Pocket Golf Ball Marker with 60ft Line Spool and Clasp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf distance-measuring tools are cumbersome, inaccurate, and time-consuming due to their inability to accommodate 60 feet of line and lack of convenient deployment, often requiring a spring mechanism that takes up too much space and featuring uncomfortable designs.
Innovation Solution
A compact, poker chip-sized spool with a clasp that easily deploys 60 feet of non-stretch line for quick and accurate distance measurement, allowing easy comparison of ball positions and determination of out-of-bounds status, and serving as a practice putting aid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring mechanism is used to retract the line automatically, then the line can be rewound easily, but the device becomes too large to fit in a golfer's pocket
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring mechanism from the device entirely, extracting the problematic component that caused size issues. Instead of automatic retraction, the line is manually rewound by the golfer after use, allowing the device to maintain a compact pocket-friendly size while still providing the necessary line measurement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The golfer performs the retraction function themselves by manually winding the line back onto the spool after use. This self-service approach eliminates the need for a complex automatic retraction mechanism, reducing device size while maintaining functionality.
2Measurement precision
If the line is made 60 feet long to reach distant balls and OB stakes, then distance measurement accuracy is improved, but the device becomes difficult to carry and deploy quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The line is pre-spooled onto a compact reel in a controlled manner before use. This preliminary action ensures that the 60-foot line is neatly organized and ready for rapid deployment, allowing the golfer to quickly extend the full length when needed without tangling or difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a dynamic spooling mechanism that allows the line to be quickly extended and rewound. The reel design enables smooth line deployment and retrieval, making the long 60-foot line as easy to handle as a much shorter line would be.
3Volume of moving object
If the device is made compact to fit in a pocket, then portability is improved, but the line spooling mechanism becomes difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a reel-based spooling mechanism that efficiently packs the 60-foot line into a compact cylindrical form factor. This dimensional approach allows the long line to be stored in a small volume while maintaining easy access and operation through simple rotational motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The golfer manually operates the spooling mechanism by winding the line onto the reel after use. This simple manual operation requires minimal effort and space, making the compact device easy to operate despite its limited size.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a sharp ballmark repair tool is combined with the distance measurer, then functionality is improved, but the device becomes uncomfortable to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the ballmark repair function from the distance measurement device. The sharp repair tool is not integrated into the pocket-sized measurer, eliminating the comfort issue while allowing golfers to use their existing separate repair tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance measurement device is designed to serve multiple purposes: measuring distances between balls, determining out-of-bounds status, and providing a straight line for putting practice. This universality compensates for the lack of integrated ballmark repair functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A specialized tool for golfers, this invention is small enough to fit comfortably in a pocket, in the form of a ball marker, with a line long enough to be useful, and a custom-molded hook/clasp to hold it together neatly. In addition to being a ball marker, this unique combination of features provides the user the length, accuracy, and speed-of-use necessary for: determining which ball is closest to (or farthest from) the hole, whether a ball is in or out of bounds, and a thin, straight line for putting practice; without unduly delaying the pace of play on the golf course.