WO2000005039A1

WO2000005039A1 - Hand held golf tee marker moving system

Info

Publication number: WO2000005039A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/016819
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jerome D. Lenz
Original assignee: Lenz Jerome D
Priority date: 1998-07-24
Filing date: 1999-07-23
Publication date: 2000-02-03

Abstract

A hand held golf tee marker moving assembly (8) includes an elongated, length adjustable arm (20) with a golf tee marker capture assembly (16) located at one end of the arm. A tee marker with a base and enlarged top, separated from the base with a neck, is adapted to be captured by spaced apart prongs (22, 24) on the golf tee marker capture assembly. The prongs surround the tee marker neck. Once captured, the tee marker is up to the operator on a mower by moving the arm upward with the enlarged top supported by the prongs. The tee marker is then removed from the prongs by the operator.

Description

HAND HELD GOLF TEE MARKER MOVING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I . Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a manually operated arm assembly and more particularly to an arm assembly for lifting golf tee markers out of the path of the mower thereby permitting the operator to remove and replace golf tee markers without leaving the mower while mowing the tees .

II . Discussion of the Prior Art

Golf course grounds keepers work diligently to keep the golf course in exceptional playing condition. Part of the maintenance includes mowing the tees every day or every other day. The mowing operation includes removing the tee markers .at the tee boxes located at the beginning of each hole, mowing the area where the tee marker was removed and then replacing the tee marker in its proper location. The current method requires the average operator to get on and off the mower approximately 100 times to remove and then replace the tee markers. Such a task is time consuming and burdensome .

A need, therefore, exists for a less time consuming, but effective, way of removing and replacing tee markers when mowing a tee box. In my co-pending application serial number 09/014,932, I disclose a power operated pivoting arm for moving the tee markers out of the mower path and up to the mowing operator. This power operated pivoting arm is readily mounted on conventional mowers. Thus, the mowing operator is able to remove and replace the tee markers without having to stop and leave the mower. However, a need still exists for a more cost effective golf tee marker remover that does not have to be mounted onto the mower. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a hand held golf tee marker moving system for use on a conventional tees mower. An arm has a golf tee marker capture assembly located on one end of the arm. The arm is formed from two tubular members, with one tubular member moveable within the other tubular member for a length adjustable telescoping arrangement. The golf tee marker capture assembly includes two spaced apart prongs which extend at an angle from the arm. A hand grip is located on the arm opposite the two prongs. The prongs are configured to receive a neck of a golf tee marker having a base, a neck and an enlarged top. If a different shaped golf tee marker is used, the capture assembly is configured to correspond to the golf tee marker's configuration to enable the tee marker to be lifted with the arm. The operator captures the tee marker as he/she mows next to it and then raises the arm upward to bring the tee marker up to the operator. The mowing operator can then remove the tee marker from the capture assembly without leaving the mower seat .

Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a system for removing and replacing golf tee markers during the mowing operation without requiring the operator to stop and get off the mower each time a tee marker must be removed or replaced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and cost effective system for removing and replacing tee markers during a mowing operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for removing and replacing tee markers that is positionable on either side of the mower and height adjustable to thereby accommodate the variety of conventional commercial mowers currently used by golf course grounds keepers .

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals in the several views refer to corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a top view of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the tee marker capture assembly;

Figure 5 is a side view of the present invention engaging the golf tee marker; and

Figure 6 is a side view of the present invention holding the golf tee marker in a raised position. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The hand held golf tee marker moving apparatus 8 of the present invention is shown in Figure 1 and is used to lift tee markers such as the pentagonal shaped tee marker 10 having a neck 12 supporting an enlarged top 14 having a spherical configuration. The hand held golf tee marker apparatus 8 includes a golf tee marker capture assembly 16, a hand grip 18 and a length adjusting assembly 20.

Turning now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the golf tee marker capture assembly 16 will be described. Two prongs, 22 and 24, extend from a mount 25 located on end 26 of arm 28. Prong 22 extends downward from side 30 of mount 25 at an angle from the longitudinal axis of arm 28. Prong 24 extends downward from side 32 of mount 25 first at an angle from the longitudinal axis of arm 28 and then in a direction parallel to prong 22 as seen in Figures 1 and 3. Prong 22 flares outward at its end 34 as does prong 24 at its end 36. The spacing between prongs 22 and 24 is sufficient to receive the neck 12 of the tee marker 10 therethrough and support the enlarged top 14 when raised as will be described in greater detail. The tee marker 10 and tee marker capture assembly 16 are specifically configured to mate as shown. However, any other suitable mating arrangement between a tee marker and capture assembly can be used. Many tee markers are currently spherical and thus a suitable mating arrangement will be necessary to enable the operator to capture and lift the tee marker 10 with arm 28. Also the enlarged top can have a variety of configurations other than spherical such as a cube, triangle or other geometric shape.

Arm 28 consists of a first tube 38 that includes hand grip 18 at end 40. Positioned within tube 38 is a second tube 42 having a diameter less than tube 38 allowing tube 42 to slide within tube 38 for a telescoping effect. This telescoping effect enables the operator to adjust arm 28 to a suitable length. A conventional locking arrangement 20 to lock the arm 28 in the desired length and prevent sliding movement of the tubes 38 and 42 is provided. One well known locking arrangement requires simply twisting the tubes 38 and 42 with respect to each other into a first or locked position where the tubes cannot move longitudinally with respect to each other. Tubes 38 and 42 are then twisted to a second or unlocked position where they can slide longitudinally with respect to each other. The operation of the apparatus will now be described. The operator begins the mowing operation. The operator first adjusts the length of arm 28 so that when seated on the mower, arm 28 will extend down far enough to reach the neck 12 of the golf tee marker 10. The operator approaches the side of a tee box on the mower, the operator holds the arm 28 out to the side and aligns the tee capture assembly 16 with the tee marker neck 12. The flared ends 34 and 36 assist in capturing neck 12 between prongs 22 and 24 as shown in Figure 5. After the tee marker 10 is captured, the operator lifts the arm 28 to bring the tee marker 10 upwards so that the operator can manually remove the tee marker 10 from prongs 22 and 24 while remaining seated on the mower. The angled configuration of prongs 22 and 24 support the golf tee marker 10 by its enlarged top 14 and keeps the tee marker 10 within the assembly as the operator lifts the marker 10. The operator can move the arm 28 laterally as depicted in Figure 6 or raise it vertically so that the tee marker 10 is at the top.

The operator then removes the tee marker 10 from prongs 22 and 24 manually as shown in Figure 6 or by manipulating the arm 28 to position the golf tee marker 10 in the holder designated 44 in Figure 6. The operator can then mow the tee area and drop the golf tee marker 10 in place as the mower passes by the proper location on the tee. The operator can then proceed with the mowing operation without having to stop and get off the mower to remove tee markers before mowing and then replace tee markers after mowing.

This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A golf tee marker moving apparatus comprising: a) an elongated arm having a first end; and b) a golf tee marker capture assembly on said first end of said arm, said golf tee marker capture assembly configured for receiving a golf tee marker.

2. A golf tee marker moving system of claim 1 wherein said elongated arm is selectively adjustable for length.

3. A golf tee marker moving system of claim 1 wherein said golf tee marker has a neck and enlarged top.

4. A golf tee marker moving system of claim 3 wherein said golf tee capture assembly includes a first prong extending at an angle from said elongated arm first end and a second prong extend from said elongated arm first end with a portion in a predetermined spaced apart parallel arrangement to said first prong for receiving said neck of said golf tee marker therein.

5. A golf tee marker moving system of claim 1 wherein said arm has a hand grip opposite said golf tee capture assembly.

6. A golf tee marker moving system for use with a golf tee marker having a neck and a enlarged top, said golf tee marker moving system comprising: a) an elongated arm, said arm having a first end and a second end; b) a handgrip adjacent said second end of said arm; and c) a golf tee marker capture assembly mounted on said first end of said arm, said golf tee marker capture assembly including a first and second prong.

7. The golf tee marker moving system of claim 6 wherein said first and second prongs are in spaced apart parallel arrangement from each other.

