Abstract:
Disclosed is a holder for removably securing a magnetizable golf ball marker. The holder is preferably made of a resilient material. A magnet is secured to the holder such that the magnet is flush with the outer surface of the holder. The holder includes a raised ridge appropriately shaped to mate with and properly position the marker over the magnet. The marker is removed by sliding the marker away from the magnet and over the ridge or through a gap in the ridge. To aid in sliding the marker over the ridge, a sloped portion of the holder surface within the ridge causes the marker to tilt when pressure is applied to the marker to slide the marker off the magnet. A sloped portion adjacent a gap in the ridge can also tilt the marker for ease in grasping the marker when lifting the marker off the holder.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference, the entire disclosures of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/652,500, filed on Feb. 11, 2005, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/652,415, filed on Feb. 11, 2005 and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/666,930, filed on Mar. 31, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     The disclosed methods and systems relate to holders for removable display pieces, and more specifically to holders for removable golf ball markers.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Golf gloves and other golf related items, such as hats, belts, divot tools, etc., with removable ball markers have been in use for some time. In the case of golf gloves, the removable marker generally is positioned on the tab of the golf glove that is used to tighten the glove on the hand. The markers typically include a prong or pin that mates with a socket on the tab, or elsewhere on the glove. However, such markers require a tight fit of the prong within the socket so that the marker is not dislodged during play. A fair amount of force needs to be applied to then pry the marker from the socket for use. When returning the marker to the socket, care must be taken to properly align the prong or pin with the socket to avoid damage to either the prong or socket. In addition, the prong and socket arrangement is prone to corrosion or to jamming with foreign material, making it more difficult to remove and/or replace the marker.  
         [0004]     In other types of arrangements, a magnetizable marker mates with a magnet embedded in the glove, hat, etc. Generally, a rim or ridge at least partially surrounds the location where the marker is placed, so as to guide the placement of the marker on the magnet. Without a rim or ridge configuration, the user may not properly position the marker on the magnet which can result in the marker becoming loose during play. While a larger magnet can be used in the glove to provide a greater placement area for the marker, a large magnet may interfere with the golfer&#39;s hand movement. However, as with the prong and socket arrangement, the rim or ridge configuration also requires the user to pry the marker from within the rim. Alternately, the marker can overlap the base where the magnet is located and the marker can be removed by pressing on the edge of the marker to cause it to tilt and the marker can then be removed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Disclosed is an improved holder for a golf ball marker. The marker is preferably made of a magnetizable material and the holder has a magnet affixed thereto to removably secure the marker. The holder is preferably made of molded rubber though can be of other resilient material. The magnet is secured to the rubber in such a way that the exposed surface of the magnet is substantially flush with the surrounding outer surface of the holder. The holder includes a raised ridge that defines the proper position of the ball marker and serves to assist in the placement of the marker on the magnet. In the case of a circular ball marker, the ridge is preferably circular in shape, though a substantially semi-circular ridge can be used, which allows the marker to be removed by sliding the marker away from the magnet without requiring the marker to be lifted off the magnet.  
         [0006]     For markers of other shapes, the ridge may be appropriately shaped to mate with and position the marker over the magnet. In some embodiments, the ridge has a break therein so that the marker can be slid away from the magnet without requiring the marker to be lifted off the magnet. The ridge may be continuous or may include one or more gaps along its length. In cases where the ridge substantially surrounds the marker when positioned on the magnet, the marker can be removed by slightly bending the resilient holder and ridge while sliding the marker away from the magnet. The holder can be molded to create an incline such that the magnet moves onto the incline upon sliding away from the magnet. Alternately, the holder slopes away from the magnet such that downward pressure on one side of the marker raises the opposite side of the marker. The inclined orientation of the marker allows for easier removal of marker off the holder by facilitating the sliding of the marker over the ridge or through the gap in the ridge. Though described herein in relation to a golf glove, the holder can be fabricated on a hat, other articles of clothing, or golf paraphernalia, such as divot tools, golf bags, etc.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, a holder for a ball marker includes a magnet for magnetically holding the ball marker. The magnet positioned within an aperture in an outer surface of the holder and the aperture extends at least partway through the holder such that an outer surface of the magnet is substantially flush with the outer surface of the holder surrounding the magnet. A ridge extends at least partway around the magnet on the outer surface of the holder. The ridge is shaped to correspond with a shape of the ball marker so as to define a placement area for the ball marker on the holder. The holder is formed of a resilient material, such that deformation of the ridge allows for removal of the ball marker from the holder by sliding the ball marker away from the magnet.  
