GB2413770A

GB2413770A - Golf club with pivoting pitch mark repair tool

Info

Publication number: GB2413770A
Application number: GB0410093A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Mcgrath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-06
Filing date: 2004-05-06
Publication date: 2005-11-09
Also published as: GB0410093D0

Abstract

Pitch repair tool 1 comprises fork 2 pivotally mounted to putter head 12 via a pivot pin 4 which passes through an aperture (not shown) in the putter head, such that fork 2 is movable between an extended, operative position, and a retracted, storage position (see fig. 2). Fork 2 may comprise a planar member having elongate prongs 6 at one end of a base section 8, and a pivot pin receiving aperture (not shown) provided at the other end of the base section. The pivot pin 4 and corresponding putter head aperture may be located at an end of the putter head 12 remote from shaft 14, with fork 2 pointing in the longitudinal direction of the head away from the shaft when in the operative position, and pointing in the longitudinal direction of the head towards the shaft when in the storage position (see fig. 2). Putter head 12 may include a slot (16, fig. 3) which receives fork 2 in the storage position, and may have retention means, e.g. a projection (not shown), for retaining the fork in the operative and/or storage positions.

Description

24 1 3770 Pitch Mark Repair Tool The present invention relates to a tool

for repairing pitch marks made by a golf ball.

When playing golf, the impact of a ball on the green can leave an indentation known as a pitch mark which should be repaired by the player before he proceeds.

In general, known pitch mark repair tools are in the form of a two pronged fork which may be conveniently carried in the golfer's pocket. Such repair tools typically include a cover for the fork in order to avoid damage to the golfer's pocket and to the fork when not in use.

However, despite the availability of such pitch mark repair tools, an inordinate number of players still neglect to fix their pitch marks on the green. Usually, this is because it is just too much hassle to have to bend down to achieve this, especially for people who may be overweight or maybe have back trouble.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of this disadvantage associated with such known pitch mark repair tools and in order to provide an improved pitch mark repair tool, which overcomes the disadvantage, by not requiring the user to bend down to use the tool to repair a pitch mark.

. . e According to the invention there is provided a pitch mark repair tool adapted to be incorporated into a golf club having a putter head mounted on a shaft, the repair tool comprising a forked device adapted to be pivotally mounted on the putter head by means of a pivot pin passing through an aperture formed in the putter head such that the forked device is pivotally movable between an operative position wherein the forked device extends from the putter head and an inoperative position wherein the forked device does not extend from the putter head.

Preferably, the forked device comprises an elongate, substantially planar member having two elongate prongs at one end and an aperture for the pivot pin adjacent the other end. Preferably, the prongs comprise over half the length of the member.

The invention further provides a golf club having a putter head mounted on a shaft and a pitch mark repair tool of the invention incorporated therein, the forked device being pivotally mounted on the putter head.

Preferably, the shaft extends from one end of the putter head and the pivot pin and aperture are located near the other end of the putter head.

Preferably, when in the operative position, the forked device extends from the putter head substantially in the longitudinal direction of the head in a direction away from the shaft.

:- ee *:. :: .

. . Preferably, when in the inoperative position, the forked device extends along the putter head substantially in the longitudinal direction of the head in a direction towards the shaft.

Preferably, the putter head comprises a slot for receiving the forked device when in the inoperative position. Preferably, in use, the slot extends longitudinally along the front of the putter head adjacent to and substantially parallel to the undersurface of the putter head.

Preferably, the putter head comprises retention means, such as a projection, for retaining the fork device in the operative position and/or retention means, such as a projection, for retaining the fork device in the inoperative position.

Preferably, the repair tool is mounted on the putter head such that the repair tool, when in the inoperative position, does not interfere with the normal use of the golf club to play golf.

