Device for handling golf balls and tees

Abstract

A device for handling golf balls and tees includes a receptacle disposed at a ball end of the device for releasably holding a golf ball and a tee retainer at a tee end of the device, opposed to the ball end, for releasably holding a tee. The device further includes an elongate shaft extending from the receptacle to the tee retainer, and a rod extending along and movable longitudinally relative to the shaft into an extended position in which the rod bears against and expels a golf ball held within the receptacle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] See Application Data Sheet.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not applicable.INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

[0004] Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0006] This invention relates to a golfing accessory for handling golf balls and tees. The invention relates particularly to a device for picking up and placing a golf ball and / or a golf tee without requiring a player to squat or bend significantly.2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

[0007] Golf can present physical challenges to players with mobility limitations, back problems, or reduced flexibility. One such challenge is the repetitive action of bending down or squatting to pick up a ball or tee, to place a ball or tee, or to place a ball on a tee.

[0008] Numerous devices have been proposed to assist golfers with aspects of the game, such as club alignment, swing correction, and ball retrieval. However, there is a lack of convenient, user-friendly solutions to address the challenges associated with handling balls and tees. Existing aids often suffer from limitations such as bulkiness, complexity, unreliability, cost and difficulty of use.

[0009] For example, CN 104353233 describes a portable golf ball picking device. The device includes a rod with a ball picking mechanism in the form of claw arms at one end and has a handle at the other end. The claw arms are controlled via a spring mechanism. However, the device is fiddly to use, complex and requires considerable accuracy of the user.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,737 describes a device for setting a golf ball and tee. The device includes a shaft with a C-shaped receiving member that secures the ball and tee, and a shallow slot that holds the tee in place. A hand-operated actuator controls a plunger to press the ball onto the tee during setup. To use, the ball and tee are inserted into the device, and the actuator drives the tee into the ground. Releasing the actuator retracts the plunger, and the C-shaped member then swings away to disengage from the tee.

[0011] Again, aligning the ball and tee within the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,737 and ensuring they remain stable during setup requires precision. Moreover, the device cannot be used for picking the ball and tee from the ground and so requires a player to bend or squat to retrieve the ball and tee.

[0012] In an even more complex solution, U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,790 describes a golf ball and golf tee retrieval device. The device includes a shaft with a retrieving end and a setting end. The setting end includes a housing unit that holds a golf ball and an upper portion of a tee. The tee is inserted into the ground by pushing the setting end downwardly until a pivot point on the device contacts the ground. The setting end is rotated around the pivot point, and the ball and tee are released through an opening in the housing unit.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,790 proposes a cumbersome solution that requires the user to align the ball and tee precisely, and that is therefore likely to require multiple attempts to position the ball and tee correctly.

[0014] In an even bulkier solution, U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,497 describes an apparatus for setting a golf ball on a tee. The apparatus includes a shaft with a setting end and a ball handling end. The ball handling end contains a cup to pick up the golf ball and an ejection means including an ejection tube that resides in the shaft. The setting end includes clamping arms to releasably hold a golf ball and tee. The device contains supporting legs with slots to allow the device to be self-standing and to pick up a golf tee after use.

[0015] The multiple components disposed on the setting end make the solution of U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,497 bulky and therefore difficult to store or carry in a standard golf bag. Moreover, holding the shaft of the device while simultaneously aligning the tee on top of the ball and inserting the tee into the setting end would be awkward and fiddly.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Against this background, the invention resides in a device for handling golf balls and tees. The device comprises a receptacle disposed at a ball end of the device for releasably holding a golf ball and a tee retainer at a tee end of the device, opposed to the ball end, for releasably holding a tee. The device further comprises an elongate shaft extending from the receptacle to the tee retainer, and a rod extending along and movable longitudinally relative to the shaft into an extended position in which the rod bears against and expels a golf ball held within the receptacle. The tee retainer may comprise an annular gap defined between the rod and the shaft.

[0017] The receptacle may comprise a cup that defines a cavity and that may have a flared inner formation configured to receive a ball and a tapering outer formation configured to engage the ball. The outer end of the cup may comprise a continuous circular rim that is configured to expand to admit the ball and to contract elastically to engage the ball, once admitted into the cavity of the cup.

[0018] Alternatively, the receptacle can comprise mutually-opposed inwardly-curved resilient fingers disposed around a cavity. The fingers may have tips that are spaced apart by a distance that is less than an external diameter of the ball, so that the fingers splay apart to admit the ball and then snap back to retain the ball in the cavity.

[0019] The receptacle can be formed integrally with the shaft or can be a separate component that is attached to the shaft.

[0020] Conveniently, the device may also include a displacement limiter to restrict the longitudinal movement of the rod relative to the shaft. The displacement limiter may, for example, comprise a protrusion extending from the rod, the protrusion being accommodated in and movable within an aperture that penetrates a wall of the shaft. The protrusion can be formed integrally with the rod or can be a separate component that is attached to the rod.

[0021] The aperture may have an open end that opens toward the tee end of the device. In that case, the aperture may comprise a wide portion that is wider than the protrusion and a narrow portion that is narrower than the protrusion, the narrow portion corresponding to the open end of the aperture.

[0022] The rod can be retracted relative to the shaft into a retracted position when a golf ball is held in the receptacle. When the rod is in the retracted position, an end of the rod opposed to the receptacle can protrude from the shaft at the tee end of the device.

