U.S. patent application number 12/117953 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-12 for golf ball marking and carrier device.
Invention is credited to Melvin Cook.
Application Number | 20090277940 12/117953 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41266067 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090277940 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cook; Melvin |
November 12, 2009 |
GOLF BALL MARKING AND CARRIER DEVICE
Abstract
A golf ball carrier for marking or identifying golf balls. The
carrier has coaxially aligned openings receiving opposing
hemispheres of each golf ball. Each opening allows for marking of
each corresponding pole of the golf ball. The golf ball functions
as a wedge spreading apart the carrier during insertion and removal
of the golf ball from its engaged position with the carrier. While
the carrier engages the opposing hemispheres of the golf ball, the
user is able to rapidly mark the corresponding poles of each golf
ball with the desired markings. The carrier may hold the marked
golf balls until desired by the user.
Inventors: |
Cook; Melvin; (Sellersburg,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MIDDLETON & REUTLINGER
2500 BROWN & WILLIAMSON TOWER
LOUISVILLE
KY
40202
US
|
Family ID: |
41266067 |
Appl. No.: |
12/117953 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/576 ;
206/315.9; 224/247; 224/584; 33/577 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 55/408 20151001;
A63B 47/001 20130101; A63B 47/00 20130101; A63B 2209/08 20130101;
A63B 57/20 20151001; A63B 45/02 20130101; A63B 55/20 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/576 ;
224/584; 224/247; 206/315.9; 33/577 |
International
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20060101
A63B057/00; A63B 47/00 20060101 A63B047/00 |
Claims
1. A golf ball carrier for marking opposing sides of a golf ball
comprising: an elongated first member positionable substantially
parallel with an elongated second member and interconnected by a
third member positioned along elongated edges of said first member
and said second member; said first member and said second member
when substantially parallel being spaced from each other at a
distance less than the diameter of a golf ball; said first member
having a first opening and said second member having a second
opening, wherein said first opening and said second opening are
substantially coaxially aligned and are adapted to receive and
secure said golf ball; at least one template operable in either
said first opening or said second opening; a marking device
releasably secured to said golf ball carrier; and an attachment
mechanism for securing said golf ball carrier.
2. The golf ball carrier as in claim 1 wherein one of said first
plate and said second plate has a tapered surface adjacent said
first opening or said second opening.
3. The golf ball carrier as in claim 1 wherein said attachment
mechanism is a carabineer.
4. The golf ball carrier as in claim 1 wherein said third member is
flexibly interconnected substantially perpendicularly to said first
member and said second member and allows said first member and said
second member to deflect away from each other upon insertion of
said golf ball therebetween.
5. The golf ball carrier as in claim 4 wherein said third member
includes a third opening permitting access to assist in disengaging
said golf ball from said golf ball carrier.
6. The golf ball carrier as in claim 1 wherein said first member
and said second member are constructed to spread away from each
other as said golf ball is wedged into and out of engagement with
each of said first opening and said second opening.
7. The golf ball carrier as in claim 1 wherein said marking device
is a permanent marker.
8. The golf ball carrier as in claim 1 includes a plurality of said
first openings aligned with a plurality of said second
openings.
9. The golf ball carrier as in claim 1 wherein each said template
is fixed in place.
10. A golf ball carriage for marking opposing hemispheres of a golf
ball comprising: a unitary elongated member having a first opening
and a second opening, wherein said first opening is substantially
coaxially aligned with said second opening; said unitary elongated
member having an access opening between each of said first opening
and said second opening, wherein said access opening being spaced
at a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball before
insertion of said golf ball and allows said access opening to
deflect away from said golf ball upon insertion of said golf ball;
and said first opening and said second opening adapted to receive
and secure opposing hemispheres of said golf ball.
11. The golf ball carriage as in claim 10 wherein said elongated
member is a U-shaped channel.
12. The golf ball carriage as in claim 10 has a marking device
attached thereto.
13. The golf ball carriage as in claim 12 wherein said marking
device is a template and a permanent marker, wherein said template
operable engages each of said first opening and said second
opening.
14. The golf ball carriage as in claim 10 wherein said first
opening and said second opening are positioned on opposing parallel
plates.
15. The golf ball carriage as in claim 10 wherein said access
opening includes a tapered surface.
16. The golf ball carriage as in claim 10 has an attachment
mechanism for securing said golf ball carriage.
