Abstract:
A hat with ball marker removably places a golf ball marker onto a cap for retrieval therefrom by a golfer. The device has a hat having a dome with an opening and an insert that has a base with a wing such that the wing is attached to an inner surface of the dome and the base protrudes through the opening. The upper surface of the base is magnetized and the marker, being magnetically attractive, is magnetically removably attached to the base. Removal of the marker from the base is accomplished by sliding the marker off of the base or by providing the base with a cavity such that placement of force onto the marker above and toward the cavity causes the marker to teeter thereby flipping the marker into the cavity for easy removal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a hat that has a ball marker magnetically attached to the cap, which marker is readily detached from the cap. 
   2. Background of the Prior Art 
   In the game of golf, it is customary, upon landing on the green, to mark the position of a player&#39;s golf ball with an appropriate marker and remove the ball from the playing green. Removal of the ball is typically performed for one of two purposes. Either the golf ball lies in the shot path of another golfer&#39;s ball that is further from the hole—the farthest player from the hole shoots first when on the green—and the ball is removed so as not to be hit during the other player&#39;s shot. While the other shooter may still hit the marker with the ball, by using markers that are small and relatively flat, such hitting of the marker results in substantially less deflection than would occur if another ball was hit. Additionally, a player may desire to pick the ball up and clean the ball upon reaching the green. As the ball can accumulate grass and other debris during hole play, which debris can result in putting inaccuracy, picking up and cleaning the ball upon reaching the green, which is legal and proper, is a common practice. 
   Many golfers use a coin or other similar flat article as a ball marker. The coin or similar marker is retrieved from the golfer&#39;s pocket and positioned on the green at the spot of the ball. Once the golf ball is placed back onto the green, the marker is retrieved and placed back into the player&#39;s pocket. This system works reasonably well but is not without its drawbacks. If a player has a pocket full of other items in addition to the ball, such as car keys, pencils, golf tees, golf balls, etc., the golfer may have some difficulty in finding the desired marker tending to slow the overall pace of the game. This is especially true if a golfer desires to use a specific or favorite marker each time. Such a golfer may retrieve several coins from the pocket before retrieving the sought after marker. In fumbling through the pockets to retrieve the marker, the golfer may spill some of the other items out of the pocket, which items must be retrieved and replaced, further slowing the pace of play. Multiply this scenario by 18 holes and a substantial amount of lost time can be achieved. 
   In order to address this situation, dedicated golf ball markers have been proposed wherein such markers are worn on the clothing of the golfer. The golfer&#39;s hat is a natural clothing choice as most golfers will not be found without their hats on the links. Such markers are positioned on the hat and retrieved as needed and thereafter replaced, thereby eliminating the need to fumble through pockets of the golfer or within pockets of the golf bag. This allows a golfer to have a marker in the same position every time a marker is needed. However, the prior art systems also have drawbacks. 
   Some such systems tend to be relatively complex in design and construction making such devices relatively expensive to manufacture and obtain. Although the sport of golf tends to be a relatively expensive game, there is no need to add unnecessary expense where such expense is not warranted. Some prior art systems make retrieval of the marker from and replacement of the marker back onto the hat relatively difficult. Such systems may require that the golfer have a fair amount of dexterity in the fingers or even fairly grown nails to effectively retrieve the marker from the hat. Other systems require that the golfer remove the hat in order to either retrieve the marker, replace the marker or both. Not only do golfers do not like to have to remove their hats when not desired, but such removal lessens the time savings desired by such dedicated marker holding systems. Still other dedicated ball marker systems are positioned on the hat in an awkward place so as to look unnatural or are positioned out of the normal line of site of others. Proper marker positioning is important as many golfers consider the marker a fashionable item and may sport different markers on different days on the same hat. 
   Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a dedicated ball marker system that removably attaches to a golfer&#39;s hat which addresses the above stated shortcomings in the art. Specifically, such a ball marker system must be of relatively simple and straightforward design and construction and must allow a golfer to be able to quickly and easily retrieve the marker from the hat and thereafter return the marker to its proper position on the hat without undue fuss and without the need to remove the hat. The dedicated marker system must be positioned in a natural appearing place on the hat such that it is in the normal line of site of others with which the golfer interacts. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The hat with ball marker of the present system addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The hat with ball marker provides a dedicated ball marker system wherein the marker removably attaches to a golfer&#39;s hat. The hat with ball marker is of relatively simple and straightforward design and construction and allows a golfer to be able to quickly and easily retrieve the marker from the hat and thereafter return the marker to its proper position on the hat without undue fuss and without the need to remove the hat. The present invention positions the marker on the hat in a natural appearing place such that the marker is in the normal line of site of others with which the golfer interacts with so that the marker can be a item of the overall fashion statement made by the golfer. 