         [0008]     In some embodiments, the aperture extends through the holder, and the holder further includes a first covering that has an indentation and a flange portion surrounding the indentation. The indentation is shaped to fit within the aperture with the flange portion abutting and affixed to an inner surface of the holder. The magnet can be held within the indentation. A second covering can be affixed over the flange portion of the first covering and can extend over the indentation and the magnet to secure the magnet within the indentation.  
         [0009]     In some embodiments, the holder includes a sloped portion on its outer surface between the aperture and the ridge, which slopes away from the aperture and down towards the ridge, such that the ball marker is spaced apart from the sloped portion when the ball marker is placed on the magnet.  
         [0010]     The holder can be secured to an article of clothing, such as a golf glove, wherein the holder can be secured to a closure flap of the golf glove. The closure flap can be formed of a hook and loop fastener material and the holder can be secured to the hook and loop fastener material such as by stitching.  
         [0011]     In some embodiments, the ridge can include a gap section extending substantially a width of the ball marker around the magnet. The holder can include a sloped portion of the outer surface of the holder adjacent the gap section, such that sliding the ball marker away from the magnet and through the gap section results in the ball marker being positioned on the sloped portion for removal of the ball marker from the holder.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment, a holder for a ball marker on a golf glove includes a magnet for magnetically holding the ball marker, wherein the magnet is positioned within an aperture in an outer surface of the holder. The aperture can extend at least partway through the holder such that an outer surface of the magnet is substantially flush with the outer surface of the holder surrounding the magnet. A ridge can extend at least partway around the magnet on the outer surface of the holder with the shape of the ridge corresponding to a shape of the ball marker so as to define a placement area for the ball marker on the holder. The ridge can have a gap section extending around the magnet substantially a width of the ball marker. Further, the holder can include a sloped portion of the outer surface of the holder adjacent the gap section, such that sliding the ball marker away from the magnet and through the gap section results in the ball marker being positioned on the sloped portion for removal of the ball marker from the holder.  
         [0013]     The aperture can extend through the holder and the holder can include a first covering having an indentation and a flange portion surrounding the indentation. The indentation can be shaped to fit within the aperture for holding the magnet therein, with the flange portion abutting and affixed to an inner surface of the holder. A second covering can be affixed over the flange portion and extend over the indentation and the magnet to secure the magnet within the indentation.  
         [0014]     The holder can be secured to a closure flap of the golf glove. The closure flap can be formed of a hook and loop fastener material and the holder is secured to the hook and loop fastener material by stitching.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment, a method for making a holder for a ball marker comprises forming the holder of a resilient material, forming a ridge on an outer surface of the holder, a shape of the ridge corresponding to a shape of the ball marker so as to define a placement area for the ball marker on the outer surface of holder, forming an aperture in the outer surface of the holder such that the ridge extends at least partway around the aperture and the aperture extends at least partway through the holder, forming a sloped portion of the outer surface of the holder between the aperture and the ridge, the sloped portion sloping up from the ridge towards the aperture in a direction increasing a thickness of the holder, providing a magnet for magnetically holding the ball marker, and positioning the magnet within the aperture in the outer surface of the holder, such that an outer surface of the magnet is substantially flush with the outer surface of the holder surrounding the magnet, such that the ball marker is spaced apart from the sloped portion when the ball marker is placed on the magnet. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a partial pictorial view of a back surface of a golf glove with a holder and golf ball marker mounted thereon;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the holder attached to the glove;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a partial pictorial view of an embodiment of a holder and golf ball marker mounted on a golf glove; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the holder. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     To provide an overall understanding, certain illustrative embodiments will now be described; however, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the apparatus described herein can be adapted and modified to provide apparatus for other suitable applications and that other additions and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the systems and methods described herein.  
