This application relates to a portable caddy (i.e., container) for golf clubs, and more particularly, to a lightweight, personally transportable caddy that is removably affixable to the turf of a golf course to hold one or more golf clubs in an upright, readily accessible orientation.
During play, golf clubs are often held and transported in a golf bag that is sized to hold an entire set of clubs, and wherein substantially the entire club shaft fits into the bag. Fully loaded with a set of clubs, balls and other accessories, golf bags can be very heavy, and thus impractical to carry for long distances. As such, golf bags are usually carried on a motorized golf cart.
On many golf courses, motorized golf carts are restricted to a designated cart pathway to avoid damage to the turf of the fairways and/or greens. Thus, when a player walks out onto the course to take a shot, he/she typically leaves the golf bag in the cart and takes only a few clubs. Since the player cannot hold multiple clubs when actually taking the shot, the other loose clubs (i.e., those removed from the golf bag), are typically left on the ground or propped against a nearby tree or other structure. Not infrequently, such loose clubs become wet, soiled, stepped on, broken and/or forgotten (lost). A need therefore exists, for a device that can be easily carried onto the course to safely hold several clubs in an upright position while the player shoots.
Before each shot, golfers need to align their bodies such that their swing is lined up with the desired line of travel for the ball. For many golfers, it is helpful to have a visual frame of reference in the form of a line extending in the desired line of travel (e.g., toward the hole) disposed in front of the player (i.e., within their peripheral vision). A need therefore exists, for a device that can be provide a visual frame of reference that can be oriented by the user to indicate the desired line of travel for the ball.
In one aspect of the invention, a golf caddy comprises a compact body including a sidewall defining a first interior cavity, an open top end and a bottom end, a base attached to the bottom end, and at least one step member extending laterally from the base. A plurality of spikes projects longitudinally from a lower surface of the base. A handle connects to the body and includes a grip portion extending adjacent to the body to define a gap therebetween. A ball holder is connected to the body and has a sidewall defining a second interior cavity, an open top end and a closed bottom end. An alignment tool is attached to the body and is selectively reconfigurable to produce a visually perceivable line extending in a user-selectable direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.
In another aspect of the invention, a golf caddy comprises a compact body including a rigid sidewall defining a first interior cavity extending along a longitudinal axis, an open top end and a bottom end, a rigid base attached to the bottom end of the body, the base having an upper surface facing the interior cavity and a lower surface facing away from the interior cavity, and at least one step member extending laterally from the base. A plurality of spikes projects longitudinally from the lower surface of the base. A handle is connected to the body at a first end and includes a grip portion spaced apart from the body and extending longitudinally adjacent the body to define an elongated gap between the handle and the body. A ball holder is connected to the body and has a rigid sidewall defining a second interior cavity, an open top end and a closed bottom end. An alignment tool is attached to the body and is selectively reconfigurable to produce a visually perceivable line extending away from the body in a user-selectable direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.
In another embodiment thereof, the body has a length within the range of 18 inches to 36 inches, measured from the top end to the bottom end along the longitudinal axis, but not including the length of the spikes.
In still another embodiment thereof, the body has a length within the range of 23 inches to 27 inches, measured from the top end to the bottom end along the longitudinal axis, but not including the length of the spikes.
In another embodiment, the alignment tool further comprises an elongated shaft member having first and second ends and a central section disposed therebetween. The shaft member extends in a substantially straight line between the first and second ends. A mounting element is adapted to rotatably connect the central section of the shaft member to the top end of the body such that the first and second ends of the shaft member extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The elongated shaft member, when attached to the top end of the body, can be oriented in a user-selectable direction to visually form a line extending away from the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.
In still another embodiment thereof, the mounting element is a center clip member connected to the central section of the shaft member, the center clip member having a pair of channels adapted to removably attach across a circular rim at the top end of the body.
In another embodiment, the golf caddy further comprises a clip disposed on one of the first and second ends of the shaft member of the alignment tool, the clip being adapted to releasably connect to a rim at the top end of the body. A securing member is disposed on the body, the securing member having sidewalls and a bottom to define a cup-like recess for releasably receiving the other of the first and second ends of the shaft member. The alignment tool can be releasably secured to a side of the body for storage.
In yet another embodiment, the alignment tool further comprises a laser producing a light beam in a visible wavelength, a lens disposed along the light beam to convert the light beam to a line of light on surfaces to which it is projected, and a mounting element adapted to rotatably connect the laser to the body such that the line of light produced by the laser and the lens can be directed at a surface adjacent to the base in a user-selectable direction to form a line extending away from the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.
In another embodiment thereof, the mounting element is a rotating collar affixed to the upper end of the body.
In another embodiment, the rigid sidewall has a substantially constant cross section, when viewed along the longitudinal axis.