8. A golf tee marker moving system of claim 7 wherein said first and second prongs are spaced to accommodate said tee marker neck therethrough and support said enlarged top.

9. A golf tee marker moving system of claim 6 wherein said elongated arm is comprised of telescoping tubular members selectively adjustable for length.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 2 December 1999 (02.12.99); original claims 1-9 replaced by amended claims 1-7 (2 pages)]

1. A golf tee marker moving apparatus comprising an elongated handle having an axis with a hand-gripping portion at one end and a golf tee marker capture assembly at the opposed end thereof, said golf tee capture assembly comprising :

(a) a bifurcated fork assembly comprising a pair of elongated generally cylindrically configured rigid tines arranged in parallel axial relationship and with each tine having a shank portion positioned between proximal and distal ends;

(b) a mount body coupled to a tip end of said elongated handle for receiving and retaining the proximal ends of said elongated tines;

(c) said shank portion being in angularly downwardly diverging generally parallel relationship to the axis of said handle, and with the axes of said distal end portions of said elongated tines being spaced downwardly, outwardly, and generally parallel to the axis of said elongated handle.

2. A golf tee marker moving apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated handle is selectively adjustable for length .

3. A golf tee marker moving apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bifurcated assembly engages and captures the neck portion of a golf tee marker having a body with an upwardly extending neck and an enlarged top coupled to the upper end of said neck.

4. A golf tee marker moving apparatus of claim 3 wherein the tines of said bifurcated fork assembly each include a proximal tine segment extending at an angle from said elongated handle and a distal tine segment extending from said proximal tine segment and being arranged in a predetermined spaced apart parallel disposition for receiving and capturing said neck of said golf tee marker therein.

5. A golf tee marker moving apparatus for use with a golf tee marker having a body with an upper neck and an enlarged top coupled to the upper end of said neck, said golf tee marker moving apparatus comprising:

6. A golf tee marker moving apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rigid tines forming said pair are spaced to accommodate and capture said tee marker neck therethrough and support said enlarged top therebetween.

7. A golf tee marker moving apparatus of claim 5 wherein said elongated handle is comprised of a pair of telescoping tubular members selectively adjustable for length. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19(1)

This amendment is submitted in order to clarify and more clearly distinguish the subject matter of the claims from the references indicated as relevant in the Search Report of 20 October, 1999.

Banks, Jr. refers to a telescoping lure dehooker and as such is believed to be selected from non-analogous art, and hence an improper reference when applied to a golf tee marker moving apparatus. Nonetheless, the structures are different inasmuch as the substance of the present claims, particularly new parent Claim 1, discloses an apparatus utilizing cylindrical tines. The elements which could arguably relate to tines in Banks, Jr. are merely flat rectangularly tapered members as shown at 30 in the Banks, Jr. reference. As amended, it is believed that new claims distinguish from the Banks, Jr. reference. Thus, since the parent claims are believed free of the art, the dependent claims should be considered free as well .

The basis for the Jeninga citation is believed to be due to the showing of a golf ball retriever which employs a pair of loops 16 which are biased so as to permit a golf ball to be retrieved therebetween. As amended, the claims in the present case refer to elongated cylindrical tines which are, of course, distinct and different from closed loops. As such the claims should reasonably be found to be allowable over Jeninga.

Filion is considered distinct from the subject matter now set forth in the claims inasmuch as the structure incorporates a bifurcated member comprising a pair of tines which have shank portions extending angularly downwardly from the axis of the handle, and with distal tip ends which have axes disposed generally parallel, but in spaced relationship, to the elongated axis of the handle. This feature is neither found nor suggested in Filion. The arrangement and configuration of the tines permits the worker dealing with the golf tee marker to grip the marker moving apparatus in one hand, while engaging the golf tee marker within the bifurcated forward or tip assembly. In this fashion, it is then possible for the greenskeeper to temporarily lift and remove the marker, mow the location surrounding the marker, and thereafter re-position the marker in place. All of this is accomplished without the necessity of the greenskeeper leaving the mower vehicle, thus expediting and facilitating the overall operation.

This amendment is submitted in order to expedite the full consideration of this case. An early and favorable action is hereby earnestly solicited.