         [0021]     Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated embodiments can be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail, and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features, components, modules, and/or aspects of the illustrations can be otherwise combined, separated, interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from the disclosed systems or methods. Additionally, the shapes and sizes of components are also exemplary and unless otherwise specified, can be altered without affecting the disclosed systems or methods. Throughout the entirety of the present disclosure, use of the articles “a” or “an” to modify a noun can be understood to be used for convenience and to include one, or more than one of the modified noun, unless otherwise specifically stated.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a holder  10  mounted on a golf glove  12 . For illustrative purposes, the holder  10  is described for use with golf glove  12 , though the features of the holder described herein are equally applicable when mounted on other golf accessories and/or sport apparel. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , holder  10  is mounted on the closure assembly of the glove  12 , though other locations on the glove  12  can be contemplated. As is known, such closure assemblies can include a tab or flap  14  attached to one edge  16  of a slit opening on the rear face  18  of the glove  12 . The flap  14  mates with a corresponding portion on the opposite side of the slit opening. Preferably, the flap  14  can have an inner surface of fabric loop fastener material (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) and the corresponding portion can have the mating hook fastener material on its outer surface, though the fastener materials can be interchanged. Other types of closure devices, including snaps, buttons and the like can be used. The details of such closure assemblies as well as the glove construction are well known and need not be described further.  
         [0023]     As shown more clearly in  FIG. 2 , resilient holder  10  is firmly affixed to the loop fastener material  20  to form the outer surface of flap  14  such as by an adhesive or by stitching  22  about the perimeter of holder  10 . The flap  14  is then stitched or otherwise firmly attached to the edge  16 . For greater aesthetics, the stitching  22  can be placed in a groove  24  molded into holder  10 . Holder  10  also includes a raised ridge  26  molded thereon that defines the proper position of the ball marker  28  on holder  10 . Ridge  26  is shaped to conform to the contours of marker  28 . As illustrated for the embodiment shown in the figures, and as generally preferred in the art for ball markers, marker  28  has a rounded shape and ridge  26  has a corresponding rounded shape. Other shapes for ball marker  28  can be contemplated, with ridge  26  molded to have a corresponding shape.  
         [0024]     Holder  10  is molded with an aperture  30  or hole at least partway therethrough, located within the position defined by ridge  26 . Magnet  32  is secured within aperture  30  such that magnet  32  is generally flush with the edge  34  of aperture  30  and with the outer surface of holder  10  that surrounds ridge  26 . Preferably, the outer surface  10   a  of holder  10  between aperture  30  and ridge  26  is molded to slope down away from aperture  30 , such that the interior height of ridge  26  is slightly greater than the exterior height. However, in some embodiments, the outer surface  10   b  of holder  10  between aperture  30  and ridge  26  is also generally flush with magnet  32 , as indicated by dashed lines in  FIG. 2 , and as will be described in relation to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0025]     For the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , aperture  30  extends completely through holder  10  and magnet  32  is secured by being sandwiched between two layers of a covering material  36   a ,  36   b . The outer layer  36   a  of the covering material  36  has an indentation  36   c  that generally conforms to the shape of the magnet  32 , and into which the magnet  32  fits. The depth of the indentation  36   c  generally conforms to the thickness of holder  10 . The edge of outer layer  36   a  extends past that of the magnet  32  to form a flange  36   d  about the magnet  32 . The inner layer  36   b  generally conforms to the shape of the outer layer  36   a  and generally has no indentation. However, the inner layer  36   b  can have a slight indentation if the thickness of the magnet  32  is greater than that of holder  10 . The two layers  36   a  and  36   b  are affixed to one another at flange  36   d  with the magnet  32  within the indentation  36   c  between the two layers  36   a ,  36   b . Preferably an adhesive is used to affix the layers  36   a  and  36   b  together, though they may be fused, crimped, clipped, or otherwise held together.  
