US3360807A - Golfing accessory - Google Patents

Description

8 J. R. MAUCK I 3,360,807

GOLFING ACCESSORY Filed Dec. 27, 1965 lzl Hal 176.2

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United States Patent 3,360,807 GOLFING ACCESSORY Jess R. Mauck, 8808 Britland Way, Fair Oaks, Calif. 95628 Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 516,502 5 Claims. (Cl. 714.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand tool including an elongated open ended substantially hollow housing normally sheathing a tool body and mounting the body for reciprocation therein, the tool body having a manually operable detent or handle means operatively connected therewith and extending exteriorly of the housing for actuation longitudinally of the housing to effect a selective extension of one or the other of the ends of the body beyond the adjacent end of the housing to expose a working end formed on the tool body.

ings between which is positioned the ground-engaging stud. I

The openings are utilized to receive a point in order to rotate the cleat into engagement with the threaded sleeve in the sole. Although cleat tools may be available at the golf shop or at a shoe shop, it is often necessary to tighten golf cleats while on the golf course at which time the point of a golf tee is normally utilized to rotate the cleat. It will be apparent that the utilization of a single wooden point to rotate a cleat is a rather exasperating chore.

One of the difficulties in maintaining a golf course for constant use is the repair of divots or indentations on the green resulting from the impact of golf balls thereon.

These indentations are normally called ball divots and create a roughened green surface detrimental to the putting of players and disruptive of the greenkeepers at tempts to provide a smooth putting surface. It is therefore advantageous for all players to repair ball divots to aid in'the maintenance of the golf course.

his an object of the instant invention to provide a golfing accessory which may be utilized to tighten the cleats on a golfersshoe and which may also be utilized 1 to repair divots resulting from the impact of a ball on a putting surface.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a golfers accessory which is small enough to be placed in the pocket of a golfer and which may be expanded during utilization.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a golfers accessory which includes a telescoping tool and handle wherein the tool may be extended a first predetermined distatnce to expose a cleat tightening wrench and wherein the tool may be extended an addiltional increment to expose the divot repairing device.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a tool which is slidably received by a suitable handle and which is made of spring metal and is curved to facilitate securement of the tool within the handle.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention, as well as the invention itself, reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction and operation, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the golfers accessory of the instant invention showing the tool fully retracted interiorly of the handle;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the golfers accessory of the instant invention illustrating the tool being extended in one direction to expose a sharpened blade for use in cleaning mud or the like from the golfers shoes, from the faces of the irons and from the grooves thereon;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the golfers accessory of the instant invention illustrating the tool extended a first predetermined distance in the other direction and engaging a golf cleat shown in dashed lines;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the golfers accessory of FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive, illustrating the extension of the tool to a second predetermined distance whereby it may be utilized to repair divots;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the golfers accessory of FIGURES 1 to 4 inclusive;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional View of the accessory of FIGURES 1 to 5 inclusive, taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the golfers accessory of the instant invention illustrating in dashed lines the alternative extensions of the tool;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged side elevational View of the tool slidably received by the handle, certain parts being broken away for purposes of illustration; and

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of the accessory of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout -the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at -10 the golfing accessory of the instant'invention having pair of depending side walls 24 are integrally formed with top wall 18 and may be provided with a series of ridges 26 to facilitate a users gripping accessory 10. Although walls 18, 24 are preferably made of a metallic material, it should be apparent that they may be made of any suitable substance.

A bottom wall 28 is positioned under top wall 18 and includes a pair of integral upwardly extending side walls 30 residing flush against side walls 28. As may be seen in FIGURE 6, the lower edge of side walls 24 may be deformed as at 32 for securing bottom wall 28 interiorly of side walls 24. It Will be apparent that housing 12 forms a longitudinal passageway 34 extending therethrough for the reception of tool -14 with passageway 34 communicating with slot 20 and enlargements 22 along a portion of the extent of passageway 34.

Tool 14 includes a body 36 of substantially rectangular configuration forming a sharpened edge 38 at one end thereof which, may be extended beyond the confines of housing 12, as in FIGURE 2, to provide a scraper with which a golfer may clean mud or similar material from his shoes. The other end of tool body 36 forms an elongate longitudinally extending groove 40 dividing the end of tool 14 into a pair of spaced apart legs 42. A protuberance 44 is affixed on the end of each of legs 42 and is of a size sufficient to fit within an opening formed in a base 46 of a golf cleat shown generally at 48 in FIGURE 3. Cleat 48 includes a central threaded shank 50 inserted into a sleeve 52 in a sole 54 of a golf shoe While a ground piercing stud 56 extends from base 46 in the other direction.

As may be seen in FIGURE 3, tool 14 is reciprocated out of housing 12to an extent sufiicient to receive ground engaging stud 56. Protuberances 44 will be inserted into 'the openings formed in base such that the rotation of accessory 10 in a suitable direction will result in the tightening or removal of cleat 48. It is important that only a minimal portion of groove 40 is reciprocated out of accessory 10 since legs 42 are substantially supported by housing 12. It Will also be apparent that the configuration of FIGURE 4 is somewhat unsuitable for the tightening of cleats because of the length of accessory 10 which results in an awkward wrench.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the maximum outward reciprocation of tool 14 will allow legs 42 to be utilized to repair ball divots by inserting legs 42 into the ground adjacent the divot and working the earth therewith. The area may then be pressed downwardlywith the golfers shoe resulting in a repaired area that is substantially smooth.

As may be seen in FIGURE 6, tool body 36 forms a central enlarged recess 58 with a pair of aligned slots 60 extending in the longitudinal direction of tool 14 and communicating with recess 58. A slightly arcuate spring member 62 is positioned in slots 60 and forms an opening 64 receiving a depending shank 66 of detent 16. Detent 16 is secured to spring 62 by a lower boss 68 affixed to the lowermost portion of shank 66 and an enlarged upper boss 70 secured to the uppermost end of shank 66.

It will be seen, therefore, that spring 62 is sandwiched between bosses 68, 70 and acts to urge detent 16 upwardly. Enlarged boss 70 resides in an opening 72 within tool body 36 with boss 70 extending above the surface of body 36. An enlarged button 74 is secured to enlarged boss 70 by a reduced diameter shank 76 which is sufficiently small to reside within slot of housing 12. Boss 70, however, is sufficiently sized to be closely received by enlargements 22, as may be seen in FIG- URE 6, and precludes reciprocable movement of tool 14 when boss 70 is engaged with enlargement 22.

As an additional feature a ball marker shown generally at 80 is releasably received by detent 16 so that the golfer may have available a device to place on the green to spot the ball while another player is putting. Ball marker 80 includes a fiat plate 82 slightly larger than button 74 having a depending arm 84 received inan opening 86 formed in button 74 and shank 76. It will be seen that the overlap of plate 82 allows a player to extract arm 84 from'opening 86 to free marker 80 for use. In use, arm 84 is inserted into the green surface where the players ball is located. Because of the insertion of arm 80, it is virtually impossible for marker 80. to be inadvertently moved. Surprisingly, the insertion of arm 86 into the green surface is beneficial rather than detrimental because of the aeration of the grass induced by the opening formed in the green.

Further facilitating the secure engagement of tool 14 within passageway 34 of housing 12 is the arcuately convex nature of tool body 36. The insertion of such a configured body within substantially straight passageway 34 results in a spring binding engagement providing a secure connection. This spring binding engagement is further enhanced by the spring metal material With which tool body 36 is preferably made.

In order to reciprocate tool 14 within housing 12, it is necessary only to depress button 74 such that enlarged boss moves clear of enlargement 22 at which time tool 14 may be reciprocated throughout the length of slot 20 or throughout any distance desired. It should further be noted that bottom wall 28 may be made of a plastic or other material which may be printed on or to which decals may be applied providing a space for advertizing matter or for indicating average distances achieved by the utilization of different golf clubs.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved golfing accessory having all of the objects and advantages of the instant invention, including many advantages of practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim.

1. A golfers accessory for repairing ball divots and for tightening golf cleats of the type having a base, a stud adjacent the center of the base and an opening in the base on each side of the stud, said accessory comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal passageway and a slot extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the housing in communication with the passageway, a plurality of enlargements spaced along and communicating with said slot;

a tool having a substantially rectangular body formed of spring metal and slidably mounted in said passageway, said body being arcuately convex with respect to said slot;

said body having a lower central recess communicating with said slot through an opening;

a spring member mounted in said recess;

said body having a longitudinal groove of a size to receive the golf cleat stud and communicating with pne end of said body to form a pair of spaced apart a protuberance on each of said legs of a size and shape to be received by the openings in the golf cleat base;

a detent residing in said slot, said detent extending through said opening and being secured to said spring member, said spring member constantly urging said detent toward said slot;

said detent being operatively engaged with said tool for exposing the protuberances and a part of the tool groove for tightening the golf cleat when the detent is engaged with one of the enlargements and for exposing the protuberances and a larger part of the tool groove for repairing a ball divot when the detent is engaged with another of the enlargements.

2. The golfers accessory of claim 1 including a sharpened edge on the other end of the tool body for cleaning foreign matter from golf shoes, clubs and the like.

3. The golfers accessory of claim 1 wherein the tool body opening is at least as large as the enlargements and the detent includes a boss larger than the slot for residing in the tool body opening, the boss being thicker than the tool body adjacent the opening for engaging the enlargements.

4. The golfers accessory of claim 3 wherein the detent includes a shank extending through the slot and secured with the boss and a button on the shank above the slot.

5. The golfers accessory of claim 3 wherein the boss and shank have formed therein an opening and further including a ball marker comprising a plate of larger size than the boss and a depending arm, the arm being received by the opening in the shank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Dobson 30--162 Trimble et al 30162 X Kraeling 273-462 Darnell 15237 X Klynman 294-555 X OTI-IELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner. 10 R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner.

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