Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6651812
-
Patent Number
6,651,812
-
Date Filed
Monday, May 20, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 25, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Nixon Peabody LLP
- Costellia; Jeffrey L.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 206 3152
- 206 3153
- 206 3154
- 206 3155
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A support means for golf clubs comprising four parts. The first, second and third parts having a plurality of recesses for the golf club heads, the third part also being a cover for the golf club heads in the recesses of the first part and the second part. The fourth part of the cover providing a final cover to protect the golf clubs from dust and scratching. A cover so arranged has the advantage of fixing the position of various golf clubs (irons and woods) in a golf club bag. The golf clubs are held in position in the bag so that they will not scratch one another and making noises when being carried. The four parts of the cover are of transparent polymer material to allow the golf clubs to be seen through the cover which is advantageous for displaying purposes in shops.
Description
The present invention relates to support means for golf clubs, and in particular to a support means adapted to fit to the mouth of a golf club bag.
It is known to provide individual covers for golf clubs in a golf club bag. Typically each cover is a sock of material that is required to be removed and refitted each time a golf club is used. The socks prevent the clubs scratching one another and protect the golf club heads from dust.
Several problems are associated with the prior art golf club covers. Firstly they may be time consuming and awkward to fit and remove. Once removed they may be misplaced if they are not secured to the golf club bag or stored in a convenient place. Secondly when the covers are fitted the golf clubs cannot be seen. This may be problematic when selecting a particular golf club to use or when the golf clubs are on display in a shop.
A further problem associated with the prior art golf club covers is that they do not inhibit the clubs moving around in the golf club bag. This may allow the clubs to collide with one another which can lead to unwelcome noise and the possibility of clubs damaging one another during transit.
What is required is a golf club support means which can overcome the aforementioned problems.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a golf club support means adapted to fit to the mouth of a golf bag, said support means comprising a body having a plurality of formations shaped to, in use, receive and support a plurality of golf clubs in spaced relation to one another.
The support means of the present invention has the advantage of fixing the position of various golf clubs (irons and woods) in a golf club bag. The golf clubs are held in position in the bag so that they will not collide with or scratch one another and make noises when being carried.
In a preferred embodiment the formations are shaped to receive and support golf club heads, in use. Advantageously the formations, comprise a plurality of spaced ridges. This arrangement supports the golf club heads so that, in use, the shafts are substantially suspended within the golf club bag.
Preferably the body includes at least one recess, shaped to accommodate a golf club shaft, in use. The body may be provided with a plurality of recesses positioned so as to each receive a single club shaft. Alternatively the body may be provided with a single recess adapted to receive a plurality of club shafts.
Advantageously the body is moulded from a plastics material. The body may be moulded in any suitable manner including, for example, a rotation moulding operation, a vacuum forming operation or an injection moulding operation. In a preferred embodiment the body comprises a contoured skin of plastics material formed by injection moulding. Such a skin of plastics material provides the necessary rigidity to the body to support the golf clubs while remaining light and easy to manufacture. In an alternative embodiment the body may be manufactured from an expanded or foamed plastics material.
In a preferred embodiment the support means includes a cover adapted to overlie the body, in use. The cover serves to protect golf club heads supported by the body from dust and scratching. Advantageously the cover is provided with a plurality of formations shaped to, in use, receive and support a plurality of additional golf clubs in spaced relation to one another. This allows golf club heads to be placed on top of the cover to provide a further support for more golf clubs.
Preferably the formations of said cover are shaped to receive and support the heads of said additional golf clubs, in use.
Preferably the formations of said cover comprise a plurality of spaced ridges. Advantageously the cover including at least one recess shaped to accommodate a golf club shaft, in use. Preferably the cover is moulded from a plastics material and in a preferred embodiment the cover comprises a contoured skin of plastics material. In a preferred embodiment the cover is at least in part transparent, thereby allowing clubs supported on the body to be viewed.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a golf club support and display means comprising first and second support bodies adapted to fit to the mouth of a golf bag, a combined support body and cover having a recess adapted, in use, to receive said first and second support bodies and a top cover having a recess adapted, in use,to receive said combined support body and cover, said first and second support bodies being provided with a plurality of formations shaped to, in use, receive and support a plurality of golf clubs in spaced relation to one another.
The first and second support bodies may be separate or attentively may be joined, for example by a living hinge. Preferably the first and second support bodies, in use, project at differing heights from the mouth of the golf bag and, in use, present golf clubs supported thereon in a stepped array.
