US3316008A - Golf ball storage device and retriever - Google Patents

Golf ball storage device and retriever Download PDF

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US3316008A
US3316008A US464272A US46427265A US3316008A US 3316008 A US3316008 A US 3316008A US 464272 A US464272 A US 464272A US 46427265 A US46427265 A US 46427265A US 3316008 A US3316008 A US 3316008A
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tubular member
golf balls
user
golf
golf ball
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Jr William T Baugh
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B47/00Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
    • A63B47/02Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls for picking-up or collecting

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  • This invention pertains to a golf ball storage device and rertiever, and more particularly to such a device adapted to be gripped by a single hand of a user and extended laterally outwardly and downwardly be the user to retrieve and store golf balls displaced varying distances from the user, up to the full extent of the users reach, without requiring that the user stand immediately above a golf ball being captured.
  • a number of retrievers have previously been proposed for permitting a user to retrieve golf balls without stooping, by providing a generally elongate handle which may be gripped by one or both hands of the user and a capturing means which is to be positioned immediately over a golf ball to capture the same on downward movement of the retriever.
  • the angle of force applied to the golf ball is such that the golf ball frequently is not captured, but forced still further away from the user.
  • the hand of the user In order for the user to successfully capture a golf ball, the hand of the user must be positioned immediately vertically above the golf ball, and thus, to retrieve golf balls over an area of much size, the user must move from golf ballto golf ball within the area, and cannot retrieve a number of golf balls from any one position.
  • the improved golf ball storage device and retriever of the present invention avoids these and other deficiencies of conventional devices by permitting a user to grip and manipulate the device by a single band and retrieve and store golf balls lying upon the ground .in vertically and lateraliy spaced random relationship to the hand of the user, without requiring that the user position the hand manipulating the device immediately vertically above a golf ball to be retrieved.
  • Such retrieval of golf balls at varying distances from the user is facilitated by constructing the device of the present invention with a manually engageable handle and a capturing means positioned at a predetermined angular relationship with the handle.
  • the device of the present invention employs, a lightweight and inexpensive, yet sturdy construction.
  • FlGURE 2 is a side or elevational view of the golf ball storage device and retriever of this invention.
  • FIGURES is a view from below of the capturing means of the retriever of FIGURE 2, taken as indicated by arrows 3-3 in FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, from the rearward side, of the lower portion of the retriever of FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE 5 is a second perspective view, from the forward side, of the lower portion of the retriever of FIG- URE 2;
  • FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the retriever as shown in FIGURE 5, taken as indicated by the arrows 66 in FIGURE 5.
  • the golf ball storage device and retriever of this invention is adapted to be manipulated by a user as illustrated in FIGURE 1, to capture golf balls at varying distances from the users standing position, in cluding golf balls displaced a sufficient distance so that the users hand grasping the device may not be positioned directly vertically above a golf ball 1i.
  • retriever it ⁇ comprises a tubular member 12 defining a conduit for golf balls which is preferably a rigid cylindrical member formed, in the interests of economy and light weight, from a lightweight material such as aluminum.
  • the lower and upper ends of the tubular member 12 are open to define entrance and discharge openings respectively for golf balls passing into and through the tubular member 12.
  • the retriever 10 further comprises an elongate handle member 13, secured to the tubular member 12 and adapted to be gripped by a single hand of a user for manipulation of the retriever while the user is in a normal erect position.
  • the tubular member 12 is provided with means disposed in the entrance opening for permitting passage of golf balls into the tubular member 12 and preventing the escape of such golf balls therefrom through the entrance opening.
  • the tubular member 12 is provided with a pair of separated transversely disposed slots, 15 and 16 respectively, which are preferably divergingly arranged or up wardly inclined relative to the entrance opening of the tubular member 12, for reasons to be pointed out shortly. Extending inwardly from the lower edge of the tubular member '12, adjacent the entrance opening, are a pair Broadly, the
  • these longitudinally extending slots 26 and 21 are positioned on the opposite side of the tubular member from the transverse slots 15 and 16.
  • a pair of spaced apart transversely extending resilient arms or legs 23 and 24 are provided.
  • the resilient arms 23 and 24 are preferably formed from inherently resilient or flexible wire which permits the arms to readily be sprung apart and, when released, return to their normal position.
  • Medial portions of the arms are bowed outwardly away from each other to define a substantially elliptically shaped space therebetween for facilitating the passage of golf balls therebetween into the tubular member 12.
  • End portions 23a and 24a of the arms 23 and 24 extend through the proximal portions of the transversely disposed slots 15 and 16 and are guided, when sprung apart from each other when a golf ball passes between the arms, by the upper edges of the slots 15 and 16, respectively. This operation will be explained in more detail hereinafter.
