U.S. patent application number 13/850452 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for combination golf stroke counter and ball marker.
The applicant listed for this patent is Stephen B. GILBERT. Invention is credited to Stephen B. GILBERT.
Application Number | 20140295998 13/850452 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51621388 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140295998 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GILBERT; Stephen B. |
October 2, 2014 |
Combination Golf Stroke Counter and Ball Marker
Abstract
A combination golf stroke counter and ball marker is a
disk-shaped apparatus having a counter disk base and a removable
magnetic marker disk. The magnetic marker disk is held within the
counter disk base by a securing magnet which is held within a
central cylindrical magnet holder protrusion that extends upwards
from a circular trough within the counter disk base. The counter
disk base displays a plurality of numeric characters arranged
around a character display surface. The magnetic marker disk may be
rotated to orient a stroke-count pointer on the magnetic marker
disk to indicate one of the plurality of numeric characters,
specifying a current stroke count. The magnetic marker disk may be
removed by depressing one side of the magnetic marker disk into the
circular trough, detaching the magnetic marker disk from the
securing magnet in order to use the magnetic marker disk as a golf
ball marker.
Inventors: |
GILBERT; Stephen B.;
(Spokane, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GILBERT; Stephen B. |
Spokane |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51621388 |
Appl. No.: |
13/850452 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/406 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2071/0694 20130101;
A63B 71/06 20130101; A63B 57/207 20151001; A63B 57/353 20151001;
A63B 2071/0602 20130101; A63B 2209/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/406 |
International
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20060101
A63B057/00; A63B 71/06 20060101 A63B071/06 |
Claims
1. A combination golf stroke counter and ball marker comprises: a
counter disk base; a magnetic marker disk; the counter disk base
comprises an outer base perimeter, a character display surface, a
circular trough, a magnet holder protrusion, a securing magnet, and
a plurality of numeric characters; the magnetic marker disk
comprises a stroke-count pointer, a marker perimeter and a marker
bottom; the circular trough comprises a trough wall; and the
magnetic marker disk being removably attached to the counter disk
base.
2. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed
in claim 1 comprises: the outer base perimeter, the character
display surface, the circular trough, the magnet holder protrusion,
and the securing magnet being concentrically positioned with each
other; the circular trough encircling the magnet holder protrusion;
the character display surface encircling the circular trough; the
outer base perimeter encircling the character display surface; and
the securing magnet being concentrically positioned within the
magnet holder protrusion.
3. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed
in claim 1 comprises: the stroke-count pointer being oriented
perpendicular to the marker perimeter; and the stroke-count pointer
being positioned adjacent to the marker perimeter atop the magnetic
marker disk, wherein the stroke-count pointer specifies a location
on the marker perimeter; wherein the magnetic marker disk may be
rotated relative to the counter disk base in order to point to one
of the plurality of numeric characters on the character display
surface.
4. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed
in claim 1 comprises: the plurality of numeric characters being
positioned on the character display surface between the outer base
perimeter and the circular trough; the plurality of numeric
characters being equally spaced apart from each other; and the
plurality of numeric characters being concentrically arranged
around the character display surface, wherein the plurality of
numeric characters is arranged in series by integers from 2 to
8.
5. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed
in claim 1 comprises: the marker bottom being magnetically engaged
with the securing magnet, wherein the marker perimeter is
concentrically adjacent to and encircled by the trough wall when
the marker bottom is engaged with the securing magnet.
6. A combination golf stroke counter and ball marker comprises: a
counter disk base; a magnetic marker disk; the counter disk base
comprises an outer base perimeter, a character display surface, a
circular trough, a magnet holder protrusion, a securing magnet, and
a plurality of numeric characters; the magnetic marker disk
comprises a stroke-count pointer, a marker perimeter and a marker
bottom; the circular trough comprises a trough wall; the magnetic
marker disk being removably attached to the counter disk base; the
plurality of numeric characters being positioned on the character
display surface between the outer base perimeter and the circular
trough; the plurality of numeric characters being equally spaced
apart from each other; the plurality of numeric characters being
concentrically arranged around the character display surface,
wherein the plurality of numeric characters is arranged in series
by integers from 2 to 8; and the marker bottom being magnetically
engaged with the securing magnet, wherein the marker perimeter is
concentrically adjacent to and encircled by the trough wall when
the marker bottom is engaged with the securing magnet.
7. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed
in claim 6 comprises: the outer base perimeter, the character
display surface, the circular trough, the magnet holder protrusion,
and the securing magnet being concentrically positioned with each
other; the circular trough encircling the magnet holder protrusion;
the character display surface encircling the circular trough; the
outer base perimeter encircling the character display surface; and
the securing magnet being concentrically positioned within the
magnet holder protrusion.
8. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed
in claim 6 comprises: the stroke-count pointer being oriented
perpendicular to the marker perimeter; and the stroke-count pointer
being positioned adjacent to the marker perimeter atop the magnetic
marker disk, wherein the stroke-count pointer specifies a location
on the marker perimeter; wherein the magnetic marker disk may be
rotated relative to the counter disk base in order to point to one
of the plurality of numeric characters on the character display
surface.
9. A combination golf stroke counter and ball marker comprises: a
counter disk base; a magnetic marker disk; the counter disk base
comprises an outer base perimeter, a character display surface, a
circular trough, a magnet holder protrusion, a securing magnet, and
a plurality of numeric characters; the magnetic marker disk
comprises a stroke-count pointer, a marker perimeter and a marker
bottom; the circular trough comprises a trough wall; the magnetic
marker disk being removably attached to the counter disk base; the
outer base perimeter, the character display surface, the circular
trough, the magnet holder protrusion, and the securing magnet being
concentrically positioned with each other; the circular trough
encircling the magnet holder protrusion; the character display
surface encircling the circular trough; the outer base perimeter
encircling the character display surface; the securing magnet being
concentrically positioned within the magnet holder protrusion; the
stroke-count pointer being oriented perpendicular to the marker
perimeter; the stroke-count pointer being positioned adjacent to
the marker perimeter atop the magnetic marker disk, wherein the
stroke-count pointer specifies a location on the marker perimeter;
and wherein the magnetic marker disk may be rotated relative to the
counter disk base in order to point to one of the plurality of
numeric characters on the character display surface.
10. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed
in claim 9 comprises: the plurality of numeric characters being
positioned on the character display surface between the outer base
perimeter and the circular trough; the plurality of numeric
characters being equally spaced apart from each other; and the
plurality of numeric characters being concentrically arranged
around the character display surface, wherein the plurality of
numeric characters is arranged in series by integers from 2 to
8.
11. The combination golf stroke counter and ball marker as claimed
in claim 9 comprises: the marker bottom being magnetically engaged
with the securing magnet, wherein the marker perimeter is
concentrically adjacent to and encircled by the trough wall when
the marker bottom is engaged with the securing magnet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the game of golf.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus
for a stroke counter combined with a ball marker.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sport generally encompasses all form of competitive physical
activity which, through casual or organized participation, aim to
use, maintain or improve physical ability, and to provide
entertainment to participants and spectators. Hundreds of sports
exist, from those requiring only two participants to sports with
hundreds of simultaneous participants, either in teams or
participating as individuals. Sport is generally recognized as
activities which are based in physical athleticism or physical
dexterity, with the largest major competitions such as the Olympic
Games admitting only sports meeting this definition. Sports are
usually governed by a set of rules or customs, which serve to
ensure fair competition, and allow consistent adjudication of the
winner. Winning can be determined by physical events such as
scoring goals or crossing a line first, or by the determination of
judges who are scoring elements of the sporting performance,
including objective or subjective measures such as technical
performance or artistic impression.
[0003] Golf is a precision club and ball sport in which competing
players, or golfers, use many types of clubs to hit balls into a
series of holes on the golf course using the fewest number or
strokes. Golf is defined, in the rules of golf, as "playing a ball
with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or
successive strokes in accordance with the Rules." Golf is one of
the few ball games that does not require a standardized playing
area. Instead, the game is played on a "course", generally
consisting of an arranged progression of either 9 or 18 "holes."
