EP1098683A1

EP1098683A1 - Displaced position indicating system

Info

Publication number: EP1098683A1
Application number: EP98954644A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Raymond Frederick Bird; Richard Keith Johnson
Original assignee: Gaxco Ltd
Current assignee: Gaxco Ltd
Priority date: 1997-11-20
Filing date: 1998-11-20
Publication date: 2001-05-16
Also published as: AU1168999A; CN1280515A; GB9724465D0; WO1999026703A1

Abstract

An off-line indicating system for indicating where an object, such as a golf ball (26), should be replaced to reposition the ball (26) on a line-of-sight at a precise location, e.g. on a putting green, from where the ball (26) has been temporarily removed comprises a reference component (11) having pins (18, 19) for engaging turf of the green and marker lines (17) and an intermediate component (12) also having marker lines (33, 34) and a profile (25) for contacting the ball (26). The intermediate component (12) is aligned with the ball (26) and the reference component (11) is aligned with the intermediate component (12) and located on the green. The ball (26) and the intermediate component (12) are removed. Accurate replacement of the ball (26) is achieved by replacing the intermediate component (12) in line with the reference component (11) and replacing the ball (26) in abutment with the profile (25). The intermediate component (12) and the reference component (11) are then removed.

Description

DISPLACED POSITION INDICATING SYSTEM

This invention relates to an off-line indicating system for indicating where an object should be replaced to reposition the object on a line-of-sight at a precise location from where the object has been removed. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, intended for use in the game of golf for indicating where a golfer should replace a ball after it has been removed from a line-of-sight between another ball and a cup of a putting green.

In the game of golf a situation often arises on a putting green where a golf ball of one player is located on a line- of-sight between a golf ball of another player and a cup of the green. In such circumstances, rules permit temporary removal of the ball so that the ball of the other player may be played. The rules also govern how the removed ball should be replaced. The procedure is that, before the ball is removed, a blade of a golf club should be aligned between the ball and a distant object and similar re-alignment is carried out to determine the correct position of the ball when it is to be re-located. Such procedure generally does not provide for accurate relocation of a golf ball after it has been removed from a putting green.

According to the present invention there is provided an offline indicating system for indicating where an object should be replaced to reposition the object on a line-of-sight at a precise location from where the object has been removed characterised in that there is provided a reference component for location off the line-of-sight in spaced relation to the object and an intermediate component for location between the object and the reference component, the intermediate component having a portion for contacting an outer surface of the object and a remote portion adapted to cooperate with the reference component, the arrangement being such that the object and the intermediate component are removable without dislodging the reference component and the intermediate component, when replaced in cooperative relation with the reference component, indicates where the object should be replaced so as to be repositioned at the same location at which the object was located prior to removal .

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings:- Figure 1 is an elevation of an indicating device embodying the system in accordance with the present invention, the device being shown in a storage condition,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 when in an operative condition,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 when in an operative condition, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device, similar to Figure 2 but with a putting green repair blade in an operative condition.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown an indicating device 10 embodying the system in accordance with the present invention for use in the game of golf comprising a reference component 11 and an elongate component 12.

The reference component 11 comprises a disc having an upper surface 13, a lower surface 14 and opposite facing parallel rectilinear edges 15,16. The upper surface 13 of the reference component 11 is provided with spaced parallel rectilinear lines 17 extending orthogonal to edges 15,16. The lower surface 14 of the reference component 11 is provided with a pair of depending pin 18,19 and the surface 14 is undercut adjacent the edges 15,16 to provide finger holds 20,21.

The elongate component 12 comprises two portions 22,23 connected one to another by a hinge 24. A surface 25 of the portion 22 remote from the hinge 24 is profiled so as to conform with any portion of an outer surface of a golf ball 26 and an upper surface 27 of the portion 22 is profiled, as shown at 28, to receive a remote end portion of the portion 23 when the component 12 is in a storage condition. The portion 23 is provided with a rectilinear edge 29 remote from the hinge 24 and opposite sides of the portion 23 are undercut to provide finger holds 30,31. An upper surface 32 of the portion 23 and the upper surface 27 of the portion 22 are provided with spaced parallel longitudinal lines 33,34 which are in-line one with another from one to the other of the portions 22,23 and are arranged to align with the lines 17 on the upper surface 13 of the reference component 11 when one of the edges 15,16 of the reference component 11 is in abutment with the rectilinear edge 29 of the portion 23 of the elongate component 12.

