Golf ball marker holder and method

Abstract

A display device for a golf ball marker includes a mechanism for temporary attaching the display device or insert at a visible position on a person, and a holding portion (structure) attached to the mechanism. The ball marker holding portion also includes a magnetic force portion, and a gripping portion adapted to apply a holding force on a ball marker. The magnetic force portion includes a magnet; and an element including a recess for receiving the magnet. A wristband can operate as the display device for the ball marker, which is removable from the temporary attachment to the wristband. The attachment can hold the marker in place while the person moves and plays golf, e.g., swings a golf club. The wristband can be a silicone wristband.

1 . A wrist band for golf comprising:
 a band; and   a ball marker holding portion in contact with the band, the ball marker holding portion further comprising:
 a force portion; and 
 a gripping portion adapted to apply a holding force on a ball marker. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wrist band of  claim 1 , wherein the force portion comprises a magnetic force portion. 
     
     
         3 . The wrist band of  claim 1 , wherein the ball marker holding portion further comprises:
 a main body; and   a cup in contact with the main body, at least one major surface of the force portion positioned in the cup.   
     
     
         4 . The wrist band of  claim 3 , wherein a substantial portion of the holding portion is captured within the main body of the ball marker holding portion. 
     
     
         5 . The wrist band of  claim 2 , wherein the holding portion includes:
 a magnet; and   an element including a recess for receiving the magnet, the magnet encapsulated within the main body.   
     
     
         6 . The wrist band of  claim 5 , further comprising two or more magnets in contact with the wrist band. 
     
     
         7 . The wrist band of  claim 5 , wherein the band is magnetic. 
     
     
         8 . The wrist band of  claim 1 , wherein the force portion includes:
 a hat-shaped element; and   a magnet in contact with the hat-shaped element.   
     
     
         9 . The wrist band of  claim 8 , wherein the magnet is compression fit within the hat-shaped element. 
     
     
         10 . The wrist band of  claim 3 , wherein the cup includes a set of ribs, the set of ribs and a major surface of the force portion defining a plane near the bottom of the cup. 
     
     
         11 . The wrist band of  claim 3 , wherein the cup includes the gripping portion, the gripping portion including a sidewall of the cup, the sidewall having a lip, the sidewall and lip dimensioned to fit around a periphery of a ball marker and over a portion of one major surface of the ball marker. 
     
     
         12 . The wrist band of  claim 3 , wherein the cup includes the gripping portion, the gripping portion including a sidewall of the cup, the sidewall having a lip, the sidewall and lip dimensioned to fit around a periphery of a ball marker and over a portion of one major surface of the ball marker, both the sidewall and the lip adapted to grip a ball marker. 
     
     
         13 . The wrist band of  claim 3 , having a ball marker positioned therein. 
     
     
         14 . The wrist band of  claim 3 , wherein the gripping portion is dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of different ball markers. 
     
     
         15 . The wrist band of  claim 1 , wherein the ball markers comprise one or more of decorative discs, coins, colored markers, markers with logos, and markers with numerical identification 
     
     
         16 . A display device for a golf ball marker, the display device comprising:
 a mechanism for temporary attaching the display device in a visible position; and   a ball marker holding portion attached to the mechanism, the ball marker holding portion further comprising:   a force portion; and   a gripping portion adapted to apply a holding force on a ball marker.   
     
     
         17 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein the force portion comprises a magnetic force portion. 
     
     
         18 . The display device of  claim 16  wherein the force portion includes:
 a magnet; and 
 an element including a recess for receiving the magnet, the magnet encapsulated within the main body. 
 
     
     
         19 . The display device of  claim 17 , wherein the magnet is positioned or removed by one or more of compression, twisting, snapping and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein the ball marker holding portion further comprises:
 a main body; and   a cup in contact with the main body, at least one major surface of the force portion positioned in the cup.   
     
     
         21 . The display device of  claim 20 , wherein the cup includes a set of ribs, the set of ribs and a major surface of the magnetic force portion defining a plane near the bottom of the cup. 
     
     
         22 . The display device of  claim 20 , wherein the cup includes the gripping portion, the gripping portion including a sidewall of the cup, the sidewall having a lip, the sidewall and lip dimensioned to fit around a periphery of a ball marker and over a portion of one major surface of the ball marker. 
     
     
         23 . The display device of  claim 20 , wherein the cup includes the gripping portion, the gripping portion including a sidewall of the cup, the sidewall having a lip, the sidewall and lip dimensioned to fit around a periphery of a ball marker and over a portion of one major surface of the ball marker, both the sidewall and the lip adapted to grip a ball marker. 
     
     
         24 . The display device of  claim 16 , having a ball marker positioned therein. 
     
     
         25 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein the gripping portion is dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of different ball markers. 
     
     
         26 . A wrist band for holding inserts comprising:
 a band; and   an insert holding structure attached to the band, the insert holding further comprising:
 a force portion; 
 a center platform to hold the insert; and 
 an inclined portion that allows the insert to pivot and be removed from the insert holding structure. 
   
     
     
         27 . The wrist band of  claim 26 , wherein the force portion comprise a magnetic force portion. 
     
     
         28 . The wrist band of  claim 26 , wherein the insert holding structure includes a side wall surrounding a bottom wall. 
     
     
         29 . The wrist band of  claim 26 , wherein the bottom wall is at least partially a frustum that also defines the center platform. 
     
     
         30 . The wrist band of  claim 26 , wherein the center platform is below a top of the side wall. 
     
     
         31 . The wrist band of  claim 29 , wherein the center platform includes a recess and wherein a magnet is positioned in the recess. 
     
     
         32 . The wrist band of  claim 31 , wherein the magnet is positioned below a top surface of the center platform. 
     
     
         33 . The wrist band of  claim 26 , wherein the insert holding structure includes a plurality of structures to hold a plurality of inserts. 
     
     
         34 . The wrist band of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of structures are equally spaced around the band. 
     
     
         35 . The wrist band of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of structures are adjacent to each other such that at least half of the band is free from insert holding structures 
     
     
         36 . The wrist band of  claim 26 , wherein the insert holding structures are to hold golf ball markers.