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Combination paperclip and golf ball marker

Combination paperclip and golf ball marker description/claims

The present invention relates to golf accessories.

Dual purpose golf ball mark repair tools are commonly in use by golfers. These are typical built around the pronged repair tool, and can include magnetically secured ball markers, cigar punches, cigar holders, tee holders, or other devices that have a function associated with playing golf.

The present invention is a dual purpose golf accessory that has one functionality for the golf course and another functionality that is unrelated to golf.

The invention is directed to a golf ball marker that can also be used as a paper clip away from the course.

In one preferred aspect, the dual purpose marker comprises a substantially planar body defining a smooth perimeter, such as a ring, having an inner edge bounding an inner open area, and a substantially planar tab flexibly cantilevered from the inner edge into the open area.

The preferred tab has a base integral with the edge and an enlarged projection integrally extending from the base, with the projection comprising a design or logo.

Most preferably, the body is circular with a diameter typical of coins, the projection occupies at least 50% of the open area within the body, the tab has a base integral with the body and a round disc integrally extending from the base, with the design formed as a cut out on the disc.

Such dual purpose marker is most easily manufactured with a single action punch press on a thin sheet of stainless or spring steel.

Golfers already have great familiarly with the flat shape and smooth perimeter that typify many conventional markers. Similarly, the use as a paper clip is very intuitive. One can easily bend the tab onto a different plane than the body, insert multiple sheets of paper between the tab and body, and release the tab, thereby trapping the paper. The tab acts like a spring that is biased toward the body (or visa-versa), which maintains a trapping force against the sheets.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a representative dual purpose marker, in a neutral, planar condition, as would be placed behind a golf ball when marking the ball on a putting green;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the marker of FIG. 1, with the tab bent out of the plane of the body, in the condition for inserting sheets of paper therebetween when the marker is used a paper clip;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment, in which the tab includes an adhered logo;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment, in which a design is cut out of the tab; and

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are plan views of yet other embodiments, having different shapes for the bodies and the tabs.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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