US20200094117A1

US20200094117A1 - Golf accessory device and method

Info

Publication number: US20200094117A1
Application number: US16/373,628
Authority: US
Inventors: Brian Stoyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-09-20
Filing date: 2019-04-03
Publication date: 2020-03-26

Abstract

A tool includes a divot repair tool, a ball marker that may be decorated in a variety of designs, and a shaft clip to removably attach the golf accessory to a golf putter shaft. The tool is useful for providing a golfer with an easily accessible golf accessory on the putting green, as the device is designed to remain stationery on the golf putter shaft during use of the golf putter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/414,562 filed on Jan. 24, 2017, which is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/396,956 filed Sep. 20, 2016; both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the provided information is prior art or material to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of golf and more specifically relates to golf accessories.

2. Description of Related Art

Golf is a game enjoyed all over the world by both professional athletes and amateurs. It is a sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few stokes as possible. Play begins at a teeing ground and golfers must aim the ball towards the putting green, the area where the flagstick and hole are located.
A putter is a golf club, generally, exclusively used on the putting green to make relatively short and low-speed strokes with the intention of rolling the ball into the hole from a short distance away. It is differentiated from other clubs (typically irons and woods) by a club head with a very flat, low-profile, and low-loft striking face. It is a highly specialized tool for a specific job and is always required on the putting green.
During the play of golf, additional accessories may be needed. Such accessories may include a device to repair divots in the putting green and/or a flat marker to mark a ball on the putting green. These accessories are typically carried in a golfer's pocket or fastened to a golf cart or bag. This is inconvenient, uncomfortable, and wastes time because a player then has to disrupt the game to scour through his pockets; or in cases where the device is fastened to the golf cart or bag, the golfer has to remember to carry the tools to the green. Further, if the golfer forgets any tools, he may have to return to the golf cart or bag to retrieve the tool, which would cause an undesirable delay to the game. For this reason, it is important for the golfer to have all necessary tools available to repair divots, and to mark ball locations. Thus, a need exists for an easily accessible divot repair tool and ball marker while on the putting green.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,050,503 to Haley relates to a golf utility tool. The described golf utility tool includes a clip that may be used to clip to a putter. The golf utility tool may further include a divot tool prong and a ball marker that is removably attached. Additionally, the golf utility tool may further include a loop cutout for carrying other devices, such as a towel.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known golf accessories art, the present disclosure provides a novel tool. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a tool for golfing.
A golf accessory or tool is disclosed herein. The golf accessory includes a divot repair tool including a body, a pair of divot repair prongs extending from the body, a recessed cavity within the body, and a magnetic insert within the recessed cavity, a ball marker configured to fit within the recessed cavity and to magnetically couple with the magnetic insert when within the recessed cavity, and a shaft clip including a shaft receiver and a shaft retainer. The shaft clip is fixed to the divot repair tool, the shaft clip configured to removably clip onto the golf putter shaft with enough grip to remain stationary during use of the golf putter.
According to another embodiment, a method of using the golf accessory is also disclosed. The method of using the golf accessory includes the steps of clipping the golf accessory on a first diameter of a golf putter shaft, sliding the golf accessory up to a second diameter of the golf putter shaft up by the putter grip, the second diameter being enough larger than the first diameter to secure the golf accessory from movement when the golf putter is used, using the golf putter until the golf accessory is needed, removing a magnetic ball marker from the golf accessory while the golf accessory remains clamped on the golf putter shaft, sliding the golf accessory away from the second diameter of the golf putter shaft until loose and removing the golf accessory from the golf putter shaft.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested. The features of the invention that are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a golf accessory device, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf accessory during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf accessory during an ‘in-use’ condition, showing the marker separated from the golf accessory.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the golf accessory of FIG. 1, showing the marker coupled to the golf accessory.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the golf accessory of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the golf accessory of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the golf accessory of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a side view of the golf accessory of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use of the golf accessory, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to golf accessories and more particularly to a golf accessory as used to improve golf accessory devices.
