GOLF BALL MARKER

The present invention is a golf ball marker having a first marker in which a through hole is formed, and a second marker which has a pin portion arranged so as to be inserted into the through hole, wherein the first marker and the second marker are structured detachably by a detachable portion which is provided in at least one of the first and second markers, and a height of the first marker is greater than a height of the second marker except the pin portion.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Japanese patent application 2012-224406 filed on Oct. 9, 2012, the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a marker of a golf ball.

2. Description of the Related Art

When marking a golf ball on a green, a marker is used in playing golf. There are various kinds of markers. For example, a marker in JP-A-2000-70422 is constituted by a marker portion which is placed on the ground, and an insertion pin portion which is inserted into the ground. A marker in JP-A-11-309228 is constituted by a disc portion and a projection portion. Since the marker portion in JP-A-2000-70422 and the disc portion in JP-A-11-309228 are both thin and flat, and have small size in a height direction, they are inferior in visibility from a distance.

On the other hand, JP-A-2003-305144 is structured such that markers having the same shape are piled up in a vertical direction so as to improve the visibility from the distance. Specifically, a leading end fitting portion of a shaft portion which is provided vertically from a center of a flat plate portion is fitted to a fitting hole formed in an upper surface of the flat plate portion, whereby a plurality of markers are extended in a height direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made by taking the actual condition mentioned above into consideration, and an object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball marker which is excellent in visibility from a distance in all the periphery and can be used in a part unit corresponding to a used scene.

The present invention for solving the problem mentioned above is a golf ball marker having a first marker in which a through hole is formed, and a second marker which has a pin portion arranged so as to be inserted into the through hole, wherein the first marker and the second marker are structured detachably by a detachable portion which is provided in at least one of the first and second markers, and a height of the first marker is greater than a height of the second marker except the pin portion.

According to the structure, since the marker is large in size in the height direction, the marker is excellent in visibility from a distance in all the periphery, and the marker can be used as a part unit corresponding to a used scene. For example, in the case that a bulky marker is cumbersome, only the second marker having the smaller size in the height direction is used. Further, only the bulky marker can be used. Further, by employing a simple structure in which the pin portion of the second marker is inserted into the penetrating portion of the first marker, it is possible to simply superpose two parts, and it is possible to prevent a transverse displacement between the both, thereby achieving an excellence in a carrying property.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the detachable portion is constructed by a projection portion which is formed in the through hole, and the projection portion presses the pin portion of the second marker so as to fix. According to the other embodiment, the detachable portion is constructed by a projection portion which is formed in the pin portion, and the projection portion presses a wall surface of the through hole in the first marker so as to fix.

According to this structure, since the projection portion and the pin portion are in contact, and a mutual motion is fixed on the basis of an elastic pressure of the projection portion and/or an elastic pressure of the pin portion, the first marker and the second marker can be structured detachably. In the embodiment mentioned above, it is preferable that the first marker and the second marker are constructed by a plastic resin material, however, any one or both of them may be constructed by a rubber material, a plastic material, a metal material, a wood or a mineral, or a combination thereof.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the detachable portion is constructed by a magnetic body which is provided in a top surface portion (or an upper portion) of the first marker or an inner portion of the top surface portion (or the upper portion), and a metal portion acting on the magnetic body is provided in a main body portion of the second marker, or the main body portion is constructed by the metal portion. Further, according to the other embodiment, the detachable portion is provided with a magnetic body at least in a bottom surface portion of a main body portion of the second marker, and a metal portion operating with the magnetic body is provided in a top surface portion (or an upper portion) of the first marker, or an inner portion of the top surface portion (or the upper portion).

According to the structure, since the first marker and the second marker can be attached and detached by the magnetic body and the metal portion, the structure is preferable. As the magnetic body provided in the first marker, for example, a magnet, a magnet sheet and the like can be listed up.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the detachable portion is constructed by a magnetic body which is provided on a surface of the through hole of the first marker, and a metal portion acting on the magnetic body is provided in the pin portion of the second marker, or the pin portion is constructed by the metal portion.

According to this structure, since the first marker and the second marker can be attached and detached by the magnetic body and the metal portion, the structure is preferable. Further, without being limited to the magnetic body and the metal, magnetic bodies acting on each other may be respectively provided in the first marker and the second marker. For example, one may be provided with an N-pole magnet, and the other may be provided with an S-pole magnet.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first maker is constructed by a rubber material at least in a part or all of a surface of the through hole, and/or the second marker is constructed by a rubber material at least in a part or all of a surface of the pin portion. Further, a portion coming into contact with the pin portion of the projection portion formed in the through hole may be constructed by a rubber material.

According to this structure, a function of the detachable portion is constructed by a surface frictional force between the through hole and the pin portion. As the rubber material, for example, a natural rubber and a synthetic rubber can be listed up. As the synthetic rubber, for example, an acrylic rubber, a nitrile rubber, an isoprene rubber, an urethane rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, a silicone rubber and the like can be listed up. The synthetic rubber may include one kind or two or more kinds.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first marker further has a projection portion which is extended from a bottom surface. The projection portion may be provided at one position, however, it is preferable that a plurality of projection portions are provided.

According to this structure, the marker can be securely placed by inserting the projection portion into the ground surface.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the pin portion of the second marker is extended over the bottom surface of the first marker.

According to this structure, in the case that only the second marker is placed on the ground surface, the marker can be securely placed by inserting the pin portion of the second marker into the ground surface. It is preferable that a distance from the bottom surface of the first marker to a leading end of the projection portion and a distance from the bottom surface to the leading end of the pin portion are the same (for example, 0.1 mm to 30 mm).

In the present invention, the shape of the first marker is not particularly limited, however, may be formed, for example, as a frustum shape or a polygonal pyramid shape, or a rectangular shape, a circular shape or a polygonal shape in its front view. A shape of a vertical cross section along a center axis of the through hole may be formed as a trapezoidal shape, a stepped shape or a vertical cross sectional shape of a pyramid, or may be formed as a shape imitating an animal or a shape imitating a natural object.

It is preferable that the through hole of the first marker is formed linearly in a vertical direction, however, the through hole may have a curved line, and as a cross sectional shape of the through hole, for example, a circular shape, a polygonal shape, an oval shape and an irregular shape can be listed up. Further, in the light of a workability, the cross sectional shape of the through hole is preferably formed as the circular shape, and the shape of the through hole is preferably formed as a cylindrical shape or a frustum shape. Further, it is preferable that the through hole passes through a center portion or a gravity point portion of the first marker. According to the other embodiment, the through hole of the first market may extend while being inclined from the above toward the below, and may be extended transversely in relation to the first marker.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the detachable portion is constructed by forming a female thread portion in the through hole and forming a male thread portion in the pin portion. In this structure, the detachable portion is structured detachably on the basis of a screw engagement by the threads.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a height of the first marker is preferably equal to or more than half as many again as a height of the second marker except the pin portion, is more preferably equal to or more than twice, and is further preferably equal to or more than three-fold. In the case that the marker is placed on the ground surface in a state in which the first marker and the second marker are coupled, a maximum height from the ground surface is equal to or less than 100 mm, in the light of a marker function, a carrying property and a manufacturing cost, is preferably equal to or less than 50 mm, and is more preferably equal to or less than 30 mm. For example, 10 mm and 20 mm are exemplified.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a height of the first marker from the ground surface in the case that the first marker is placed on the ground surface is listed up, for example, by 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm. The height of the second marker except the pin portion at this time (the height in the case that the second marker is coupled to the first marker) is smaller than the height of the first marker, and can be listed up, for example, by 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 3.5 mm and the like.

Further, the other golf marker is constructed by a first marker, and a second marker which, has a greater height than a height of the first marker, a magnetic body is provided in a top surface portion (or an upper portion) of the first marker or an inner portion of the top surface portion (or the upper portion), and a metal portion acting on the magnetic body is provided in a main body portion of the second marker, or the main body portion is constructed by the metal portion.

Further, the other golf marker is constructed by a first marker, and a second marker which has a greater height than a height of the first marker, a magnetic body is provided at least in a bottom surface portion of a main body portion of the second marker, and a metal portion operating with the magnetic body is provided in a top surface portion (or an upper portion) of the first marker or an inner portion of the top surface portion (or the upper portion).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a view showing a ball marker (in a coupled state) according to an embodiment 1;

FIG. 1B is a view showing a first marker and a second marker according to the embodiment 1;

FIG. 2A is a view showing a ball marker (in a coupled state) according to an embodiment 2;

FIG. 2B is a view showing a first marker and a second marker according to the embodiment 2;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a first marker according to the other example;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a second marker according to the other example;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a projection portion according to the other example; and

FIG. 6 is a view showing one example of a projection portion for a ground surface.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

A description will be given of a ball marker according to an embodiment 1 with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1A shows a ball marker 1 in a coupled state, and FIG. 1B shows a first marker 2 (a cross sectional view) and a second marker 3 (a side elevational view) respectively. In FIG. 1B, the ball marker 1 is structured such that the first marker 2 in which a through hole 21 is formed is coupled to the second marker 3 which has a pin portion 31 arranged so as to be inserted into the through hole 21. A detachable portion is provided in the first marker 2. The first marker 2 and the second marker 3 are detachably structured by the detachable portion. The first marker 2 is formed as a shape that five cylindrical shapes having different diameters are piled up in the order of reducing the diameter. A main body portion 30 of the second marker 3 is formed as a flat coin shape (a thin cylinder shape).