   The hat with ball marker of the present invention is comprised of a hat that has a dome with an inner surface, an outer surface, and an opening. An insert that has a base member with a magnetized upper surface, a lower surface, and a wing is affixed to the hat such that the wing is attached to the inner surface of the dome with the base member protruding through the opening of the dome and facing outwardly. A marker has a top surface and a bottom surface such that the bottom surface is magnetically attached to the magnetized upper surface of the base member. The marker may be slid off of the base member in order to retrieve the marker or the base member may have a cavity such that a portion of the marker overlies the cavity whenever the marker is magnetically attached to the upper surface of the base member and such that when downward force is placed on the top surface of the marker above the cavity, the marker teeters against an edge of the base member into the cavity allowing retrieval of the marker. An arcuate ring member may extend circumferentially about the upper surface of the base member with the ring member having a discontinuity located proximate the cavity. The entire upper surface of the base member may be magnetized or only a portion of the upper surface of the base member is magnetized. The wing may extend circumferentially around the base member or only a portion thereof. The wing may be adhered to the inner surface of the dome or the wing may be stitched to the inner surface of the dome. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hat with ball marker of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional side view of the hat with ball marker of the present invention taken along line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an elevation/section view of the hat with ball marker illustrating the removal of the marker. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial cutaway view of the hat with ball marker. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the hat with ball marker of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the hat with ball marker with an alternate architecture of the magnet. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional side view of the hat with ball marker with the alternate architecture of the magnet taken along line  7 — 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a sectioned side view of the hat with ball marker with the alternate architecture of the magnet taken along line  8 — 8  in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  is an elevation/section view of the hat with ball marker of  FIG. 6  illustrating the removal of the marker. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the hat with ball marker of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the alternate embodiment of the hat with ball marker taken along line  11 — 11  in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment of the hat with ball marker. 
       FIG. 13  is an elevation/section view of the alternate embodiment of the hat with ball marker of  FIG. 10  illustrating the removal of the marker. 
   

   Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the hat with ball marker of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a hat  12  of any appropriate design in the art (including visors) that may have a dome  14  having an outer surface  16 , a inner surface  18 , a bill  20 , and a sizing strap  22 . An opening  24  is located on the dome  14 . An insert  26  is provided which insert  26  has a base member  28  with a magnetic upper surface  30  and a lower surface  32  and a flexible wing  34 . The insert  26  is positioned such that the wing  34  is positioned against and attached to the inner surface  18  of the dome  14  by any appropriate means such as by use of an appropriate adhesive or as illustrated by appropriate stitching  36  through the wing  34  and the dome  14 . The wing  34  may, but need not necessarily extend circumferentially about the entire base member  28 . Advantageously, although not necessarily, the insert is located on the right side of the hat  12  (the right side being defined as that portion being worn on the right side of the user) just behind the bill  20  as most golfers tend to be right handed and will want to use the right hand to use the device  10 . 
   A marker  38  is provided and has a top surface  40  that may have a desired aesthetic design thereon, and a bottom surface  42 , the bottom surface  42  of the marker  38  being made from a magnetically attractive material such as metal. The marker  38  is magnetically attached to the magnetic upper surface  30  of the base member  28  and magnetically held thereat until retrieval of the marker  38  is desired. The magnetic strength of the magnetic upper surface  30  of the base member  28  is such so as to hold the marker  38  properly in place during normal hat  12  use but not so strong as to make detachment of the marker  38  from the base member  28  unusually difficult. 
   Retrieval of the marker  38  from the base member  28  may be accomplished in one of two ways. As seen in  FIGS. 1–9 , the base member  28  has a cavity  44  such that when the marker  38  is magnetically attached to the base member  28 , a portion of the marker  38  overlies the cavity  44 . When detachment of the marker  38  from the base member  28  is desired, a downward force is placed onto the top surface  40  of the marker  38  at a point where the marker  38  overlies the cavity  44 . The causes the marker  38  to teeter or otherwise pivot about an edge of the upper surface  30  of the base member  28  causing a portion of the marker  38  to go into the cavity  44 . Correspondingly, the other portion of the maker  38 —that portion located on the opposing side of the pivot line of the base member  28 —flips upwardly away from the magnetic upper surface  30  of the base member  28 . This flipped opposing side of the marker  38  can now be easily grasped by the fingers of the user and pulled away from the base member  28  and the marker  38  used as desired. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 2–4 , the entire upper surface  30  of the base member  28  can be made from a magnetic material. This is accomplished by having the lower section  46  of the base member  28  made from a first material, such as plastic, and having the upper section  48  of the base member being made from a magnetic material (flexible magnet, rare earth permanent magnet etc.). The lower section  46  can be mated to the upper section  48  by any appropriate means such as by adhesion, etc. 
