Golf ball positioning device

Abstract

The golf ball positioner has a fork assembly attached to the end of a shaft such that the fork assembly may be pushed over, around and under a golf ball without a golfer having to bend over. This is particularly useful on golf driving ranges where a golfer must continually bend over to retrieve and place a ball on a golf tee. The fork assembly has one or more fork elements that include a pair of generally semicircular fingers oriented orthogonal to the shaft. A spring is attached in the fingers to engage and be deformed by a golf ball as the fork element is pushed over it. The force of the spring then serves to retain the ball on the fingers. The ball may then be placed on a golf tee and the fork element slid out from under the ball.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A device for positioning golf balls comprising: 
 a fork assembly attached at the approximate end of a shaft;    a fork element of said fork assembly approximately orthogonal to said shaft;    said fork assembly having a resilient means in cooperation with said fork element facilitating pushing said fork element around and under a golf ball.    
     
     
         2 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said resilient means is said fork element having a pair of fingers resiliently deformable.  
     
     
         3 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said resilient means is said fork element having a plurality of spring tabs having an aperture formed therein with a spring fastened therein.  
     
     
         4 . The device as in  claim 3  wherein said spring is a coil spring.  
     
     
         5 . The device as in  claim 3  wherein said spring tabs are formed in a sleeve portion of said fork element.  
     
     
         6 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said fork element having a pair of generally semicircular fingers.  
     
     
         7 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said shaft remains in an approximate upstanding position when said fork assembly bottom surface is placed on a generally level, flat surface.  
     
     
         8 . A device for positioning golf balls comprising: 
 a fork assembly attached at the approximate end of a shaft;    a fork element of said fork assembly positioned approximately orthogonal to said shaft; and    a spring attached to a finger of said fork element.    
     
     
         9 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein each finger of said fork element having a plurality of spring tabs having an aperture formed therein with a spring fastened therein.  
     
     
         10 . The device as in  claim 9  wherein said spring is a coil spring.  
     
     
         11 . The device as in  claim 10  wherein said coil spring is fastened at each end by a hook inserted in said aperture.  
     
     
         12 . The device as in  claim 9  wherein said spring tabs are formed in a sleeve portion of said fork element.  
     
     
         13 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein said finger is generally semicircular.  
     
     
         14 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein said shaft remains in an approximate upstanding position when said fork assembly bottom surface is placed on a generally level, flat surface.  
     
     
         15 . A device for positioning golf balls comprising: 
 a fork assembly attached at the approximate end of a shaft;    a fork element of said fork assembly positioned approximately orthogonal to said shaft and having a pair of generally semicircular fingers;    each finger having a plurality of spring tabs having an aperture formed therein attached at a sleeve portion of said fork element; and    a spring fastened to said spring tabs oriented to be engageable with and to deform when said fork element is pushed around and under a golf ball.    
     
     
         16 . The device as in  claim 15  wherein said spring is a coil spring.  
     
     
         17 . The device as in  claim 15  wherein said shaft remains in an approximate upstanding position when said fork assembly bottom surface is placed on a generally level, flat surface.  
     
     
         18 . A device for positioning a golf ball comprising: 
 a circular assembly attached at the approximate end of a shaft;    a generally circular element of said circular assembly positioned approximately orthogonal to said shaft and having a plurality of spring tabs having apertures formed therein; and    a spring fastened to said spring tabs oriented to be engageable with and to deform when said circular element is pushed around and under a golf ball.    
     
     
         19 . The device as in  claim 18  wherein said spring is a coil spring.  
     
     
         20 . The device as in  claim 18  wherein said shaft remains in an approximate upstanding position when said fork assembly bottom surface is placed on a generally level, flat surface.