  • Opposed portions 23b and 24b of the arms 23 and 24 remote from the end portions 23a and 24a extend through the longitudinally extending slots 20 and 21, respectively, in the tubular member 12, as clearly shown in FIGURE 4.
  • the bracket assembly 40 comprises elongate plate 26 with the lower portion of the plate 26 having an upturned end 27 which faces inwardly toward the tubular member and serves for engaging the web portion 25 to connect the arms 23, 24 to the tubular member 12.
  • a rivet 44 penetrates the wall of the tubular member 12 and the plate 26 for maintaining the plate 26 in the desired position for supporting the resilient arms 23, 24.
  • the lower edges of the slots 15 and 1 6, respectively serve as guiding surfaces for guiding the arms 23 and 24 to their normal position, as shown in FIGURE 5, after the passage of a golf ball therebetween.
  • the weight of the golf balls in the tubular member 12 exerts a downward pressure on the arms 23 and 24, which serve as a support for the golf balls to prevent their being displaced from the container, which downward pressure tends to force the arms 23 and 24 inwardly toward each other, to enhance the retaining effect of the capturing means.
  • the retriever 10 embodies a particular relationship between the tubular member 12 and the elongate handle member 13. This relationship is made clear in FIGURES 2, 5, and 6, but best described in conjunction with FIGURES 2 and 6.- From those figures, it may be seen that means are provided for connecting the tubular member to the handle member with an acute angular relationship between those members. More particularly, the lower terminal portion of the handle member 13 is somewhat flattened and secured to the forward side of the upper portion of the tubular member 12, adjacent the discharge opening thereof, by suitable means such as rivets 30.
  • the flattened portion of the lower extremity of the handle member 13 is at a slight angle to the major axis of that member, to thereby determine the angular relationship of the members when joined together.
  • the central axis of the cylindrical tubular member 12, as indicated by the center line 31 in FIG- URE 5, will intersect the handle member 13 at a predetermined distance spaced above the discharge opening of the tubular member 12.
  • the angular relationship of the handle member 13 and tubular member 12 results in the tubular member 12 being positioned in a more nearly vertical attitude with respect to the ground as the handle member 13 is manipulated by a user in the retrieval of golf balls.
  • This more nearly vertical attitude of the tubular member 12 provides a greater vertical component with force applied by the user along the axis of the elongate handle 13, while the device 10 is extended laterally outwardly and downwardly from the hand of the user, to permit a golf ball to more readily spread apart the resilient wire arms 23, 24 and enter the tubular member 12, rather than being merely forced farther away from the operator. This is accomplished Without detracting from the vertical component available when the hand of the user is positioned more nearly directly above a golf ball to be captured, even though a small lateral component of force is applied to the golf ball when the elongate handle member 13 is maintained in a substantially vertical attitude with respect to the ground.
  • a storage and receiving means of a particular desired construction and arrangement with respect to the remainder of the elements of the device 10 is provided.
  • the golf ball receiving and storing means is preferably a tubular bag 14 of a drapable material, such as canvas or sailcloth, which has a particular configuration and attachment to the tubular member 12 and handle member 13.
  • the tubular bag 14 is constructed to diverge upwardly. That is, the smallest diametrical extent of the bag 14 is at the lower end thereof, and is fitted around the upper extremity of the tubular member 12, as shown in FIGURES 4 through 6.
  • the lower end of the bag 14 is shown to encircle the tubular member 12, adjacent the discharge opening, and the lower extremity of the handle member 13, adjacent the means securing those members together, and to be secured in that position by suitable means such as a hose clamp 33. From this point of smallest diametrical extent, the bag 14 diverges upwardly with increasing diametrical extent, to an upper portion of constant diametrical extent, and has an upper extremity defining an upper opening which is provided with a drawstring closure means 34. The bag 14 thus encircles the lower portion of the handle member 13.
  • the forward portion of the bag 14 is secured to the handle member 13 intermediate its height and at the forward side thereof which, in conjunction with the particular configuration of the bag 14, places the center of gravity of the bag, when filled with golf balls, rearwardly of the elongate handle 13 and the central axis 31 of the tubular member 12.
  • the upper extremity of the elongate handle member 13 has a rearwardly directed tubular member upper terminal portion 35, with a hand grip 36 adapted to be gripped by a user for manipulation of the device 10, and as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the hand grip overlies the center of gravity (approximately at point 37) of the device when the bag is filled with golf balls.
  • the elongated handle 13 extends substantially in a vertical attitude with respect to the ground, and a user need not expend effort in attempting to maintain the retriever 10 in a substantially vertical attitude during carrying.
