This invention relates to golfing accessories and is particularly concerned with a device sometimes known in the sport as a "turf saver", or more correctly as a "pitch mark repairer" .

When the golf ball lands on the turf after travelling some distance and at a considerable height, it tends to create a slight indentation in the turf due to the effect of its mass and velocity and the spin imparted to the ball by the way in which it is struck by the golf club or driver. Whilst this indentation is quite acceptable on the fairway, its effect on the smooth turf of a green is troublesome to players during putting, when the ball tends to become diverted from its intended path if it should pass over such an indentation.

It is customary, indeed expected, for players to reduce or obviate the disturbance thus caused by taking steps to lift up the indented turf to something like its original level and for this purpose most golfers carry a small fork-like implement with which to "tease" up the turf slightly. The turf is sometimes raised slightly above the level of the green -and then lightly trodden back again or tapped down with the edge of the club-head to flatten it once more. Such an implement is known as a "pitch mark repairer" and it is to be understood that any

reference herein to a "pitch mark repairer" means that type of implement.

The fork-like implement is usually carried in a pocket in the golfer's trousers or jacket and it is well- known for the fork to wear a hole in the pocket. Sometimes, when the golfer carriers the pitch mark repairer in a trouser pocket, he suffers irritation or minor scratching when bending down, e.g. to sight up the ball on the green before putting.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide a pitch mark repairer, but these have suffered from various limitations and have consequently not fulfilled the need and requirements of golfers.

US Patents Nos. 4862970 and 3774913 have pitch mark repairers which are mounted within the topmost end of a golf club shaft. US Patent No. 4955609 has a pitch mark repairer which is attached to the outer surface of a golf club shaft. In all of these devices the shaft of the club has to be modified to accommodate the repairer.

US Patent No. 3360807 describes and shows a separate pitch mark repairer which has a blade with one square end ^• for scraping mud off golf shoes and an opposite end formed as a fork for repairing indentations in a green surface. The blade is formed with an enlarged recess midway of its length and a spring member fitted to the blade urges an enlarged button upwardly to locate a boss on the button

into one of a choice of four recesses formed in a housing within which the blade is slideable.

The blade, being slightly arcuate along its length, does not locate firmly within its housing and is furthermore complicated and expensive to produce.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pitch mark repairer, and a method of repairing a green on a golf course, providing improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed above, or generally.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a pitch mark repairer comprising a fork member slideably mounted within a housing, the fork member being extendible to adopt a first, operative position where it extends from the housing and retractable to take up a second, inoperative position where it does not extend from the housing, wherein means are provided to retain the fork member in the first position comprising a lug carried by an operating member and engageable in a notch or recess formed in the housing.

Means may be provided to retain the fork member both in its operative position or its inoperative position with respect to the housing or handle.

The pitch mark repairer is dimensioned to conveniently fit into the palm of the hand and may, for example, form the fob of a key ring.

In a preferred embodiment, the fork member is

substantially flat and may be, for example, stamped from sheet metal. The housing is conveniently formed from two cheek plates which are joined together to form an elongated cavity to receive the fork member. Preferably, the operating member is carried edgewise on the fork member and incorporates a latch engageable with a notch or recess in the interior of the housing.

The above and other aspects of the invention will become clear from the following description of various embodiments given by way of example only in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment in its operative position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, with a part removed, of the embodiment of Figure 1 in its inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a cross section view on the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of parts of a handle device of the device according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fork member of the first embodiment;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further part of the first embodiment;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a latch member of the first embodiment;

Figure 8 is a side elevation, with part removed, of a second embodiment in its inoperative position;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fork member of the second embodiment;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a latch member of the second embodiment; and

Figure 10A is a perspective view of a modified latch member.

In the embodiment seen in Figures 1 to 7, a pitch mark repairer dimensioned to fit into the palm of the hand comprises a handle or housing 2 formed with side cheeks 4,6 held together by screws 8. Each side cheek is formed with a recess 10 and a fork member 12 having prongs 13 is slideably located within the cavity formed by the recesses. The fork member is cut away to form a surface 11 into which is formed a notch 15.

