Abstract
A method and apparatus for lifting and setting a golf ball on a golf tee without bending include a shaft holding a lifter-setter tool to lift and set a golf ball onto a golf tee plus a parking tray with means for parking a lifter-setter tool upright on the parking tray. The lifter-setter tool is parked upright on the parking tray with Readily Dissociable Fasteners (RDFs) including an upright parking pin fastened to the parking tray and hook-and-loop fasteners, touch fasteners, and mushroom head fasteners, inter alia.
Claims
1. A method of lifting and setting a golf ball on a golf tee with a lifter-setter tool followed by parking the tool on a male parking pin by the steps as follows comprising: a) providing a golf ball lifter-setter tool including a mechanically, mating, upright parking element with a female parking hole in the bottom of a shaft which is attached to a push down, golf ball, lifter-setter tool; with the golfball, lifter-setter tool having a nest attached to the shaft for temporarily holding a golf ball; and providing an upright, golf tee and an upright, complementary mechanically mating male parking pin, both rigidly fastened to the top surface of a golf ball tray; with the male parking pin being secured to a plate with a threaded bore fastened by a cap screw to the surface of the golf ball tray, —and with the male parking pin being adapted to be inserted into the female parking hole to park the lifer setter tool thereon; b) providing the complementary, mechanically mating upright male parking pin being affixed to a golf ball tray; c) the user moves the shaft to position the nest of the lifter-setter tool above the top of a golf ball; d) the user presses down on the shaft causing the lifter-setter tool to hold the golf ball in the nest; e) the user raises the lifter-setter tool with the golf ball held in the nest; f) the user moves the lifter-setter tool with the golf ball held in the nest above a golf tee affixed to a golf tee support; g) the user lowers the lifter-setter tool down to set the golf ball in the nest onto the golf tee; h) the user lowers the shaft thereby lowering the nest of the lifter-setter tool below the golf ball to release the golf ball set on the golf tee from the nest; i) the user uses the shaft to slide the nest of the lifter-setter tool laterally away from the golf ball and the golf tee; j) the user lifts the shaft with the lifter-setter tool; and k) the user parks the female parking hole onto the male parking pin affixed to the golf ball tray by inserting the male parking pin into the female parking hole.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the means for parking includes the female parking hole in the bottom of the shaft of the lifter-setter tool with the female parking hole being adapted to mount the tool on the male parking pin, with the male parking pin being affixed to the golf ball tray by the cap screw extending through the bottom surface of the golf ball tray with the cap screw being screwed into a hole in the parking pin.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user parks the golf ball lifter-setter tool by lowering the shaft carrying the ball lifter-setter tool thereby mounting the female parking hole onto the male parking pin by inserting the male parking pin into the female parking hole in the bottom of the shaft of the golf ball lifter-setter tool.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the user parks the ball lifter-setter tool on the male parking pin by lowering the shaft carrying the ball lifter-setter tool to mount the female parking hole in the bottom of the shaft of the golf ball lifter-setter tool onto the male parking pin.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the male parking pin and the golf tee are affixed to the golf ball tray which holds at least one golf ball.
6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the bottom end of the lifter-setter tool includes the nest for a golf ball, with two flexible opposing legs spaced apart by a width narrower than a golf ball extending down on opposite sides of the bottom end with each opposing leg ending with a foot with a toe and the opposing feet and toes forming a nest therebetween; the flexible legs being adapted to widen by bending, and to hold a golf ball in the nest; and the downwardly facing hole in the lifter-setter tool for parking the shaft and the lifter-setter tool upright on the parking pin.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the golf ball tray is adapted for holding a golf ball and has both the upright golf tee and the male parking pin secured thereto.
8. Apparatus for manual lifting and setting a golf ball on a golf tee comprising a park and release system including: a shaft having a head with the bottom end of the shaft including a parkable, golf ball, lifter-setter tool and with a mechanically mating, female parking hole in the bottom of the shaft; an upright, golf tee and an upright, complementary, mechanically mating, male parking pin both rigidly secured to a golf ball parking tray provided for holding at least one golf ball, the lifter-setter tool including a nest attached to the bottom end of the shaft for temporarily holding a golf ball; and the mechanically mating female parking hole at the bottom end of the lifter-setter tool being parkable on the male parking pin; wherein the upright male parking pin is fastened to the golf ball parking tray by a screw, and wherein the male parking pin including a threaded bore in the bottom of the parking pin, is secured to a plate fastened to the parking tray with the threaded bore in the bottom of the male parking pin fastened to the golf ball parking tray by the screw extending through the plate into the threaded bore in the bottom of the parking pin.
