Golf marker apparatus, system, and method of use

Abstract

Provided are various example hand-held golf marker devices that may be constructed to mark the location of a golf ball on a golf course with a liquid mark having a predetermined shape. The liquid mark does not interfere with other golf balls, and dissipates on its own after a short time, such as about two hours. Example designs are provided for creating marks having predetermined shapes, including by providing marking pads having predetermined cross-sectional shapes, and by providing a movable inner cover over the marking pad with an aperture having a predetermined shape. Double-ended devices may be employed. Multi-color kits are described, as well as clips for removably holding the marker devices on the brim of a user's hat, for instance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball location marker, comprising:
 an elongated body extending from a proximate end to a distal end and sized, shaped, and configured to be held in a user's hand between the user's fingers;   the elongated body comprising a first reservoir containing a liquid comprising a first water-soluble colorant;   a first valve in fluid communication with the first reservoir and configured to selectably open and close the first reservoir,   a first liquid-absorbing marking pad having a first predetermined cross-sectional shape and located near the distal end and selectably in fluid communication with the liquid in the first reservoir through the first valve;   a first cap removably attached with the distal end of the elongated body and covering the first liquid-absorbing marking pad;   the golf ball location marker configured to leave a visible water-soluble temporary colored mark having the first predetermined cross-sectional shape on a golf course green when the first cap is removed from the elongated body and the user presses the golf ball location marker onto the golf course green so that the first liquid-absorbing marking pad directly contacts and applies force to the golf course green and transmits at least a portion of the liquid comprising the first water-soluble colorant to the golf course green.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the first valve configured to selectably open the first reservoir when the first cap is removed from the elongated body and the user presses the golf ball location marker onto the golf course green so that the first liquid-absorbing marking pad directly contacts and applies force to the golf course green.   
     
     
         3 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the first valve configured to selectably close the first reservoir when the user stops pressing the golf ball location marker against the golf course green so that the first liquid-absorbing marking pad stops directly contacting and stops applying force to the golf course green.   
     
     
         4 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 1 , wherein the first water-soluble colorant comprises a high fugitivity spray pattern indicator configured to mark with a color an agricultural area being sprayed with an agricultural chemical. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 1 , wherein the first water-soluble colorant comprises an ortho sulfonate phenyl TPM colorant synthesized from poly(ethyleneoxy) substituted aniline. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has an outer profile formed in the shape of a tapered golf tee. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap has an outer profile formed in the shape of a dimpled golf ball. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the elongated body comprising a second reservoir containing a liquid comprising a second water-soluble colorant;   a second valve in fluid communication with the second reservoir and configured to selectably open and close the second reservoir,   a second liquid-absorbing marking pad having a second predetermined cross-sectional shape and located near the proximate end and selectably in fluid communication with the liquid in the second reservoir through the second valve;   a second cap removably attached with the proximate end of the elongated body and covering the second liquid-absorbing marking pad;   the golf ball location marker configured to leave a visible water-soluble temporary colored mark having the second predetermined cross-sectional shape on the golf course green when the second cap is removed from the elongated body and the user presses the golf ball location marker onto the golf course green so that the second liquid-absorbing marking pad directly contacts and applies force to the golf course green and transmits at least a portion of the liquid comprising the second water-soluble colorant to the golf course green.   
     
     
         9 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 8 , wherein the first water-soluble colorant and the second water-soluble colorant are different colors. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 8 , wherein the first water-soluble colorant and the second water-soluble colorant are the same color. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 8 , wherein the first predetermined cross-sectional shape and the second predetermined cross-sectional shape are the same cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 8 , wherein the first predetermined cross-sectional shape and the second predetermined cross-sectional shape are different cross-sectional shapes. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the elongated body comprising a second reservoir containing a liquid comprising a second water-soluble colorant;   a second valve in fluid communication with the second reservoir and configured to selectably open and close the second reservoir,   a second liquid-absorbing marking pad having a second predetermined cross-sectional shape and located near the proximate end and selectably in fluid communication with the liquid in the second reservoir through the second valve;   a second cap removably attached with the proximate end of the elongated body and covering the second liquid-absorbing marking pad;   the golf ball location marker configured to leave a visible water-soluble temporary colored mark having the second predetermined cross-sectional shape on the golf course green when the second cap is removed from the elongated body and the user presses the golf ball location marker onto the golf course green so that the second liquid-absorbing marking pad directly contacts and applies force to the golf course green and transmits at least a portion of the liquid comprising the second water-soluble colorant to the golf course green; and   the second valve configured to selectably open the second reservoir when the second cap is removed from the elongated body and the user presses the golf ball location marker onto the golf course green so that the second liquid-absorbing marking pad directly contacts and applies force to the golf course green.   
     
