US20220387866A1

US20220387866A1 - Novel golf flagstick incorporating a mechanized system for ejection of golf ball from the golf hole

Info

Publication number: US20220387866A1
Application number: US17/337,531
Authority: US
Inventors: Jean Paul Sauve
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-06-03
Filing date: 2021-06-03
Publication date: 2022-12-08

Abstract

The present invention comprises a novel golf flagstick which complies with the official rules of golf and consists of a flagstick with a ball ejection cylinder located four feet above ground level. The ball ejection cylinder is lifted by hand or with the shaft or grip of a golf club to eject the golf ball from the golf hole without the need to reach into the hole and without any damage to the sensitive grass turf surrounding the golf hole. In preferred embodiments, the ball ejection cylinder is color coded to provide golfers with an indication of the position of the golf hole on the golf green (red: front, white: middle, blue: rear) and incorporates a reflective strip for easy targeting of the flagstick by commercial laser distance measuring devices. In preferred embodiments, the ball ejection cylinder easily snaps on and off of the flagstick allowing for easy changing of the cylinder color with the daily repositioning of the golf hole on the golf green.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel golf flagstick that adheres to the rules of golf and incorporates a self contained mechanized system for ejection of a golf ball from the golf hole without removal of the flagstick and without the need to reach into the golf hole.

BACKGROUND

In 2019 the official rules of golf were changed allowing for a golf ball to be holed from the surface of the golf green without removal of the flagstick from the golf hole. While it is still permissible to remove the flagstick prior to holing the ball, many players are choosing to putt with the flagstick in place.
Removal of the golf ball from the golf hole with the flagstick in place is difficult, as the space between the flagstick and the hole edge is only two inches and the ball rests a minimum of four inches below the surface of the golf green. Furthermore, removal of the golf ball under these circumstances can result in damage to the sensitive live turf that surrounds the golf hole.
In 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic lead to the development of certain devices for ejection of a holed golf ball in an attempt to reduce the number of contact points in and around the golf hole. Some of these devices can result in turf damage around the golf hole and some do not comply with the official rules of the game of golf.
Therefore, a need exists in the field for a novel flagstick that complies with the rules of golf and allows for easy ejection of a golf ball from the golf hole without damage to the surrounding turf. Other features, such as color coded indication of flagstick position on the golf green, (red: front, white: middle, blue: rear) and reflective surfaces for easy targeting by commercial laser distance measuring devices can also be incorporated in the novel design.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference may indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an overall view of a novel golf flagstick according to various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded view of the ball ejection cylinder according to various embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b depict cutaway internal views of the cross-section of each half of the ball ejection cylinder according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of each half of the ball ejection cylinder installed on the flagstick according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the ball ejection saucer according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates top and bottom views of the ball ejection saucer according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates the attachment of the ball ejection saucer to the flagstick via the lower lift mechanism according to various embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b depict the movement of the ball ejection saucer in ejecting the golf ball from the golf hole according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9 shows the upper and lower lift mechanisms and the lift cable according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 10 shows the installation of the upper and lower lift mechanisms on the golf flagstick according to various embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not meant to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms of “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms unless the text specifies otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, refer to the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical, scientific and/or golf-related) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specifications and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
A novel golf flagstick, adhering to all of the official rules of golf, and incorporating a mechanized system for ejection of a golf ball from a golf hole is described herein. In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended the limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments. For all figures, scale and measurements are subject to minor modification in subsequent development of the invention.
A list of invention parts and related items for the appended figures follows. Parts associated with the invention include but are not limited to items on this list.

- 1. Flag;
- 2. Flagstick;
- 3. Ball ejection cylinder;
- 4. Reflective strip;
- 5. Golf hole
- 6. Ball ejection saucer
- 7. Flagstick well in ball ejection cylinder (part no. 3);
- 8. Female connection receptacles in ball ejection cylinder (part no. 3);
- 9. Round lift mechanism receptacle in ball ejection cylinder (part no. 3);
- 10. Hexagonal lift mechanism receptacle in ball ejection cylinder (part no. 3);
- 11. Male connection pins in ball ejection cylinder (part no. 3);
- 12. Round male connector on upper lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 13. Hexagonal male connector on upper lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 14. Flagstick slot for lower lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 15. Center hole in ball ejection saucer (part no. 6);
- 16. Well in ball ejection saucer (part no. 6) for hexagonal end of lower lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 17. Well in ball ejection saucer (part no. 6) for round end of lower lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 18. Shaft well in ball ejection saucer (part no. 6);
- 19. Round fixed head of upper lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 20. Hexagonal detachable end of upper lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 21. Shaft in upper and lower lift mechanisms (part no. 25);
- 22. Lift cable;
- 23. End view of round fixed head of lower lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 24. End view of hexagonal detachable end of lower lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 25. Assembled upper and lower lift mechanism;
- 26. Cutaway view of round fixed end of lower lift mechanism (part no. 25);
- 27. Cutaway view of hexagonal detachable end of lower lift mechanism (part no. 25)
- 28. Golf ball.