9. Apparatus for manual lifting and setting a golf ball on a golf tee comprising a park and release system including: a shaft having a head and the bottom end of the shaft including a parkable, golf ball, lifter-setter tool and a mechanically mating female parking element; an upright, golf tee and an upright, complementary mechanically mating male parking pin, both rigidly screwed to a golf ball tray; the lifter-setter tool comprising the shaft connected to a nest for temporarily holding a golf ball; and a mechanically mating, parking female element at the bottom end of the shaft of the lifter-setter tool being parkable on the male parking pin; wherein the male parking pin includes a polymer coated, metal core, having a threaded bore end for securing the male parking pin to a plate fastened to the surface of the golf ball tray by a cap screw fastened to the threaded bore end.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows driving range apparatus including a golf ball lifter-setter useful for lifting a golf ball from a golf driving range tray containing golf balls and for setting a golf ball on a golf tee.
(2) FIGS. 2A-2F show details of the driving range apparatus of FIG. 1.
(3) FIG. 3A-FIG. 3I illustrate steps of performing the method of the present invention with a push down, lifter-setter claw. Alternate front and side views respectively are shown of the push down, lifter-setter claw.
(4) FIGS. 4A-4E show a stand alone embodiment of the invention including a parkable, lifter-setter tool parked on a parking pin plus a golf tee on a support.
(5) FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of a lifter-setter, claw with a head adapted to be secured on the top of a club handle of an inverted golf club.
(6) FIGS. 6A-6G are drawings illustrating steps of operation of a shovel up, alternative style golf ball, lifter-setter, which also performs the method of this invention.
(7) FIG. 7 is a flowchart describing the method of this invention.
(8) FIG. 8 is a flowchart describing an alternative version of the method of this invention.
(9) FIG. 9 is a flowchart describing another alternative to the method of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(10) FIG. 1 shows driving range apparatus 10 including a push down, lifter-setter 16A attached to the bottom of a shaft 14 provided for manually using the lifter-setter 16 to grasp a golf ball 18 and set it on a golf tee.
(11) The lifter-setter 16 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a variety of kinds of golf ball lifter-setters, which are adapted for grasping a golf ball 18 on a golf ball tray 11, filled with a plurality of golf balls 18G. A push down ball lifter-setter tool is defined herein as a tool which includes a head with two flexible legs on opposite sides of a shaft serving as a handle. Feet and toes are attached to each leg forming a nest for a golf ball. Furthermore, as defined here, the push down ball lifter-setter tool can grasp, lift and set a golf ball onto a golf tee, with the two flexible legs being adapted to widen by bending as the feet and toes press against the sides of the ball until the ball falls into the nest. Then when the push down ball lifter-setter tool places a golf ball on a golf tee, the tool is lowered and withdrawn from the golf tee leaving the golf ball on the golf tee. A push down ball lifter-setter tool attached to the shaft can be employed in a park and release system in which the push down ball lifter-setter tool can be parked near the golf tee. One parking method is to use Readily Dissociable Fasteners (RDFs) Alternatively, one can employ a parking pin hole in the bottom of the head of the push down ball lifter-setter tool parking with the pin hole to mate with an upright parking pin on a support. In FIG. 1 the full length push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16 is shown after it has been lowered down onto the center of a golf ball 18 with the truncated shaft 14 i.e., a handle attached to the head 16H of the lifter setter 16 tool, as shown in FIG. 2B, of the push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16 to grasp the golf ball 18. Then a user, i.e. golfer, can lift the full length shaft 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B to move the lifter-setter 16 holding the golf ball 18 from the tray 11. The push down, lifter-setter tool 16, attached to the bottom of the shaft 14, has a nest 16N shown in FIG. 2A for a golf ball 18, comprising two flexible legs 24 with feet 23A therebelow. The two flexible legs 24 and the two feet 23A form the nest 16N (i.e. a cradle) for supporting the golf ball 18 after a golfer has captured it with the lifter-setter 16. The flexible legs 24 of the push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16 are shown in contact with opposite sides of the golf ball 18 holding it in place. The two feet 23A support the bottom of the golf ball 18. To repeat, as shown in FIG. 1 the push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16A has been lowered down towards the center of a golf ball 18 with the shaft 14 for the lifter-setter tool 16 to grasp the golf ball 18. Then a golfer can lift the shaft 14 as shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F to move the golf ball 18 from the tray 11A. The tool comprising a push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16 at the bottom of a shaft 14, handle, is adapted to grasp a golf ball 18 for lifting the golf ball 18 from the tray 11 shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B. Then the push down, ball lifter-setter 16 can set that golf ball 18 on a golf tee provided by a driving range or a golf tee 20 such as that shown of a stand alone embodiment of the invention which is described with reference to in FIGS. 4A-4E.
