DETACHABLE FLUID CARRYING VESSEL

Abstract

Custom golf club assembly having a partially hollow handle portion to permit storage and consumption of fluids while golfing. The handle portion may be reversibly engaged to the shaft to permit use of the golf club assembly as a golf club when so engaged.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

As many golfers, from more casual players to professionals, would attest, the sport is often enjoyed among peers and with refreshments. These refreshments may range from conventional sports drinks to alcoholic beverages depending on the individual golfer. Such golfers may also attest to the fatigue associated with the sometimes cumbersome task of carrying one's equipment (and any refreshments) throughout the course of play.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved fluid carrying vessel to simplify the breadth of gear or items associated with enjoying refreshments of the course while simultaneously providing a unique experience in the consumption of such refreshments which may itself provide further enjoyment and entertainment to the user.

A fluid carrying vessel adapted for reversible engagement within a custom golf club assembly is contemplated to provide this improved and unique experience.

Other aspects, embodiments, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following Detailed Description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preceding aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the present disclosure will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying simplified drawings of example embodiments. The drawings briefly described below are presented for ease of explanation and do not limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a golf club assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded side view of a gold club assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts handle portion with an interior volume in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an alternative handle portion in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts a custom carrying case configured to securely transport at least one handle portion in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a custom Golf club assembly 100 as contemplated by the present disclosure. Golf club assembly 100 may include a grip or handle portion 110, a shaft portion 120, and a clubhead portion 130. By outward appearances, custom golf club assembly 100 conforms to conventional design standards for golf clubs.

As shown in FIG. 2, some embodiments of custom golf club assembly 100 are configured to permit reversible engagement between handle portion 110 and shaft portion 120. Handle portion 110 may be configured with a shaft engagement mechanism 111 adapted for reversible engagement with a corresponding handle engagement mechanism 121 disposed on shaft portion 120. Shaft engagement mechanism 111 may be an exterior threaded section of handle portion 110 configured to permit reversible engagement with the handle engagement mechanism 121. In such an embodiment, handle engagement mechanism 121 may be corresponding, interior threading within shaft portion 120. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, handle portion 110 may include a handle cap 112 configured to cover an interior volume 113 of handle portion 110. Handle cap 112 may engage with handle portion 110 through corresponding threaded sections, a snap fit, or other conventional engagement methods.

Shown in FIG. 3, interior volume 113 of handle portion 110 is configured to accommodate a volume of fluid contained therein. This volume may be at least 1.5 fluid ounces. In some embodiments, interior volume 113 may be configured to accommodate at least 3.5 fluid ounces. In further embodiments interior volume 113 may be configured to accommodate a desired volume of fluid wherein the desired volume may be between 1.5-10 fluid ounces or greater. Handle portion 110 may be composed of carbon fiber or other materials conventionally used in the fabrication of golf club handles and grips. Further, interior volume 113 may be defined by molding handle portion 110 or may be defined by composing a flask structure of differing (or the same) material of handle portion 110 that is secured within handle portion 110. A separate flask structure used to define interior volume 113 may be composed of stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, or any other conventional material used to contain fluid for human consumption.

Handle portion 110 may include an exterior gripping material disposed around its circumferential face to promote frictional resistance when held by a user. Further, handle portion 110 may be configured to permit cleaning by dishwasher when disengaged from the remainder of a golf club assembly 100. Clubhead portion 130 may be a clubhead made with conventional means and conventionally affixed to shaft portion 120.

Further embodiments of a handle portion 110 and shaft portion 120 are shown in FIG. 4. In such embodiments, shaft engagement mechanism 111 may be an exterior threaded section of handle portion 110 configured for reversible engagement with handle engagement mechanism 121. Handle engagement 121 may be a corresponding interior threaded section of shaft portion 120. In some embodiments, the engagement between handle portion 110 and shaft portion 120 may be configured to resist rotational forces applied to the club. In these embodiments, disengagement of the respective portions from one another during regular and expected use of the club may at least minimized if not completely avoided. For example, the engagement may include use of reversed threads that tighten when turned in a counterclockwise direction. Although embodiments featuring two methods of approaching reversible engagement between handle portion 110 and shaft portion 120 are depicted by FIGS. 2 and 4, these embodiments are non-limiting as other mechanisms to facilitate reversible engagement or also contemplated by this disclosure.

To facilitate refreshment variety while golfing, handle portion 110 may be interchangeable with other handle portions 110 within a golf club assembly 100. A user may elect to bring multiple of handle portion 110 each having a different refreshment contained therein, having a different volume of refreshment contained therein, or some combination of the two. FIG. 5 illustrates a carrying case 140 configured to safely store and transport at least one handle portion 110.

The section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 C.F.R. § 1.77 or to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically, and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” the claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called field. Further, a description of a technology as background information is not to be construed as an admission that particular technology is prior art to any embodiment(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” a characterization of the embodiment(s) outlined in issued claims.

Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple embodiments may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure. Such claims accordingly define the embodiment(s) and their equivalents that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.

Moreover, the Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the preceding Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features may be grouped in a single embodiment to streamline the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Instead, as the claims reflect, the inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims

1. A golf club assembly comprising: a handle portion having an interior volume partially defined by an interior handle surface of said handle portion;a shaft portion configured for reversible engagement with said handle portion; anda clubhead portion.

2. The golf club assembly of claim 1, wherein: an aperture disposed on said handle portion is configured to accommodate access to said interior volume, wherein said handle portion includes a shaft engagement mechanism configured to accommodate said reversible engagement, and wherein said shaft portion includes a corresponding handle engagement mechanism configured to accommodate said reversible engagement.

3. The golf club assembly of claim 2, wherein: said shaft engagement mechanism is a threaded section of said handle portion, and wherein said handle engagement mechanism is a correspondingly threaded section of said shaft portion.

4. The golf club assembly of claim 3, wherein: said threaded section of said handle portion comprises threading disposed on an exterior surface of said handle portion.

5. The golf club assembly of claim 4, further comprising: a handle cap configured to reversibly engage with said handle portion to prohibit access to said interior volume when said handle cap is engaged to said handle portion.

6. The golf club assembly of claim 5, wherein: said interior volume is configured to accommodate at least 1.5 fluid ounces.

7. The golf club assembly of claim 5, wherein: said interior volume is configured to accommodate at least 3.5 fluid ounces.

8. The golf club assembly of claim 3, wherein: said threaded section of said handle portion comprises threading disposed on a lower interior surface of said handle portion.

9. The golf club assembly of claim 8, further comprising: a handle cap configured to reversibly engage with said handle portion to prohibit access to said interior volume when said handle cap is engaged to said handle portion.

10. The golf club assembly of claim 9, wherein: said interior volume is configured to accommodate at least 1.5 fluid ounces.

11. The golf club assembly of claim 9, wherein: said interior volume is configured to accommodate at least 3.5 fluid ounces.