GB2267037A - Golf club carrier. - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for carrying and/or supporting golf clubs comprises a flat plate-shaped member 10, in which at least four openings 11 are provided, which are open on the outer side of said plate. The dimensions of said openings are such that a part of the shaft located under the grip of a golf club may be fittingly received therein, whilst the diameter of an opening is smaller than the largest grip diameter. Holes to support tees are also provided. <IMAGE>

Description

An auxiliary device for carrying and/or supporting golf clubs.

The invention relates to an auxiliary device for carrying and/or supporting golf clubs.

When playing golf the golf clubs are mostly taken along in a rather voluminous golf bag, which is also provided with storage space for rainclothes, extra golf balls, tees etc.

Generally such a golf bag is moved across the links by means of a two-wheeled cart, a so-called golf trolley.

After heavy rain and in the winter it is in many cases not allowed to use such golf trolleys, in order to prevent damage to the links. Generally the golf player takes only a few golf clubs along on the course in such cases. Also in favourable weather conditions, however, a golf player may prefer to take along only a limited number of clubs, so as to be able to move with less physical effort. In order to make it possible thereby to carry the golf clubs in a bundle and to support the golf clubs not being used by the golf player during the game at a given moment, and that preferably in an upright position, various auxiliary devices have been proposed besides smaller carrier bags.

US Patent No. 1,904,231 for example discloses an auxiliary device in the shape of a dish-shaped supporting means provided with recesses, which are open on the outer side of the dish-shaped means. The golf clubs to be used in conjunction with such an auxiliary device are provided with heads in the shape of a screw bolt at their upper ends, which can be inserted into the recesses, all this n such a manner that when a few golf clubs are coupled to the auxiliary device with their upper ends, the golf clubs can be supported in a position in which the blades of the clubs are supported on the ground and the clubs extend upwards from said blades.

Providing bolt-shaped projections at the upper ends of the golf clubs disturbs the balance of the golf club, which is not acceptable.

Furthermore there is a danger that the player's clothing will catch on such a bolt-shaped projection.

A further drawback of this known device is that for attaching or detaching, as the case may be, the bolt-shaped projections to the dishshaped means it is necessary to pivot the golf club in question through a large angle with respect to said dish-shaped means, so that this known construction is rather awkward in use.

From British Patent No. 810,415 an auxiliary device is known, which comprises a stick to which a plate-shaped means is secured, which is provided with recesses for receiving the upper ends of the grips of a number of golf clubs. A significant drawback of this known auxiliary device is that this supporting device is comparatively voluminous and heavy and will certainly not be carried along permanently in the usual golf bag, and consequently will not be directly available at all times.

The object of the invention is to obtain an auxiliary device for golf clubs, wherein the above-described drawbacks can be avoided in use.

According to the invention this can be achieved in that said auxiliary device is exclusively made up of a flat plate-shaped member, in which at least four openings are provided, which are open on the outer side of said plate, the dimensions of said openings being such that a part of the shaft located under the grip of a golf club may be fittingly received therein, whilst the diameter of an opening is smaller than the largest grip diameter.

With the construction according to the invention it will suffice to provide a simple, light-weight plate-shaped part of small dimensions for supporting the golf club in a position of the golf clubs in which only the blades of the clubs are supported on the ground and the golf clubs extend upwards from said blades, so that the golf player can readily take along such an auxiliary device in his golf bag at all times.

Said plate-shaped part thereby engages the shafts or the grips, whilst undesirable sliding up of the plate-shaped part is prevented, because the plate-shaped part cannot move over the shafts, which gradually thicken towards the grips, and/or over the upper ends of the grips.

When carrying the golf clubs the plate-shaped part furthermore keeps together the respective ends of the golf clubs.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to a few possible embodiments of the construction according to the invention illustrated in the accompanying Figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an auxiliary device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the auxiliary device shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 shows the auxiliary device in combination with three golf clubs standing on the ground.

Figure 4 shows the auxiliary device with four golf clubs connected to the auxiliary device, in a position suitable for carrying the golf clubs.

Figure 5 shows a further possible embodiment of an auxiliary device according to the invention.

The auxiliary device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is made up of a flat plate-shaped part 1 in the shape of a round disc, which is preferably made of a slightly resilient plastic material. Four at least substantially U-shaped openings 2, which are open on the outer side of the disc, are provided in the disc at regular angular distances from each other, said openings slightly narrowing towards the outer circumference of the plate-shaped part. In order to form an idea, such a plate-shaped part may for example have an outside diameter of i 70 mm and a thickness Of i 5 mm.

