FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a golf aid device for placing in the ground a tee and a golf ball thereon.
BACKGROUND
Teeing up in golf typically requires a player to stoop, bend down or kneel to position a golf tee in the ground and placing a ball thereon. After teeing off, the player usually needs to stoop down again to retrieve the tee. Moreover, after a ball is holed, the player must bend down again to retrieve the ball. This repetitive action of constantly bending down and getting up during a game of golf can be tiring, debilitating or even prohibitive, depending on the physical fitness of a player and any physical ailments they might have.
Some golf aid devices have been developed to address the repetitive bending involved in playing golf. However, such devices are typically overly conspicuous, may not work with tees of different sizes, and do not allow for positioning of tees at various heights. Additionally, if one drops or places a prior device on the ground, it can be cumbersome and difficult to retrieve, and in certain instances may still require the player to bend down and pick it up. There is a need to address the above, and/or at least provide a useful alternative.
SUMMARY
The subject matter of the present application has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and disadvantages associated with conventional systems that have not yet been fully solved by currently available techniques. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present application has been developed to provide embodiments that overcome at least some of the shortcomings of prior art techniques.
Disclosed herein is a golf aid device for placing in the ground a tee and a golf ball thereon, the device including an elongate body, a ball and tee holder at a lower end of the elongate body, movable between a closed state wherein a ball and tee may be held thereby, and an open position wherein the ball and tee may be removed therefrom; and a manually operable control means at an upper end of the elongate body, configured for moving the holder between the closed and open states, wherein upon moving the holder to the closed state, the device is biased to remain in the closed state.
According to embodiments of the invention, the control means comprises a first actuator manually operable to bias the holder to the open state, and a second actuator manually operable to bias the holder in the closed state, wherein actuation of one of the two actuators releases the other actuator such that the holder is maintained in either the closed or open states at a given time and without further manual operation of the control means.
According to embodiments of the invention, the holder comprises an openable enclosure for releasably holding the golf ball.
According to embodiments of the invention, the enclosure further comprises, at a lower end thereof, adjustable gripping means configured for holding tees of different sizes.
According to embodiments of the invention, an upper end of the enclosure comprises arms configured to scissor relative to one another to enable opening and closing of the enclosure.
According to embodiments of the invention, the holder is operatively connected with the control means via one or more links within the elongate shaft.
According to embodiments of the invention, the device further comprises a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height at which the device places the tee into the ground.
According to embodiments of the invention, the height adjustment mechanism comprises legs via which the device can stand such that the holder is positioned above the ground, the legs being lockably movable relative to the elongate body for travel therealong to adjust the height between the holder and the ground.
According to embodiments of the invention, the device further comprises locking means for releasably locking the legs relative to the body, wherein unlocking the legs allows them to be folded relative to the elongate body for stowage.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of placing a golf ball and tee in the ground using a device according to a first aspect of the invention, the method including (a) if the holder is in the closed stated, operating the control means to move the holder to the open state, (b) loading the ball and tee into the holder, (c) operating the control means to move the holder to the closed state, (d) orienting the device so as to place the golf ball and tee into the ground, and (e) operating the control means to move the holder to the open state so as to release the placed tee and ball from the device.