[0023] Beneficially, the device may comprise at least one bearing configured to support sliding movement of the rod within and relative to the shaft. For example, two or more of the bearings can be spaced apart longitudinally along the rod. The, or each, one bearing may surround the rod and can define at least one shoulder that projects radially from the rod. The, or each, bearing may be formed integrally with the rod.

[0024] The inventive concept embraces a combination of the device with a golf ball and / or with a tee. The tee may have a tubular body that is engaged within the aforementioned annular gap between the rod and the shaft. In that case, advantageously, the tubular body of the tee can frictionally engage the rod and / or frictionally engage the shaft.

[0025] The tee may further include a circular base projecting radially from the tubular body. The base may have a diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the shaft, enabling the tee to be dislodged from the tee end of the device by a player's foot when the device is inverted.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device for handling golf balls and tees in a first embodiment of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a rod of the device of FIG. 2.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view in longitudinal section of a cup of a receptacle of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic side views in longitudinal section of golf tees that can be used with the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0032] FIGS. 7a and 7b are enlarged schematic side views that illustrate the process of inserting a golf ball into, and subsequently removing the golf ball from the cup of the receptacle.

[0033] FIG. 8a to 9b are enlarged schematic side views that illustrate the process of inserting a golf tee into, and subsequently removing the golf tee from a shaft of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0034] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a golf tee being removed from the device in use.

[0035] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the golf ball being ejected from the device in use.

[0036] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the golf tee being inserted into the device in use.

[0037] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the golf ball being inserted into the device in use.

[0038] FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic side views of a device for handling golf balls and tees in a second embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIGS. 16a and 16b are enlarged schematic side views that illustrate assembly of the device of FIGS. 14 and 15.

[0040] FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic perspective views of a receptacle of the device of FIGS. 14 and 15.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a device 10 for handling golf balls and tees according to an embodiment of this invention and FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the device 10 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device 10 includes an elongate tubular shaft 18 that is of a length sufficient to enable a player to interact, from a standing position, with a golf ball or tee placed on the ground, or with a ball lying in a hole.

[0042] The device 10 has a ball end shown downwardly in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a tee end shown upwardly in FIGS. 1 and 2, although the device can be inverted in use as will be shown in later drawings. The ball end of the device is configured to pick and place a golf ball whereas the tee end of the device is configured to pick and place a tee when the device is inverted.

[0043] The shaft 18 houses and supports internal and external components, as described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The internal components comprise a rod 16 that extends coaxially within and along the shaft 18 and protrudes from the shaft 18 at the tee end of the device 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rod supports bearings or sleeves that serve as enlarged shoulder formations. Those formations are preferably moulded from plastics and can be integral with the rod 16 or separate from the rod 16.

[0044] The shoulders 28 align the rod 16 centrally within tubular shaft 18 for sliding movement of the rod 16 within and relative to the shaft 18. In this example, there are two shoulders 28 longitudinally spaced apart along the rod 16, but the diameter of the rod 16 could be uniformly increased to obviate the need for shoulders 28. In any event, the external diameter of the rod 16 is less that the internal diameter of the shaft 18 at least toward the tee end of the device 10, creating an annular clearance between the rod 16 and the shaft 18 that forms the tee retainer.

[0045] A displacement limiter 20 controls and limits linear displacement of the rod 16 within the shaft 18 by virtue of interaction of a pin 14 with a longitudinally-extending aperture that penetrates the tubular wall 30 of the shaft 18. The aperture is in the form of a slot 12 that receives a stem of the pin 14, which is secured to and extends radially from the rod 16. The length of the slot 12 defines the range of motion of the pin 14 and thus of the rod 16 along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 18.

[0046] A receptacle, or picking mechanism 22 is securely attached to the shaft at the ball end of the device 10. The receptacle 22 is arranged to releasably engage, retain and release a golf ball 40. For this purpose, the receptacle includes a frusto-conical cup 24 with two open ends, namely an outer end 36 configured to receive a golf ball and an inner end 34 configured to receive the rod 16.

[0047] In this example, the outer end 36 of the cup 24 is defined by a continuous circular rim whose internal diameter is slightly smaller than the external diameter of the golf ball 40. The cup 24 is formed of a resilient material such as rubber or plastics so that the rim can expand to admit the ball 40 and then can contract elastically to engage and retain the ball 40 as shown schematically in FIG. 4.

[0048] The inner end 34 of the cup 24 comprises a central aperture 32 that receives an end of the rod 16 as a sliding fit, whereby that end of the rod 16 can protrude slightly into the cup 24. As the rod 16 is movable longitudinally relatively to the shaft 18, the rod 16 is also movable relative to the cup 24 that is fixed to the shaft 18. The rod 16 is movable to an extent sufficient to bear against a ball 40 received within the cup 24 and to expel the ball 40 from the cup 24 against the resilient retention of the rim.

[0049] Returning to FIG. 2, the device 10 is shown in conjunction with a golf tee 26 removably disposed within the shaft 18 at the tee end of device 10. In this example, as shown in more detail in FIG. 5, the tee 26 is a conventional free-standing practice mat tee that comprises a tubular body 42 extending from a circular base 44 that projects from the body 42 like a flange. Typically, such a tee 26 is moulded of a resilient rubber material.

