Divot repair tool

Abstract

Prongs of a divot repair tool that is secured to a golf club are repeatedly inserted into the turf and removed from the turf surrounding a ball mark to repair the turf without requiring the user to bend over. The divot repair tool includes a base portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a top, and a bottom opposite the top. At least one prong extends from the first end. A vertical portion extends from the base and is substantially perpendicular to the base. A magnet is secured within the base portion to secure the divot repair tool to the golf club.

1 . A divot repair tool for a golf club comprising:
 a base portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a top, and a bottom opposite the top;   at least one prong extending from the first end;   a vertical portion extending away from the top of the base portion proximate to the at least one prong; and   a magnet secured within the base portion between the vertical portion and the second end so that the magnet may exert a magnetic force on the golf club to secure the divot repair tool to the golf club.   
     
     
         2 . The divot repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the at least one prong is coplanar with the top of the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The divot repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical portion is perpendicular to the top of the base portion. 
     
     
         4 . The divot repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one prong comprises two prongs. 
     
     
         5 . The divot repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vertical portion is located at the first end of the base portion, the vertical portion having a bottom at the junction of the vertical portion with the base portion and a top opposite the bottom; and   the at least one prong extends away from the base portion from the top of the vertical portion.   
     
     
         6 . The divot repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the divot repair tool further comprises a ferrous member secured to a head of the golf club. 
     
     
         7 . The divot repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet secures to a first surface of the golf club so that a surface of the vertical portion contacts a second surface of the golf club that is substantially perpendicular to the first surface. 
     
     
         8 . A divot repair tool for a golf club comprising:
 a base portion having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;   at least one prong extending from the first side;   a magnet secured within the base portion so that the magnet exerts a magnetic force through at least the second side; and   wherein a plane passing through a latitudinal center of the at least one prong intersects a plane containing a surface of the magnet proximate to the second side.   
     
     
         9 . The divot repair tool of  claim 8 , wherein the plane passing through the latitudinal center of the at least one prong is perpendicular to the plane containing the surface of the magnet proximate to the second side. 
     
     
         10 . The divot repair tool of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one prong comprises two prongs. 
     
     
         11 . The divot repair tool of  claim 8 , wherein the divot repair tool further comprises a ferrous member secured to a head of the golf club. 
     
     
         12 . A divot repair tool for a golf club comprising.
 a bushing secured within a cavity defined by the golf club;   wherein the bushing defines at least one j-slot channel;   a cylinder portion having at least one prong extending therefrom;   a connector pin protruding from the cylinder portion, wherein an axis of the connector pin and an axis of the cylinder portion are perpendicular; and   wherein the cylinder portion removably inserts into the bushing so that the connector pin may fit within the j-slot channel to secure the divot repair tool to the golf club.   
     
     
         13 . The divot repair tool of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one prong comprises two prongs. 
     
     
         14 . A divot repair tool for a golf club comprising:
 a base portion formed of a ferrous material, the base portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a top, and a bottom opposite the top;   at least one prong extending from the first end;   a vertical portion extending away from the top of the base portion proximate to the at least one prong; and   a magnet secured within a head of the golf club to secure the divot repair tool to the golf club.   
     
     
         15 . The divot repair tool of  claim 14 , wherein the upper surface of the at least one prong is coplanar with the top of the base portion. 
     
     
         16 . The divot repair tool of  claim 14 , wherein the vertical portion is perpendicular to the top of the base portion. 
     
     
         17 . The divot repair tool of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one prong comprises two prongs. 
     
     
         18 . A divot repair tool for a golf club comprising:
 a base portion formed of a ferrous material, the base portion having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;   at least one prong extending from the first side;   a magnet secured within a head of the golf club so that the magnet exerts a magnetic force on the base portion; and   wherein a plane passing through a latitudinal center of the at least one prong intersects a plane containing a surface of the magnet.   
     
     
         19 . The divot repair tool of  claim 18 , wherein the plane passing through the latitudinal center of the at least one prong is perpendicular to the plane containing the surface of the magnet. 
     
     
         20 . The divot repair tool of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one prong comprises two prongs. 
     
     
         21 . A divot repair tool for a golf club comprising:
 a golf club head having a bottom surface and a toe surface, wherein a plane containing the toe surface intersects a plane containing the bottom surface;   the golf club head defining a cavity extending from the bottom surface to the toe surface;   wherein a golf tee inserts into the cavity through the bottom so that a point of the golf tee protrudes from the toe of the golf club; and   the golf tee secures within the cavity so that the golf tee may be repeatedly inserted into a greens area.   
     
     
         22 . The divot repair tool of  claim 21 , wherein the golf tee inserts into a channel in the cavity to secure the golf tee within the golf club head. 
     
     
         23 . A method for repairing a ball mark on a vegetative surface, the method comprising:
 (a) releasably securing a divot repair tool to a head of a golf club, wherein the divot repair tool has a base, at least one prong extending from the base, and a vertical portion perpendicular to the base;   (b) orienting the golf club so that the at least one prong is proximate to the vegetative surface on an opposite side of the ball mark from a user;   (c) repeatedly inserting and removing the at least one prong into and out of the vegetative surface on the opposite side of the ball mark from the user so that the at least one prong is directed generally toward a center of the ball mark;   (d) orienting the golf club so that a flat surface of the golf club is proximate to the ball mark; and   (e) tapping a surface of the ball mark with the flat surface of the golf club.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 removing the divot repair tool from the golf club head; and   using the golf club to strike a golf ball.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 inserting the at least one prong into a surface so that the vertical portion and the base are oblique to a vertical plane passing through the apex of the angle between the vertical member and the base; and   placing an object on the antapex of the angle between the vertical member and the base so that a gap exists between a lower surface of the object and the surface of the course,   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein placing an object on the antapex comprises placing a cigar on the antapex. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein placing an object on the antapex comprises placing a golf club handle on the antapex.