According to embodiments of the invention, prior to loading the ball and tee the method comprises locking the holder into the open state, and after loading the ball and tee the method comprises unlocking the holder from the open state.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the advantages of the subject matter may be more readily understood, a more particular description of the subject matter briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the subject matter and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the subject matter will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of a golf aid device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional front view of a golf aid device in an open position according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3A depicts a front view of a holder of a device in an open position according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3B depicts a front view of a holder of the device in a closed state and holding a golf ball and tee according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 depicts a close-up view of the holder end of the device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 5A depicts a perspective view of an arm or one half of a holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5B depicts a perspective view of an arm or one half of a holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 depicts a top view of tee gripping means according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional side view of a control means of the device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8A depicts a button of an actuator according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8B depicts a button of an actuator according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8C depicts a button of an actuator according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of a partially assembled actuator according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of a holder end of the device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 11 depicts a front view of a height-adjustable stand of the device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view of a holder end of the device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 13 depicts a front view of a shaft of the device for facilitating controlled height adjustment thereof according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 14 depicts a front view of the holder end of the device, with legs of the stand shown in a stowed position according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 15 depicts a side view of a device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 16 depicts a side cross-sectional view of a device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 17A depicts a side view of a holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 17B depicts a side view of a holder with a tee and ball according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 18 depicts a perspective view of an arm of the holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 19A depicts a side cross-sectional view of a holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 19B depicts a side view of a holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 20A depicts a perspective view of a tee holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 20B depicts a top view of a tee holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 21A depicts a perspective view of a pivot body according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 21B depicts a side cross-sectional view of a pivot body according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 22 depicts a side cross-sectional view of an actuator assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 23 depicts a perspective view of a retainer according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure
FIG. 24 depicts a front view of a holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure
FIG. 25 depicts a side view of a holder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 26A depicts a bottom view of a collar according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 26B depicts a side view of a collar according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 27 depicts a perspective view of an indexing shaft according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 28 depicts a perspective view of a leg according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure
Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a golf aid device 2 according to embodiments of the invention. The device 2 comprises an elongate shaft 4 which is preferably formed from or configured to appear like the shaft of a regular golf club. At a lower end of the shaft is a ball and tee holder 6. The holder 6 is configured for opening and closing so that a ball 8 and tee 10 (shown in FIG. 3B) can be releasably held by the holder 6, with the ball 8 positioned atop the tee 10 and placed into the ground for teeing up. The holder 6 can similarly be opened to grab golf balls and tees from the ground.
The device 2 also comprises a height-adjustable means in the form of a movable stand, depicted as a tripod 12. The tripod 12 can slide up and down the shaft 4 such that the height at which the holder 6 is held above the ground can be adjusted, thereby allowing players to select the height at which they wish to place the tee 10 into the ground. The tripod legs 14 may fold away such that the golf aid device 2 can be neatly stored away with other golf clubs and equipment.
The device 2 also comprises control means 16 configured to control the holder 6. In the depicted embodiment, the control means 16 is disposed at an upper handle end of the elongate shaft 4. The handle end is also configured to look like a handle of a regular golf club.
Embodiments of the present invention thus provide a device 2 which takes on the form of a regular golf club and can be stored and transported along with other golf clubs and equipment relatively inconspicuously. It also provides a simple control means 16 for operating the holder 6 and allows players to place and retrieve golf balls 8 and tees 10 of varying sizes at various heights in the ground without needing to bend or stoop down. FIGS. 1 and 2 show different embodiments.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a lower end of the device 2. The holder 6 comprises a jaw-like enclosure which can be selectively opened and shut by the player. In the open state, a tee 10 can be secured to the enclosure 6 with a ball 8 thereon. For example, the device 2 could be held by a player while they are standing, and they can manually place the tee 10 and golf ball 8 into the enclosure 6. The enclosure is spring-biased 54 (FIG. 4) towards a closed state to securely retain the ball and tee even before the player locks the enclosure closed. Next, the player can operate the control means 16 to locked closed the enclosure 6 (FIG. 3(b)) such that the tee 10 and golf ball 8 are securely held by the holder 6. Next, the player can orient and lower the device 2 to the ground and place the tee 10 into the ground. Finally, the player can operate the control means 16 to open the enclosure 6 and release the placed golf ball 8 and tee 10.
FIGS. 4 and 5A-5B show the holder 6 in more detail in various embodiments. The holder 6 comprises an enclosure formed from two hemispherically-shaped halves 18 configured, when closed together, to house the ball 8. An upper end of each half 18 is secured to an arm 20, the arms 20 being pivotally connected such that in use, the arms 20 are configured to scissor open and close to cause corresponding opening and closing of the enclosure 6.
An upper end of each arm 20 is secured to a steel cable 22 which runs through the elongate shaft 4 and is operable via manual operation of the control means 16, as will be discussed. In the depicted embodiment, the control means 16 can be operated to move the cable 22 in the shaft 4 up and down, thereby causing scissoring of the arms 20, and thus the prying apart and closing of the two hemispherical halves 18 of the enclosure 6.
The enclosure 6 of the device 2 is also configured with tee gripping means 24 for holding tees 10 of various sizes. In the depicted embodiment, the tee gripping means comprises two like components 24, each fitted to a lower end of a respective hemispherical half 18 which, when brought together in the enclosure's 6 closed state, act to hold a tee 10. FIGS. 5A and 5B depict an embodiment of arms 20.
