WO2004020051A1

WO2004020051A1 - Accessory clip

Info

Publication number: WO2004020051A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000991
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas Arthur Sims; Volker Huesgen
Original assignee: 3P Australia Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-30
Filing date: 2003-08-05
Publication date: 2004-03-11
Also published as: US20050236446A1; JP2005536294A; AU2002951142A0

Abstract

An accessory support system comprising an accessory clip (11) and an accessory support (31), the accessory clip (11) comprising a body adapted to be supported by support means and having clip engagement means (24), said clip engagement means (24) being adapted to receive and removably engage the accessory support (31) to thereby support the accessory support (31), the accessory support being adapted to removably receive and support at least one accessory and having corresponding support engagement means (48) adapted to co-operate with the clip engagement means (24).

Description

"Accessory Clip"

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for supporting accessories.

Background Art

In many activities, it is necessary to have readily at hand a certain accessory which must be put aside for a short time while some other activity is undertaken. The sport of golf is an example of an activity which demands that the player hold a number of different objects at various times during the game but which must be put aside at other times. Example of such articles include a tee and a green- marker. Until now there has not been a convenient means to hold such accessories so that they are retained on the player in a convenient manner when required but can be placed elsewhere at other times.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly there is disclosed an accessory support system comprising an accessory clip and an accessory support, the accessory clip comprising a body adapted to be supported by support means and having clip engagement means, said clip engagement means being adapted to receive and removably engage the accessory support to thereby support the accessory support, the accessory support being adapted to removably receive and support at least one accessory and having corresponding support engagement means adapted to co-operate with the clip engagement means.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the accessory clip comprises a pair of opposing members, the members being resiliently biased to engage one another to thereby provide the support means.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the clip engaging means comprises an attachment means mounted on an external face of the accessory clip, and the support engaging means comprises a complementary attachment means mounted on an external face of the accessory support.

According to a preferred embodiment, the clip engaging means and the attachment means comprise complementary pads of hook and loop fastener material adhesively retained to the accessory clip and the accessory support, respectively.

According to a preferred embodiment, the accessory support comprises a tee support adapted to support at least one golf tee. According to a preferred embodiment, the tee support comprises a body with a plurality of apertures, each aperture adapted to receive and support a golf tee.

According to a preferred embodiment the accessory support comprises a green . marker support adapted to support a green marker. According to a preferred embodiment the green marker support comprises a body member and a pair of opposing, clasping members, the clasping members being resiliently biased to engage the body member and adapted to receive the green marker there between.

The invention will be more fully understood in light of the following description of two specific embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1A is side elevation of an accessory clip according to the first embodiment;

Figure 1B is front elevation of an accessory clip according to the first embodiment;

Figure 1C is plan view of an accessory clip according to the first embodiment; Figure 1D is rear elevation of an accessory clip according to the first embodiment;

Figure 1 E is an upper rear perspective view of an accessory clip according to the first embodiment;

Figure 1F is a lower rear perspective view of an accessory clip according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2A is side elevation of an accessory support according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2B is front elevation of an accessory support according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2C is plan view of an accessory support according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2D is rear elevation of an accessory support according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2E is an upper rear perspective view of an accessory support according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2F is an upper front perspective view of an accessory support according to the first embodiment;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an accessory clip and an accessory support aligned for attachment according to the first embodiment;

Figure 4A is side elevation of an accessory support according to the second embodiment showing a green marker aligned for insertion;

Figure 4B is rear elevation of an accessory support according to the second embodiment showing a green marker aligned for insertion; Figure 4C is an upper rear perspective view of an accessory support according to the second embodiment showing a green marker aligned for insertion;

Figure 4D is an upper rear perspective view of an accessory support according to the second embodiment showing a green marker inserted;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an accessory clip and an accessory support aligned for attachment according to the second embodiment .

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments.

The first embodiment of the invention is directed to an accessory support system comprising an accessory clip and an accessory support adapted to support golf tees that may be used while playing the game of golf.

The embodiment of the accessory clip is shown in Figures 1A to 1 F. The clip 11 comprises a front, substantially planar member 12 and an opposed, rear, substantially planar member 14. The two members 12 and 14 are interconnected by a curved connection member 16 integral with the front and rear members. The connection member 16 biases the front member 12 and the rear member 14 into engagement along a line of contact 18. The rear member 14 terminates in a projecting portion 20 extending from approximate the line of contact 18 away from the front member 12.

As shown in Figure 1B the front member 12 is substantially rectangular as is the rear member 14 as shown in Figure 1 D. As seen in Figure 1A the projecting portion 20 extending away from the front member 12 provides an open mouth 22 adapted to receive a material slid between the two members 12 and 14 of the clip 11 to be therefore be engaged thereby along the line of contact 18. The clip is thus adapted to be received by a suitable piece of the apparel of the golfer such as a belt or the upper hem of his trousers or perhaps a shirt pocket. It may also be affixed to a suitable support such as a portion of the golf bag. The front member 12 is provided with an engagement means 24 in the form of hook and loop fastener material adhering to the front member 12 by suitable adhesive.

To enhance the aesthetic appeal, the clip is optionally made from a clear plastics material, as shown in Figure 1F.