(12) FIGS. 2A-2F show details of the driving range apparatus of FIG. 1.
(13) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16 of FIG. 1 with the truncated shaft 14 attached to the head 16H of the push down ball lifter-setter tool 16 having a pair of lateral, flexible legs 24 (composed of flexible material) therebelow and integral therewith. The push down ball lifter-setter tool 16 has a golf ball 18 held in a cradle type of nest 16N between the lateral, flexible legs 24 and resting on the feet 23A and toes 23T attached to the bottoms of each of the flexible legs 24 form the nest 16N of the push down, lifter-setter tool 16. Using the push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16, a player can grasp a golf ball 18, with the lifter-setter tool 16 with its jaw-like elements by positioning it above, i.e. straddling, the top of a golf ball 18. Then the user, i.e player, without bending over presses the push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16 down with the shaft 14 of FIG. 2A that is shown truncated for convenience of illustration. That pressure, passed down through the head 16H of the push down ball lifter-setter tool 16, to the legs 24 and the feet 23A and toes 23T, causes the lateral feet 23A to separate and for the lateral flexible legs 24 on either side of the lifter-setter tool 16A to widen by bending, thereby creating tension against the rounded sides of a golf ball 18. Because of the resistance of the hard rounded sides of the golf ball 18, and the flexible material of the lateral flexible legs 24 of the push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16 and the downward manual pressure of the user, i.e. golfer, on a full length shaft 14 with the pressure passed down through the head 16H as the golf ball 18 rises to a certain point there is a release of the tension causing the golf ball 18 to spring upward. Then the golf ball 18 which has been grasped settles down into the nest 16N. The golf ball 18 rests between the flexible legs 24 on the two lateral feet 23B and toes 23T and as a result is positioned to be lifted and moved into position to be set down to rest on a golf tee 20. When the golf ball 18 is lowered with the shaft 14 onto the golf tee 20, the golf ball 18 is ready to be released from the grasp of the push down ball lifter-setter tool 16. At that point the golfer can lower the push down ball lifter-setter tool 16 below the bottom surfaces of the golf ball 18, thereby releasing the grip of the push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16 thereon. Because the open ends of the lateral feet 23B and toes 23T thereof are then below the golf ball 18, the lowered push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16A can be slid laterally away from the golf tee 20 and parked elsewhere, leaving the golf ball 18 ready for the user, i.e. player, to hit it with a golf club.
(14) FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the push down, lifter-setter 16 of FIG. mounted on a full length shaft 14 with a nest 16N, and a head 16H.
(15) FIG. 2C is an enlarged, perspective view of a push down, lifter-setter 16 with a golf ball nest 16N, a head 16H, a pair of legs 24, lateral feet 23A and toes 23T.
(16) FIG. 2D is a plan view of an empty golf ball tray 11 for a golf driving range having a surface comprising hook-and-loop fasteners 12A which can fasten and release an attached object, i.e. a type of readily dissociable fastener. Referring to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2D the fasteners 12A of FIG. 2D are provided for temporarily parking the lifter-setter 16 and its shaft 14 on the tray 11 in an upright position for access to the golfer. The types of fasteners 12A which can be employed as Readily Dissociable Fasteners (RDFs) referred to hereinafter as RDFs include hook-and-loop fasteners shown by (U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,437), touch fasteners (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,932,311; 9,210,970), and mushroom head fasteners (U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,870), and fasteners comprising alternative fasten and release varieties. FIG. 2D is a plan view of an empty golf ball tray 11 for a golf driving range having a surface of surface comprising hook-and-loop fasteners.
(17) FIG. 2E is a front elevation of the empty golf ball tray 11 of FIG. 2D.
