GB2049438A - Marker for a golf ball - Google Patents

Abstract

A marker for a golf ball comprises a button-shaped base plate 1 having a projection 2 at the lower surface thereof, a separate means 4 for representing a figure 6 on the upper surface of said base plate and a transparent plastics lens 7 integrally attached to the upper surface of said base plate in such a manner that the figure can be seen with magnification through the lens. The separate disc 4 and the lens 7 may be replaced by a single member having markings on the bottom of the lens. The marker may be clipped to a glove 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Marker for a golf ball The present invention relates to a marker for a golf ball, which is used in golf to indicate a position at which a golf ball should be placed on a putting green.

It is preferable to make a marker for a golf ball from relatively hard material such as metal lest the marker should be broken when it is stuck on the green. For this reason, a metallic marker has been proposed hitherto, wherein a figure which serves as a mark to distinguish one's own marker from the markers of other players, is stamped or printed on an upper surface of a base plate in a manufacturing process. However, with the marker of the type set forth above, it is required to make a different metallic base plate when the figure is changed. This prevents the metallic base plate from being manufactured on a large scale because it is desired for the manufacturerto change the figure of the marker from time to time. Accordingly, the production cost tends to increase.

Also, in a known marker for a golf ball, it is difficult to distinctly recognise the figure thereon and is also difficult to recognise the marker from a distance because the figure is provided on a small base plate.

Furthermore, there is a disadvantage that the figure is frequently damaged or becomes dirty during use, whereby the figure will not serve as a mark.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a marker for a golf ball in which a figure of the marker can be changed without modifying a base plate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a marker for a golf ball of the type set forth above in which the figure is not damaged or does not become dirty during use thereof.

Still another-object of the present invention is to provide a marker for a golf ball of the type set forth above in which the figure can be recognised distinctly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a marker for a golf ball which can be recognised from a relatively long distance away.

According to the present invention there is provided a markerfora golf ball comprising a buttonshaped base plate having a projection extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof, a means for representing a figure provided on an upper surface of said base plate but separately therefrom, and a transparent plastics lens having a flat lower surface and integrally attached to said upper surface of said base plate in such a manner that said figure can be seen with magnification through said lens.

Preferably, the means for representing figures is a thin sheet member laid on the upper surface of the base plate, and the lens is attached to the upper surface of the base plate with a peripheral edge thereof being tightly held between the sheet mem brand an edge portion of the base plate turned upwardly and then inwardly.

More preferably, the means for representing fi gures is the flat lower surface of the transparent lens held between the edge portion of the base plate and the upper surface surrounded by the edge portion, in which case no sheet member is necessary.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a marker for a golf ball according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the markerfor a golf ball shown in Figure 1, where the marker is hooked onto a holder provided on a glove; Figure 3 is a plan view showing the marker for a golf ball in Figure 1 hooked in the holder; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing respective parts of the marker for a golf ball in Figure 1 for explanation fo the assembly thereof, and Figure 5 is a partially sectioned perspective view showing a marker for a golf ball according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, a marker for a golf ball comprises a button-shaped base plate 1 which is made from a metal. Provided at a centre of a lower surface of the base plate lisa projection 2 which projects downwardly and formed so as to be stuck into a putting green whereon a golf ball is situated.

An edge portion 3 of the base plate 1 is slightly turned upwardly and then inwardly, so as to surround a flat surface 4. Laid on the flat surface 4 is a thin sheet member 5 which is made from paper or plastics material and has a diameter substantially equal to that of the flat surface 4. On the sheet member 5, a figure 6 is drawn. The figure 6 serves as a mark and any appropriate figure can be used for this purpose. Also, the figure 6 is formed by any means such as, for example, printing the figure onto the sheet member 5 or pressing a foil having the figure onto the sheet member 5.

Provided over the base plate 1 and over the sheet member 5 laid on the flat surface 4 of the base plate 1 is a platics lens 7 which covers the sheet member 5. A lower surface of the lens 7 is flat and is in touch with the sheet member 5. The lens 7 is made of a transparent plastics material so that the figure 6 on the sheet member 5 can be seen with magnification through the lens 7. A diameter of the lens 7 is substantially equal to that of the flat surface 4 of the base plate 1 and the lens 7 is connected or attached to the base plate 1 with a peripheral edge 8 of the lens 7 being tightly held between the flat surface 4 and the edge portion 3 of the base plate 1. Preferably the lens 7 is formed in the shape of a portion of a hemisphere, having a depth in the vertical direction which is small when compared with the width in the horizontal direction.