[0050] The rod 16 of the device 10 is received in the hollow tubular body 42 of the tee, with the tubular wall of the body 42 received in the tee retainer defined by the annular gap between the rod 16 and the shaft 18. The tee 26 is held securely in place due to frictional engagement between the inner side of the body 42 and the rod 16 and / or between the outer side of the body 42 and the shaft 18.

[0051] The base of the tee 44 remains exposed outside the shaft 18 at the tee end of the device 10. The diameter of the base 44 exceeds the outer diameter of the shaft 18. Consequently, the base 44 protrudes laterally from the shaft 18.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a variant of the tee 26 in which the body 42 has a flared end opposed to the base 44. The annular gap between the rod 16 and the shaft 18 can be sufficient to accommodate the lateral extent of the flared end.

[0053] Referring now to FIGS. 7a and 7b, these figures illustrate how a golf ball 40 can be inserted into and subsequently removed from the receptacle 22. In FIG. 7a, the ball 40 is shown pushed into the cup 24 through the open outer end 36 of the cup 24. The ball 40 bears on the end of the rod 16 that protrudes into the cup 24 through the aperture 32 in the inner end 34 of the cup 24. This causes the rod 16 to move into a retracted position as shown.

[0054] As the ball 40 passes through the constricted outer end 36 of the cup 24, the ball 40 is held between opposed frusto-conical formations of the cup 24, namely a flared inner formation 38 and a tapering outer formation 37. Thus engaged, the ball 40 is held securely in place within the cup 24 and cannot fall out under gravity or as the device 10 is being handled.

[0055] To release the ball 40 from the cup 24, the rod 16 is moved into an extended position in which the rod 16 pushes the ball 40 out of the cup 24, overcoming the resilient resistance of the constricted outer end 36 of the cup 24. Specifically, the axial force exerted by the rod 16 pushes the ball 40 against the circular rim of the cup 24, which expands just enough to allow the ball 40 to exit. Beneficially, the temporary resistance of the rim lends a positive and satisfying action to movement of the rod 16, providing click-like feedback to a player using the device 10 when releasing the ball 40.

[0056] FIGS. 8a to 9b show how a tee 26 can be inserted into and subsequently removed from the shaft 18 at the tee end of the device 10. To recap, the rod 16 is received in the hollow tubular body 42 of the tee 26, with the tubular wall of the body 42 received in the annular gap between the rod 16 and the shaft 18. In FIGS. 8a and 8b, the body 42 of the tee 26 frictionally engages the rod 16 whereas in FIGS. 9a and 9b, the body 42 of the tee 26 frictionally engages the shaft. In principle, it would be possible for the body 42 of the tee 26 to frictionally engage both the rod 16 and the shaft 18.

[0057] Turning next to FIGS. 10 to 13, these drawings show the device 10 in use while playing golf.

[0058] In FIG. 10, the tee 26 is placed onto a playing surface 46 in preparation for a tee shot. For this purpose, the device 10 is inverted to direct the tee end downwardly toward the playing surface 46. Conveniently, the player can engage the base 44 of the tee 26 using their foot 48, prying the tee 26 from the tee end of the device 10 as the device 10 is lifted away from the surface 46. This enables the player to position the tee 26 without having to bend down.

[0059] Next, in FIG. 11, the player reorients the device 10 to turn the ball end downwardly toward the tee 26. The player presses down on the rod 16 protruding from the tee end of the device 10 using a finger 50 or thumb, in an action similar to pushing a button. This action advances the rod 16 into the cup 24 to push the ball 40 out of the cup 24 as shown in FIG. 7b. Conveniently, the ball 40 can be placed on top of the tee 26 without requiring the player to bend down.

[0060] Once the tee 26 is ready to be picked up after playing a shot, the device 10 is again inverted, so that the tee end faces downwardly as shown in FIG. 12. The player aligns the shaft 18 of the device 10 with the tee 26 and presses down until the tee 26 is frictionally engaged with the rod 16 and / or the shaft 18. Once the tee 26 is thereby secured, the device 10 is lifted away from the playing surface 46 and can be returned to the player's golf bag as play continues.

[0061] To pick up the ball 40, as shown in FIG. 13, the player aligns the cup 24 with the ball 40 and presses the device 10 down to force the cup 24 onto the ball 40. The ball 40 is trapped between the cup 24 and the underlying surface being either the playing surface 46 or the base of a hole if the ball 40 has been successfully holed. Consequently, continued downward pressure on the device 10 forces the ball 40 into the cup 24, overcoming the resilient constriction of the outer end 36 of the cup 34 as shown in FIG. 7a. Once the ball 40 is engaged in the cup 24, the player lifts the device 10 to carry the ball 40 to the location of the next shot. Conveniently, again, there is no need for the player to bend over when picking up the ball 40.

[0062] In summary, it is noted that the first embodiment comprises four principal parts, namely the tubular shaft 18 to which is fitted the receptacle 22, the rod 16 and the pin 24. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. In this second embodiment, the receptacle 22 includes mutually-opposed fingers 52 extending from the shaft 18 at the ball end of the device 10, thus combining the shaft 18 and the receptacle 22 of the first embodiment into a single component 18. In this example, the receptacle comprises two pairs of fingers 52 that are inwardly curved in the manner of claws. Between them, the fingers 52 form a cavity 60 to receive and secure a golf ball 40.