FIG. 6 shows a top view of the tee gripping components 24. Each component 24 comprises a head 26 shaped to hold a tee 10, and two plastically deformable legs 28, each having a lateral ridge 30. A lower end of each half 18 of the spherical enclosure 6 comprises a slot configured to receive the legs 28, as shown in FIG. 5A.
Tees 10 of different sizes can be held by the device 6 by adjusting the tee gripping components 24 relative to the hemispherical halves 18. In the depicted embodiment, the ridges 30 of the tee gripping components 24 act as stoppers which bear against a surface or wall of the hemispherical enclosures 6. To adjust a spacing between the gripper components 24, the player simply squeezes the two legs 28 together to bring the ridges 30 closer to one another so they no longer abut against a corresponding wall or surface of the hemispherical ball holding halves 18. The gripper components 24 can then be pushed further into the slot of the hemispherical halves 18 to hold narrower tees, or pulled further out from the slot to hold wider tees.
FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the handle 44 of the device 2 and illustrates components of the manually operable control means 16 for opening and closing the holder 6. The control means 16 comprises two actuators which, in FIGS. 7 to 9, are shown as spring-biased buttons 32, 34.
The first button 32 has a substantially elongate body 36 and is disposed within the handle 44 of the shaft 4 such that it is movable along a longitudinal axis thereof. A lower end of the button 32 is operatively engaged with the cables 22 connecting to the enclosure 6. As such, movement of this elongate button 32 upward pulls the cables 22 upward to close the enclosure 6, and depression of the button 32 into the handle 44 urges the cables 22 downward to close the enclosure 6. A head 38 of the button 32 is contained within a chamber 40 at an upper end of the handle 44 and is spring-loaded therein. The spring 42 biases the button 32 upwardly, thereby maintaining the enclosure 6 in the open state.
The second button 34 is disposed in one side of the handle 44 and is depressible in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle 44. The second button 34 is also spring-biased and is operable to lock the first button 32 such that the enclosure 6 remains in the closed state. To this end, the two buttons 32, 34 are configured to engage one another such that actuation of one button 32, 34 also moves the other button 34, 32. Also depicted are securing means 33 and a handle chamfer 35. FIG. 9 depicts another embodiment depicting a cross-sectional view of a handle.
With reference to FIG. 8, the second button 34 comprises a through-hole 46 through which the elongate body 36 of the first button 32 is arranged to extend through. One face defining the through-hole 46 comprises a protrusion 48 configured to engage with a complementary notch 50 formed in the elongate body 36 of the first button 32. The second button 34 also comprises a spring 52 which, in use, is compressed against the elongate body 36 of the first button 32, thereby biasing the second button 34 in an outward direction transverse to the shaft 4. FIG. 7 shows the two buttons 32, 34 engaged with one another via the complementary protrusion 48 and notch 50. In this position, the second button 34 is biased outwardly by its compression spring 52, and the protrusion 48 abuts and fits into the notch 50 to hold the first button 32 in place and prevent it from moving upwardly. As such, FIG. 7 illustrates the control means 16 with the lateral button 34 biased outwardly to hold the vertical button 32 in a depressed state, thereby maintaining the enclosure 6 in a closed state. To open the enclosure 6, the player simply needs to press the lateral button 34. In so doing, the compression spring 52 thereof compresses further, freeing the protrusion 48 from the notch 50, thus allowing the compression spring 42 of the first button 32 to urge the first button 32 upwardly, opening the enclosure 6 and maintaining it in the open position.
In the depicted embodiments, the two hemispherical halves 18 of the spherical enclosure 6 are joined via a tension spring 54 (FIG. 4) which gently draws the halves 18 together towards the closed state. This can help the ball 8 and tee 10 stay in the enclosure 6 before the player has a chance to depress the vertical actuator button 32 to close the enclosure 6. It is envisaged that the tension in the spring 54 is strong enough to close the enclosure 6 with a golf ball 8 and tee 10 therein, but weak enough that the player can manually pry the enclosure 6 open without undue exertion.
