Golf Ball Marker Holder

Abstract

A device for holding a golf ball position marker comprising a front face and an attachment portion disposed behind the front face. The front face comprises a permanent magnet that may removably retain a ferrous metal golf ball position marker to the front face. The front face comprises a circumferential lip about at least a portion of a circumference of the front face and may further comprise a recessed portion to aid with removability of the golf ball position marker from the front face. The attachment portion is configured to removably attach to a golf putter shaft.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(Not applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the game of golf, it is a common practice to mark the position of a golfer's golf ball on the putting green with a golf ball position marker, or a “ball marker.” Although golf ball position markers may vary in size, shape, and material, most markers comprise metal or plastic, are generally flat and disc-shaped, and are approximately the size of a U.S. quarter. Coins, plastic pieces, and other objects are also commonly used as golf ball position markers.

Some golf ball position markers are carried in a golfer's pocket and others are attached to a golf ball marker holder. Golf ball marker holders are commonly affixed to another object, such as a divot repair tool, golf hat or cap, belt, golf glove, golf shoe, or jewelry, or a golf ball marker holder may be affixed to the end of a golf putter grip. Golfers using independent ball markers or a variety of ball marker holders with attached ball markers may, at times, forget to bring these items to the golf course. Once at a golf course, if golfers carry independent ball markers or ball marker holders with attached ball markers in their pockets or in a golf bag, they will need to sort through other loose items such as keys, money clips, change, golf tees, golf balls, and the like to find them.

Currently, there is no solution that provides for the location, accessibility, and ease of use to locate a golf ball position marker as the present invention. The present invention can be attached to a variety of golf putters, so that a ball marker is always readily available and easily accessible to a golfer on a putting green.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf equipment, and more specifically, to a magnetic golf ball marker holder that attaches to a golf putter shaft. The present invention is a magnetic golf marker holding device for a ferrous metal golf ball position marker. The device of the present invention substantially comprises plastic or other polymer, and it further comprises a magnet seated in a front face of the device. Embodiments of the present invention preferably snap onto a golf putter shaft below and adjacent to the bottom of a golf putter grip. A golf ball position marker substantially comprising ferrous metal, such as those commonly used in the art, removably attaches to the front face of the golf ball marker holding device. A golf ball position marker is attached to the holding device of the present invention such that the marker is removable from the device when needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent and better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the present invention removably attached to a golf putter shaft;

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the present invention removably attached to a golf putter shaft;

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevation front view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective rear view of an embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 10 is a perspective side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an elevation front view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a device for holding a golf ball position marker 1. Embodiments of the present invention are further configured to removably attach to a golf putter shaft 9. It would be understood by one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may comprise any number of suitable materials sufficient to withstand environmental conditions common to a golf course. Preferably, embodiments of the present invention comprise molded plastic or any number of alternatively desired polymers.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a front face 3 and an attachment portion 5 disposed behind the front face 3. Preferably, a lower portion 11 of the front face 3 is substantially rounded and a top portion 15 of the front face 3 is substantially flat such that the top portion 15 may abut a golf putter grip when an embodiment of the present invention is removably attached to a golf putter shaft 9 below and adjacent to the golf putter grip. Optionally, the entire front face 3 is substantially rounded.

In a preferred embodiment, the front face 3 further comprises a raised circumferential lip 13 disposed about the lower portion 11 of the front face 3. In use, the circumferential lip 13 is raised above the plane of the front face 3 and is configured to assist in removably securing the golf ball position marker 1 to the front face 3 of the device. In an alternative embodiment, the front face 3 comprises a raised circumferential lip 13 disposed about an entire circumference 19 of the front face 3. In such alternative embodiment, the circumferential lip 13 further assists in removably securing the golf ball position marker 1 to the front face 3.

