US20190046850A1

US20190046850A1 - Ergonomic golf assistance device

Info

Publication number: US20190046850A1
Application number: US16/009,068
Authority: US
Inventors: Ryan M. Stacy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-14
Filing date: 2018-06-14
Publication date: 2019-02-14

Abstract

A golf assistance device including a grip assembly comprising an actuator, a base assembly comprising a plurality of grabber arms and an adjustable tee height stand, an outer shaft coupling the grip assembly to the base assembly, and an inner rod, configured to effect movement of the plurality of grabber arms based on movement of the actuator, wherein the golf assistance device is configured for repositioning golf equipment by a user in an upright posture.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional Patent Application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/519,525, filed Jun. 14, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/520,933, filed Jun. 16, 2017, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The aspects of the disclosed embodiment generally relate to ergonomic tools and, more particularly, to a multi-purpose golf tool.

2. Brief Description of Related Developments

According to the United States Product Safety Commission (USPSC), golf-related back, knee, leg and other mobility limiting related injuries resulting from the normal course of play are a leading type of hazard in the sport. As bending down to set the ball and tee requires extreme strength, steadiness and focus, it is often the most physically demanding part of a golfer's round. This challenging physical exertion is closely followed by the need to lower the body an additional 4 inches to pick the ball out of the cup, as well as several other actions that cause a player to bend.
Current solutions to any sort of mobility issue for golfers are very limited. A golfer can ask a fellow player to aid him or her in teeing up and retrieving the golf ball, but this is tedious and embarrassing for some individuals. The few products that exist to aid with this issue generally address one of the issues: either teeing the ball up or grabbing it from the hole, not both. Additionally, these products are almost universally difficult to use, where reliability and ease of use are crucial.
It would be advantageous for a golf assistance device to assist golfers with actions during a golf round that require bending low to the ground.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a golf assistance device, intended to address the above concerns would find utility.
An example of the present disclosure eliminates bending over while playing a round of golf. The target audience is the compromised (i.e., injured, elderly, overweight, limited mobility, etc.) golf enthusiast population. However, the effectiveness of the device for reducing or eliminating repetitive stresses (e.g., bending) while playing golf is also valuable for any recreational golfer. The key aspects of this design are its ease of use, reliability, portability and multi-functionality.
The device offers several unique features when compared to currently available technology. For example, the adjustable height stand allows the user to tee up at any desired height levels, corresponding to the needs of the game, allows for consistent tee height every time, which is difficult to achieve manually, assists in picking up a tee after a shot, or serves as a club stand on, e.g., the green, so extra clubs do not need to be laid on the ground, requiring them to be picked up thereafter. The stand also retracts fully to allow the claw armatures to reach into the cup at the end of a hole and retrieve the ball. These same armatures are responsible for holding and acquiring both the ball and the tee, and provide the support necessary to push them into the ground. The device fulfills the role of a bending assistant and its robust nature allows it to withstand highly cyclic usage, vital to product endurance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aspects of the disclosed embodiment herein will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of exemplary golf assistance device functions, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of an exemplary golf assistance device, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the device of FIG. 2 showing the base assembly, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the device of FIG. 2 showing the grip assembly, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5A depicts a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5B depicts a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5C depicts a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5D depicts a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5E depicts a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5F depicts a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5G depicts a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 5H depicts a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 6A depicts a side view of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment; and