  • the attachment of the bag 14 to the handle member 13 and the provision of the drawstring 34, which is exposed to be grasped by the hand of a user rearwardly of the bag 14, result in an advantageous manner of closing the upper opening of the bag so as to prevent the escape of stored golf balls. More particularly, a user may grasp the exposed end of the drawstring 34 and, by pulling upwardly, gather the drapable material forming the bag 14 against the handle member 13.
  • the device 10 of this invention may be used, if desired, to store a large number of golf balls used for practice purposes as well as provide a more effortfree collection of the golf balls at the conclusion of a practice session.
  • the drawstring closure 34 for the bag 14 prevents undesired escape of the golf balls, but when a practice session is to be undertaken, the closure may readily be opened to permit the golf balls to be dumped out of the bag 14.
  • the device 10 of this invention may then be set aside during practice, with the bag 14 furled about the elongated handle member 13 to reduce the stored size of the device 10.
  • a user may manipulate the device 10 to position the 12 over a golf ball and, by applying a force along the axis of the elongate handle member 13, retrieve golf balls at varying lateral and vertical displacements from the hand of the user, without requiring that the user frequently shift his standing position, and then return the device containing the golf balls to storage until another practice session is undertaken.
  • a golf ball storage device and retriever which permits the retrieval and storage of golf balls lying upon the ground in vertically and laterally spaced random relationship to the hand of the user, by providing an elongate manually engageable handle member and a capturing means disposed in a pretdetermined angular relationship to the handle member.
  • an elongate handle member adapted during normal use of thedevice to be gripped adjacent one end thereof by the hand of the user and to be angularly extended downwardly and laterally outwardly therefrom toward golf balls to be retrieved;
  • an elongate rigid cylindrical tubular member having one end thereof open to define a golf-ball entrance opening and the opposite end thereof open to define a golf-ball discharge opening and having a height to accommodate no more than three golf balls therein;
  • golf ball receiving and storing means encircling the upper extremity of said tubular member and the lower extremity of said handle member and operatively communicating with said discharge opening for receiving golf balls therefrom.
  • a golf ball storage device and retriever as claimed in claim 1 in which said handle member is secured to the forward side of said tubular member adjacent the discharge opening thereof and has a rearwardly directed upper terminal portion having a handgrip overlying the center of gravity of said golf ball receiving and storing means.
  • a golf ball storage device and retriever as claimed in claim 1 in which said golf ball receiving and storing means is a drapable material tubular bag diverging upwardly from a lower extremity surrounding said tubular member to an upper extremity defining an upper opening and having a drawstring closure for said upper opening.
  • an elongate handle member adapted during normal use of the device to be gripped adjacent one end thereof by the hand of the user and to be angularly extended downwardly and laterally outwardly therefrom to ward golf balls to be retrieved;
  • an elongate rigid cylindrical tubular member having one end thereof open to define a golf-ball entrance opening and the opposite end thereof open to define a golf-ball discharge opening and having a height to accommodate no more than three golf balls therein;
  • a drapable material bag having opposite open ends with a lower extremity operatively communicating means securing other end portions of said wire arms with said discharge opening for receiving golf balls therefrom, said bag encircling a lower extremity of said handle member with an upper extremity of the bag secured thereto, and a drawstring carried by the upper extremity of the bag and being arranged to close the bag upon the same being pulled upwardly.
  • a device as claimed in claim 4 in which said means carried by said tubular member adjacent said entrance opening comprises: 10
  • tubular member having a pair of separated transversely disposed slots therein positioned adjacent said entrance opening and extending upwardly and away from each other and said entrance opening,

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Description

April 25, 1957 w. T. BAUGH, JR 3,316,008
GOLF BALL STORAGE DEVICE AND RETRIEVER Filed June 16, 1965 INVENTOR: 5g 26 WILLIAM T BAUQHJR.
ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,31%,fi8 PatentedApr. 25, 1967 3,316,0il8 GGLF BALL STEERAGEE DEVICE AND RETRIEVER William T. Baugh, in, 833 Linda Lane, Charlotte, NJC. Z8211 Filed June 16, 1965, Ser. No. 464,272 Claims. (Cl. 29419) This invention pertains to a golf ball storage device and rertiever, and more particularly to such a device adapted to be gripped by a single hand of a user and extended laterally outwardly and downwardly be the user to retrieve and store golf balls displaced varying distances from the user, up to the full extent of the users reach, without requiring that the user stand immediately above a golf ball being captured.
