Patent Publication Number: US-2009227396-A1

Title: Golf ball position marking device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/034,448 for this invention was filed on Mar. 6, 2008, for which application this inventor claims domestic priority. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The disclosed device generally relates to devices to improve a golf player&#39;s game, and specifically to improve the player&#39;s ability to successfully putt or drive a golf ball in the intended direction of travel. The golf ball position marking device is used with a golf ball having a marking at the golf ball&#39;s equator, and observation of the movements of the golf ball&#39;s marking as the golf ball travels toward the intended destination, as during putting for example, can further assist the golfer in improving the skills required for the game of golf. 
     The device may be used for visual alignment of the golf ball both during teeing off and putting, as the golf ball position marking device aids the golfer in visualization of the path the golf ball will travel following impact of the golf ball and golf club. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     The golf ball position marking device for marking a golf ball location comprises a ball marker comprising a top side having a first length L 1  and a bottom side having a second length L 2 . Length L 2  is less than length L 1 , and the front side therefore overhangs the back side. There is a front side comprising a concave surface, and an opposite rear side, which can be flat. There are an opposed pair of parallel side walls. 
     The top side further comprises a golf ball alignment means. The golf ball alignment means can comprise an inscribed groove bisecting the top side from the front side to the rear side. The alignment means can comprise a first color such as white, applied to the top side and a stripe of a second contrasting color such as black, bisecting the top side from the front side to the rear side. Alternatively, the alignment means can comprise a plurality of indicia, such as lines, arrows or circles depending upon the individual player&#39;s preference, that the player can use to align the golf ball with the target. 
     The concave surface can abut the golf ball at the equator of the golf ball. Additionally, the concave surface can have a radius of 0.84 inches, which is the radius of a regulation golf ball. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present golf ball position marking device abutting a golf ball, wherein the alignment of the mark on the golf ball can be seen aligned with the golf ball position marking device alignment means. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of an embodiment of the golf ball position marking device. 
         FIG. 3  shows a rear view of an embodiment of the golf ball position marking device. 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of an embodiment of the golf ball position marking device. 
         FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the golf ball position marking device. 
         FIG. 6  bottom view of an embodiment of the golf ball position marking device 
         FIG. 7  shows an environmental view of an embodiment of the golf ball position marking device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the Figures,  FIGS. 1 through 7  show various views of an embodiment of the disclosed device for marking a golf ball location. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed device  10 . The device is preferably used with a golf ball that has been marked at the equator with a line or other indicia commonly in use to assist golfers in aligning the golf ball with the intended target. The ball marker  12  has a top side  14  that serves as an marking device, whereby the golf ball is placed into the concave front side  18  and the ball marker  12  is then used to aim the golf ball at the hole or cup. The top side  14  may also comprise additional alignment means  24 , such as the groove shown bisecting the ball marker  12  from the front side  18  to the rear side  20 . The alignment means  24  would be aligned with the markings on the golf ball and then the golf ball position marking device would be adjusted to compensate for the playing surface and terrain that the golfer is playing upon. The golf ball fits into the concave surface of the front side  18 , and the arms  19  assist in alignment of the golf ball and ensure that the golf ball remains in contact with the front side  18 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the top side  14  has a length L 1  and the bottom side  16  has a length L 2 , wherein L 2  is less than L 1  The top side  14  therefore extends over the bottom side  16  and is cantilevered from the bottom side  16 . The fit of the golf ball into the concave surface of the front side  18  can be seen, and the golf ball abuts the ball marker  12  at the equator of the golf ball. The golf ball is cradled within the arms  19  of the front surface  18 , and the arms  19  assist in ensuring that the golf ball is properly aligned and centered. 
