Golf Club Grip Ball Pickup Device With Nesting Gripping Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball pickup devices are either expensive, cumbersome, or difficult to retrofit, and often interfere with the golf club's operation or storage, particularly for elderly or less agile players who struggle with bending to pick up balls from the ground.
Innovation Solution
A compact device with gripping arms that are displaceable under the force of a resilient element, held in their rest position by the same element, allowing for easy mounting on the grip and operation with minimal interference, featuring a resilient element that increases spring force during ball pickup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If multiple springs are used to displace prongs out of the grip, then the prongs can be effectively displaced, but the device becomes expensive and its overall length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple spring functions into a single resilient element that performs both the displacement function and the holding function simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate springs and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective force generation
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient element serves multiple functions: it acts as both the displacement mechanism and the holding mechanism for the gripping arms, making a single component perform what previously required multiple components, thereby reducing cost and complexity
2Ease of operation
If resilient prongs extend permanently from the end of the golf club, then ball pickup is enabled, but they become obstructive during play and cause problems when the club is stored
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping arms transition from a static extended position to a dynamic retracted position through the action of the resilient element, allowing the device to adapt its configuration based on operational needs - extended for ball pickup, retracted for play and storage
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping arms are designed to nest within or alongside the grip structure when retracted, minimizing protrusion and interference during play and storage, similar to how nested dolls compactly store within each other
3Ease of manufacture
If the device is mounted on the outside of the grip, then it can be retrofitted easily, but it causes problems during play and when inserted into the golf bag
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a static external mounting to a dynamic configuration where gripping arms can retract, reducing interference during play and bag insertion while maintaining the external retrofit mounting advantage
4Reliability
If spring force is applied to hold gripping arms in rest position and displace them into actuating position, then reliable ball retention is achieved, but the device may become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rest-position-holding function and the actuating-position-displacement function into a single resilient element, eliminating the need for separate springs and complex mechanisms while maintaining reliable ball retention through consistent spring force application
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a sturdy, easy-to-use, and compact solution for picking up golf balls without adding bulk to the club, allowing for one-handed operation and easy assembly on standard putter grips, ensuring reliable ball retention with increased holding force.
Implementation Method 1
which, under the effect of at least one resilient element (15, 16), are displaceable from a rest position on the grip into an actuatable position
Implementation Method 2
the spring force working on the gripping arm is increased
Data Source
AI summary
A device for picking up balls or golf balls (10) is disposed in the region of the grip (11) of a club (12). It includes several holding elements, which are displaceable under the effect of at least one resilient element from a rest position on the grip into an actuatable position in which they are capable of picking up the golf ball. By the holding element being at least two gripping arms (13, 14), which are fitted into each other in the rest position under the effect of at least one resilient element, a compact device for picking up that is simple to operate is created.