In a preferred embodiment the covers and support bodies may be manufactured from a transparent polymer material. This has the advantage of allowing the golf clubs to be seen through the support which is advantageous for displaying purposes in shops.
In a preferred embodiment the combined support body and cover is provided with one or more formations which enable the support body and cover to be attached to a golf bag, in use. Said formations may comprise a plurality of tabs having holes for attachment to appropriate features of a golf club bag. Preferably the tabs are flexible and thus allow the combined support body and cover to hinge from the golf bag to allow access to the golf clubs located on the first and second support bodies.
Preferably the second cover has holes for attachment to a golf club bag. This allows the cover to be easily fixed to and detached from the golf bag.
The second cover may be of two piece construction having a skirt and a top which are fixed together. Advantageously the second cover is substantially tubular with a diameter of approximately 25 cm. This allows the second cover to be located onto a golf club bag.
Advantageously the parts of the support bodies and/or covers may be provided with one or more additional recesses to receive golfing equipment. This may be in the form of one or more recesses for golf balls or one or more holes for golf tees.
Advantageously the golf club support means is a plurality of separate parts. This allows the different parts of the support means to be combined at the discretion of the user. For example if fewer golf clubs are placed in the golf bag less parts are needed.
Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, in which;
FIG. 1
is an exploded diagrammatic representation of a golf club support means according to the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a diagrammatic perspective representation of a golf club support means according to the present invention.
Referring firstly to
FIG. 1
there is shown a golf club support means in accordance with the present invention, generally designated
10
and comprising a first support body
16
, a second support body
36
, a combined support body and cover
52
and a second cover
62
. The figure shows a golf club bag
12
with a conventional opening
14
or mouth onto which the first support
16
locates. The first support
16
comprises a top
18
with a plurality of spaced ridges
20
, a back
22
over which the ridges
20
extend, a front
24
having a recess
26
and sides
28
,
30
which connect the top
18
, the back
22
and the
front
24
of the support body
16
. The ridges
20
are spaced and shaped such that they can receive and support the heads of the shorter golf clubs
32
of a set, that is to say irons having higher numbers. The head of a putter
34
locates in the recess
26
on the front
24
of the part
16
. In the embodiment shown the first support body
16
is hollow and moulded from a sheet of plastics material.
Also shown in
FIG. 1
is a second support body
36
which similarly comprises a top
38
with ridges
40
, a back
42
over which the ridges
40
extend, a front
44
and, sides
46
,
48
which connect the top
38
, the back
42
and the front
44
. The ridges
40
are spaced and shaped such that the heads
46
of the relatively longer golf clubs
46
(irons with lower numbers) may be located therebetween, in use. Recesses
50
are provided in the front
44
of the second body
36
so as to accommodate the shafts of golf clubs
32
located in the first support body
16
, in use.
It will be noted that the second support body
36
is comparatively taller than the first body
16
so as to present the clubs supported in the bodies
16
,
36
in a stepped arrangement. In the embodiment shown the second support body
36
is hollow and moulded from a sheet of transparent plastics. The first and second support bodies
16
,
36
are shown as separate components, however it will be appreciated that the bodies
16
,
36
may be joined, for example by a living hinge.
Also shown in
FIG. 1
is a combined support body and cover
52
. The cover
52
is hollow and shaped, in use, to receive and accommodate the first supported bodies
16
,
36
and golf clubs fitted thereto. The cover
52
has a top
53
with a surface profile to fit the profile of golf club heads
34
,
32
,
46
. The cover
52
has four flaps
54
, two of which are shown, on the edge of its sides
56
for the purpose of attaching the cover
52
to the golf bag
12
. When only two of the flaps
54
are attached to the golf bag
12
the cover
52
can be hinged so as to allow access to the golf clubs located on the first and second supports
16
,
36
. The outside surface of the top
53
of the cover
52
has ridges
58
adapted to receive and support the golf club heads of bigger and longer golf clubs
60
(woods). In the embodiment shown the first cover
52
is moulded from a sheet of plastics material.
FIG. 1
also shows a second cover
62
adapted to cover and enclose the first and second support bodies
16
,
36
, the combined support body and cover
52
and any golf clubs supported thereby. The second cover
62
, in the embodiment shown, is of two piece construction comprising a cylindrical
64
and a top
66
which are joined together along the dotted lines in FIG.
1
. The second cover
62
has four holes
68
at the edge of the skirt
64
for attachment to the golf bag
12
. The top
6
.
