GB2472881A

GB2472881A - A golf ball marker and holder with a magnetic pivoting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2472881A
Application number: GB1004312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Fuller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-21
Filing date: 2010-03-15
Publication date: 2011-02-23
Also published as: WO2011021049A3; GB2472862A; GB0914694D0; WO2011021049A2; GB201004312D0

Abstract

A golf ball marker 47 and a holder for the marker 47 wherein the holder comprises a first recess 11 in which the marker 47 is stored, the recess 11 extends to an edge of the holder and is bound by a perimeter wall 39 which has an opening 241 to allow the marker 47 to be slid into and out of the recess 11. There may be a second recess 242 within the first recess 11 which the marker 47 can slide over to provide an edge for the marker to pivot against and there may be a magnet 45 within the second recess 242 to attract the marker 47. Also disclosed is a device for repairing pitch marks which incorporates a pencil sharpener. This device may also incorporate a gripping area, a cigarette holder and incorporate marker holding means as detailed above.

Description

A Golf Tool The present invention relates to a golf tool and particularly, but not exclusively, to a pitch mark repair tool.

When a golf ball lands on a putting surface, it can leave a depression in the ground, known as a pitch mark. A pitch mark repairer is a well known tool used to repair this type of damage to the putting surface caused by a golf ball.

A golf player will often record their score with a pencil. When the pencil becomes blunt, they may use a pencil sharpener to sharpen the pencil. Pencil sharpeners are also well known. A pencil sharpener can be a member having a hole therein with a blade projecting into the hole. It is known to provide a device which comprises both a means for lifting turf and a means for sharpening a pencil, for example a pencil sharpener.

Advantageously, a golf player need not carry a separate pencil sharpener and a separate means for lifting turf. It is convenient to provide the two in one device. The means for sharpening a pencil may alternatively be a blade.

The present invention provides a device comprising a golf ball marker and a holder for holding the golf ball marker, wherein the holder comprises a recess in which the golf ball marker is stored, the recess extending to an edge of the holder and being bound by a perimeter wall which has an opening at said edge so as to allow the ball marker to be slid within the recess and thereby moved from the recessed over said edge.

The recess may comprise a second recess positioned within the first recess so that, in use, an edge portion of the ball marker passes over the second recess as the ball marker is slid within the first recess. The relative shapes of the second recess and said edge portion of the ball marker may be such as to allow said edge portion to be received into the second recess and the remainder of the ball marker to be pivoted out of the first recess.

The second recess may be magnetised. The second recess may comprise a surface which is of a magnetised material. The magnetised material may be separate from and attached to the remainder of the ball marker holder.

The ball marker may be of a material which is attracted by a magnetic field and the strength of the magnetic field of the magnetised second recess may be such as to bias said edge portion of the ball marker into the second recess and thereby pivot the remainder of the ball marker out of the first recess when, in use, the ball marker is slid within the first recess.

The ball marker may be magnetised. The ball marker may comprise a surface which is of a magnetised material. The second recess may be of a material which is attracted by a magnetic field and the strength of the magnetic field of the magnetised ball marker may be such as to bias said edge portion of the ball marker into the second recess and thereby pivot the remainder of the ball marker out of the first recess when, in use, the ball marker is slid within the first recess.

The device may comprise means for guiding the ball marker as it is slid within the first recess so that, in use, said edge portion of the ball marker is guided to pass over the second. The guiding means may comprise said perimeter wall.

Described hereinafter is a device/tool for repairing pitch marks comprising a means for lifting turf and a means for sharpening a pencil, for example, a pencil sharpener.

The device may comprise a holding means which is an area intended for a user to hold the device in use.

The pencil sharpener and means for lifting turf may be positioned along a longitudinal axis of the device. The dimensions of the device will include a length, a width and a height, with the longitudinal axis extending along the length of the device.

The pencil sharpener and the means for lifting turf may be unitary. In this case the pencil sharpener and the means for lifting the turf are integral with one another. They may share components. Alternatively, the pencil sharpener may be a distinct (separate) unit which is attached to the tool and the two would then not be unitary.

A cavity may be provided in the device in which a pencil can be located to be sharpened in use. A blade of the pencil sharpener may project into the cavity.

