WO2005081648A2

WO2005081648A2 - Golf accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2005081648A2
Application number: PCT/PH2005/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacques M. A. Pels
Original assignee: Pels Jacques M A
Priority date: 2004-01-23
Filing date: 2005-01-24
Publication date: 2005-09-09
Also published as: WO2005081648A3

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to a golfing tool (1) but more particularly to a multipurpose golf accessory that integrates a divot tool (11) and a ball marker holder (13) together and is provided with a unique shape that makes said golf accessory handy, elegant and fashionable.

Description

GOLF ACCESSORY

This invention relates to a golf accessory

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to a combined golf divot tool and ball marker accessory, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that aspects of this invention could be used in other independent applications, such as ball marker holders generally.

PRIOR ART

Divot tools are used as a general purpose tool on the golf course and generally comprise a handle having a pair of tines useful for divot repair, tee removal and the like. Ball markers are used to replace the ball where the presence of the ball may impede another player's stroke. Ball marker holders are also known and may take anyone of a myriad of forms.

Combined divot tool and ball marker holders are also known. A representative example of a combined divot tool and ball marker holder is the BELLAGAMBA tool.

This comprises a plastic moulded body having a tined end to form a divot tool and a, ball marker holder end spaced from the tined end by a handle portion. The ball marker holder end comprises an integral flat land bounded by an annular ridge which is undercut at the land. A slot is provided through each side of the ridge leaving a closed portion at the extremity of the ridge remote from the tines. A ball marker disc may be slotted into either of the slots to be retained generally concentrically with the ridge by friction with the land at the undercut. The ball marker may be slid out of the holder by the users thumb acting on the flat face of the ball marker exposed through the annulus of the ridge. The handle portion is provided with a generally concave thumb rest region provided with dimples to provide some grip when using the divot tool portion.

The BELLAGAMBA apparatus has several disadvantages, one of which is an inherent limitation of the particular type of ball marker holder. The moulded plastic construction requires close tolerance to retain the ball marker adequately while permitting the marker to be relatively easily slid out for use. The plastic material wears readily to the point where the tolerance is lost and the marker tends to slip out in the user's pocket.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in ball holder apparatus including: a body portion having a substantially flat surface bounded by an annular ridge, said annular ridge having an undercut adjacent said flat surface and adapted to receive an edge portion of a ball marker disc; a slot through said annular ridge into said undercut and having a long side of extent selected to allow said ball marker disc to pass there through to rest with its major surface adjacent said flat surface; a magnetically attractive portion associated with said body portion and cooperable with a corresponding magnetically attractive portion of said ball marker disc to selectively retain said ball marker disc adjacent said substantially flat surface.

The body portion and the annular ridge may be integral. Either the body portion or the ball marker disc may be entirely of magnetically attractive material but preferably not both. For example, the body member may be of plastic or aluminium alloy, copper or brass, or other nonmagnetic material, wherein the magnetically attractive portion comprises an insert embedded in or secured to the body portion.

The magnetically attractive portion may be a magnet or a material attracted to a magnet such as soft iron or other ferrous material. The ball marker disc may in this example be a magnetized ball marker disc of soft iron or the like, or be attracted to a magnet as the case may be, or may be substantially non-magnetic and have an insert of such material. Where a magnet insert is associated with the body portion, it is preferably centrally located and may be substantially flush finished with the flat surface. Alternatively the magnet insert may be bounded by a slight ridge to support the disc slightly above the flat surface and in engagement with the undercut.

The ball marker disc may be of metal or plastic and may be provided with distinctive designs or other indicia on one or both major faces. In the case of ferrous discs, these may be decorated with hard enamels which are baked or stoved.

In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the body member is of aluminium alloy. The body member may be provided with a hard anodized or other wear resistant finish.

The ball holder apparatus may form a ball holder portion of a golfing tool or accessory. Accordingly in a further aspect this invention resides broadly in a golfing tool including a ball marker holder portion, a handle portion integral with said ball marker holder portion, and a divot tool portion formed integrally with said handle portion and remote from said ball marker portion, wherein said ball marker holder portion comprises: a body portion having a substantially flat surface bounded by an annular ridge, said annular ridge having an undercut adjacent said flat surface and adapted to receive an edge portion of a ball marker disc; a slot through said annular ridge into said undercut and having a long side of extent selected to allow said ball marker disc to pass therethrough to rest with its major surface adjacent said flat surface; a magnetically attractive portion associated with said body portion and cooperable with a corresponding magnetically attractive portion of said ball marker disc to selectively retain said ball marker disc adjacent said substantially flat surface.

