Abstract:
Embodiments of divot tools having ball markers and methods of making divot tools are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/547,246, filed Oct. 14, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present application generally relates to divot tools, and more particularly, to divot tools having ball markers and methods of making divot tools. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a golf ball is hit with a golf club and lands on the green the golf ball may create a depression or a divot on the green A divot tool may be used to repair a divot. A divot tool typically has two spaced apart barbs. To repair a divot, an individual inserts the barbs into the green at one or more locations around the divot, and pushes the green that is between the barbs and the divot toward the divot. The green around the divot that is pushed into the pivot promotes root growth inside the divot and over a period of time causes the green to fill the divot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a divot tool according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the divot tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the divot tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the divot tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows the divot tool of  FIG. 1  as viewed from one end of the divot tool. 
         FIG. 6  shows the divot tool of  FIG. 1  as viewed from an end of the divot tool that is opposite to the end shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the divot of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  shows the divot tool of  FIG. 1  as viewed from another side of the divot tool that is opposite to the side shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of a section of the divot tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is perspective cutaway view of a ball marker recess of a divot tool according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a ball marker according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a magnet of a divot tool according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of a divot tool, a magnet and a ball marker according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 14-16  are perspective views of the divot tool of  FIG. 1  showing removal of a ball marker from the divot tool. 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart showing a method of making a divot tool according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , a divot tool  20  according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The divot tool  20  includes a first portion  22  having one or more barbs, generally shown as  24 , for insertion into the green to repair a divot and a second portion  26 , which includes a ball marker recess  30  on a first side  32  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) of the divot tool  20  for receiving and holding a ball marker  33 . The second portion  26  includes a first finger recess  34  on the first side  32  and second and third finger recesses  36  and  38 , respectively, on a second side  40  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) of the divot tool  20 . All of the above-noted features of the divot tool  20  and functions thereof are described in detail in the following. 
     Each of the barbs  24  is tapered and has a generally pointed end  42  to facilitate insertion of the barb  24  into the green with relative ease. Each barb  24  may be cone or wedge shaped. However, each barb  24  may have other symmetrical or asymmetrical shapes that provide tapering from a larger cross section to a smaller cross section or to a generally pointed end. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , each barb  24  has a flat side  44  on the first side  32  of the divot tool  20  and a sloped side  46  on the second side  40  of the divot tool  20 . As the barb  24  is inserted and advanced into the green, the sloped side  46  may cause the barb  24  to slightly tilt toward the divot, thereby pushing the green surrounding the divot into the divot to assist with the divot repair process. 
     The first finger recess  34  is on the first side  32  of the divot tool  20 . The first finger recess  34  may be sized to receive the distal phalange of an individual&#39;s thumb while the individual is holding the divot tool  20 . To accommodate different thumb sizes, the first finger recess  34  may be sized to receive a large-sized thumb, thereby also accommodating individuals with small-sized thumbs. The first finger recess  34  may have a flat bottom or a curved bottom. In the exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the depth of the first finger recess  34  increases from the first end  50  of the first finger recess  34  toward the second end  52  of the first finger recess  34 . The second end  52  includes a sharply sloped wall  54 . The sharply sloped wall  54  may be nearly vertical or completely vertical relative to the bottom of the first finger recess  34 . The height of the wall  54  is configured to be similar or greater than the thickness or the width of the tip of an individual&#39;s thumb. Accordingly, when an individual&#39;s thumb is located in the first finger recess  34  during insertion of the divot tool  20  into the green, the tip of the individual&#39;s thumb presses against the wall  54  and is prevented from slipping out of the first finger recess  34 . The varying depth of the first finger recess  34  from the first end  50  to the second end  52  creates an inclined surface relative to the first end  50  and the second end  52  that can provide proper placement of an individual&#39;s thumb in the first finger recess  34  so that the tip of the individual&#39;s thumb strikes the wall  54  as described. For example, if an individual places his thumb in the first finger recess  34  without the tip of his thumb contacting the wall  54 , upon initiating the insertion of the barbs  24  into the green, the individual&#39;s thumb slides in the first finger recess  34  toward the wall  54  until the tip of his thumb strikes the wall  54 . The varying depth of the first finger recess  34  also ergonomically supports the distal phalange of the thumb when the divot tool  20  is held by an individual. To provide the noted ergonomic support, the first finger recess  34  may have a generally oval shape or a generally tear drop shape as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Accordingly, the widest part of the first finger recess  34  may be near the second end  52  with the first finger recess  34  narrowing in width toward the first end  50 . 
