Golf ball marker tool

Abstract

A golf ball marker tool is provided. The marker has an anchor pin cooperating with a retaining structure in a carrier. The carrier includes a retaining member having a recess dimensioned to receive the head of the marker. The retaining member has a thickness equal to or greater than a length of the pin. A translational groove in the thickness of the retaining member runs from an edge of the retaining member to a distal end relative to the edge of the retaining member. The translational groove has a length perpendicular to the thickness of the retaining member. The translational groove is sized to receive the pin along the length of the groove in a clearance fit, and the translational groove having a depth less than or equal to the thickness of the retaining member. The retaining member also includes a retaining structure for retaining the golf ball marker.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: 
     
         1 . A golf tool, comprising:
 a golf ball marker ( 104 ) having a head ( 104 H) comprising top major face ( 114 ) and a bottom major face ( 114 U);   an anchor pin ( 104 P) projecting perpendicularly from the bottom major face ( 114 U) of the ball marker ( 104 );   a carrier ( 106 ) having a retaining member ( 122 ) having a recess ( 108 ) defining a ridge ( 108 R) receiving the golf ball marker head ( 104 H), the retaining member ( 122 ) comprising a thickness ( 122 T) equal to or greater than a length of the anchor pin ( 104 P);   an indexing receiver in the thickness ( 122 T) of the retaining member ( 122 ), the indexing receiver being dimensioned and configured to receive the anchor pin ( 104 P) in an orientation suitable for storing the ball marker ( 104 ) in the retaining member ( 122 ), and the indexing receiver having a depth less than or equal to the thickness of the retaining member ( 122 ); and   a retaining structure disposed in the retaining member ( 122 ), wherein the retaining structure comprises a magnetic retaining structure ( 310 ) at the distal end ( 110 D) of a translational groove ( 110 ), and wherein the magnetic retaining structure ( 310 ) is embedded in the retaining member ( 122 ) and recessed below a major face ( 108 M) of the recess ( 108 ).   
     
     
         2 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier ( 106 ) comprises a poker chip, a key fob, a divot repair tool, a bottle opener, a pocket knife, or a cell phone case. 
     
     
         3 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a divot repair tool, a bottle opener, or a pocket knife coupled to the carrier in a swiveling relation. 
     
     
         4 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 108 ) includes a ridge ( 108 R) having retaining arcs ( 108 L) curling around and retaining a head ( 104 H) of the marker ( 104 ). 
     
     
         5 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 108 ) includes a ridge ( 108 R) has straight legs ( 108 U), the ridge ( 108 R) thus forming a U-shape. 
     
     
         6 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining structure is a mechanical retaining structure ( 110 R) comprising a boss ( 210 ) near a distal end ( 110 D) of a translational groove ( 110 ), wherein a region between the distal end ( 110 D) and the boss ( 210 ) is sized to retainably receive the anchor pin ( 104 P). 
     
     
         7 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining structure is a mechanical retaining structure ( 110 R) comprising a length of a translational groove ( 110 ) dimensioned to receive the anchor pin ( 104 P) in a transition fit or interference fit. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The golf tool of claim  9 , wherein the ball marker ( 104 ) is ferromagnetic. 
     
     
         11 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor pin ( 104 P) projects perpendicularly from the bottom major face ( 114 U) of the ball marker. 
     
     
         12 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , wherein the indexing receiver is a translational groove ( 110 ) in the thickness ( 122 T) of the retaining member ( 122 ) running from an edge ( 122 E) of the retaining member ( 122 ) to a distal end ( 110 D) relative to the edge ( 122 E) of the retaining member ( 122 ), the translational groove ( 110 ) having a length perpendicular to the thickness of the retaining member ( 122 ). 
     
     
         13 . The golf tool of  claim 1 , wherein the indexing receiver is an indexing orifice ( 111 ) in the thickness ( 122 T) of the retaining member ( 122 ) positioned in a major face ( 108 M) of the recess ( 108 ) so that receiving the anchor pin ( 104 P) guides the ball marker into contact with and retention by the carrier ( 106 ). 
     
     
         14 . The golf tool of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining structure comprises a magnetic retaining structure ( 310 ) at the indexing orifice ( 111 ). 
     
     
         15 . The golf tool of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining structure comprises the anchor pin ( 104 P) and the indexing orifice ( 111 ) sized to cooperate in a light friction fit. 
     
     
         16 . The golf tool of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining structure comprises a first boss ( 104 B) disposed on the anchor pin ( 104 ) and a second boss ( 111 ) disposed in the indexing orifice ( 111 B), the first boss and the second boss being sized and positioned to cooperate in a snap fit. 
     
     
         17 . The golf tool of  claim 16 , wherein the first boss and/or the second boss is annular. 
     
     
         18 . The golf tool of  claim 17 , wherein the first boss and/or the second boss comprises at least one hemispherical boss. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled)