Securing Systems for Gloves or Other Objects

Abstract

Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A releasable magnetic securing assembly, comprising:
 a base member including an outer perimeter;   a mount area defining a first base surface located at or within the outer perimeter of the base member, wherein the mount area includes at least one feature selected from the group consisting of: (a) the mount area defines a first receptacle for receiving a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, (b) the mount area is at least partially made from a magnet, and (c) the mount area is at least partially made from a ferromagnetic material;   at least two retaining walls extending from the mount area above the first base surface and located at or within the outer perimeter of the base member, wherein interior surfaces of the retaining walls and the first base surface define a connector receptacle;   a connector component removably receivable in the connector receptacle, wherein the connector component has an outer perimeter, wherein a combined total perimeter length of the interior surfaces of the retaining walls extends less than 50% of the outer perimeter of the connector component, wherein the first base surface includes a planar portion that extends less than an entire interior area of the connector receptacle such that the planar portion does not extend to at least some portion of an outer edge of the connector receptacle, and wherein the connector component is removably securable to the mount area by magnetic forces.   
     
     
         2 . A releasable magnetic securing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base member includes a flange, and wherein the flange of the base member extends outside of the at least two retaining walls. 
     
     
         3 . A releasable magnetic securing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base member includes a flange, wherein the flange includes at least one opening defined through it, and wherein the at least one opening extends in an elongated manner adjacent an outer perimeter of the flange. 
     
     
         4 . A releasable magnetic securing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a through hole is defined through the base member, wherein at least a majority of the through hole is located within an area defined by the at least two retaining walls, wherein the at least two retaining walls include a first retaining wall and a second retaining wall, wherein an interior surface of the first retaining wall bridges a first location where the first base surface of the mount area lies adjacent the through hole, and wherein an interior surface of the second retaining wall bridges a second location where the first base surface of the mount area lies adjacent the through hole. 
     
     
         5 . A releasable magnetic securing assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a golf equipment base component, wherein the base member is engaged with the golf equipment base component, and wherein the golf equipment base component is a divot repair tool. 
     
     
         6 . A releasable magnetic securing assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the connector component is a golf ball marker, and wherein the at least two retaining walls include four spaced apart retaining walls. 
     
     
         7 . A releasable magnetic securing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base member is provided on a container base and the connector component is provided on a closure flap for a container that includes the container base and the closure flap. 
     
     
         8 . A housing for a releasable magnetic securing system, comprising:
 a base member including an outer perimeter;   a mount area defining a first base surface located at or within the outer perimeter of the base member, wherein the mount area includes at least one feature selected from the group consisting of: (a) the mount area defines a first receptacle for receiving a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, (b) the mount area is at least partially made from a magnet, and (c) the mount area is at least partially made from a ferromagnetic material; and   at least two retaining walls extending from the mount area above the first base surface and located at or within the outer perimeter of the base member, wherein interior surfaces of the retaining walls and the first base surface define a releasable member receptacle having an inner perimeter for receiving a releasable member to be held by magnetic force, wherein a combined total perimeter length of the interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the inner perimeter is less than 50% of a total length of the inner perimeter, and wherein the first base surface includes a planar portion that extends less than an entire interior area of the inner perimeter such that the planar portion does not extend to at least some portion of the inner perimeter.   
     
     
         9 . A housing for a releasable magnetic securing assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the base member includes a flange, wherein the flange of the base member extends outside of the at least two retaining walls, wherein the flange includes at least one opening defined through it, and wherein the at least one opening extends in an elongated manner adjacent an outer perimeter of the flange. 
     
     
         10 . Golf apparel, comprising:
 an article of apparel;   a base member including an outer perimeter, wherein the base member is engaged with the article of apparel;   a mount area defining a first base surface located at or within the outer perimeter of the base member, wherein the mount area includes at least one feature selected from the group consisting of: (a) the mount area defines a first receptacle for receiving a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, (b) the mount area is at least partially made from a magnet, and (c) the mount area is at least partially made from a ferromagnetic material;   at least two retaining walls extending from the mount area above the first base surface and located at or within the outer perimeter of the base member, wherein interior surfaces of the retaining walls and the first base surface define a golf ball marker receptacle;   a golf ball marker removably receivable in the golf ball marker receptacle, wherein the golf ball marker has an outer perimeter, wherein a combined total perimeter length of the interior surfaces of the retaining walls extends less than 50% of the outer perimeter of the golf ball marker, wherein the first base surface includes a planar portion that extends less than an entire interior area of the golf ball marker receptacle such that the planar portion does not extend to at least some portion of an outer edge of the golf ball marker receptacle, and wherein the golf ball marker is removably securable to the mount area by magnetic forces.   
     
     
         11 . Golf apparel according to  claim 10 , wherein the article of apparel is a hat or visor. 
     
     
         12 . Golf apparel according to  claim 11 , wherein the base member is mounted on a visor component of the hat or visor. 
     
     
         13 . Golf apparel according to  claim 10 , wherein the article of apparel is a pair of pants. 
     
     
         14 . Golf apparel according to  claim 13 , wherein the base member is mounted at a pocket edge location of the pair of pants. 
     
     
         15 . Golf apparel according to  claim 14 , wherein the pocket edge location is an exterior pocket edge. 
     
     
         16 . Golf apparel according to  claim 10 , wherein the article of apparel is a shoe. 
     
     
         17 . Golf apparel according to  claim 16 , wherein the base member is mounted at a tongue portion of the shoe. 
     
     
         18 . Golf apparel according to  claim 10 , wherein the article of apparel is a belt. 
     
     
         19 . Golf apparel according to  claim 18 , wherein the article of apparel is a belt buckle. 
     
     
         20 . Golf apparel according to  claim 10 , wherein the base member includes a flange, wherein the flange of the base member extends outside of the at least two retaining walls, wherein the flange includes at least one opening defined through it, and wherein the at least one opening extends in an elongated manner adjacent an outer perimeter of the flange.