Patent Publication Number: US-7707933-B2

Title: Golf ball marker

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
   This application claims priority from the provisional application No. 60/781,494, for “Golf Ball Stamp” by Khosrow Daivari filed Mar. 11, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A round of golf often involves several people playing the game together. Each person playing in a group plays with their own ball. Most golf balls are white, and are very similar in appearance, often varying only in the brand name stamped on the ball. Because golf balls look so similar, it is common for the players to get confused as to whose ball is whose. In some instances, more than one person uses the same brand of golf ball, making it even more difficult for the players to distinguish their golf balls. 
   To alleviate this problem, it is common for one or more players to mark their golf ball with a distinguishing mark to be able to tell it apart from the others. For instance, it is possible to simply carry a marker in ones golf bag and use it to mark the golf ball. Some markers are specifically available in a miniature size so that they are convenient to carry in a golf bag. 
   Other more sophisticated methods of marking golf balls also exist. For instance, the G-STAMP, sold by Golf Projects International, is a stamp system for marking a golf ball. The G-STAMP is complicated to use, and requires removal of a protective cap and release of a locking mechanism that keeps the stamp closed. In addition, the user must dial in a letter combination on the GSTAMP. Once the letters are set, the ink pad must be opened, and the GSTAMP must be pressed down a few times to put ink on the letters. Finally, a golf ball is inserted into the GSTAMP and the user presses the GSTAMP to stamp the golf ball. If not enough ink has been applied to the ink pad, the GSTAMP may not successfully mark the ball, and the user must remove the golf ball, reapply ink to the ink pad, prime the stamp mechanism by pressing down several times, and then try again to mark the golf ball. In addition to shortcomings due to the inking method, the device is large, which makes it inconvenient to carry around in a golf bag. Finally, it is relatively complicated to use. 
   Other golf ball stamping devices also exist. A smaller, simpler method of stamping a golf ball is to apply a simple stamp to the surface of a golf ball. An example of such a stamp system is the “One Stroke” golf ball stamp available from Superior Rubber Stamp &amp; Seal, of Wichita, Kans. A similar device, simply called a “golf ball stamp” is available from Innovative Stamps of Moraga, Calif. While the “One Stroke” golf ball stamper requires that you apply ink to the stamp before applying the stamp to a golf ball, the “golf ball stamp” is self-inking. 
   Both devices suffer from the same shortcoming in attempting to mark a golf ball. Because the “One Stroke” golf ball stamper and the “golf ball stamp” have a small, flat stamp area, and because a golf ball has a curved surface, it is often difficult to hold the stamp surface against the golf ball in such a way as to apply a legible stamp to the golf ball. Instead, when applying the pressure to cause the stamp to mark a golf ball, the stamp will often slide across the curved surface of the golf ball, leaving a smeared mark. Thus, there is a need in the art for a golf ball stamp that is easy to use and that reliably applies a legible stamp to a golf ball. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a simple golf ball stamp having a handle, a location to receive a golf ball (the golf ball receptacle), and a stamp. A golf ball fits into the golf ball receptacle, and when the handle is pushed, the stamp places a mark on the golf ball. The golf ball is then ejected from the receptacle, bearing a unique mark. Because the stamp includes a golf ball receptacle for holding the golf ball, the stamper reliably applies a legible stamp to the golf ball every time. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a side view of a golf ball stamper. 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the golf ball stamper. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the parts comprising the golf ball stamper. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of the golf ball receptacle of the golf ball stamper. 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of the golf ball receptacle. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the golf ball stamper taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1B . 
       FIG. 5A  is a side view of a stamp portion for use in the present invention. 
       FIGS. 5B-C  are plan views of the stamp portion illustrating examples of indicia used on the stamp. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate the golf ball stamper of the present invention. The golf ball stamper  10  comprises a handle  12 , a stamp mechanism  14 , and a golf ball receptacle  16 . The golf ball receptacle  16  may take the form of a hollow cylinder, allowing a golf ball to be placed into an aperture  18  of the receptacle. 
