Patent Application
20070054755
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a marker for marking the position of a golf ball on a golf green during the game of golf.
2. Background Art
Golf is an outdoor game played on a course usually having 9 or 18 holes. Each hole includes a tee which is a marked area designated for the first shot of the hole, a fairway and a putting green. Individual players or teams use a golf club to hit a ball from the tee into a cup located on the putting green. The ball is hit using various types of golf clubs depending on the location of the ball and the distance between the ball and the cup. There are three main types of golf clubs: woods (also known as “metals”), irons, and putters. Woods are generally used to hit the ball a long distance hit either from the tee or the fairway. Irons are typically used for hitting from fairways and “roughs” which are tall grass or wooded areas on the sides of the fairways. Putters are mostly used for hitting the ball on the putting green in a rolling manner.
The object of the game of golf is holing the ball in the cup in the least number of strokes possible. A hole of golf consists of hitting a ball from a tee toward the cup and continuing to hit the ball until it drops into the cup on the putting green. The cup typically has a flag on a stick called a golf cup flag or “the pin.” The pin is positioned in the cup so that the location of the cup may be seen from a distance. Often the ball lies on the putting green before the ball is hit into the cup. When on the green, it is often necessary for the ball to be picked up such as for cleaning prior to putting. Also, the ball may be removed from its resting place on the putting green if the ball is in the path of another golfer's putt. Such removing of the ball is done out of courtesy and fair play to prevent interference and/or contact with another golfer or golf ball. When the ball is picked up from the putting green, the ball's position must then be marked using a ball marker. Marking the location or the spot where the ball comes to rest allows the golfer to accurately return the ball to the marked location when it is the golfer's turn to putt. Such markers are typically coin-sized objects such as a plastic disc, although coins are also sometimes used. However, a coin-sized marker has a number of disadvantages, since the coin-sized marker can change the path of a ball rolling over the marker. Other marking devices have been known to dispense a powder to mark the location of a golf ball. Such golf ball markers have previously included names and/or logos of businesses, clubs, and organizations for use as an advertisement and/or promotional device.
Prior art patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,553,752 (Bagg); 6,692,373 (Hultquist); and 6,699,144 (Kevitek); and U.S. Published Patent Application Nos. 2003/0148832 and 2004/0092340. In addition, U.S. Design Pat. No. 306,874 discloses an ornamental design for a golf ball marker.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf ball location marker for marking the position of a golf ball on a golf green.
In carrying out the above object, the golf green ball location marker of the invention includes an elongated cylindrical container of a round shape having a first enclosed end and a second end defining a round opening. The cylindrical container has an inner surface defining a cavity. Within the cavity, both a closure and a spring are received. The spring biases the closure to close the opening but permits opening movement of the closure for dispensing of golf ball location marking powder on a golf green when the closure is pressed against the golf green. The cylindrical container has an exterior surface including instructional indicia for use of the marker.
In the preferred construction of the golf green ball location marker, the marker includes marking powder that may be chalk, flour, sand, talcum, ground particulate or combinations thereof. The exterior surface of the cylindrical container is of a green color to match golf greens with which the marker is used. The closure is disclosed as being spherical. Furthermore, the exterior surface also has indicia including a golf symbol, which may be a golf cup flag, at least one golf ball, or most preferably a golf cup flag and two golf balls.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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The marker 10 may include marking powder 34 that may be chalk, flour, sand, talcum, ground particulate or combinations thereof. The exterior surface 30 of the cylindrical container 12 may be of a green color or hue to match golf greens with which the marker 10 is used. The closure 24 of the golf green ball location marker 10 is preferably spherical so as to be a ball closure. The exterior surface 30 of the golf green ball location marker 10 may also include indicia including a golf symbol 40. The golf symbol 40 may include a golf cup flag 42 or at least one golf ball 44. As shown, the golf symbol 40 includes a golf cup flag 42 and two golf balls 46.
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While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is not intended that this embodiment illustrates and describes all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
