Golf marker and clip assembly

Abstract

A golf marker and clip assembly has a clip element with an upper section biasedly interconnected by an intermediate section to a lower section. A space is formed between the upper section and lower section to receive and be retained on a golf hat or visor. The upper section includes a pair of guide arms. The marker itself has an outer rim and a raised central section. When the marker is slid onto the clip element, along the top surface of the upper section, the guide arms are positioned over a portion of the outer rim of the golf marker, thus retaining the marker within the clip element.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In golf, when players have reached the green and are preparing to putt, it is often necessary to mark the position of a player's ball with a marker and remove the ball from the putting surface. This occurs if the ball of one player is directly in or near the path which must be taken by the ball of another player to reach the cup. In such cases, it is the practice to temporarily remove the obstructing ball in order to allow the player to shoot through. The ball is then replaced in exactly the same spot to allow the player of that ball to putt. A ball is also sometimes temporarily removed from the green to allow a player to clean the ball prior to putting.

The markers which are used are normally small and flat in order to present minimal obstruction and deflection of an oncoming ball, yet be clearly visible to the players. Various marker devices are used in this capacity, such as coins, flat disks, or disks with stems which are pressed into the ground. While these markers all serve the purposes for which they are intended, they are most often carried in the player's pocket or golf bag and therefore usually require some fumbling and searching each time they are needed.

The problem of accessibility of golf markers is addressed by a variety of different type of ball markers which are designed to be worn on the hat or clothing of the golfer. The markers are positioned in retainers or holders and are secured in a convenient location to be retrieved as needed and then replaced. The golfer thus will have a marker which can be consistently returned to the same position each time it is needed.

Unfortunately, current golf ball marker retainer devices have significant disadvantages. Most devices use magnetic attachment between the holder and the marker. This results in the retainer/marker assembly being relatively heavy, heavy enough to be an annoyance to the golfer if the assembly is secured to his or her hat, belt, or other clothing. Placement of the retainer assembly on a golf bag may be inconvenient, if the bag is not near the putting surface when the marker is needed. Magnetic holders are also susceptible to being worn out and, if a magnetic surface gets soiled, the marker can come loose and fall of the retainer.

Still other retainers for marker devices require a certain amount of manual dexterity and are not easily removed from the retainer or replaced therein. In addition, certain current retainer assemblies comprise many parts and have relatively complex design configurations, making them expensive to manufacture and generally not economically viable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention to address the limitations and disadvantages of existing golf marker/retainer assemblies.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf marker and clip assembly which can be readily and easily secured to a hat, belt, or other clothing on the person of a golfer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf marker and clip assembly which is readily and quickly available to a player when needed to mark the position of a golf ball and which can easily be returned to the assembly on the same location of the player when the marker is not in use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf marker and clip assembly which allows the marker to be quickly and easily slid into and retained in the assembly and readily and easily slid out of the clip element for use, without the need for retention by magnetic means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a golf marker and clip assembly which consists of a simple, straightforward holder design which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a golf marker and clip assembly which has a clip element with an upper section biasedly interconnected by an intermediate section to a lower section. A space is formed between the upper section and lower section to receive and be retained on a golf hat or visor. The upper section includes a pair of guide arms. The marker itself has an outer rim and a raised central section. When the marker is slid onto the clip element, along the top surface of the upper section, the guide arms are positioned over a portion of the outer rim of the golf marker, thus retaining the marker within the clip element.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention with the marker in the clip element.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention with the marker and clip element separated.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention with the marker in the clip element.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the clip element of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention with the marker in the clip element.

FIG. 6 is the front view of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention with the marker in the clip element.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention with the marker in the clip element.

FIG. 8 is the opposite elevation view of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention with the marker in the clip element.

FIG. 9 denotes the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention in use on a golf cap.