The handle portion is preferably formed with a concave thumb rest portion. The divot tool portion may comprise a set of conventional tines. The tines may be additionally provided with a nib or the like to allow for cleaning out the face groove of clubs. The BELLAGAMBA tool has a generally circular periphery to its concave thumb rest portion. The concave surface bears a plurality of indentations to provide for grip. The present applicant has determined that a better shape for the periphery of the concave thumb rest portion is ovoid and that the use of a nodular surface in combination with this shape produces a tool having a surprisingly improved ergonomic. Accordingly, in a further aspect the present invention resides broadly in a golfing tool including a magnetic ball marker holder portion, a handle portion integral with said ball marker holder portion, and a divot tool portion formed integrally with said handle portion, and remote from said ball marker portion, wherein said handle portion includes a generally concave, thumb rest surface having a generally ovoid periphery, said surface bearing a plurality of nodules distributed across the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: FIG. 1 is a composite of views of a front plate of apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a composite of detail views of a body member of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention and adapted to receive the front plate of FIG. 5 1 ; FIG. 3 is a composite of views of a rear plate of alternate apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a composite of detail views of a body member of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention and adapted to receive the rear plate of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the figures, there is provided a combined ball holder and divot tool generally indicated as 1. In the embodiments of both FIGS 2 and 4, the tool 1 comprises a cast-metal tool body 10 having integrally formed divot tool portions 11, handle portions 12 and ball marker holder portions 13. The divot tool portion 11 comprises a pair of tines 14 which are curved as illustrated at 15. The handle portion 12 includes a generally concave, substantially ovoid recess 16 having raised, rounded nodules 20 distributed over its concave surface to form a thumb grip.

In the embodiment of FIGS 1 and 2, the ball marker holder portion 13 is formed having a solid, substantially disc-shaped body 21 having a recess 22 formed therein, the recess extending through the upper periphery 23 of the body 21. Studs 24 are moulded into the material of the body 21, and are adapted to cooperate with assembly recesses 25 provided in the front plate 2 illustrated in FIG 1. The front plate 2 has an opening 27 forming a generally annular closure 30 for the open face of the. recess 22, leaving a slot at 23 where a ball marker may be slid in. The opening 27 is slightly smaller than the recess 22 to define an internal groove between the front plate and the body in which the circular edge of a ball marker may reside in use. The centre of the recess bears and embedded magnet (not shown) for retaining the ball marker in the assembly.

In the embodiment of FIGS 3 and 4, the construction is generally the same as for the embodiment of FIGS 1 and 2, except that the body 21 has an opening 31 forming a generally annular window 32 for the open face of the recess 22, and the back plate 3 is solid-faced closing off one side of the opening.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf accessory comprising: a body member having a substantially upper disc-shaped body with recess central portion is provided with a reduced neck portion towards a handle portion that extends downwardly into a pair of prongs; a number of studs spacedly disposed along the disc shaped body; a back plate body having a substantially disc-shaped body with a reduced neck portion having a number of apertures provided along the sides; a cavity disposed on the central portion of said back plate; a magnet securely disposed within the cavity ; a slot provided between the upper disc shaped body and the back plate to slideably accommodate and secure the ball marker in place.

2. A golf accessory as in claim 1 further comprising: a handle portion located between the upper disc shaped body and pair of prongs; a number of embossments are spacedly disposed on top of the handle portion ; a pair of prongs integrally extends from the bottom portion of said handle portion.

3. A golf accessory as in claimed 2 wherein the pair of prongs extends in curvature manner from the handle portion.

4. A golf accessory comprising; a back plate with a slight recessed back portion. a flared upper disc shaped body with reduced uppermost portion. A golf accessory comprising; a thumb rest portion that has a twisted rope like configuration. a pair of prongs extending integrally from the twisted rope like configuration of said handle portion in a curvature manner. A golf accessory comprising; a back plate provided with space at its back portion to accommodate different types of advertising media.