US20160023069A1

US20160023069A1 - Marker to determine a golf ball's original position on a course

Info

Publication number: US20160023069A1
Application number: US14/575,767
Authority: US
Inventors: Matthew George Haugen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-23
Filing date: 2014-12-18
Publication date: 2016-01-28

Abstract

A golf ball marker to indicate an original location of a ball on a course or provide guidance to a user of the original location of the ball is provided. The golf ball marker has a body with a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface having a first indicium to indicate the golf ball marker is positioned on the course on top of the golf ball's original location and the bottom surface having a second indicium with a pointer to indicate a direction of the golf ball's original location relative to the golf ball marker when the golf ball marker is positioned on the course at a second location that is a predetermined distance away from the golf ball's original location.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 62/028,251, which was filed on Jul. 23, 2014 in the name of Mathew George Haugen.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to golf hall markers for use on a course during a game, and more specifically, to a golf ball marker to determine a golf ball's original position on a course.

BACKGROUND

During a golf game, golfers take shots and use markers to indicate the original location of the golf ball on a portion of the course such as a putting green. This is done to remove the golfer's golf ball from another golfer's shooting path during his/her shot. According to current U.S. Golf Association Rules, when resuming play, a golfer must always play his ball from its original position. If the golfer takes a shot from a location other than the original ball location, he/she incurs a two-stroke penalty, which results in a higher score and possibly the loss of the hole, loss of the match, and/or disqualification from the game. This problem can happen to both amateur and professional golfers, which can be very costly.
Current golf ball markers are used to indicate the original location of the ball. However, oftentimes, golfers have to move the marker away from the ball's original location to remove the marker out of another player's shooting path. This is problematic because existing markers do not: 1) remind the golfer that his ball has been moved; and 2) indicate the golfer's original ball location when the marker is moved out of place. This often results in the golfer playing the ball in the wrong location and suffering a 2-stroke penalty pursuant to USGA Rule 20-7.
As such, there is a need for a golf ball marker that addresses the limitations of the golf ball markers described above.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a marker for marking the position of a golf ball is disclosed. The marker comprises: a body having a first surface and a second surface; a first indicium on the first surface for indicating that the marker has been placed at an original location of the golf ball; and a second indicium on the second surface for indicating that the marker has been moved to a second location that is a predetermined distance from the original location and for indicating a direction in which the original location is in relation to the second location.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a marker for marking the position of a golf ball is disclosed. The marker comprises: a body having a first surface and a second surface; an image on the first surface for indicating that the marker has been placed at an original location of the golf ball; and a pointer on the second surface for indicating that the marker has been moved to a second location that is a predetermined distance from the original location and for pointing in a direction in which the original location is in relation to the second location.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a marker for marking the position of a golf ball is disclosed. The marker comprises: a circular body having a first surface and a second surface; an image on the first surface for indicating that the marker has been placed at an original location of the golf ball; a pointer on the second surface for indicating that the marker has been moved to a second location that is a predetermined distance from the original location and for pointing in a direction in which the original location is in relation to the second location; and a pair of colored arcs formed along a portion of a perimeter of the body for further indicating that the marker has been moved from the original location to the second location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application is further detailed with respect to the following drawings. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, but rather, illustrate certain attributes thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary golf ball marker in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, shown in use on a golf course;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a top surface of the golf ball marker of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view a bottom surface of the golf ball marker of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
FIGS. 1-3 together disclose an exemplary golf ball marker 10 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. In certain embodiments of the invention, the golf ball marker 10 may comprise a body 12 with a first (top) surface 14 and a second (bottom) surface 18. In one embodiment, the body 12 of the golf ball marker 10 may have a circular shape. It should be clearly understood, however, that the body 12 of the golf ball marker 10 may have any suitable shape. The body 12 of the golf ball marker 10 may be made from any suitable material including, but not limited to, aluminum, plastic, rubber, or metal.
The top surface 14 of the body 12 may have a first indicium 16 to indicate that the golf ball marker 10 is positioned on the course on top of the golf ball's 100 original location 102. The first indicium 16 may comprise any image, marking, alpha-numeric characters, logos, artwork, or any combination thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the first indicium 16 may comprise a color. The bottom surface 18 may have a second indicium 20 to indicate a direction of the golf ball's 100 original location 102 relative to the golf ball marker 10 when the golf ball marker 10 is positioned on the course at a second location 104 that is a predetermined distance away from the golf ball's 100 original location 102. According to one embodiment, the second indicium 20 may be a pointer. The bottom surface 18 may also comprise a third indicium 22, such as one or more colored arcs. The bottom surface 18 may also comprise a fourth indicium 24, such as text to indicate that the golf ball marker 10 has been moved from the golf ball's 100 original location 102. In one embodiment, the text may be the word “MOVED”; however, it should be clearly understood that any suitable word may be used for the text. The third indicium 22 (e.g. colored arcs) and/or the fourth indicium 24 (e.g. text) on the bottom surface 18 of the body 12 of the golf ball marker 10 notify a user and any other player/spectator that the golf ball marker 10 has been moved from the golf ball's 100 original location 102 to a second location 104. It shall be appreciated that any combination and/or number of arcs, characters, or other markings may be used on the bottom surface 18 of the body 12 of the golf ball marker 10.
Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, when playing, a golfer or authorized agent may remove his/her golf ball 100 from the course and mark the location of a golf ball 100 in play by placing the golf ball marker 10 on top of the golf ball's 100 original location 102 with the top surface 14 of the golf ball marker 10 displayed. On the next shot, the golfer may remove the golf ball marker 10 and place the golf ball 100 on the location of the golf ball marker 10, which was the golf ball's 100 original location 102. In certain circumstances, the golfer or authorized agent has to place the golf ball marker 10 away from the golf ball's 100 original location 102 when removing the golf ball 100 in play. For example, if a first golfer's golf ball marker 10 is blocking a second golfer's line to the hole, then the first golfer must move his/her golf ball marker 10 out of the way of the second golfer's golf ball 100 to a second location 104. In this situation, the golfer or agent flips the body 12 of the golf ball marker 10 over and places it on the ground away from the golf ball's 100 original location 102 such that the bottom surface 18 is displayed. The golf ball marker 10 may be oriented such that the second indicium 20 (e.g. pointer) is directed towards the golf ball's 100 original location 102. The golfer or agent measures the distance between the golf ball marker 10 and the golf ball's 100 original location 102 prior to removing the golf ball 100 in play. Typically, a golf club, e.g. the club's head length, may be used to set the predetermined distance between the golf ball's 100 original location 102 and the second location 104 to where the golf ball marker 10 is moved. On the next shot, the golfer uses the same golf club and measured club head length to determine the golf ball's 100 original location 102 from the second indicium 20 (e.g. pointer) of the golf ball marker 10. The golfer places the golf ball 100 in the golf ball's 100 original location 102 and removes the golf ball marker 10 from the course.
It shall be appreciated that the components of the golf ball marker 10 described in several embodiments herein may comprise any alternate known materials in the field and be of any color, size and/or dimensions. It shall be appreciated that the components of the golf ball marker described herein may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.
The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the application, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the application.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A marker for marking the position of a golf ball comprising:

a body having a first surface and a second surface;

a first indicium on the first surface for indicating that the marker has been placed at an original location of the golf ball; and

a second indicium on the second surface for indicating that the marker has been moved to a second location that is a predetermined distance from the original location and for indicating a direction in which the original location is in relation to the second location.

2. The marker of claim 1 wherein the body is circular in shape.

3. The marker of claim 1 wherein the second indicium is a pointer.

4. The marker of claim 1 further comprising a third indicium on the second surface for further indicating that the marker has been moved from the original location to the second location.

5. The marker of claim 4 wherein the third indicium is a pair of colored arcs formed along a portion of a perimeter of the body.

6. The marker of claim 4 further comprising a fourth indicium on the second surface for further indicating that the marker has been moved from the original location to the second location.

7. The marker of claim 6 wherein the fourth indicium is text.

8. A marker for marking the position of a golf ball comprising:

a body having a first surface and a second surface;

an image on the first surface for indicating that the marker has been placed at an original location of the golf ball; and

a pointer on the second surface for indicating that the marker has been moved to a second location that is a predetermined distance from the original location and for pointing in a direction in which the original location is in relation to the second location.

9. The marker of claim 8 wherein the body is circular in shape.

10. The marker of claim 8 further comprising a pair of colored arcs formed along a portion of a perimeter of the body for further indicating that the marker has been moved from the original location to the second location.

11. The marker of claim 10 wherein the pointer is positioned between the two colored arcs.

12. The marker of claim 8 further comprising text on the second surface for further indicating that the marker has been moved from the original location to the second location.

13. A marker for marking the position of a golf ball comprising:

a circular body having a first surface and a second surface;

an image on the first surface for indicating that the marker has been placed at an original location of the golf ball;

a pointer on the second surface for indicating that the marker has been moved to a second location that is a predetermined distance from the original location and for pointing in a direction in which the original location is in relation to the second location; and

a pair of colored arcs formed along a portion of a perimeter of the body for further indicating that the marker has been moved from the original location to the second location.

14. The marker of claim 13 further comprising text on the second surface for further indicating that the marker has been moved from the original location to the second location.