(18) FIG. 2F is a bottom view of the bottom surface of the golf ball push down ball lifter-setter 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2A showing hook-and-loop fastener material 12B secured to the bottoms of feet 23A on the bottom of the legs 24 of golf ball lifter-setter 16 which are complementary to RDFs such as the hook-and-loop fasteners 12A of FIG. 2D. The hook-and-loop fasteners 12B are adapted to fasten to the hook-and-loop fasteners 12A shown in FIG. 2D in order to hold the push down ball lifter-setter 16 and shaft 14 of FIG. 1 in a convenient, upright position for use by a user, i.e. a golfer.
(19) FIG. 3A-FIG. 3I illustrate steps of performing the method of the present invention with a push down, lifter-setter claw 16A. Alternate front and side views respectively are shown of the push down, lifter-setter claw 16A.
(20) Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the push down, lifter-setter claw 16A is attached to the bottom of a shaft 14. FIG. 3A shows the front view of the first step, which is to prepare to capture a golf ball 18 resting on a support 40 by setting the push down, lifter-setter 16A feet 23A on top of a golf ball 18. FIG. 3B shows the side view.
(21) FIG. 3C shows the lifter-setter claw 16A after it has been pushed down to grasp the golf ball 18. The golf ball 18 is shown being held between the two flexible legs 24 and supported by the feet 23A of the push down, lifter-setter claw 16A. FIG. 3D shows the side view.
(22) FIG. 3E shows the lifter-setter claw 16A after the player has lifted the loaded lifter-setter 16A raising the golf ball 18 in its grasp from the support 40 and hovering near a golf tee 10 affixed to a support 41 with which it is misaligned. FIG. 3F shows a side view with the golf tee 20 aligned with the hovering golf ball 18, positioned behind it.
(23) FIG. 3G shows the lifter-setter claw 16A moved by the player with the shaft 14 into a position with the golf ball 18 moved into alignment with the golf tee 20 and lowered onto the top thereof thereby teeing up the golf ball 18. FIG. 3H shows the side view with the golf ball 18 teed up on the golf tee 20.
(24) Next as shown by FIGS. 3I and 3J the golfer, who remains in position without bending over, lowers the shaft 14 and the lifter-setter claw 16A below the golf ball 18 which remains sitting on the tee 20. FIG. 3J shows the side view with the golf ball 18 remaining sitting on the tee 20 after lowering of the lifter-setter claw 16A below the golf ball 18.
(25) Then, as shown by FIGS. 3K and 3L the golfer slides the shaft 14 laterally removing lifter-setter claw 16A aside from golf tee 20 and the golf ball 18. Then the lifter-setter 16A can be manipulated aside the golf tee 20. Thus at that point, the lifter-setter claw 16A has been moved out of the way having completed the functions required to tee up a golf ball 18 without bending over. As a result a patron who is a golfer at a driving range has been able to perform the functions of picking up and placing a golf ball 10 on the golf tee 20 with no need to bend over to perform either function. FIG. 3L shows the side view with the lifter-setter claw 16A moved aside the golf tee 20.
(26) The lifter-setters of this invention can be composed of plastic formed molding or a plastic extrusion process.
(27) FIGS. 4A-4E show various futures of a stand alone embodiment of the invention comprising a stand alone teeing unit 10S for a modified push down, parkable, lifter-setter tool 16B.
(28) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the parking pin tray 11B containing a plurality of golf balls 18G showing the stand alone teeing unit 10S including a modified tray 11B and a golf tee support 11C attached to the modified tray 11B. The modified tray 11B houses golf balls18G and an upright parking pin 15 which is shown supporting a modified, parkable, push down, lifter-setter 16B in an upright position. The upright parking pin 15 extends above the surface of the modified tray 11B and the parking pin 15 fastened at its base securely to the modified tray 11B. FIG. 4B shows more details of the modified parkable push down, lifter-setter 16B parked on the parking pin 15. The golf tee support 11C has an upright golf tee 20 fastened thereto. The parkable, lifter-setter tool 16B is shown parked on the parking pin 15 that is inserted into the lower end thereof as described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4C. The golf tee support 11C which is attached to the tray 11B as a part of the integral stand alone teeing unit 10S is shown in FIGS. 4D and 4E.