Many golfers frequently practice relatively short distance shots, such as chip shots, by dumping a large num her of golf balls on the ground and successively hitting the individual golf balls while attempting to place the shots into a target area. At the conclusion of a practice session, it is necessary that the golfer or some other person retrieve the golf balls used in practice by picking them up from the ground. With a large number of golf balls being used, retrieval of the golf balls becomes quite laborious, as the person retrieving them must repeatedly bend over and scoop up each individual golf ball.
A number of retrievers have previously been proposed for permitting a user to retrieve golf balls without stooping, by providing a generally elongate handle which may be gripped by one or both hands of the user and a capturing means which is to be positioned immediately over a golf ball to capture the same on downward movement of the retriever.
Certain of these conventional retrieve-rs additionally are storage devices, in that they are adapted to receive and contain a relatively large number of golf balls before they must be emptied. Such conventional retrievers and storage devices suffer, however, from a variety of deficiencies and shortcomings which render them less than entirely satisfactory. A primary deficiency is that such conventional retrievers universally require that the handle be positioned immediately and vertically above a golf ball to be captured before downward pressure is applied to the device to capture the golf ball. Where a user attempts to capture a golf ball displaced some distance from the place where the user is standing, with such a conventional retriever, the retriever must be extended laterally outwardly and downwardly toward the ground and the golf ball. When force is then applied, the angle of force applied to the golf ball is such that the golf ball frequently is not captured, but forced still further away from the user. In order for the user to successfully capture a golf ball, the hand of the user must be positioned immediately vertically above the golf ball, and thus, to retrieve golf balls over an area of much size, the user must move from golf ballto golf ball within the area, and cannot retrieve a number of golf balls from any one position.
Additionally, many conventional retrieving devices use capturing means which are not sufficiently sturdy to Withstand continued use, and quickly fail either by no longer capturing golf balls or by readily permitting the escape of once captured golf balls. Further deficiencies include substantial weight, so as to quickly tire a user; poor balance of the device with regard to the point at which the device is gripped by a user, so as to require additional effort on the part of the user to maintain the device in a balanced position; and, expensive construction of por tions of the device, so as to require relatively high price for a commercially produced device.
The improved golf ball storage device and retriever of the present invention avoids these and other deficiencies of conventional devices by permitting a user to grip and manipulate the device by a single band and retrieve and store golf balls lying upon the ground .in vertically and lateraliy spaced random relationship to the hand of the user, without requiring that the user position the hand manipulating the device immediately vertically above a golf ball to be retrieved. Such retrieval of golf balls at varying distances from the user is facilitated by constructing the device of the present invention with a manually engageable handle and a capturing means positioned at a predetermined angular relationship with the handle. Further, the device of the present invention employs, a lightweight and inexpensive, yet sturdy construction.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved golf ball storage device and retriever which avoids the aforesaid deficiencies of conventional similar devices and permits the retrieval and storage of golf balls lying upon the ground in vertically and laterally spaced random relationship to the hand of the user.
Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FEGURE l is an illustrative view of a user manipulating the golf ball storage device and retriever of this invention to retrieve golf balls;
FlGURE 2 is a side or elevational view of the golf ball storage device and retriever of this invention;
FIGURES is a view from below of the capturing means of the retriever of FIGURE 2, taken as indicated by arrows 3-3 in FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, from the rearward side, of the lower portion of the retriever of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 5 is a second perspective view, from the forward side, of the lower portion of the retriever of FIG- URE 2;
FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the retriever as shown in FIGURE 5, taken as indicated by the arrows 66 in FIGURE 5.
Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the golf ball storage device and retriever of this invention, indicated generally at It), is adapted to be manipulated by a user as illustrated in FIGURE 1, to capture golf balls at varying distances from the users standing position, in cluding golf balls displaced a sufficient distance so that the users hand grasping the device may not be positioned directly vertically above a golf ball 1i. retriever it} comprises a tubular member 12 defining a conduit for golf balls which is preferably a rigid cylindrical member formed, in the interests of economy and light weight, from a lightweight material such as aluminum. The lower and upper ends of the tubular member 12 are open to define entrance and discharge openings respectively for golf balls passing into and through the tubular member 12. The retriever 10 further comprises an elongate handle member 13, secured to the tubular member 12 and adapted to be gripped by a single hand of a user for manipulation of the retriever while the user is in a normal erect position. As will now be discussed more fully, the tubular member 12 is provided with means disposed in the entrance opening for permitting passage of golf balls into the tubular member 12 and preventing the escape of such golf balls therefrom through the entrance opening.