   Alternately, as best seen in  FIGS. 6–9 , only a portion of the upper surface  30  of the base member  28  may be made from a magnetic material. This can be accomplished by having the lower section  46 ′ of the base member  28  comprise a portion of the upper surface  30  of the base member  28 , this lower section  46 ′ having an opening  50  at the upper surface  30 . The upper section  48 ′ of the base member  28 , which is magnetic, is positioned within this opening  50 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , in order to facilitate smooth nesting of this lower section  46 ′ with this upper section  48 ′ of the base member  28 , the lower section  46 ′ can having upwardly facing mounting shoulders  52  that mate with downwardly facing mounting shoulders  54  on the upper section  48 ′. These mounting shoulders  52  and  54  allow a smooth and snug interfit between lower section  46 ′ and upper section  48 ′. The lower section  46 ′ can be mated to the upper section  48 ′ by any appropriate means such as by adhesion, etc. 
   In either magnet architecture, an arcuate ring  56  is positioned about the upper surface  30  of the base member  28  such that the marker  38  is received by the base member  28  within the ring  56 . The ring  56  has a discontinuity  58  located proximate the cavity  44 . 
   In use, this embodiment of the hat with ball marker  10  of the present invention has the insert  26  placed within the dome  14  of the hat  12  such that the wing  34  of the base member  28  faces the inner surface  18  of the dome  14  with the base member  28  protruding through the opening  24  and the wing  34  is attached to the inner surface  18  of the dome  14  in appropriate fashion. The wing  34  may have additional layers of the hat  12 , such as the illustrated headband  60 , located beyond the wing  34  such that there may be additional inner layers of the hat  12  disposed between the device  10  and the user&#39;s head with the wing  34  sandwiched in between the layers. The marker  38  is magnetically attached to the upper surface of the base member  28  and held thereat. The hat  12  is worn by a user as desired. When retrieval of the marker  38  is desired, the user places downward force on the top surface  40  of the marker  38  in order to pivot this portion of the marker  38  into the cavity  44  and flip the opposing portion of the marker  38  diagonally upwardly. The marker  38  is grasped by the user and removed from the base member  28 . The ring  56 , the profile of which protrudes through the dome  14 , provides the user a tactile guide to the marker  38  and to the appropriate portion of the marker  38  upon which to place the downward force in order to achieve the desired flipping of the marker  38  with respect to the base member  28  as well as a tactile guide for replacement of the marker  38  back onto the base member  28  when use of the marker  38  is no longer desired. The cavity  44  of the base member  28  and the corresponding discontinuity  58  of the ring  56  may be located at any desired orientation, although positioning each at either 12 o&#39;clock or 3 o&#39;clock, when looking at the insert  26  on the hat  12  has proved to be highly effective. 
   Alternately, as best seen in  FIGS. 10–13 , the marker  38  may be retrieved from the base member  28  by sliding the marker  38  off of the base member  28 . To best accomplish this sliding, it is desirable that less than the entire upper surface  30  of the base member  28  be magnetized. This can be accomplished by providing an architecture of the base member  28  similar to that illustrated in  FIGS. 6–9  or by providing the alternate architecture illustrated in  FIGS. 10–13 . In this alternate architecture, the base member  28  has a first lower section  46 ″ and a second lower section  46 ′″ attached to tie first lower section  46 ″ in appropriate fashion, the second (or upper) lower section  46 ′″ having an opening  50 ′ therein. The magnetized upper section  48 ″ of the base member  28  is positioned within the opening  50 ′ of the second lower section  46 ′″. In either architecture, the use of a less than fully magnetized upper surface  30  of the base member  28  allows for firm holding of the marker  38  to the base member  28  but also allows relatively easy sliding of the marker  38  off of the base member  28  when marker  38  retrieval is desired. In this embodiment the hat  12  is again worn by a user as desired. When retrieval of the marker  38  is desired, the user slides the marker  38  along the base member  28  and when a sufficient portion of the marker  38  has cleared the limits of the base member  28 , the user grasps the marker  38 , removes the marker  38  from the magnetic grasp of the base member  28 , and uses the marker  38  as desired. The marker  38  is replaced onto the base member  28  by simply positioning the marker  38  onto the base member  28  and allowing the base member  28  to magnetically attract and hold the marker  38 . If needed, the marker&#39;s position with respect to the base member  28  can be fine tuned by sliding the marker  38  into the final desired location. If desired, a ring (not illustrated) can be used to provide the user tactile guidance in retrieving and replacing the marker  38  with respect to the base member  28 . Such a ring member has an appropriately sized discontinuity to allow the marker  38  to slide with respect to the base member  28  without being unnecessarily impeded by the ring. 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.