         [0026]     Prior to affixing the holder  10  to the fastener material  20 , the magnet  32  and covering material layers  36   a ,  36   b  can be placed beneath the holder  10  such that the outer layer  36   a  and magnet  32  protrude through the aperture  30  and the flange  36   d  is in contact with the inner surface of holder  10 . The flange  36   d  can be secured to the holder  10  with an adhesive or other affixing means. The fastener material  20  can then be affixed to the holder  10 . Preferably, outer layer  36   a  is a clear plastic such that a logo or other design can be placed on the magnet  32  and be visible to the user. In other embodiments, covering layers  36   a ,  36   b  need not be provided and magnet  32  can be fabricated to include its own flange that can be affixed to the inner surface of holder  10 . Other means or combinations thereof can be used for holding the magnet  32  in place, e.g., friction fitting and tape.  
         [0027]     In use, the combination of the resilient ridge  26  and the sloping surface adjacent the magnet  32  allows for easy removal of the marker  28 . A slight downward pressure applied on the marker  28  against the slope raises the edge of the marker  28  opposite the magnet  32 . The raised edge allows the marker  28  to be slid over the magnet  32  and over the ridge  26 . Even if the edge of the marker  28  is not raised over the ridge  26 , the resilient nature of the ridge  26  allows the ridge to deform when the marker  28  is pulled over the ridge  26 . For the case of a flush outer surface  10   b , removal of the ball marker  28  is accomplished by flexing the resilient flap  14  and holder  10  such that an edge the ball marker  28  is similarly raised.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate views of an embodiment of a holder  110  wherein a portion of ridge  126  has been removed to form a gap therein.  FIG. 4  further illustrates an alternative mounting for magnet  132  wherein holder  110  includes an aperture or depression  130  that does not extend through holder  110 , as opposed to the aperture  30  shown in  FIG. 2 . As in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the upper surface of the magnet  132  when seated in depression  130  is generally flush with the surrounding upper surface of holder  110 . Magnet  132  can be affixed within depression  130  by means of adhesive, press fitting, tape, barbs, etc., or combinations thereof. The removed portion or gap of ridge  126  further assists in the removal of marker  128  in that the edge of marker  128  need not be raised over a ridge portion when sliding the marker  128  off the magnet  132  in the direction of the gap. Generally, the ridge  126  can have a gap that extends approximately the width of the ball marker so as to allow the marker  132  to be slid through the gap without encountering a ridge portion. For the case of a circular marker  132 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the gap can extend such that the shape of ridge  126  is substantially the same as, or slightly greater than a semi-circle. Such a configuration can be beneficial when holder  110  and/or ridge  126  are fabricated of less resilient materials. Alternately or additionally, an incline  138  can be molded into the surface of the holder  110  (shown dashed in  FIG. 3 ) adjacent the gap. As the marker  128  is slid onto the incline  138 , the leading edge of marker  128  is lifted off the surface of holder  110  to further facilitate removal of the marker  128 .  
         [0029]     Although the holder has been described relative to specific embodiments thereof, it is not so limited. Obviously many modifications and variations may become apparent in light of the above teachings. Elements, components, modules, and/or parts thereof that are described and/or otherwise portrayed through the figures to communicate with, be associated with, and/or be based on, something else, can be understood to so communicate, be associated with, and or be based on in a direct and/or indirect manner, unless otherwise stipulated herein.  
         [0030]     Many additional changes in the details, materials, and arrangement of parts, herein described and illustrated, can be made by those skilled in the art.