The tubular member 12 is provided with a pair of separated transversely disposed slots, 15 and 16 respectively, which are preferably divergingly arranged or up wardly inclined relative to the entrance opening of the tubular member 12, for reasons to be pointed out shortly. Extending inwardly from the lower edge of the tubular member '12, adjacent the entrance opening, are a pair Broadly, the
of longitudinally extending spaced apart slots 20 and 21. As shown in FIGURES 35, these longitudinally extending slots 26 and 21 are positioned on the opposite side of the tubular member from the transverse slots 15 and 16.
I In order to control the passage of golf balls through the entrance opening of the tubular member 12 and to retain the golf balls in the tubular member 12, a pair of spaced apart transversely extending resilient arms or legs 23 and 24 are provided. As shown in FIGURES 3-5 the resilient arms 23 and 24 are preferably formed from inherently resilient or flexible wire which permits the arms to readily be sprung apart and, when released, return to their normal position. Medial portions of the arms are bowed outwardly away from each other to define a substantially elliptically shaped space therebetween for facilitating the passage of golf balls therebetween into the tubular member 12.
End portions 23a and 24a of the arms 23 and 24 extend through the proximal portions of the transversely disposed slots 15 and 16 and are guided, when sprung apart from each other when a golf ball passes between the arms, by the upper edges of the slots 15 and 16, respectively. This operation will be explained in more detail hereinafter.
Opposed portions 23b and 24b of the arms 23 and 24 remote from the end portions 23a and 24a extend through the longitudinally extending slots 20 and 21, respectively, in the tubular member 12, as clearly shown in FIGURE 4. A web portion 25, shown as being formed integral with the end positions 2312 and 24b of the arms, connects the arms together and is in turn detachably connected to a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly 40 comprises elongate plate 26 with the lower portion of the plate 26 having an upturned end 27 which faces inwardly toward the tubular member and serves for engaging the web portion 25 to connect the arms 23, 24 to the tubular member 12. A rivet 44 penetrates the wall of the tubular member 12 and the plate 26 for maintaining the plate 26 in the desired position for supporting the resilient arms 23, 24.
In operation, upon a downward pressure being applied to the handle -12 to move the retriever against the ground, a golf ball upon engaging the arms 23 and 24 will cause the end portions 23a and 24a thereof to be sprung apart to permit the ball to pass therebetween and into the interior of the tubular member 12. During this spreading apart movement of the end portions 23a, 24a of the arms, the arms will be moved apart in an upwardly inclined or diverging path of travel due to the arms being guided by the upper edges of the upwardly inclined transversely disposed slots and 16. It has been determined that this upward diverging movement of the arms during their being spread apart by a golf ball passing therebetween aids in prolonging the life of the arms by serving to cushion the initial impact on the arms when engaging a golf ball. Also, as is apparent, the upwardly inclined relation of the slots 15 and 1 6 enables the arms 23 and 24 to move apart from each other in a gradual manner without binding against the wall of the tubular member.
It should also be noted that the lower edges of the slots 15 and 1 6, respectively, serve as guiding surfaces for guiding the arms 23 and 24 to their normal position, as shown in FIGURE 5, after the passage of a golf ball therebetween. In this connection, it must be kept in mind that the weight of the golf balls in the tubular member 12 exerts a downward pressure on the arms 23 and 24, which serve as a support for the golf balls to prevent their being displaced from the container, which downward pressure tends to force the arms 23 and 24 inwardly toward each other, to enhance the retaining effect of the capturing means.