     The second side  40  of the divot tool  20  includes the second finger recess  36  and the third finger recess  38  for receiving the index finger and the middle finger, respectively, of an individual when using the divot tool  20  for divot repair. However, depending on the individual&#39;s preference in holding the divot tool and/or depending on the size of the individual&#39;s hands, the individual may use any two fingers of his hand for placement in the finger recesses  36  and  38 . The finger recesses  36  and  38  are formed by inwardly curved surfaces or concave depressions on the second side  40  of the divot tool  20  and are sized and shaped to be generally compatible with the fingers of any individual using the divot tool  20 . The finger recesses  36  and  38  provide a frictional grip for an individual holding the divot tool  20 . Furthermore, the locations of the finger recesses  36  and  38  on the divot tool  20  may ensure correct placement of an individual&#39;s fingers on the divot tool  20  when gripping the divot tool  20 . 
     When holding divot tool  20  for a divot repair process, an individual grips the divot tool  20  with his left or right hand by placing his thumb in the first finger recess  34 , his index finger in the second finger recess  36  and his middle finger in the third finger recess  38 . Thus, the second portion  22 , which includes the first finger recess  34  and the finger recesses  36  and  38  functions as a handle for the divot tool  20  during a divot repair process. When inserting the barbs  24  into the green, the wall  54  of the first finger recess  34  prevents the individual&#39;s thumb from slipping out and allows the individual to push downward. The index and middle fingers wrap around the second portion  26  and also assist in pushing downward. The finger recesses  36  and  38  reduce the possibility of the index and middle fingers slipping on the second side  40  of the divot tool  20 . Thus, the first finger recess  34  and the finger recesses  36  and  38  assist in preventing the individual&#39;s thumb and fingers from slipping on the divot tool  20  while inserting the barbs  24  into the green. When repairing the divot, an individual uses his index and middle fingers to push the barbs  24  toward the divot, thereby pushing the green surrounding the divot into the divot. During this movement, the thumb in the first finger recess  34  provides a counter force to stabilize and control the pushing motion created by the index and middle fingers and to assist in rotationally moving the divot tool  20  if necessary. The thumb pressing down on the divot tool  20  also maintains the barbs  24  in the green during the divot repair process. The first finger recess  34  also assists in preventing the thumb from slipping out of the first finger recess  34  after insertion of the barbs  24  into the ground and during the divot repair process. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the ball marker recess  30  is configured to hold a ball marker  33  therein. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 11 and 13 , the ball marker  33  is disc or coin shaped. However, in other embodiments, the ball marker  33  may be in any shape, such as rectangular, square, triangular, or polygonal. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 14 , when the ball marker  33  is in the ball marker recess  30 , the top surface of the ball marker  33  is positioned flush with the top surface of the divot tool  20  around the ball marker recess  30 . Accordingly, the ball marker  33  does not project out of the ball marker recess  30 , and therefore, does not interfere with an individual&#39;s use of the divot tool  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the ball marker recess  30  is formed by a first marker recess  70 , which defines a stored position of the ball marker  33 , and a second marker recess  72 , which defines a removal position of the ball marker  33 , which is a position prior to removal of the ball marker  33  from the ball marker recess  30 . The first marker recess  70  includes a bottom surface  74  and a first recess wall  76  having a height generally corresponding to the thickness of the ball marker  33 . The bottom surface  74  is also generally parallel to the first side  32  of the divot tool  20  surrounding the ball marker recess  30 . Accordingly, when the bottom surface of the ball marker  33  is in contact with the bottom surface  74 , the top surface of the ball marker  33  is flush with the first side  32  of the divot tool  20  surrounding the ball marker recess  30 . 
     The second marker recess  72  includes a bottom surface  80  that is inclined relative to the bottom surface  74  of the first marker recess  72  so as to have a greater depth than the first marker recess  70 . The ball marker recess  30  includes at least one ramp  82  on at least one side of the first marker recess  70 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the ball marker recess  30  includes two ramps  82  on laterally opposing sides of the first marker recess  72 . The ramps  82  are positioned on the same plane that is defined by the bottom surface  80  of the second marker recess  72 . Accordingly, the ramps  82  may be considered to be discontinuous extensions of the bottom surface  80  of the second marker recess  72 . The ball marker recess  30  may also include a third recess  83  that are connected to the ramps  82  and inclined relative to the ramps  82 . The third recess provides a transition from the ramps  82  to the top surface or the first side  32  of the divot tool around the ball marker recess  30 . 
     In the exemplary embodiments of the divot tool  20  described herein, the first marker recess  70  includes a magnet recess  84  (shown in  FIG. 10 ) for housing one or more magnets (generally shown as  36  in  FIGS. 9 and 12 ). The ball marker  33  may include ferrous materials so that the ball marker  33  is attracted and held by the magnet  86  when the ball marker  33  is at or near the magnet  86 . The ball marker  33  may be constructed from any material so long as the ball marker  33  can be attracted to the magnet  86 . For example, the ball marker  33  may be constructed from steel or a plastic material having mixed therein iron particles. However, only a portion of the ball marker  33  at or near the bottom surface of the ball marker  33  may be constructed from a ferrous material. For example, an upper disc section of the ball marker  33  may be constructed from aplastic material without having any iron particles. Alternatively, the upper disc section may be constructed from a non-ferrous metal such as aluminum. A lower disc section of the ball marker  33  may be constructed from a ferrous material such as steel. 
     The upper surface and the lower surface of the ball marker  33  may have different or similar colors. Additionally the upper surface and the lower surface of the ball marker may include visual information such as a brand logo or any other indicia. The visual information may be drawn, etched, applied with an adhesive film or embossed onto the upper surface and/or the lower surface of the ball marker  33 . The visual information may also be created during manufacturing of the ball marker  33 . For example, if the ball marker  33  is stamped out of a piece of metal, the visual information can be embossed onto the ball marker  33  by the stamping press. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 12 , the magnet recess  84  may be cylindrical to house a correspondingly sized cylindrical magnet  86 . The magnet  86  is sized and/or positioned in the magnet recess  84  so that the top of the magnet  86  is positioned flush with bottom surface  74  of the first marker recess  70 . The magnet recess  84  may be in any shape and the magnet  86  may be sized and/or shaped correspondingly to be housed in the magnet recess  84  and to provide the function of maintaining the ball marker  33  in the stored position. For example, another embodiment of a magnet and its corresponding recess is shown in  FIG. 13 . In this embodiment, the first marker recess  70  is deeper to define a magnet recess  88  for accommodating a similarly shaped magnet  90 . The thickness of the magnet  90  is such that when both the magnet  90  and the ball marker  33  are placed in the first marker recess  70 , the top of the ball marker  33  is flush with the first side  32  of the divot tool  20  surrounding the ball marker recess  30 . The magnet recesses  84  and  88  may be formed when the divot tool  20  is constructed. Subsequently, the magnet  86  or the magnet  90  may be attached in the magnet recess  84  or the magnet recess  88 , respectively, by an adhesive by being press fit or other methods and materials that can be used to attach two parts together. Alternatively, the magnet  86  or  90  may be fixed in the magnet recess  84  or the magnet recess  88 , respectively, during a process for manufacturing the divot tool  20  as described in detail below. The magnet  86  or  90  may be a rare earth magnet. 