(29) FIG. 4B shows an enlarged, perspective view of the modified, parking pin tray 11B containing a plurality of golf balls 18G with the modified, parkable, push down, ball lifter-setter tool 16B parked on the parking pin 15. The modified, push down ball lifter-setter tool 16B is located in a convenient position for a user, i.e. golfer, to grasp it when parked on the parking pin 15 at a golf driving range. The modified, push down ball lifter-setter tool 16B, which is composed of flexible material; is adapted to be raised and lowered with the shaft 14 to grasp a golf ball 18 in its small, cradle like, nest 16N shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. FIG. 4C is a sectional elevation of the modified, push down, parkable lifter-setter tool 16B shown parked on the parking pin 15 mounted upon the parking pin tray 11B. Lifter-setter tool 16B is formed with a vertical, central hole 16H, (centered between the legs 24), in the bottom end of the shaft 14 (truncated for convenience of illustration) so that the modified, parkable, lifter-setter tool 16B can be parked on the parking pin 15 by insertion thereof into the central hole 16H between lifter-setter operations. The parking pin 15 supports the modified, lifter-setter tool 16B in a position convenient for the user, i.e. golfer, to lift it with the legs 24 on opposite sides of the truncated shaft 14 to perform the method of the present invention. The two legs 24 on opposite sides of the shaft 14, two feet 23B, and several toes 23T, also formed on opposite sides of the shaft 14, form a nest 16N as with the lifter-setter tool 16 of FIG. 2A, described above. Referring to FIG. 4C, the_parking pin 15 includes a polymer coated, metal core 26, which includes a threaded bore therein for securing the parking pin 15 to a metal plate 25 fastened to the top surface of the modified golf ball tray 11B. The parking pin 15 is secured to the metal plate 25 by a cap screw 21 screwed into the threaded bore including upper and lower washers 22A/22B on both upper and lower surfaces of the metal plate 25.
(30) The push down, parkable, lifter-setter tool 16E includes two flexible legs 24 with two feet 23B and toes 23T with a nest 16N for a golf ball as described above with reference to FIG. 2A.
(31) Then, referring again to FIG. 4A, one of the golf balls 18G can be grasped with the, lifter-setter tool 16B and moved onto a golf tee 20 fastened to golf tee support 11C employing the steps of FIGS. 3A-3L in accordance with this invention as described above. For that purpose, the shaft 14, shown in FIG. 4B, attached to a lifter-setter 16B is ready to be used by a golfer to lift and then set down a golf ball 18 onto the golf tee 20. Then the golfer lowers the lifter-setter 16B with shaft 14 which remains sitting on the golf tee 20 to release the golf ball 18 from the grasp of the lifter-setter 16B by lowering it below the golf ball 18 and then sliding the lifter-setter 16B sideways away from the golf tee 20. These steps are completed by a golfer in a few continuous motions a very short interval, without bending down.
(32) FIG. 4C is a sectional elevation of the push down, parkable, lifter-setter tool 16B parked on the parking pin 15. The parking pin 15 includes a polymer coated, metal core 26, and includes a threaded bore securing the parking pin 15 to the metal plate 25 which is fastened to the top surface of the modified golf ball tray 11B. The parking pin 15 is secured to the metal plate 25 by a cap screw 21 and upper and lower washers 22A/22B on both surfaces of the metal plate 25. The push down, parkable, lifter-setter tool 16E includes two flexible legs 24 with two feet 23B and toes 23T with a nest 16N for a golf ball as described above with reference to FIG. 2A.
(33) FIGS. 4D-4E show a stand alone embodiment of the invention including a golf tee 20 on the golf tee support 11C.
(34) FIG. 4D is another perspective view of the parkable, lifter-setter tool 16B fastened to a shaft 14 and resting on a parking pin 15 that is fastened to parking pin tray 11B, (filled with golf balls 18G) and near the golf tee 20 on the golf tee support 11C.
(35) FIG. 4E is a schematic diagram of the parkable, lifter-setter tool 16B the parking pin tray 11B located near a golf tee 20 on the golf tee support 11C and attached to a long shaft 14 that is preferably tilted at an eighty degree obtuse angle from vertical for the convenience of golfers picking up and setting down the lifter-setter tool 16B.
(36) FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective view a push-down, lifter-setter claw 16C with a head 16H adapted to be secured on the top of a club handle of an inverted golf club. In other words, the claw 16C can be attached the butt end of a typical golf club. The feet 23A, legs 24, toes 23T and nest 16N perform the same functions as described above referring to FIGS. 3A-3L. By virtue of the claw like design configuration of the lifter-setter claw 16C, a player is able to straddle a golf ball 18 on a support 110, the ground or tray and then push down on the claw 16C to engage the legs 24, feet 23A, and toes 23T of the claw 16C with the golf ball 18, which soon springs upwardly as described above, and the golf ball 18 is in the grasp of the lifter-setter claw 16C.