Each hole on the course must contain a "tee box" and a "putting
green" with the actual hole, and each hole may utilize various
other standardized forms of terrain in between the tee box and the
putting green such as the fairway, rough, and hazards, but each
hole on a course is unique in its specific layout and arrangement.
Golf competition is generally played for the lowest number of
strokes by an individual, known simply as stroke play, or the
lowest score on the most individual holes during a complete round
by an individual or team, known as match play. Since the number of
strokes taken by a golfer to complete a hole is integral to scoring
a round of golf, it is desirable to keep an accurate, updated
record of the number of strokes taken for the hole. To this end,
various types of stroke counters have been created and used in
golf.
[0004] Sometimes a golfer may wish to remove their ball from the
ground. This may happen when multiple golfers play the same hole
simultaneously and alternate shots. A golfer may wish to remove
their ball in order to avoid interference with the next golfer's
shot. A golfer may also wish to remove their ball while playing a
hole for other reasons, including taking a break or only having one
ball available among multiple golfers. When this occurs, it is
desirable to leave a ball marker at the location the ball was
recovered from. Various items can be used as ball markers, but
recommended objects are small, round items such as coins or items
manufactured specifically for use as ball markers.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus that delivers the functionality of both a
stroke counter and a ball marker. Combination stroke counter and
ball markers have been created, but the present invention utilizes
magnetism, minimizing the number of components necessary to
function.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention with the
magnetic marker disk attached to the counter disk base.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the counter disk base.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of the counter disk base.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a top exploded view of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a bottom exploded view of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention
showing one side of the magnetic marker disk being pressed into the
circular trough in order to remove or reposition the magnetic
marker disk.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
[0012] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of
describing selected versions of the present invention and are not
intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is a disk-shaped
combination stroke counter and ball marker for the game of golf.
The present invention comprises a counter disk base 1 and a
magnetic marker disk 2. The magnetic marker disk 2 is removably
attached to the counter disk base 1, and may be rotated to point to
numbers on the counter disk base 1 to indicate a current stroke
count in a manner similar to a dial. The magnetic marker disk 2 may
be removed from the counter disk base 1 and laid on the ground to
replace a golf ball and mark the spot the golf ball was removed
from. The magnetic marker disk 2 is used on a putting green of one
of the holes of a golf course to mark the spot a golf ball is
removed from while the golfer picks up and cleans the ball before
putting as allowed in the Rules of Golf. The counter disk base 1 is
made from any suitable material, such as, but not limited to,
plastic, or another polymer, metal or another rigid material.
Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the counter disk base 1 comprises an outer
base perimeter 11, a character display surface 12, a circular
trough 13, a magnet holder protrusion 14, a securing magnet 15, a
plurality of numeric characters 16, and a base bottom 17. The
circular trough 13 comprises a trough wall 131.
[0014] The outer base perimeter 11, the character display surface
12, the circular trough 13, the magnet holder protrusion 14, and
the securing magnet 15 are concentrically positioned with each
other. The circular trough 13 encircles the magnet holder
protrusion 14. The character display surface 12 encircles the
circular trough 13. The outer base perimeter 11 encircles the
character display surface 12. The securing magnet 15 is
concentrically positioned within the magnet holder protrusion 14.
The outer base perimeter 11 is the outermost edge of the present
invention. The trough wall 131 is the vertical surface defining the
furthest radial portion of the circular trough 13. The counter disk
base 1 is shaped generally like a saucer. The base bottom 17, the
lowermost portion of the counter disk base 1, has a similar or
smaller diameter to the trough wall 131, with the lower surface of
the counter disk base 1 gradually increasing in diameter to the
outer base perimeter 11. In the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the vertical distance from the lowermost point of the
counter disk base 1 to the uppermost point of the counter disk base
1 is 0.275 inches, and the diameter of the outer base perimeter 11
is 1.625 inches. However, alternative embodiments may comprise
different dimensions. The character display surface 12 is an area
between the outer base perimeter 11 and the circular trough 13 upon
which numbers, letters or other visual materials may be displayed.
