Golf ball marker

Abstract

A device is provided for marking the position of a golf ball on a putting green while the ball has been temporarily removed from play to allow another golfer to putt towards the cup. The marker is in the form of a flat disc formed with a central integral peg extending from one face thereof and a layer of non-woven fibers bonded to the opposite face thereof. The peg is pressed into the ground to temporarily anchor the device in position with the fiber covered face exposed. The fibers form a soft mat similar in texture to the surrounding grass so that the direction of a putted ball will not be materially altered should the ball roll over the device. A pad faced with resilient hooks is provided for temporary locking connection with the fibers of the locking device. The pad is provided with a layer of pressure sensitive material which will allow the pad to be mounted conveniently on an article of clothing such as the visor of a cap or the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to golf accessories and more particularly is directed towards a new and improved golf ball position marking device and means for conveniently storing the same when not in use.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In golf it is the practice when putting on the green for the player whose ball is furthest from the cup to putt first and, if there is a group playing, the sequence of putting will be in accordance with the distance from the cup. Thus, it will happen rather frequently that one player's ball will lie in the path between the cup and another player's ball. In those circumstances the player with the interfering ball will pick up his ball and leave a marker at the spot. Typically, he will leave a small coin, such as a penny or dime at that spot and, when the other player has completed his putt, will replace his ball and retrieve the marker. While coins have been used for many years, they are not entirely satisfactory for several reasons. First of all, the player may not have brought a coin with him and if he does have a coin, if it is shiny may distract the putter. Further, coins are subject to accidental movement if another player, not seeing the coin, kicks it with his foot when walking on the green. More importantly, the smooth hard surface of the coin may alter the direction of a ball putted along the green since the ball would change from rolling over the soft grass surface suddenly onto a hard, smooth surface.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball marking device that is conveniently stored on a release surface attached to an article of clothing, golf bag or cart, for example. Another object of this invention is to provide a golf ball marking device that is easily anchored in position and one that provides an exposed surface similar to that of the surrounding putting green so as not to interfere with the movement of a putted ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention features a golf ball marking device, comprising a thin, flat disc formed with an integral peg extending from one face thereof by which the device may be pressed down and anchored into the ground. A layer of non-woven fabric is bonded to the opposite face of the disc to provide an exposed working surface closely matching that of grass so as not to unduly alter the movement of a ball putted over the device and to reduce reflections. A pad of flexible material faced with a plurality of resilient hooks is provided for engagement to an article of clothing or the like with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer so that one or more marking devices may be stored by pressing the fabric face against the hooked face of the pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the invention mounted to the visor of a cap,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a pair of marking devices and a mounting pad,

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a marking device made according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation showing the marking device and the storage pad in juxtaposed position, and,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view in side elevation showing a marking device in position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 generally indicates a golf ball marking device detachably connected to a storage pad 12 which, in the FIG. 1 embodiment, is mounted to a visor 14 of a cap 16. The device 10 is in the form of a circular disc, preferably about three-fourths inch in diameter, having an integral peg 18 extending from the bottom face of the disc at the center thereof. Typically, the peg is about one-fourth inch in length and, in practice, the disc and peg may be molded of plastic, machined from metal or the like. The upper face of the disc 20 is covered with a layer 22 of a non-woven, felt-like material cemented or otherwise bonded to the disc. The layer 22 is relatively thick and soft so that when the device 10 is placed on the ground as suggested in FIG. 5 with the peg 18 anchoring the device in place, the exposed surface of the felt material 22 will be more or less flush with the surface of surrounding grass 24. Thus, a golf ball putted on the grass 24 will roll smoothly over the felt layer 22 on the marker without significantly altering course. Since the texture of the fabric closely matches that of the grass the putted ball will roll smoothly and easily. The textured material 22 also eliminates reflections that might otherwise distract a golfer concentrating on his putt.

When the marking devices 10 are not in use they are temporarily stored by pressing the felt-covered face of the disc against the surface of the pad 12. The pad 12, as shown in FIG. 2, is covered with a large number of small, resilient hooks 26 which releasably lock with the felt material 22 on the marker. The felt material 22 and storage pad 12 may be of the material sold under the trademark Velcro. The pad 12 typically may be 11/2 inches square and may be covered on its rear face with a layer 28 of pressure-sensitive adhesive material temporarily covered by a release sheet 30 so that a golfer may purchase as a combination a pad 12 with perhaps two markers 10 attached thereto. The golfer may apply the storage pad to whatever surface is most convenient for him. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the pad 12 is applied to the visor of the cap although the pad could be applied to a variety of other surfaces such as the side of a golf bag, belt, shirt or the like.

Claims

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A golf ball marker and holder, comprising in combination

a. a substantially flat disc,

b. a peg extending perpendicularly from one face of said disc,

c. a stratum of fibrous felt material bonded to the other face of said disc, and,

d. a pad having a surface area greater than that of said disc mountable to a selected support surface and formed on one face thereof with a plurality of flexible, resilient hooks for detachable engagement with said fibrous material and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive material on the other face of said pad.

2. A golf ball marker according to claim 1 wherein said disc is circular and said peg is integral therewith in the center thereof.