[0063] Beneficially, the fingers 52 are apt to be formed integrally with the shaft 18, for example, by being moulded with the shaft 18 from a plastics material. This allows a reduction in the number of parts required to manufacture the device 10. However, it would instead be possible to produce the fingers 52 as part of a component that is separate from and attached to the shaft 18, like the cup of the first embodiment.

[0064] The device 10 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 also includes at least one pin-like extension of the rod 16, namely a protrusion 14, which is intended to replace the pin 24 described in the first embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the protrusion 14 is again in the form of a headed pin 14 extending from the rod 16 but it is not essential that the protrusion 14 includes an enlarged head portion.

[0065] In this example, the protrusion 14 is situated nearer to the tee end of the device 10 than in the first embodiment. The shaft 18 includes a corresponding longitudinally-extending aperture in the form of a slot 12 that penetrates the tubular wall 30 of the shaft 18 and accommodates the protrusion 14. In this example, the slot 12 opens to the end of the shaft 18 corresponding to the tee end of the device 10. Consequently, the protrusion 14 can enter the slot 12 by being inserted through the open end of the slot 12.

[0066] The open end of the slot 12 opens into a narrow portion 54 of the slot 12 that is narrower than the diameter of the protrusion 14. The slot 12 also has a wide portion 56 that is wider than the diameter of the protrusion 14. Consequently, on being inserted into the slot 12 as shown in FIGS. 16a and 16b, the protrusion 14 firstly forces the sides of the narrow portion 54 apart and then snap-fits into the wide portion 56 of the slot. Specifically, contraction of the narrow portion 54 of the slot 12 prevents the protrusion 14 from exiting the wide portion 56 of the slot 12 without deliberate force. Beneficially, this arrangement allows the protrusion 14 to be integral with the rod 16, thereby reducing the number of components of the device 10 to just two.

[0067] Lastly, FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the receptacle 22 of the device 10 in the second embodiment of the invention. The fingers 52 are moulded of a resilient plastics material that allows the fingers 52 to deflect outwardly to admit the ball 40 and then to return elastically to engage and retain the ball 40.

[0068] Again, the receptacle 22 includes an inner end 34 configured to receive the rod 16 through a central aperture 32 disposed between the fingers 52. As with the cup 24 shown in FIG. 4 an end of the rod 16 is received in the aperture 32 as a sliding fit, whereby that end of the rod 16 can protrude between the fingers 52 to interact with a ball 40.

[0069] Many variations are possible within the inventive concept. For example, whilst actuation of the rod 16 at the tee end of the device 10 is preferred, it may instead be possible to move the rod 16 longitudinally by actuating the pin or protrusion 14 that protrudes through the slot 12 in the tubular wall of the shaft 18.

[0070] The picking mechanism 22 of the first embodiment may be formed as an extension of the plastic shaft 20.

Examples

first embodiment

[0063]Beneficially, the fingers 52 are apt to be formed integrally with the shaft 18, for example, by being moulded with the shaft 18 from a plastics material. This allows a reduction in the number of parts required to manufacture the device 10. However, it would instead be possible to produce the fingers 52 as part of a component that is separate from and attached to the shaft 18, like the cup of the

[0064]The device 10 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 also includes at least one pin-like extension of the rod 16, namely a protrusion 14, which is intended to replace the pin 24 described in the first embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the protrusion 14 is again in the form of a headed pin 14 extending from the rod 16 but it is not essential that the protrusion 14 includes an enlarged head portion.

[0065]In this example, the protrusion 14 is situated nearer to the tee end of the device 10 than in the first embodiment. The shaft 18 includes a corresponding longitudinally-exten...

second embodiment

[0067]Lastly, FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the receptacle 22 of the device 10 in the invention. The fingers 52 are moulded of a resilient plastics material that allows the fingers 52 to deflect outwardly to admit the ball 40 and then to return elastically to engage and retain the ball 40.

[0068]Again, the receptacle 22 includes an inner end 34 configured to receive the rod 16 through a central aperture 32 disposed between the fingers 52. As with the cup 24 shown in FIG. 4 an end of the rod 16 is received in the aperture 32 as a sliding fit, whereby that end of the rod 16 can protrude between the fingers 52 to interact with a ball 40.

[0069]Many variations are possible within the inventive concept. For example, whilst actuation of the rod 16 at the tee end of the device 10 is preferred, it may instead be possible to move the rod 16 longitudinally by actuating the pin or protrusion 14 that protrudes through the slot 12 in the tubular wall of the shaft 18.

[0070]The picking mechanism 22 of ...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] See Application Data Sheet.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not applicable.INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

[0004] Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0006] This invention relates to a golfing accessory for handling golf balls and tees. The invention relates particularly to a device for picking up and placing a golf ball and / or a golf tee without requiring a player to squat or bend significantly.2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

[0007] Golf can present physical challenges to players with mobility limitations, back problems, or reduced flexibility. One such challenge is the repetitive action of bending down or squatting to pick up a ball or tee, to place a ball or tee, or to place a ball on a tee.

[0008] Numerous devices have been proposed to assist golfers with aspects of the game, such as club alignment, swing correction, and ball retrieval. However, there is a lack of convenient, user-friendly solutions to address the challenges associated with handling balls and tees. Existing aids often suffer from limitations such as bulkiness, complexity, unreliability, cost and difficulty of use.

