) exposing the tool front.

FIG. 2( b) is a side view of FIG. 2( a).

FIG. 2( c) is a back view FIG. 2( a) exposing the tool back with the print of instructions.

FIG. 3( a) is an elevation view representing a horizontal push action to stretch the surface turf toward the divot center with the prior art Chistensen US Patent No. 6,733,402.

FIG. 3( b) is an elevation view representing a straight turf stretch action applying the tool front of FIG. 2( b).

FIG. 4( a) is a perspective view representing FIG. 1( a) inserted just outside of the indented turf upper raised region where the indented turf connects to the surface turf, facing the tool front toward the divot center.

FIG. 4( b) is an elevation view representing the limited actions of FIG. 1( a).

FIG. 4( c)-4(e) are elevation view of FIG. 4( a) illustrating the use of the current invention in increment order of the motion 1 represented with FIG. 4( c), 2 represented with FIGS. 4( d) and 3 represented with FIG. 4( e) to fix a divot mark in sequence.

FIG. 4( f) is an elevation view of a preferred divot repair result after the series of actions FIG. 4( c)-4(e).

FIG. 5( a) is a perspective view representing a prior art inserted facing the tool front toward the divot center at just outside of the indented turf upper raised region where the indented turf still connected to the surface turf.

FIG. 5( b) is an elevation view representing the actions of FIG. 5( a).

FIG. 5( c)-5(d) are elevation view of FIG. 5( a) illustrating the use of the prior art with the said motion 1, the 1^stclass lever action.

FIG. 5( e) is an elevation view of a poor divot repair result after actions of FIG. 5( c)-5(d).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawing, FIGS. 1( a) to 2(c) shows the current invention 20 from different views. The tool 20 includes a flat handle 21 and the long axes of the blades 22 made with the same material. The blades 22 is angled 90° relative to the flat handle 21 extending forward of said handle in planes parallel to each other. The blade axes A1 and A2 are distanced approximately 7/16″ to each other in parallel position inclining downwardly about 35° relative to the handle 21. The blades sides 24 are approximately ¼″ wide at inner end, ⅛″ wide at outer ends, the blades front edges 25 are 1/16″ thick, and the blades 22 are ⅞″ long.
FIG. 2( b) is a side view of FIG. 2( a) exposing 145° angle C between handle 21 and the blades 22 respectively of the tool 20. The tool 20 applies the blades angle 145° C. relative to the handle as the tool back 21 c and the opposite 215° B angle as the tool front 21 b.
FIG. 2( c) is a view of the tool back 21 c exhibiting the printed instructions in three line words 28 and the corresponding iconic instruction 29;

the said iconic instruction 29 is a block of divot at elevation view consists of a hemispherical ball mark indention in the mid section covered with the surface turf and with the indented turf laying down from the surface to the hemispherical depression left wall;
the words 28 “REPAIR USING”, “MOTION 1”, and “FOLLOWED BY 2,3” are printed in three lines at left side in relationship to the iconic instruction 29 on the handle back 21 c;
the said indented turf contains a raised region by a ball impact at far left side upper corner of the indention;
the said iconic instruction 29 contains two prints of the tool 20;
the said first print of the tool 20 is inserted at left side of the divot facing the tool front 21 b toward the divot center indicating the 1^stclass lever action accompanied by a upward circular motion arrow from the bottom of depression with a print of numeral 1 to correspond to the “MOTION 1” in the words 28;
the second print of the tool 20 is inserted at right side of the divot, facing tool front 21 b toward the divot center accompanied by a straight push motion arrow toward the divot center with a numeral 2 printed above the straight push motion arrow corresponding to the “FOLLOWED BY 2,” in the words 28;
the 2^ndclass lever action is marked with a circular motion arrow print toward the divot center at the handle top accompanied by a numeral 3 print corresponding to the “3” in the words 28 as the final step.

