U.S. patent application number 12/195988 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for golf ball marker and holder.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ahead Headgear, Inc.. Invention is credited to Charles Lord, Kenneth A. Shwartz.
Application Number | 20100048329 12/195988 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41696910 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100048329 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shwartz; Kenneth A. ; et
al. |
February 25, 2010 |
Golf Ball Marker and Holder
Abstract
Disclosed is a holder for removably securing a magnetizable golf
ball marker. In certain embodiments, the holder is made of a
durable material containing a recessed area, and acts as a magnetic
base for the ball marker, to which the ball marker is attracted. In
certain embodiments, a permanent magnet is secured and concealed in
the recessed area of the holder. In certain embodiments, the
recessed area is approximately the same size of the magnet so the
magnet fits securely in the recessed area. In certain embodiments,
the holder and magnet are kept together by a backing material. In
certain embodiments, the ball marker holder is affixed to a cap,
visor, article of clothing, or golf accessory. In certain
embodiments, the holder also displays an ornamental design,
revealing a graphic on the top of the holder when the ball marker
is removed from the holder. In certain embodiments, the ball marker
is removed by sliding or lifting the marker away from the magnet
and magnetic field and off the holder. In certain embodiments, the
marker is slightly raised so that may easily be removed from the
holder.
Inventors: |
Shwartz; Kenneth A.;
(Mattapoisett, MA) ; Lord; Charles; (Mattapoisett,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY HOAG, LLP;PATENT GROUP, (w/WYS)
155 SEAPORT BLVD.
BOSTON
MA
02210-2600
US
|
Assignee: |
Ahead Headgear, Inc.
New Bedford
MA
|
Family ID: |
41696910 |
Appl. No.: |
12/195988 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/406 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 3/10 20130101; G09F
21/02 20130101; A63B 2209/08 20130101; A63B 57/353 20151001; G09F
7/12 20130101; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 57/207 20151001; A63B
2071/0694 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/406 |
International
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20060101
A63B057/00 |
Claims
1. A holder for a golf ball marker, comprising: a non-magnetic golf
ball marker, a magnet, and a base comprising an outer border, a top
surface, a bottom surface, and a recessed area on the bottom
surface, wherein the recessed area on the bottom surface contains
the magnet.
2. The golf ball marker holder of claim 1, wherein the non-magnetic
golf ball marker comprises a ferrous material.
3. The golf ball marker holder of claim 1, wherein the base
comprises a rubber material.
4. The golf ball marker holder of claim 1, wherein the top surface
of the base comprises a graphic.
5. The golf ball marker holder of claim 1, further comprising a
double-sided plastic tape backing, wherein said plastic tape
backing covers the recessed area containing the magnet and the
bottom surface of the base.
6. The golf ball marker holder of claim 1, further comprising a
rubber backing, wherein the rubber backing covers the recessed area
containing the magnet and the bottom surface of the base.
7. The golf ball marker holder of claim 1, wherein the outer border
comprises a thread channel.
8. The golf ball marker holder of claim 5, wherein the outer border
comprises a thread channel.
9. The golf ball marker holder of claim 6, wherein the outer border
comprises a thread channel.
10. The golf ball marker holder of claim 7, wherein the holder is
attached to an article of clothing.
11. The golf ball marker holder of claim 8, wherein the holder is
attached to an article of clothing.
12. The golf ball marker holder of claim 11, wherein the article of
clothing is a cap comprising a crown portion with an inner surface
and an outer surface, and a brim with a top side and bottom side;
and wherein the brim is attached to the crown portion and the base
is sewn to the top side of the brim using the thread channels of
the outer border.
13. The golf ball marker holder of claim 11, wherein the article of
clothing is a cap comprising a crown portion with an inner surface
and an outer surface, and a brim with a top side and bottom side;
and wherein the brim is attached to the crown portion and the base
is sewn to the bottom side of the brim using the thread channels of
the outer border.
14. The golf ball marker holder of claim 12, wherein said marker is
in contact with said base; and there is a magnetic force of
attraction between the magnet and non-magnetic ball marker.
15. The golf ball marker holder of claim 12, wherein said marker is
in contact with said bottom side of brim; and there is a magnetic
force of attraction between the magnet and non-magnetic ball
marker.
16. The golf ball marker holder of claim 13, wherein said marker is
in contact with said base; and there is a magnetic force of
attraction between the magnet and non-magnetic ball marker.