Nevertheless, if the player does not wish to manually hold the enclosure 6 open while loading the ball 8 and/or tee 10, there is provided with a swing latch 56 configured to releasably lock the enclosure 6 in the open state. Referring to FIG. 4, the latch 56 is pivotally engaged with one of the two arms 20 and has a hook end 58 configured to latch to a securing pin 60 protruding from the other of the two arms 20. As such, when the enclosure halves 18 are in the open state, the player can lower the swinging arm latch 56 such that the hook end 58 thereof hooks over the pin 60. To close the enclosure 6, the latch 56 can simply be lifted to disengage the pin 60. Next, the player simply needs to press the vertical button 32 downwardly, causing the ridge 48 of the lateral button 34 to enter the groove or notch 50 of the vertical button 32, thereby maintaining the enclosure 6 in the closed position.
Thanks to the present device 2, the player need not continue to apply a manual pressure or force to the control means 16 to maintain the enclosure 6 in an open or closed state. Instead, a simple and single depression of one button or the other 32, 34 can achieve the desired opened or closed enclosure 6 states. As such, a player may load the tee 10 and golf ball 8 into the enclosure 6 some time before teeing up and/or some distance away from the tee up location without needing to constantly grip or squeeze the control means 16, as is required by prior art devices. This is especially beneficial for those with weaker grip strengths and/or dexterity issues.
FIGS. 10 to 12 show a height adjustment mechanism via which the height at which the tee 10 is placed in the ground can be adjusted. The mechanism comprises a stand 12 which allows the device 2 to stand on the ground on its own. In the depicted embodiment, the stand comprises a tripod 12 having three equi-spaced legs 14 extending outwardly and downwardly from the elongate shaft 4. Since the device 2 is able to stand up from the ground on its own, when the device 2 is not in use, the player can simply stand it up on the ground, ready to retrieve it when the device is needed again. This is another advantage over the prior art since existing devices typically need to be placed horizontally on the ground when not in use. They are thus relatively difficult to retrieve without bending over and/or engaging in some cumbersome or awkward maneuvers. For example, in a prior art device, a loop strap is provided via which a standing player must use a golf club to thread it through the strap to pick the device back up.
The tripod mechanism 12 is shown in FIG. 11 and comprises a central tube 62 configured to collinearly receive and secure to a lower end of the elongate body 4 of the device 2. The tripod mechanism 12 also comprises a collar 64 which can travel up and down the central tube 62, which collar 64 carries the legs 14 in a foldable manner (FIG. 14 shows the legs 14 folded upwardly relative to the collar 64). The legs 14 may also be locked relative to the central tube 62 via a locking screw 66 and an opening 68 formed in the central tube 62, as is discussed below.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, the device 2 comprises a cover 70 which is releasably lockable along the elongate shaft 4 and/or the central tube 62 of the tripod assembly 12. FIGS. 10 and 12 show the cover 70 in a lowered positioned in which it receives therethrough the central tube 62 of the tripod assembly 12. In this position, the cover 70 sits on top and covers the collar 64 and prevents the legs 14 from folding upwardly. The locking screw 66 can be located within the opening 68 in the central tube 62 to lock the collar 64 and legs 14 relative to the central tube 62. The locking screw 66 may also be withdrawn from the opening 68 to allow the collar 64 and legs 14 to slide freely relative to the central tube 62 (e.g., to assume the stowed position shown in FIG. 14).
In FIGS. 10 and 12, the central tube 62 is configured to receive an inner tubular height indexing component 72. This component 72 is shown in FIG. 13 and comprises three openings 74 into which the screw 66 can be located. The openings 74 are positioned along the tubular component 72 at specific heights which correspond with heights at which players would wish to place their tees into the ground. The height indexing component 72 also comprises visual indicators 76 which serve to indicate to the player where a top 78 of the central tube 62 should be aligned with so that the locking screw 66 can be aligned with a particular opening 74 of the tubular component 72.
For example, FIG. 12 shows the legs 14 and central tube 62 at a specific position relative to the tubular component 72, which itself is fixed toward a lower end of the elongate shaft 4. The upper edge of the central tube 62 is aligned with the lowermost visual indicator 76, and the screw 66 has been tightened to a position wherein it is located through the opening 68 in the central tube 62, and an aligned opening 74 of the tubular component 72. The device 2 would thus be ready to place the ball 8 and tee 10 at a certain height in the ground. To lower this height, the player simply loosens the locking screw 66 until it is no longer located in the corresponding hole 74 of the tubular component 72, slides the central tube 62 (and thus the cover 70 and legs 14) upwardly until the upper surface of the central tube 62 aligns with the uppermost visual indicator 76. The locking screw 66 can then be tightened to lock it and locate it in a higher opening 74 of the tubular component 72.
