Abstract:
The golf ball liner includes a fixing member having a predetermined shape to house a golf ball, and including fixing pads disposed at both ends of the fixing member to hold the golf ball not to move, a rotating member having a shape identical to that of the fixing member and a diameter smaller than that of the fixing member, and including both ends rotatably supported by the respective ends of the fixing member, and at least one pen disposed at an inner side of the rotating member to contact the golf ball for drawing a line on a surface of the golf ball along a circumference of the golf ball when the rotating member rotates around the golf ball.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relate to a golf ball liner. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In general, golf is a game of power and direction. Many golf players have been studied in order to determine how to send a golf ball accurately to a target in any condition. One of the well-known and simple methods is drawing a line on the surface of a golf ball 
     According to golf rules a golf player has a limited number of opportunities to align a golf ball in one hole. For example, a golf player is allowed to align a golf ball only on a tee box for a tee shot and only on a green for putting. 
     A golf player generally aligns a golf ball to a virtual straight line to the target in order to send the golf ball accurately to the target. As one of the methods for aligning a golf ball, a golf player draws a line on a surface of the golf ball along the circumference of the ball to help the golf player aim in the direction of the target area. 
     For example, when a golf player hits a golf ball using a golf club the line on the golf ball helps the golf player to aim the target accurately. 
     A golf player on the green may also align a golf ball to a hole-cup based on a line drawn on the golf ball. The golf player uses the line on the golf ball as a hitting point when impact is made on the golf ball with a putter. 
     Accordingly, a line clearly and accurately drawn on the surface of a golf ball may provide mental stability and induce accurate impact thereby improving the score of a player. 
     Since, in general, the golf game is played with four players it is difficult for each player to distinguish his or her own ball from the others&#39;. A line drawn on a golf ball may help the golf player to distinguish the golf balls. 
     It is difficult to accurately and clearly draw a line on a golf ball because of its dimpled surface. 
     The dimpled surface exists in order to send the golf ball higher and farther. 
     Accordingly, a specific tool such as a golf ball liner has been introduced. The golf ball liner helps a user draw a straight line accurately and clearly on the dimpled surface of a golf ball having. 
     In general, a typical golf ball liner is formed in a globular or hemispherical shape and includes a groove. After putting the golf ball inside the golf ball liner, the user draws a line along the groove. 
     Such golf ball liner requires a user to prepare a pen. Furthermore, the user will need to turn the golf ball liner around the golf ball after drawing a line on part of the golf ball in order to complete the line along the circumference. 
     Since the user needs to turn the golf ball liner, it is not easy to draw a straight line accurately. A crooked line may negatively influence a player. 
     In order to overcome such drawbacks, an apparatus marking a center-line on a golf ball was disclosed in Korean Patent Utility Model 20-0317678. The user puts a pen at a pen-holding groove formed at a lower part of a Y-shaped body. After fixing the pen  122  in the pen-holding hole, a user turns the golf ball to draw a straight line on its surface. 
     However, it is difficult to manage the apparatus marking a center line on a golf ball because the pen and the apparatus are separate. Furthermore, it is not easy to draw a straight line because a user must turn the golf ball himself. Therefore, the golf ball may be unintentionally moved crookedly when a user turns the golf ball. Such unintentional movement ruptures the integrity of the line. 
     Furthermore, the golf ball has dimples and may have an irregular surface. When the golf ball has an irregular surface, it is difficult to easily and clearly draw a line on the irregular surface of the golf ball with the conventional golf liners. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with embodiments, a golf ball liner includes a fixing member having a predetermined shape to house a golf ball, and including fixing pads disposed at both ends of the fixing member to hold the golf ball not to move, a rotating member having a shape identical to that of the fixing member and a diameter smaller than that of the fixing member, both ends of the rotating member inserted between the fixing member and the fixing pads, the rotating member rotatably supported by the respective ends of the fixing member, at least one pen disposed at an inner side of the rotating member to contact the golf ball for drawing a line on a surface of the golf ball along a circumference of the golf ball when the rotating member rotates around the golf ball, and an elastic member disposed between the pen and the rotating member to presses the pen toward the golf ball positioned in the golf ball liner, wherein the elastic member is compressed when the golf ball is positioned in the golf ball liner, and a degree of the compression of the elastic member varies according to a shape of a surface of the golf ball to makes the pen continuously contact the surface of the golf ball. 