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the detachable portion is constructed by a plurality of projection portions 22 which are formed within the through hole 21. On the basis of a pressure application of the projection portion 22 to the pin portion 31 of the second marker 3, the second marker 3 is coupled and fixed to the first marker 2, thereby preventing the first and second markers from being disconnected from each other due to a shock. A plurality of projection portions 22 are formed in an inner peripheral surface of the through hole 21. In this case, in FIGS. 1A and 1B, one projection portion may be formed along an inner peripheral surface of the through hole 21.

A height H1 of the first marker 2 is 100 mm (or within 100 mm), and a height H2 of the second marker 3 except a pin portion 31 is 2.0 mm (or within 1.0 mm to 20.0 mm). In FIG. 1A, when the pin portion 31 is inserted into the through hole 21, a leading end of the pin portion 31 is arranged in an inner portion of the through hole 21 without protruding out of the through hole 21. In this case, the pin portion 31 may be structured such as to stick onto the ground surface by making the leading end of the pin portion 31 protrude out of the through hole 21.

In FIG. 1A, a width (a diameter of a circle) of the second marker 3 is formed as the same magnitude of a width (a diameter of a circle) of an upper portion 23 of the first marker 2, however, the width (the diameter of the circle) of the second marker 3 may be made larger or smaller than the width (the diameter of the circle) of the upper portion 23 of the first marker 2 without being limited to this. In FIG. 1B, an inlet portion 231 for the pin portion 31 in the through hole 21 is formed as a round shape or a taper shape so as to easily insert the pin portion 31.

According to the other embodiment, a projection portion may be formed in the pin portion 31. Further, project ion portions may be formed in both of the through hole 21 and the pin portion 31. Further, a projection portion having a convex shape may be formed in any one of the through hole 21 and the pin portion 31, and a groove portion having a concave shape or a recess portion engaging with the projection portion may be formed in the other.

Embodiment 2

A description will be given of a ball marker according to an embodiment 2 with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2A shows a ball marker 1 in a coupled state, and FIG. 2B shows a first marker 2 (a cross sectional view) and a second marker 3 (a side elevational view) respectively. A description will be given of different structures from the embodiment 1, and a description of the same constituting elements (the same reference numerals) will be omitted or described briefly.

A ring-shaped magnet 24 is provided in an upper portion 23 of the first marker 2 (or is embedded in an inner portion of the upper portion 23). A metal portion 30a operating with the magnet 24 is formed in a bottom surface of the main body portion 30 of the second marker 3. The magnet 24 and the metal portion 30a operate with each other and are detachably fixed. In this case, as long as the metal portion 30a is formed at least in the bottom surface of the main body portion 30 of the second marker 3, a whole (or the main body portion 30) of the second marker 3 may be constructed by a metal material (a magnetic material).

In the embodiment 2 mentioned above, a penetrating portion is formed in the first marker and a pin portion is formed in the second marker respectively. According to the other example, there is a structure in which any penetrating portion is not formed in the first marker and any pin portion is not formed in the second marker.

Embodiment 3

The projection portion 22 is provided within the through hole 21 in the embodiment 1, and the magnet 24 is provided in the embodiment 2, however, according to an embodiment 3, the first marker and the second marker can be attached and detached without providing any projection portion 22 and any magnet 24.

A whole of a surface of a through hole in the first marker is constructed by a rubber material, and a whole of a surface of a pin portion in the second marker is constructed by a rubber material. Accordingly, a frictional force between the surface of the through hole and the surface of the pin portion becomes large, and a preferable attachment and detachment can be achieved.

Further, according to the other embodiment, a part of the surface of the through hole in the first market may be constructed by a rubber material, and a part of the surface of the pin portion in the second marker may be constructed by the rubber material. Further, the first marker may be constructed by the rubber material and the pin portion of the second marker may be constructed by the rubber material. Further, any one or both of the first marker and the second marker may be constructed by the rubber material.

Embodiment 4

According to an embodiment 4, a plurality of projection portions for ground surface for inserting into the ground surface are provided in the bottom surface of the first marker in the embodiments 1 to 3 mentioned above. FIG. 6 shows an example of a ground surface projection portion 26. Further, in FIG. 6, a leading end 311 of the pin portion 31 in the second marker is extended to the same length as a leading end of the ground surface projection portion 26.

Other Embodiment

In place of the detachable portions according to the embodiments 1 and 2, the detachable portion may be constructed by forming a female thread portion in the through hole 21 and forming a male thread portion in the pin portion 31.

