US2205345A

US2205345A - Golf ball retriever

Info

Publication number: US2205345A
Application number: US263506A
Authority: US
Inventors: Christensen Charles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-03-22
Filing date: 1939-03-22
Publication date: 1940-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1957-06-18

Description

J1me 1940. c. CHRISTENSEN v 2,205,345

GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Filed March 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor CZr/es 62/1325? sew Attorneys June 18, 1940. C, cHms s 2,205,345

GOLF, BALL RETRIEVER Filed March 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .IJI l A iiorneys Patented June 18, 1940 ATENT ,OFFlE eons BALL RETRIEVER Charles Christensen, New London, Conn.

Application March 22,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in golf ball retrievers and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which will facilitate the recovery of golf balls from bodies of water, bushes, etc.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a golf ball retriever of the aforementioned character comprising a pair of pivotally mounted coacting jaws of a novel construction and arrangement for gripping a golf ball therebetween, together with novel means for actuating said jaws.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a retriever of the character described comprising means for inserting golf tees in the ground and removing said tees therefrom.

A still further important object of the inven tion is to provide a golf ball retriever comprising 20 a swinging prop for supporting the device when said device is not in use, together with novel means for actuating said prop to operative position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a 25 golf ball retriever of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a golf ball retriever constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in section, showing the connection of the prop operating link to the jaw actuating lever.

1939, Serial No. 263,506

the lower portions of the jaws, showing the manner of clamping a golf tee therebetween.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a metallic Ii tube I of suitable length and diameter, said tube being open at both ends. Fixed in the upper end portion of the tube I is a curved handle 2. Secured by screws 3 in the lower end portion of the tube I is a bushing 4. This is shown to ad- 10 vantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Mounted for swinging movement in a pair of eyes 5 on the lower end portion of the tube I is a pair of coacting jaws 6 and I. The jaws Ii and I are adapted to clamp a golf ball therebetween,

as at 8. Each of the jaws 6 and l is formed from a length of suitable wire bent in a manner to form a loop or ring '9 for the reception of the ball 8. After forming the loop or ring 9, this wire is twisted together, as at Ill. The end por- 20 tions of this wire then extend outwardly, as at H, then upwardly, as at I2 and terminate in inturned trunnions or the like I3 which are journalled in the eyes 5. Thus, the jaws 6, and. 'I are mounted on the lower end of the tube I for swinging movement toward and away from each other.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, it will be observed that the lower portion of the loop 9 of the jaw I has formed therein a laterally extending substantially U-shaped portionld for the reception of a golf tee I5. Extending across the lower portion of the loop 9 of the jaw I is a bar I6 which is engageable with the head of the tee I5. The jaw 6 is adapted to 85 clamp the golf tee I5 in the portion I4 of the jaw (beneath the bar l6.

Mounted for vertical movement in the tube I is a rod I! which extends slidably through the bushing 4. The rod I1 is operatively connected at 40 its lower end to the jaws 6 and I through the medium of links l8. It will be noted that the links H! are loosely connected to the twisted portions III of the jaws 6 and 1. Mounted on the rod I! in the tube I is a collar I9. The reference numeral 20 designates a coil spring in the tube I having one end engaged with the bushing 4 and its other end engaged beneath the collar I9 for moving the rod ll upwardly in a manner to close the jaws 6 and l. Projecting from the upper portion of the tube I is a pair of ears 2|. The reference numeral 22 designates a lever adjacent the handle 2 which is pivotally mounted between the ears 2|, as at 23. Spaced collars 24 are mounted on the upper end portion of the rod ll,

Projecting from the pivoted end of the lever 22 is a fork 25 which extends through an opening provided therefor between the ears 2! into the tube l and straddles the rod l7 between the collars 24. Thus, the rod I! is operatively connected to the lever 22 for actuation thereby.

Pivotally mounted on the tube I is a supporting prop 26. A clip 21 is provided on the lower portion of the tube I for releasably securing the prop 26 in inoperative position. A spring 28 is connected to the prop 26 for returning said prop to inoperative position. The prop 26 is connected to the lever 22 for actuation thereby through the medium of means including a link 29. One end of the link 29 is connected to an arm 30 on the upper portion of the prop 26 by a pin and slot connection 3|, thus permitting slight movement of said link 29 independently of the prop 26. The

upper end of the link 29 is adjustably connected to the lever 22 through the medium of a resilient loop 32 which is slidable on a substantially straight, horizontal inner portion 33 of said lever. As shown to advantage in Figs. 4 and of the drawings, the portion 33 of the lever 22 has formed therein

depressions

34 and 35 for the reception of a detent 36 which is pressed into the loop 32.

It is thought that manner in which the device is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. To retrieve a golf ball, the

lever 22 is swung toward the handle 2, thus forcing the rod l1 downwardly against the tension of the coil spring 20 in a manner to open the jaws 5 and I through the medium of the links l8. Then, by releasing the lever 22 the jaws 6 and I are closed by the coil spring 20 for firmly clamping the golf ball therebetween. It will be observed that the construction and arrangement is such that the lever 22 is adapted to be actuated by the fingers of the same hand which grips the handle 2. By clamping a golf tee l5 between the lower portions of the jaws 6 and I in the manner shown to advantage in Fig. of the drawings, said golf tee may be conveniently inserted in the ground or removed therefrom. The bar l6 engages the head of the golf tee for forcing said golf tee into the ground upon the application of downward pressure on the device. With the link 29 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, movement of the lever 22 toward the handle 2 swings the supporting prop 26 outwardly to operative position, as suggested in broken lines in said Fig. 1 of the drawings.

However, when it is desired to operate only the jaws 6 and I and leave the prop 26 in inoperative position, the loop 32 is pushed inwardly to a point closely adjacent the pivot 23 of the lever 22. Then, when the lever 22 is actuated the pin and slot connection 3| will permit the comparatively slight movement that will be given the link 29 without operating the prop 26. The detent 36 is adapted to snap into the sockets or

depressions

34 and 35 for releasably securing the link 29 in either of its positions.

It is believed that the many advantages of a golf ball retriever constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement" of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a shaft, coacting jaws mounted for swinging movement on one end of the shaft, each of said jaws being formed'from wire comprising a loop, one of said jaws further comprising a substantially U-shaped laterally projecting portion on its respective loop for the reception of a golf tee, a bar mounted in the loop of said one jaw for engagement on the golf tee, and means on the shaft for operating the jaws.

2. A golf ball retriever comprising a shaft, a pair of coacting jaws pivotally mounted on said shaft and adapted to clamp a golf ball therebetween, a lever pivotally mounted on the shaft, means operatively connecting the jaws to said lever for actuation thereby, a supporting prop for the shaft pivotally mounted thereon, and means operatively connecting said prop to the lever for actuation thereby.

3. A golf ball retriever comprising a shaft, a pair of coacting jaws pivotally mounted on the shaft and adapted to clamp a golf ball therebetween, a lever pivotally mounted on the shaft, means operatively connecting the jaws to said lever for actuation thereby, a supporting prop for the shaft pivotally mounted on said shaft, and a link operatively connecting the prop to the lever for actuation thereby, said link having one end slidably connected to the lever for adjustment toward or away from the pivotal mounting of said lever.

CHARLES CHRISTENSEN.