Further recesses 14 are formed within the cheeks and a cut-away portion 16 is formed in each cheek as seen clearly in Figure 4. Notches 18 and 20 are provided on each cheek plate bordering on the cut-away portions as seen clearly in Figures 2 and 4.

As seen, particularly in Figure 2, a connector 22 has a central plate portion 23, a downwardly projecting lug 24, and an upwardly projecting peg 26. The lug is a close fit within the notch 15 and the plate 23 is adapted to rest on the surface 11 and project into the recesses 14.

A latching member 28, seen in detail in Figure 7, is formed with a central portion 30, a pair of resilient

splayed-out legs 32 and projections 34. A hole 36 formed centrally within the central portion 30 is adapted to fit loosely over the pin 26 of the connector 22, and, on assembly, the resilient legs 32 rest on the plate portion 23 as seen in Figure 2.

In the for retracted position seen in Figure 2, the projections 34 engage within the notches 18 and prevent the latching member 28 and hence the fork member 12 moving longitudinally along the recess 10, due to the interconnection between the member 28, connector 22 and fork member 12. The fork member is thus retained within the confines of the handle 2, to prevent damage or injury to the user.

When it is required to use the pitch mark repairer for its intended purpose, the member 28 is first depressed, against the resistance of the resilient legs 32, to disengage the projections 34 from the notches 18 and then moved longitudinally to cause the prongs 13 to project forwardly from the handle as seen in Figure 1. Release of pressure on the central portion 30 allows the projections 34 to be raised, by the action of the resilient legs 32, into engagement within the notches 20. the fork member is thus retained in its operative position.

In the second embodiment seen in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the fork member 12A is provided with a cut-out portion 17

defining upstanding shoulders 17A and a surface 11A. The latching member 28A, as seen clearly in Figures 8 and 10, is somewhat similar to that seen in Figure 7 of the first embodiment, i.e. having resilient legs 32A and projections 34A extending from the central portion 30A. In addition, the legs 32A are each formed at their extremities with cylindrical rib members 32B. The member 28A is assembled within the side cheeks with the rib members 32B in engagement with the shoulders 17A of the fork member 12A, as seen clearly in Figure 8, the projections 34A engaging within the notches 18 or 20 according to the operative or inoperative position of the fork member. Lugs 34A are disengageable from the notches 18 by depressing the button 30A against the spring pressure exerted by the resilient legs 32A.

Thus, in this embodiment, the need for a connector 22 is eliminated and the cost of the device reduced.

Figure 10A shows a modified construction of the latch member. It differs from that shown in Figure 10 by having horizontal leaf spring members 32B and downward projections 40. Projections 40 are spaced apart by a distance just less than the thickness of the fork member so that when it is pushed onto the fork member, the projections are resiliently displaced to grip the fork member. This facilitates assembly of the device. In this modification, the surface 11A of the cut-away is stepped

or curved (as shown in dotted lines 11B in Figure 9), to allow the button 30B to be depressed.

It will be appreciated that, in use, the fork slides in and out of the housing or handle on the lower surface 42 of one or both cheek plates. Preferably, a bearing plate 43 is attached to one cheek plate and is received in a recess in the other cheek plate. This provides a continuous bearing surface for the edge of the fork. Transverse ribs 44 may be formed on the upper surface of the bearing plate to reduce sliding friction.

A clip (not shown) may be conveniently provided on the handle for use by the golfer to hold the pitch mark repairer securely in the jacket or shirt pocket, or on a belt. Alternatively, the housing or handle 2 may include a hole, e.g. in the region of the screw 8, and a key ring passed through the hole to attach the device to a bunch of keys.

From the above, it is clear that there are provided pitch mark repairers which are readily adaptable for use but which are equally converted into an inoperative state in which the dangers of wear to the user's clothing and of possible injury are at least minimised.

The pitch mark repairers as described and illustrated may be fabricated in metal or may be made at least in part from a high impact thermo-plastics material. In particular, the handles of the various embodiments may be

so made, e.g. by injection moulding and the operative fork may be of metal or also of a rigid plastics material. The button member 30, 30A, 30B is also preferably moulded from a thermo-plastics material. Although the drawings show that the cheek plates are screwed together, it is generally desirable to weld the cheek plates together, e.g. by ultrasonic welding.