Golfing equipment

Abstract

A lightweight golfing kit particularly suited to use on pitch-and-putt courses comprises one or more golfing shafts, two or more clubheads demountably attachable thereto, and a carrier assembly including a holster open at both ends for supporting the shaft or shafts. The carrier may include a case for the clubheads supporting the holster in an upright position, and loops for supporting the assembly from a golfer's shoulders. Optionally a golfing shaft may be adjustable in length. The assembly may also include a detachable belt.

Description

The invention will be further described with particular reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disassembled shaft and clubhead useful in our invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic detail view of a clubhead useful in the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a shoulder-mounted carrier and linked belt for use with the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a player wearing the carrier of FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a clubhead 10 comprises a steel inset 11 around which is moulded a thermosetting resin 12 in the form of a wooden club (driver). The inset 11 carries on the end protruding from the clubhead 10 a cylindrical post 13, at the base of which is provided a male threaded portion 14. The shaft 15 comprises a grip 16 mounted on a tubular body 17. The body 17 carries an interior steel rod 18 running along its length, and formed at its lower end with a cylindrical sleeve 19 terminating in a female thread 20. In operation, the post 13 of clubhead 10 is inserted into the sleeve 19, fitting snugly, and held securely therein by engaging the female thread 20 with the male thread 14. After the player has driven off from the tee, the driver clubhead 10 may be disengaged from the shaft 15 by unscrewing, and a different clubhead (e.g., a fairway wood or an iron) substituted.

The shaft 15 is adjustable in length. The grip 16 comprises a rubber moulding 21 mounted on a cylindrical sleeve 22.

This carries a set of seven pairs of opposed ports 23 corresponding to seven working lengths of the shaft 15. The pairs of ports 23 are numbered consecutively with the digits 3 to 9, the pair nearest the clubhead being numbered 3. The shaft 15 carries opposed spring-loaded fingers 24 which can be set to engage with any pair of opposed ports 23 to lock the sleeve 22 into position. By this means the working length of the shaft 15 may be adjusted to suit the clubhead selected for mounting on it.

The equipment of our invention is further characterised by the assembly used to transport it. This comprises a holster for the shaft or shafts, open at both ends, and adapted to hang upright between the shoulders of the player. The assembly may also comprise a carrying-case for clubheads, and may alternatively or additionally be linked to a waist-mountable belt having compartments for clubheads or golfballs. The carrying-case or belt may also be adapted to include other golf equipment, for example balls, tees, gloves, towels, scorecards and scoring-pencils.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show one form of carrier used in the invention, a combined shoulder-carrier and belt. The shoulder-carrier comprises a holster 31 open at both ends. The bottom end 32 is constricted with elastic so as to receive and grip up to three shafts 15. The holster 31 is mounted on a carrying-case 33 which opens (e.g., by unzipping) to receive fourteen clubheads 10, each in its own individual pouch. The holster 31 and case 33 are supported by shoulder straps 34, adjustable to the wearer's preference by buckles 35. The holster 31 and case 33 may also be linked to a belt 36, adjustable by a buckle 37, and fitted with holders 38 for tees 39 and slots 40 for carrying golfballs 41. An eye 42 on a strap 43 serves to detachably link the shoulder-carrier to a button 44 on the belt 36.

Holsters may be rigid or flexible, made for example of plastics or stout cloth, optionally mounted on a metal frame. An alternative form of holster 31 designed for use with more than one shaft has internal means for separating two or more shafts from one another. These may comprise clips, loops, or tubular housings of cloth or plastics material for receiving and holding each shaft separately. An advantage of an open holster is that it can be notably shorter than the full length of a shaft and so is lighter and less awkward to handle.

Claims

1. A set of lightweight golfing equipment comprises one or more golfing shafts, two or more clubheads demountably attachable to at least one such shaft, and means for a golfer to carry the shafts and clubheads comprising a carrier assembly including a holster open at both ends for supporting the shaft or shafts.

2. A set as claimed in claim 1 in which the carrier assembly is adapted to be carried on a golfer's back with the holster disposed upright.

3. A set as claimed in claim 1 in which the assembly includes a case having holders to receive each clubhead.

4. A set as claimed in claim 1 in which a mounting for the carrier assembly comprises a pair of linked loops for receiving the golfer's arms so as to support the assembly between the golfer's shoulders.

5. A set as claimed in claim 1 comprising a golfing shaft adjustable in length.

6. A set as claimed in claim 5 in which the shaft is adjustable in length between fixed positions appropriate to the use of different clubheads in the set.

7. A set as claimed in claim 1 in which the holster is provided with means to grip the shaft or shafts.

8. A set as claimed in claim 1 in which the holster is provided with internal means to position two or more shafts apart from one another.

9. A set as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a belt adapted to carry clubheads or golfing accessories, e.g., balls, tees, scorecard, pencil.

10. A set as claimed in claim 9 in which the belt is detachably linkable to the assembly.

11. A set of golfing equipment comprising: at least one golf shaft;at least two clubheads each demountably attachable to said at least one golf shaft; and,a carrier assembly for separately supporting said at least one golf shaft and said at least two clubheads.

12. The set of claim 11 wherein said carrier assembly comprises a holster open at both ends for supporting said at least one golf shaft.

13. The set of claim 12 wherein said carrier assembly further comprises a case having holders to receive each of said at least two clubheads.

14. The set of claim 12 wherein said carrier assembly further comprises a pair of shoulder straps.

15. The set of claim 14 wherein said carrier assembly further comprises a belt.

16. The set of claim 15 wherein said belt is detachably connected to said carrier assembly.

17. The set of claim 12 wherein at least two golf shafts are provided and wherein said holster includes at least one internal wall for separating said at least two golf shafts from each other.

18. The set of claim 11 wherein said at least one golf shaft is adjustable in length between fixed positions appropriate to the use of each of said at least two clubheads.