A blade of the pencil sharpener may be secured in position by a screw. Should the blade need replacing, a user can easily unscrew the screw and remove the blade which needs to be replaced.

The pencil sharpener may have a blade with a straight edge. The blade may be aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tool. Alternatively, the blade may be aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis, or at other angles inbetween. The pencil sharpener may be an electronic pencil sharpener.

The means for lifting turf may comprise two elongate prongs. Alternatively, it may just comprise one prong, or other designs of means for lifting turf. The device may comprise a body, with the elongate prongs extending from the body in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis. The prongs need not be exactly parallel with the longitudinal axis as they may have a curvature.

The device may comprise a hollow for location of an index finger. A user can place their index finger in the hollow to aid use of the device. The hollow may extend in a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tool. The hollow may extend across the device body, from one side of the body to another.

The device may comprise a recess for location of a thumb. A user can place their thumb in the recess to aid use of the device. The recess may be located on an opposite side of the device to the hollow, advantageously aiding holding of the device in a pincer grip by a user. The recess may have a perimeter edge with a semi-elliptical shape. This outline is similar to the shape of a thumb defining an area in which a thumb can be located and aiding a user in holding the device. The recess may be deeper towards the turf-lifting tool. This aids a user in using the device since if a user wishes to pull on the device in a direction away from the turf lifting means there will be a reaction force from the recess having a component against the pulling direction.

The recess may be planar. The recess may also have a lip around the perimeter edge between the recess and an adjacent unrecessed area of the device. The lip may slope (chamfer) having a gradient of between 30° and 700, preferably 45°, between the lip and the recessed area and/or between the lip and the adjacent non-recessed area.

Advantageously, a user's thumb will not abut against a sharp change in gradient in use if their thumb presses against the lip, making the device more comfortable to use.

Advantageously, the pencil sharpener may be arranged between the means for lifting turf and the holding means. This compact arrangement enables a user to hold the device on either side of the pencil sharpener when sharpening the pencil, but more advantageously, allows a user to hold the device/tool with the holding means and to then use either the turf lifting means or the pencil sharpener without changing grip of the device/tool.

The device may comprise a hole with a cigarette holding means for holding a cigarette.

The hole may comprise the means for sharpening the pencil, in particular the hole may be the pencil entrance of the pencil sharpener, through which a pencil is inserted to gain access to a cavity beneath a blade. The cigarette holding means may comprise a resiliently deformable elastic element. A cigarette will deform the elastic element on entering the hole, the cigarette being held in place by the restoring force of the elastic element acting on the cigarette. The cigarette holding means may comprise two diametrically opposed elements, or an annular element.

The device may comprise a golf club rest. The golf club rest can be located on an end of the device. The rest may be a concave surface shaped to co-operate with a handle of a golf club and the outer contour of the device itself may be shaped to provide the surface.

The device can be partly located in the ground such that the rest provides a surface on which a handle of the golf club can be laid. Advantageously, the club handle will not get wet if it is laid on the rest when the ground is damp. If the device comprises elongate prongs, the prongs may be located at an opposite end of the device to the golf club rest.

Advantageously, when the prongs are located in the ground, the rest is then provided on the uppermost surface of the device and the golf club can be easily rested on the golf club rest. The two elongate prongs may extend generally perpendicularly to a rest surface of the golf club rest. The word generally is used since the rest surface may have a slight curve, for example if the rest surface is concave and shaped to co-operate with a handle of the golf club. When the prongs are located in the ground, approximately orthogonal to the ground surface, the rest surface on which the club may rest is located generally parallel to the ground. In this way, the rest surface is orientated at such an angle that the golf club can easily be rested on the rest surface.

The device may comprise a magnet. The magnet may be located within the device so as not to be visible from the outside. A ball marker which is attracted to the magnet can therefore be removably located on the device. The ball marker can be a disc-shaped object which may have a logo on one side, for marking the position of a ball.

More specifically, the device may comprises a recess in which the golf ball marker is stored, the recess extending to an edge of the device and being bound by a perimeter wall which has an opening at said edge so as to allow the ball marker to be slid within the recess and thereby moved from the recessed over said edge.

The invention also provides for a method of using a device as mentioned above in order to, for example, repair pitch marks.

