BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is directed to the game of golf and more particularly to a tool or device for a person to tee-up the golf ball on a golf tee from a standing position and to use as a pickup tool.

[0002] The game of golf is being played around the world by more people than ever before. The popularity of golf has increased dramatically in the past few years to become one of the major pastimes for people of all ages. The availability of different tools and devices to improve the ability of a golfer to reduce his score are rapidly on the increase. However, some golfers with physical impairments have had to abandon golf due to difficulties in performing the tasks necessary to play the game. For example, a person having problems with his back or knees has difficulty bending over to push a tee in the ground and to place a golf ball on the tee. The golfer's back is also strained in bending over to retrieve a golf ball as well as a golf tee when they are no longer in play. Assistance from other golfers is generally though of as a sign of weakness on the part of the person having the problem. In some cases the golfer continues to endure the pain associated with this physical problem and, all too frequently, the golfer quits playing golf. A tool to receive, support and grip a golf ball and golf tee so that the golfer can tee-up the golf ball from a standing position without dropping the ball is essential for this golfer to play golf without pain.

[0003] In addition to physical limitations of the golfer, the golf ball may be in an inaccessible location and the assistance of an extended reach or pick-up tool or device to grip and retrieve the golf ball is very useful. These tools are generally known as “reachers” that are capable of reaching out to get the ball. For example, when the golf ball is in a water hazard or under a dense bush, ball retrieval assistance is somewhat necessary. To this end, inventors have devised elongated tools or devices for teeing a golf ball that also provide some sort of pickup tool or device for retrieving golf balls and golf tees. The ability to operate the tool or device with one hand is also important when reaching an inaccessible golf ball.

[0004] Typical of the tools and devices which reach and grip are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,527,492 and 4,926,957. These pickup devices are operated by grasping a handle affixed at one end of a main elongated shaft. Molded cups are spring supported at the other end of the main elongated shaft so that a trigger of the handle, connected by inner springs or fingers to the cups, is depressed to bring the cups together to grasp items between the cups. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,839 a similar griping device, shaft and leaf spring is used for a shoe butler. However, no structure is provided with these inventions for gripping and supporting both a golf ball and a golf tee to tee-up the golf ball.

[0005] Inventions which disclose a golf ball teeing device include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,609,198; 4,077,695; 4,951,947; 5,330,178; 5,383,659; and 5,499,813. In the '695 patent, resilient fingers are attached to a handle to support a golf ball and place the golf ball on a golf tee without bending over. This invention also retrieves golf balls from a water hazard. However, invention '695 does not grip and hold the ball and the tee is not supported or carried by the device for placement in the ground. The teeing devices of '198 and '947 have a housing attached to a lower end of a tubular member to receive the golf ball without gripping the ball. The housing has a slot in the bottom wall to receive the golf tee. A shank or shaft in the hollow shaft or tubular housing is forced downward so as to clamp the golf ball onto the golf tee whereby the tee may be inserted into the ground. However, the housing does not support and grip the golf ball without the clamping action of the shaft, and the tee is not supported laterally when being inserted into the ground. The pick-up and teeing device of '659 includes a needle and housing. The needle is pressed into the golf ball for releasably securing the ball to a shaft end. The device of '659 does not interface with the golf tee. Unlike the present invention of the applicant, the patent of '178 uses two shafts laterally spaced apart for placing the ball and tee in the ground. The teeing device of '813 is also very similar to the devices of '198 and '947. Again the golf ball is not supported by side panels of the receiver and a bottom panel has a slot to support the golf tee. A push rod with a bottom disk having a curved surface extends through the tubular shaft to maintain the golf ball on the golf tee. Once again the lack of lateral support for the golf ball and the golf tee is evident. The teeing devices of '947 and '813 depend on applying a force on a small upper end of the handle or internal shaft to force the tee and/or a spike into the ground. Limited control of the shaft is provided by these handles.

[0006] A golf ball teeing device is being marketed by Teerific Enterprises. The teeing device provides an effortless way to tee a golf ball without bending over, as well as providing a ball and tee retriever. A frame like structure or rods contacts the top of the golf ball and a golf tee is supported by a notch in a bottom plate. By rotating the shaft handle support surfaces, the ball is directed into a retriever member interior for retrieval of the ball. Neither the ball or the tee are gripped and supported by this teeing device.

[0007] Another golf ball teeing device is sold under the name of Tee EZ Plus by Retco Molding of Cincinnati, Ohio. The ball is placed on a ball ring in between clamp arms which open and close by twisting an elongated shaft. A tee is place on the top of the ball and the clamp arms move into a closed position locking the tee and ball in place. In the teeing area the device is inverted and the tee is pushed into the ground. The golfer can adjust the tee height to six different settings by using a thumb screw on the ball ring. The clamping arms release the ball by rotating the shaft clockwise. A rubber ball retrieving cup is added at the upper end of the shaft. Unlike the present invention of this application, it appears that the clamping section must be held to be able to rotate the shaft and release the ball.