17. A golf ball holder for holding a golf ball comprising: a first
member flexibly interconnected to a second member, said first
member defining a first opening and said second member defining a
second opening, said first opening is substantially coaxially
aligned with said second opening and adapted to receive and secure
a golf ball; and wherein said first member and said second member
are deflected away from each other by said golf ball when said golf
ball holder is receiving and releasing said golf ball from
engagement with each of said first opening and said second
opening.
18. The golf ball holder as in claim 17 wherein said first member
is substantially parallel to said second member and rigidly spaced
a distance less than the diameter of said golf ball.
19. The golf ball holder as in claim 17 wherein each of said first
member and said second member has an interior surface wherein said
golf ball wedges against said first member interior surface and
said second member interior surface when being received and
released from said golf ball holder.
20. The golf ball holder as in claim 19 wherein either of said
first member interior surface or said second member interior
surface is tapered leading towards each respective said first
opening or said second opening.
21. The golf ball holder as in claim 17 further including an
interchangeable template operably engaging each of said first
opening and said second opening.
22. The golf ball holder as in claim 21 includes a permanent marker
releasably attached thereto.
23. The golf ball holder as in claim 17 wherein each of said first
opening and said second opening is annular in shape.
24. The golf ball holder as in claim 17 includes an attachment
mechanism for securing said golf ball holder.
25. The golf ball holder as in claim 24 wherein said attachment
mechanism is a carabineer.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a golf ball carrier and
particularly to a golf ball carrier for marking and identifying
each golf ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a golf
ball carrier attached to a golf bag with clubs, the golf bag being
only partially shown;
[0003] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the golf ball carrier
embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating a template positioned for
marking one or more poles of the golf ball;
[0004] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the golf ball carrier
embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3, illustrating the golf
ball before insertion into or after removal from the golf ball
carrier;
[0005] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the golf ball carrier
embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3, illustrating the
interaction between the golf ball and the golf ball carrier while
the golf ball is being inserted or removed;
[0006] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the golf ball carrier
embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3, illustrating the
interaction between the golf ball and the golf ball carrier when
the golf ball has being fully received and the template has been
positioned to mark one or more poles of the golf ball;
[0007] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of the golf ball carrier;
[0008] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of
the golf ball carrier with portions of the golf ball carrier
partially broken away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a golf ball carrier 10 allows the
user to mark or identify opposing poles of at least one golf ball
and hold the golf ball until desired for use. The golf ball carrier
may enable the user to choose from a number of personal graphics to
personalize and identify each golf ball according to the user's own
unique style while playing the game of golf. Moreover, the user is
capable of quickly marking opposing poles of the golf ball allowing
at least one of the golf ball markings to be visible in any lie
during the golf game.
[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, carrier 10 includes a pair of spaced
openings retaining the golf ball and allowing for marking opposing
poles as well as holding the golf ball until desired by the user.
Golf ball carrier 10 comprises a first plate 20 joined to a second
plate 30. First plate 20 is preferably substantially parallel to
second plate 30. A first opening 22a is positioned in first plate
20 of the carrier and a second paired opening 32a is positioned in
second plate 30. First opening 22a is preferably co-axially aligned
with second opening 32a. A back plate or spine 40 flexibly
interconnects first plate 20 and second plate 30 and provides a
spacing D between the two plates. Spacing D is at least in part
less than the diameter of golf ball 1. Back plate 40 is preferably
substantially perpendicular to each of first plate 20 and second
plate 30. The size or diameter of each plate opening 22a and 32a is
less than the diameter of golf ball 1 allowing for a portion of
each opposing hemisphere of the golf ball to be seated into an
engaged position within carrier 10. Each plate opening 22a and 32a
permits access to opposed poles of golf ball 1 in order to mark
each corresponding opposing pole. First plate 20 has a free end 24
distanced from back plate 40 of carriage 10. Second plate 30
similarly has a free end 34 distanced from back plate 40 as well.
Second plate free end 34 and the first plate free end 24 define an
access opening A for the insertion of one or more golf balls 1 into
golf ball carrier 10. Due to the flexible interconnection of plates
20 and 30 by back plate 30, access opening A can vary in dimension
or more particularly outwardly expand (FIG. 4), when golf ball 1 is
forced into or out of the carrier. Golf ball carrier 10 may be made
of a number of materials such as but not limited to plastics such
as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), metal, or even a flexible
wood and can be formed by methods such as but not limited to
injection molding, and function to retain the golf balls until
desired by the user. As shown in FIGS. 2-5 interior surfaces 25 and
35 of plates 20 and 30 may be provided respectively with a tapered
groove 23 and 33, each extending from respective free ends 24 and
34 to their respective plate openings 22a and 32a. The interior
tapered grooves 23 and 33 of plates 20 and 30 may be larger in
width adjacent the edge of free ends 24 and 34 and narrow as they
approach each corresponding plate opening 22a and 32a. Each tapered
groove combination 23 and 33 will serve to a guide golf ball 1 into
each pair of plate openings 22a and 32a during both insertion and
removal of the golf ball from golf ball carrier 10. Moreover,
tapered groove pairs 23 and 33 may reduce the amount plates 20 and
30 have to spread away from each other to allow golf ball 1 to be
inserted and removed through access opening A to engage or
disengage from plate opening pairs 22a and 32a.