FIG. 10 is a top view of an alternate use of the golf marker and clip assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The golf marker and clip assembly 1 of the present invention comprises clip element 2 and golf marker 4. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8, clip element 2 is an integral unit comprising upper clip section 6 with top surface 8 and bottom surface 10 and lower clip section 12 with top surface 14 and bottom surface 16. Intermediate section 18 interconnects upper clip section 6 and lower clip section 12. Space 20 is formed between bottom surface 10 of upper clip section 6 and top surface 14 of lower clip section 12. Upper clip section 6, lower clip section 8, and intermediate section 18 are formed of a continuous piece of resilient metal material which serves to biasedly connect the upper and lower sections to each other via the intermediate section. It is evident that when a portion of the cap or visor is inserted into space 20 of the clip element, the resilient, biased pressure exerted by upper and lower clip sections 6 and 12, maintains the entire assembly 1 in place on the cap or visor. Thus, upper clip section 6 and lower clip section 12 of clip element 2 easily expand to securely fit over the side of a visor or golf cap 50, as seen in FIG. 9.

Extending up from upper clip section 6 and around part of the perimeter of the clip section is guide section 21 with guide arms 22 and 24 which, as best seen in FIGS. 1-3. Guide arms 22 and 24 are substantially parallel to top surface 8 of upper clip section 6. Slot 26 is formed between guide section 21 and its guide arms 22 and 24, and top surface 8 of upper clip section 6. Slot 26 extends partially along the perimeter of upper clip section 6.

Golf marker 4 comprises raised central section 30 with top surface 32 and outer rim 34, circumscribing the perimeter of the marker and the central section. Logo 36 or other appropriate symbol or name can be placed on top surface 32.

In the marker storage mode, shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5-8, marker 4 is positioned within slot 26, on top surface 8 of upper clip section 6. In this mode, outer rim 34 of marker 4 is partially located within guide arms 22 and 24 of guide support 21. The height of outer rim 34 is slightly greater than the height of slot 26, in order to biasedly maintain marker 4 within the slot. It is anticipated that, in this mode, assembly 1 will be clipped onto cap or visor 50.

When it is necessary to mark a golf ball on the surface of a putting green, marker 4 is simply slid out of slot 26, over and completely off top surface 8 of upper clip section 6, so that it is completely separated from clip element 2. Marker 4 is then placed on the green. After marker 4 is picked up from the green, it is again replaced within clip element 2, by sliding it over top surface 8, back into slot 26, where it is again secured therein by guide arms 22 and 24.

While the above description is directed strictly to a marker clip assembly, it is contemplated that a divot tool or similar accessory may be attached to the assembly. As shown in FIG. 10, divot tool 40 can be connected to and extend from the end of upper clip section 6, providing additional versatility to the invention.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A golf marker and clip assembly comprising:

a clip element having an upper section with top and bottom surfaces biasedly interconnected by an intermediate section to a lower section with top and bottom surfaces, a space being formed between the bottom surface of the upper section and the top surface of the lower section, and a guide section having a pair of guide arms being substantially parallel to and forming a slot over the top surface of the upper section; and

a golf marker comprising an outer rim and a raised central section, the marker, in a marker storage mode, being configured to be slidable over the top surface of the upper section and to be positioned on the top surface of the upper section with a portion of its outer rim located within the slot, the marker being secured therein solely by the guide arms, and, in a use mode, the marker being configured to be slid out of the slot and off the top surface of the upper section, thus completely separating the marker from the clip element.

2. The golf marker and clip assembly as in claim 1 wherein which the slot extends partially along the perimeter of the upper section of the clip element.

3. The golf marker and clip assembly as in claim 1 wherein the outer rim of the marker substantially circumscribes the perimeter of the marker.

4. The golf marker and clip assembly as in claim 1 wherein the guide section extends from the upper section of the clip element.

5. The golf marker and clip assembly comprising:

a clip element having an upper section biasedly interconnected by an intermediate section to a lower section, a space being formed between the upper section and the lower section, and a pair of guide arms being substantially parallel to and forming a slot over the upper section; and

a golf marker comprising an outer rim and a raised central section, the marker, in a marker storage mode, being configured to be slidable over the upper section and to be positioned on the upper section with a portion of its outer rim located within the slot, the marker being secured therein solely by the guide arms, and, in a use mode, the marker being configured to be slid out of the slot and off the upper section, thus completely separating the marker from the clip element.

6. The golf marker and clip assembly as in claim 5 wherein the outer rim of the marker substantially circumscribes the outer perimeter of the marker.

7. The golf marker and clip assembly as in claim 5 wherein the slot extends partially along the perimeter of the upper section of the clip element.

8. The golf marker and clip assembly as in claim 5 wherein the guide arms extend from the upper section of the clip element.