FIG. 6B further depicts a side view and associated parts list of the device of FIG. 2, according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The device in accordance with the present disclosure may allow golfers to perform physical actions, such as setting a ball and tee and picking up a ball and tee, under any conditions that are normally found at a golf course, without having to bend low to the ground.
Although the aspects of the disclosed embodiment will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiment can be embodied in many alternate forms. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the aspects of the present disclosure may provide a device for assisting golfers. As will hereinafter be described more fully, the golf assistance device 100 performs a number of mechanical functions and respective information functions, such as, providing a stand to lean unused, extra clubs against. The golf assistance device 100 may include a grip assembly 200, a base assembly 300, and an outer shaft 110 coupling the grip assembly 200 to the base assembly 300.
The tee height stand 310 serves the purpose of leveling the tee and supporting it being pushed into the ground to the desired height, an information function of the user's desired height of tee-off. This may be accomplished through a combination of a base 310B and plurality of legs 310L or may be accomplished only with a plurality of legs 310L. The stand also allows for upright standing of clubs.
The grabber arms 340 are actuated to acquire the ball, hold it in place, accept a tee, hold both ball and tee in place while the tee is being pushed into the ground, and then release both ball and tee simultaneously upon another actuation. Additionally, the grabber arms 340 can be actuated to acquire the ball out of the cup. The actuation of the grabber arms 340 is visible even from above and their state of open or close is a visual indicator of whether or not actuation is occurring or whether the ball and tee have been successfully acquired.
Actuation may be accomplished through the use of an actuator 210. This actuator 210 may be spring loaded and directly transfers mechanical load to the grabber arms 340, wherein the resistance encountered at the actuator 210 is a physical feedback indicator of the grabber arms' 340 state, either partially opened, partially closed, or fully opened. The grabber arms 340 are fully closed in a neutral state such that the actuator 210 does not provide direct positive tactile feedback in this state. Visual indications of the grabber arms 340 and tee height stand 310 should be sufficient to assure the user that the grabber arms 340 are in the neutral state correctly.
As shown in FIG. 3, a base assembly 300 of the golf assistance device 100 may comprise a tee height stand 310, an actuation pivot 320, a plurality of actuation levers 330 with a respective plurality of grabber arms 340, and a tripivot 350. The adjustable tee height stand 320 allows the user to tee up at several height levels, corresponding to the needs of the game by sliding the tee height stand 320 up or down the outer shaft 110 and adjusting a ring 310R, as desired. The tee height stand 320 may also retract fully to allow the plurality of grabber arms 340 to reach into the cup at the end of a round and retrieve the ball. Additionally, the tee height stand 320 holds the tool level with the ground during the operation of teeing the ball up and centers the tool when picking the ball up out of the hole. The tee height stand 320 may comprise a circular base 310B with a plurality of legs 310L.
The plurality of grabber arms 340 is responsible for holding and acquiring both the ball and the tee, and providing the support necessary to push them into the ground. A grabber arm 340 may be coupled to the actuation lever 330 and the actuation pivot 320 by a plurality of pins 340P, one between each of the grabber arm 340 and actuation lever 330 and the grabber arm 340 and actuation pivot 320. This configuration permits the grabber arm 340 to pivot around the longitudinal axis of the respective pins 340P. Because the individual grabber arms 340 need to hold the ball and put pressure on it from the sides and push it downwards onto the tee the individual grabber arms 340 may be designed to match the profile of the ball while putting pressure on the top of the ball. They may also be made to taper down at the bottom into a sort of point which when retrieving the ball would allow for easy picking and wouldn't become caught in the relief slots cut into the bottom of the golf cup. The very bottom of the individual grabber arms 340 may be a small curved cutout that is able to hold a standard golf tee in position when the plurality of grabber arms 340 join together around a golf ball. A piston-like mechanism with a plurality of actuation levers 330, each of the actuation levers 330 corresponding to a respective grabber arm 340, may be employed to push the plurality of grabber arms 340 in and out such that the plurality of grabber arms 340 completely clear the ball and tee once the action is complete.
In order to permit ease of use, the width of the base assembly 300 should be able to fit around the outside of the cup, so as to stand easily without issue. In some embodiments, however, the tee height stand 310 of the base assembly 300 may have a larger circumference to provide greater stability and, therefore, improved tee-up reliability. The larger circumference of the tee height stand 310 may also allow the golf assistance device 100 to stand independently upright, thereby eliminating the requirement for a user to bend over to pick up the golf assistance device 100. In these embodiments, the larger circumference of the tee height stand 310 may prevent access to the hole by the base assembly 300.