   To use the golf ball stamper, a golf ball is placed into the aperture  18  of the golf ball receptacle  16  and the handle  12  is pushed. Pushing the handle  12  causes the stamp mechanism  14  to contact the golf ball and stamp a mark on the golf ball. The golf ball may be held in the receptacle  16  by placing the ball on a flat surface or by holding the bottom of the receptacle  16  in a person&#39;s palm. Because the golf ball fits snugly in the receptacle  16  while the stamp is applied, the stamp always contacts the surface of the golf ball in a reliable manner, resulting in a clear and legible mark on the golf ball. Once the ball has been stamped, the ball can be ejected from the receptacle  16  by gently shaking the golf ball stamper  10  or by tapping it to make the golf ball fall out of the receptacle  16 . 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the golf ball stamper. Shown once again is the handle  12  connected to the stamp element  14 . The stamp element  14  comprises a stamp indicia  20  which contacts a golf ball to mark the golf ball. The golf ball receptacle  16  further comprises an inner ring  22 . As described below, the inner ring  22  functions to hold the stamp element  14  in the receptacle  16 , as well as providing a way to ensure the golf ball placed in the receptacle  16  is properly placed and held while the stamp mechanism is used. 
   The inner ring  22  is shown more clearly in  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  FIG. 3A  is a side view of the golf ball receptacle, while  FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of the golf ball receptacle  16  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 . The inner ring  22  is located a distance of d from the top of the receptacle  16  (as shown in  FIG. 3A ). The distance d provides a location in the receptacle  16  for insertion of a stamping mechanism. The stamping mechanism may be held in the receptacle  16  using any suitable method, and may either be permanently held in the receptacle, or may be releasably attached to the receptacle  16 . One benefit of making the stamping element releaseably attached to the receptacle  16  is to allow for the user to choose from various stamp designs when using the golf ball stamper. For instance, more than one stamping mechanism can be provided and the user can chose which stamp they feel like using on a particular day. Or, if more than one person playing the round wishes to mark their balls, it is easy to exchange the stamp mechanisms to allow for this. 
   The inner ring  22  is also located a distance D from the bottom of the receptacle. The distance D corresponds roughly to a diameter of a golf ball. Preferably, the golf ball is held in the receptacle  16  so that the golf ball is entirely enclosed in the receptacle  16 . This ensures the golf ball stamp is applied in a way that reliably stamps the golf ball with a legible mark. Other smaller devices, which do not have a receptacle to hold the golf ball, often result in a smeared mark due to the stamp slipping across the curved surface of the golf ball when applying the stamp to the golf ball. Alternatively, the receptacle  16  may be sized so that the golf ball extends slightly out of the bottom of the receptacle  16 . Any suitable size of receptacle that ensures the golf ball is held while the stamp is applied is suitable for the present invention. 
   The receptacle may further be equipped with a golf ball retaining structure to temporarily hold a golf ball in place in the receptacle while the stamp is applied. Any suitable retaining structure may be used, such as a thin flexible bumper to temporarily hold the golf ball in place. 
     FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the golf ball stamper taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1A . Once again visible on the golf ball stamper is the golf ball receptacle  16 , the inner ring  22 , the stamp portion  14 , and the handle  12 . Also shown is a golf ball  24 . As shown, the golf ball receptacle  16  has an inner diameter that corresponds closely with the diameter of the golf ball  24 , so that the golf ball  24  fits inside the receptacle  16 . 
   As can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 4 , the handle  12  is connected to the stamp mechanism  14 . The stamp mechanism  14  comprises a stamp body  26 , movable stamp portion  28 , and stamp area  30 . The stamp area  30  is carried on the movable stamp portion  28 , and the movable stamp portion  28  is connected to the handle  12 . The stamp body  26  is sized to fit inside the golf ball receptacle  16  and abut against the inner ring  22 . The movable stamp portion  28  is connected to the handle  12 , and is sized to be smaller in diameter than the inner ring  22  so that the movable stamp portion  28  can be moved toward the golf ball  24  as the handle  12  is depressed. Once fully depressed, the handle  12  causes the stamp area  30  to contact the golf ball  24 . 