The magnet holder protrusion 14 is a hollow cylindrical protrusion
extending upwards from the lowermost portion of the circular trough
13. The topmost portion of the magnet holder protrusion 14 is at
the same vertical height as or slightly below the trough wall 131.
The inside wall of the magnet holder protrusion 14 is ribbed in
order to allow the securing magnet 15 to be securely placed within
the magnet holder protrusion 14. The circular trough 13 is a
moat-like depression in the counter disk base 1 that is
concentrically positioned around the magnet holder protrusion 14.
The securing magnet 15 is a solid disc-shaped magnet that is
secured inside the magnet holder protrusion 14 and facilitates the
attachment of the magnetic marker disk 2 to the counter disk base
1.
[0015] The plurality of numeric characters 16 is positioned on the
character display surface 12 between the outer base perimeter 11
and the circular trough 13. The plurality of numeric characters 16
are equally spaced apart from each other, and are radially arranged
around the character display surface 12. In the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of numeric
character comprises only integers, and is arranged in series from 2
to 8. Preferably, the plurality of numeric characters 16 are raised
from the character display surface 12 by 0.01 inches, though in
alternate embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of
numeric characters 16 may be displayed in the character display
surface 12, such as, but not limited to, laser printing, ink
printing, or debossing. In the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the character display surface 12 also displays the
slogan "IN THE HOLE".
[0016] As can be seen in FIGS. 4-5, the magnetic marker disk 2
comprises a stroke-count pointer 21, a marker perimeter 23 and a
marker bottom 22. The magnetic marker disk 2 is substantially flat,
made from a magnetic metal, and coated in an enamel covering. In
the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stroke-count
pointer 21 is a triangle. In alternate embodiments of the present
invention, the stroke-count pointer 21 is a dot, a line, an arrow,
or another shape. The marker perimeter 23 is the radially outermost
edge of the magnetic marker disk 2. The diameter of the marker
perimeter 23 is approximately the same or slightly smaller than the
diameter of the trough wall 131. The stroke-count marker 21 is
oriented perpendicular to the marker perimeter 23, and is
positioned adjacent to the marker perimeter 23 atop the magnetic
marker disk 2. The stroke-count marker 21 specifies a location on
the marker perimeter 23. The magnetic marker disk 2 may be rotated
relative to the counter disk base 1 in order to indicate one of the
plurality of numeric characters 16 on the character display surface
12 with the stroke-count marker 21 in order to specify a current
stroke count.
[0017] The magnetic marker disk 2 is attached to the counter disk
base 1 by placing the marker bottom 22 adjacent to the magnet. The
magnetic marker disk 2 is held in place by the magnetic force
between the securing magnet 15 and the magnetic marker disk 2. When
the marker bottom 22 is magnetically engaged with the securing
magnet 15, the marker perimeter 23 is concentrically adjacent to
and encircled by the trough wall 131. As can be seen in FIG. 6, in
order to remove the magnetic marker disk 2 from the counter disk
base 1, a user presses down on the magnetic marker disk 2 at a
location between the trough wall 131 and the magnet holder
protrusion 14. The magnetic holder protrusion acts as a fulcrum,
with the location the user presses on being pressed downward into
the circular trough 13, and a location diametrically opposite the
pressing location being lifted vertically away from the magnet
holder protrusion 14, allowing the user to remove the magnetic
marker disk 2 from the counter disk base 1. Performing the
previously described action also allows the user to rotate the
magnetic marker disk 2 so that the stroke-count pointer 21
indicates a different number in order to keep an updated record of
current strokes taken for the hole.
[0018] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
pattern of circles is displayed atop the magnetic marker disk 2 to
mimic the appearance of a golf ball. In addition, the slogan "IN
THE HOLE" is also displayed atop the magnetic marker disk 2 in an
area similar to the character display surface 12 of the counter
disk base 1. However, these aspects are purely cosmetic.
[0019] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
* * * * *