Referring to FIG. 4, the grip assembly 200 may include an actuator 210, a finger grip 220, and a spring 230. The actuator 210 may be designed to permit one of thumb and palm-grip actuation. In order to actuate the piston-like mechanism (i.e., effect movement of the plurality of grabber arms 340), the golf assistance device 100 may use an inner rod 120, within the hollow housing of the outer shaft 110, and attached to the actuator 210 in the grip assembly 200. The actuator 210 is pushed up by a spring 230 that is fitted to the inside of the outer shaft 110. Thus, the action of pushing the actuator 210 is a product of weight instead of hand grip strength, making the product easy to use, ensuring clean tee placement. A button may be preferable to a lever or handle for the actuator 210 simply because it requires the least parts to build and may be very cleanly designed and assembled. Furthermore, a finger grip 220 may be attached to each side of the outer shaft 110 near where the actuator 210 is located at the top of the golf assistance device 100 in order for the product to be carried easily and the actuator 210 to be depressed easily. In one embodiment, the golf assistance device 100 may include a club stand coupled to the outer shaft 110 and being configured so that unused golf clubs may be leaned and supported against the club stand.
Operation of the plurality of grabber arms 340 begins with the golfer depressing the actuator 210 against the opposing pressure provided by the spring 230. This motion pushes the inner rod 120 downward against the tripivot 350. Downward motion of the tripivot 350 cause the plurality of actuation levers 330 to pivot outward, thus causing the plurality of grabber arms 340 to pivot outward about the pin 340L installed between the respective grabber arm 340 and the actuation pivot 320. Once the actuator 210 is released, the components operate substantially in reverse to return the plurality of grabber arms to the closed (i.e., neutral) state.
Most components of the golf assistance device 100 may be constructed from substantial rigid and preferably lightweight material, for example, plastic, aluminum or other suitable material in any suitable manner such as additive manufacturing, 3D printing, extrusion, molding, etc. which allows the golf assistance device 100 to be quickly prototyped and proven. Some components, such as the inner rod 120, spring 230, and pins 340P, may be constructed from steel or other suitable material.
Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, further aspects of the embodiment, similar to such as already described, are disclosed.
In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a golf assistance device is provided. The device includes a grip assembly including an actuator; a base assembly including a plurality of grabber arms and an adjustable tee height stand; an outer shaft coupling the grip assembly to the base assembly; and an inner rod, configured to effect movement of the plurality of grabber arms based on movement of the actuator, wherein the golf assistance device is configured for repositioning golf equipment by a user in an upright posture.
In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the golf assistance device is further configured to function substantially as a form of support.
It should be understood that the exemplary embodiment disclosed herein can be used individually or in any suitable combination thereof. It should also be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the embodiment. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the embodiment. Accordingly, the present embodiment is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf assistance device comprising:

a grip assembly comprising an actuator;

a base assembly comprising a plurality of grabber arms and an adjustable tee height stand;

an outer shaft coupling the grip assembly to the base assembly; and

an inner rod, configured to effect movement of the plurality of grabber arms based on movement of the actuator,

wherein the golf assistance device is configured for repositioning golf equipment by a user in an upright posture.

2. The golf assistance device of claim 1, wherein the golf assistance device is configured to function substantially as a form of support.

3. The golf assistance device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of grabber arms comprises three or more grabber arms.

4. The golf assistance device of claim 1, wherein a height of the adjustable tee height stand is linearly variable.

5. The golf assistance device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of grabber arms are configured retain a golf ball and a golf tee in a predetermined position with respect to one another.

6. A method comprising:

providing a grip assembly comprising an actuator;

providing a base assembly comprising a plurality of grabber arms and an adjustable tee height stand; and

coupling the grip assembly to the base assembly with an outer shaft, wherein movement of the plurality of grabber arms is effected with an inner rod based on movement of the actuator so as to reposition golf equipment while a user remains in an upright posture.