Each of the two portions 22,23 is provided with a pair of apertures 35,36 for receiving the pins 18,19 of the reference component 11 when in the storage condition shown in Figures 1 and 2. The device 10 is opened from the storage condition shown in Figures 1 and 2 by removing the reference component 11 from the elongate component 12 and pivoting the portion 23 of the elongate component 12 relative to the portion 22, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3. The finger holds 30,31 facilitate the procedure.

In use, the opened elongate component 12 is placed on a putting green adjacent the golf ball 26 so that the profiled surface 25 is in engagement with the outer surface of the ball 26. The reference component 11 is then located so that one of the rectilinear edges 15,16 thereof is in abutment with the rectilinear edge 29 of the portion 23 of the elongate component 12 such that the spaced parallel lines 17 of the reference component 11 extend in a rectilinear direction in line with the spaced parallel lines 33,34 on the upper surface of the elongate component 12 and the pins 18,19 of the reference component 11 are firmly inserted into the turf of the putting green so that the reference component 11 is located on the green.

The ball 26 and the elongate component 12 are then removed from the green so that play involving another golf ball may continue. The removed golf ball is then replaced on the green by replacing the elongate component 12 so that the rectilinear edge 29 thereof engages the previously addressed edge 15 or 16 of the reference component 11 and the spaced parallel lines 33,34 of the elongate component 12 are in rectilinear alignment with the spaced parallel lines 17 of the reference component 11. The removed ball 26 is then relocated on the green so that an outer surface of the ball 26 abuts the profiled surface 25 of the elongate component 12.

The elongate component 12 and the reference component 11 then are removed from the green and the game continues.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, there is shown operation of a bifurcated putting green repair blade 37 which may be included in the device 10. The blade 37 is substantially the same width as the elongate component 12 and is of a longitudinal dimension corresponding to the longitudinal dimension of the portion 22 of the elongate component 12. A rear end portion of the blade 37 is pivotaily connected to a lower surface of the portion 22, as shown at 38, so that the blade 37 may be pivoted, from an active position extending forwardly of the profiled surface 25, rearwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5 to a storage position under the portion 22 of the elongate component 12, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The extent of movement of the blade 37 relative to the elongate component 12 may be controlled by means of a pin 39, formed integrally with the blade 37, and an accurate slot 40 provided on a lower surface of the portion 22 of the elongate component 12, the pin 39 being located in the slot 40. It will be appreciated that an off-line indicating system in accordance with the present invention may be used in respect of applications not associated with playing of golf and may, for example, be used in respect of other sports or as a handyman ' s tool .

Claims

1. An off-line indicating system (10) for indicating where an object (26) should be replaced to reposition the object (26) on a line-of-sight at a precise location from where the object (26) has been removed characterised in that there is provided a reference component (11) for location off the line-of-sight in spaced relation to the object (26) and an intermediate component (12) for location between the object (26) and the reference component (11), the intermediate component (12) having a portion (25) for contacting an outer surface of the object (26) and a remote portion (29) adapted to cooperate with the reference component (11), the arrangement being such that the object (26) and the intermediate component (12) are removable without dislodging the reference component (11) and the intermediate component (12), when replaced in cooperative relation with the reference component (11), indicates where the object (26) should be replaced so as to be repositioned at the same location at which the object (26) was located prior to removal.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the end portion (25) of the intermediate component (12) for contacting the object (26) is of a configuration which conforms with at least a portion of an outer surface of the object (26).

3. A system as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the reference component (11) and the intermediate component (12) are each provided with markings for aligning the respective components (11,12) one with another.

4. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the reference component (11) is provided with ground engagement means (18,19).

5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the intermediate component (12) comprises two portions (22,23) connected one to another by a hinge (24) .

6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the reference component (11) and the intermediate component (12) are adapted to connect one with another.

7. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that there is provided a putting green repair device (37).

8. A system as claimed in Claim 7 characterised in that the device (37) comprises a blade.

9. A system as claimed in Claim 8 characterised in that the blade (37) is bifurcated.

10. A system as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 characterised in that the blade (37) is adapted to be retractable from an operative condition to a storage position confined within dimensions of the intermediate component (12).