GOLF BALL RETRIEVAL DEVICE

Abstract

A golf ball retrieval device securable to a flag pole shaft used to mark a golf cup hole. The retrieval device is a conical shaped disc having an inner edge securable to the shaft of the flag pole and an outer edge having a diameter less than an inner diameter of the golf cup. The disc includes a mounting slip extending between the inner edge and the outer edge to allow the disc to be placed along a base of the flag pole shaft. The disc is constructed and arranged to hold a golf ball, allowing ease of golf ball retrieval when the flag pole is removed from the golf cup. Advertising may be placed on an upper surface of the disc.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] In accordance with 37 C.F.R. .sctn. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional. Patent Application No. 62/835,292, entitled "GOLF BALL RETRIEVAL DEVICE", filed Apr. 17, 2019. The contents of which the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention is related to the game of golf and, in particular, to a device securable to a flag pole for ease of golf ball retrieval.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The game of golf is played professionally and recreationally around the world. Understanding a need for common rules regarding scoring, the United States Golf Association (USGA) was formed in 1894. The USGA is considered the governing body for the game of golf, providing rules of golf and providing interpreters of the rules. One such rule applies to the putting green. Prior to 2019, a player was required to have the putting green flag pole removed from the putting green cup when the player was putting from the surface of the putting green. Failure to remove the pin resulted in a penalty stroke assessed to the player.

[0004] In 2019, the USGA revised the Rules of Golf to include Rule 13.2a(2). There is no longer a penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits a flagstick left in the hole; and Players are not required to putt with the flagstick in the hole; rather, they continue to have the choice to have it removed (which includes having someone attend the flagstick and remove it after the ball is played).

[0005] There are many reasons supporting the change, the most notable being the rule generally helps speed up play. For instance, most players do not employ caddies, and the time spent to have a player walk up to the flag pole, remove the flag pole from the putting hole, and walk back to make their golf putt added time to the round of golf.

[0006] While the rule change generally speeds up the game of golf, the rule caused another problem. In particular, after the player has putted, thereby placing the golf ball in the golf cup, the golf ball needs to be retrieved. When the player uses their hand to retrieve the golf ball, their hand must be placed between the flag pole and the side of the golf cup. Capturing the golf ball between the index finger and the middle finger will allow ease of golf ball retrieval with little or no damage to the edge of the putting hole. However, if the player's hand is large or the player lacks dexterity, then damage to the edge of the putting hole can occur. Further, the player is likely bending at the knee or leaning over the putting hole, wherein the player's golf shoes, universally including spikes for gripping a surface, may cause damage around the rim of the putting hole.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,044 discloses a golf cup modified to contain an advertisement.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,162 discloses a brightly colored, plastic collar for enhancing the visibility of the golf hole for players, spectators and televised golf events. The collar has a diameter essentially the same as a regulation hole, and is installed in the cup adjacent the exposed earth wall between the lip of the hole and the hole liner.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,665 discloses a golf cup advertising device having an insert disc for mounting within the golf cup unit at the bottom thereof and twist-on connection means for attaching the disc to the cup unit. The advertisement is printed on an upper face of the disc for viewing by a golfer or other person, after the flag pole is removed from the hole.

[0010] What is lacking in the art is a device that accommodates the USGA rule change in its effort to speed up golf, yet further provides a device for ease of golf ball retrieval.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Disclosed is a golf ball retrieval device securable to a flag pole shaft commonly used to mark a golf cup hole. In the preferred embodiment, the retrieval device is a conical shaped disc having an inner edge that is frictionally securable to the shaft of the flag pole and an outer edge having a diameter less than an inner diameter of the golf cup. The disc includes a mounting slip extending between the inner edge and the outer edge to allow the disc to be placed along a base of the flag pole shaft. The disc is constructed and arranged to hold a golf ball, allowing ease of golf ball retrieval when the flag pole is removed from the golf cup.

[0012] An objective of the invention is to provide a device that allows ease of golf ball removal while accommodating USGA Rule 13.2a(2).

[0013] Still another objective of the invention is to provide a device that enhances USGA's attempt to speed up play.

[0014] Another objective of the invention is to provide a device that eliminates the need for a player to insert their hand into a golf cup hole, and possibly damage the entry area to the golf cup.

[0015] Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a device that eliminates the need for a player to bend over to retrieve a golf ball from the putting cup, benefiting the elder players as well as those with balance issues.

[0016] Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a reusable and/or disposable device that allows for advertising during local tournaments.

[0017] Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a pictorial perspective view of a flag pole base with a golf ball retrieval device of the instant invention attached thereto for insertion into a golf cup;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a plane side view of the flag pole base, with the golf ball retrieval device of the instant invention attached thereto, positioned over a cross section view of the golf cup; and

[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the flag pole base, with the golf ball retrieval device of the instant invention attached thereto, inserted into a golf cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] A detailed embodiment of the instant invention is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0022] Referring to the Figures, illustrated is a flag pole 50 having an elongated fiberglass shaft 52 with a metal base 54 secured to the bottom of the shaft 52. A golf cup 60 is defined by a continuous side wall 62 having an outer surface 64, and an inner surface 66 with an upper edge 68 and a lower edge 70. A support plate 72 is formed along the inner surface 66, having a taper surface 74 extending from a top edge 76 to a bottom edge 78, with a centrally disposed aperture 80 constructed and arranged to receive the base 54 of the flag pole 50. The tapered surface 72 makes it easy to insert the flag pole, as the base 54 is self-centering for directional insertion into the central aperture 80. Slots 82 may be included in the support plate 72 to allow water drainage from rain and sprinkler systems.

