FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to sports equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a golf disc tip device for easy retrieval of any golf disc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The sport of disc golf is a growing sport with many enthusiasts. The disc golf courses are growing in number and size. As new disc golf courses are growing, the complexities and hazards are increasing within each course as well. Water hazards are particularly difficult to navigate around, and errant throws can end up in these hazards. Typically, one would have to decide to go into the water after the golf disc or to just leave it and thereby one would need to buy a replacement. The golf disc may also be thrown into hard-to-reach places as the errant golf disc can roll under and in between objects. Other prior art disclosed only targets the lip of a golf disc.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a golf disc retriever device that is attachable to a pole or elongated handle for easy retrieving of any style or shape golf disc(s).
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a golf disc retriever device for retrieving golf discs from disc golf course hazards and other hard to reach places.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that can capture a golf disc from either side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A golf disc retriever device comprises a frame, a movable upper jaw, a lower jaw, and a pole fastener. The frame further comprises an upper member, a lower member, an angled member, a vertical member, and a hinge. The movable upper jaw is attached to the upper member of the frame by the hinge. The movable upper jaw is positioned adjacent to the upper member to limit the opening of the movable upper jaw to generally perpendicular to the upper member. The upper member, the lower member, the vertical member, and the angled member are integral to form the frame. The lower jaw is integral with the lower member. The lower jaw includes an open end. The lower jaw extends beyond the upper member to better capture the golf disc. The lower jaw is angled up so the open end of the lower jaw can be slidably placed under the golf disc to limit the retriever having to lower their upper body towards the ground. The movable upper jaw enables the capture of the golf disc with the movable upper jaw removably catching the golf disc between the movable upper jaw and the lower jaw. The purposeful positioning of the movable upper jaw to limit the movement of the movable upper jaw and the shape of the frame captures the golf disc as the golf disc tilts as the golf disc is elevated off the ground. The present invention also comprises a pole fastener to fasten the present invention to a pole or elongated handle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of the present invention, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the present invention, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 3 is a left side view of the present invention, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the present invention, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the present invention, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 8 is a right-side view of the present invention, in accordance with some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
As used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”
“First”, “second” etc. as contained herein are terms used as labels for nouns that precede and do not imply ordering unless context deems otherwise.
The present disclosure has broad utility and application. Any embodiment may incorporate only one of a plurality of the disclosed aspects of the present invention and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the disclosed features of the present invention.
The present invention is a golf disc retriever device. Now referring to the drawings as shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, the present invention comprises a frame (1), a movable upper jaw (2), a lower jaw (3), and a pole fastener (4). The frame (1) further comprises an upper member (11), a lower member (12), an angled member (13), a vertical member (13), and a hinge (15). The upper member (11) includes a first open end. The movable upper jaw (2) is a generally rectangular tab constructed of similar material to the frame (1). The movable upper jaw (2) includes a free end and an attached end. The attached end of the movable upper jaw (2) is attached to the first open end of the upper member (11) of the frame (1) by the hinge (15). The hinge (15) is fastened to the upper member (11) and the movable upper jaw (2) by welding or brazing in some embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge (15) is fastened to the upper member (11) and the movable upper jaw (2) by a plurality of jaw fasteners (21). One of the plurality of jaw fasteners (21) may comprise a nut and bolt, a rivet, or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the movable upper jaw (2) is positioned adjacent to the upper member (11) to limit the opening of the movable upper jaw (2) to generally perpendicular to the upper member (11). The movable upper jaw (2) is actuated by gravity and does not need a spring for tension. The free end of the movable upper jaw (2) is pre-disposed to hang down unless forcibly moved by contact of a golf disc or the like. The upper member (11) is attached to the angled member (13). The angled member (13) is attached to the vertical member (13) and the vertical member (13) is attached to the lower member (12). The upper member (11) and the lower member (12) being generally parallel and coupled together by a first junction. The vertical member (13) being generally perpendicular to the upper member (11) and the lower member (12). The angled member (13) having a slope between the vertical member (13) and the upper member (11) to provide adequate distance between the upper member (11) and the lower member (12) to capture the golf disc. The angled member (13) is coupled to the upper member (11) and the vertical member (13) by a second junction and a third junction. The upper member (11), the lower member (12), the vertical member (13), and the angled member (13) are integral to form the frame (1). The lower jaw (3) is attached to the lower member (12) by a fourth junction. The lower jaw (3) is integral with the lower member (12). The first, second, third, and fourth junctions could be curved to avoid sharp corners. The lower jaw (3) includes a second open end. The second open end extends substantially more than the first open end to better capture the golf disc. The lower jaw (3) is angled up from the lower member (12) so the open end of the lower jaw (3) can be slidably placed under the golf disc while limiting the need of the retriever having to lower their upper body towards the ground by bending the waist and back. The second open end may be coated in a gripping material such as rubber or the like. The gripping material assists in grabbing the golf disc while being captured by the golf retriever device. The second open end may also be rounded and chamfered to facilitate the sliding of the lower jaw (3) under the golf disc.
The frame (1) further comprises a pole fastener slot (41). The pole fastener slot (41) receives the pole fastener (4). As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the slot (41) opening begins on the vertical member (13) and extends upward along the angled member (13). In the preferred embodiment, the pole fastener (4) comprises a bolt and nut system as shown in FIG. 8. The bolt and nut system may further comprise a wing nut. The slot (41) allows the bolt and nut system to attach the pole fastener (4) to the present invention at different angles. The different angles in which the pole fastener (4) may be attached allow the user to adjust the angle based on the surrounding and location of the disc to grab the disc more easily. In accordance with some other embodiments, the pole fastener (4) may comprise a clip, a bracket, or the like. In accordance with some embodiment, the present invention may be attached to an elongated handle. The elongated handle may include a pole for lowering the present invention to the ground or into the water. The present invention is coupled to the elongated handle by the pole fastener (4).
As shown in FIG. 8, the present invention can be used to capture a golf disc. The present invention can capture a golf disc regardless of the side of the golf disc that is positioned up. Therefore, the present invention does not need to be flipped upside down for the present invention to capture a golf disc. The golf disc comprises a top side, a bottom side, and a disc edge. The lower jaw (3) can be positioned below the golf disc so that the disc edge is substantially between the upper member (11) and the lower member (12). The golf disc can then be translated along the ground by pulling on the golf disc by the present invention with the lower jaw (3) grabbing the golf disc and friction between the lower jaw (3) and the golf disc. The golf disc can be removed from present course hazards or free from hard-to-reach places in such a way among others. The golf disc is then raised off the ground. The golf disc will tilt as the golf disc is raised off the ground due to gravity and the lower jaw (3) acting as a fulcrum. The top side will then be caught by the movable upper jaw (2) halting the continuation of tilting and thereby capturing the golf disc.
The present invention is typically made of light weight material such as aluminum or high impact plastic. The present invention can be molded or bent into shape depending on the material used. The thickness and width of the material is adequate for strength but is still capable of sliding under the golf disc for capturing.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20240408457