17. The golf ball marker holder of claim 13, wherein said marker is
in contact with said top side of brim; and there is a magnetic
force of attraction between the magnet and non-magnetic ball
marker.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] In the game of golf, ball markers are routinely used to mark
the position of a golf ball after landing on the green. Following
proper etiquette and the rules of golf, players must mark and
remove their golf ball when on the putting surface. At this point,
the player is allowed to clean and wipe away grass, mud, and water
that may have accumulated on the ball during play. Further, marking
the golf ball allows other players, who are further away from the
hole, to continue play without the possibility of their ball
hitting other balls on the green. While another golfer may still
hit the marker with the ball, the marker, because markers are
typically small and relatively flat, causes substantially less
deflection than would occur in a collision with another ball.
[0002] Many golfers use ball markers that are small disc-shaped
structures composed of a durable material, such as metal or
plastic. Ball markers can be found as independent entities and as
an example, coins have long been used to serve this purpose.
However, this system has its drawbacks. Ball markers not affixed to
something else are easily lost, dropped, or misplaced on the golf
course. Players can have difficulty finding their ball marker in
pant pockets or golf bags filled with golf balls, tees, car keys,
and loose change.
[0003] In response to this situation, ball markers affixed or that
can be affixed to something else, such as a golf glove, shoe, or
article of clothing, were developed. For instance, markers are
commonly found on golf gloves, typically including a prong or pin
that mates with a socket on the tab or elsewhere on the glove.
However, such markers require a tight fit of the prong within the
socket so that the marker is not dislodged during play. As a
result, a fair amount of force needs to be applied to pry the
marker from the socket for use. When returning the marker to the
socket, care must be taken to properly align the prong or pin with
the socket to avoid damage to either the prong or the socket. In
addition, the prong and socket arrangement is prone to corrosion or
jamming with foreign material, making it more difficult to remove
and/or replace the marker.
[0004] Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a ball marker
system which addresses the shortcomings in the art. Specifically,
such a ball marker system must have a relatively simple and
straightforward design. Also, it must allow the golfer to be able
to retrieve easily the marker and return the marker to its proper
position. Thus, the positioning of the marker system must be in a
natural-appearing and readily accessible place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Disclosed is an improved golf ball marker and holder. In
certain embodiments, the ball marker is made of a magnetizable
material. In certain embodiments, the holder is non-circular in
shape, composed of a rubber material, and contains a permanent
magnet. In certain embodiments, the holder acts as a magnetic base
to which the ball marker is magnetically drawn. In certain
embodiments, a recessed area, located on a bottom surface of the
base, contains the magnet. In certain embodiments, the magnet is
secured in the recessed area within the base with a backing
material. In certain embodiments, on a top surface of the base, a
graphic exists and is visually exposed when the player removes the
ball marker away from the base. In certain embodiments, the graphic
can be painted, stitched, embroidered, or otherwise molded onto the
rubber base. In certain embodiments, there is also an outer border
to the base. In some embodiments, the outer border is used as a
thread channel through which a threading sewing needle stitches
directly through the border or base material in order to
permanently stitch the base onto the brim of a baseball-style cap
or other base fabric.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top and front view of a ball marker holder with
a graphic.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a bottom and side view with magnet and recessed
area within a holder.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a bottom and side view with magnet in the recessed
area within a holder.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a top and bottom view of an embodiment of a
holder.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a top and bottom view of another embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a top and bottom view of another embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a top view of a holder attached to a cap.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a top view of a ball marker and holder attached to
a cap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In certain embodiments, the ball marker is circular in
shape, but it may be non-circular in other embodiments. In certain
embodiments, the ball marker comprises a magnetizable material, and
in one embodiment contains iron. In certain embodiments, the marker
is secured in place by a magnetic field, generated from the magnet.
In certain embodiments, the ball marker is positioned directly on
the top surface of the base. In certain embodiments, the raised
orientation of the ball marker atop the rubber base, as well as the
ball marker overhanging the edge of the holder, allows for easy and
simple removal by sliding or lifting the marker off the base. In
certain embodiments, the magnetic field strength is strong and
large enough to prevent the ball marker from coming loose or
falling off the base during playing conditions. In certain
embodiments, the ball marker is put back into place on the holder
after use. In certain embodiments, the user can easily feel the
holder without visual aid and place the marker thereon. Though
described herein in relation to a baseball-style cap, the base can
be fabricated on a visor, golf glove, shirt, pants, other clothing,
golf bag, putter cover, or golf paraphernalia.