In order to permit the retrieval of golf balls not positioned immediately vertically below the hand of the user of the retriever of the present invention, the retriever 10 embodies a particular relationship between the tubular member 12 and the elongate handle member 13. This relationship is made clear in FIGURES 2, 5, and 6, but best described in conjunction with FIGURES 2 and 6.- From those figures, it may be seen that means are provided for connecting the tubular member to the handle member with an acute angular relationship between those members. More particularly, the lower terminal portion of the handle member 13 is somewhat flattened and secured to the forward side of the upper portion of the tubular member 12, adjacent the discharge opening thereof, by suitable means such as rivets 30. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the flattened portion of the lower extremity of the handle member 13 is at a slight angle to the major axis of that member, to thereby determine the angular relationship of the members when joined together. As may be noted, the central axis of the cylindrical tubular member 12, as indicated by the center line 31 in FIG- URE 5, will intersect the handle member 13 at a predetermined distance spaced above the discharge opening of the tubular member 12. In operation, the angular relationship of the handle member 13 and tubular member 12 results in the tubular member 12 being positioned in a more nearly vertical attitude with respect to the ground as the handle member 13 is manipulated by a user in the retrieval of golf balls. This more nearly vertical attitude of the tubular member 12 provides a greater vertical component with force applied by the user along the axis of the elongate handle 13, while the device 10 is extended laterally outwardly and downwardly from the hand of the user, to permit a golf ball to more readily spread apart the resilient wire arms 23, 24 and enter the tubular member 12, rather than being merely forced farther away from the operator. This is accomplished Without detracting from the vertical component available when the hand of the user is positioned more nearly directly above a golf ball to be captured, even though a small lateral component of force is applied to the golf ball when the elongate handle member 13 is maintained in a substantially vertical attitude with respect to the ground. I
In order to lessen the effort required by a user in carrying the storage device and retriever of this invention, and in order to .receive and store a quantity of golf balls retrieved by the device 10, a storage and receiving means of a particular desired construction and arrangement with respect to the remainder of the elements of the device 10 is provided. The golf ball receiving and storing means is preferably a tubular bag 14 of a drapable material, such as canvas or sailcloth, which has a particular configuration and attachment to the tubular member 12 and handle member 13. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the tubular bag 14 is constructed to diverge upwardly. That is, the smallest diametrical extent of the bag 14 is at the lower end thereof, and is fitted around the upper extremity of the tubular member 12, as shown in FIGURES 4 through 6. There, the lower end of the bag 14 is shown to encircle the tubular member 12, adjacent the discharge opening, and the lower extremity of the handle member 13, adjacent the means securing those members together, and to be secured in that position by suitable means such as a hose clamp 33. From this point of smallest diametrical extent, the bag 14 diverges upwardly with increasing diametrical extent, to an upper portion of constant diametrical extent, and has an upper extremity defining an upper opening which is provided with a drawstring closure means 34. The bag 14 thus encircles the lower portion of the handle member 13.
Further, the forward portion of the bag 14 is secured to the handle member 13 intermediate its height and at the forward side thereof which, in conjunction with the particular configuration of the bag 14, places the center of gravity of the bag, when filled with golf balls, rearwardly of the elongate handle 13 and the central axis 31 of the tubular member 12. The upper extremity of the elongate handle member 13 has a rearwardly directed tubular member upper terminal portion 35, with a hand grip 36 adapted to be gripped by a user for manipulation of the device 10, and as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the hand grip overlies the center of gravity (approximately at point 37) of the device when the bag is filled with golf balls. Thus, as the device 10 is lifted by a user, the elongated handle 13 extends substantially in a vertical attitude with respect to the ground, and a user need not expend effort in attempting to maintain the retriever 10 in a substantially vertical attitude during carrying.
The attachment of the bag 14 to the handle member 13 and the provision of the drawstring 34, which is exposed to be grasped by the hand of a user rearwardly of the bag 14, result in an advantageous manner of closing the upper opening of the bag so as to prevent the escape of stored golf balls. More particularly, a user may grasp the exposed end of the drawstring 34 and, by pulling upwardly, gather the drapable material forming the bag 14 against the handle member 13.
In use, the device 10 of this invention may be used, if desired, to store a large number of golf balls used for practice purposes as well as provide a more effortfree collection of the golf balls at the conclusion of a practice session. When stored between practice sessions, the drawstring closure 34 for the bag 14 prevents undesired escape of the golf balls, but when a practice session is to be undertaken, the closure may readily be opened to permit the golf balls to be dumped out of the bag 14. The device 10 of this invention may then be set aside during practice, with the bag 14 furled about the elongated handle member 13 to reduce the stored size of the device 10. At the conclusion of a practice session, a user may manipulate the device 10 to position the 12 over a golf ball and, by applying a force along the axis of the elongate handle member 13, retrieve golf balls at varying lateral and vertical displacements from the hand of the user, without requiring that the user frequently shift his standing position, and then return the device containing the golf balls to storage until another practice session is undertaken.
It is therefore considered that a golf ball storage device and retriever has been described and illustrated which permits the retrieval and storage of golf balls lying upon the ground in vertically and laterally spaced random relationship to the hand of the user, by providing an elongate manually engageable handle member and a capturing means disposed in a pretdetermined angular relationship to the handle member.
In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.