     
         14 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the second valve configured to selectably close the second reservoir when the user stops pressing the golf ball location marker against the golf course green so that the second liquid-absorbing marking pad stops directly contacting and stops applying force to the golf course green.   
     
     
         15 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 8 , wherein the second water-soluble colorant comprises a spray pattern indicator configured to mark with a color an agricultural area being sprayed with an agricultural chemical. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 8 , wherein the second water-soluble colorant comprises an ortho sulfonate phenyl TPM colorant synthesized from poly(ethyleneoxy) substituted aniline. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 8 , wherein the elongated body has an outer profile formed in the shape of a cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball location marker of  claim 8 , wherein the second cap has an outer profile formed in the shape of a dimpled golf ball. 
     
     
         19 . A method of marking the location of a golf ball on a golf course green, comprising the steps of:
 providing a golf ball location marker, comprising:
 an elongated body extending from a proximate end to a distal end and sized, shaped, and configured to be held in a user's hand between the user's fingers; 
 the elongated body comprising a first reservoir containing a liquid comprising a first water-soluble colorant; 
 a first valve in fluid communication with the first reservoir and configured to selectably open and close the first reservoir, 
 a first liquid-absorbing marking pad having a first predetermined cross-sectional shape and located near the distal end and selectably in fluid communication with the liquid in the first reservoir through the first valve; 
 a first cap removably attached with the distal end of the elongated body and covering the first liquid-absorbing marking pad; 
 the golf ball location marker configured to leave a visible water-soluble temporary colored mark having the first predetermined cross-sectional shape on the golf course green when the first cap is removed from the elongated body and the user presses the golf ball location marker onto the golf course green so that the first liquid-absorbing marking pad directly contacts and applies force to the golf course green and transmits at least a portion of the liquid comprising the first water-soluble colorant to the golf course green; 
   removing the first cap from the elongated body;   leaving a visible water-soluble temporary colored mark having the first predetermined cross-sectional shape on the golf course green by pressing the golf ball location marker onto the golf course green adjacent a first location of a golf ball so that the first liquid-absorbing marking pad directly contacts and applies force to the golf course green and transmits at least a portion of the liquid comprising the first water-soluble colorant to the golf course green adjacent the first location of the golf ball;   removing the golf ball from its first location on the golf course green; and   replacing the golf ball on the golf course green at its first location by positioning the golf ball adjacent the visible water-soluble temporary colored mark having the first predetermined cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         20 . A golf ball location marker, comprising:
 an elongated body extending from a proximate end to a distal end and sized, shaped, and configured to be held in a user's hand between the user's fingers;   the elongated body comprising a first reservoir containing a liquid comprising a first water-soluble colorant;   a first valve in fluid communication with the first reservoir and configured to selectably open and close the first reservoir,   a first liquid-absorbing marking pad located near the distal end and selectably in fluid communication with the liquid in the first reservoir through the first valve;   a first inner cap slidably attached with the distal end of the elongated body and at least partially covering the first liquid-absorbing marking pad, the first inner cap having an aperture having a first predetermined shape formed there through and positioned adjacent the first liquid-absorbing marking pad such that when the first inner cap slides in the proximate direction relative to the elongated body, a portion of the first liquid-absorbing marking pad extends through the aperture in the first inner cap;   a first outer cap removably attached with the distal end of the elongated body and covering the first inner cap;   the golf ball location marker configured to leave a visible water-soluble temporary colored mark having the first predetermined shape on a golf course green when the first outer cap is removed from the elongated body and the user presses the golf ball location marker onto the golf course green so that the first inner cap and the first liquid-absorbing marking pad directly contact and apply force to the golf course green such that the first liquid-absorbing marking pad transmits at least a portion of the liquid comprising the first water-soluble colorant to the golf course green.