3D Golf Ball Marker for Line Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In golf, the traditional method of using a flat disc to mark a golf ball position on the putting green requires golfers to wait until their turn to determine the line for their putt, as the visual appearance of the ball is crucial, leading to serial play and inefficiencies in pace.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional golf ball marker that resembles a golf ball, allowing golfers to visually determine the line without replacing the ball, and optionally includes a wireless location device for tracking, enhancing the spectator experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a flat disc is used to mark the golf ball position, then the marker is simple and inexpensive, but the golfer cannot visually determine the line without replacing the ball, causing serial play and time loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by creating a three-dimensional marker that replicates the visual appearance of a golf ball. This copy allows the golfer to visually determine the putting line using the marker itself, eliminating the need to replace the actual ball and thus reducing time loss without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies spheroidality by designing the marker with a spherical or three-dimensional shape that mimics the golf ball. This curved geometry enables the marker to serve dual purposes: marking the position and providing visual reference for line determination, thereby resolving the time loss issue while maintaining simplicity
2Productivity
If the golfer waits until their turn to play before determining the line, then the visual appearance of the ball can be accurately assessed, but play becomes serial and pace is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by enabling the golfer to determine the putting line in advance while the ball is still marked, before it is replaced or before their turn to play. The three-dimensional marker provides sufficient visual information for line determination, allowing the golfer to prepare their putt early and thus improve pace without sacrificing ease of operation
3Measurement precision
If the ball is replaced to determine the line, then accurate visual assessment is possible, but time is lost during the replacement and preparation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a three-dimensional copy of the golf ball as the marker, which provides sufficient visual information for accurate line determination. This copy eliminates the need to replace the actual ball, thereby maintaining measurement precision while significantly reducing the time lost during replacement and preparation processes
Data Source
AI summary
A three-dimensional golf ball marker for marking a position of a golf ball on a putting green includes a housing with a bottom surface and a spherical cap including a texture selected from the group consisting of golf ball like dimples, smooth, grooved, ridged, rubbery, and polished. The spherical outer surface of the housing may rotate and includes an alignment mark formed around at least part of a diameter of the housing. The three-dimensional golf ball marker may include a removable marking disc, with an alignment mark formed on at least one side, which is retained adjacent the bottom surface of the housing by a magnet or retained within a slot. The three-dimensional golf ball marker may include a wireless location device that transmits a wireless signal to allow a tracking device to determine a location of the three-dimensional golf ball marker and to generate information of the golfer.