WO2003055562A2 - Golf accessories - Google Patents

Golf accessories Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003055562A2
WO2003055562A2 PCT/EP2002/014882 EP0214882W WO03055562A2 WO 2003055562 A2 WO2003055562 A2 WO 2003055562A2 EP 0214882 W EP0214882 W EP 0214882W WO 03055562 A2 WO03055562 A2 WO 03055562A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
golf
golf accessory
binder
natural
water
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2002/014882
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2003055562A3 (en
Inventor
Peter Webber
Original Assignee
Peter Webber
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Peter Webber filed Critical Peter Webber
Priority to AU2002360102A priority Critical patent/AU2002360102A1/en
Publication of WO2003055562A2 publication Critical patent/WO2003055562A2/en
Publication of WO2003055562A3 publication Critical patent/WO2003055562A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B57/00—Golfing accessories
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2209/00—Characteristics of used materials
    • A63B2209/18—Characteristics of used materials biodegradable

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improvements in or relating to golf accessories.
  • the invention relates to golf accessories that will disintegrate in the natural environment.
  • golf accessory is used to describe items that are used by golfers and which may be left behind by the player on the golf course.
  • golf tees are used to support a golf ball when it is driven and typically consist of a platform upon which the golf ball may be placed and a spike which may be pushed into the ground, so that the platform supports the ball a short way above the ground.
  • Tees are typically made from wood or plastic and they will not therefore degrade which results in unsightly environmental debris.
  • Tees come in many shapes and sizes and the present invention is applicable to the tees whatever their shape and size.
  • pins that may be used to hold divot replacements in the correct position.
  • divots of turf are removed during the playing of a golf shot and it is necessary that they be replaced. It has been proposed that pins may be used to hold the replacement divot in position to encourage the divot to re-knit with the area from which it was removed.
  • these pins are typically made from wood or plastic, again resulting in unsightly debris.
  • the present invention provides a golf accessory that decomposes on exposure to moisture so that when left on the golf course it disappears over a short period of time.
  • the present invention therefore provides a golf accessory made from natural aggregate held together with a water-soluble binder.
  • the golf accessory may be a golf tee, a pin used in divot replacement, or any other item that is left by the golfer on the golf course.
  • the invention will however now be described in more detail in relation to golf tees.
  • the natural aggregate from which the golf tees are made is preferably soil and/or sand.
  • the water-soluble binder may be a natural or synthetic material; examples of suitable binders are water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and various starches such as corn starch.
  • suitable binders are water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and various starches such as corn starch.
  • the use of the water soluble binder leads to the decomposition of the golf accessory by rain, overnight dew or the like.
  • the accessories of the present invention may be made by simply mixing the natural aggregate and the water-soluble binder in the appropriate proportions and then compression moulding the mixture.
  • the binding power of the binder is activated by heat so that the compression moulding may be performed in a heated mould to give additional strength to the tee.
  • the nature of the aggregate and the binder must be chosen so that the accessory has adequate strength for the purpose to which it is to be put.
  • the accessory of the present invention may also contain grass seed, if desired, in addition they may contain fertilizers or other materials required for the well being of a golf course. Small amounts of additional adhesives may also be included.

Abstract

Golf accessories are produced from natural aggregate and a water soluble binder so that they will disintegrate and merge into the natural environment if they are discarded on the golf course. The invention is particularly applicable to golf tees made from natural aggregate such as soil and/or sand and a starch binder.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO GOLF ACCESSORIES
The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to golf accessories. In particular the invention relates to golf accessories that will disintegrate in the natural environment.
The term golf accessory is used to describe items that are used by golfers and which may be left behind by the player on the golf course. For example golf tees are used to support a golf ball when it is driven and typically consist of a platform upon which the golf ball may be placed and a spike which may be pushed into the ground, so that the platform supports the ball a short way above the ground. When the ball is driven it is not unusual for the tee to be left behind on the golf course either in broken form or simply lying on the ground. Tees are typically made from wood or plastic and they will not therefore degrade which results in unsightly environmental debris.
Tees come in many shapes and sizes and the present invention is applicable to the tees whatever their shape and size.
Other forms of golf accessories include pins that may be used to hold divot replacements in the correct position. In many instances divots of turf are removed during the playing of a golf shot and it is necessary that they be replaced. It has been proposed that pins may be used to hold the replacement divot in position to encourage the divot to re-knit with the area from which it was removed. Hereagain, these pins are typically made from wood or plastic, again resulting in unsightly debris.
The present invention provides a golf accessory that decomposes on exposure to moisture so that when left on the golf course it disappears over a short period of time.
The present invention therefore provides a golf accessory made from natural aggregate held together with a water-soluble binder.
The golf accessory may be a golf tee, a pin used in divot replacement, or any other item that is left by the golfer on the golf course. The invention will however now be described in more detail in relation to golf tees.
The natural aggregate from which the golf tees are made is preferably soil and/or sand. The water-soluble binder may be a natural or synthetic material; examples of suitable binders are water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and various starches such as corn starch. The use of the water soluble binder leads to the decomposition of the golf accessory by rain, overnight dew or the like.
The accessories of the present invention may be made by simply mixing the natural aggregate and the water-soluble binder in the appropriate proportions and then compression moulding the mixture. In a preferred embodiment the binding power of the binder is activated by heat so that the compression moulding may be performed in a heated mould to give additional strength to the tee.
The nature of the aggregate and the binder must be chosen so that the accessory has adequate strength for the purpose to which it is to be put. The accessory of the present invention may also contain grass seed, if desired, in addition they may contain fertilizers or other materials required for the well being of a golf course. Small amounts of additional adhesives may also be included.

