WO2000018478A1

WO2000018478A1 - Ball marker

Info

Publication number: WO2000018478A1
Application number: PCT/IB1999/001572
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Khourie
Original assignee: Long, Robin, Michael
Priority date: 1998-09-25
Filing date: 1999-09-23
Publication date: 2000-04-06
Also published as: AU5643799A

Abstract

A ball marker (10) for marking the position of a golf ball (24) on a putting surface (26) is disclosed. The ball marker (10) has a thin, flat body (12) having a pair of spaced apart tines (14) extending therefrom. The tines (14) define a ball engaging formation (16) sized and shaped, typically a crescent shape, to receive or engage a golf ball to mark its position on the putting surface.

Description

BALL MARKER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a ball marker for marking the position of a golf ball on a putting surface.

Ball markers are well known for marking the position of a golf ball on a putting green. This allows a player to lift the ball from the green for cleaning it or removing it out of the line of a ball of another player. Traditionally, ball markers are provided in the form of a disc, a small coin being a popular choice of marker. A problem associated with using this type of marker is that when the ball is replaced by the player, it may inadvertently or deliberately be placed in a different position to its original position. This may have the effect of improving the lie of the ball or the line to the hole, thereby providing the player with an unfair advantage when attempting to putt the ball into the hole. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a ball marker for marking the position of a golf ball on a putting surface, the ball marker comprising a planar body having a pair of spaced apart tines extending therefrom, the tines defining a ball engaging formation sized and shaped to receive or engage the golf ball thereby to mark its position on the putting surface This allows for the marked ball to be lifted from the putting surface and returned to its original position by placing it in engagement with the ball engaging formation prior to removing the marker

The tines are preferably spaced sufficiently so as to be positioned astride of the golf ball when marking its position

The ball engaging formation is preferably crescent shaped so as to engage a significant portion of the golf ball, preferably as a snug fit

The body of the marker, in one version, comprises a body portion extending away from the tines, the body portion comprising finger engaging formations or gripping means for assisting a player in placing the marker correctly in engagement with the ball or vice versa

In this version the body portion preferably includes indicia such as advertising or an instruction to the golfer, for example, on either one or both sides thereof

In the case of the indicia being in the form of an instruction, it is preferably provided on a flip side of the marker In this case, the instruction to the player is in the form of a reminder to the player to return a ball that has been marked out of the line of sight of another player's ball to its original position The body portion may include a pitch mark repairer or similar device commonly used by a golfer at an opposite end to the ball engaging formation.

In an alternative version, the body portion extending away from the tines may be formed in the shape of a particular emblem, symbol or motif.

The tines are preferably rounded at their ends to avoid injury to a player such as when storing the marker in a pocket.

The thickness of the ball marker body is preferably less than 2mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a ball marker of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ball marker of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a side view of the ball marker of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a golf ball marker 10 of the invention comprises a body 12 having a pair of spaced apart fork-like pi o)ections or t es 14 defining a ball engaging formation 16, in this case a ci escent shaped formation The body 12 in this embodiment includes a body portion 17 comprising finger engaging formations or gripping means 18 for assisting a player in gripping the marker body 12 to position it correctly

Indicia 20 in the form of an advertisement or an instruction to the golfer or the like is provided on either one or both of the faces 22 of the ball marker The ends 23 of the tmes 14 are preferably rounded to prevent injury to a player storing the marker in a pocket

The ball engaging formation 16 is sized and shaped to receive or engage a golf ball 24 prior to the golf ball being lifted from the putting surface 26 In order to replace the ball 24 in its original position, it is simply placed in engagement with the engaging formation 16 prior to removing the marker 10 A crescent shaped formation is preferred, as it is able to engage a significant portion of the ball 24 Other shapes are, however, also envisaged The important aspect is that the ball 24 is receivable within the confines of the tines 14 so as to mark its position precisely

It is sometimes necessary to mark a golf ball out of the putting line of another player In such a situation, the player typically lines the ball up with a fixed object adjacent the green using a putter The ball is then marked in the new position as before A problem associated with marking the ball out of line of another player is that the first player often forgets to replace the ball in its oπginal position Unfortunately, failure to replace the ball in its original position incurs a two stroke penalty, as many a golfer will painfully attest An advantage of the marker of the present invention is that the indicia 20 may be provided on the flip side of the marker with an instruction to the golfer to replace the ball in its oπginal position Accordingly, a first side 28 can be used when marking the ball in its original position whilst the flip side 30 can be used when marking the ball in its misplaced position

The marker 10 of the invention may be formed from any suitable material such as, for example, various metals, plastics materials and the like Further, the body 12 of the marker may be any desirable shape provided it includes the suitably shaped ball engaging formation 16 It may even include a pitch mark repairer, cleaning brush or other device commonly used by golfers at the back end 32 of the marker Because of the limitation placed on the amount a ball marker may protrude above a putting surface by the conventional rules of golf, the thickness 34 of the body 12 is preferably less than 2mm

In an alternative version of the invention, it is envisaged that the back end 32 can be formed in the shape of a particular emblem, symbol or motif belonging to a particular sponsor, for example Advertising plays a very important role in golf, particularly at corporate golf days, competitions and, of course, on the various professional golf tours It is believed that the marker of the invention provides an ideal advertising medium for sponsors and a useful tool for the players

It is believed that the marker of the invention provides advantages over conventional markers The provision of a specific ball engaging formation makes it less likely that a player will inadvertently mark a golf ball in an incorrect position In addition, it makes it easier to observe when a player attempts deliberately to place the golf ball in a preferred position It is believed that this will assist in improving fair play in the game of golf

Claims

1 A ball marker for marking the position of a golf ball on a putting surface, the ball marker comprising a planar body having a pair of spaced apart tmes extending therefrom, the tines defining a ball engaging formation sized and shaped to receive or engage a golf ball thereby to mark its position on the putting surface

2 A ball marker according to claim 1 wherein the tmes are spaced sufficiently so as to be positioned astride of the golf ball when marking its position

3 A ball marker according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the ball engaging formation is crescent shaped so as to engage a significant portion of the golf ball

4 A ball marker according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body comprises a body portion extending away from the tines, the body portion comprising finger engaging formations or gripping means for assisting a player in placing the marker correctly in engagement with the ball or vice versa

A ball marker according to claim 4 wherein the body portion includes indicia on either or both sides thereof

6 A ball marker according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the body portion includes a pitch mark repairer or similar device commonly used by a golfer at an opposite end to the ball engaging formation

7 A ball marker according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the body portion is formed in the shape of a particular emblem, symbol or motif.

8. A ball marker according to any one of the proceeding claims wherein the tines are rounded at their ends to avoid injury to a player.

9. A ball marker according to any one of the proceeding claims wherein the thickness of the ball marker body is less than 2mm.