The front face 3 further comprises a permanent magnet 7, preferably seated within at least a portion of the front face 3. The permanent magnet 7 is configured within the front face 3 in a manner to magnetically bias toward the front face 3 a golf ball position marker 1 comprising ferrous metal. The permanent magnet 7 is further sufficient to removably retain a ferrous metal golf ball position marker 1 to the front face 3. Such ferrous metal golf ball position markers are known to the art and are readily available in a number of shapes and sizes. Commonly used ferrous metal golf ball position markers are substantially round and are approximately the size of a U.S. quarter. It would be understood to one skilled in the art, that the front face 3 of the device of the present invention is to be configured to accept any number of sizes and shapes of golf ball position markers. The permanent magnet 7 is preferably substantially centered within the front face 3. Optionally, the permanent magnet 7 may be disposed within the front face 3 adjacent an upper portion 21 of the front face 3.

The front face 3 further comprises a recessed portion 17 adjacent the lower portion 11 of the front face 3. The recessed portion 17 is recessed below the plane of the front face 3 and is configured to assist with removal of the golf ball position marker 1 from the front face 3. In use, a golfer may depress an end of the golf ball position marker 1 into the recessed portion 17, thereby raising an opposite end of the ball position marker 1 above the plane of the front face 3, and thus allowing for easy removal of the golf ball position marker 1 from the front face 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachment portion 5 is configured to removably attach to a golf putter shaft 9. In certain embodiments, the attachment portion 5 may comprise a c-shaped clip or clamp configured to clip or clamp onto a golf putter shaft 9. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment portion 5 comprises a first member 23 extending outwardly from the attachment portion 5 and a second member 25 also extending outwardly from the attachment portion 5 opposite the first member 23. An aperture 27 is disposed between the first member 23 and the second member 25, and the aperture 27 is configured to accept said golf putter shaft 9. Preferably, the aperture 27 is substantially cylindrical such that it may readily accept any number of commonly available golf putter shafts. In use, embodiments of the present invention are removably attached to a golf putter shaft 9 via the attachment portion 5. The device may be clipped or clamped on to a golf putter shaft 9 and is preferably removably attached to the golf putter shaft 9 by friction fit. For ease of removal and replacement of the golf ball position marker 1 when the golf putter is in use, embodiments of the present invention are preferably attached to the golf putter shaft 9 at a position directly below and adjacent the golf putter grip. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention may be removably attached to a golf putter shaft 9 by inserting the golf putter shaft 9 into the aperture 27 at a lower position along the golf putter shaft 9, wherein the diameter of the golf putter shaft 9 is narrower that the aperture 27, and then sliding the device up the golf putter shaft 9 toward the golf putter grip, wherein the golf putter shaft 9 is commonly wider. Once the device reaches a portion of the golf putter shaft 9 wherein the diameter of the golf putter shaft 9 is approximately equal to the diameter of the aperture 27, the attachment portion 5 will secure the device to the golf putter shaft 9 by friction fit via the first member 23 and the second member 25 contacting the golf putter shaft 9.

Although the present invention has been described relative to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein and that other embodiments, materials, and products are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for holding a golf ball position marker comprising a front face and an attachment portion disposed behind said front face, wherein said front face comprises a permanent magnet, and wherein said attachment portion is configured to removably attach to a golf putter shaft.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a lower portion of said front face is substantially rounded.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said front face further comprises a circumferential lip disposed about said lower portion.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein a top portion of said front face is substantially flat.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said front face further comprises a recessed portion adjacent said lower portion, and wherein said permanent magnet is substantially centered in said front face.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a circumferential lip disposed about an entire circumference of said front face.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said front face further comprises a recessed portion adjacent a lower portion of said front face, and wherein said permanent magnet is disposed in said front face at an upper portion of said front face.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said device substantially comprises molded polymer.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said attachment portion comprises a first member extending outwardly from said attachment portion, a second member extending outwardly from said attachment portion opposite said first member, and an aperture disposed between said first member and said second member, wherein said aperture is configured to accept said golf putter shaft.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said golf ball position marker comprises ferrous metal.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said permanent magnet removably retains said golf ball position marker to said front face.