Ball marker holder with removable ball marker

Abstract

A golf ball marker holder is designed to be removably attached to a cap in such a way that the holder is substantially vertical and outside the wearer's field of vision. A portion of the golf ball marker extends beyond an uppermost edge of the holder to facilitate removal during play. The marker may include a magnetic element enabling it to be removably secured to a golf ball marker holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a ball marker having a first magnetic element; and   a ball marker holder having a ball marker receiving area on an exterior face of the ball marker holder, the ball marker holder including a second magnetic element, wherein the first and second magnetic elements attract one another to hold the ball marker to the exterior face of the ball marker holder;   wherein at least a portion of the exterior face of the ball marker holder curves out of a plane of the ball marker.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a first wall abutting the ball marker receiving area. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein the first wall has a variable height along a length of the wall. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ball marker holder has a first edge and a second edge opposed to the first edge; and   when held to the ball marker holder, the ball marker extends beyond the first edge and beyond the second edge such that an underside of the ball marker is exposed beyond the first edge and beyond the second edge.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein along a first length traveling away from a first side of the ball marker receiving area, the ball marker support curves rearwardly away from the ball marker receiving area, and wherein along a second length traveling away from a second side of the ball marker receiving area, the ball marker support curves rearwardly away from the ball marker receiving area. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ball marker holder has a first edge which forms an uppermost edge of the ball marker holder when the ball marker holder is oriented vertically; and   when held to the ball marker holder, the ball marker extends beyond the uppermost edge such that an underside of the ball marker is exposed beyond the uppermost edge.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus comprising:
 a ball marker having a first magnetic element;   a ball marker holder having a ball marker receiving area on an exterior face of the ball marker holder, the ball marker holder including a second magnetic element, wherein the first and second magnetic elements attract one another to hold the ball marker to the ball marker holder; wherein   the ball marker holder has a first edge which forms an uppermost edge of the ball marker holder when the ball marker holder is oriented vertically; and   when held to the ball marker holder, the ball marker extends beyond the uppermost edge such that an underside of the ball marker is exposed beyond the uppermost edge.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as in  claim 7 , further comprising a first wall positioned on a first lateral side of the ball marker receiving area, a marker-facing surface of the first wall being parallel to a corresponding sidewall of the ball marker. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as in  claim 8 , further comprising a second wall positioned on a second lateral side of the ball marker receiving area, a marker-facing surface of the second wall being parallel to a corresponding sidewall of the ball marker. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the first wall comprises a first rib and the second wall comprises a second rib. 
     
     
         11 . An as in  claim 9 , wherein a height of the first wall is variable along a length of the first wall, and a height of the second wall is variable along a length of the second wall. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a ball marker having a first magnetic element;   a ball marker holder having a second magnetic element, wherein the first and second magnetic elements attract one another to hold the ball marker to the ball marker holder;   the ball marker holder including a front panel and a rear panel, each of the front and rear panels being curved rearwardly; and   the front panel and the rear panel being rigidly fixed to each other to form a gap between the front panel and a lower edge of the rear panel to receive a cap strap, the gap being at least two millimeters and extending upwardly from the lower edge of the rear panel by at least  1 . 5  centimeters.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the front panel is connected to the rear panel with a connector positioned at a top of the front panel and a top of the rear panel. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , further comprising a first wall abutting the ball marker receiving area. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as in  claim 14 , wherein the first wall has a variable height along a length of the wall. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the ball marker holder has a first edge and a second edge opposed to the first edge; and   when held to the ball marker holder, the ball marker extends beyond the first edge and beyond the second edge such that an underside of the ball marker is exposed beyond the first edge and beyond the second edge.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the front panel includes a ball marker receiving area, and along a first length traveling laterally away from a first side of the ball marker receiving area, the ball marker support curves rearwardly away from the ball marker receiving area, and wherein along a second length traveling laterally away from a second side of the ball marker receiving area, the ball marker support curves rearwardly away from the ball marker receiving area. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a ball marker and ball marker holder with a cap, the ball marker holder having a first panel with a first panel width which is greater than a first panel height, the first panel curving rearwardly along its width, and the ball marker holder including a second panel positioned behind the first panel, the second panel having a second panel width which is greater than a second panel height, the second panel being permanently spaced from the first panel at a lower end of the second panel, and the first and second panels being arranged such that the first and second panels are configured to be placed over a cap strap, the method comprising:
 mounting the ball marker holder to a cap by sliding the first and second panels over a cap strap such that the cap strap is positioned between the first and second panels, and such the first panel is oriented vertically when the cap is held or worn upright; and   removing the ball marker from the ball marker holder while the first panel is oriented vertically.