Golf accessory device and method

Abstract

A golf accessory for a golf putter includes a divot repair tool, a ball marker that may be decorated in a variety of designs, and a shaft clip to removably attach the golf accessory to a golf putter shaft. The golf accessory for a golf putter is useful for providing a golfer with an easily accessible golf accessory on the putting green, as the device is designed to remain stationery on the golf putter shaft during use of the golf putter.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . A golf accessory for a golf putter, the golf putter including a golf putter shaft having a shaft axis, the golf accessory comprising:
 a divot repair tool including a body, a pair of divot repair prongs extending from said body, a recessed cavity within said body, and a magnetic insert within said recessed cavity;   a ball marker configured to fit within the recessed cavity, and to magnetically couple with the magnetic insert when within said recessed cavity; and   a shaft clip including a shaft receiver and a shaft retainer, the shaft clip fixed to the divot repair tool, the shaft clip configured to removably clip on to the golf putter shaft with sufficient grip to remain stationary during use of the golf putter.   
     
     
         2 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft receiver includes a shaft-seat and a shaft-opening, said shaft-seat configured to circumscribe between 180 and 315 degrees of the shaft axis when the golf putter shaft is seated in said shaft-seat, said shaft-opening extending a complementary arc about the shaft axis between 180 to 45 degrees, respectively, when the golf putter shaft is seated in said shaft-seat; and
 wherein the shaft receiver and the shaft retainer are combined together as a flexible member configured to deform away from the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is pressed into the shaft-opening, and to retract against and hold the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is fully seated into the shaft-seat.   
     
     
         3 . The golf accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft receiver further includes flared legs at opposing ends of the shaft-seat, said flared legs defining the shaft-opening, said flared legs configured to spread open and away from the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is pressed into the shaft-opening. 
     
     
         4 . The golf accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft-seat has a tubular configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The golf putter mounted tool device of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed cavity of the divot repair tool is asymmetric in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The golf putter mounted tool device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft receiver and the shaft retainer are combined together as a flexible member configured to deform away from the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is pressed into the shaft receiver, and to retract against and hold the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is fully seated into the shaft receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is composed of a metal material. 
     
     
         8 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is composed of a rubber material. 
     
     
         9 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is composed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of divot repair prongs are composed of a metal material. 
     
     
         11 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed cavity of the divot repair tool is circular in shape. 
     
     
         12 . The golf accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the recessed cavity of said divot repair tool includes an indentation configured to aid in removal of the ball marker from said recessed cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The golf accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the recessed cavity of said divot repair tool further includes a raised ring around a circumference of said recessed cavity configured to inhibit said removable magnetic ball marker from moving from said recessed cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the ball marker is circular in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The golf accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the ball marker has a diameter no greater than a diameter of said recessed cavity of said divot repair tool. 
     
     
         16 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft clip is configured to exert a biasing friction force when clipped onto the golf putter shaft such that the shaft clip is held in place during use of the golf putter. 
     
     
         17 . The golf accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft clip further includes an anti-slip material configured to resist slippage when said shaft clip is clamped onto the golf putter shaft. 
     
     
         18 . A golf accessory for a golf putter, the golf putter including a golf putter shaft having a shaft axis, the golf accessory comprising:
 a divot repair tool having a body, a pair of divot repair prongs extending from said body, a recessed cavity within said body, and a magnetic insert within said recessed cavity;   a ball marker configured to fit within the recessed cavity, and to magnetically couple with the magnetic insert when within said recessed cavity; and   a shaft clip including a shaft receiver and a shaft retainer, the shaft clip fixed to the divot repair tool, the shaft clip configured to removably clip on to the golf putter shaft with sufficient grip to remain stationary during use of the golf putter;   wherein the shaft receiver includes a shaft-seat having a tubular configuration, and a shaft-opening, the shaft-seat configured to circumscribe between 180 and 315 degrees of the shaft axis when the golf putter shaft is seated in said shaft-seat, said shaft-opening extending a complementary arc about the shaft axis between 180 to 45 degrees, respectively, when the golf putter shaft is seated in said shaft-seat;   wherein the shaft receiver and the shaft retainer are combined together as a flexible member configured to deform away from the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is pressed into the shaft-opening, and to retract against and hold the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is fully seated into the shaft-seat;   wherein the shaft receiver and the shaft retainer are combined together as a flexible member configured to deform away from the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is pressed into the shaft receiver, and to biasingly retract when the golf putter shaft is fully seated into the shaft receiver;   wherein the shaft receiver further includes flared legs at opposing ends of the shaft-seat, said flared legs defining the shaft-opening, said flared legs configured to spread open and away from the golf putter shaft when said golf putter shaft is pressed into the shaft-opening;   wherein the recessed cavity of the divot repair tool is asymmetric or circular in shape;   wherein the recessed cavity of said divot repair tool includes an indentation configured to aid in removal of the ball marker from the recessed cavity;   wherein the recessed cavity of said divot repair tool further includes a raised ring around a circumference of said recessed cavity configured to inhibit said removable magnetic ball marker from moving from said recessed cavity; and   wherein the shaft clip further includes an anti-slip material configured to resist slippage when clamped onto the golf putter shaft.   
     
     
         19 . The golf accessory of  claim 18 , further comprising set of instructions; and
 wherein the golf accessory is arranged as a kit.   
     
     
         20 . A method of using the golf accessory of  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 clipping the golf accessory on a first diameter of a golf putter shaft of a golf putter;   sliding the golf accessory up to a second diameter of the golf putter shaft, the second diameter being sufficiently larger than the first diameter to secure the golf accessory from movement when the golf putter is played;   using the golf putter until the golf accessory is needed;   removing a magnetic ball marker from the golf accessory whilst the golf accessory remains clamped on the golf putter shaft;   sliding the golf accessory away from the second diameter of the golf putter shaft until loose; and   removing the golf accessory from the golf putter shaft.