Further, the shape of the first marker 2 is not limited to the embodiments 1 and 2 mentioned above, but may be formed as a frustum shape in an outer appearance while having a trapezoidal shape in a vertical cross section as shown in FIG. 3A, or may be formed as a cylindrical shape in an outer appearance while having a rectangular shape in a vertical cross section as shown in FIG. 3B, or may be formed as an irregular columnar shape while having an irregular shape (for example, a heart shape or a star shape) in a front view as shown in FIG. 3C. As long as the first marker 2 is formed with a thickness which can maintain an outer appearance shape, a cavity (a thickness lack portion) may be formed partly.

Further, the shape of the second marker 3 is not limited to the embodiments 1 and 2 mentioned above, but may be formed as a dome shape as shown in FIG. 4A, may be formed as a star shape in a front view of a top surface as shown in FIG. 4B, or may be formed as a heart shape (a shape corresponding to FIG. 3C) in a front view of a top surface as shown in FIG. 4C.

Further, FIG. 5 shows an example of a shape of the projection portion 22. FIG. 5A forms four convex projection portions 22 which extend in a longitudinal direction of the through hole 21. The projection portion 22 may be formed, for example, in a range between one to sixteen. Further, the number of the projection portion 22 extending in the longitudinal direction of the through hole 21 may be equal to or more than one. The projection portion 22 shown in FIG. 5B is constructed as eight blade shapes which are formed around an inner surface of the through hole 21. The number of the blade shapes is eight in FIG. 5B, however, the blade shape may be formed in a range between one and sixteen.

Further, the marker 1 may be provided with both of the detachable structure constituted by the projection portion according to the embodiment 1 and FIG. 5, and the detachable structure constituted by the magnet according to the embodiment 2.

Further, the marker 1 may be provided with the other detachable structure. For example, the first marker may be provided with a thread hole in a side surface, and may be fixed by pressing a pin portion of the second marker by a thread. Further, thread holes may be provided in the side surface of the first marker and the pin portion of the second marker, and the first and second markers may be detachably fixed by a rod-like member which can be taken in and out.

Claims

1. A golf ball marker comprising:

a first marker in which a through hole is formed; and
a second marker which has a pin portion arranged so as to be inserted into the through hole,
wherein the first marker and the second marker are structured detachably by a detachable portion which is provided in at least one of the first and the second markers, and wherein a height of the first marker is greater than a height of the second marker except the pin portion.

2. The golf ball marker according to claim 1, wherein the detachable portion is constructed by a projection portion which is formed in the through hole, and the projection portion presses the pin portion of the second marker so as to fix.

3. The golf ball marker according to claim 1, wherein the detachable portion is constructed by a magnetic body which is provided in a top surface portion of the first marker or an inner portion of the top surface portion, and a metal portion acting on the magnetic body is provided in a main body portion of the second marker, or the main body portion is constructed by the metal portion.

4. The golf ball marker according to claim 1, wherein the detachable portion is constructed by a magnetic body which is provided on a surface of the through hole of the first marker, and a metal portion acting on the magnetic body is provided in the pin portion of the second marker, or the pin portion is constructed by the metal portion.

5. The golf ball marker according to claim 1, wherein the first maker is constructed by a rubber material at least in a part or all of a surface of the through hole, and/or the second marker is constructed by a rubber material at least in a part or all of a surface of the pin portion.

6. The golf ball marker according to claim 1, wherein the first marker further has a projection portion which is extended from a bottom surface.

7. The golf ball marker according to claim I, wherein the pin portion of the second marker is extended over the bottom surface of the first marker.

8. The golf ball marker according to claim 2, wherein the detachable portion is constructed by a magnetic body which is provided in a top surface portion of the first marker or an inner portion of the top surface portion, and a metal portion acting on the magnetic body is provided in a main body portion of the second marker, or the main body portion is constructed by the metal portion.

9. The golf ball marker according to claim 2, wherein the detachable portion is constructed by a magnetic body which is provided on a surface of the through hole of the first marker, and a metal portion acting on the magnetic body is provided in the pin portion of the second marker, or the pin portion is constructed by the metal portion.

10. The golf ball marker according to claim 2, wherein the first maker is constructed by a rubber material at least in a part or all of a surface of the through hole, and/or the second marker is constructed by a rubber material at least in a part or all of a surface of the pin portion.

11. The golf ball marker according to claim 6, wherein the pin portion of the second marker is extended over the bottom surface of the first marker.

Patent History
Publication number: 20140100060
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 10, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 10, 2014
Applicant: TK JYUSHI COMPANY (Tanba)
Inventor: Tadashi Kamei (Tanba)
Application Number: 13/738,907
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Ball Position Marker (473/406)
International Classification: A63B 57/00 (20060101);