Systems and methods for repairing ball marks

Abstract

Systems and methods for repairing ball marks comprise a tank holding a liquid connected to a pump. The pump moves the pressurized fluid through a handheld wand and out of a nozzle. In use, the nozzle is driven into the ground in or around a ball mark and fluid is injected using the pressurized system, raising the soil, grass, and/or sand of the green. The user may then tamp down the risen ball mark to level it with the rest of the green and complete the repair.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for repairing ball marks comprising:
 a fluid pump configured to draw fluid from a fluid tank;   a substantially hollow wand configured to receive the fluid from the fluid pump, the wand comprising a proximal end opposing a distal end spaced by a wand length; and   a nozzle supported by the wand, the nozzle comprising a conical tip extending from a connective portion,   wherein the connective portion is configured to be coupled to the distal end of the wand.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle further comprises a neck extending between the connective portion and the conical tip, the nozzle further comprising at least one fluid flow path through the connective portion and the neck. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid flow path comprises a plurality of openings formed radially through the neck. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , the system further comprising:
 a handle disposed at the proximal end of the wand comprises a handle; and   a valve operable between an open position and a closed position, the valve configured to prevent fluid flow into the wand when in the closed position.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the handle further comprises a lever and wherein the valve is configured to transition from the closed position to the open position when the lever is engaged. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein once the valve is moved from the closed position, the valve is configured to return to the closed position after passage of a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein once the valve is moved from the closed position, the valve is configured to allow a predetermined volume of fluid to pass therethrough before returning to the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the pump pressurizes the fluid between the pump and the valve in the closed position to between approximately 70 and 120 psi. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the valve is configured to release between about 3 to about 16 fluid ounces before returning to the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the valve is configured to release about 5 fluid ounces before returning to the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end of the wand is configured to removably mate with the connective portion of the nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump includes a pump inlet coupled directly to the fluid tank. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump includes a pump inlet coupled to the fluid tank through a hose. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a carrying strap configured to support at least one of the pump and the fluid tank on a human body. 
     
     
         15 . A method for repairing ball marks, comprising the steps of:
 locating a ball mark on a golf course putting surface;   providing a pump operatively connected to a fluid tank holding a fluid;   pressurizing the fluid and providing the fluid to a wand connected to the pump; and   using the wand, injecting the fluid through the ball mark and into soil beneath the ball mark.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid is pressurized to between approximately 70 and 120 psi between the pump and the wand. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a distal end of the wand comprises a nozzle and the method further comprises the step of, before the injecting step, driving the nozzle into an approximate central location of the ball mark. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the wand further comprises a handle and lever and the injecting step further comprises the step of operating the lever to release the fluid into the wand. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the injecting step further comprises at least one of the steps of reciprocating the nozzle and rotating the nozzle to facilitate injection. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the injecting step forms a creating a raised portion of ground having an area including the ball mark, the method further comprising the steps of:
 after the injecting step, removing the nozzle from the raised portion; and   tamping down the raised portion to be at least substantially on even slope with the surrounding green surface.