Golf ball marker

• US 5,743,180 A
• Filed: 04/03/1997
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael C. Arnke
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Arnke
• Inventors: Arnke, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anthony H.
• Application Number:
  US08/825,749
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 101/35, 101/4, 101/28, 101/333, 101/327, 101/38.1, 101/41, 101/DIG. 40
• US Class Current: 101/35
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0022 Coatings, e.g. paint films; Markings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/30 for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 101/40 Means to print on golf balls

Abstract

A light-weight, portable golf ball marking device for golf balls is preferably shaped to resemble a golf ball balanced on a golf tee, and comprises a golf ball-shaped portion and a golf tee-shaped portion. The portions interconnect, and are both preferably manufactured from polypropylene. The ball-shaped portion comprises separate upper and lower halves, connected by a tether. The tee-shaped portion comprises separate front and back halves, which both define apertures for receiving a bolt and nut for securing the halves together. The bottom of the ball-portion insertably engages an opening defined by the tee-shaped portion to house the operational components of the golf ball marking device. The upper part of the tee-shaped portion defines a cavity that is continuous with this opening, and contains a tray-stem support member for an ink pad. The support member can be adjusted up or down, so as to accommodate ink pads having different thicknesses and maintain a constant height level. An absorbent blotter pad is affixed to the inner surface of the upper half of the ball-shaped portion, and engages the ink pad upon closure of the ball-shaped portion. A spring-actuated plunger circumferentially engages the stem, and stabilizes the ball in place during the marking process. Pressure exerted against the ball urges the plunger to retract, thus exposing the ink pad for marking a ball surface.

Claims

1. A golf ball marking device comprising:

a hollow, spherical first portion comprising an upper half having an interior surface, a lower half and a tether, said tether connecting said upper half and said lower half, said lower half and said upper half when joined together defining an enclosed, interior first cavity, said lower half further defining a first aperture;

a blotting member comprising a support post having a first end attached to said inner surface of said upper half and a second end, and an absorbent blotter pad substantially perpendicularly connected to said second end;

an elongated portion having a top defining a second cavity for rotatably receiving a threaded stem, said second cavity aligned in registry with said first aperture of said lower half, said elongated portion attached to said first portion;

an inking member comprising a threaded stem and an ink pad tray bearing indicia for marking a golf ball surface with ink, said ink pad tray substantially perpendicularly attached to said threaded stem and forming a terminal flange thereon, said threaded stem received by said second cavity and extending through said first aperture into said first cavity of said lower half disposing said ink pad tray within said first cavity, said inking member being coaxially aligned and opposing said blotting member when said upper half and said lower half are joined together, said threaded stem being dimensioned to extend sufficiently into said first cavity to cause said ink pad to engage said blotter pad and permit axial extension by rotation of said threaded stem; and

,

a spring-actuated plunger comprising a cylindrical member having a floor having a diameter slightly larger that of said ink pad tray and a hole, said threaded stem closely and freely passing through said hole, and a spring coaxially surrounding said threaded stem, said spring having a first end engaging said lower half and a second end outwardly biasing said floor against said lower half thereby causing said cylindrical member to jacket said ink pad tray and said blotter pad when said upper half and said lower half are joined.

2. The golf ball marking device according to claim 1, wherein said second cavity includes a threaded nut in alignment with said first aperture.

3. The golf ball marking device according to claim 1, wherein the ink pad tray further includes a substantially disc-shaped ink pad impregnated with ink.

4. The golf ball marking device according to claim 1, wherein said ball-shaped portion and said tee-shaped portion are fabricated from polypropylene.

5. The golf ball marking device according to claim 1, wherein said elongated member comprises cooperating front and back halves having connecting means for securing said front half to said back half and disassembling of said elongated member.

6. The golf ball marking device according to claim 5, wherein said connecting means comprise a bolt, a nut and a channel defined in said front half and said back half together for receiving said bolt and nut.

7. The golf ball marking device according to claim 1, wherein said elongated member defines an eyelet at the end distal from said top for hanging of said golf ball marking device.

8. The golf ball marking device according to claim 1, wherein said elongated member defines an indentation for inscribing owner-identifying indicia thereon.

9. The golf ball marking device according to claim 1, wherein said lower half further includes a base comprising at least two flanges diametrically extending in opposing directions from said base and wherein further said second cavity of said elongated member is dimensioned and configured to mate with said base to removably anchor said spherical portion to said elongated portion.

10. The golf ball marking device according to claim 1, wherein said spherical member simulates a golf ball, and said elongate member simulates a golf tee.

11. A golf ball marking device comprising:

a hollow spherical enclosure, said enclosure comprising top and bottom halves, said bottom half defining an aperture at its substantial center and said bottom half integrally connecting to a substantially square anchor, said anchor peripherally engaging said aperture, and said anchor comprising two edge protrusions along two opposing sides thereof;

an elongate platform, said platform comprising a pair of mating pieces and means for securing said pieces together, said pieces having substantially bilateral symmetry and configured to define a cavity therebetween, said platform interlocking with said anchor and said edge protrusions retaining said bottom half in place so that said aperture is continuous with the top of said cavity;

an ink delivery system, said ink delivery system contained within said spherical enclosure and said platform and comprising;

a substantially circular ink pad, said pad impregnated with ink and bearing indicia for marking on a golf ball surface;

an ink pad support member, said support member comprising a substantially cylindrical post and a substantially disc-shaped plate, said plate integrally attached to said post and said post having treads along the lower part thereof;

a retractable plunger, said plunger slidably engaging said post and encircling said plate and said ink pad, including means for compressing said plunger within said bottom half, and;

means for adjusting said ink pad support member within said cavity to reside at different vertical positions, and;

an ink blotter system, said ink blotter system comprising a substantially circular ink blotter pad and a substantially cylindrical support member therefor, said support member integrally attached to the substantial center of said top half, and said blotter pad affixed to said support member so that said blotter pad engages said ink pad upon closure of the said spherical enclosure.

12. The golf ball marking device according to claim 11, wherein said spherical enclosure is manufactured to resemble a golf ball, and said elongate platform is manufactured to resemble a golf tee.

13. The golf ball marking device according to claim 11, wherein said means for securing said mating pieces together comprise apertures defined by each of said pieces and a bolt-screw assembly, said apertures connecting to form a continuous channel when said pieces are in alignment, said channel deposed below and separate from said cavity and said bolt-screw assembly insertably engaging said channel.

14. The golf ball marking device according to claim 11, wherein said means for compressing said plunger within said bottom half comprise a spring, said spring engaging said plunger and encircling said post.

15. The golf ball marking device according to claim 11, wherein said means for stabilizing said ink pad support member within said cavity at different vertical positions comprise a substantially cylindrical jacket and a bolt, said jacket disposed within said cavity and said jacket circumferentially engaging said bolt so that said bolt receives said threaded lower part of said post, enabling vertical displacement thereof to achieve multiple plate heights to compensate for varying ink pad thicknesses.