Generally, disclosed is a combination divot tool and ball marker for attachment to a golf putter. The golf accessory is useful for providing easier and quicker access to the divot tool and ball marker, so that a golf player does not have to waste time in trying to find the apparatus. The golf accessory is configured to snap on at a thinner diameter of a golf putter shaft and slide up to the thicker diameter up by the putter grip and is intended to remain on the golf putter, including while putting. The only time the golf accessory is removed from the golf putter shaft is when the golf player needs to use the divot repair tool to fix divots or marks left on a putting green. Further to this, the golf accessory has a low profile and no moving or breakable parts.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5, various views of a golf accessory 100.
FIG. 1 shows a golf accessory (“golf accessory” 100 or “tool” 100) during an “in-use” condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the tool 100 may be beneficial for use by a golfer (user 140) to provide an easily accessible golf accessory on a putting green. Illustrated in FIG. 1 is the user 140 placing the golf accessory 100 onto a golf putter shaft 5. The golf accessory 100 may include a divot repair tool 110, a ball marker 120 and a shaft clip 130.
FIG. 2 illustrates a user 140 making a putt with a golf putter 10 while the golf accessory 100 remains clipped onto the golf putter shaft 5 up by the putter grip. The figure generally represents a size of the golf accessory 100 in comparison to the golf putter shaft 5 and demonstrates the ease of use of the golf putter while the golf accessory remains clipped to the golf putter shaft 5.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the golf accessory or tool 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here the golf accessory 100 is shown in isolation with the ball marker 120 separated. The divot repair tool 110 may include a body 314, a pair of divot repair prongs 312 extending from the body 314, a recessed cavity 302 within the body 314, and a magnetic insert 304 within the recessed cavity 302.
Relatedly, the ball marker 120 is shown configured to fit within the recessed cavity 302, and to magnetically couple with the magnetic insert 304 when within the recessed cavity 302. Likewise, the shaft clip 130 may include a shaft receiver 502 and a shaft retainer 504. The shaft clip 130 may be fixed to the divot repair tool 110. The shaft clip 130 may be further configured to removably clip on to the golf putter shaft 5 (FIG. 5) up by the putter grip, with enough grip to remain stationary during use of the golf putter 10. In another embodiment, the golf accessory may further comprise a set of instructions and the golf accessory may be arranged with the instructions as a kit.
The figure illustrates the divot repair tool 110 including the body 314, the pair of divot repair prongs 312 extending from the body 314, the recessed cavity 302 within the body 314, and the magnetic insert 304 within the recessed cavity 302, the ball marker 120 configured to fit within the recessed cavity 302 and to magnetically couple with the magnetic insert 304 when within the recessed cavity 302, and the shaft clip 130 including a shaft receiver 502 and a shaft retainer 504. The shaft clip 130 may be fixed to the divot repair tool 110, the shaft clip 130 configured to removably clip on to the golf putter shaft 5 (FIG. 1).
The recessed cavity 302 of the divot repair tool 110 may include an indentation 306 configured to aid in the removal of the ball marker 120 from the recessed cavity 302. In addition to this, the recessed cavity 302 may include a raised ring 308 around a circumference of the recessed cavity 302, the raised ring 308 being configured to inhibit the ball marker 120 from moving from the recessed cavity 302. The ball marker 120 may have a diameter no greater than a diameter of the recessed cavity 302. In some embodiments, the ball marker 120 may have a variety of designs.
According to a further embodiment, the recessed cavity 302 of the divot repair tool 110 may be asymmetric or circular in shape. The recessed cavity 302 may include an indentation 306 configured to aid in removal of the ball marker 120 from the recessed cavity 302.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the tool 100 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure demonstrating how the ball marker 120 fits into the recessed cavity 302 of the divot repair tool 110. This figure illustrates the divot repair tool 110 including the body 314 and the pair of divot repair prongs 312 extending from the body 314, the ball marker 120 configured to fit within the recessed cavity 302 of the divot repair tool 110 and to magnetically couple with the magnetic insert 304 when within the recessed cavity 302, and the shaft clip 130 including a shaft receiver 502 and a shaft retainer 504. The shaft clip 130 may be fixed to the divot repair tool 110. The figure shows according to one embodiment that the shaft clip 130 may include an anti-slip material 310 configured to resist slippage when clamped onto the golf putter shaft 5 up by the putter grip.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the tool 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This figure illustrates a divot repair tool 110 including the body 314 and the pair of divot repair prongs 312 extending from the body 314, the ball marker 120 configured to fit within the recessed cavity 302 of the divot repair tool 110 and to magnetically couple with the magnetic insert 304 when within the recessed cavity 302, and the raised ring 308 around the circumference of the recessed cavity 302.
FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the tool 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The figure demonstrates the components of the shaft clip 130 of the tool 100 configured to removably clip on to the golf putter shaft 5 (FIG. 1) up by the putter grip. Illustrated is a divot repair tool 110 including the body 314 and the pair of divot repair prongs 312 extending from the body 314, the shaft clip 130 including the shaft receiver 502 and the shaft retainer 504. The shaft clip 130 is fixed to the divot repair tool 110.
The shaft clip 130 may be configured to exert a biasing friction force when clipped onto the golf putter shaft 5 up by the putter grip, such that the shaft clip 130 is held in place during use of the golf putter 10. For example, the shaft clip 130 may have an inner diameter between 0.5% and 5% smaller than a diameter of the golf putter shaft 5 in order to exert a enough grip on the golf putter shaft 5. In a further example, the shaft clip 130 may have enough grip on the golf putter shaft 5 to remain stationery during a club head speed of up to 10 mph.
According to a further embodiment, the shaft clip 130 may include an anti-slip material 310 (FIG. 5B) configured to resist slippage when the shaft clip 130 is clamped onto the golf putter shaft 5 up by the putter grip. For example, the anti-slip material 310 (FIG. 5B) may include at least one of rubber, silicone, synthetic anti-slip polymers, and the like.
Further, the shaft receiver 502 includes a shaft-seat 508 and a shaft-opening 506, the shaft-seat 508 configured to circumscribe between 180 and 315 degrees of the shaft axis when the golf putter shaft 5 is seated in the shaft-seat 508. Further the shaft-opening 506 may extend a complementary arc about the shaft axis between 180 to 45 degrees, respectively, when the golf putter shaft 5 is seated in the shaft-seat 508.
The shaft receiver 502 and the shaft retainer 504 may be combined together as a flexible member 510 configured to deform away from the golf putter shaft 5 when the golf putter shaft 5 is pressed into the shaft-opening 506, and to retract against and hold the golf putter shaft 5 when the golf putter shaft 5 is fully seated into the shaft-seat 508. The shaft receiver 502 may further include flared legs 512 at opposing ends of the shaft-seat 508. As shown, the flared legs 512 define the shaft-opening 506 and are configured to flexibly spread open and away from the golf putter shaft 5 when the golf putter shaft 5 is pressed into the shaft-opening 506.
As illustrated, the shaft receiver 502 and the shaft retainer 504 may be combined together as the flexible member 510, with the flexible member 510 configured to deform away from the golf putter shaft 5 when the golf putter shaft 5 is pressed into the shaft receiver 502, and to retract against and hold the golf putter shaft 5 when the golf putter shaft 5 is fully seated into the shaft receiver 502.
FIG. 5B is a side view of the tool 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The figure demonstrates how the shaft clip 130 of the golf accessory 100 is attached to the golf putter shaft 5 up by the putter grip. Illustrated is a divot repair tool 110 including the body 314 and the pair of divot repair prongs 312 extending from the body 314.
For purposes of this disclosure, “prevent substantial movement” means that any movement of the tool during putter use goes un-noticed by the golfer. In some embodiments, the divot repair tool attaches near the grip end of the putter or other golf club. This placement yields two improvements. First, when positioned near the grip end, the tool doesn't intrude into the user's field of vision when putting; nothing extraneous is visible during the putt to distract the user.
Second, positioning the tool near the grip has less effect on the club's balance. Instead of the mass of the tool acting at the end of the radius between the grip end and the head, the mass acts through a much shorter distance, which upsets the balance of the club to a lesser extent or not at all. For purposes of this disclosure, upset the balance of the club means that the golfer has to consciously compensate for the presence of the tool.
Near the grip means in the top half of the club, in the top quarter of the club, within one or 2 inches of the lower end of the grip, adjacent the lower end of the grip, or on the grip.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for using the golf accessory, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for using the golf accessory 600 may include one or more components or features of the golf accessory 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method for using the golf accessory 600 may include the steps of: step one 601, clipping the golf accessory on a first diameter of the golf putter shaft of a golf putter; step two 602, sliding the golf accessory up to a second diameter of the golf putter shaft, the second diameter being enough larger than the first diameter to secure the golf accessory from movement when the golf putter is played; step three 603, using the golf putter until the golf accessory is needed; step four 604, removing the magnetic ball marker from the golf accessory while the golf accessory remains clamped on the golf putter shaft; step five 605, sliding the golf accessory away from the second diameter of the golf putter shaft until loose; and step six 606, removing the golf accessory from the golf putter shaft.
It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for using the golf accessory (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A tool including:

a body having:

a pair of extending divot repair prongs,

a ball marker cavity,

and

a magnetic insert within the cavity;

a ball marker matching the cavity;

a putter clip adjacent the body,

wherein the clip removably clips onto a putter near the grip.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein near the grip is in the uppermost ¼ of the club.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein near the grip is within 2 inches of the grip.

4. The tool of claim 2 wherein near the grip is adjacent the grip.

5. The tool of claim 4 wherein the ball marker couples with the cavity.

6. The tool of claim 5 wherein the ball marker magnetically couples with the magnetic insert.

7. The tool of claim 6 wherein the clip comprises a flexible member.

8. The tool of claim 7 wherein the flexible member comprises a metal.

9. The tool of claim 7 wherein the flexible member comprises a rubber.

10. The tool of claim 7 wherein the flexible member comprises a plastic.

11. The tool of claim 10 wherein the recessed cavity is asymmetric.

12. The tool of claim 10 wherein the recessed cavity is circular.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein the prongs comprise a metal.

14. The tool of claim 13 wherein the recessed cavity further includes a raised circumferential ring configured to inhibit the ball marker from moving from the recessed cavity.

15. The tool of claim 14 wherein the clip is configured to exert enough force to removably secure the tool during putting when clipped onto the putter.

16. The tool of claim 15 wherein the clip is configured to exert enough force to prevent substantial movement of the tool during putting.

17. A tool including:

a body having:

a pair of extending divot repair prongs,

a ball marker cavity,

and

a magnetic insert within the cavity;

a ball marker matching the cavity;

a putter clip adjacent the body,

wherein the clip removably clips onto a putter out of view of the golfer when putting.

18. A tool including:

a body having:

a pair of extending divot repair prongs,

a ball marker cavity,

and

a magnetic insert within the cavity;

a ball marker matching the cavity;

a putter clip adjacent the body,

wherein the clip removably clips onto a putter without upsetting the balance of the club when putting.

19. The tool of claim 18 wherein the clip removably clips onto the putter out of view of the golfer when putting.

20. A method of using the tool of claim 1 comprising:

clipping the tool on a first diameter of a putter shaft;

sliding the tool along the shaft to a second diameter, the second diameter large enough to prevent substantial movement of the tool during putting;

using the golf putter until the tool is needed;

sliding the tool away from the second diameter of the putter shaft until loose;

removing the tool from the putter shaft;

and

fixing a dimple or divot in the green using the divot repair prongs.