[0009] For example, CN 104353233 describes a portable golf ball picking device. The device includes a rod with a ball picking mechanism in the form of claw arms at one end and has a handle at the other end. The claw arms are controlled via a spring mechanism. However, the device is fiddly to use, complex and requires considerable accuracy of the user.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,737 describes a device for setting a golf ball and tee. The device includes a shaft with a C-shaped receiving member that secures the ball and tee, and a shallow slot that holds the tee in place. A hand-operated actuator controls a plunger to press the ball onto the tee during setup. To use, the ball and tee are inserted into the device, and the actuator drives the tee into the ground. Releasing the actuator retracts the plunger, and the C-shaped member then swings away to disengage from the tee.

[0011] Again, aligning the ball and tee within the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,737 and ensuring they remain stable during setup requires precision. Moreover, the device cannot be used for picking the ball and tee from the ground and so requires a player to bend or squat to retrieve the ball and tee.

[0012] In an even more complex solution, U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,790 describes a golf ball and golf tee retrieval device. The device includes a shaft with a retrieving end and a setting end. The setting end includes a housing unit that holds a golf ball and an upper portion of a tee. The tee is inserted into the ground by pushing the setting end downwardly until a pivot point on the device contacts the ground. The setting end is rotated around the pivot point, and the ball and tee are released through an opening in the housing unit.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,790 proposes a cumbersome solution that requires the user to align the ball and tee precisely, and that is therefore likely to require multiple attempts to position the ball and tee correctly.

[0014] In an even bulkier solution, U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,497 describes an apparatus for setting a golf ball on a tee. The apparatus includes a shaft with a setting end and a ball handling end. The ball handling end contains a cup to pick up the golf ball and an ejection means including an ejection tube that resides in the shaft. The setting end includes clamping arms to releasably hold a golf ball and tee. The device contains supporting legs with slots to allow the device to be self-standing and to pick up a golf tee after use.

[0015] The multiple components disposed on the setting end make the solution of U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,497 bulky and therefore difficult to store or carry in a standard golf bag. Moreover, holding the shaft of the device while simultaneously aligning the tee on top of the ball and inserting the tee into the setting end would be awkward and fiddly.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Against this background, the invention resides in a device for handling golf balls and tees. The device comprises a receptacle disposed at a ball end of the device for releasably holding a golf ball and a tee retainer at a tee end of the device, opposed to the ball end, for releasably holding a tee. The device further comprises an elongate shaft extending from the receptacle to the tee retainer, and a rod extending along and movable longitudinally relative to the shaft into an extended position in which the rod bears against and expels a golf ball held within the receptacle. The tee retainer may comprise an annular gap defined between the rod and the shaft.

[0017] The receptacle may comprise a cup that defines a cavity and that may have a flared inner formation configured to receive a ball and a tapering outer formation configured to engage the ball. The outer end of the cup may comprise a continuous circular rim that is configured to expand to admit the ball and to contract elastically to engage the ball, once admitted into the cavity of the cup.

[0018] Alternatively, the receptacle can comprise mutually-opposed inwardly-curved resilient fingers disposed around a cavity. The fingers may have tips that are spaced apart by a distance that is less than an external diameter of the ball, so that the fingers splay apart to admit the ball and then snap back to retain the ball in the cavity.

[0019] The receptacle can be formed integrally with the shaft or can be a separate component that is attached to the shaft.

[0020] Conveniently, the device may also include a displacement limiter to restrict the longitudinal movement of the rod relative to the shaft. The displacement limiter may, for example, comprise a protrusion extending from the rod, the protrusion being accommodated in and movable within an aperture that penetrates a wall of the shaft. The protrusion can be formed integrally with the rod or can be a separate component that is attached to the rod.

[0021] The aperture may have an open end that opens toward the tee end of the device. In that case, the aperture may comprise a wide portion that is wider than the protrusion and a narrow portion that is narrower than the protrusion, the narrow portion corresponding to the open end of the aperture.

[0022] The rod can be retracted relative to the shaft into a retracted position when a golf ball is held in the receptacle. When the rod is in the retracted position, an end of the rod opposed to the receptacle can protrude from the shaft at the tee end of the device.

[0023] Beneficially, the device may comprise at least one bearing configured to support sliding movement of the rod within and relative to the shaft. For example, two or more of the bearings can be spaced apart longitudinally along the rod. The, or each, one bearing may surround the rod and can define at least one shoulder that projects radially from the rod. The, or each, bearing may be formed integrally with the rod.

[0024] The inventive concept embraces a combination of the device with a golf ball and / or with a tee. The tee may have a tubular body that is engaged within the aforementioned annular gap between the rod and the shaft. In that case, advantageously, the tubular body of the tee can frictionally engage the rod and / or frictionally engage the shaft.

[0025] The tee may further include a circular base projecting radially from the tubular body. The base may have a diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the shaft, enabling the tee to be dislodged from the tee end of the device by a player's foot when the device is inverted.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device for handling golf balls and tees in a first embodiment of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a rod of the device of FIG. 2.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view in longitudinal section of a cup of a receptacle of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic side views in longitudinal section of golf tees that can be used with the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0032] FIGS. 7a and 7b are enlarged schematic side views that illustrate the process of inserting a golf ball into, and subsequently removing the golf ball from the cup of the receptacle.

[0033] FIG. 8a to 9b are enlarged schematic side views that illustrate the process of inserting a golf tee into, and subsequently removing the golf tee from a shaft of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0034] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a golf tee being removed from the device in use.

