FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to golf equipment, more particularly, a golf ball marker connected to an alignment device used during the process of putting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the game of golf, a golfer is allowed to mark the position of their golf ball on the putting surface using a ball marker. A ball marker is defined as an artificial object such as a tee, coin, or other object made to be a ball-marker, or another small piece of equipment. After marking the location of the golf ball by placing the marker on the ground near the golf ball, a golfer may lift their golf ball off the putting surface, clean the golf ball, then place the golf ball back on the putting surface in the same location in relation to the ball marker prior to being lifted. The ball marker however cannot be moved while the ball is off the ground.

When the golf ball is placed back down on to the putting surface in the same location relative to the ball marker, the golfer is allowed to adjust the golf ball, by rotating it, so that the printed alignment line featured on the golf ball is aimed at the golfer's desired trajectory. Practically every golf ball features an alignment line printed on one side of the ball. Once the golf ball is placed in its original location in relation to the ball marker with the golfer's satisfactory alignment aim, the ball marker is lifted from the putting surface and the golfer putts the golf ball toward their intended trajectory at the golf hole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to an improvement of traditional ball markers. The ball marker of the present application includes at least two spikes and reference points on the ball marker as well as a connected rotating alignment device. The design of the ball marker described herein abides to equipment standards and the rules of golf in order to prevent the possibility of rules violations by a golfer using the ball marking device of the present application. The two spikes ensure that ball marker will not move when the attached alignment component is adjusted, and the triangular cutouts on the perimeter of the two-spike ball marker reference the location of the ball on the putting surface when the ball is lifted. The rotating alignment component makes the process of aligning the golf ball toward their intended trajectory at the golf hole easier and more accurate.

The alignment ball marker combines a two-spike ball marker connected to and underneath a rotating alignment component. In one embodiment of the ball marker, the two-spike ball marker features four triangular cutouts on the perimeter of its circular form and two descending spikes. The triangular cutouts serve as a reference point for the location of a golf ball on the putting surface when the golf ball is lifted from and placed back on to the putting surface.

The two descending spikes from the base of the two-spike ball marker are pushed into the putting surface to prevent the two-spike ball marker from moving when the connected rotating alignment component is adjusted. By the rules of golf, if a ball marker is moved by the golfer once the golf ball has been lifted from the putting surface, penalties are applied to a golfer's score for compromising the location of the golf ball on the putting surface.

The alignment component is connected to the two-spike ball marker but not interlocked so that the alignment component can rotate three hundred and sixty degrees around the two-spike ball marker, clockwise or counter clockwise. The alignment component features vertical lines on a top surface that travel from the front of the alignment component toward the rear of the alignment component. The rotation of the alignment component allows a golfer to align the alignment lines on the top of the alignment component toward their desired trajectory at the golf hole.

The adjustment or manipulation of the alignment component can be accomplished by a golfer using their hand or a putter. The benefit from using a putter to make the alignment provides visual perspective that is not achievable by use of a hand. When a golfer is able to see the putting surface terrain between the golf hole and the alignment ball marker as well as the alignment ball marker, the golfer is capable of reading the putting surface terrain while making the adjustment.

The length of the putter serves as an extension of a golfers reach for manipulating the alignment component and affords the visual perspective. The design of the rear or tail section of the alignment component extends beyond the physical dimensions of the two-spike ball marker to allow a golfer the physical ability to manipulate the alignment component using a putter.

In accordance with the present application, golf ball marking and alignment devices and methods of using the same are provided. One general aspect of the application includes an apparatus for marking a golf ball comprising a ball marker component and a rotating adjustment component. The ball marker component may include: a base, a plurality of spikes descending from the base configured to penetrate a ground surface; and a plurality of cutouts on the perimeter of the base. The rotating alignment component may include: one or more directional lines on a top surface of the rotating alignment component; an elongated tail section; and a connection element configured to connect the rotating alignment component to the ball marker component.

Implementations of the apparatus for marking a golf ball may include one or more of the following features together in various combinations or in separate embodiments. The rotating alignment component is connected to the ball marker component so as to allow the rotating alignment component to rotate 360° in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions relative to the ball marker component. The base of the ball marker component can be a circular disk. The plurality of spikes may include two spikes. The ball marker component further may include a further connection element configured to engage the connection element of the rotating alignment component. The further connection element of the ball marker component may include a circular hole through the base of the ball marker component, and the connection element of the rotating alignment component may include a finger configured to be inserted through the circular hole. The finger may include a plurality of flexible segments having an enlarged base, wherein the plurality of flexible segments are configured to flex inwardly to insert the finger through the circular hole and flex outwardly after the finger is inserted through the circular hole. The rotating alignment component may include a circular front section adjacent to the elongated tail section. The circular front section of the rotating alignment component may include a base having the connection element arranged thereon. The circular front section may include a top portion having a projecting edge extending over the base. The elongated tail section may include a lower surface that is sloped at least in part.

A further general aspect of the present application includes an apparatus for marking a golf ball comprising a ball marker component and a rotating adjustment component. The ball marker component may include: a base; and a plurality of spikes descending from the base configured to penetrate the ground; a rotating alignment component may include: an elongated tail section; and at least one connection element configured to connect the rotating alignment component to the ball marker component.

Implementations of this further apparatus of the present application may include one or more of the following features. The rotating alignment component can be connected to the ball marker component so as to allow the rotating alignment component to rotate 360° in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions relative to the ball marker component. The plurality of spikes may include two spikes. The ball marker component further may include a further at least one connection element configured to engage the at least one connection element of the rotating alignment component. The further connection element of the ball marker component may include a circular hole through the base of the ball marker component, and the connection element of the rotating alignment component may include a finger configured to be inserted through the circular hole. The finger may include a plurality of flexible segments having an enlarged base, wherein the plurality of flexible segments are configured to flex inwardly to insert the finger through the circular hole and flex outwardly after the finger is inserted through the circular hole. The rotating alignment component may include a circular front section adjacent to the elongated tail section, and where the circular front section of the rotating alignment component may include a base having the connection element arranged thereon.