[0011] Another embodiment of a golf carrier 110 as shown in FIG. 6
has an interior surface 135 of a second plate 130 having an annular
tapered edge 133a formed about a plate opening 132a. A first plate
120 which may be configured similarly to second plate 30 or may be
configured as shown in other embodiments herein, and second plate
130 are flexibly interconnected by back plate or spine 140. Annular
tapered edge 133a preferably allows more surface area of golf ball
1 to be in contact with carrier 110 while still allowing for
rotation of the golf ball. As also shown in FIG. 6, a tapered
groove 133 may be provided between annular tapered edge 133a and
the front edge of plate 130 to facilitate the insertion and removal
of a golf ball. Spine 140 may be provided with an opening 142, of
various shapes, positions, and sizes, to permit the user to insert
a finger to push against the golf ball and assist in its removal
from engagement with the carrier. It should be understood by those
skilled in art that the first plate, the second plate, and the back
plate may be provided in a variety of shapes, sizes, and
configurations and still permit the marking of opposing poles of
the golf ball while also holding the golf ball until desired by the
user.
[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, golf ball carrier 10 is preferably
substantially unitary in construction and constructed from a
material which allows the carrier to deflect upon insertion and
removal of golf ball 1. In use, as shown in FIG. 3, the user will
align golf ball 1 with one empty coaxially aligned pair of plate
openings 22b and 32b at free ends 24 and 34 of first and second
plates 20 and 30. As shown in FIG. 4, when the user begins to push
golf ball 1 towards the selected pair of plate openings 22b and
32b, the golf ball will track tapered grooves 23 and 33, if
included, towards the plate openings. Moreover, the insertion of
golf ball 1 into carrier 10 forces plates 20 and 30 to deflect
outwards away from the golf ball. The interior surfaces of 25 and
35 of plates 20 and 30 thus exert an inward force upon the golf
ball or in effect a wedging mechanism. As shown in FIG. 5, the user
then continues the movement of golf ball 1 against the wedging
force and towards the pair of plate openings 22b and 32b until the
golf ball engages each of the plate openings. As shown in FIGS. 2
and 5 when golf ball 1 engages plate openings 22b and 32b, the
plates 20 and 30 return to substantially their original positions
prior to the insertion of the golf ball. The material of which golf
ball carrier 10 is made should be sufficiently rigid so that plates
20 and 30 return back to their original position and hold the ball
within plate openings 22b and 32b. When golf ball 1 is engaged
within openings 22b and 32b, the golf ball is not fully restricted
from movement within golf ball carrier 10, but is still rotatable
within the openings. The user may then apply the desired markings
to the engaged golf ball 1 as it is originally orientated upon
insertion, or may manually re-align the golf ball, as an example,
to avoid having the markings overlap the "Brand" indicia 1a, as
shown in FIG. 2. By manually rotating the golf ball's orientation,
the user is able to specifically place the desired markings at
opposing poles of golf ball 1 in a position that will not overlap
or substantially overlap the golf ball's original indicia. This
makes identification of the golf ball clearer and allows the user
to mark the ball symmetrically in reference to any original indicia
1a. Upon marking of the opposed poles of golf ball 1, the user may
remove (FIG. 4) the golf ball for immediate use, as will be
discussed in more detail below, or allow the newly marked golf ball
to remain in golf ball carrier 10 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 5) until desired
for use. The capacity of the marking and carrier device 10 will of
course depend on the number of pairs of coaxially aligned openings
such as 22a and 32a, 22b and 32b, and 22c and 32c provided, as
shown in FIG. 2. The user may insert three golf balls 1, as in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, rotate the "Brand" indicia 1a to
the desired location, and mark all three golf balls consecutively
on one side of the carrier within opening 22a, 22b, and 22c, and
then the other opposing pole of the golf ball via openings 32a,
32b, and 32c. The golf balls may then be removed from the carrier
10 as required by the user.