[0015] In one embodiment, a holder for a ball marker comprises of a
non-circular rubber base with a top surface and a bottom surface,
an outer border, a magnet for magnetically holding the ball marker,
and a recessed area of the holder. In certain embodiments, the
recessed area is approximately the same size as the magnet such
that the magnet fits securely inside the recessed area. In certain
embodiments, the magnet is contained within the recessed area of
the holder with a self-adhesive backing material, double-sided
plastic tape, covering the magnet and the bottom surface of the
holder. In certain embodiments, the plastic tape affixes the holder
on a top side of a brim of a cap. In certain embodiments, the
holder is further secured by using the outer border as a thread
channel so that the holder is sewn onto the brim of a cap. In
certain embodiments, stitching is sewn completely through the
thread channels of the outer border and through one or more fabric
layers in the brim of the cap.
[0016] In another embodiment, the magnet is inside the recessed
area at the bottom surface of the rubber base. In certain
embodiments, the holder is sewn, using the outer border of the
rubber base as thread channels, to the brim of a cap through one or
more fabric layers. In certain embodiments, both the bottom surface
of the holder and the magnet are in direct contact with the fabric,
securing the rubber base and magnet in place.
[0017] In another embodiment, the magnet is inside the recessed
area of the rubber holder. In certain embodiments, the magnet and
bottom surface are covered by a backing material, a layer of a
rubber material. In certain embodiments, the magnet is completely
surrounded by rubber material inside the base. In certain
embodiments, the base is fabricated using the outer border as a
thread channel on the brim of a cap.
[0018] The holder may be secured to an article of clothing, such as
a baseball-style cap, wherein the holder is attached to the brim of
the cap. In certain embodiments, the holder can be stitched and/or
the double-sided plastic tape can be used to affix the holder onto
a top portion of a cap brim. In certain embodiments, the holder may
be placed on other locations on caps or visors. For example, the
holder may be attached to a bottom portion of a brim. In certain
embodiments, the magnet generates a magnetic field that penetrates
through the rubber and any materials generally used to construct a
cap brim. In certain embodiments, the ball marker may be positioned
directly on the rubber base or on the opposite side.
[0019] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of
the following description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. To provide an overall understanding, certain
illustrative embodiments will now be described; however, it will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention
described herein can be adapted and modified for other suitable
applications and that the other additions and modifications can be
made without departing from the scope of the systems and methods
described herein.
[0020] Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated embodiments can
be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail,
and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features, components,
modules, and/or aspects of the illustrations can be otherwise
combined, separated, interchanged, and/or rearranged without
departing from the disclosed system. Additionally, the shapes and
sizes of components are also exemplary and unless otherwise
specified, can be altered without affecting the disclosed systems
or methods. Throughout the entirety of the present disclosure, use
of the articles "a" or "an" to modify a noun can be understood to
be used for convenience and to include one, or more than one of the
modified noun, unless specifically stated.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a golf ball marker base 10
or holder. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the base 10 comprises
molded rubber. The rubber base 10 is significantly non-circular in
shape. A top surface 15 of the base 10 has a graphic 20 that is
molded as part of the rubber base 10. A permanent magnet 40 (not
shown in FIG. 1) is contained inside the rubber base 10 and
visually concealed by the graphic 20. There is an outer border 11,
part of the rubber base 10, comprising semi-transparent rubber.
[0022] A bottom surface 12 of the base 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3
and has a recessed area 30 and a magnet 40 that fits inside the
recessed area 30. The recessed area 30 has a depth d, length l and
height h and the magnet 40 has dimensions approximately equal to d,
l and h so that recessed area 30 and magnet 40 have a similar shape
and volume. For illustrative purposes only, the magnet 40 is
removed from the recessed area 30 in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 the magnet
40 securely fits in the recessed area 30 since the shape and volume
of the recessed area 30 is approximately equal to that of the
magnet 40. The recessed area 30 of the rubber base 10 surrounds all
but one side of the magnet 40 that is exposed. The magnet 40 is
secured in such a way the exposed side of the magnet 40 is
generally flush with the bottom surface 12 of the holder 10. The
bottom surface 12 and the semi-transparent rubber outer border 11
of the base 10 are shown.
[0023] The top and bottom/side views of one embodiment are shown in
FIG. 4. The magnet 40 and bottom surface 12 of the rubber base 10
are covered with a self-adhesive backing material 14. The backing
material 14 in this embodiment is a double-sided plastic tape. The
shape and size of the plastic tape 14 is similar to that of the
bottom surface 12 of the rubber base 10. One side of the tape 14
keeps the magnet 40 secured in the recessed area 30 and the other
is used to attach the base 10 to an article of clothing. The tape
14 is partially peeled back in FIG. 4 to show the magnet 40 in the
recessed area 30 and is for illustrative purposes only.