(37) FIG. 5B shows the claw 16C after it has picked up, and captured a golf ball 18 from support 110 hovering above golf tee 20 on a separate support 11E. The golf ball 18 rests in the nest 16N of the lifter-setter claw 16C, as shown in FIG. 5B. The advantage is that a player can then use a golf club or shaft to place the captured golf ball 18 on a golf tee without ever bending down. It is ready for the user to lower the claw 16C to tee up the golf ball 18, as described above, without having to bend down.
(38) After the golf ball 18 is resting on top on the golf tee 20, the user, can lower the claw 16C below the golf ball 18 and the and tee 20 so that by virtue of the open ends of the claw 16C between the toes 23T the claw 16C can be moved clear of contact with the tee 20 and the golf ball 18 by lowering the claw 16C and then sliding it laterally away from the tee 20. Thus, after the golf ball 18 is on the a tee 20 the player can lower the claw 16C, and then slide the claw 16C laterally away from the tee 20 without disturbing the golf ball 18 or the tee 20.
(39) FIGS. 6A-6G are drawings illustrating steps of operation of a shovel up, alternative style golf ball, lifter-setter, which also performs the method of this invention
(40) FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the shovel up, golf ball, lifter-setter 16E comprising a truncated shaft 14 secured to the top of a head 16H, a pelvis 16P, and parallel, relatively thin, mirror image, curved, pair of legs 32. The two legs 32 are attached to the pelvis 16P with one leg 32 on each side of the head 16H. The legs 32 extend out the ends of the curves followed by upwardly sloping, curbs 33 and then ending with distal, thinning, downwardly sloping, feet 34 on the ends of the legs 32. The two curved, legs 32 extend laterally at a right angle from the pelvis 16P curved outwardly and back to form a cup shaped nest 16N between the curved, parallel legs 32 adapted to hold and support a golf ball 18 nested therein. At the end of the curved, parallel legs 32 there are thickened, upwardly sloping, curbs 33 followed by a thinning wedge shaped, downwardly sloping, pair of feet 34. The downwardly sloping feet 34 have thin ends to permit sliding thereof under a golf ball 18 to retain it behind the curbs 33 on the top surfaces of the curved, pair of legs 32 at the transition between the legs 32 and the sloping feet 34. The curbs 33 are provided to hold a golf ball 18 in the cup shaped nest 16N prior to teeing the golf ball 18 up.
(41) FIG. 6B is a schematic elevational drawing of the shovel up, golf ball, lifter-setter 16E described in FIG. 6A.
(42) FIG. 6C is a schematic elevational drawing of the shovel up, golf ball, lifter-setter 16E of FIGS. 6A and 6B and a golf ball 18 resting on a flat surface 42. The lifter-setter 16E is spaced to the left of golf ball 18. The lifter-setter 16E is ready to slide under a golf ball 18.
(43) FIG. 6D is a schematic elevational drawing showing the golf ball 18 resting in the nest 16N of the lifter-setter 16E of FIG. 6C on the flat surface 42 after the player has used the shaft 14 to drive the shovel up, golf ball, lifter-setter 16E rapidly to the right to grasp the golf ball 18 on the cup shaped nest 16N, ready to use the lifter-setter 16E to lift the golf ball 18 from the surface 42 to tee it up.
(44) FIG. 6E is a schematic elevational drawing of the next step following that of FIG. 6D after the player has moved the shaft 14 raising the lifter-setter 16E along with the golf ball 18, following which, the player has moved the shaft 14 to set the golf ball 18 in the cup shaped nest 16N on a golf tee 20 on the surface 43 of the golf driving range. Thus the golf ball 18 has been teed up on golf tee 20 on the surface 43 of the golf driving range. The next step is to withdraw the lifter-setter 16E so that the golf ball 18 can be freed from the cup shaped nest 16N of the lifter-setter 16E so that it will be ready to be driven by the player with a golf club as described below with reference to FIGS. 6F and 6G.
(45) FIG. 6F is a schematic, elevational drawing of the next step following that of FIG. 6E after the player has lowered the shaft 14 with the lifter-setter 16E including the nest 16N, the legs 32, the curbs 33, the feet 34 and the cup shaped nest 16N below the previously grasped golf ball 18 with the lifter-setter 16E remaining just as close to the golf tee 20 regardless of the fact that the golf ball 18 has been released by lowering the cup shaped nest 16N below the golf ball 18.
