TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a golf ball carrier and particularly to a golf ball carrier for marking and identifying each golf ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a golf ball carrier attached to a golf bag with clubs, the golf bag being only partially shown;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the golf ball carrier embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating a template positioned for marking one or more poles of the golf ball;
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the golf ball carrier embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3, illustrating the golf ball before insertion into or after removal from the golf ball carrier;
FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the golf ball carrier embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3, illustrating the interaction between the golf ball and the golf ball carrier while the golf ball is being inserted or removed;
FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the golf ball carrier embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3, illustrating the interaction between the golf ball and the golf ball carrier when the golf ball has being fully received and the template has been positioned to mark one or more poles of the golf ball;
FIG. 6 shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of the golf ball carrier;
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the golf ball carrier with portions of the golf ball carrier partially broken away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a golf ball carrier 10 allows the user to mark or identify opposing poles of at least one golf ball and hold the golf ball until desired for use. The golf ball carrier may enable the user to choose from a number of personal graphics to personalize and identify each golf ball according to the user's own unique style while playing the game of golf. Moreover, the user is capable of quickly marking opposing poles of the golf ball allowing at least one of the golf ball markings to be visible in any lie during the golf game.
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, carrier 10 includes a pair of spaced openings retaining the golf ball and allowing for marking opposing poles as well as holding the golf ball until desired by the user. Golf ball carrier 10 comprises a first plate 20 joined to a second plate 30. First plate 20 is preferably substantially parallel to second plate 30. A first opening 22a is positioned in first plate 20 of the carrier and a second paired opening 32a is positioned in second plate 30. First opening 22a is preferably co-axially aligned with second opening 32a. A back plate or spine 40 flexibly interconnects first plate 20 and second plate 30 and provides a spacing D between the two plates. Spacing D is at least in part less than the diameter of golf ball 1. Back plate 40 is preferably substantially perpendicular to each of first plate 20 and second plate 30. The size or diameter of each plate opening 22a and 32a is less than the diameter of golf ball 1 allowing for a portion of each opposing hemisphere of the golf ball to be seated into an engaged position within carrier 10. Each plate opening 22a and 32a permits access to opposed poles of golf ball 1 in order to mark each corresponding opposing pole. First plate 20 has a free end 24 distanced from back plate 40 of carriage 10. Second plate 30 similarly has a free end 34 distanced from back plate 40 as well. Second plate free end 34 and the first plate free end 24 define an access opening A for the insertion of one or more golf balls 1 into golf ball carrier 10. Due to the flexible interconnection of plates 20 and 30 by back plate 30, access opening A can vary in dimension or more particularly outwardly expand (FIG. 4), when golf ball 1 is forced into or out of the carrier. Golf ball carrier 10 may be made of a number of materials such as but not limited to plastics such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), metal, or even a flexible wood and can be formed by methods such as but not limited to injection molding, and function to retain the golf balls until desired by the user. As shown in FIGS. 2-5 interior surfaces 25 and 35 of plates 20 and 30 may be provided respectively with a tapered groove 23 and 33, each extending from respective free ends 24 and 34 to their respective plate openings 22a and 32a. The interior tapered grooves 23 and 33 of plates 20 and 30 may be larger in width adjacent the edge of free ends 24 and 34 and narrow as they approach each corresponding plate opening 22a and 32a. Each tapered groove combination 23 and 33 will serve to a guide golf ball 1 into each pair of plate openings 22a and 32a during both insertion and removal of the golf ball from golf ball carrier 10. Moreover, tapered groove pairs 23 and 33 may reduce the amount plates 20 and 30 have to spread away from each other to allow golf ball 1 to be inserted and removed through access opening A to engage or disengage from plate opening pairs 22a and 32a.
Another embodiment of a golf carrier 110 as shown in FIG. 6 has an interior surface 135 of a second plate 130 having an annular tapered edge 133a formed about a plate opening 132a. A first plate 120 which may be configured similarly to second plate 30 or may be configured as shown in other embodiments herein, and second plate 130 are flexibly interconnected by back plate or spine 140. Annular tapered edge 133a preferably allows more surface area of golf ball 1 to be in contact with carrier 110 while still allowing for rotation of the golf ball. As also shown in FIG. 6, a tapered groove 133 may be provided between annular tapered edge 133a and the front edge of plate 130 to facilitate the insertion and removal of a golf ball. Spine 140 may be provided with an opening 142, of various shapes, positions, and sizes, to permit the user to insert a finger to push against the golf ball and assist in its removal from engagement with the carrier. It should be understood by those skilled in art that the first plate, the second plate, and the back plate may be provided in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations and still permit the marking of opposing poles of the golf ball while also holding the golf ball until desired by the user.