FIG. 14 shows a lower end of the device 2 in a stowed state. To assume the stowed state from FIG. 12, the player would loosen the locking screw 66 so that the cover 70 can slide freely up the elongate shaft 4. The three legs 14 can then be folded upwardly towards and against the elongate shaft 4. The cover 70 can then be slid back down so that the ends of the legs 14 can be tucked neatly within and held in place by the cover 70. The locking screw 66 can then be tightened so that it locks against the elongate shaft 4 of the device 2.
Many modifications of the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 10 and 14, the device 2 may comprise a cylindrical or conical-shaped cover or mask 80 disposed toward a lower end of the shaft 4 configured to surround and shield the scissoring arms 20 and ends of the cable 20 from inadvertent contact and exposure to the environment. As per FIG. 10, the cover may be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 4 and may be formed with a lower slot or opening 82 via which the swinging latch 56 can be manually accessed.
In other embodiments, the cover 70 may be optional, and it could be the collar 64 which is provided with locking means, such as the locking screw 66 such that it is releasably lockable to the shaft 4. The tubular height component 72 is also optional, and, for example, the collar 64 could simply be lockable directly to the shaft 4 without the central 62 or the height indicating component 72. In other embodiments, the legs 14 may be releasably lockable rather than pivoting freely relative to the collar 64.
The dual button 32, 34 actuator spring-loaded mechanism is only one way via which the control means 16 allows a user to operate the holder 6. Other known methods for maintaining the holder 6 in one of its two binary states are within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, instead of push button spring-loaded mechanisms, spring-loaded levers or electronic buttons could also be used.
Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, a device 2 is shown. Although the device 2 is shown and described with certain components and functionality, other embodiments of the device 2 may include fewer or more components to implement less or more functionality. FIG. 15 depicts a side view of the device 2 and FIG. 16 depicts a side cross-sectional view of the device 2. The device includes an actuator 17 at a first end of the device 2 with an elongate shaft 4 extending to a second end of the device 2 that includes a tripod 12 and a ball and tee holder or sometimes referred to as a holder 6.
The actuator 17 includes two buttons 32, 34 which are configured to actuate the device 2 and, more specifically, the holder 6. The first button 32 is located at a top of a handle 44 and is configured to be pressed into the handle 44. The second button 34 is located at a side of the handle 44 and is configured to be pressed into the handle 44. The location of the buttons 32, 34 may be located in different locations on the handle 44 in other embodiments.
The handle 44 is coupled to the elongate shaft 4. The elongate shaft 4 includes an inner conduit that houses a cable 22 that extends from the actuator 17 to the holder 6. Positioned on the elongate shaft 4 is a stopper or retainer 122. The retainer 122 is located along the elongate shaft 4 and is configured to function as a stopper for portions of the tripod 12 when put in a stowed configuration (see FIG. 14 for an example of a stowed configuration with the cover 70 extended up and the three legs 14 rotated up to rest next to the elongate shaft 4). Returning to FIGS. 15 and 16, the retainer 122 is configured to be coupled to the elongate shaft 4 and stop the cover 70 from extending above the retainer 122. A flange 124 located at a top of the retainer 122 extends out and obstructs further motion of the cover 70. In addition, the retainer 122 includes a channel 126 in which the plunger 66 drop into so the legs 14 do not move when they are rotated up into a stowed position. The retainer 122 along with the cover 70 allow for the legs 14 to be retained in a stowed configuration while the device 2 is in a golf bag or other carrying device. See FIG. 23 for an example of the retainer 122.
Continuing down the elongate shaft 4, at the second end, a tripod 12 and holder 6 are coupled to the elongate shaft 4. The tripod 12 and the holder 6 include various components including the cover 70, a collar 64, an indexing shaft 72, legs 14, a pivot body 140, and arms 20.
The indexing shaft 72 is fit around the elongate shaft 4 (see FIG. 27 for an example of an indexing shaft 72). The indexing shaft includes one or more guide channels 73 that is an indented channel that is configured to interface with the cover 70 and the collar 64 and restrict rotation of the cover 70 and the collar 64 around the elongate shaft 4. This makes it so the collar 64 and the cover 70 are oriented in a known and repeatable position. The indexing shaft 72 includes a threaded end 75 that couples to the pivot body 140 (see FIGS. 21A and 21B for an example of a pivot body 140).