Further advantageous optional features of the invention are set out in the appended sub-claims.

There now follows a detailed description of embodiments of the invention by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is an end view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a second end view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 11 is a view of the second embodiment partially located in the ground; Figure 12 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention with a ball marker shown in a stored position; and Figure 14 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment with the ball marker shown in a partially released position.

Figures 1 to 9 show a device/tool providing a first embodiment of the invention. The device I is a turf lifting tool having a means for lifting turf 5 at one end of the device I and a holding means 3 at the opposite end of the device ito the means for lifting turf 5.

The turf lifting tool comprises two tapered elongate prongs 13. Each prong tapers in a direction away from a gripping surface of the holding means 3 and has a rounded end 15.

The prongs extend from a body 33 of the device in a direction generally parallel with a longitudinal axis 35 of the device (see Figure 7).

The gripping surface comprises a hollow 9 on a lower surface 21 of the device. The hollow 9 extends across the full width of the device. The hollow is a smooth half-pipe shaped depression in which a user can lay their index finger. The gripping surface also comprises a recess 11 on an upper surface 23 of the device. The recess has a perimeter wall/edge 39 with a semi-elliptical shape, meaning that the outline of the recessed area is that of a semi-ellipse. The floor of the recess is a sloping plane 19 (defining a recessed surface). The recess is deeper towards the turf-lifting tool. A lip 17 is formed between the sloping plane 19 and the upper surface 23 of the device. The lip 17 is not perpendicular to the plane 19 and instead it is at an angle of 450 to the recess 11 and at 450 to an adjacent surface 37 of the device (see Figure 2). A user can lay their thumb in the recess 11.

The pencil sharpener 7 is integrated with the device, meaning it is not a separate unit attachable to the tool. The blade 25 of the pencil sharpener is secured by a screw to the lower surface 21 of the device. A blade location region 31 is provided in one surface 21 of the device I in which the blade 31 can be located such that the blade 31 does not protrude above one surface 21.

The device has a longitudinal axis 35, as indicated in Figure 7. In this embodiment, the longitudinal axis is parallel with an intended insert direction of the turf-lifting means.

The cutting blade of the pencil sharpener is arranged perpendicular to this axis. The pencil entrance 27 is an opening formed in a side 29 of the device between the upper and lower surfaces of the device. The entrance 27 is a circular hole formed in the device. A cavity is provided in the device beneath the blade 25 in which a pencil can be located in use by insertion through the pencil entrance 27.

Figure 10 shows a second embodiment of the device which is substantially similar to the first embodiment of the device, except the means for sharpening a pencil comprises an annular element 43 around the inside of the pencil entrance 127. A cigarette 51 can be located with one end thereof positioned in the cavity beneath the blade 25 and is held in said position by the restoring force of the resilient annular element 43 and the cigarette.

The second embodiment also differs from the first embodiment since an end 57 of the device comprises a depression 49 shaped to co-operate with a handle 55 of a golf club.

The second embodiment again differs from the first embodiment since a magnet 45 is located within the body 133 of the device. The magnet is not visible from the outside. A ball marker 47 can therefore be removably located on the device, for example in the recess 111 of a surface of the device. The ball marker may show a logo. The ball marker can be removed from the device by a player and used to mark the position of a golf ball.

Figure 11 shows the second embodiment of the device in use. The two tapered elongate prongs 113 are located in the ground, approximately perpendicular to a ground surface 53. When a player reaches a putting green, he can partly locate the prongs 113 in the ground and rest the handle 55 of a golf club on the depression 49 to stop it getting damp and touching the ground. If a cigarette 51 is located in the pencil entrance 127, it will also not touch the ground when the prongs 113 are located in the ground and can be held there by the annular element.

Figure 12 shows a third embodiment of the invention. This device is exactly the same as the device described in relation to the first embodiment but a loop 41 is provided. The loop is a thin wire, bent in semi-elliptical shape and attached at either end to the body 33 of the device.

In use, a user grips the above tools with a pincer grip having their forefinger in the hollow 9 and thumb in the recess 11. The means for lifting turf 3 is inserted into the grass in the region of a depression on a golf green or other surface. The prongs are angled at around degrees to the ground. A user presses down on the device to lift the turf up and back into place. The user uses the pencil sharpener when required.

