Combined ball marker and divot repairing tool

Abstract

A combination of a ball marker and divot repairing tool in a single, unitary device. The combination includes a ball marker with a body having a substantially circular perimeter in the tradition of a ball marker and a divot repairing tool that has a prod (e.g., fork). The prod is mounted for movement relative to the body of the ball marker between a retracted position within the circular perimeter of the body and a protruding position extending outwardly of the perimeter of the body. In one embodiment, the fork of the divot repairing tool is mounted to slide between the retracted and protruding positions. In a second embodiment, it is mounted to pivot between the retracted and protruding positions.

1 . A combination ball marker and divot repairing tool, said combination including: 
 a ball marker with a substantially disc-shaped body having a substantially circular perimeter and    a divot repairing tool, said divot repairing tool having a prod mounted to said body of said ball marker for movement relative thereto between a retracted position substantially within the perimeter of said body and a protruding position extending outwardly of the perimeter of said body, said combination being usable as a ball marker with said prod in said retracted position and as a divot repairing tool with said prod in said protruding position.    
   
   
       2 . (cancelled)  
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein said body has a substantially circular, second side piece spaced from said first side piece wherein said prod of said divot repairing tool is receivable between said two sides pieces in said retracted position.  
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 3  wherein said prod is mounted for sliding movement along an axis relative to the body of said ball marker.  
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said circular perimeter has a diameter of about an inch.  
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 1  further including a locking mechanism to secure said prod in at least one of said retracted and protruding positions.  
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein said prod is mounted for sliding movement along an axis relative to the body of said ball marker and said prod has a side, said locking mechanism including at least one notch in the side of said prod and a detent selectively receivable in said notch with said prod in one of said retracted and protruding positions.  
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein the body of said ball marker has two side pieces and at least one spacer member therebetween wherein said spacer member has an indent to permit said detent to move between positions engaging and disengaging said one notch.  
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein said prod is mounted for sliding movement along an axis relative to the body of said ball marker and said prod has a side, said locking mechanism including at least two notches in the side of said prod and a detent selectively receivable in said notches to selectively secure said prod in said retracted and protruding positions.  
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein said prod is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis relative to the body of said ball marker, said prod including at least two, spaced-apart tines and said locking mechanism including a protuberance extending outwardly of said body and receivable between said spaced-apart tines to secure said prod in said retracted position.  
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 10  wherein said protuberance is mounted on a cantilevered arm supported on the body.  
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said prod is mounted for sliding movement along an axis relative to the body of said ball marker.  
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said prod is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis relative to the body of said ball marker.  
   
   
       14 . (cancelled)  
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said prod is a fork with at least two tines.  
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein a first of said at least two tines is longer than a second of said tines.  
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein said prod has at least three tines.  
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 17  wherein two of said three tines are substantially the same length and the third tine is longer than said two tines.  
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said prod has a substantially circular perimeter.  
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 19  wherein the perimeters of the disc-shaped body of said ball marker and said prod are substantially the same size.  
   
   
       21 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the perimeters of the disc-shaped body of said ball marker and said prod are substantially the same size.  
   
   
       22 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said combination is a two-piece combination consisting of said ball marker and said prod.