Returning to FIGS. 15 and 16, the collar 64 and cover 70 are height adjustable along the indexing shaft and allow for the height of the tripod 12 to be adjusted relative to the holder 6 allowing for a user to have a particular height at which the tee and golf ball will sit when pressed into the ground.
As shown, the cable 22 extends from the first button 32 (within the handle 44) all the way through and out the pivot body 140 and is coupled to the two arms 20. The two arms 20 are coupled to pivot members 142 and are further biased by a torsion spring 132. The torsion spring 132 may be configured to bias the arms 20 to rotate to a closed position (FIGS. 15 and 16 depict the closed position for the arms 20). As the cable 22 is extended downward, the arms 20 will rotate about connection between the arms 20 and the pivot members 142. In other words, the torsion spring 132 will cause the arms 20 to rotate as the cable 22 gives more slack. When the cable 22 is shortened (e.g., when the first button 32 is extended up), the cable ends will pull on a first end of the arms at the cable connection point 202 (see FIG. 18) causing the arms 20 to pivot at the pivot point 212 (see FIG. 18) and forcing the hemispherical halves 18 (see FIG. 18) to close. The hemispherical halves 18 are configured to hold the ball 9 and tee 10 (see FIG. 17B).
Other embodiments may be configured to function in an opposite manner That is, the torsion spring may be biased to open the handle or close the handle. In addition, the shortening of the cable may force the handle closed or open depending on the shape of the arm. This disclosure is not intended to be limited to any particular configuration.
Referring to the pivot body 140 (see FIGS. 21A and 21B), the pivot body 140 includes two pivot members 142 that extend out with a space between and through-holes 143 which are the connection points with the arms 20 (at pivot point 212). The pivot body 140 also includes a threaded end 143 which couples to the indexing shaft 72.
Referring to FIGS. 26A and 26B, the collar 64 is shown. The collar includes three connection brackets 67 which are used to connect to the legs 14 and allow for rotation of the legs 14 about the connection brackets 67. The collar 64 also includes a through hole 65 that allows the collar 64 to slide along the elongate shaft 4 and the indexing shaft 72. FIG. 26A shows a bottom view of a collar 64 and FIG. 26B shows a side view of a collar 64. FIG. 27 depicts an indexing shaft 72 with a male threaded end (to connect to the pivot member 140) and also a channel guide 73. FIG. 28 depicts a leg 14 with a connection collar 15. A bolt may extend through the connection collar 15 (as well as the connection bracket 67 of the collar 64) to couple the leg 14 to the collar 64 and allow the leg to rotate.
FIGS. 17A and 17B depict close up views of the tripod 12 and the holder 6. FIGS. 19A and 19B depict close up views of the holder 6 including the tee holder 136. The tee holder 136 is biased by a compression spring that biases the tee holders 136 in opposite arms 20 towards each other but allow for give when the tee pushes back on the tee holders 136. The tee holders 136 are configured to cup a top of the tee right below where a ball would sit in the enclosure of the hemispherical halves 18 of the arms 20. FIGS. 20A and 20B depict embodiments of tee holders 136 and also include a cupping feature 137 that is configured to cup one half of the top of tee.
Referring now to FIG. 22, a close-up cross-sectional view of the actuator 17 is shown. The actuator 17 includes the components shown in FIGS. 8A-8C. A head 32 of button 36 extends out of the handle 44 and is biased upwards by compression spring 52. This biased position pulls on the cable 22. The button 32 when pressed down can be locked in a down position by the second button 34 which engages a notch 50 (see FIG. 8A) and will hold the first button 36 in place. When the second button 34 is engaged it will release the first button (at the notch 50) and allow the spring 52 to push the button 32 upwards and pull the cable 22. The second button 34 also includes a spring 42 which biases the second button 34 to a position of engaging the notch 50 and holding the first button 36 in place.
FIG. 24 depicts a side view of the tripod 12 and holder 6. FIG. 25 depicts another close-up view of the tripod 12 and the holder 6.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification relates.
Although the operations of the method(s) or processes herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
Patent Application
20230302336