The invention further provides a method of incorporating a pitch mark repair tool of the invention into a golf club having a putter head mounted on a shaft, the method comprising forming an aperture in the putter head and locating the pivot pin of the repair tool through the aperture so that the forked device is pivotally mounted on the putter head. Preferably, the . . . . ë Be: :e:. * e.: .e.. method further comprises forming a slot in the putter head for receiving the forked device when in the inoperative position.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a golf club incorporating a pitch mark repair tool according to one embodiment of the invention with the repair tool in the operative position; Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the golf club of figure 1 with the repair tool in the inoperative position; Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of a golf club incorporating a pitch mark repair tool according to a second embodiment of the invention with the repair tool in the operative position; and Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing use of a golf club according to the invention to repair a pitch mark.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, a pitch mark repair tool 1 of the invention is incorporated into a golf club 10 having a putter head 12 mounted on a shaft 14. The repair tool 1 comprises a forked device 2 pivotally mounted on the putter head by means of a pivot pin 4 passing through an aperture in the putter head.

. . . :: : A: ...

The forked device 2 is pivotally movable, as indicated by arrow A, relative to the putter head 12 between an operative position, as shown in figure 1, wherein the forked device extends from the putter head and an inoperative position, as shown in figure 2, wherein the forked device does not extend from the putter head.

The forked device 2 comprises an elongate, substantially planar member having two elongate prongs 6 at one end extending from a base section 8 containing the aperture for the pivot pin 4 adjacent the other end. Typically, the prongs 6 are the same length as, or longer than, the base section 8.

The shaft 14 extends from one end of the putter head 12 and the pivot pin 4 and aperture are located near the other free end of the putter head.

When in the operative position, the forked device 2 extends forwardly from the putter head 12 substantially in the longitudinal direction of the head in a direction away from the shaft 14. When in the inoperative position, the forked device 2 extends rearwardly along the putter head substantially in the longitudinal direction of the head in a direction towards the shaft 14.

Referring to figure 3, a concealed version of a golf club incorporating a pitch mark repair tool of the invention is shown. The putter head 12 comprises a slot . . :: : I-: ...

16 for receiving the forked device 2 when in the inoperative position.

The slot 16 extends longitudinally along the front, ball facing surface 20 of the putter head 12 adjacent to and substantially parallel to the undersurface 18 of the putter head.

A finger grip recessed portion (not shown) may be provided on the putter head adjacent the slot to facilitate manually pulling the forked device out of the slot, in a manner similar to opening a penknife.

Retention means, for example in the form of a simple nib or projection (not shown), may be provided at suitable locations on the putter head 12 for retaining the forked device in the operative and inoperative positions, respectively.

As seen from the drawings, the repair tool 1 is mounted on the putter head 12 in such a manner that, when in the inoperative position, it does not interfere with the normal use of the golf club 10 to play golf, since it does not obstruct the front playing surface 20.

In general, the putter head 12 of a golf club has a back wall 22, a front recessed portion 24 and raised end portions 26 on either side of the recess, the front wall of the end portions 26 and recessed portion 24 defining the playing or ball striking surface.

. ::: .. he eye Typically, the aperture and pivot pin 4 are provided in the raised end portion 26 remote from the shaft 14. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the forked device 2, when in the inoperative position, extends into the recessed portion 24 and lies along the base of the recess. In the embodiment shown in figure 3, the forked device 2, when in the inoperative position, extends into the slot 16 and lies below the recessed portion 24.

In order to incorporate the pitch mark repair tool 1 of the invention into a golf club 10, an aperture is formed in the putter head 12 at an appropriate location and the pivot pin 4 of the repair tool is located through the aperture so that the forked device 2 is pivotally mounted on the putter head.

For the concealed embodiment shown in figure 3, the slot 16 is also formed in the front face 20 of the putter head for receiving the forked device when in the inoperative position.

In use, the pitch mark repair tool of the invention is pivoted to the operative position and can be used to repair a pitch mark by applying the forked device to the turf. Since the forked device is mounted on the putter head, it is not necessary to bend or stoop to carry out the repair.