     Placement of the ball marker  33  in the stored position will now be described. The ball marker  33  can be placed in the stored position by being inserted into the first marker recess  70 . Due to the presence of the magnet  86  or  90  in the first marker recess  70 , when the ball marker  33  is positioned near the first marker recess  70 , the ball marker  33  is pulled toward and inside the first marker recess  70 . However, should the ball marker  33  not be perfectly pulled inside the first marker recess  70  such that a portion thereof is in the first marker recess  70  and the remaining portion thereof is outside the first marker recess  70 , an individual can use his thumb or one or more of his other fingers to slide the ball marker  33  into the first marker recess  70 . If the divot tool  20  is at least partly constructed from a ferrous material or includes iron particles, the portions of the divot tool  20  surrounding the magnet  86  or  90  may become magnetized. Accordingly, even if the ball marker  33  is placed near the first marker recess  70 , the magnetized portions of the divot tool  20  around the ball marker recess  30  may attract the ball marker  33  and hold the ball marker  33  connected to the divot tool  20 . An individual using the divot tool  20  can then use his thumb or one or more of his other fingers to slide the ball marker  33  into the first marker recess  70 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 14-16 , removal of the ball marker  33  from the ball marker recess  30  and placement thereof on the green will now be described. When placing the ball marker  30  on the green, the divot tool  20  is held by an individual with his left or right hand such that the end of the divot tool  20  nearest to the ball marker  33  is pointed toward the green and positioned near the green, while the barbs  24  are pointed away from the green. Accordingly and in an opposite manner to the divot repair process, an individual&#39;s index finger may be placed in the third finger recess  38  and the individual&#39;s middle finger may be placed in the second finger recess  36 , with both fingers being wrapped around the second portion  26  of the divot tool  20 . The barbs  24  may be at least partially positioned inside the palm of the individual&#39;s hand. The individual&#39;s thumb may be then positioned near the ball marker  33  with the tip of the individual&#39;s thumb facing the green. Once the divot tool  20  is in the above-described position, the individual can press down on the side of the ball marker  33  facing the second marker recess  72  in the direction of the arrow  92 . This position of the ball marker  33  is shown in  FIG. 15 . The magnetic force of the magnet  86  or  90  may be sufficient in this position to attract the ball marker  33  back to the stored position if the individual removes his thumb from the ball marker  33  or reduces the force exerted on the ball marker  33 . 
     In the position of the ball marker  33  shown in  FIG. 15 , the bottom surface of the ball marker  33  is in contact with the bottom surface  80  of the second marker recess  72  and the ramps  82 . The plane defining the bottom surface  80  and the ramps  82  is oriented in the direction of the arrow  94 , which is also the direction of removal of the ball marker  33  from the ball marker recess  30 . Accordingly, the individual can slide the ball marker  33  along the inclined bottom surface  80  of the second marker recess  72  and the ramp  82  to remove the ball marker  33  from ball marker recess  30 . Once the ball marker  33  is outside the ball marker recess  30 , the individual can continue sliding the ball marker  33  on the divot tool  20  until the ball marker  33  is placed on the green. The divot tool  20  may be positioned close enough to the green so that the individual can just slide the ball marker  33  off the divot tool  20  and onto the green with his thumb. This sliding motion of the ball marker  33  from the divot tool  20  onto the green may provide accurate placement of the ball marker  33  onto the green. A forceful sliding or moving the ball marker  33  from the divot tool  20  onto the green may be necessary, because as described above, either the divot tool  20  may be sufficiently magnetized by the magnet  86  or  90 , or the attraction force of the magnet  86  or  90  may be strong enough to keep the ball marker  33  connected to the divot tool  20  until the ball marker  33  is physically separated from the divot  20  by the individual&#39;s thumb sliding le ball marker  33  off the divot tool  20 . 
     As described above, removal of the ball marker  33  from the divot tool  20  and the placement thereof on the green can be accomplished with only one finger, such as the thumb of an individual using the divot tool. Furthermore, the finger recesses  36  and  38  and the position of the barbs  24  at least partially inside the palm of the individual&#39;s hand provide sufficient grip for the individual while holding the divot tool  20 , thereby allowing the individual to easily control the removal of the ball marker  33  from the ball marker recess  30  with only his thumb. 