I claim:
1. A device adapted to be conveniently manipulated by a single hand of a user standing in normal erect position for retrieving and storing golf balls lying upon the ground in vertically and laterally spaced random relationship to the hand of the user, comprising:
an elongate handle member adapted during normal use of thedevice to be gripped adjacent one end thereof by the hand of the user and to be angularly extended downwardly and laterally outwardly therefrom toward golf balls to be retrieved;
an elongate rigid cylindrical tubular member having one end thereof open to define a golf-ball entrance opening and the opposite end thereof open to define a golf-ball discharge opening and having a height to accommodate no more than three golf balls therein;
means carried by said tubular member adjacent said entrance opening thereof for permitting passage through said entrance opening and into said tubular member of golf balls brought into relative engage- 6 ment and movement therewith by downward displacement of said tubular member while oriented substantially vertically above the golf balls with said entrance opening thereof lowermost, and for preventing passage of retrieved golf balls within said tubular member therefrom through said entrance opening; means connecting said tubular member to said handle member adjacent the other end thereof and at an acute angular relationship relative thereto in which the central axis of said tubular member intersects the central axis of said handle member a predetermined distance above the discharge opening for positioning said tubular member in a substantially vertical attitude with respect to the ground with said entrance opening thereof lowermost upon said handle member being angularly extended by the user during normal use of the device, and
golf ball receiving and storing means encircling the upper extremity of said tubular member and the lower extremity of said handle member and operatively communicating with said discharge opening for receiving golf balls therefrom.
2. A golf ball storage device and retriever as claimed in claim 1 in which said handle member is secured to the forward side of said tubular member adjacent the discharge opening thereof and has a rearwardly directed upper terminal portion having a handgrip overlying the center of gravity of said golf ball receiving and storing means.
3. A golf ball storage device and retriever as claimed in claim 1 in which said golf ball receiving and storing means is a drapable material tubular bag diverging upwardly from a lower extremity surrounding said tubular member to an upper extremity defining an upper opening and having a drawstring closure for said upper opening.
4. A device adapted to be conveniently manipulated by a single hand of a user standing in normal erect position for retrieving and storing golf balls lying upon the ground in vertically and laterally spaced random relationship to the hand of the user, comprising:
an elongate handle member adapted during normal use of the device to be gripped adjacent one end thereof by the hand of the user and to be angularly extended downwardly and laterally outwardly therefrom to ward golf balls to be retrieved;
an elongate rigid cylindrical tubular member having one end thereof open to define a golf-ball entrance opening and the opposite end thereof open to define a golf-ball discharge opening and having a height to accommodate no more than three golf balls therein;
means carried by said tubular member adjacent said entrance opening thereof for permitting passage through said entrance opening and into said tubular member of golf balls brought into relative engagement and movement therewith by downward displacement of said tubular member while oriented substantially vertically above the golf balls with said entrance opening thereof lowermost, and for preventing passage of retrieved golf balls within said tubular member therefrom through. said entrance opening;
means securing the forward side of said tubular member adjacent the discharge opening thereof to said handle member adjacent the other end thereof and at an acute angular relationship relative thereto in which the central axis of said tubular member intersects the central axis of said handle member a predetermined distance above the discharge opening for positioning said tubular member in a substantially vertical attitude with respect to the ground with said entrance opening thereof lowermost upon said handle member being angularly extended by the user during normal use of the device, and
a drapable material bag having opposite open ends with a lower extremity operatively communicating means securing other end portions of said wire arms with said discharge opening for receiving golf balls therefrom, said bag encircling a lower extremity of said handle member with an upper extremity of the bag secured thereto, and a drawstring carried by the upper extremity of the bag and being arranged to close the bag upon the same being pulled upwardly.
to said tubular member with said free end portions positioned in respective ones of said slots for movement upwardly and apart from each other for permitting passage of golf balls into said tubular member and downwardly and together for preventing passage of golf balls therefrom through said entrance 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which said means carried by said tubular member adjacent said entrance opening comprises: 10
said tubular member having a pair of separated transversely disposed slots therein positioned adjacent said entrance opening and extending upwardly and away from each other and said entrance opening,
a pair of spaced apart resilient wire arms positioned in and transversely of said entrance opening and having corresponding free end portions, and
opening.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.
