Marker suitable as a golf fairway marker

• US 6,196,153 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jean-Guy Brunet
• Original Assignee: Jean-Guy Brunet
• Inventors: Brunet, Jean-Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Guadalupe, Yaritza
• Application Number:
  US09/305,374
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 116/209, 116/202, 116/211, 116/200, 116/210, 116/DIG.7, 116/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 116/209
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/12 attached to straps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/30 Markers

Abstract

A marker suitable for use in a golf fairway having a base portion suitable for installation in a ground hole, and a hollow upper body portion fixed to the upper end of the base portion which includes a dome formed of resilient material. The dome has a normal, unstressed raised condition in which it protrudes above ground level, to be readily visible to golfers, and has a depressed condition in which it is close to ground level and in which the material is stressed such that it tends to move to the normal, raised condition. A generally closed chamber beneath the dome has one-way valve means which allows air to be rapidly expelled from the chamber when the dome is depressed but restricts air flow into the chamber to delay recovery from the depressed condition.

Claims

1. A marker suitable for use in a golf fairway comprising:

a base portion suitable for installation in a ground hole so that an upper end of said base portion is below ground level,

a hollow upper body portion fixed to the upper end of said base portion, said upper body portion including a dome formed of resilient material and having a normal, unstressed raised condition in which it protrudes above the said ground level to be readily visible to golfers, and having a depressed condition in which it is close to said ground level and in which the material is stressed such that it tends to move to the normal, raised condition,

and motion control means for delaying movement of the dome from the depressed condition to the raised condition;

and wherein said motion control means includes a partition which defines a generally closed chamber beneath the dome; and

wherein the motion control means includes one-way valve means which allows air to be rapidly expelled from the chamber when the dome is depressed but restricts air flow into the chamber to delay recovery from the depressed condition.

2. A marker according to claim 1, wherein said valve includes an aperture in said partition, and a valve member below the partition which is readily opened by air pressure in the chamber when said air pressure is above atmospheric, but which is closed by spring means when the air pressure in the chamber becomes atmospheric or negative.

3. A marker according to claim 1, wherein the dome has a central thickened area surrounded by areas which are thinner and more flexible than said central area.

4. A marker according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is in the form of a hollow cylinder having the same diameter as the upper body portion.

5. A marker suitable for use in a golf fairway comprising:

a base portion suitable for installation in a ground hole,

a hollow upper body portion fixed to an upper end of said base portion, said upper body portion including a dome formed of resilient material and having a normal, unstressed raised condition in which it protrudes above the base portion, and having a depressed condition in which it is close to the upper end of the base portion, in which condition the material is stressed such that it tends to move to the normal, raised condition,

and wherein the dome communicates with a generally closed chamber beneath the dome, and wherein motion control means are provided in the form of a valve which allows rapid expulsion of air from the chamber but restricts air flow into the chamber and so delays movement of the dome from its depressed to its normal raised condition.

6. A marker according to claim 5, wherein the chamber is formed by a partition beneath the dome, and wherein said valve includes an aperture in said partition, and a valve member below the partition which is readily opened by air pressure in the chamber which is above atmospheric, but which is closed by spring means when the air pressure in the chamber becomes atmospheric or negative.