[0035] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the golf ball being ejected from the device in use.

[0036] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the golf tee being inserted into the device in use.

[0037] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the golf ball being inserted into the device in use.

[0038] FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic side views of a device for handling golf balls and tees in a second embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIGS. 16a and 16b are enlarged schematic side views that illustrate assembly of the device of FIGS. 14 and 15.

[0040] FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic perspective views of a receptacle of the device of FIGS. 14 and 15.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a device 10 for handling golf balls and tees according to an embodiment of this invention and FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the device 10 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device 10 includes an elongate tubular shaft 18 that is of a length sufficient to enable a player to interact, from a standing position, with a golf ball or tee placed on the ground, or with a ball lying in a hole.

[0042] The device 10 has a ball end shown downwardly in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a tee end shown upwardly in FIGS. 1 and 2, although the device can be inverted in use as will be shown in later drawings. The ball end of the device is configured to pick and place a golf ball whereas the tee end of the device is configured to pick and place a tee when the device is inverted.

[0043] The shaft 18 houses and supports internal and external components, as described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The internal components comprise a rod 16 that extends coaxially within and along the shaft 18 and protrudes from the shaft 18 at the tee end of the device 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rod supports bearings or sleeves that serve as enlarged shoulder formations. Those formations are preferably moulded from plastics and can be integral with the rod 16 or separate from the rod 16.

[0044] The shoulders 28 align the rod 16 centrally within tubular shaft 18 for sliding movement of the rod 16 within and relative to the shaft 18. In this example, there are two shoulders 28 longitudinally spaced apart along the rod 16, but the diameter of the rod 16 could be uniformly increased to obviate the need for shoulders 28. In any event, the external diameter of the rod 16 is less that the internal diameter of the shaft 18 at least toward the tee end of the device 10, creating an annular clearance between the rod 16 and the shaft 18 that forms the tee retainer.

[0045] A displacement limiter 20 controls and limits linear displacement of the rod 16 within the shaft 18 by virtue of interaction of a pin 14 with a longitudinally-extending aperture that penetrates the tubular wall 30 of the shaft 18. The aperture is in the form of a slot 12 that receives a stem of the pin 14, which is secured to and extends radially from the rod 16. The length of the slot 12 defines the range of motion of the pin 14 and thus of the rod 16 along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 18.

[0046] A receptacle, or picking mechanism 22 is securely attached to the shaft at the ball end of the device 10. The receptacle 22 is arranged to releasably engage, retain and release a golf ball 40. For this purpose, the receptacle includes a frusto-conical cup 24 with two open ends, namely an outer end 36 configured to receive a golf ball and an inner end 34 configured to receive the rod 16.

[0047] In this example, the outer end 36 of the cup 24 is defined by a continuous circular rim whose internal diameter is slightly smaller than the external diameter of the golf ball 40. The cup 24 is formed of a resilient material such as rubber or plastics so that the rim can expand to admit the ball 40 and then can contract elastically to engage and retain the ball 40 as shown schematically in FIG. 4.

[0048] The inner end 34 of the cup 24 comprises a central aperture 32 that receives an end of the rod 16 as a sliding fit, whereby that end of the rod 16 can protrude slightly into the cup 24. As the rod 16 is movable longitudinally relatively to the shaft 18, the rod 16 is also movable relative to the cup 24 that is fixed to the shaft 18. The rod 16 is movable to an extent sufficient to bear against a ball 40 received within the cup 24 and to expel the ball 40 from the cup 24 against the resilient retention of the rim.

[0049] Returning to FIG. 2, the device 10 is shown in conjunction with a golf tee 26 removably disposed within the shaft 18 at the tee end of device 10. In this example, as shown in more detail in FIG. 5, the tee 26 is a conventional free-standing practice mat tee that comprises a tubular body 42 extending from a circular base 44 that projects from the body 42 like a flange. Typically, such a tee 26 is moulded of a resilient rubber material.

[0050] The rod 16 of the device 10 is received in the hollow tubular body 42 of the tee, with the tubular wall of the body 42 received in the tee retainer defined by the annular gap between the rod 16 and the shaft 18. The tee 26 is held securely in place due to frictional engagement between the inner side of the body 42 and the rod 16 and / or between the outer side of the body 42 and the shaft 18.

[0051] The base of the tee 44 remains exposed outside the shaft 18 at the tee end of the device 10. The diameter of the base 44 exceeds the outer diameter of the shaft 18. Consequently, the base 44 protrudes laterally from the shaft 18.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a variant of the tee 26 in which the body 42 has a flared end opposed to the base 44. The annular gap between the rod 16 and the shaft 18 can be sufficient to accommodate the lateral extent of the flared end.

[0053] Referring now to FIGS. 7a and 7b, these figures illustrate how a golf ball 40 can be inserted into and subsequently removed from the receptacle 22. In FIG. 7a, the ball 40 is shown pushed into the cup 24 through the open outer end 36 of the cup 24. The ball 40 bears on the end of the rod 16 that protrudes into the cup 24 through the aperture 32 in the inner end 34 of the cup 24. This causes the rod 16 to move into a retracted position as shown.

[0054] As the ball 40 passes through the constricted outer end 36 of the cup 24, the ball 40 is held between opposed frusto-conical formations of the cup 24, namely a flared inner formation 38 and a tapering outer formation 37. Thus engaged, the ball 40 is held securely in place within the cup 24 and cannot fall out under gravity or as the device 10 is being handled.

