Ferrule housing for a golf cup

Abstract

Ferrule housing is used to protect a golf cup from damage by a ferrule of a golf flagstick. The ferrule housing is sized to fit within an aperture at a bottom of the golf cup. The ferrule housing includes an internal geometry shaped to receive and hold the ferrule of the golf flagstick. An attachment mechanism secures the ferrule housing within the aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf cup, comprising:
 an outer wall that defines a receiving area for a golf ball;   a bottom surface located at a bottom of the receiving area;   an aperture in the bottom surface;   a ferrule housing sized to fit within the aperture, the ferrule housing including an internal geometry shaped to receive and hold a ferrule of a golf flagstick; and,   an attachment mechanism that secures the ferrule housing within the aperture, the attachment mechanism including a male threaded surface on an outside surface of the ferrule housing.   
     
     
         2 . A golf cup as in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism additionally includes:
 a female threaded surface within the aperture.   
     
     
         3 . A golf cup as in  claim 2 , wherein the ferrule housing includes at least one slot on the outside surface, the at least one slot being shaped to receive a tool for tightening the ferrule housing within the aperture and for loosening the ferrule housing within the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . A golf cup as in  claim 2  wherein the ferrule housing includes a collar that is flush with the bottom surface when the ferrule housing is secured within the aperture. 
     
     
         5 . A golf cup as in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes:
 a ferrule housing sheath;   an internal smooth surface within the aperture;   an external smooth surface on an outside surface of the ferrule housing sheath;   a female threaded surface within the ferrule housing sheath that allows the ferrule housing to be screwed into the ferrule housing sheath;   wherein the external smooth surface is shaped to fit snugly within the internal smooth surface so that friction between the internal smooth surface and the external smooth surfaces secures the ferrule housing within the ferrule housing sheath.   
     
     
         6 . A golf cup as in  claim 6 , wherein the ferrule housing includes at least one slot on the outside surface, the at least one slot being shaped to receive a tool for tightening the ferrule housing within the ferrule housing sheath and for loosening the ferrule housing within the ferrule housing sheath. 
     
     
         7 . A golf cup as in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism additionally includes:
 a nut located below the aperture that screws onto the male threaded surface to secure the ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         8 . A golf cup, comprising:
 an outer wall that defines a receiving area for a golf ball;   a bottom surface located at a bottom of the receiving area;   an aperture in the bottom surface;   a ferrule housing sized to fit within the aperture, the ferrule housing including an internal geometry shaped to receive and hold a ferrule of a golf flagstick; and,   an attachment mechanism that secures the ferrule housing within the aperture, the attachment mechanism including a pin that locks the ferrule housing within the ferrule.   
     
     
         9 . A golf cup as in  claim 8 , wherein the pin is a hitch clip pin and wherein the attachment mechanism additionally includes:
 two hitch clip pin holes located on the aperture; and   two hitch clip pin holes located in the ferrule housing;   wherein the hitch clip pin holes are located on the aperture and on the ferrule housing so when the ferrule housing is within the aperture and flush with the bottom surface, the hitch clip pin can be placed through the two hitch clip pin holes located on the aperture and through the two hitch clip pin holes located in the ferrule housing to lock ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         10 . A golf cup as in  claim 8 , wherein the pin is a cotter pin and wherein the attachment mechanism additionally includes:
 two cotter pin holes located on the aperture; and   two cotter pin holes located in the ferrule housing;   wherein the cotter pin holes are located on the aperture and on the ferrule housing so when the ferrule housing is within the aperture and flush with the bottom surface, the cotter pin can be placed through the two cotter pin holes located on the aperture and through the two cotter pin holes located in the ferrule housing to lock ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         11 . A golf cup as in  claim 8 , wherein the pin is a pull ring detent pin and wherein the attachment mechanism additionally includes:
 two pull ring detent pin holes located on the aperture; and   two pull ring detent pin holes located in the ferrule housing;   wherein the pull ring detent pin holes are located on the aperture and on the ferrule housing so when the ferrule housing is within the aperture and flush with the bottom surface, the pull ring detent pin can be placed through the two pull ring detent pin holes located on the aperture and through the two pull ring detent pin holes located in the ferrule housing to lock ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         12 . A golf cup as in  claim 8 , wherein the pin is a clevis pin with a hole and wherein the attachment mechanism additionally includes:
 two clevis pin holes located on the aperture; and   two clevis pin holes located in the ferrule housing;   wherein the clevis pin holes are located on the aperture and on the ferrule housing so when the ferrule housing is within the aperture and flush with the bottom surface, the clevis pin can be placed through the two clevis pin holes located on the aperture and through the two clevis pin holes located in the ferrule housing, the hitch clip pin being placed within the hole of the clevis pin to lock ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         13 . A golf cup as in  claim 8 , wherein the pin is a clevis pin with a groove and wherein the attachment mechanism additionally includes:
 a retainer ring;   two clevis pin holes located on the aperture; and   two clevis pin holes located in the ferrule housing;   wherein the clevis pin holes are located on the aperture and on the ferrule housing so when the ferrule housing is within the aperture and flush with the bottom surface, the clevis pin can be placed through the two clevis pin holes located on the aperture and through the two clevis pin holes located in the ferrule housing, the retainer ring being placed within the groove of the clevis pin to lock ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         14 . A golf cup as in  claim 8 , wherein the pin is a round lock pin with a hole and wherein the attachment mechanism additionally includes:
 two round lock pin holes located on the aperture; and   two round lock pin holes located in the ferrule housing;   wherein the round lock pin holes are located on the aperture and on the ferrule housing so when the ferrule housing is within the aperture and flush with the bottom surface, the round lock pin can be placed through the two round lock pin holes located on the aperture and through the two round lock pin holes located in the ferrule housing to lock ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         15 . A device to protect a golf cup from damage by a ferrule of a golf flagstick, the device comprising:
 a ferrule housing sized to fit within an aperture at a bottom of the golf cup, the ferrule housing including an internal geometry shaped to receive and hold the ferrule of the golf flagstick; and,   an attachment mechanism that secures the ferrule housing within the aperture, wherein the attachment mechanism includes:
 a channel within the aperture, and 
 a protuberance on an outside surface of the ferrule housing, the protuberance being shaped to fit within the channel; 
   wherein as the ferrule housing is placed within the aperture, the protuberance fits within the channel, and as the ferrule housing is guided deeper in the aperture, the ferrule housing is rotated so that the protuberance follows the channel and locks the ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         16 . A device to protect a golf cup from damage by a ferrule of a golf flagstick, the device comprising:
 a ferrule housing sized to fit within an aperture at a bottom of the golf cup, the ferrule housing including an internal geometry shaped to receive and hold the ferrule of the golf flagstick; and,   an attachment mechanism that secures the ferrule housing within the aperture, the attachment mechanism including a tab with a button located on an outside surface of the ferrule housing so that the tab is compressed inward when the spring clip is passing through the aperture, and when the ferrule housing is flush with the bottom surface, the button is located at a button aperture within the aperture, wherein as the button is received by the button aperture, the tab springs open and locks ferrule housing within the aperture.   
     
     
         17 . A device to protect a golf cup from damage by a ferrule of a golf flagstick, the device comprising:
 a ferrule housing sized to fit within an aperture at a bottom of the golf cup, the ferrule housing including an internal geometry shaped to receive and hold the ferrule of the golf flagstick; and,   an attachment mechanism that secures the ferrule housing within the aperture, wherein the attachment mechanism includes:
 a set screw hole located on a side of the aperture, and 
 a set screw placed within the set screw hole, so that when the ferrule housing is within the aperture and flush with the bottom surface, the set screw can be screwed through the set screw hole to lock ferrule housing within the aperture.