FIG. 1 depicts, according to various embodiments of the present invention, an assembled and installed view of the external elements that may comprise a novel golf flagstick, which complies with the official rules of golf and incorporates a mechanized system for ejection of a golf ball from the golf hole. In preferred embodiments, the main external elements of the device include a fabric or canvas flag 1 measuring 14″×20″, a metal or composite hollow cylindrical flagstick 2 measuring 7′ in length and 0.5″ in diameter, a plastic ball ejection cylinder incorporating a reflective strip 4, and a ball ejection saucer 6 that elevates to eject a golf ball from the golf hole 5 upon raising the ball ejection cylinder 3.
FIG. 2 shows an expanded external view of the ball ejection cylinder 3 in position around the flagstick 4. In preferred embodiments, the ball ejection cylinder may be made of plastic and may be colored (red, white, or blue) to indicate the relative position (front, middle, or back) of the golf hole on the golf putting surface (green). In preferred embodiments, a reflective strip 4 may circle the equator of the ball ejection cylinder 3 allowing for easy targeting of the invention by commercially available distance measuring laser devices.
FIG. 3 a depicts a cross section (internal) view of one half (“left half”) of the ball ejection cylinder 3. A flagstick well 7 runs through the center of the ball ejection cylinder 3. In preferred embodiments, female connection receptacles 8 allow for fastening together of the left and right halves of the ball ejection cylinder. A round receptacle (well) 9 allows for connection of the left half of the ball ejection cylinder to the upper lift mechanism 25 depicted in subsequent figures.
FIG. 3 b depicts a cross section (internal) view of one half (“right half”) of the ball ejection cylinder 3. A flagstick well 7 runs through the center of the ball ejection cylinder 3. In preferred embodiments, male connection pins 11 allow for fastening together of the left and right halves of the ball ejection cylinder. A hexagonal receptacle (well) 10 allows for connection of the left half of the ball ejection cylinder to the upper lift mechanism 25 depicted in subsequent figures.
In preferred embodiments the left and right halves of the ball ejection cylinder 3 fasten together around the flagstick 2 as depicted in FIG. 4 . The male connection pins 11 fit snugly into the female connection receptacles 8. The round male connector on the upper lift mechanism 12 fits into the round lift mechanism receptacle 9. The hexagonal male connector on the upper lift mechanism 13 fits into the hexagonal lift mechanism receptacle 10 thereby attaching the assembled ball ejection cylinder 3 to the upper lift mechanism 25 (depicted in subsequent figures).
FIG. 5 depicts the ball ejection saucer, which may be made of durable plastic, encircling the flagstick 2. In preferred embodiments, upper and lower flagstick slots 14 are cut into the flagstick allowing for connection of the external and internal components of the present invention.
FIG. 6 presents both a top view and a bottom view of the plastic ball ejection saucer 6. A ⅝″ to ¾″ hole is cut in the center of the ball ejection saucer to accommodate the flagstick 2. Wells are molded into the bottom of the ball ejection saucer 6 to accommodate the various components of the lower lift mechanism 25. These include a well for the hexagonal end of the lower lift mechanism 16, a well for the round end of the lower lift mechanism 17, and a well for the shaft of the lower lift mechanism 18.
FIG. 7 depicts the assembly of the ball ejection saucer 6, the flagstick 2, and the lower lift mechanism 25. The ball ejection saucer is fed onto the flagstick from the top and is secured onto the lower lift mechanism.
FIG. 8 a depicts the lower end of the device in place within the golf hole 5. The holed golf ball 28 rests on top of the ball ejection saucer 6. In preferred embodiments, the upper surface of the ball ejection saucer slopes away from the flagstick 2 such that the golf ball 28 rests against the edge of the golf hole 5.
FIG. 8 b demonstrates ejection of the golf ball 28 from the golf hole 5. When the ball ejection cylinder 3 is raised approximately 4″, the ball ejection saucer 6, which is connected to the ball ejection cylinder 3 via the upper and lower connection mechanisms 25 and the internal lift cable 22, moves up approximately 4″ from the bottom of the golf hole 5 to just above surface level. The vertical arrows in FIG. 8 b depict this movement. The golf ball 28 is lifted above surface level and rolls down the slope of the upper surface of the ball ejection saucer 6 and away from the golf hole 5. The horizontal arrow in FIG. 8 b depicts this motion. When the golf ejection cylinder 3 is released, the ball ejection saucer 6 returns to the bottom of the golf hole 5.
In preferred embodiments, the upper and lower lift mechanisms 25 are connected by a lift cable 22 than runs through the hollow shaft of the flagstick 2. FIG. 9 depicts this connection. The round ends of the upper and lower lift mechanisms 19, 23 are fixed to the shaft 22. The hexagonal ends of the upper and lower lift mechanisms 20, 24 thread on to the shaft 22 allowing for assembly of the invention. All parts of the upper and lower lift mechanisms 25 are fabricated from durable rustproof metal.
FIG. 10 depicts the assembly of the upper and lower lift mechanisms 25 on the flagstick 2. The shaft 21 feeds loosely through the flagstick slots 14 and through the loops in the connection cable 22. The hexagonal ends of the upper and lower lift mechanisms 25 thread on to the shaft 21 securing the left mechanisms in place on the flagstick 2.
Preferred materials for elements of the present invention have been described however the device is not limited by these materials.
The present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments however, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, that other embodiments may perform similar functions and may achieve similar results. All equivalent embodiments are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A novel golf flagstick compromising:

a. a ball ejection cylinder;

b. a ball ejection saucer.

2. The novel golf flagstick of claim 1 adhering to the official rules of the game of golf.