   Located on the handle  12  may be an indicia area  32 . The indicia area  32  may be provided to indiciate the same design as the design indicia of the stamp. In this way, a user can easily view the handle  12  of the golf ball marker to determine what design will be applied to the golf ball. 
   To use the present invention, a golf ball is placed in the golf ball receptacle  16 . The inner ring  22  ensures the golf ball  26  is positioned properly in the golf ball receptacle  16 . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the golf ball  24  contacts the lower edge of the inner ring  22  when the golf ball  24  is placed in the receptacle  16 . Thus, the inner ring  22  assists in holding the golf ball  24  in the receptacle and helps stabilize the golf ball  24  as it is stamped. 
   Once inserted into the golf ball marker, a user places the golf ball marker on a surface or holds the receptacle in the palm of their hand. The golf ball receptacle  16  thus encloses the golf ball  24  and the ball  24  cannot fall out of the receptacle  16 . While holding the bottom of the receptacle against a surface or the palm of the hand (with the golf ball  24  inside), the handle  12  is pressed. Pressing the handle  12  causes the movable stamp portion  28  to move toward the golf ball  24 , while the stamp mechanism  14  is held snug as the stamp body  26  is prevented from moving by the top of the inner ring  22 . Because the movable stamp portion  28  is smaller in diameter than the inner ring  22 , the movable stamp portion  28  moves toward the golf ball surface. The movable stamp portion  28  contacts the golf ball  24  at the stamp area  30 , leaving a stamped mark on the golf ball. Once marked, the golf ball marker is lifted off the golf ball, leaving the golf ball with its mark. 
   Alternately, the inner diameter of the golf ball receptacle may be slightly smaller than the diameter of a golf ball so that the golf ball fits snugly inside the receptacle, and is held inside the golf ball receptacle by the snug fit. The fit may be snug enough to hold the golf ball in the receptacle during the application of the stamp to the golf ball as well. After stamping the golf ball, the golf ball is removed from the receptacle by lightly shaking or tapping the golf ball marker to dislodge the golf ball from the receptacle. 
     FIGS. 5A-5C  provide illustrations of possible stamp surface that may be used. In  FIG. 5A , a side view of the stamp portion of the golf ball marker is shown. The stamp portion  30  has a shaped bottom surface  32 . This shaped bottom surface  32  may for instance be a concave surface to allow the bottom surface  32  of the stamp portion  30  to more precisely fit the curved surface of a golf ball. The dimensions of the concave surface  32  may thus be such that the size and shape of the concave surface  32  correlate to the size of a golf ball. 
     FIGS. 5B-5C  are plan views of the stamp portion of the golf ball marker. The stamp portion  40  may contain any suitable indicia  42 , such as a letter, design, number, or logo. It may be possible, for instance, to include three letters corresponding to the owner&#39;s initials. Or, it may be possible to provide a single letter or number on the stamp. The stamp portion  40  may have the indicia  42  permanently attached, or may have the indicia releasably attached so that a user can remove and replace the indicia on the stamp based on user preference. Any suitable manner of releasably attaching the indicia  42  to the stamp portion  40  may be used. 
   The stamp portion  40  may be any suitable stamp for use with any suitable ink. It may be preferable to provide an ink which is all-weather, to ensure the stamp applied by the stamp portion  30  to a golf ball is sufficiently durable to last a round of golf. The ink may further be a washable ink, so that the mark can be washed off the ball after the round is completed. Lastly, the ink may be sufficiently fast-drying to avoid transferring any ink from the golf ball to the hand of the user. 
   Further, the ink may be applied to the stamp portion using any suitable, known method. For instance, it may be possible to provide the stamp portion so that it is self inking. Otherwise, it is possible to provide the stamp with a finite amount of ink, assuming that after a certain number of uses, the ink will dry out, and the golf ball marker will be disposed of and replaced. 
   The golf ball stamp of the present invention is an improvement over prior art devices that are either overly complicated, or do not provide the stability required to ensure a legible stamp is applied to the surface of the golf ball stamp. While other stamps may be overly complicated to use, or may have a stamp area that is so small that when applying the stamp it slips across the golf ball surface leaving a smear rather than a legible stamp, the present invention provides a simple, reliable way to mark a golf ball with a stamp every time. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.