[0055] To release the ball 40 from the cup 24, the rod 16 is moved into an extended position in which the rod 16 pushes the ball 40 out of the cup 24, overcoming the resilient resistance of the constricted outer end 36 of the cup 24. Specifically, the axial force exerted by the rod 16 pushes the ball 40 against the circular rim of the cup 24, which expands just enough to allow the ball 40 to exit. Beneficially, the temporary resistance of the rim lends a positive and satisfying action to movement of the rod 16, providing click-like feedback to a player using the device 10 when releasing the ball 40.

[0056] FIGS. 8a to 9b show how a tee 26 can be inserted into and subsequently removed from the shaft 18 at the tee end of the device 10. To recap, the rod 16 is received in the hollow tubular body 42 of the tee 26, with the tubular wall of the body 42 received in the annular gap between the rod 16 and the shaft 18. In FIGS. 8a and 8b, the body 42 of the tee 26 frictionally engages the rod 16 whereas in FIGS. 9a and 9b, the body 42 of the tee 26 frictionally engages the shaft. In principle, it would be possible for the body 42 of the tee 26 to frictionally engage both the rod 16 and the shaft 18.

[0057] Turning next to FIGS. 10 to 13, these drawings show the device 10 in use while playing golf.

[0058] In FIG. 10, the tee 26 is placed onto a playing surface 46 in preparation for a tee shot. For this purpose, the device 10 is inverted to direct the tee end downwardly toward the playing surface 46. Conveniently, the player can engage the base 44 of the tee 26 using their foot 48, prying the tee 26 from the tee end of the device 10 as the device 10 is lifted away from the surface 46. This enables the player to position the tee 26 without having to bend down.

[0059] Next, in FIG. 11, the player reorients the device 10 to turn the ball end downwardly toward the tee 26. The player presses down on the rod 16 protruding from the tee end of the device 10 using a finger 50 or thumb, in an action similar to pushing a button. This action advances the rod 16 into the cup 24 to push the ball 40 out of the cup 24 as shown in FIG. 7b. Conveniently, the ball 40 can be placed on top of the tee 26 without requiring the player to bend down.

[0060] Once the tee 26 is ready to be picked up after playing a shot, the device 10 is again inverted, so that the tee end faces downwardly as shown in FIG. 12. The player aligns the shaft 18 of the device 10 with the tee 26 and presses down until the tee 26 is frictionally engaged with the rod 16 and / or the shaft 18. Once the tee 26 is thereby secured, the device 10 is lifted away from the playing surface 46 and can be returned to the player's golf bag as play continues.

[0061] To pick up the ball 40, as shown in FIG. 13, the player aligns the cup 24 with the ball 40 and presses the device 10 down to force the cup 24 onto the ball 40. The ball 40 is trapped between the cup 24 and the underlying surface being either the playing surface 46 or the base of a hole if the ball 40 has been successfully holed. Consequently, continued downward pressure on the device 10 forces the ball 40 into the cup 24, overcoming the resilient constriction of the outer end 36 of the cup 34 as shown in FIG. 7a. Once the ball 40 is engaged in the cup 24, the player lifts the device 10 to carry the ball 40 to the location of the next shot. Conveniently, again, there is no need for the player to bend over when picking up the ball 40.

[0062] In summary, it is noted that the first embodiment comprises four principal parts, namely the tubular shaft 18 to which is fitted the receptacle 22, the rod 16 and the pin 24. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. In this second embodiment, the receptacle 22 includes mutually-opposed fingers 52 extending from the shaft 18 at the ball end of the device 10, thus combining the shaft 18 and the receptacle 22 of the first embodiment into a single component 18. In this example, the receptacle comprises two pairs of fingers 52 that are inwardly curved in the manner of claws. Between them, the fingers 52 form a cavity 60 to receive and secure a golf ball 40.

[0063] Beneficially, the fingers 52 are apt to be formed integrally with the shaft 18, for example, by being moulded with the shaft 18 from a plastics material. This allows a reduction in the number of parts required to manufacture the device 10. However, it would instead be possible to produce the fingers 52 as part of a component that is separate from and attached to the shaft 18, like the cup of the first embodiment.

[0064] The device 10 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 also includes at least one pin-like extension of the rod 16, namely a protrusion 14, which is intended to replace the pin 24 described in the first embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the protrusion 14 is again in the form of a headed pin 14 extending from the rod 16 but it is not essential that the protrusion 14 includes an enlarged head portion.

[0065] In this example, the protrusion 14 is situated nearer to the tee end of the device 10 than in the first embodiment. The shaft 18 includes a corresponding longitudinally-extending aperture in the form of a slot 12 that penetrates the tubular wall 30 of the shaft 18 and accommodates the protrusion 14. In this example, the slot 12 opens to the end of the shaft 18 corresponding to the tee end of the device 10. Consequently, the protrusion 14 can enter the slot 12 by being inserted through the open end of the slot 12.

[0066] The open end of the slot 12 opens into a narrow portion 54 of the slot 12 that is narrower than the diameter of the protrusion 14. The slot 12 also has a wide portion 56 that is wider than the diameter of the protrusion 14. Consequently, on being inserted into the slot 12 as shown in FIGS. 16a and 16b, the protrusion 14 firstly forces the sides of the narrow portion 54 apart and then snap-fits into the wide portion 56 of the slot. Specifically, contraction of the narrow portion 54 of the slot 12 prevents the protrusion 14 from exiting the wide portion 56 of the slot 12 without deliberate force. Beneficially, this arrangement allows the protrusion 14 to be integral with the rod 16, thereby reducing the number of components of the device 10 to just two.