FIG. 3( a) represents the prior art Chistensen 30 applying the said straight push motion 2 to stretch health turf toward the center of depression. However, the flat 180° angle on the back of tool does not suit to the straight push motion, instead the blades act toward the 2^ndclass lever action naturally due to the flat angle of the tool back in relationship to the blades.
FIG. 3( b) represents the tool 20 applying the said straight push motion to stretch the health surface turf toward the divot center. The present invention 20, defined as the blade axes A1 and A2 distanced approximately 7/16″ to each other in parallel position inclining downwardly about 35° relative to the handle 21, the blades sides 24 approximately ¼″ wide at inner end, ⅛″ wide at outer ends, the blades front edges 25 1/16″ thick, and the blades 22 are ⅞″ long, facing the tool front toward the divot center, allows the said motion 2 horizontal straight stretch stroke, then able to follow the 2^ndclass lever action to complete the final step 3 by sealing a remaining small gap.
FIG. 4( a) exhibits the tool 20 inserted just outside of the indented turf facing the tool front 21 b and the leading blades edges 25 toward the center of depression avoiding the blades to cut off the indented turf from the surface turf.
FIG. 4( b) represents the parallel blades 22 limited movements with the single straight motion arrow toward the blades thin moving edges 25 in the soil 17.
FIG. 4( c) represents the FIG. 4( a) in the elevation side view in the motion 1 as the very first step to recover the indented turf with the 1^stclass lever action accompanied with the two circular motion arrows.
FIG. 4( d) represents FIG. 4( c) in continuation motion from the other side of the divot to fill the divot with the said motion 2 to stretch the surface turf toward the divot center accompanied by the two straight motion arrows. The motion FIG. 4( d) is the essential following step to secure the repositioned indented turf at the surface.
FIG. 4( e) represents FIG. 4( d) in continuation to fill the divot with the motion 3, the 2^ndclass lever action, to seal a final small gap to complete divot repair step.
FIG. 4( f) represents a favored result covering the divot depression with the turf.
FIG. 5( a) exhibits the ordinary prior art 10 is inserted just outside of the indented turf facing the wide blades 14 toward the divot center. These wide blades application perpendicular to the turf stripe, connecting the indented turf and the surface turf 18, is to tear off the indented turf from the surface turf 18 to die out.
FIG. 5( b) represents the prior art 10 movements in both the sideways toward thin edges of blades and the pry up move toward the surface to expose the soil to the surface.
FIG. 5( c) represents the elevation side view of the FIG. 5( a)
FIG. 5( d) represents the FIG. 5( c) in motion as the very first step to recover the indented turf with the 1^stclass lever action by tearing off the indented turf from the surface turf applying the wide blades 14 perpendicular to the indented turf.
FIG. 5( e) represents a poor result covering the divot depression with the soil without the indented turf.
Any terms indicative of orientation are used with reference to drawing illustrations. Such terms are not intended as limitations but as descriptive words. Apparatus described herein retains its described character whether it is oriented as shown or otherwise.

Claims

1. A ball mark repair tool including a flat plane handle and two blades;

the said blades disposed in planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plane of the said handle and the blade axes inclines about 35° relative to the plane of the said handle;

the said tool is made out of about 1/16′ thick single metal plate,

the blade axes position in parallel distanced apart approximately 7/16″ wide,

the said blades having the thickness 1/16″, length ⅞″, width at handle inner end ¼″, width at outer end ⅛″;

the said handle and blades axes inclined about 35° relative to the plane of said handle constitutes the said tool angle about 215° between the handle and the blades on one side and about 145° on the other side;

the said handle with the 215° blades angle relative to the handle applies as the tool front and the opposite side as the tool back;

the words “Repair using” in the first line, “motion 1” in the second line, and “followed by 2, 3” in the third line are printed on the back of tool handle and an iconic instruction is printed on the right of the said three line words;

the said iconic instruction is an elevation view of a divot consists of a hemispherical ball mark indention in the mid section covered by the surface turf along with an indented turf laying down from the surface to the hemispherical depression left side wall;

the said indented turf has a raised region by a ball impact and connected to the surface turf at far left upper corner of the said hemispherical depression;

the said iconic instruction further has a print of the said tool inserted on the left just outside of the said divot depression and the next print of the said tool is inserted on the right just outside of the said divot depression, facing the each tool front toward the divot center;

the said tool print on left side on the said divot depression in the said iconic instruction is in position to stroke the 1^stclass lever action indicated by an upward circular motion arrow from the bottom of the said divot depression along with a print of numeral 1 nearby the tool handle to correspond to the said “motion 1” in words, instructing to reposition an indented turf to the surface as the very first step;

the said tool print on right side of the said divot depression in the said iconic instruction is positioned to make a horizontal push action to stretch the surrounding healthy turf toward the said divot center accompanied by a print of a horizontal straight motion arrow toward the divot center along with a print of numeral 2 above, to correspond to the said “followed by 2” in words in order to secure the said repositioned indented turf at the surface with the stretched surface turf as the second step;

the said tool print on right side of the said divot depression in the iconic instruction has an additional circular motion arrow pointing toward the divot center with a print of numeral 3 at the handle top to stroke the 2^ndclass lever action corresponding to the numeral “3” in words to seal a final small gap to complete divot repair job with turf as the final step.

2. A ball mark repair tool as defined in claim 1 makes possible the said indented turf recovery action with the 1^stclass lever action applying the tool front as the first step, followed by the said straight push motion from the different divot edges toward the divot center to secure the repositioned indented turf to the surface as the send step.

3. The said instructions as defined in claim 1 make possible the current invention to save the said indented turf by repositioning with the 1^stclass lever action applying the tool front toward the divot center as the first action, followed by the said horizontal straight push motion from the different angles toward the divot center to secure the said repositioned indented turf to the surface with the stretched surrounding surface turf.