Apparatus and method for retrieving a golf ball from a cup

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for hands-free retrieval of a golf ball from a putting green hole, where the apparatus includes a tilting disk placed in the hole that can be operated by a golf club handle to rotate the disk to pop up or eject the golf ball from the hole.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for retrieving a golf ball from a hole comprising a hole liner cup configured for receiving a flagstick ferrule of a flagstick, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a disk configured to be disposed in the hole and further disposed around a shaft of the flagstick when the flagstick ferrule is inserted into the hole liner cup, the disk further configured to support the golf ball when the golf ball is putted into the hole; and   b) a disk support mechanism, wherein the disk is configured to rotate or tilt on or about the disk support mechanism whereupon the golf ball is ejected out of the hole when the disk is rotated or tilted on or about the disk support mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disk comprises an opening disposed therethrough, the opening configured to allow the shaft of the flagstick to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disk is substantially circular and is configured to rotate or tilt within the hole without binding with the hole or the hole liner cup. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the disk further comprises a slot opening providing communication from the opening to an edge of the disk, the slot opening permitting the disk to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick by twisting or manipulating the disk. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a tilt lever collar comprising upper and lower ends, the collar configured to be disposed around the shaft with the lower end disposed above the flagstick ferrule, the upper end comprising an angled face wherein the disk comprises an angled or tilted position when resting on top of the upper end, the disk further configured to tilt or rotate on the upper end when a linear force is applied downwardly on the disk thereby ejecting the golf ball from the hole. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the tilt lever collar further comprises a slot opening, the slot opening permitting the tilt lever collar to be spread open and be placed around the shaft of the flagstick. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the tilt lever collar further comprises two halves that are configured to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick and be fastened together with fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a pivot axle rotatably coupling the disk to the flagstick. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a pivot pin disposed through the flagstick, the pivot pin configured to support the disk when the disk in a resting position on top of the pivot pin. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disk comprises hinge pins extending outwardly on opposing edges thereof, and the disk support mechanism comprises hinge pin holes disposed on opposing sidewalls of the hole liner cup configured to receive the hinge pins, wherein the disk rotates or tilts about the hinge pins. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a cylindrical sleeve configured to be disposed in the hole liner cup, the cylindrical sleeve further comprising an apex configured for the disk to pivot thereupon. 
     
     
         12 . A method for retrieving a golf ball from a hole comprising a hole liner cup configured for receiving a flagstick ferrule of a flagstick, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) receiving an apparatus for retrieving the golf ball, the apparatus comprising:
 i) a disk configured to be disposed in the hole and further disposed around a shaft of the flagstick when the flagstick ferrule is inserted into the hole liner cup, the disk further configured to support the golf ball when the golf ball is putted into the hole, and 
 ii) a disk support mechanism, wherein the disk is configured to rotate or tilt on or about the disk support mechanism whereupon the golf ball is ejected out of the hole when the disk is rotated or tilted on or about the disk support mechanism; 
   b) installing the apparatus in the hole; and   c) when the golf ball is in the hole, applying a downward linear force onto the disk whereupon the disk is rotated or tilted thereby ejecting the golf ball from the hole.   
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the disk comprises an opening disposed therethrough, the opening configured to allow the shaft of the flagstick to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the disk is substantially circular and is configured to rotate or tilt within the hole without binding with the hole or the hole liner cup. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the disk further comprises a slot opening providing communication from the opening to an edge of the disk, the slot opening permitting the disk to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick by twisting or manipulating the disk. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the disk support mechanism comprises a tilt lever collar comprising upper and lower ends, the collar configured to be disposed around the shaft with the lower end disposed above the flagstick ferrule, the upper end comprising an angled face wherein the disk comprises an angled or tilted position when resting on top of the upper end, the disk further configured to tilt or rotate on the upper end when a linear force is applied downwardly on the disk thereby ejecting the golf ball from the hole. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the tilt lever collar further comprises a slot opening, the slot opening permitting the tilt lever collar to be spread open and be placed around the shaft of the flagstick. 
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the tilt lever collar further comprises two halves that are configured to be placed around the shaft of the flagstick and be fastened together with fasteners. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising rotating or tilting the disk about a pivot axle rotatably coupled the disk to the flagstick. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising rotating or tilting the disk on a pivot pin disposed through the flagstick, the pivot pin configured to support the disk when the disk in a resting position on top of the pivot pin. 
     
     
         21 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising rotating or tilting the disk about hinge pins extending outwardly from opposing edges thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising rotating or tilting the disk on an apex disposed on a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the hole liner cup.