     The divot tool  20  may be constructed from any type of material, such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, various other metals or metal alloys, composite materials, natural materials such as wood or stone, or plastic materials. If the divot tool  20  is constructed from metal, the divot tool  20  may be formed by stamping (i.e., punching using a machine press or a stamping press, blanking, embossing, bending, flanging, or coining, casting), injection molding, forging, machining or a combination thereof, or other processes used for manufacturing metal parts. If the divot tool  20  is constructed from plastic materials, divot tool  20  may be formed by injection molding or similar methods as those described above for making metal parts. With injection molding of metal or plastic materials, a one-piece or a multi-piece mold can be constructed which has interconnected cavities corresponding to the above-described parts of the divot tool  20 . Molten metal or plastic material is injected into the mold, which is then cooled. During the injection molding process, the magnet  86  or  90  may be co-molded with the divot tool  20  rather than being affixed in the magnet recess  84  or  88 , respectively, with an adhesive. The divot tool  20  is then removed from the mold and may be machined to smooth out irregularities on the surfaces thereof or to remove residual parts. 
     The finger recesses  36  and  38  and the first finger recess  34  may be textured during or after making the divot tool  20  to provide an enhanced frictional surface for the individual&#39;s fingers for a better grip. Other parts of the divot tool  20  may also be provided with such texturing or frictional enhancement to provide a better grip for the individual. In contrast, certain parts of the divot tool  20  may be manufactured to have smooth surfaces. For example, the surfaces that contact the ball marker  33  during the sliding motion thereof as described above can be smooth to facilitate a more effortless sliding of the ball marker  33 . A mold for manufacturing the divot tool  20  as used herein generally refers to a part that is used to form at least a portion of the divot tool. Thus, all of the above-described processes for making the divot tool may use one or more molds. For example, the side of a stamping press that presses down on a piece of metal to form at least a portion of the divot tool  20  may be considered a mold 
     The divot tool  20  may be constructed by connecting multiple pieces constructed from the same or different materials. For example, the first portion  22 , which includes the barbs  24 , may be constructed from aluminum to provide sufficient stiffness. The second portion  26  may be constructed from plastic and attached to the first portion  22 . In one embodiment, the divot tool  20  may be constructed to have a core and a shell. The core may be constructed from a plastic material. The core is then encased in a shell. This process provides a divot tool  20  that is structurally stronger than a divot tool constructed from plastic, while lighter than a divot tool constructed from a very stiff material such as steel. Therefore, such a divot tool may provide both strength and light weight. The core may be encased by a metallic material with a process based on Nano-Nickel technology. Nano Nickel technology refers to nanometal/polymer hybrid technology by which injection molded polymer substrates, such as any type of plastic material or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), are coated with a thin layer of ultra high strength metal. The metal coating gets its strength from its nanocrystalline grain structure and imparts this strength onto the substrate through its high strength interfacial bonds. 
     Based on the above described exemplary methods of making a divot tool, one exemplary method  100  of making a divot tool is shown in  FIG. 17 . At  102  a mold is provided for making a divot tool  20  or a core of the divot tool, where the mold includes recesses and projections that correspond to the barbs  24 , the first finger recess  34  and the finger recesses  36  and  38 , respectively. The mold may also include a projection corresponding the ball marker recess  30 . Furthermore, the mold may also include a projection corresponding to the magnet recess  84  or  88 . At  104 , the divot tool  20  is formed with the mold as described in detail above. If only the core is formed at  104 , the core may be encased in a shell as described above. The magnet  86  or  90  can then be placed in the magnet recess  84  or  88 , respectively. Alternatively, the magnet  86  or  90  may be co-manufactured with the divot tool  20  as described above. After the divot tool  20  is formed having the ball marker recess  30  and a magnet  88  or  90 , a ball marker  33  is then placed in the ball marker recess  30  in the stored position. Prior to placing the ball marker  33  in the ball marker recess  30 , the ball marker  33  may be manufactured by one or more of the processes described in detail above. 
     Although a particular order of actions is illustrated in  FIG. 17 , these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted in  FIG. 17  may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. Alternatively, two or more actions depicted may be performed in reversed order. Further, one or more actions depicted in  FIG. 17  may not be performed at all. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with various aspects, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.