GOLF BALL MARKER

Abstract

A golf ball marker for applying chalk to a golf ball. The golf ball marker includes a housing having two space ends and in which one end is dimensioned to support a golf ball. A plunger is slidably mounted in the housing while chalk is carried at the end of the plunger. Consequently, upon movement of the plunger towards the golf ball, the chalk contacts and marks the golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf ball marker comprising a housing having two spaced ends, one of said ends dimensioned to support a golf ball, a plunger slidably mounted in said housing, a marking material carried at an end of said plunger so that, upon movement of said plunger toward said golf ball, said marking material contact the golf ball.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said marking material comprises chalk.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plunger is rotatably mounted to said housing.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising a spring contained in said housing which resiliently urges said marking material toward said on end of said housing.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is tubular and cylindrical in shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0008] A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the golf ball marker of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the golf ball marker of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

[0012] FIGS. 4A-4C are exemplary marks left on a golf club head using the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0013] With reference to the drawing, a preferred embodiment of a golf ball marker 10 according to the present invention is shown. The golf ball marker 10 includes a generally tubular and cylindrical housing 12 open at both ends 14 and 16. The end 14, furthermore, is dimensioned so that it is slightly less than the diameter of a golf ball 18. As such, the open end 14 of the housing 12 is able to support a golf ball as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0014] An elongated plunger 20 having an enlarged diameter ring 22 at a point between its ends 24 and 26 is positioned in the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 3. In doing so, the end 24 of the plunger 20 is contained within the interior of the housing 12 while the other end 26 of the plunger 20 protrudes outwardly from the end 16 of the housing 12.

[0015] An end ring 28 is attached to the end 16 of the housing 12 so that the enlarged diameter ring 22 is contained within the housing 12. The end ring 28 is secured to the end 16 of the housing 12 in any conventional fashion, such as a threaded connection, and an O-ring 30 preferably provides a seal between the end ring 28 and the housing 12.

[0016] The end ring 28, furthermore, includes a throughbore through which the portion of the plunger 20 between the enlarged diameter ring 22 and the end 26 is slidably disposed. In addition, a cap 32 is attached to the end 26 of the plunger 20.

[0017] A cylindrical piece of chalk 34 is mounted within a recess 36 at the end 24 of the plunger 20. In doing so, as best shown in FIG. 3, the chalk 34 is contained within the interior of the housing 12 and is generally coaxial with the housing 12.

[0018] As best shown in FIG. 3, a spring retainer 38 is attached to the end 14 of the housing 12. A helical compression spring 40 is also sandwiched in a state of compression in between the spring retainer 38 and the enlarged diameter ring 22 of the plunger 20. The plunger 20, however, is axially movable within the housing 12 by depressing the cap 32 and compressing the compression spring 40.

[0019] In use, in order to mark the golf ball 18, the golf ball 18 is first placed on the open end 14 of the housing 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thereafter, the plunger 20 is depressed against the force of the compression spring 40 until the chalk 34 abuts against the golf ball 18. When this occurs, the golf ball 18 and/or chalk 34 are manually rotated relative to each other thus leaving a spot of chalk on the golf ball 18. The actual size of the spot of the chalk will be substantially the diameter of the chalk 34.

[0020] After the golf ball 18 is marked with chalk, the golf ball is placed on the golf mat, tee, or ground so that the chalk mark is positioned at the point of impact of the golf club head. Thereafter, the golf ball is struck and the chalk dispersion pattern onto the golf club head is examined to identify the direction of travel of the golf club head at the time of impact.

[0021] For example, and with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, in FIG. 4A, the chalk is dispensed on the club head in a direction extending substantially horizontally outwardly on the golf club head. Such a pattern would indicate that the golf head was traveling from a position outside and inwardly at the time of impact with the golf ball. Conversely, FIG. 4B shows a chalk pattern on the golf club head extending generally laterally toward the shaft of the golf club. Such a pattern would be indicative that the golf club head was travelling from the inside and outwardly at the time of impact with the golf ball. Finally, FIG. 4C indicates an even distribution of the chalk powder around the point of impact between the golf club and the golf ball. Such a pattern would indicate that the golf ball was squarely struck during the golf stroke.

[0022] Since the plunger 20 axially displaces the chalk 34 in the housing 12, the chalk 34 may be almost completely used before discarded. Furthermore, the plunger 18 between the cap 32 and the enlarged diameter portion 22 is preferably hollow and designed to contain a spare chalk 34.

[0023] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a simple yet effective apparatus for marking a golf ball with chalk to determine the direction of the golf club head at the time of impact of the golf club head with the golf ball.