GB2272648A

GB2272648A - Pitch mark repairer.

Info

Publication number: GB2272648A
Application number: GB9323775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Kevin Maton; Brian Hancock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-11-20
Filing date: 1993-11-18
Publication date: 1994-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-18
Also published as: GB9323775D0; GB2272648B

Abstract

A pitch mark repairer for use by a golfer to repair an indent in the surface of a green caused by the impact of a golf ball on that surface comprises a small fork-like implement 12 which is retractable with respect to a handle 4,6 when in its operable position. The operative and inoperative positions are fixed by entrance of a lug 34A in notches 20, 18 respectively. <IMAGE>

Description

A GOLFING ACCESSORY This invention relates to golfing accessories and is particularly concerned with a device sometimes known in that sport as a "turf saver", or more correctly as a "pitch mark repairer".

When the golf ball lands on the turf after travelling some distance and at a considerable height, it tends to create a slight indentation in the turf due to the effect of its mass and velocity and the spin imparted to the ball by the way in which it is struck by the golf club or driver. Whilst this indentation is quite acceptable on the fairway, its effect on the smooth turf of a green is troublesome to players during putting, when the ball tends to become diverted from its intended path if it should pass over such an indentation.

It is customary, indeed expected, for players to reduce or obviate the disturbance thus caused by taking steps to lift up the indented turf to something like its original level and for this purpose most golfers carry a small fork-like implement with which to "tease" up the turf slightly. The turf is sometimes raised slightly above the level of the green and then lightly trodden back again or tapped down with the edge of the club-head to flatten it once more. Such an implement is known as a "pitch mark repairer" and it is to be understood that any reference herein to a "pitch mark repairer" means that type of implement.

The fork-like implement is usually carried in a pocket in the golfer's trousers or jacket and it is well-known for the fork to wear a hole in the pocket.

Sometimes, when the golfer carries the pitch mark repairer in a trouser pocket he suffers irritation or minor scratching when bending down, eg to sight up the ball on the green before putting.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide a pitch mark repairer, but these have suffered from various limitations and have consequently not fulfilled the need and requirements of golfers.

US 4862970 and 3774913 have pitch mark repairers which are mounted within the topmost end of a golf club shaft. US 4955609 has a pitch mark repairer which is attached to the outer surface of a golf club shaft. In all of these devices the shaft of the club has to be modified to accommodate the repairer.

US 3360807 describes and shows a separate pitch mark repairer which has a blade with one square end for scraping mud off golf shoes and an opposite end formed as a fork for repairing indentations in a green -surface. The blade is formed with an enlarged recess midway of its length and a spring member fitted to the blade urges an enlarged button upwardly to locate a boss on the button into one of a choice of four recesses formed in a housing within which the blade is slideable.

The blade, being slightly arcuate along its length, does not locate firmly within its housing and is furthermore complicated and expensive to produce.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pitch mark repairer, and a method of repairing a green on a golf course, providing improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed above, or generally.

According to the present invention there is provided a pitch mark repairer and a method of repairing turf on a golf course as claimed in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a pitch mark repairer as herein defined comprising a fork member retractably mounted with respect to a handle device, the fork member being so arranged to adopt a first, operative position where it extends from the handle device, and a second, inoperative position where it does not extend from the handle wherein the fork member is slideably mounted within a recess formed in the handle device and means are provided to retain the fork member in its operative or inoperative position with respect to the handle device and wherein the means for retaining the fork member in its operative or inoperative position includes a button member located with respect to the fork member and being formed with at least one lug adapted to locate within notches or recesses formed in the handle.

Means may be provided to retain the fork member in its operative position or its inoperative position with respect to the handle device.

Preferably the fork member is adapted to be contained within a recess formed in or on the handle device and is slideably mounted within a recess formed in the handle device, in which case spring means may be provided to urge the fork member from its operative position without the handle device to its inoperative position within the handle device and a latching member may be provided to retain the fork in its operative position.

The latching device may comprise a member located with respect to the fork member and being formed with at least one lug which is adapted to engage a first recess formed in the handle device when the blade is in its operative position, and to engage a second recess formed in the handle device when the blade is in its inoperative position.

In accordance with the invention there is also provided a method of repairing turf on a golf course comprising using a fork member having extended and retracted positions.

The above and other aspects of the invention will become clear from the following description of various embodiments given by way of example only in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment in its operative position; Figure 2 is a side elevation, with a part removed, of the embodiment of Figure 1 in its inoperative position; Figure 3 is a cross section view on the line III III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of parts of a handle device of the device according to the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fork member of the first embodiment; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further part of the first embodiment; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a latch member of the first embodiment; Figure 8 is a side elevation, with part removed, of a second embodiment in its inoperative position;; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fork member of the second embodiment; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of a latch member of the second embodiment.

In the embodiment seen in Figures 1 to 7, a pitch mark repairer according to the invention comprises a handle 2 formed with side cheeks 4, 6 held together by screws 8. Each side cheek is formed with a recess 10 and a fork member 12 having prongs 13 is slideably located within the cavity formed by the recesses. The fork member is cut away to form a surface 11 into which is formed notch 15.