[0023] In regular golf course maintenance, the golf cup 60 is relocated on a putting green, typically on a daily basis. The relocation of the golf cup 60 is an aspect of the game of golf that makes a course challenging on any particular day. For instance, on one day the golf cup 60 may be placed in a portion of the green that is relatively flat, making for ease of putting. On another day, the golf cup 60 may be placed past a sloped surface, wherein putting can be very difficult if the golf ball is of any distance from the golf cup 60. As the golf cup may be changed on a daily basis, the flag pole 50 indicates the location on the green. A player can readily see the placement from a long distance away and adjust their approach shot accordingly. Many flag poles include reflective material, allowing a distance measuring device to precisely measure the distance from the player to the flag pole.

[0024] The disc 10 of the present invention has an inner edge 12 securable to the shaft 52 of the flag pole 50. An outer edge 14 is constructed and arranged to be spaced apart a distance, d1, from the inner surface 66, which amounts to a diameter of the disc 10 being less than an inner diameter formed by the continuous side wall 62 of the golf cup 60. A mounting slip 16 extends between the inner edge 12 and the outer edge 14. In the preferred embodiment, the disc 10 is constructed from a flexible plastic, wherein the mounting slip 16 allows the disc 10 to be placed alongside an upper portion 56 of the base 54 of said flag pole shaft 52. The disc 10 is constructed and arranged to hold a golf ball 90, allowing ease of golf ball retrieval when the flag pole shaft is removed from the golf cup as depicted in FIG. 2. The disc 10 has a conical shape creating a taper 18 extending from said inner edge 12 of the disc to the outer edge of the disc 10. The disc taper 18 is constructed and arranged to match a golf cup taper 84.

[0025] The disc 10 includes apertures 20 to allow water drainage, similar to the golf cup 60 apertures 82. The upper surface 22 of the disc 10, which forms the taper 18, may include indicia 24 in the form of advertising. For instance, a golf tournament sponsor may include their name for a day on the disc 10. In another embodiment, the golf ball retrieval device may be in the form of a disc that is formed integral to the flag pole shaft, not shown.

[0026] The method of operating a golf ball retrieval device comprising the steps of: forming a disc having a conical shape with an inner edge securable to a shaft of a flag pole, an outer edge having a diameter less than an inner diameter formed by said continuous inner wall of a golf cup, and a mounting slip extending between said inner edge and said outer edge; inserting said flag pole shaft into said inner edge of said disc through said mounting slip; positioning said disc along a lower end of said flag pole shaft; placing said flag pole shaft and said disc into said golf cup; removing said flag pole shaft from said golf cup to retrieve a golf ball resting on said disc.

[0027] It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

[0028] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

[0029] The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form of include, such as "includes" and "including") and "contain" (and any form of contain, such as "contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that "comprises," "has," "includes" or "contains" one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that "comprises," "has," "includes" or "contains" one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

Claims

1. A golf ball retrieval device for securing to a flag pole shaft releasably mounted to a golf cup having a continuous inner wall and with a centrally disposed aperture for receipt of a lower end of the flag pole shaft, said golf ball retrieval device comprising: a disc having an inner edge securable to the shaft of the flag pole, an outer edge having a diameter less than an inner diameter formed by said continuous inner wall of the golf cup, and a mounting slip extending between said inner edge and said outer edge; wherein said mounting slip allows said disc to be placed along a base of said flag pole shaft, said disc constructed and arranged to hold a golf ball, allowing ease of golf ball retrieval when said flag pole shaft is removed from said golf cup.

2. The golf ball retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein said disc is conical shaped having a taper extending from said inner edge of said disc to an outer edge of said disc.

3. The golf ball retrieval device according to claim wherein said disc taper is constructed and arranged to match a golf cup taper.

4. The golf ball retrieval device according to claim wherein said inner edge of said disc frictionally engages said flag pole shaft.

5. The golf ball retrieval device according to claim 1 wherein disc is constructed from plastic.

6. The golf ball retrieval device according to claim 1 wherein disc includes apertures to allow water drainage.

7. The golf ball retrieval device according to claim 1 wherein disc is further defined by an upper surface, said upper surface having indicia in the form of advertising.

8. The golf ball retrieval device according to claim 1 wherein disc is formed integral to said flag pole shaft.

9. A method of operating a golf ball retrieval device comprising the steps of: forming a disc having a conical shape with an inner edge securable to a shaft of a flag pole, an outer edge having a diameter less than an inner diameter formed by said continuous inner wall of a golf cup, and a mounting slip extending between said inner edge and said outer edge; inserting said flag pole shaft into said inner edge of said disc through said mounting slip; positioning said disc along a lower end of said flag pole shaft; placing said flag pole shaft and said disc into said golf cup; removing said flag pole shaft from said golf cup to retrieve a golf ball resting on said disc.