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, golf ball carrier 10 is preferably substantially unitary in construction and constructed from a material which allows the carrier to deflect upon insertion and removal of golf ball 1. In use, as shown in FIG. 3, the user will align golf ball 1 with one empty coaxially aligned pair of plate openings 22b and 32b at free ends 24 and 34 of first and second plates 20 and 30. As shown in FIG. 4, when the user begins to push golf ball 1 towards the selected pair of plate openings 22b and 32b, the golf ball will track tapered grooves 23 and 33, if included, towards the plate openings. Moreover, the insertion of golf ball 1 into carrier 10 forces plates 20 and 30 to deflect outwards away from the golf ball. The interior surfaces of 25 and 35 of plates 20 and 30 thus exert an inward force upon the golf ball or in effect a wedging mechanism. As shown in FIG. 5, the user then continues the movement of golf ball 1 against the wedging force and towards the pair of plate openings 22b and 32b until the golf ball engages each of the plate openings. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 when golf ball 1 engages plate openings 22b and 32b, the plates 20 and 30 return to substantially their original positions prior to the insertion of the golf ball. The material of which golf ball carrier 10 is made should be sufficiently rigid so that plates 20 and 30 return back to their original position and hold the ball within plate openings 22b and 32b. When golf ball 1 is engaged within openings 22b and 32b, the golf ball is not fully restricted from movement within golf ball carrier 10, but is still rotatable within the openings. The user may then apply the desired markings to the engaged golf ball 1 as it is originally orientated upon insertion, or may manually re-align the golf ball, as an example, to avoid having the markings overlap the “Brand” indicia 1a, as shown in FIG. 2. By manually rotating the golf ball's orientation, the user is able to specifically place the desired markings at opposing poles of golf ball 1 in a position that will not overlap or substantially overlap the golf ball's original indicia. This makes identification of the golf ball clearer and allows the user to mark the ball symmetrically in reference to any original indicia 1a. Upon marking of the opposed poles of golf ball 1, the user may remove (FIG. 4) the golf ball for immediate use, as will be discussed in more detail below, or allow the newly marked golf ball to remain in golf ball carrier 10 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 5) until desired for use. The capacity of the marking and carrier device 10 will of course depend on the number of pairs of coaxially aligned openings such as 22a and 32a, 22b and 32b, and 22c and 32c provided, as shown in FIG. 2. The user may insert three golf balls 1, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, rotate the “Brand” indicia 1a to the desired location, and mark all three golf balls consecutively on one side of the carrier within opening 22a, 22b, and 22c, and then the other opposing pole of the golf ball via openings 32a, 32b, and 32c. The golf balls may then be removed from the carrier 10 as required by the user.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, golf ball carrier preferably has a carabineer 4 for attaching the carrier to a golf bag 2 containing clubs 3. By being attachable to golf bag 2, or another article, the user is able to use golf ball carrier 10 not only to mark golf balls 1 but to carry the golf balls in a position convenient for use when desired by the user. Although carabineer 4 is shown in detail in the FIGS. 1 and 2, it should be understood that a variety of attachment means known to those skilled in the art may be used to secure carrier 10 to golf bag 2 or to other convenient articles commonly available to golfers on the golf course such as but not limited to a golf cart (not shown). Other attachment mechanisms may be used in place of the carabineer including straps, magnets, chips, chains or other releasable or non-releasable attachments whereby the carrier 10 is either loosely attached as shown in FIG. 1 or rigidly secured. Golf ball carrier 10 may also be stored conveniently in a pocket of golf bag 2 if desired by the user.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the carrier and marking device preferably includes one or more interchangeable templates 50 and 60. Each template is structured to be positionable in the various plate openings. A desired template is typically placed in a plate opening on one side of the golf ball, and then a marking device, such as a permanent marker 70 is used to trace the template configuration or design onto the surface of the golf ball. Then template 50 or 60 will typically be transferred to the other side of the marking and carrier device and positioned in the corresponding paired opening and the golf ball is marked again as described above. The user is able to select the personalized graphics of the template and quickly mark the plurality of golf balls 1 by having a variety of templates available such as but not limited to templates 50 and 60 shown in the Figures. Marker 70, can be a permanent marker or other such writing device and may be attached to carrier 10 in any number of positions. Marker 70 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 as attached to back plate 40 by a cylinder or retaining device 42. Template 50 or a plurality of templates 50 and 60 may be attached to carabineer 4 or similarly to marker 70, they may be attached to carrier 10 in a variety of positions or by a variety of retaining devices. Although templates 50 and 60 and marker 70 are used as the marking device in carrier 10 of FIGS. 1-6, it is to be understood that a stamp with a personalized graphic may be used or any other marking device that identifies the opposing poles of the golf ball. For example, the stamp and a stamp pad may each be releasably secured to the carrier. The stamp may be released from the carrier for marking the golf ball or exchanged with a different stamp and corresponding graphic. The stamp pad may be replaced if the stamp pad no longer has sufficient ink, or if a new color is desired.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, template 50 has an upper wall 52 and a lower annular ring 54. Lower annular ring 54 centers within each plate opening 22a and 32a for alignment, and positions the personalized graphic in relation to golf ball 1, allowing the user to use marker 70 to mark the graphic onto the golf ball's opposing poles. Templates 50 and 60 may also have a loop of material 56 and 66 to facilitate a quick reposition of the template between plate openings and/or a raised projection 58 or 68 from upper wall 52 and 62 for the user to finger grasp and reposition the template. It should also be understood that templates 50 or 60 may be shaped or made sufficiently flexible to contour to the surface of golf ball 1. The template may have a round or curved surface (not shown), to quickly and accurately align with the curved surface of the golf ball. Although it is not shown, a separate template may be releasably secured individually to each plate opening of the carrier by an engagement mechanism, rather than being manually held in place by the user as described above. This engagement mechanism would eliminate the need to transfer templates between plate openings. The user would need only to mark the golf balls through the predetermined template already secured to each plate opening of the carrier. The engagement mechanism could be comprised of magnets, male and female engagement members such as a bead and groove engagement or a push and turn engagement. Another embodiment of a golf ball carrier 210, as shown in FIG. 7, may be structured with fixed, that is to say non-releasable or non-interchangeable templates positioned adjacent a recess adapted to receive the opposing poles or hemispheres of each golf ball, thus providing a user with a carrier limited to a single personalized graphic at each location. First plate and second plate 220 and 230 of carrier 210 are respectively provided with paired recesses 221 and 231 each having a corresponding graphic template 250. Once a golf ball is inserted by spreading open the pathway or access opening A, the ball will rest in the corresponding coaxially aligned recesses 221 and 231 to allow the user to mark the opposing ends of the golf ball.
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. For example, the golf ball carrier may also retain golf tees or a divot tool until needed by the user.