[0024] It is within the scope of this invention that the location
of the base 10 attached to an article of clothing can be determined
by the user. The user is able to peel paper off the backing,
exposing one side of the sticky plastic tape, and place the base 10
anywhere desirable. The double-sided plastic tape 14 creates a
barrier between the article of clothing and the magnet 40. The
magnet 40 does not come in direct contact with fabric materials. A
graphic 20 is on the top surface 15 of the rubber base 10.
[0025] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5-8, an outer border 11
contains thread channels 13 that are used for sewing the ball
marker holder 10 onto an article of clothing. The thread channels
13 are merely an extended outer border of the rubber base 10 that
extend from the top surface 15 to the bottom surface 12 of the
rubber holder 10. A threaded sewing needle stitches directly
through the border 11 or base material of the thread channel 13 in
order to permanently stitch the base 10 onto the brim of a
baseball-style cap 60 or other base fabric. The rubber base 10 can
be fabricated to golf accessories, such as a putter cover, and/or
other sports apparel. At least one layer of fabric is used to
attach the base to the article of clothing.
[0026] Another embodiment of the holder 10 is shown in FIG. 5. The
golf ball holder 10 in FIG. 5 contains a rubber backing material 50
to secure the magnet 40 inside the recessed area 30. The backing
material 50 is a layer of rubber that covers the bottom surface 12
of the holder 10 and magnet 40. Similar to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4, the magnet 40 is not physically against the attached
article of clothing. Thread channels 13 in the outer border 11 of
the rubber base 10 are used to sew the holder 10 to an article of
clothing. A graphic 20 appears on the top surface 15 of the base
10.
[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. The
magnet 40 is in the recessed area 30 of the rubber base 10.
However, in this embodiment, the bottom surface 12 and the magnet
40 are not covered by a backing material 50. The base 10 is sewn
directly to an article of clothing which permanently secures the
ball marker holder 10 in place by using the thread channels 13
along the outer border 11. The thread used for sewing passes
through at least one layer of fabric. The bottom surface 12 of the
rubber holder 10 in this embodiment may be in direct contact with
the fabric of the article of clothing being used, however, the
bottom surface of the magnet 40 is still covered with a layer of
double sided tape 14 so that it does not come in direct contact
with the fabric layer. This tape 14 is meant to hold the rubber or
magnet 40 item in place during the sewing process.
[0028] FIGS. 7 and 8 show an embodiment where the ball marker
holder 10 is attached to a baseball-style cap 60. The term "cap"
used herein is defined as the headwear seen most commonly used by
baseball players, having a crown portion, covering the wearer's
head, and a brim portion attached to the crown portion. There may
be any number of possible adjustments, straps, buckles, snaps, or
attachments located on a back side of the crown portion that
regulates the size of the cap to fit on the wearer's head. The ball
marker holder 10 in FIGS. 7 and 8 show the holder 10 attached to a
top surface on the brim. The holder 10 is attached to the brim by
double-sided plastic tape 14 (not seen in FIG. 7 or 8), and by
stitching using the thread channels 13 in the outer border 11 of
the base 10. The stitching thread penetrates at least one layer of
fabric in the cap brim. The top surface of the holder, in FIG. 7,
reveals a graphic 20 when the ball marker 70 is not present.
[0029] A non-magnetic ball marker 70 is placed on top of the holder
10 in FIG. 8, covering the graphic 20, directly against the rubber
holder 10. The ball marker 70 is thin and circular in shape. It is
composed of a ferrous, magnetizable material, which is attracted to
the magnet 40. A graphic design is displayed on a top side of the
ball marker 70. Those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that
ball markers may have a graphic or indicia displayed thereon.
[0030] It is within the scope of this invention that the ball
marker 70 be placed anywhere on the cap 60 within the magnetic
field produced by the magnet. The ball marker 70 can be placed on
the bottom side of the cap brim, directly below the rubber base 10.
The magnetic field generated by the magnet penetrates the rubber
base 10 and the various layers of fabric used to construct a cap
brim. The ball marker 70 directly presses against the fabric of the
cap brim.
[0031] Although the holder has been described relative to specific
embodiments thereof, it is not so limited. Obviously many
modifications and variations may become apparent in light of the
above teachings. Elements, components, modules, and/or parts
thereof that are described and/or otherwise portrayed through the
figures to communicate with, be associated with, and/or be based
on, something else, can be understood to so communicate, be
associated with, and/or be based on in a direct and/or indirect
manner, unless otherwise stipulated herein.
[0032] Many additional changes in the details, materials, and
arrangements of parts, herein described and illustrated can be made
by those skilled in the art.
* * * * *