Golf ball marker and method therefor

Abstract

An improved golf ball marker comprises a cap having a generally hemispherical hollow, the hollow having approximately the same dimensions as one half of a standard golf ball, the cap having first and second linear slits forming a “T” shaped slit configuration for marking a golf ball inserted in the hollow with a “T” mark comprising a seam indicator line and a club alignment line. The golf ball is positioned and oriented in the hollow of the cap such that the seam is aligned with the first linear slit for making the seam indicator line on the ball with a marker and the second linear slit is perpendicular to the seam for making the club alignment line on the ball.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A golf ball marker comprising: 
 a cap having an inside surface bounding a generally hemispherical interior hollow, said hollow having approximately the dimensions of a half a standard golf ball, said cap further having a first linear slit, said first linear slit having a top end, and a second linear slit normal to said first linear slit, said second linear slit having a midpoint, and said second linear slit bisected by said top end of said first linear slit, said slits for marking a golf ball received in said hollow through said slits.    
     
     
         2 . The golf ball marker of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said slits form a “T” shape.  
 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball marker of  claim 1  for use in association with a golf ball having a cover, the cover having two pieces joined together at an annular seam, the golf ball having an axis defining two opposite poles, the golf ball manufacturer's name imprinted on the cover at one or both of the poles, and the seam approximately coincident with a center plane perpendicular to the axis midway between the poles, wherein: 
 said slits of said cap are for making a “T” mark on the golf ball in said hollow, and when the center plane of the golf ball is aligned with said first linear slit, said “T” mark comprising a seam indicator line made on the golf ball through said first linear slit for indicating the location of the seam of the golf ball.  
 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball marker of  claim 3  wherein: 
 said “T” mark further comprises a club alignment line made on the golf ball through said second linear slit, said club alignment line is perpendicular to said seam indicator line, and said club alignment line is for providing a visual aid to which to bring into parallel alignment the face of a golf club such that, when the golf ball is struck with that golf club, the golf ball will tend to roll on the seam.  
 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball marker of  claim 3  wherein: 
 said club alignment line is coincident with a vertical plane passing through the center of the golf ball.  
 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball marker of  claim 3  wherein: 
 said second linear slit has a slight curvature away from said first linear slit such that said club alignment line is coincident with a vertical plane passing through but offset from the center of the golf ball.  
 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball marker of  claim 6  wherein: 
 when a golf ball so marked is viewed from above, said club alignment line is offset from the center of the golf ball and appears to be a straight line.  
 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball marker of  claim 3  further including: 
 said cap having two outwardly extending tabs disposed in approximate polar opposition for holding said cap.  
 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball marker of  claim 3  further including: 
 said inside surface of said cap having an annular open end, said annular open end having approximately the diameter of that of a standard golf ball, said annular open end having a plurality of inwardly extending protrusions for removably holding a golf ball in said hollow.  
 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball marker of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said plurality of protrusions comprises four protrusions.  
 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball marker of  claim 3  further including: 
 said inside surface of said cap having an annular open end, said annular open end interrupted by at least one gap.  
 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball marker of  claim 11  wherein: 
 said at least one gap is a fingertip-sized concavity.  
 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball marker of  claim 1  further including: 
 means for marking a golf ball received in said hollow through said slits.  
 
     
     
         14 . A golf ball marker for use in association with a golf ball having a cover, the cover having two pieces joined together at an annular seam, the golf ball having an axis defining two opposite poles, the golf club manufacturer's name imprinted on the cover at one or both of the poles, and the seam approximately coincident with a center plane perpendicular to the axis midway between the poles, the marker comprising: 
 a cap having an inside surface bounding a generally hemispherical interior hollow, said hollow having approximately the dimensions of half a standard golf ball, said inside surface of said cap having an annular open end, said annular open end interrupted by at least one fingertip-sized concavity, said cap further having a first linear slit, said first linear slit having a top end, a second linear slit normal to said first linear slit, said second linear slit having a midpoint, and said second linear slit bisected by said top end of said first linear slit, and    said slits of said cap are for making a “T” mark on the golf ball in said hollow, and when the center plane of the golf ball is aligned with said first linear slit, said “T” mark comprising a seam indicator line made on the golf ball through said first linear slit for indicating the location of the seam of the golf ball.    
     
     
         15 . The golf ball marker of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 said annular open end having approximately the diameter of that of a standard golf ball, said annular open end having a plurality of inwardly extending protrusions for removably holding a golf ball in said hollow.  
 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball marker of  claim 15  further including: 
 said cap having two outwardly extending tabs disposed in approximate polar opposition for holding said cap.  
 
     
     
         17 . A golf ball marker for use in association with a golf ball having a cover, the cover having two pieces joined together at an annular seam, the golf ball having an axis defining two opposite poles, the golf club manufacturer's name imprinted on the cover at one or both of the poles, and the seam approximately coincident with a center plane perpendicular to the axis midway between the poles, the marker comprising: 
 a cap having an inside surface bounding a generally hemispherical interior hollow, said hollow having approximately the dimensions of half a standard golf ball, said inside surface of said cap having an annular open end, said annular open end having approximately the diameter of that of a standard golf ball, said annular open end interrupted by at least one fingertip-sized concavity, said annular open end having four inwardly extending opposing protrusions for removably holding a golf ball in said hollow, said cap further having a first linear slit, said first linear slit having a top end, a second linear slit normal to said first linear slit, said second linear slit having a midpoint, and said second linear slit bisected by said top end of said first linear slit, and said cap having two outwardly extending tabs disposed in approximate polar opposition for holding said cap, and    said slits of said cap are for making a “T” mark on the golf ball in said hollow, and when the center plane of the golf ball is aligned with said first linear slit, said “T” mark comprising a seam indicator line made on the golf ball through said first linear slit for indicating the location of the seam of the golf ball, and said “T” mark further comprising a club alignment line made on the golf ball through said second linear slit, said club alignment line in perpendicular disposition relative to said seam indicator line, and said club alignment line for providing a visual aid to which to bring into parallel alignment the face of a golf club such that, when the golf ball is struck with that golf club, the golf ball will tend to roll on the seam.    
     
     
         18 . A method for marking a golf ball of the type having a cover, the cover having two pieces joined together at an annular seam, the golf ball having an axis defining two opposite poles, the golf club manufacturer's name imprinted on the cover at one or both of the poles, and the seam approximately coincident with a center plane perpendicular to the axis midway between the poles, the method comprising: 
 inserting the golf ball substantially into a cap having an inside surface bounding a generally hemispherical interior hollow, said hollow having approximately the dimensions of half a standard golf ball,    orienting the golf ball in said cap so that the center plane of the golf ball is aligned with a first linear slit in said cap, said first linear slit having a top end,    pressing the golf ball, so oriented, fully into said cap,    holding the golf ball in said cap,    marking a seam indicator line on the golf ball through said first linear slit, said seam indicator line associated with the seam of the golf ball,    marking a club alignment line on the golf ball through a second linear slit in said cap, said second linear slit normal to said first linear slit, said second linear slit further having a midpoint, and said second linear slit bisected by said top end of said first linear slit, said seam indicator line and said club alignment line forming a “T” mark on the golf ball, such that the club alignment line is normal to said seam indicator line and forms an alignment aid for positioning parallel thereto a golf club for striking the golf club such that the golf ball thereafter rolls along its seam, and    removing the golf ball from the cap for playing the golf ball in a golf game.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein: 
 removing the golf ball includes 
 placing a finger in a finger-sized concavity in an annular open end of said inside surface of said cap, and  
 pressing the finger against the golf ball.  
 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein: 
 pressing the golf ball fully into said cap further includes pressing the golf ball between a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly from an annular open end of said inside surface of said cap, and  
 holding the golf ball in said cap includes holding the golf ball between said plurality of protrusions.