GB2335585A - A handle support for a rake - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle support (1) for use with an implement such as a golf bunker rake (3) comprising a support leg (6) with means (5) at one end thereof for releasably attaching the handle support to a rake handle (2) so that, in use, the rake handle (2) is held above the ground at all times.

Description

A HANDLE SUPPORT 2335585 This invention relates to a handle support and

more particularly but not exclusively to a support for the handle of a rake for use in a golf bunker.

Golf Clubs always try to provide the best possible course facilities and accessories for their members. One of the requirements when playing golf is that a player whose ball lands in a bunker must rake the sand in it to restore it to its original condition after the shot has been played.

io Unless this is done, golfers in the following groups can be disadvantaged by the action of the preceding players. This can worsen during the passage of a day so the quality of the course can deteriorate quickly to the disadvantage of all players.

Players expect the bunkers to be in prime raked condition without any obstructions in them which could affect the lie of the ball when it finally comes to rest.

Bunkers provide special problems for players because they are not allowed to smooth off or even to touch the prior to playing the shot to extricate the ball from the bunker. There are no dispensations in respect of hazards so, for instance, leaves, debris or footmarks have to be accepted as found to comply with the rules of golf. It is therefore in everybody's interest to ensure that when a golfer plays from the sand in a bunker, the golfer automatically rakes out any footprints therein or other disruption in the area affected by his or her play.

1 Most golf courses provide rakes at each bunker to encourage players to leave the bunker as it was found after the shot has been played to extricate the ball from the bunker. In the absence of a rake being present, players have to smooth the sand to the best of their ability using the head of a golf club or their shoe sole. If rakes are provided at each bunker, their use by the players is not always guaranteed because the players are conscious of the fact that if they pick the rake handle up when it is lying in wet or damp sand, the sand will transfer onto their glove and from there onto the club handle which can affect their grip on the club and thereby their play. In such circumstances, players can be deterred from using the rakes provided at the bunkers.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a handle support which will keep the handle of an implement such as a rake above ground level at all times thereby encouraging its use. Furthermore, as the support holds the handle above ground level, the handle cannot provide an obstacle in the bunker against which a players ball could rest or which could deflect its path when it arrives in the bunker.

According to the invention therefore, there is provided a handle support comprising attachment means for releasably attaching the support to the handle of an implement and spacer means to support said handle above the surface on which the implement lies, in use, the attachment means being adapted to allow the support means to be fitted laterally to the handle.

Preferably the attachment means includes a cradle shaped portion adapted to receive and retain the handle therein. In the preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the cradle portion is equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the handle. In the preferred embodiment, the cradle portion is part cylindrical in shape.

The support means can take any convenient form such as one or more legs extending downwardly from the attachment means.

Preferably the device is molded from a rigid plastics material.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a handle support of the invention in use on a rake handle; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the support shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the support shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a cross section taken along the line IV4V in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a handle support of the present invention supporting handle 2 of a rake 3 having a protective end cap 4 fitted thereto.

The handle support comprises a cradle or support head 5 which has a downwardly depending leg 6 which is T-shaped in cross section (see Figure 4) extending therefrom with a foot 7 formed at its end remote from the cradle head 5 which stops the support sinking into the sand in use or if the rake is dropped from a height.

A strengthening web 8 extends between the cradle head 5 and the foot 7 as shown in Figure 2.

io The cradle head 5 is part cylindrical in configuration and has a gap 9 formed in its upper surface extending along its length. The width of the gap is slightly less than the outside diameter of the rake handle to be received therein. As rake handles generally have a plastic protective end cap 4 fitted to them (see Figure 1) it is important that the cradle or support head 5 be capable of being fitted laterally onto the handle 2 of the rake 1 as the cap 4 prevents it being fitted onto the end of the handle and slid down the handle shaft into position.

As the rake support is preferably molded from a rigid plastics material, the opposite sides of the support cradle 5 can flex outwardly to allow the rake handle to be pressed laterally into the cradle and gripped by the side walls thereof.

Due to the elasticity of the rigid plastics material, the cradle of the handle support can self-adjust to the varying diameters of different rake handles.

It will be appreciated that the support 1 offers little obstruction to a rolling ball so the risk of the path of the ball in a bunker being impeded in any way is substantially reduced.

Claims (7)

Claims

1. A handle support comprising attachment means for releasably attaching the support to the handle of an implement and spacer means to support said handle above the surface on which the implement lies, in use, the attachment means being adapted to allow the support means to be fitted laterally to the handle.

2. A handle support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment lo means includes a cradle adapted to receive and retain the handle therein.

3. A handle support as claimed in claim 2 wherein the attachment means is part cylindrical and has an inside diameter equal to or slightly less than that of a handle to be retained therein.

4. A handle support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support means comprises a leg which extends from the attachment means.

5. A handle support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the attachment means is generally C-shaped in cross section.

6. A handle support as claimed in any preceding claim moulded from a rigid plastics material.

7. A rake substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Case: 31363

7. A handle support substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A rake comprising a handle support having attachment means for releasably attaching the support to the handle of the rake and spacer means to support said handle above the surface on which the rake lies, in use, the attachment means being adapted to allow the support means to be fitted laterally to the handle.

2. A rake as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means includes a cradle adapted to receive and retain the handle therein.

3. A rake as claimed in claim 2, wherein the attachment means is part cylindrical and has an inside diameter equal to or slightly less than that of a handle to be retained therein.

4. A rake as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support means comprises a leg which extends from the attachment means.

5. A rake as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the attachment means is generally C-shaped in cross section.

6. A rake as claimed in any preceding claim moulded from a rigid plastics material.