[0067] Lastly, FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the receptacle 22 of the device 10 in the second embodiment of the invention. The fingers 52 are moulded of a resilient plastics material that allows the fingers 52 to deflect outwardly to admit the ball 40 and then to return elastically to engage and retain the ball 40.

[0068] Again, the receptacle 22 includes an inner end 34 configured to receive the rod 16 through a central aperture 32 disposed between the fingers 52. As with the cup 24 shown in FIG. 4 an end of the rod 16 is received in the aperture 32 as a sliding fit, whereby that end of the rod 16 can protrude between the fingers 52 to interact with a ball 40.

[0069] Many variations are possible within the inventive concept. For example, whilst actuation of the rod 16 at the tee end of the device 10 is preferred, it may instead be possible to move the rod 16 longitudinally by actuating the pin or protrusion 14 that protrudes through the slot 12 in the tubular wall of the shaft 18.

[0070] The picking mechanism 22 of the first embodiment may be formed as an extension of the plastic shaft 20.

Examples

first embodiment

[0063]Beneficially, the fingers 52 are apt to be formed integrally with the shaft 18, for example, by being moulded with the shaft 18 from a plastics material. This allows a reduction in the number of parts required to manufacture the device 10. However, it would instead be possible to produce the fingers 52 as part of a component that is separate from and attached to the shaft 18, like the cup of the

[0064]The device 10 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 also includes at least one pin-like extension of the rod 16, namely a protrusion 14, which is intended to replace the pin 24 described in the first embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the protrusion 14 is again in the form of a headed pin 14 extending from the rod 16 but it is not essential that the protrusion 14 includes an enlarged head portion.

[0065]In this example, the protrusion 14 is situated nearer to the tee end of the device 10 than in the first embodiment. The shaft 18 includes a corresponding longitudinally-exten...

second embodiment

[0067]Lastly, FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the receptacle 22 of the device 10 in the invention. The fingers 52 are moulded of a resilient plastics material that allows the fingers 52 to deflect outwardly to admit the ball 40 and then to return elastically to engage and retain the ball 40.

[0068]Again, the receptacle 22 includes an inner end 34 configured to receive the rod 16 through a central aperture 32 disposed between the fingers 52. As with the cup 24 shown in FIG. 4 an end of the rod 16 is received in the aperture 32 as a sliding fit, whereby that end of the rod 16 can protrude between the fingers 52 to interact with a ball 40.

[0069]Many variations are possible within the inventive concept. For example, whilst actuation of the rod 16 at the tee end of the device 10 is preferred, it may instead be possible to move the rod 16 longitudinally by actuating the pin or protrusion 14 that protrudes through the slot 12 in the tubular wall of the shaft 18.

[0070]The picking mechanism 22 of ...

Claims

1. A device for handling golf balls and tees, the device comprising:a receptacle disposed at a ball end of the device for releasably holding a golf ball;a tee retainer at a tee end of the device, opposed to the ball end, for releasably holding a tee;an elongate shaft extending from the receptacle to the tee retainer; anda rod extending along and movable longitudinally relative to the shaft into an extended position in which the rod bears against and expels a golf ball held within the receptacle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the tee retainer comprises an annular gap defined between the rod and the shaft.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a cup that defines a cavity and that comprises a flared inner formation configured to receive the ball and a tapering outer formation configured to engage the ball.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein an outer end of the cup comprises a continuous circular rim that is configured to expand to admit the ball and to contract elastically to engage the ball.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises mutually-opposed inwardly-curved fingers.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the fingers have tips that are spaced apart by a distance that is less than an external diameter of the ball.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is integral to the shaft.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a separate component attached to the shaft.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a displacement limiter to restrict said movement of the rod relative to the shaft.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the displacement limiter comprises a protrusion extending from the rod and an aperture penetrating a wall of the shaft to accommodate the protrusion.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the protrusion is integral to the rod.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the aperture comprises an open end that opens toward the tee end of the device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the aperture comprises a wide portion that is wider than a diameter of the protrusion and a narrow portion that is narrower than the diameter of the protrusion, the narrow portion corresponding to the open end of the aperture.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the rod is retractable relative to the shaft into a retracted position when a golf ball is held in the receptacle.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein when the rod is in the retracted position, an end of the rod protrudes from the shaft at the tee end of the device.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one bearing configured to support sliding movement of the rod within and relative to the shaft.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least one bearing surrounds the rod and defines at least one shoulder projecting radially from the rod.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein two or more of the bearings are longitudinally spaced apart along the rod.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least one bearing is integral to the rod.

20. An assembly for handling golf balls and tees, comprising:the device of claim 1; anda tee engaged in the tee retainer of the device.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the tee retainer comprises an annular gap defined between the rod and the shaft, and wherein the tee comprises a tubular body that is engaged within the annular gap between the rod and the shaft.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the tubular body frictionally engages the rod.

23. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the tubular body frictionally engages the shaft.

24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the tee further includes a circular base projecting radially from the tubular body.

25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein a diameter of the base is greater than an outer diameter of the shaft.

Images