(46) FIG. 6G is a schematic, elevational drawing of the next step following that of FIG. 6F in which the player has use the shaft 14 to move the lifter-setter 16E to the left of the teed up golf ball 18 and the golf tee 20 without disturbing them. Thereafter, the lifter-setter 16E including the cup shaped nest 16N are removed from the location of the teed up golf ball 18 on the golf tee 20 and parked elsewhere.
(47) FIG. 7 is a flowchart describing the method of this invention. In step A provide a park and release system with a shaft 14 holding a lifter-setter tool 16 to lift and set a golf ball 18 onto a golf tee 20 (especially at a golf driving range) plus a tray 11 with means for parking a lifter-setter tool 16 upright on the tray 11. The park and release system means for parking a lifter-setter tool 16 upright on the tray 11 is selected from Readily Dissociable Fasteners (RDFs) such as hook-and-loop fasteners, touch fasteners, and mushroom head fasteners, inter alia and lifter-setter tools 16 adapted to sit on parking pins 16. In step B, provide golf balls 18G near a golf tee 20 including a golf ball 18 to be grasped with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step C, use the shaft 14 to position the lifter-setter tool 16 proximate to one of the golf balls 18. In step D, grasp the golf ball 18 with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step E, set the golf ball 18 on a golf tee 20 of a golf course or a golf driving range with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step F, lower the lifter-setter tool below the golf ball 18 and set the golf ball 18 on the golf tee 20. In step G, move the lifter-setter tool 16 laterally leaving the golf ball 18 on the golf tee 20. In step H, park the lifter-setter tool 16 upright on the tray 11 using a park and release system.
(48) FIG. 8 is a flowchart describing an alternative version of the method of this invention. In step A1 provide a park and release system with a shaft 14 holding a lifter-setter tool 16 with a parking pin hole 16H and with the lifter-setter tool 16 being adapted to lift and set a golf ball 18 onto a golf tee 20 (especially at a golf driving range) plus providing a tray 11 holding an upright parking pin 15 insertable into the parking pin hole 16H of the lifter-setter tool 16 for parking of a lifter-setter tool 16 upright on the tray 11. In step B, provide golf balls 18G near a golf tee 20 including a golf ball 18 to be grasped with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step C, use the shaft 14 to position the lifter-setter tool 16 proximate to one of the golf balls 18. In step D, grasp the golf ball 18 with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step E, set the golf ball 18 on a golf tee 20 of a golf course or a golf driving range with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step F, lower the lifter-setter tool below the golf ball 18 and set the golf ball 18 on the golf tee 20. In step G, move the lifter-setter tool 16 laterally leaving the golf ball 18 on the golf tee 20. In step H1, park the lifter-setter tool 16 in an upright position with parking pin 15 inserted into the parking pin hole 16H so that the lifter-setter tool 16 is secured in an upright position on the parking pin 15 on the tray 11, thereby using the lifter-setter tool park and release system.
(49) FIG. 9 is a flowchart describing another alternative to the method of this invention. In step A2 provide a park and release system with a shaft 14 holding an RDF parkable lifter-setter tool 16 to lift and set a golf ball 18 onto a golf tee 20 (especially at a golf driving range) plus an RDF tray 11 for parking a lifter-setter tool for upright parking of a lifter-setter tool 16 upright on the tray 11. In step B, provide golf balls 18G near a golf tee 20 including a golf ball 18 to be grasped with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step C, use the shaft 14 to position the lifter-setter tool 16 proximate to one of the golf balls 18. In step D, grasp the golf ball 18 with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step E, set the golf ball 18 on a golf tee 20 of a golf course or a golf driving range with the lifter-setter tool 16. In step F, lower the lifter-setter tool below the golf ball 18 and set the golf ball 18 on the golf tee 20. In step G, move the lifter-setter tool 16 laterally leaving the golf ball 18 on the golf tee 20. In step H2, park the lifter-setter tool on the tray using the hook and loop lifter-setter tool park and release system.
(50) The foregoing description discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention. Modifications of apparatus and methods disclosed above which within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. While this invention is described in terms of the above embodiment(s), those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, i.e. changes can be made in form and detail, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, while the present invention is disclosed in connection with exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood that changes can be made to provide other embodiments which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention and all such changes come within the purview of the present invention and the invention encompasses the subject matter defined by the following claims.