Referring to figure 4, a pitch mark 30 is formed in the ground by the impact of a golf ball 32. As the golfer . . ::: I . .e eel proceeds towards the ball in the direction of arrow B. he passes the pitch mark. Thus, on the way towards the ball, the pitch mark can be conveniently and easily repaired by using the pitch mark repair tool 1 to peck the ground in the region of the mark so that the turf is raised by the pecking action of the forked device 2.

The golf club 10 is oriented so that the longitudinal axis X of the putter head 12 and the extended forked device 2 forms an obtuse angle with the ground on the golfer's side of the golf club. The club is raised and lowered while being moved gradually along the pitch mark in a pecking action so that the forked device 2 moves up and down along the longitudinal axis X raising the turf with it. The turf can then be tapped down with the base 18 of the putter head to settle it into its correct position and consolidate the turf. The golfer then simply proceeds to his ball 32.

By contrast, with known hand held, pocket style forks, the golfer has to bend down to the pitch mark and dig the turf by a twisting action to raise the turf to its correct level. This manual action can lead to sore hands.

When no longer required, the forked device is pivoted back to the inoperative position and the golf club can be used as normal to play golf since there is no interference with the ball playing capability of the club.

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ë - .e .: Thus, the invention provides a pitch mark repair tool which can be attached to a putter for the purpose of repairing pitch marks made by a golf ball as it hits the green or any other minor depressions on the green.

With the repair tool of the invention, a pitch mark can be easily and conveniently repaired without having to bend down. In addition, the tool is always readily available and cannot be lost or misplaced like known repair tools. The repair tool of the invention, with a little practice, makes it an absolute pleasure to repair pitch marks.

It will be appreciated that expressions of orientation or direction, such as "forward", "rearward" and "front" and the like, as used in the description and claims, are used for convenience and refer to the normal orientation of a golf club in use and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments, which are described by way of

example only.

Claims

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Claims A pitch mark repair tool adapted to be incorporated into a golf club having a putter head mounted on a shaft, the repair tool comprising a forked device adapted to be pivotally mounted on the putter head by means of a pivot pin passing through an aperture formed in the putter head such that the forked device is pivotally movable between an operative position wherein the forked device extends from the putter head and an inoperative position wherein the forked device does not extend from the putter head.
2. A pitch mark repair tool according to claim 1 wherein the forked device comprises an elongate, substantially planar member having two elongate prongs at one end and an aperture for the pivot pin adjacent the other end.
3. A golf club having a putter head mounted on a shaft and a pitch mark repair tool according to any preceding claim incorporated therein, the forked device being pivotally mounted on the putter head.
4. A golf club according to claim 3 wherein the shaft extends from one end of the putter head and the pivot pin and aperture are located near the other end of the putter head.

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5. A golf club according to any preceding claim wherein, when in the operative position, the forked device extends from the putter head substantially in the longitudinal direction of the head in a direction away from the shaft.
6. A golf club according to any preceding claim wherein, when in the inoperative position, the forked device extends along the putter head substantially in the longitudinal direction of the head in a direction towards the shaft.
A golf club according to any preceding claim wherein the putter head comprises a slot for receiving the forked device when in the inoperative position.
8. A golf club according to claim 7 wherein, in use, the slot extends longitudinally along the front of the putter head adjacent to and substantially parallel to the undersurface of the putter head.
9. A golf club according to any preceding claim wherein the putter head comprises retention means, such as a projection, for retaining the fork device in the operative position and/or retention means, such as a projection, for retaining the fork device in the inoperative position. .

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10. A golf club according to any preceding claim wherein the repair tool is mounted on the putter head such that the repair tool, when in the inoperative position, does not interfere with the normal use of the golf club to play golf.
11. A method of incorporating a pitch mark repair tool according to any preceding claim into a golf club having a putter head mounted on a shaft, the method comprising forming an aperture in the putter head and locating the pivot pin of the repair tool through the aperture so that the forked device is pivotally mounted on the putter head.
12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising forming a slot in the putter head for receiving the forked device when in the inoperative position.
13. A pitch mark repair tool, a golf club or a method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.