Claims

1. A golf accessory comprising natural aggregate and a water-soluble binder.
2. A golf accessory accordingly to Claim 1 , which is a tee.
3. A golf accessory according to Claim 2, which is a pin used in divot replacement.
4. A golf accessory according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the natural aggregate is soil and/or sand.
5. A golf accessory according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the water-soluble binder is a natural or synthetic material.
6. A golf accessory according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the binder is a water soluble polymer.
7. A golf accessory according to Claim 6, in which the water soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.
8. A golf accessory according to any of the Claims 1 to 5, in which the binder is a starch.
PCT/EP2002/014882 2001-12-28 2002-12-23 Golf accessories WO2003055562A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002360102A AU2002360102A1 (en) 2001-12-28 2002-12-23 Golf accessories

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0131094.5A GB0131094D0 (en) 2001-12-28 2001-12-28 Improvements in or relating to golf accessories
GB0131094.5 2001-12-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003055562A2 true WO2003055562A2 (en) 2003-07-10
WO2003055562A3 WO2003055562A3 (en) 2003-12-31

Family

ID=9928492

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2002/014882 WO2003055562A2 (en) 2001-12-28 2002-12-23 Golf accessories

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2002360102A1 (en)
GB (1) GB0131094D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2003055562A2 (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2601880A1 (en) * 1986-07-22 1988-01-29 Nantas Roger Tee
EP0692357A2 (en) * 1994-07-11 1996-01-17 Nissei Kabushiki Kaisha Method for manufacturing biodegradable molded articles
NL1008567C1 (en) * 1998-03-12 1999-09-14 Edison International B V Biodegradable golf tee
WO2001021696A1 (en) * 1999-09-22 2001-03-29 Econeer Co., Ltd. Composition for molding articles and method for preparing molded articles therefrom
US20010034971A1 (en) * 1998-12-01 2001-11-01 Garrett Walsh Divot retainer
US6319156B1 (en) * 1999-12-13 2001-11-20 John Marshall Biodegradable golf tee

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH11309229A (en) * 1998-04-28 1999-11-09 Mitsui Chem Inc Biodegradable green fork

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2601880A1 (en) * 1986-07-22 1988-01-29 Nantas Roger Tee
EP0692357A2 (en) * 1994-07-11 1996-01-17 Nissei Kabushiki Kaisha Method for manufacturing biodegradable molded articles
NL1008567C1 (en) * 1998-03-12 1999-09-14 Edison International B V Biodegradable golf tee
US20010034971A1 (en) * 1998-12-01 2001-11-01 Garrett Walsh Divot retainer
WO2001021696A1 (en) * 1999-09-22 2001-03-29 Econeer Co., Ltd. Composition for molding articles and method for preparing molded articles therefrom
US6319156B1 (en) * 1999-12-13 2001-11-20 John Marshall Biodegradable golf tee

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 02, 29 February 2000 (2000-02-29) -& JP 11 309229 A (MITSUI CHEM INC), 9 November 1999 (1999-11-09) *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0131094D0 (en) 2002-02-13
WO2003055562A3 (en) 2003-12-31
AU2002360102A8 (en) 2003-07-15
AU2002360102A1 (en) 2003-07-15

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