     The golf ball liner may further include an ink pad disposed inside the rotating member, and the ink pad supplies one of color ink and black ink to the pen. 
     The golf ball liner may further include an ink pad disposed inside the pen to supply ink to the pen. 
     The elastic member may be positioned between the ink pad and the rotating member. 
     The elastic member may be a coil spring. 
     The pen may include one end formed in a shape of cone. 
     The pen may be rotatably supported by the rotating member and include one side formed in a shape of a line. 
     The pen may have a head positioned outside of the golf ball liner, and the head has a groove. 
     The golf ball liner may further include lubricating pads between the fixing member and the rotating member and between the rotating member and the fixing pad. 
     The fixing pads may be made of rubber material having elastic property to tightly hold the golf ball. 
     The fixing member and the rotating member are made of transparent synthetic resin. 
     The fixing pads may form a relatively wide entrance side and a relatively narrow opposite side to easily put the golf ball inside the golf ball liner and to easily take out of the golf ball from the golf ball liner. 
     The golf ball liner may further include protrusions formed on an outer surface of the rotating member for preventing sliding. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a golf ball liner includes a fixing member to hold the golf ball not to move; a rotating member rotatably attached to the fixing member; a pen disposed at an inner side of the rotating member to contact the golf ball for drawing a line on a surface of the golf ball along a circumference of the golf ball when the rotating member rotates around the golf ball; and an elastic member disposed between the pen and the rotating member to presses the pen toward the golf ball positioned in the golf ball liner, wherein the elastic member is compressed when the golf ball is positioned in the golf ball liner, and a degree of the compression of the elastic member varies according to a shape of a surface of the golf ball to makes the pen continuously contact the surface of the golf ball. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf ball liner according to embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a golf ball liner according to embodiments. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams that illustrate the golf ball liner of  FIG. 1  before inserting the golf ball according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram that illustrates drawing a line on a surface of a golf ball using the golf ball liner. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams that illustrate a rotating pen according to embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the pen of  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The advantages, features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which is set forth hereinafter. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf ball liner according to embodiments.  FIG. 2  is a plan view of a golf ball liner according to embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the golf ball liner  100  includes a fixing member  110  and a rotating member  120 . The fixing member  110  holds the golf ball  100  in place. The rotating member  120  rotates along the surface of the golf ball  100  and includes a pen  122  for drawing a line along a circumference of the golf ball. The rotating member  120  may be integrally formed with the pen  122 . 
     The fixing member  110  is formed in a hemispherical, fan shape and supports the rotating member  120  disposed inside the fixing member  110 . The fixing member  110  includes fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b  for securing the golf ball  10  so that it does not move. 
     The rotating member  120  is formed in a hemispherical, fan shape and may be smaller than the fixing member  110  and be rotatably disposed inside the fixing member  110 . The rotating member  120  includes protrusions  121  formed on the outer surface of the rotating member  120  in order to prevent a user&#39;s finger from sliding when he or she turns the rotating member  120 . The fixing member  110  and the rotating member  120  may be formed in a “⊂” shape that has one side open. 
     The rotating member  120  and the pen  122  may be integrally formed. The pen  122  includes on one end  122   a  protruding from one inner side of the rotating member  120  in order to draw a straight line on the surface of the golf ball  10 . Both ends of the rotating member  120  may be connected to both ends of the fixing member  110 . The rotating member  120  revolves on the both ends of the axis of rotation. While the rotating member  120  revolves, the pen  122  contacts the surface of the golf ball  100  and draws a straight line on the surface of the golf ball  100 . 
     The pen  122  is rotatably disposed on the rotating member  120 . In order to easily rotate the pen, a head  123  of the pen  122  includes a groove.  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  6  illustrate the groove formed on the head  123 . 
     For example, the pen  122  includes one end  122   a  formed in a cone shape. A cap  126  is openably disposed at the pen  122 . The cap  126  prevents the ink from evaporating. 
     More than one pen  122  may be integrally formed with the rotating member  120 . For example, the rotating member  120  may include two pens. A user may want to draw two lines on the surface of the golf ball  10 . In this case, the rotating member  122  with the two pens satisfies such a demand. 
     The rotating member  120  includes an ink pad  124  inside the rotating member  120  to supply ink to the pen  122  as shown in  FIG. 3A . A user may select the desired color to draw a line by charging the ink pad  124  with the desired color. 
     Alternatively, the ink pad  124  may be disposed insider the pen  122  as shown in  FIG. 3B . 
     An elastic member is provided to provide an elastic property. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a coil spring  125  as an elastic member is disposed to adjust a degree of a protrusion of the pen  122  from the inner surface of the rotating member. The coil spring  125  is a compression spring. The coil spring  125  presses the pen  122  toward the golf ball positioned in the golf ball liner. When the golf ball is positioned in the golf ball liner, the coil spring  125  is compressed. Even when the golf ball has an irregular surface, the golf ball liner easily and clearly draw a line even on the irregular surface of the golf ball because the coil spring  125  presses the pen toward the golf ball. That is, even when the distance between the golf ball liner and the surface of the golf ball varies, the movement of the coil spring  125  makes the pen  122  continuously contact the surface of the golf ball so that the golf ball liner is able to easily and clearly draw a line even on the irregular surface of the golf ball. 
     The fixing member  110  and the rotating member  120  may be made of synthetic resin. In this case, the fixing member  110  and the rotating member  120  may have elastic properties. Accordingly, a user may easily put a golf ball  10  in the golf ball liner  10 . For example, the fixing member  110  and the rotating member  120  may be made of transparent synthetic resin. Therefore, a user may see whether a line is accurately drawn on the surface of the golf ball  100  when the rotating member  120  rotates. 
     The fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b  may be fixed at the connected ends of the fixing member  110  and the rotating member  120  through fixing pins  114   a  and  114   b . The fixing pins  114   a  and  114   b  are not protruded towards the inside of the fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b . Accordingly, the fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b  secure the golf ball  10  so that the line may be drawn. 
     Lubricating pads  116   a - 116   d  may be disposed between the fixing member  110  and the rotating member  120  and between the rotating member  120  and the fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b . Accordingly, the lubricating pads  116   a - 116   d  enable the rotating member  120  to smoothly rotate while the fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b  are firmly tightened. In this case, any commercialized lubricating pad may be used as the lubricating pads  116   a - 116   d.    
     The fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b  are formed of rubber material and disposed to face each other. Further, the fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b  form a relatively wide entrance side and a relatively narrow opposite side. Due to the elastic property of the rubber material, a user may easily put the golf ball  10  into the golf ball liner and the fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b  will hold the golf ball  10  securely. 
     The golf ball liner  100  may include a hook  118  on the outside of the fixing member  110  in order to allow the user to hang the golf ball liner  10  on a golf bag or carry it as he so chooses. 
     The golf ball liner  100  according to the embodiments may include an advertisement display unit  119  at the fixing member  110  and the rotating member  120 . The advertisement display unit  119  may provide a space for logos to be printed on the golf ball  100 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams that illustrate the golf ball liner of  FIG. 1  before inserting the golf ball.  FIG. 4  is a diagram that illustrates drawing a line on a surface of a golf ball using the golf ball liner. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  4 , a user locates a golf ball  10  between the fixing pads  112   a  and  112   b  of the fixing member  110  and rotates the rotating member  120  having the pen  122  along the surface of the golf ball  10  using the both ends of the fixing member  110  as the axis of rotation. Then, the pen  122  draws a line on the surface of the golf ball  10 . That is, the golf ball liner  100  according to the embodiments may easily draw a line on the circumference of the golf ball  100  by simply rotating the rotating member  120 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams that illustrate rotating pens according to embodiments.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the pen of  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  6 , the pen  122  is rotatably disposed at the rotating member  120 . The pen  122  has a bottom side  122   b  formed in a line shape. Accordingly, the user may control the thickness of the line drawn on the surface of the golf ball  100  by turning the pen  122 . For example, a user may draw a comparatively thin line on the golf ball by rotating the bottom end  122   b  of the pen  122 . Or a user may draw a comparatively thick line by rotating the pen  122  at 90 degree to locate the bottom end  122   b  of the pen  122 . 
     In another embodiment, the groove  123   a  may be formed on a head  123  of the pen  122  in order to turn the pen  122  of the rotating member  120 . A user may turn the pen  122  by turning the head  123  using the groove  123   a  with an additional tool such as a screw driver or a coin. 
     As described above, the thickness of the line drawn on the golf ball may be controlled by a contacting area of the bottom side  122   b  of the pen  122 , which contacts the surface of the golf ball, through rotating the pen  122 . That is, since the rotating member  120  regularly rotates in one direction, a user can draw a line with a desired thickness by controlling a position of the bottom side  122   b  of the pen through rotating the pen  122 . 
     In another embodiment, a contact member  123   b  is disposed at the outer surface of the pen in order to make the ink pad  124  of the rotating member  120  to contact the pen when the pen  122  is rotated. Accordingly, ink may be constantly supplied to the pen  122  from the ink pad  124  through the contact member  123   b . For example, the contact member  123   b  contacts entirely one end surface of the pen  122 . In this case, the contact member  123   b  maintains contact between the pen and ink pad  124  when the pen  122  is being rotated. Therefore, ink is supplied to the pen  122  from the ink pad  124 . 
     An elastic member is provided to provide an elastic property. For example,  FIG. 5A  shows that the coil spring  125  is compressed when the golf ball (not shown) is positioned in the golf ball liner.  FIG. 5B  shows that the coil spring  125  is compressed less than the coil spring  125  in  FIG. 5A . As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the movement of the coil spring  125  makes the pen  122  continuously contact the surface of the golf ball even when the distance between the golf ball liner and the surface of the golf ball varies so that the golf ball liner is able to easily and clearly draw a line even on the irregular surface of the golf ball. 
     As described above, the golf ball liner according to the embodiments improves ease and accuracy in drawing a line on the surface of a golf ball. Accordingly, a player can easily align the golf ball to a hole-cup during putting or can easily aim the target area during tee shot. Further, the player can use the drawn line as an impact point, thereby improving the directivity of a golf ball. 
     It is difficult for each player to distinguish his or her own ball from the others&#39; in a golf game where four players generally play together. Since the golf ball liner according to the embodiments permits each user to use own color to draw a line on the golf ball, each player can easily distinguish an own golf ball from others&#39;. 
     Unlike typical liners, the golf ball liner according to the embodiments includes a pen integrally disposed at the rotating member. Accordingly, it is relatively easy to carry and store the golf ball liner according to the embodiment. 
     The golf ball liner according to the embodiments does not require a user to separately move a pen or a supplemental member when the user draws a line on the surface of the golf ball. That is, a user inserts the golf ball inside the golf ball liner according to the embodiments. Then, the fixing pads hold tightly the golf ball. The user rotates the rotating member while holding the fixing member to draw a line on the surface of the golf ball. Therefore, it is relatively easy to draw a line on the surface of the golf ball accurately. 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.