Further recesses, 14 are formed within the cheeks and a cut-away portion 16 is formed in each cheek as seen clearly in Figure 4. Notches 18 and 20 are provided on each cheek plate bordering on the cut away portions as seen clearly in Figures 2 and 4.

As seen, particularly in Figure 2, a connector 22 has a central plate portion 23, a downwardly projecting lug 24, and an upwardly projecting peg 26.

The lug is a close fit within the notch 15 and the plate 23 is adapted to rest on the surface 11 and project into the recesses 14.

A latching member 28, seen in detail in Figure 7 is formed with a central portion 30, a pair of resilient splayed-out legs 32 and projections 34. A hole 36 formed centrally within the central portion 30 is adapted to fit loosely over the pin 26 of the connector 22, and, on assembly, the resilient legs 32 rest on the plate portion 23 as seen in Figure 2.

In the fork retracted position seen in Figure 2, the projections 34 engage within the notches 18 and prevent the latching member 28 and hence the fork member 12 moving longitudinally along the recess 10, due to the interconnection between the member 28, connector 22 and fork member 12. The fork member is thus retained within the confines of the handle 2, to prevent damage or injury to the user.

When it is required to use the pitch mark repairer for its intended purpose, the member 28 is first depressed, against the resistance of resilient legs 32, to disengage the projections 34 from the notches 18 and then moved longitudinally to cause the prongs 13 to project forwardly from the handle as seen in Figure 1. Release of pressure on the central portion 30 allows the projections 34 to be raised, by the action of the resilient legs 32, into engagement within the notches 20. The fork member is thus retained in its operative position.

In the alternative embodiment seen in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the fork member 12A is provided with a cutout portion 17 defining upstanding shoulders 17A and a surface llA. The latching member 28A, as seen clearly in Figures 8 and 10, is somewhat similar to that seen in Figure 7 of the first embodiment, ie having resilient legs 32A and projections 34A extending from the central portion 30A. In addition, the legs 32A are each formed at their extremities with cylindrical rib members 32B. The member 28A is assembled within the side cheeks with the rib members 32B in engagement with the shoulders 17A of the fork member 12A, as seen clearly in Figure 8, the projections 34 are engaging within the notches 18 or 20 according to the operative or inoperative position of the fork member.

Thus, in this embodiment the need for a connector 22 is eliminated and the cost of the device reduced.

A clip (not shown) may be conveniently provided on the handle for use by the golfer to hold the pitch mark repairer securely in a jacket or shirt pocket, or on a belt.

From the above, it is clear that there are provided pitch mark repairers which are readily adaptable for use but which are equally readily converted into an inoperable state in which the dangers of wear to the user's clothing and of possible injury are at least minimised.

The pitch mark repairers as described and illustrated may be fabricated in metal or may be made at least in part from a high impact plastics material.

In particular the handles of the various embodiments may be so made, eg by injection moulding and the operative fork may be of metal or also of a rigid plastics material.

In the embodiments described the side cheeks are held together by screws, however other methods of joining the cheeks are envisaged, such as ultra-sonic welding.

Claims

1 A pitch mark repairer as herein defined comprising a fork member retractably mounted with respect to a handle device, the fork member being so arranged to adopt a first, operative position where it extends from the handle device and a second, inoperative position where it does not extend from the handle wherein the fork member is slideably mounted within a recess formed in the handle device and means are provided to retain the fork member in its operative or inoperative position with respect to the handle device and wherein the means for retaining the fork member in its operative or inoperative position includes a button member located with respect to the fork member and being formed with at least one lug adapted to locate within notches or recesses formed in the handle.

2 A pitch mark repairer according to claim 1 wherein the button member may be depressed digitally in order to move at least one lug from the notches or recesses and whereby the button member may be moved longitudinally with respect to the handle to propel the fork member from one position to another position.

3 A pitch mark repairer according to claim 2 wherein the button member is located with respect to the fork member through an intermediate member which locates with the fork member and with the button member.

4 A pitch mark repairer according to claim 2 wherein the button member is formed with a thumb piece and with resilient legs which act to urge the lugs into location with the notches.

5 A pitch mark repairer according to claim 4 wherein the resilient legs are formed at their extremities with ribs which are adapted to locate within the confines of a recess formed in one edge of the fork member.

6 A pitch mark repairer according to claim 1 wherein the handle comprises two cheek plates secured together in side-by-side relationship and where the inner face of each cheek plate is formed with a longitudinal recess to jointly provide a recess in which the fork member is slideably mounted.

7 A pitch mark repairer according to claim 6 wherein the button member extends from within the handle through a longitudinal passageway formed along one edge of the handle and is movable longitudinally there-along.

8 A pitch mark repairer substantially as described with respect to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

9 A pitch mark repairer substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

10 A method of repairing indented turf on a golf course comprising using a fork member having extendable and retractable positions as described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

11 A method of repairing turf on a golf course comprising using a fork member having extendable and retractable positions as described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

12 A pitch mark repairer as herein defined comprising a fork member retractably mounted with respect to a handle device, the fork member being so arranged to adopt a first, operative position where it extends from the handle device and a second, inoperative position where it does not extend from the handle.