Golf ball retriever

• US 6,454,331 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roger Ahlenius
• Original Assignee: Roger Ahlenius
• Inventors: Ahlenius, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, JOHNNY DAN
• Application Number:
  US09/749,150
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 294/19.1, 294/19.2, 294/55.5, 294/66.1, 294/26, 373/16, 563/281, 563/32, 564/000.1, 564/000.4, 564/001.1, 473/286
• US Class Current: 294/19.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/02 for picking-up or collecting

Abstract

The present golf ball retriever is comprised of a telescopic arm, and a claw rigidly attached to the distal end of the arm. The claw is comprised of a pair of laterally spaced fingers joined at their proximal ends by a curved horizontal connecting bar. The fingers are respectively comprised of guide rails forward of the connecting bars, backwardly curved hooks forward of and downward from the guide rails, and backwardly directed straight extensions at the distal ends of the curved hooks. The fingers are generally parallel to each other when seen in a top or bottom view. The extensions are parallel to the rails when seen in a side view. The outer span between the fingers is no greater than the diameter of a golf ball. The rails are adapted to guide the ball toward the curved hooks. The extensions prevent the ball from falling off the hooks.

Claims

1. A golf ball retriever consisting of:

an arm; and

a claw rigidly attached to a forward end of said arm for pushing through vegetation and mud without being moved out of position relative to said arm, wherein said claw is comprised of only two laterally spaced rigid fingers joined at respective proximal ends thereof by a curved horizontal connecting bar, an outer span between said fingers is generally no greater than a diameter of a golf ball for capturing and supporting said golf ball anywhere along said fingers, and for being narrow enough to pass through said vegetation, said fingers are respectively comprised of;

guide rails forward of said connecting bar, wherein said guide rails rest stably on said golf ball without slipping off and to guide said golf ball, said guide rails are generally parallel to each other when seen in top view for guiding said golf ball; and

backwardly curved half-circle hooks forward of and depending from said guide rails, wherein said curved half-circle hooks hold said golf ball which is guided in by said guide rails.

2. The golf ball retriever of claim 1, wherein said arm is comprised of a telescopic arm.

3. The golf ball retriever of claim 1, wherein a rear end of said claw is curved downwardly for helping direct said golf ball forwardly towards said curved hooks.

4. A golf ball retriever consisting of:

An arm; and

a claw rigidly attached to a forward end of said arm for pushing through vegetation and mud without being moved out of position relative to said arm, wherein said claw is comprised of only two laterally spaced fingers joined at respective proximal ends thereof by a curved horizontal connecting bar, an outer span between said fingers is generally no greater than a diameter of a golf ball for capturing and supporting said golf ball anywhere along said fingers, and for being narrow enough to pass through said vegetation, said fingers are respectively comprised of;

guide rails forward of said connecting bar, wherein said guide rails rest stably on said golf ball without slipping off and to guide said golf ball, said guide rails are generally parallel to each other when seen in top view for guiding said golf ball; and

backwardly half-circle curved hooks forward of and depending from said guide rails, wherein said curved hooks form a pouch to hold said golf ball which is guided in by said guide rails, and

said pouch, at the distal end of said fingers, comprised of said rails and said hooks and said tips, is only minimally larger than said golf ball;

backwardly directed straight extensions at lower ends of said curved hooks, wherein said extensions support said golf ball in said pouch, and said extensions and are generally parallel to forward ends of said guide rails when seen in a side view for holding said golf ball in said pouch.

5. The golf ball retriever of claim 4, wherein said arm is comprised of a telescopic arm.

6. The golf ball retriever of claim 4, wherein a rear end of said claw is curved downwardly for helping direct said golf ball forwardly into said pouch.

7. A golf ball retriever consisting of:

an arm; and

a claw rigidly attached to a forward end of said arm for pushing through vegetation and mud without being moved out of position relative to said arm, wherein said claw is comprised of only two laterally spaced fingers joined at respective proximal ends thereof by a curved horizontal connecting bar, an outer span between said fingers is generally no greater than a diameter of a golf ball for supporting said golf ball anywhere along said fingers, and for being narrow enough to pass through said vegetation, said fingers are respectively comprised of;

guide rails forward of said connecting bar, wherein said guide rails are at least about as long as said diameter of said golf ball for being placed on said golf ball without the need for precise positioning, said guide rails rest stably on said golf ball without slipping off and to guide said golf ball, said guide rails are generally parallel to each other when seen in top view for guiding said golf ball;

backwardly half-circle curved hooks forward of and depending from said guide rails, wherein said curved hooks form a pouch to hold said golf ball which is guided in by said guide rails, and

backwardly directed straight extensions at lower ends of said curved hooks, wherein said extensions support said golf ball in said pouch, and said extensions are generally parallel to forward ends of said guide rails when seen in a side view for holding said golf ball in said curved hooks;

wherein a rear end of said claw is curved downwardly for helping direct said golf ball forwardly towards said curved hooks, said pouch, at the distal end of said fingers, comprised of said rails and said hooks and said tips, is minimally larger than said golf ball.

8. The golf ball retriever of claim 7, wherein said arm is comprised of a telescopic arm.