As shown in Figure 3, such a plate-shaped part may be used as an auxiliary device for supporting at least three golf clubs 3. For this purpose the shafts 5 joining the bottom ends of grips 4 of the golf clubs are moved into the openings 2. Since said shafts 5 slightly taper off from the grips 4 towards the blades 6 provided at the ends of the shafts, the shafts of the usual golf clubs can readily be inserted into the openings 2 at all times. The size of the openings 2 has been selected such thereby, that the ends of the shafts 5 joining the grips 4 fit said openings, but that the grips 4 cannot move past the openings 2, or that the grips 4, which slightly expand towards their free ends, fit the openings 2 with their bottom parts, unable to move past the openings with their free ends, however.

As is shown in Figure 3 three golf clubs, which may for example be interconnected near the upper ends of the shafts by means of the auxiliary device formed by the flat plate-shaped part, can thus be placed on the ground with their blades, said blades being arranged at some distance from each other, in the manner shown in Figure 3, and the unit thus forming a tripod standing on the ground, as it were.

By supporting the golf clubs in this manner the grips 4 are thus prevented from coming into contact with the ground and becoming soiled and/or wet thereby. Furthermore it is not necessary to fit the golf clubs with special provisions in order to be able to use the auxiliary device according to the invention, so that the risk of disturbing the balance of the golf clubs has been avoided.

By selecting a suitable, preferably slightly resilient material for the auxiliary device any risk of damage to the golf clubs as a result of using the auxiliary device is avoided.

In addition to that the auxiliary device is particularly compact and light-weight, and can readily be taken along by the golf player, therefore.

As is furthermore illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 openings or slotted holes 7 may be provided in the central portion of the plateshaped part 1 for securing a longitudinally adjustable carrying strap 8 to the plate-shaped part.

Said carrying strap 8 may be used for carrying the golf clubs, which are interconnected by means of the plate-shaped part, across the shoulder, for which purpose the carrying strap 8 may be fitted around the bottom ends of the clubs, at some distance from the plate-shaped part, by means of a simple fastener, so that a simple and comfortably carried bundle of golf clubs can be obtained, as shown in Figure 4.

Of course the plate-shaped part can be used in various configurations. Thus Figure 5 shows an auxiliary device in the shape of a substantially rectangular part 10, in which a plurality of openings 11 corresponding with the openings 2 are provided in opposite longitudinal edges, as well as a slotted hole 12 for passing a carrying strap. As is further more shown in said Figure 5 an auxiliary device may also be provided with a plurality of holes 13 for fixing one or more tees to the plate-shaped part 10 and for possibly securing thereto a bag 9 (Figure 3) for stowing away small objects, such as spare golf balls, tees and the like.

Claims (6)

1. An auxiliary device for carrying and/or supporting golf clubs, characterized in that said auxiliary device is exclusively made up of a flat plate-shaped member, in which at least four openings are provided, which are open on the outer side of said plate, the dimensions of said openings being such that a part of the shaft located under the grip of a golf club may be fittingly received therein, whilst the diameter of an opening is smaller than the largest grip diameter.

2. An auxiliary device according to claim 1, characterized in that a carrying strap is secured to said plate-shaped part.

3. An auxiliary device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said plate-shaped part is provided with at least one opening, suitable for fixing a tee to the plate-shaped part.

4. An auxiliary device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate-shaped part is at least substantially rectangular and that said openings are provided at two opposite sides of the plate-shaped part.

5. An auxiliary device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an opening in the plate-shaped part gradually narrows in the direction of the open end of said opening.

6. An auxiliary device for carrying and/or supporting golf clubs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

6.An auxiliary device for carrying and/or supporting golf clubs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. An auxiliary device for carrying golf clubs and/or supporting golf clubs in an upstanding position, wherein said auxiliary device is exclusively made up of a flat plate-shaped member, in which at least four openings are provided, so as to be arranged in a substantially regular pattern along the circumference of the plateshaped member, whereby the openings are open on the outer side of said plate and the dimensions of said openings are such that a part of a shaft of a golf club located under the grip of a golf club may be fittingly received therein, whilst the diameter of an opening is smaller than the largest grip diameter.

2. An auxiliary device according to Claim 1, characterized in that a carrying strap is secured to said plate-shaped part.

3. An auxiliary device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said plate-shaped part is provided with at least one opening, suitable for fixing a tee to the plate-shaped part.

4. An auxiliary device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate-shaped part is at least substantially rectangular and that said openings are provided at two opposite sides of the plateshaped part.

5. An auxiliary device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an opening in the plate-shaped part gradually narrows in the direction of the open end of said opening.