EP1256361A2

EP1256361A2 - Golf ball marker and holder

Info

Publication number: EP1256361A2
Application number: EP02253128A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kui Wing Leung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-10
Filing date: 2002-05-02
Publication date: 2002-11-13
Also published as: US20030062392A1

Abstract

A ball marker carrier has rear wall 10 and a patch 11 fixed to the rear wall. A slot 12 between the wall and the patch slidingly receives a head of the ball marker and a slot 15 in the patch 11 allows a spike of the marker to move down the wall as the head of marker is slid into the slot 12. The carrier may have a waist belt attachment, may be mounted to a golf tee carrier or a golf ball pouch, and so forth.

Description

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to golf ball markers.

2. Description of Prior Art

The invention relates more particularly to conventional golf ball markers that comprise a thin circular disc head and an integral spike that penetrates into the ground to hold the head in position in use. Such markers have a head that is about the size of a small coin and the markers are easily lost or misplaced, especially when carried in a golfers pocket amongst tees, divot repairing trowels and the like. One practical result is that golfers therefore often fail to mark their balls properly, or with proper markers, leading to bad discipline and frustration for other golfers when putting their balls across the green, especially near the hole.
A common solution is to carry the marker on a remote end of a putter handle with the spike held in an aperture where provided in the putter for other purposes (such as inner ventilation of the putter handle for example).
Such apertures are rarely of a 'standard' diameter and so some marker spikes fit well and others do not. Further, as the putter handle is replaced after each use in an inverted position into a golf bag, the golf marker, which is retained at the bottom of the bag, often falls off or is brushed off as the putter is lifted out of the bag for a next use.
In desperation perhaps, some golfers have been known to carry markers in their ears which is clearly far from comfortable, and certainly not hygienic. In any event, a satisfactory simply and reliable marker carrier is not presently available.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to overcome or reduce this problem.
According to the invention there is provided a golf ball marker carrier for a marker having a thin circular head and an integrally formed spike for locating to marker in the ground with the head flush with the ground, in which the carrier is formed with a slot to slidingly receive and hold at least one side of the head of the marker securely to the carrier, and a space open at one side arranged to allow the spike to move unhindered relative to the housing as the side of the head moves into the slot.
The space may comprise a second slot formed in at one side of the said slot.
The carrier may be mounted to a removable waist-belt attachment or permanently attached to a waist-belt.
The carrier may be part of an outer surface of a tee-holder or a golf ball pouch.
The carrier is formed at a remote end of a golf club handle or a golf club grip.
The carrier may be made wholly of plastic material or textile fabric material or natural leather material.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Golf gall marker carriers according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is an elevation of a first carrier;
Figure 2 is a top view of the first carrier;
Figure 3 is an elevation of a second carrier;
Figure 4 is a top view of the second carrier;
Figure 5 is an isometric view of the first carrier fixed to a waist-belt attachment;
Figure 6 is an isometric view of the first carrier combined with a tee holder;
Figure 7 is an isometric view a golf ball pouch and the first carrier; and
Figure 8 is an isometric view of a third carrier provided at the end of a golf club grip;
Figure 9 is an alternative form of Figure 8;
Figure 10 shows a ball marker with a twisted spike having a rectangular cross-section, shown in Figure 11;
Figure 12 and 13 show cross-sectional views of ball markers having twisted spikes with a semi-circular and a diamond cross-section, respectively.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 and 2 the carrier has rear wall 10 and a patch 11 fixed to the rear wall. A first slot 12 is formed between the patch and the rear wall to receive and hold a head 13 of a golf ball marker. An integrally formed spike 14 of the marker rests against a lower end of a second slot 15.
The second slot provides a space to allow the spike to move downwards to the position shown in the Figures when a side of the head 13 is entered into the slot 12 and pushed down and slid between the rear wall and the patch 11.
In the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the marker is held firmly in position in the carrier and yet the marker is readily and easily gripped and removed when required for use. While the remote end of the spike is somewhat proud of the outer surface of the patch, the remote end does not normally hinder or interfere with the golfer during his other normal activities when playing golf. The carrier may be conveniently fixed or otherwise attached to articles commonly worn or carried by golfers, as described below and shown in the Figures.
The patch 11 in Figures 1 and 2, may be longer and formed with a longer second slot so that two or more markers may be fitted together in a single carrier, one above the other. Also two or more patches may be provide on a single rear wall, each for carrying one or more markers, and the patches normally arranged side by side, to provide overall carrying space for a number of markers.
In Figures 3 and 4, the carrier is generally the same as shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that the carrier is arranged to grip only one side of the head 13 and the spike 14 rests against an upper edge of the slot 12. In that case the carrier is arranged so that there is, in effect, 'free space' to allow the spike to move towards the slot 12 and no second slot 15 is required in the patch 11.
In Figure 5, the wall 10 of the carrier is provided with a waist belt attachment 16 that can be slid onto a belt as required. In Figure 6, the wall 10 extends either side of a golf marker support and provided with further patches 17 and 18 to retain and hold a divot repairing trowel 19 and a golf tee 20, respectively.
In Figure 6, three carriers are mounted on a side of a golf ball pouch 21.
In Figure 7, a carrier is mounted or formed on an end of a golf club grip 22. In Figure 8 a similar arrangement is shown where a 'patch' 23 is in the form of a spring clip. The spring clip 23 may be made wholy of metal or comprise a resilient metal strip covered with plastics or textile material, for example.
Figures 10 to 13 show ball markers having twisted spikes that improve their insertion and location into the ground in normal use and that can fit into the carrier described above.

Claims

A golf ball marker carrier for a marker having a thin circular head and an integrally formed spike for locating to marker in the ground with the head flush with the ground, in which the carrier is formed with a slot to slidingly receive and hold at least one side of the head of the marker securely to the carrier, and a space open at one side arranged to allow the spike to move unhindered relative to the housing as the side of the head moves into the slot.
A golf ball marker according to claim 1, in which the space comprises a second slot formed in at one side of the said slot.
A golf ball marker according to claim 1, in which the carrier is mounted to a removable waist-belt attachment.
A golf ball marker carrier according to claim 1, in which the carrier is permanently attached to a waist-belt.
A golf ball marker carrier according to claim 1, in which the carrier is part of an outer surface of a tee-holder.
A golf ball marker carrier according to claim 1, in which the carrier is part of an outer surface of a golf ball pouch.
A golf ball marker carrier according to claim 1, in which the carrier is formed at a remote end of a golf club handle.
A golf ball marker carrier according to claim 1, in which the carrier is formed at a remote end of a golf club grip.
A golf ball marker carrier according to claim 1, in which the carrier is made wholly of plastic material.
A golf ball marker carrier according to claim 1, in which the carrier is made of textile fabric material.
A golf ball marker carrier according to claim 1, in which the carrier is made wholly of natural leather material.