A further device is shown in Figures 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings. The further device 200 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 12 and like reference numerals have been used for like parts.

More specifically, the device 200 comprises a golf ball marker 47 and a holder for holding the golf ball marker 47. The holder comprises a recess 11 in which the golf ball marker is stored, the recess 11 extending to an edge 240 of the holder and being bound by a perimeter wall 39 which has an opening 241 at said edge so as to allow the ball marker to be slid within the recess 11 and thereby moved from the recess 11 over said edge.

The recess 11 comprises a second recess 242 positioned within the first recess so that, in use, an edge portion 243 of the ball marker 47 passes over the second recess as the ball marker 47 is slid within the first recess 11. The relative shapes of the second recess 242 and said edge portion 243 of the ball marker 47 is such as to allow said edge portion 243 to be received into the second recess 242 and the remainder of the ball marker 47 to be pivoted out of the first recess 11.

The second recess 242 is magnetised. The second recess 242 comprises a magnetised material 45 which is separate from and attached to (by means of adhesive) the remainder of the ball marker holder.

The ball marker 47 is of a material which is attracted by a magnetic field and the strength of the magnetic field of the magnetised second recess 242 is such as to bias said edge portion of the ball marker into the second recess and thereby pivot the remainder of the ball marker out of the first recess when, in use, the ball marker is slid by a user within the first recess (see Figure 14). The ball marker 47 thereby tends to naturally pivot upwards from the first recess 11 allowing ready release of the marker 47 from the holder.

The ball marker 47 may be itself magnetised either in addition to or as an alternative to the second recess. The ball marker may comprise a surface which is of a magnetised material.

The device comprises means for guiding the ball marker 47 as it is slid within the first recess so that, in use, said edge portion 243 of the ball marker 47 is guided to pass over 0 the second recess 242. The guiding means is provided by said perimeter wall 39, which in use abuts the sides of the ball marker so as to limit lateral movement of the ball marker as it is slid along the first recess 11 and over the edge 240 of the holder.

