Printing – Special article machines
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-16
2001-04-10
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Special article machines
C101SDIG029
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213012
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to marking devices, and more particularly to a golf ball marking device that is used to draw a circumferential line around a golf ball for aiming purposes during putting.
2. Description of the Related Art
Anyone who plays golf seriously strives constantly to improve his or her score. Designers of golf equipment are constantly striving to provide the best possible clubs, balls, and other equipment for the golfer to assist the golfer in improving his or her score. One of the skills that a golfer needs to play the game successfully is the ability to aim accurately, especially during putting.
Typically, a player squats down and tries to aim the ball to the hole on the green with his eye, or he may use the golf club to help aim the ball. Alternatively, the golfer may use the golf ball manufacturer name on the ball as a guide. Similarly, the golfer could freehand draw a short line on the ball, and use that short line to help the golfer aim the ball.
The problem with aiming the ball just with your eyes or with the aid of a golf club is that the golfer does not have anything on the ball to help him align the ball with the hole on the green. Likewise, the problem the golfer could encounter by using the golf ball manufacturer's name on the ball to help the golfer align the ball with the hole is that the mark is typically neither straight nor uniform. Drawing a line on the golf ball freehand would not necessarily solve the problem either, since the line may be crooked. Even drawing a line using a straight edge may not necessarily help him aim the ball squarely toward the hole. This is because the golfer would only be estimating that the line drawn lies precisely on the circumference of the ball. Further, it may be very difficult to hold a rigid straight edge, such as a ruler, against the ball and at the same time draw the line around the ball.
Those skilled in the golf game know that having a line on the circumference of the golf ball would help the golfer to accurately aim the ball toward the hole. The device of the present invention enables the golfer to quickly mark the ball around the circumference of the ball without guessing where the circumference line should be. Furthermore, the line drawn using the device of the present invention could be viewed from all angles along the putt line since it lies around the circumference of the ball.
Accordingly, prior to the development of the present invention, there has been no golf ball marking device which: would enable a golfer to quickly and easily place a straight, uniform, circumferential mark on a golf ball; would enable a golfer to make the circumferential mark without guessing where the circumference of the ball was; and would enable a golfer to view the circumferential mark from all angles along the putt line. Therefore, the art has sought a golf ball marking device which: would enable a golfer to quickly and easily place a straight, uniform, circumferential mark on a golf ball; would enable a golfer to make the circumferential mark without guessing where the circumference of the ball was; and would enable a golfer to view the circumferential mark from all angles along the putt line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to a golf ball marking device. More specifically, the invention is directed to a golf ball marking device for drawing a line around the circumference of the golf ball. This circumferential line serves as a visual aid for the golfer in aiming the ball toward the hole on the putting green.
The golf ball marking device of the present invention may comprise: a marking utensil having a marking segment, the marking segment being adapted to make a mark on a golf ball; and a golf ball holder for holding the golf ball, the golf ball holder having an outer wall, an inner wall disposed within the outer wall, and a top wall that supports the marking segment of the marking utensil as the golf ball is marked. In this embodiment, the top wall is located between the inner wall and the outer wall.
In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall and outer wall are parallel to each other. In another specific embodiment, the inner wall slopes upwardly and inwardly. In another specific embodiment, the outer wall slopes upwardly and inwardly. In another specific embodiment, the marking utensil may be a conventional writing utensil. The conventional writing utensil may be a felt tip pen. In a further specific embodiment, the outer wall and the inner wall may form a hollow tubular member. Another embodiment of the golf ball marking device provides that the golf ball holder can hold the golf ball with an interference fit. Further, the inner wall of the golf ball marking device of the present invention has a height, and the golf ball has a diameter. The height of the inner wall, in one specific embodiment, may be less than one half of the diameter of the golf ball. In a further specific embodiment, the golf ball holder may be constructed of flexible plastic. Additionally, the inner wall of the present invention may be corrugated.
The present invention is also directed to a golf ball marking device adapted to mark a golf ball with a marking utensil comprising: a golf ball holder for holding the golf ball, the golf ball holder having an outer wall, an inner wall disposed within the outer wall, and a top wall adapted to support the marking utensil as the golf ball is marked. The top wall is generally located between the inner wall and the outer wall. In one specific embodiment, the inner wall and outer wall are parallel to each other. In another specific embodiment, the inner wall slopes upwardly and inwardly. In another specific embodiment, the outer wall slopes upwardly and inwardly. In another specific embodiment, the outer wall and the inner wall may form a hollow tubular member. In another embodiment, the golf ball holder preferably holds the golf ball with an interference fit. In a further specific embodiment, the inner wall has a height, and the golf ball has a diameter, and the height of the inner wall may be less than one half of the diameter of the golf ball. In another specific embodiment, the golf ball holder can be constructed of flexible plastic. In another specific embodiment, the inner wall can be corrugated.
The present invention is also directed to a method for marking a golf ball and may include the steps of: providing a marking utensil having a marking segment; providing a golf ball holder having an outer wall, an inner wall disposed within the outer wall, and a top wall; placing the golf ball having an equatorial circumference into the golf ball holder with the inner wall at least partially surrounding the golf ball and the top wall being adjacent to the equatorial circumference of the golf ball in at least one location; marking the golf ball with the marking utensil at a location corresponding to the at least one location that is adjacent to the equatorial circumference of the golf ball.
Another specific embodiment of the golf ball marking device of the present invention comprises: a golf ball holder member, for holding the golf ball, having an outer wall surface, an inner wall surface disposed within the outer wall surface, and a top surface located between the outer wall surface and the inner wall surface. In one specific embodiment, the outer wall surface is cylindrical in shape as is the inner wall surface. In this embodiment, the outer wall surface and the inner wall surface define a hollow tubular member. This hollow tubular member has a height that is approximately half the size of a conventional golf ball. The size of the opening formed in the tubular member is approximately the same size as a conventional golf ball, so that the golf ball can fit easily into, and lie firmly within, the device, preferably with a slight interference fit. The top surface of the tubular member has a width that is sufficient to provide room and support for the golfer to press a writing utensil, su
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Chau Minh H.
Hilten John S.
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