     In  FIG. 3  the rear side  20  of the ball marker  12  can be seen, and the marking means indicia  24  is shown as a groove on the surface of the top side  14 . The marking means  24  may comprise a series of lines traversing the ball marker  12  from the rear side  20  to the front side  18 , wherein the lines are closer together at the rear side  20  and further apart at the front side  18  whereby the lines indicate angles that the golfer may use to determine the optimum golf ball path given the breaking of the terrain. The marking means  24  may also comprise a series of circles or arrows bisecting the ball marker from the front side  18  to the rear side  20 , and the circles or arrows may increase in size as they near the rear side  20 , thereby providing a narrowing focal point that the golfer may use to align the golf ball position marking device and then the marked golf ball with the hole or cup. The ball marker  12  intersects the golf ball at the equator of the golf ball, thereby ensuring an accurate alignment as the concave surface is in contact with the largest surface area of the golf ball. 
     Referencing  FIG. 4 , the golf ball is aligned with the front side  18  and it can be seen that the bottom side  16  is flush with the bottom of the golf ball. The parallel side walls  22  project further along the top side  14  than the side walls  22  project along the bottom side  16 , thus forming the arms  19  of the concave front surface  18 . This enables the ball marker  12  to serve as an marking device as the golf ball is cradled at its equator by the golf ball position marking device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  the concave surface of the front side  18  abuts the golf ball, and allows the ball marker  12  to be utilized as an marking device. The top side  14  may also comprise an alignment means  24 , shown as a line bisecting the ball marker  12  from the front side  18  to the rear side  20 . The alignment means  24  are used by matching the alignment means  24  with a line or other indicia marked upon the equator of the golf ball. The golf ball position marking device can be offset from the hole to compensate for the surface terrain of the putting green, as when the land has a slope that the golfer needs to take into account when putting. To accomplish this correction the is golfer would determine the direction the ball would travel given the terrain, and then adjust the golf ball position marking device using the alignment means  24  to correct for the terrain and thereby obtain the desired ball path. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the bottom side  16  of the ball marker  12  may be hollow to reduce the weight of the device. The ball marker  12  may be formed from metal, plastic, wood or any other suitable material, and would preferably have rounded edges to reduce any possible friction wear should the golfer place the device in his pocket or with his golf clubs. 
       FIG. 7  shows an environmental view of the disclosed device in use aligning a golf ball to the cup in the putting green. The ball marker is placed with the golf ball cradled in the arms  19  of the front side  18 , and the golf ball is then lifted and repositioned such that the golf ball is aimed by the alignment means  24  in the direction or path  130  the golfer desires the golf ball to travel. The golfer then removes the ball marker  12  and, in the present example, putts the golf ball. The ball marker may also be used when initially teeing the golf ball. As previously discussed, the terrain  120  must be considered while using the golf ball position marking device to obtain the desired results, as the ball marker  12  may be aligned with the hole at an offset angle to compensate for the break or lie of the playing surface. 
     The golf ball position marking device  10  is placed with the mark on the golf ball aligned with the marking indicia. The path  130  that the golf ball will travel given a correct swing is shown, and the golfer takes into account the lay of the land  120  in the calculation of the force required to complete the swing. The golf ball position marking device will assist those golfers who use a marked golf ball, and align the golf ball with the hole or cup. the golf ball position marking device will be most helpful for golfers who can translate the visualization provided by the golf ball position marking device into action on the golf course. 
     The golf ball position marking device is used with a golf ball having a line or other marking at the equator, as for example the trademarked name of the golf ball or a title imprinted upon the skin of the golf ball. When used while putting as a golf ball marking device, the device marks the location of the golf ball while the golf ball is lifted from the position where it came to rest and repositioned so that the marking at the ball&#39;s equator is aligned with the alignment means on the top of the golf ball position marking device. The golf ball position marking device is placed so that the alignment means is aimed at the cup. The golf ball is then placed into the concave front surface with the golf ball&#39;s marking line aligned with the golf ball position marking device&#39;s alignment means, and the golf ball position marking device is then adjusted to compensate for the s surface terrain of the putting green. 
     The golf ball position marking device can also be used when teeing off, as a golfer would be assisted by the visualization of the optimal flight path that the golf ball would need to follow to reach the hole. The golf ball position marking device would be used in a similar manner as when used for putting except that the tee elevates the golf ball. 
     While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead the true scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims.