Golf Ball Marker Clip Apparatus

Abstract

A golf ball marker clip apparatus includes a golf ball marker, a base, and a clip formed to the base and configured to snappedly receive the golf ball marker. The clip bounds and defines a hold corresponding to the golf ball marker.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus comprising:
 a golf ball marker;   a base having an upper face configured to receive the golf ball marker thereon;   a flange extending radially outward from the base proximate to the upper face of the base, the flange being a thin, monolithic extension of the base and having an upper face contiguous with and level to the upper face of the base;   a clip formed to the base and configured to snappedly receive the golf ball marker, wherein the clip is an upstanding lip disposed on the base between the upper face of the base and the upper face of the flange, and which includes an overhanging edge extending radially inwardly at a top of the lip; and   the clip bounding and defining a hold corresponding to the golf ball marker.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lip is quasi-annular. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the clip is smaller than the golf ball marker; and   the clip is resilient, and resiliently deforms outwardly in response to application of the golf ball marker to the hold, exerting an inward bias on the golf ball marker in the hold in response.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is a mechanical, non-magnetic clip. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hold has an opening with a width; and   the golf ball marker has a major dimension greater than the width of the opening.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the clip includes an inner surface;   the golf ball marker moves between a free condition in which the golf ball marker is free of the base, and an applied condition in which the golf ball marker is applied to the hold; and   in the applied condition, the golf ball marker is snappedly received in the hold, is against the entire inner surface of the clip, and is in flush contact with the upper face of the base.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a shoulder between the flange and the base and defining a lower perimeter edge of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising fingers formed in the clip configured to resiliently move into and out of alignment with the clip. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lateral opening in the clip to receive the golf ball marker laterally therethrough into the clip. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the golf ball marker is a disc; and   the lateral opening is smaller than a diameter of the golf ball marker.   
     
     
         11 . Apparatus comprising:
 a golf ball marker;   a base having an upper face configured to receive the golf ball marker thereon, and a clip formed on the base defining a hold to snappedly receive the golf ball marker;   an opening through the clip into the hold;   the clip corresponds to the golf ball marker in shape, wherein the clip is an upstanding lip disposed on the base and includes an overhanging edge extending radially inwardly at a top of the lip; and   a flange extending radially outward from the base proximate to the upper face of the base, the flange being a thin, monolithic extension of the base and having an upper face contiguous with and level to the upper face of the base at the opening of the hold.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the top of the lip is smaller in dimension than the golf ball marker. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the clip resiliently deforms outwardly in response to application of the golf ball marker to the hold, exerting an inward bias on the golf ball marker in the hold. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising fingers formed in the clip configured to resiliently move into and out of alignment with the clip. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the opening through the clip is lateral and configured to receive the golf ball marker laterally therethrough into the clip. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the golf ball marker is a disc; and   the opening is smaller than a diameter of the golf ball marker.   
     
     
         17 . Apparatus comprising:
 a base;   a quasi-annular upstanding lip on the base, the lip bounding and defining a hold;   a lateral opening formed in the lip;   a flange extending radially outward from the base, the flange being a thin, monolithic extension contiguous with and level to an upper surface of the base, the upper surface configured to receive the golf ball marker thereon;   an overhanging edge formed in the upstanding lip which extends radially inward at a top of the lip; and   a golf ball marker, the base and the lip configured to snappedly receive the golf ball marker in the hold.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the top of the lip is smaller in dimension than the golf ball marker. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the lip resiliently deforms outwardly in response to application of the golf ball marker to the hold, exerting an inward bias on the golf ball marker in the hold. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising fingers formed in the clip configured to resiliently move into and out of alignment with the clip.