[0008] A need exists to have a teeing tool or device that gives adequate support for both a golf ball and a golf tee. Without adequate vertical and lateral support an effort to tee-up the golf ball is subject to trial and error and the ball can be dropped. A further need exists for a handle at the upper end of the device so that proper control and an adequate physical effort can be applied to achieve an application of the device consistent with its intended use. In addition, a need to have a pickup device with positive gripping of the golf ball and golf tee, especially when they may be in a location that is partially inaccessible.

[0009] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a golf teeing tool or device which can be operated by a golfer to receive and grip a golf ball and golf tee without the fear of dropping the ball or the tee.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide fixtures for the teeing tool that give positive vertical and lateral support to both a golf ball and a golf tee so that the ball and tee are retained by the fixtures when transporting the teeing tool from place to place, and, from a standing position, to tee-up the golf ball by placing the golf tee in the ground with the golf ball supported on the golf tee.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide the teeing tool or device with a handle extending at an angle from an elongated shaft which can be carried and operated by one hand of the golfer while the other hand is free to carry other golf clubs and the like.

[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pickup tool that extends the reach of the golfer when being held in one hand for retrieving a golf ball from inaccessible locations such as a water hazard and dense shrubs.

[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to define a method for providing and using a teeing tool or device for a golfer placing a golf tee in the ground to support a golf ball from a standing position

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a pickup or teeing tool or device with an hollow elongated shaft or tube. A handle is affixed to a first end of the shaft and extends at an acute angle with respect to the shaft to better control the tool using one hand. A trigger is rotatably attached to the handle for the golfer to operate the tool. First and second tee-up fixtures are associated with the second end of the shaft. Each one of the tee-up fixtures is connected to an activation band which extends inside the shaft to the trigger at the first end of the shaft. The two tee-up fixtures are being biased apart to receive a golf ball and golf tee. Rotating the trigger moves the bands further into the shaft toward the handle. This movement of the bands displaces the tee-up fixtures together to capture and hold the ball and tee when the trigger is held in a rotated position. A spring arm connected between each fixture and the shaft is preferably added to further support the fixtures at the second end of the shaft. Disposing the tool in a vertical orientation the tee is forced into the ground by pushing on the handle. Releasing the trigger places the ball on the tee for driving the ball.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention a golfing tool is used by a golfer playing golf when inserting a golf tee in the ground and placing a golf ball on the tee. The tool comprises an elongated shaft having an upper end carrying a hand activation assembly and a lower end supporting a teeing assembly. First and second tee-up fixtures of the teeing assembly symmetrically support the golf ball above the golf tee when the tee-up fixtures are disposed adjacent one to the other. First and second spring arms flexibly connect the tee-up fixtures to the lower end of the elongated shaft so that the tee-up fixtures are biased apart one to the other in a relaxed configuration to receive the golf ball and the golf tee. First and second activation bands, each attached to a respective tee-up fixture, extend upward to the hand activation assembly. The hand activation assembly further comprises a handle affixed to the elongated shaft and a trigger rotatably attached to the handle. The first and second bands are attached to the trigger so that rotation of the trigger in one direction moves the bands upward, deforms the spring arms and disposes the tee-up fixtures in contact on to the other to hold and grip the golf ball and the golf tee. The handle and elongated shaft are forced vertically downward to push the golf tee into the ground. The trigger is rotated in an opposite direction to release the golf ball to be supported above the ground by the golf tee to continue playing golf.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, a golf ball teeing device for a golfer in a standing position is provided to place a golf ball on a golf tee in a ground supported position to drive the golf ball. The device comprises an elongated shaft being vertically disposed and having an upper end and a lower end. A hand assembly is affixed to the top end of the shaft having a handle and a trigger for the golfer to grip when using the device. A teeing assembly is connected to the lower end of the shaft having a pair of tee-up fixtures for receiving and supporting the ball and tee. A pair of activation bands, each connected between the trigger of the hand assembly and a respective tee-up fixture of the teeing assembly, are provided so that rotation of the trigger by the golfer moves the tee-up fixtures into a closed position to support the ball and tee when forcing the tee into the ground. Releasing the trigger positions the ball on the tee while the golfer remains in the standing position for driving the ball.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, a method is defined to tee-up a golf ball on a golf tee from a standing position. The method comprises a first step of providing a pick up tool having an elongated shaft with a center bore, a hand assembly including a handle and a trigger affixed at an upper end of the shaft and a teeing assembly connected at a lower end of the shaft. A second step includes installing a pair of tee-up fixtures as parts of the teeing assembly. A third step includes attaching a pair of spring arms between the lower end of the elongated shaft and the tee-up fixtures for biasing the tee-up fixtures to be spaced apart one to the other. In a forth step the method comprises extending a pair of activation bands through the bore of the elongated shaft to connect the trigger with a respective tee-up fixture. A fifth step includes placing the golf ball and golf tee between the tee-up fixtures while rotating the trigger. In a sixth step the method comprises rotating the trigger to displace the tee-up fixtures into an engaging position to support and hold the ball and tee. A seventh step includes placing the elongated shaft in a vertical position and pushing the golf tee into a ground surface. An eighth step includes releasing the trigger to position the ball on the tee in a position for driving the ball.