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, golf ball carrier preferably has
a carabineer 4 for attaching the carrier to a golf bag 2 containing
clubs 3. By being attachable to golf bag 2, or another article, the
user is able to use golf ball carrier 10 not only to mark golf
balls 1 but to carry the golf balls in a position convenient for
use when desired by the user. Although carabineer 4 is shown in
detail in the FIGS. 1 and 2, it should be understood that a variety
of attachment means known to those skilled in the art may be used
to secure carrier 10 to golf bag 2 or to other convenient articles
commonly available to golfers on the golf course such as but not
limited to a golf cart (not shown). Other attachment mechanisms may
be used in place of the carabineer including straps, magnets,
chips, chains or other releasable or non-releasable attachments
whereby the carrier 10 is either loosely attached as shown in FIG.
1 or rigidly secured. Golf ball carrier 10 may also be stored
conveniently in a pocket of golf bag 2 if desired by the user.
[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the carrier and marking device
preferably includes one or more interchangeable templates 50 and
60. Each template is structured to be positionable in the various
plate openings. A desired template is typically placed in a plate
opening on one side of the golf ball, and then a marking device,
such as a permanent marker 70 is used to trace the template
configuration or design onto the surface of the golf ball. Then
template 50 or 60 will typically be transferred to the other side
of the marking and carrier device and positioned in the
corresponding paired opening and the golf ball is marked again as
described above. The user is able to select the personalized
graphics of the template and quickly mark the plurality of golf
balls 1 by having a variety of templates available such as but not
limited to templates 50 and 60 shown in the Figures. Marker 70, can
be a permanent marker or other such writing device and may be
attached to carrier 10 in any number of positions. Marker 70 is
shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 as attached to back plate 40 by a
cylinder or retaining device 42. Template 50 or a plurality of
templates 50 and 60 may be attached to carabineer 4 or similarly to
marker 70, they may be attached to carrier 10 in a variety of
positions or by a variety of retaining devices. Although templates
50 and 60 and marker 70 are used as the marking device in carrier
10 of FIGS. 1-6, it is to be understood that a stamp with a
personalized graphic may be used or any other marking device that
identifies the opposing poles of the golf ball. For example, the
stamp and a stamp pad may each be releasably secured to the
carrier. The stamp may be released from the carrier for marking the
golf ball or exchanged with a different stamp and corresponding
graphic. The stamp pad may be replaced if the stamp pad no longer
has sufficient ink, or if a new color is desired.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, template 50 has an upper wall
52 and a lower annular ring 54. Lower annular ring 54 centers
within each plate opening 22a and 32a for alignment, and positions
the personalized graphic in relation to golf ball 1, allowing the
user to use marker 70 to mark the graphic onto the golf ball's
opposing poles. Templates 50 and 60 may also have a loop of
material 56 and 66 to facilitate a quick reposition of the template
between plate openings and/or a raised projection 58 or 68 from
upper wall 52 and 62 for the user to finger grasp and reposition
the template. It should also be understood that templates 50 or 60
may be shaped or made sufficiently flexible to contour to the
surface of golf ball 1. The template may have a round or curved
surface (not shown), to quickly and accurately align with the
curved surface of the golf ball. Although it is not shown, a
separate template may be releasably secured individually to each
plate opening of the carrier by an engagement mechanism, rather
than being manually held in place by the user as described above.
This engagement mechanism would eliminate the need to transfer
templates between plate openings. The user would need only to mark
the golf balls through the predetermined template already secured
to each plate opening of the carrier. The engagement mechanism
could be comprised of magnets, male and female engagement members
such as a bead and groove engagement or a push and turn engagement.
Another embodiment of a golf ball carrier 210, as shown in FIG. 7,
may be structured with fixed, that is to say non-releasable or
non-interchangeable templates positioned adjacent a recess adapted
to receive the opposing poles or hemispheres of each golf ball,
thus providing a user with a carrier limited to a single
personalized graphic at each location. First plate and second plate
220 and 230 of carrier 210 are respectively provided with paired
recesses 221 and 231 each having a corresponding graphic template
250. Once a golf ball is inserted by spreading open the pathway or
access opening A, the ball will rest in the corresponding coaxially
aligned recesses 221 and 231 to allow the user to mark the opposing
ends of the golf ball.
[0016] The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for
clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be
understood therefrom for modifications will become obvious to those
skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the
appended claims. For example, the golf ball carrier may also retain
golf tees or a divot tool until needed by the user.
* * * * *