In another embodiment thereof, the cross section of the rigid sidewall is a circle of substantially constant diameter, when viewed along the longitudinal axis.
In another embodiment, the rigid sidewall is substantially unperforated by through-openings from the interior cavity.
In yet another embodiment, the rigid sidewall defines a plurality of through-openings from the interior cavity.
In another embodiment, the handle further includes a cylindrical hole formed therethrough, the hole having an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, and having a diameter within the range from 0.75 inch to 1.25 inch.
In yet another embodiment, the sidewall of the ball holder defines a cylindrical interior cavity having a diameter within the range of 1.68 inch to 2.00 inch, and the sidewall further includes at least one open slot formed through the sidewall having a width of at least 0.75 inch and extending longitudinally to within a distance of 0.5 inches from the bottom end of the ball holder.
In another aspect of the invention, a golf caddy comprises a body including a rigid sidewall defining a first interior cavity extending along a longitudinal axis, an open top end and a bottom end, a rigid base attached to the bottom end of the body, the base having an upper surface facing the interior cavity and a lower surface facing away from the interior cavity, and at least one step member extending laterally from the base. A plurality of spikes project longitudinally from the lower surface of the base. A handle is connected to the body at a first end and includes a grip portion spaced apart from the body and extending longitudinally adjacent the body to define an elongated gap between the handle and the body. The sidewall is formed from a thermoplastic material.
In another embodiment thereof, the thermoplastic material of the sidewall is one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic and polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic.
In another embodiment thereof, the sidewall further comprises at least two separate sidewall sections that are joined together.
In another embodiment thereof, at least one of the separate sidewall sections includes a handle slot formed on an edge thereof, and the handle includes a flange formed thereon that is adapted to fit into the handle slot and be trapped between the two sidewall sections when they are joined together whereby the handle is joined to the body.
In yet another aspect, the base is formed of a thermoplastic material, the spikes are formed of a metal material, and the spikes are partially embedded in the base.
In yet another aspect, the sidewall further comprises at least two separate sidewall sections that are joined together, and the base including the partially embedded spikes is attached to the bottom end of the two sidewall sections.
For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:
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The compact size of the body 102 is selected to provide the desired portability and light weight of the caddy 100. If the body length is too long, the weight will be too high, and if the body length is too short, then the golf clubs will spread excessively and cause instability. In one embodiment, the body 102 has a length (denoted L1) within the range of 18 inches to 36 inches, measured from the top end 104 to the bottom end 106 along the longitudinal axis 107 (but not including the length of the spikes 110). In another embodiment thereof, the body has a length L1 within the range of 20 inches to 30 inches. In another embodiment thereof, the body has a length L1 within the range of 23 inches to 27 inches. In yet another embodiment thereof, the body has a length L1 within the range of 24 inches to 26 inches. Similarly, if the maximum width (or maximum diameter for circular cross sections) of the body 102 is too large, the weight will be too high, and if the maximum width/diameter is too small, the caddy will not hold enough golf clubs to be useful. In one embodiment, the body 102 has a maximum width/diameter (denoted W1) within the range of 2.4 inches to 5.0 inches, measured across the top end 104. In another embodiment thereof, the body has a maximum width/diameter W1 within the range of 2.5 inches to 4.0 inches. In yet another embodiment thereof, the body has a maximum width/diameter W1 within the range of 3.0 inches to 3.5 inches.
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A handle 114 is connected to the body 102 at a first end and includes a grip portion 115 spaced apart from the body 102 and extending longitudinally adjacent the body to define an elongated gap 116 between the handle and the body. Preferably, the handle 114 is provided at the top end 104 of the caddy 100. The handle 114 may be configured like a hook or inverted āJā that is joined at its upper end to the body 102 so as to define the elongated gap 116 between the handle and the body. The gap 116 facilitates hanging the caddy 100 on the rim of a golf bag (not shown) or other supporting structure. For example, this gap 116 may be configured to fit over the rim of a full-sized golf bag such that the caddy 100 can hang from the golf bag for storage or transportation on the golf cart. A cylindrical hole 118 may be formed through the handle 114 to provide a convenient cigar holder/towel holder (see
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It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this golf caddy provides a compact and man-portable container for holding a small number of golf clubs in an upright position on the turf of a golf course. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, included are any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.
This application is a Patent Cooperation Treaty Application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/655,642, filed Jun. 5, 2012, entitled GOLF CADDY (Atty. Dkt. No. DKT. SKSN-31273) and of U.S. Provisional Patent Applicant No. 61/675,315, filed Jul. 24, 2012, entitled GOLF CADDY (Atty. Dkt. No. DKT. SKSN-3194), the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2013/022604 | 1/22/2013 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61655642 | Jun 2012 | US | |
61675315 | Jul 2012 | US |