6
is moulded so as to receive the heads of any clubs supported on the combined support body and cover
52
. The second cover
62
is hollow and moulded from a sheet of transparent plastics.
FIG. 2
illustrates a perspective view of the golf club support means
10
in a fully assembled state
10
and carrying a full complement of golf clubs. The diagram illustrates the relative orientation of the first support
16
, the second support
36
, the first cover
52
and second cover
62
when assembled.
In use the support bodies and covers
16
,
36
,
52
,
62
may be used separately, altogether or in different combinations as required and depending on the number of golf clubs being carried. The first support
16
and second support
36
are placed next to each other slightly above the opening
14
of the golf bag
12
to fix the positions of the golf clubs
34
,
32
,
46
(irons) in a predetermined sequence. Once the required complement of clubs
34
,
32
,
46
(irons) are located to the first and second support bodies
16
,
36
, the first cover may be
52
is placed thereon to cover the support bodies
16
,
36
together with the golf clubs
34
,
32
,
46
(irons). The woods
60
may then placed in the golf bag
12
so that the heads of the woods
60
locate between ridges
58
of the first cover
52
. The second cover
62
is then placed over the clubs
34
,
32
,
46
,
60
and the first support
16
, second support
36
and first cover
52
.
The shape of the covers and supports
16
,
36
,
52
,
62
are contoured so as to accommodate golf clubs, both irons and woods, from a variety of manufactures. As described above the covers and support bodies
16
,
36
,
52
,
62
and are moulded from a relatively thin plastic sheet material. In a preferred embodiment the plastic of the combined support body and cover
52
and the second cover
62
is transparent so as to allow the clubs to be viewed when the covers
52
,
62
are in place. This sheet moulding technique provides adequate strength to support the clubs, yet provides a light and easy to handle cover. The diameter of the second cover being approximately equal to the diameter of a golf club bag opening.
Whilst a preferred embodiment for the device has been described it will be appreciated that many other designs of the support means exist that would have the desired effect of the invention with the proviso that parts of the support means support the golf clubs and parts of the support means cover and protect the golf clubs.
Claims
- 1. A golf club support and display means comprising:first and second support bodies adapted to fit to the mouth of a golf bag said first and second support bodies each being provided with a plurality of formations shaped to receive and support a first plurality of golf clubs in spaced relation to one another, a combined support body and cover wherein said combined support body and cover being provided with a plurality of formations shaped to receive and support a second plurality of golf clubs in spaced relation to one another on an exterior surface thereof and shaped to have a recess for covering said first and second support bodies and said first plurality of golf clubs and a top cover having a recess, to cover said combined support body and cover and said second plurality of golf clubs.
- 2. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of formations of said first and second support bodies and said support body and cover are shaped to receive and support golf club heads.
- 3. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of formations of said first and second support bodies and said support body and cover comprise a plurality of spaced ridges.
- 4. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second support bodies and said support body and cover are moulded from a plastics material.
- 5. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first and second support bodies and said support body and cover comprise a contoured skin of plastics material.
- 6. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of formations of said first and second support bodies and said support body and cover comprise a plurality of ridges.
- 7. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support body and cover is moulded from a plastics material.
- 8. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first and second support bodies and said support body and cover comprise a contoured skin of plastics material.
- 9. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second support bodies, project at different heights from the mouth of the golf and, support golf clubs thereon in a stepped array.
- 10. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 9, wherein said combined support body and cover is provided with attaching means which enable the support body and cover to be attached to a golf bag.
- 11. A golf club support and display means comprising:first and second support bodies adapted to fit to the mouth of a golf bag, a combined support body and cover having a recess adapted, in use, to receive said first and second support bodies and a top cover having a recess adapted to receive said combined support body and cover, said first and second support bodies being provided with a plurality of formations shaped to, in use, receive and support a plurality of golf clubs in spaced relation to one another, wherein said combined support body and cover is provided with attaching means which enable the support body and cover to be attached to a golf bag, wherein said attaching means comprise at least one tab having a hole for attachment to an appropriate feature of a golf bag.
- 12. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one tab is flexible and thereby allows the combined support body and cover to, hinge from the golf bag to allow access to the golf clubs located in the first and second support bodies.
- 13. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 11, wherein said top cover is of two pieces construction having a skirt and a top which are fixed together.
- 14. A golf club support and display means as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first and second support bodies are provided with one or more additional recesses to receive golfing equipment.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
0208705 |
Apr 2002 |
GB |
|
US Referenced Citations (6)