The accessory support of the first embodiment comprises a tee support 31. The tee support comprises a planer member 32, a transverse member 34 extending at one side of the main member 32 and a foot member 36 extending outwardly and obliquely from the main member at the lower edge of the main member.

As shown in Figure 2A, the transverse member 34 comprises a first sub-member 35 and a second sub-member 38 supported from the first sub-member 35 by a curved linkage 40. A series of three apertures 42 penetrate through the first sub- member 35. Corresponding axially aligned holes 44 also penetrate the second sub-member 38. Corresponding axially aligned arcuate cut outs 46 cut the edge of the foot member 36.

As shown in Figure 3 it can be seen that the tee support is adapted to receive golf tees which are inserted to pass into the apertures 42 in the first sub-member 35 and pass through apertures 44 in the second sub-member 38 and abut the cut outs 46 in the foot 36.

The planar member 32 is provided with a pad 48 of hook and loop fastener material adhered to the member by suitable adhesive. In this way the tee support is adapted to engage the accessory clip to thereby be supported by the accessory clip which may be attached to the golfer as mentioned earlier. When not in use, the tee support is adapted to be attached to a further accessory clip which perhaps is mounted onto the golfers club bag or trolley. In this way the golfer can readily remove the tee support holding a plurality of tees from the accessory clip attached to the golf buggy, then attach the tee support to the accessory clip on his apparel at the time he is preparing to tee off and afterwards return it to the buggy quickly and ready for future use. The second embodiment of the invention is directed to an accessory support system comprising an accessory clip and an accessory support adapted to support a green marker that may be used while playing the game of golf.

The accessory clip of the second embodiment is identical to the accessory clip of the first embodiment and will not be described again. The accessory support of the second embodiment comprises a marker support 61 adapted to support a green marker 62. As shown in Figure 4 A to D the marker support 61 comprises a clip substantially similar to the accessory clip 11 except the rear member 74 is substantially divided into two portions 63 and 64 by an elongated slot 65 centrally dividing the member from the mouth 22. As shown in the Figures 4A to 4F, a typical green marker 62 comprising a disc portion 66 and a pin portion 68 may be slid into the marker support 61 , the outward planer face of the disc portion 66 being aligned with the inner face of the front member 72 while the pin portion 68 is substantially aligned with the axis of the slot 65. As is shown, the marker may be slid between the front and rear members to be engaged thereby.

The marker support further comprises a pad of hook and loop fastener 70 adhered to the front member 58 by a suitable adhesive. Thereby the marker support is easily adapted to be engaged to the accessory clip to be supported thereby. Again as per the tee support, when not in use the marker support may be removed from the accessory clip worn by the golfer and replaced on another accessory clip associated with the club bag.

It will be appreciated that this novel accessory support system is readily adapted to support a range of accessories by the design of appropriate accessory support members adapted to engage the accessory clip. There is thereby provided a most useful system for supporting accessories at one location when required but which enables them to be securely supported at an alternative location at other times in a way wherein they will not be lost.

An additional advantage of the system is provided by the accessory clip. When not in use to support an accessory support, it may alternatively be used to support items which themselves have cooperating engagement means. An example of such an item is the glove of a golfer. These are nowadays usually manufactured with a portion of hook and loop fastener material to retain the wrist support to the glove. When the glove is removed, the golfer may attach it quickly and directly to the cooperating engagement pad of the accessory clip to hold it securely thereto. As is well known, the glove may thereafter readily be removed from engagement of the hook and loop fastener merely by pulling with appropriate force.

Modifications and variations as would be known to the skilled addressee are considered to be within the scope of this invention and it should be appreciated that the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiment described above.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. An accessory support system comprising an accessory clip and an accessory support, the accessory clip comprising a body adapted to be supported by support means and having clip engagement means, said clip engagement means being adapted to receive and removably engage the accessory support to thereby support the accessory support, the accessory support being adapted to removably receive and support at least one accessory and having corresponding support engagement means adapted to co-operate with the clip engagement means.

2. An accessory support system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the accessory clip comprises a pair of opposing members, the members being resiliently biased to engage one another to thereby provide the support means.

3. An accessory support system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the clip engaging means comprises an attachment means mounted on an external face of the accessory clip, and the support engaging means comprises a complementary attachment means mounted on an external face of the accessory support.

4. An accessory support system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the clip engaging means and the attachment means comprise complementary pads of hook and loop fastener material adhesively retained to the accessory clip and the accessory support, respectively.

5. An accessory support system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the accessory support comprises a tee support adapted to support at least one golf tee.

6. An accessory support system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the tee support comprises a body with a plurality of apertures, each aperture adapted to receive and support a golf tee.

7. An accessory support system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the accessory support comprises a green marker support adapted to support a green marker.

8. An accessory support system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the green marker support comprises a body member and a pair of opposing clasping members, the clasping members being resiliently biased to engage the body member and adapted to receive the green marker there between.

9. An accessory support system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip engagement means is also adapted to cooperate with complementary engagement means on a further object to thereby be adapted to support the further object.

10. An accessory support system as claimed in claim9 wherein the further object is a glove.

11. An accessory support system substantially as herein described.

12. An accessory support system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.