In this embodiment, the marker for a golf ball described above is detachably hookable to a holder 9 which is firmly fastened to a band portion 10 of a glove 11 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This holder 9 is of a known type and has at substantially central portion thereof a vertical hole 12 in which the projection 2 of the base plate 1 can be hooked whereby the marker can be held by the holder 9 when carrying the marker.

The method for assembling the marker of this embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, the metallic base plate 1 is formed with the projection 2 at the lower surface thereof but without turning the edge portion 3. After the sheet member 5, on which the figure 6 is drawn, and the lens 7 are laid onto the flat surface 4 of the base plate 1, the edge portion 3 of the button-shaped base plate 1 is turned upwardly and then inwardly as indicated by an arrown, whereby the peripheral edge 8 of the lens 7 is tighly held between the flat surface 4 and the turned edge portion 3 and the sheet member 5 is covered by the lens 7.

In case the figure 6 of the marker is to be changed, such a change can be effected by replacing only the sheet member 5 with a new one on which any other figure is drawn. Thus, the figure 6 can be changed without necessitating the modification of the base plate 1.

As can be understood from the disclosure set forth above, according to a first embodiment of the present marker for a golf ball, the figure 6 is drawn on the sheet member 5 which is provided separately from the base plate 1. Accordingly, when it is desired to change the picture 6, such a change can be effected by replacing only sheet member 5. Thus, since the base plate 1 need not be modified for a change of figure, this part can be manufactured on a large scale without the apprehension resulting from the necessity of changing the figures and therefore the production cost of the present marker can be reduced. In this connection, attention is drawn to the fact that the assembly of these parts can be performed quite easily as set forth above.

Further advantages of the present marker for a golf ball set forth above reside in the fact that the sheet member 5 is covered by the plastics lens 7.

Since this lens 7 prevents the sheet member 5, on which the figure 6 is drawn, from becoming dirty or being damaged, the figure 6 which serves as a mark can be always clean. Also, as the transparent lens 7 magnifies the figure 6, the figure 6 can be distinctly recognised even if it is very small. Furthermore, the marker can be recognised from a relatively long distance away since the lens 7 reflects light.

Reference is now made to second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 5 in which same reference numerals have been applied to the same parts as the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4. In a markerfora golf ball according to the second embodiment, a sheet member is omitted and the figure 6 is formed on the flat lower surface of the lens 7 by any means such as, for example, printing the figure on the surface or pressing foil having the figure thereon onto the lower surface as mentioned in connection with the first embodiment.

Since the sheet member Sin the first embodiment is omitted, the lower surface of the lens 7 is directly in contact with the flat surface 4 of the base plate 1.

Other structures of the marker according to the second embodiment shown in Figure 5 are substantially same as those of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4.

In the marker according to the second embodiment, when the figure is desired to be changed, it is sufficient to replace only the lens 7 rather than a sheet member, with a new one, on a lower surface of which any other figure is drawn, and the base plate 1 need not be modified as in the case of the first embodiment

Claims (6)

1. A marker for a golf ball comprising a buttonshaped base plate having a projection extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof, a means for representing a figure provided on an upper surface of said base plate but separately therefrom, and a transparent plastics lens having a flat lower surface and integrally attached to said supper surface of said base plate in such a manner that said figure can be seen with magnification through said lens.

2. A marker for a golf ball as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said mean for representing a figure is a thin sheet member laid on said upper surface of said base plate; and said lens is attached to said upper surface of said base plate with an peripheral edge thereof being tightly held between an edge portion of said base plate turned upwardly and then inwardly and said sheet member laid onto said upper surface of said base plate.

3. A marker for a golf ball as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said means for representing a figure is the lower surface of said plastics lens which is attached to the upper surface of said base plate with an peripheral edge thereof being held between an edge portion of said base plate turned upwardly and then inwardly and said upper surface of said base plate.

4. A marker as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said base plate is made from a metal.

5. A marker as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said projection of said base plate is adapted to be hooked in a hole of a holder provided on a glove.

6. A marker for a golf ball substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 4 or Figure 5 with or without reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.