G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE CONVENIENTLY MANIPULATED BY A SINGLE HAND OF USER STANDING IN NORMAL ERECT POSITION FOR RETRIEVING AND STORING GOLF BALLS LYING UPON THE GROUND IN VERTICALLY AND LATERALLY SPACED RANDOM RELATIONSHIP TO THE HAND OF THE USER, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATE HANDLE MEMBER ADAPTED DURING NORMAL USE OF THE DEVICE TO BE GRIPPED ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF BY THE HAND OF THE USER AND TO BE ANGULARLY EXTENDED DOWNWARDLY AND LATERALLY OUTWARDLY THEREFROM TOWARD GOLF BALLS TO BE RETRIEVED; AN ELONGATE RIGID CYLINDRICAL TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING ONE END THEREOF OPEN TO DEFINE A GOLF-BALL ENTRANCE OPENING AND THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF OPEN TO DEFINE A GOLF-BALL DISCHARGE OPENING AND HAVING A HEIGHT TO ACCOMMODATE NO MORE THAN THREE GOLF BALLS THEREIN; MEANS CARRIED BY SAID TUBULAR MEMBER ADJACENT SAID ENTRANCE OPENING THEREOF FOR PERMITTING PASSAGE THROUGH SAID ENTRANCE OPENING AND INTO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER OF GOLF BALLS BROUGHT INTO RELATIVE ENGAGEMENT AND MOVEMENT THEREWITH BY DOWNWARD DISPLACEMENT OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER WHILE ORIENTED
US464272A 1965-06-16 1965-06-16 Golf ball storage device and retriever Expired - Lifetime US3316008A (en)

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Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3957297A (en) * 1974-07-18 1976-05-18 Hanks William J Tennis ball retriever
US3982781A (en) * 1974-12-09 1976-09-28 Walter J. Tucker Golf ball retriever
US3984138A (en) * 1974-11-07 1976-10-05 Hill Industries, Inc. Ball retriever and storage unit
US4073529A (en) * 1976-02-06 1978-02-14 Albert Ostrin Golf ball retriever
WO1987000067A1 (en) * 1985-07-02 1987-01-15 Ronald Stewart Improved ball pick up, storage and dispensing device
US5294161A (en) * 1992-08-31 1994-03-15 Ball Haus Products, Inc. Tennis ball retrieving and storing device
US5639133A (en) * 1995-09-21 1997-06-17 Mote; Kyle W. Ergonomic ball retriever and dispenser
US5863258A (en) * 1998-01-22 1999-01-26 Fulop; Charles Golf ball retriever with compression spring
US20060091681A1 (en) * 2004-10-29 2006-05-04 Brian Evilsizer Golf ball retriever
US20060226190A1 (en) * 2005-04-12 2006-10-12 Green Gwendolyn N Hope walking pouch
US20070017948A1 (en) * 2005-07-19 2007-01-25 Shaun Smithson Tennis ball collection bag
US20140306471A1 (en) * 2013-04-15 2014-10-16 Rafael Vital, JR. Tennis Ball Retrieving Apparatus
US9248351B1 (en) 2015-03-26 2016-02-02 Kuldip C. Shodhan Device for picking up balls and other items
US10039960B2 (en) * 2016-02-19 2018-08-07 Janet Louise Olivieri Golf ball scoop
US11612788B2 (en) * 2019-10-15 2023-03-28 Bright Applied Products Corporation Ball storage carrier and hopper

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3026666A (en) * 1960-01-05 1962-03-27 Jr William T Baugh Nut picker
US3117814A (en) * 1960-11-09 1964-01-14 William D Webb Golf ball retriever

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3026666A (en) * 1960-01-05 1962-03-27 Jr William T Baugh Nut picker
US3117814A (en) * 1960-11-09 1964-01-14 William D Webb Golf ball retriever

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3957297A (en) * 1974-07-18 1976-05-18 Hanks William J Tennis ball retriever
US3984138A (en) * 1974-11-07 1976-10-05 Hill Industries, Inc. Ball retriever and storage unit
US3982781A (en) * 1974-12-09 1976-09-28 Walter J. Tucker Golf ball retriever
US4073529A (en) * 1976-02-06 1978-02-14 Albert Ostrin Golf ball retriever
WO1987000067A1 (en) * 1985-07-02 1987-01-15 Ronald Stewart Improved ball pick up, storage and dispensing device
US5294161A (en) * 1992-08-31 1994-03-15 Ball Haus Products, Inc. Tennis ball retrieving and storing device
US5639133A (en) * 1995-09-21 1997-06-17 Mote; Kyle W. Ergonomic ball retriever and dispenser
US5863258A (en) * 1998-01-22 1999-01-26 Fulop; Charles Golf ball retriever with compression spring
US20060091681A1 (en) * 2004-10-29 2006-05-04 Brian Evilsizer Golf ball retriever
US20060226190A1 (en) * 2005-04-12 2006-10-12 Green Gwendolyn N Hope walking pouch
US20070017948A1 (en) * 2005-07-19 2007-01-25 Shaun Smithson Tennis ball collection bag
US20140306471A1 (en) * 2013-04-15 2014-10-16 Rafael Vital, JR. Tennis Ball Retrieving Apparatus
US9248351B1 (en) 2015-03-26 2016-02-02 Kuldip C. Shodhan Device for picking up balls and other items
US10039960B2 (en) * 2016-02-19 2018-08-07 Janet Louise Olivieri Golf ball scoop
US11612788B2 (en) * 2019-10-15 2023-03-28 Bright Applied Products Corporation Ball storage carrier and hopper
US11801425B2 (en) 2019-10-15 2023-10-31 Bright Applied Products Corporation Ball storage carrier and hopper

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