Grass repair tool

Abstract

A grass repair tool that efficiently and easily repairs ball marks as well as other grass damage. The grass repair tool of the present invention not only stretches the undamaged grass surrounding the ball mark over the ball mark or other damage but also moves and compacts the soil beneath the damage into the damage and levels the playing surface. In a preferred embodiment the damage may be repaired from a standing position without bending over or kneeling. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grass repair tool includes two sets of multiple tines or blades. The first set of tines stretch the undamaged grass from around the damage over the damage. The second set of tines lift and compact the soil beneath the damage upward to fill and level the damaged area. The tines only move along the penetration marks to minimize damage to the grass. The grass repair tool can be operated by a hand actuator, foot actuator, or power operated by pneumatic, hydraulic, explosive, motor, electrical or other mechanisms.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ball mark repair tool, said tool comprising: 
 a first set of tines;    an actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines vertically;    an actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines horizontally;    a second set of tines;    an actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines vertically; and    an actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines pivotally upward.    
     
     
         2 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines vertically includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger connected to said first set of tines; and  
 a first set of linkages connected to said first set of tines as said plunger moves vertically.  
 
     
     
         3 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines horizontally includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger connected to said first set of tines;  
 a second set of linkages connected to said first set of tines; and  
 said second set of linkages moves said first set of tines horizontally as said plunger moves vertically and after said first set of tines have been extended vertically.  
 
     
     
         4 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines vertically includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger connected to said second set of tines;  
 a third set of linkages connected to said second set of tines as said plunger moves vertically.  
 
     
     
         5 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines pivotally upward includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger connected to said second set of tines;  
 a fourth set of linkages connected to said second set of tines for pivotally moving said second set of tines upward as said plunger moves vertically and after said second set of tines are moved vertically.  
 
     
     
         6 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said ball mark repair tool includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger for operating each of said actuating mechanisms.  
 
     
     
         7 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said ball mark repair tool includes: 
 a hand operated vertically movable plunger for operating each of said actuating mechanisms.  
 
     
     
         8 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said ball mark repair tool includes: 
 a foot operated vertically movable plunger for operating each of said actuating mechanisms.  
 
     
     
         9 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said ball mark repair tool includes: 
 a power operated mechanism for operating each of said actuating mechanisms.  
 
     
     
         10 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines vertically includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger; and  
 a first set of cam surfaces operationally connected to said first set of tines for guiding said first set of tines vertically as said plunger moves vertically.  
 
     
     
         11 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines horizontally includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger;  
 a second set of cam surfaces operationally connected to said first set of tines for moving said first set of tines horizontally as said plunger moves vertically and after said first set of tines have been extended vertically.  
 
     
     
         12 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines vertically includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger;  
 a third set of cam surfaces operationally connected to said second set of tines moving said second set of tines vertically as said plunger moves vertically.  
 
     
     
         13 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines pivotally upward includes: 
 a vertically movable plunger;  
 a fourth set of cam surfaces operationally connected to said second set of tines for moving said second set of tines pivotally upward as said plunger moves vertically and after said second set of tines are moved vertically.  
 
     
     
         14 . A ball mark repair tool, said tool comprising: 
 a housing;    a plunger mounted for vertical movement extending at least partially into said housing;    a first set of tines connected to said plunger;    an actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines vertically;    an actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines horizontally;    a second set of tines connected to said plunger;    an actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines vertically; and    an actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines pivotally upward.    
     
     
         15 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 14  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines vertically includes 
 a first set of linkages connected to said first set of tines to move said first set of tines vertically as said plunger moves vertically.  
 
     
     
         16 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said first set of tines horizontally includes: 
 a second set of linkages connected to said first set of tines for moving said first set of tines horizontally as said plunger moves vertically and after said first set of tines have been extended vertically.  
 
     
     
         17 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines vertically includes: 
 a third set of linkages connected to said second set of tines for moving said second set of linkages vertically as said plunger moves vertically.  
 
     
     
         18 . The ball mark repair tool of  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism for moving said second set of tines pivotally upward includes: 
 a fourth set of linkages connected to said second set of tines pivotally upward as said plunger moves vertically and after said second set of tines are moved vertically.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method for repairing ball marks, said method comprising the steps of: 
 stretching undamaged grass from around a ball mark over the ball mark;    compressing the soil beneath the ball mark into the ball mark; and    leveling the soil and grass in the ball mark.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said method further includes: 
 providing a ball mark repair tool having a set of stretching tines to stretch the undamaged grass over the ball mark.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said method further includes: 
 providing a ball mark repair tool having a set of compacting tines to lift and compact the soil beneath the ball mark into the ball mark.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said method further includes: 
 providing a ball mark repair tool having a set of stretching tines to stretch the undamaged grass over the ball mark; and  
 a set of compacting tines to lift and compact the soil beneath the ball mark into the ball mark.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said method further includes: 
 providing a ball mark repair tool having a set of stretching tines to stretch the undamaged grass over the ball mark;  
 providing an actuating mechanism for moving said stretching tines downward into the ground around the ball mark; and  
 providing an actuating mechanism for moving said stretching tines substantially horizontal to stretch the undamaged grass over the ball mark.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said method further includes: 
 providing a ball mark repair tool having a set of compacting tines to lift and compact the soil beneath the ball mark into the ball mark;  
 providing an actuating mechanism for moving said compacting tines downward into the ground around the ball mark; and  
 providing an actuating mechanism for moving said compacting tines substantially upward and inward to lift and compact the soil into the ball mark.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said method further includes: 
 providing a ball mark repair tool having a set of stretching tines to stretch the undamaged grass over the ball mark;  
 providing an actuating mechanism for moving said stretching tines downward into the ground around the ball mark; and  
 providing an actuating mechanism for moving said stretching tines substantially horizontal to stretch the undamaged grass over the ball mark;  
 providing a set of compacting tines to lift and compact the soil beneath the ball mark into the ball mark;  
 providing an actuating mechanism for moving said compacting tines downward into the ground around the ball mark; and  
 providing an actuating mechanism for moving said compacting tines substantially upward and inward to lift and compact the soil into the ball mark.