Features disclosed in the context of each of the figures can also be combined to form other embodiments not illustrated here within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. A device comprising a golf ball marker and a holder for holding the golf ball marker, wherein the holder comprises a recess in which the golf ball marker is stored, the recess extending to an edge of the holder and being bound by a perimeter wall which has an opening at said edge so as to allow the ball marker to be slid within the recess and thereby moved from the recessed over said edge.
2. A device according to claim I, wherein the recess comprises a second recess positioned within the first recess so that, in use, an edge portion of the ball marker passes over the second recess as the ball marker is slid within the first recess.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the relative shapes of the second recess and said edge portion of the ball marker are such as to allow said edge portion to be received into the second recess and the remainder of the ball marker to be pivoted out of the first recess.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said second recess is magnetised.
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said second recess comprises a surface which is of a magnetised material.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said magnetised material is separate from and attached to the remainder of the ball marker holder.
7. A device according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the ball marker is of a material which is attracted by a magnetic field and the strength of the magnetic field of the magnetised second recess is such as to bias said edge portion of the ball marker into the second recess and thereby pivot the remainder of the ball marker out of the first recess when, in use, the ball marker is slid within the first recess.
8. A device according to claim 3, wherein the ball marker is magnetised, and preferably wherein the ball marker comprises a surface which is of a magnetised material.
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the second recess is of a material which is attracted by a magnetic field and the strength of the magnetic field of the magnetised ball marker is such as to bias said edge portion of the ball marker into the second recess and thereby pivot the remainder of the ball marker out of the first recess when, in use, the ball marker is slid within the first recess.
10. A device according to any of claims 2 to 9, comprising means for guiding the ball marker as it is slid within the first recess so that, in use, said edge portion of the ball marker is guided to pass over the second, preferably wherein said guiding means comprises said perimeter wall.
11. A device for repairing pitch marks comprising a means for lifting turf and a means for sharpening a pencil.
12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the means for sharpening a pencil and the means for lifting turf are unitary.
13. A device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the means for sharpening a pencil and the means for lifting turf are positioned along a longitudinal axis of the device.
14. A device according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the means for sharpening a pencil comprises a blade having a straight edge.
15. A device according to claim 14, when dependent on claim 3, wherein the blade edge is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
16. A device according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the means for lifting turf comprises two elongate prongs
17. A device according to claim 16, when dependent on claim 15 or claim 13, wherein the prongs extend from a body of the device in a general direction parallel with the longitudinal axis.
18. A device according to any one of claims 11 to 17, comprising a hollow for location of an index finger.
19. A device according to claim 18, when dependent on claim 17, 15 or 13, wherein the hollow is elongate with a longitudinal axis thereof extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device.
20. A device according to any one of claims ii to 19, comprising a recess for location of a thumb.
21. A device according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the recess is located on an opposite side of the device to the hollow.
22. A device according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the recess has a perimeter edge with a semi-elliptical shape.
23. A device according to claim 20, 21 or 22, wherein the recess is deeper towards the turf-lifting tool.
24. A device according to any one of claims 11 to 23, wherein the pencil sharpener is arranged between the means for lifting turf and a holding means.
25. A device according to any of claims 11 to 24, wherein the means for sharpening a pencil is a pencil sharpener.
26. A device according to any one of claims 11 to 25, comprising a hole provided with a holding means for holding a cigarette.
27. A device according to claim 26, wherein the means for sharpening a pencil comprises the hole.
28. A device according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the holding means comprises a resiliently deformable elastic element.
29. A device according to claim 28, wherein the resiliently deformable elastic element is annular.
30. A device according to any one of claims 11 to29, comprising a golf club rest.
3 1. A device according to claim 30, wherein the golf club rest is a concave surface shaped to co-operate with a handle of a golf club.
32. A device according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the golf club rest is provided on an end of the device.
33. A device according to claim 32, when dependent on claim 16 or 17, wherein the two elongate prongs are provided on an opposite end of the device to the end on which the golf club rest is provided.
34. A device according to any one of claims 30 to 33, when dependent on claim 16 or 17, wherein the two elongate prongs extend generally perpendicularly to a rest surface of the golf club rest.
35. A device according to any one of claims 11 to 34 comprising a magnet.
36. A device, according to claim 33, comprising a removable ball marker attracted to the magnet.
37. A device according to any of claims 11 to 34, comprising a golf ball marker and a holder for holding the golf ball marker, wherein the holder comprises a recess in which the golf ball marker is stored, the recess extending to an edge of the holder and being bound by a perimeter wall which has an opening at said edge so as to allow the ball marker to be slid within the recess and thereby moved from the recessed over said edge.
38. A device according to claim 37, wherein the recess comprises a second recess positioned within the first recess so that, in use, an edge portion of the ball marker passes over the second recess as the ball marker is slid within the first recess.
39. A device according to claim 38, wherein the relative shapes of the second recess and said edge portion of the ball marker are such as to allow said edge portion to be received into the second recess and the remainder of the ball marker to be pivoted out of the first recess.
40. A device according to claim 39, wherein said second recess is magnetised.
41. A device according to claim 40, wherein said second recess comprises a surface which is of a magnetised material.
42. A device according to claim 41, wherein said magnetised material is separate from and attached to the remainder of the ball marker holder.
43. A device according to any of claims 40 to 42, wherein the ball marker is of a material which is attracted by a magnetic field and the strength of the magnetic field of the magnetised second recess is such as to bias said edge portion of the ball marker into the second recess and thereby pivot the remainder of the ball marker out of the first recess when, in use, the ball marker is slid within the first recess.
44. A device according to claim 39, wherein the ball marker is magnetised.
45. A device according to daim 40, wherein the ball marker comprises a surface which is of a magnetised material.
46. A device according to claim 44 or 45, wherein the second recess is of a material which is attracted by a magnetic field and the strength of the magnetic field of the magnetised ball marker is such as to bias said edge portion of the ball marker into the second recess and thereby pivot the remainder of the ball marker out of the first recess when, in use, the ball marker is slid within the first recess.
47. A device according to any of claims 38 to 46, comprising means for guiding the ball marker as it is slid within the first recess so that, in use, said edge portion of the ball marker is guided to pass over the second.
48. A device according to claim 47, wherein said guiding means comprises said perimeter wall.
49. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
50. A method of using a device according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the step of repairing pitch marks with the means for lifting turf.