GB2519585A

GB2519585A - Golf apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2519585A
Application number: GB1318953.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Bagshot
Original assignee: BAGSHOT ENTPR Ltd
Current assignee: BAGSHOT ENTPR Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-28
Filing date: 2013-10-28
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Also published as: GB201318953D0

Abstract

A golf club support 1 comprises: a pair of substantially identical elongate legs 3, 5 having an inner and outer surface 9, 7. Each leg comprising a foot 13 and a head portion 15 that is shaped at its inner surface to define part of a support surface 16. Below the head portion, one or more flanges 23 extend from, or form part of, the inner surface. The legs are pivotally connected by their flanges with a spring member 25 being connected between the legs which bias the feet outwards and the head portions inwards to define at the head portion a support surface for the shaft of a golf club. Also included is a method of manufacture where the legs are made from a single mould, and a logo may be placed on the support. The spring may be lower than a pivot pin and be able to be inserted after the pin is already in place. The support may also include detachable ground-engaging members or wheels.

Description

Golf Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf apparatus, particularly one for supporting a golf club. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a golf apparatus.

Background of the Invention

In the game of golf, a player carries a set of golf clubs around the golf course in a bag.

In the course of play, the player may place a club on the ground at some point, for example when switching beeen a wedge club used at the edge of the green and the putter on the green. However, this means that the club handle wifi contact the ground which, if wet, will make the handle slippery and possibly dirty.

Furthermore, this means that the player will need to bend down in order to retrieve the club, which is inconvenient particularly for older and/or disabled players.

Devices for supporting the handle of a golf club off the ground are known.

However, they tend to have disadvantages, one of which is that they are involve the use of a complicated coil spring and are in general complicated to manufacture and assemble.

Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the invention provides a golf club support, comprising: a pair of substantially identical elongate legs having an inner and outer surface, each leg comprising: a distal foot, a proximal head portion that is shaped at its inner surface to define part of a support surface, and, below the head portion, one or more flanges extending from, or forming part of, the inner surface, wherein the legs are pivotally connected by their flanges in an opposed configuration with a spring member being connected between the legs to bias the feet outwards and the head portions inwards.

Tn the preferred embodiment, the legs are identically formed from a single or identical mould.

Each leg may comprise a pair of flanges which pivotally connect together in an interleaved manner.

The pivotal connection may be by means of a pin that passes through holes in the pairs of flanges.

Each leg may have a lateral face between the inner and outer surfaces part of which is recessed at the flanges to permit the interleaved connection.

Each head portion may be substantially C-shaped so that a closed support area is formed due to the biasing of the spring member, which sLipport area can be opened in use by use by bringing the feet together.

The spring member may comprise a substantially V or 1J -shaped piece of metal that extends upwards from one leg towards the pivotal connection and downwards to the other leg. The spring member preferably passes beneath the pivotal connection and not around it. The spring member may be held in place on each leg within a channel of the leg and beneath the pivotal connection.

Each foot may be connected to a detachable wheel or ground -engaging member.

A second aspect provides a method of manufacturing a golf club support according to any preceding definition, the method comprising: producing from a single or identical mould the first and second legs; pivotally connecting the first and second legs in an opposed configuration at the flanges with a spring member connected between the legs which biases the feet outwards and the bead portions inwards to define at the head portion a support surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf club support device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support device of Figure 1 in use; Figure 3 is a front plan view of the support device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the support device of Figures 1 and 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the support device shown in Figure 4; Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show front and perspective views of a second embodiment support device in accordance with the invention, including ground engaging attachments; and Figure 7 shows in front view a third embodiment support device in accordance with the invention, including ground engaging attachments.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figure 1, a golf club support device I comprises first and second identical legs 3, 5 pivotally connected together as shown. Fach leg 3, 5 is elongate having at a distal end a foot 13 which can engage the ground, and, at a proximal end, a head portion 15 which is generally C-shaped. Each leg 3, 5 has an exterior surface 7, an Interior surface 9 which can be planar or a U-shaped channel) and lateral surfaces in-between the interior and exterior surfaces.

The pivot connection is by means of a pin 11 that passes through a hole formed in a pair of flanges of each leg 3, 5 that extend from the interior surface 9.

Although not shown in Figure 1, a flat metal spring is located between the legs 3, 5 and the spring is configured to bias the opposed feet 13 apart and the head portions 15 together. Thus, ordinarily, there is an 0 or elongate () -shaped channel 17 defined between the head portions 15; the dimensions of the channel 17 are such as to allow a golf club shaft 21 to pass therethrough at an angle, as shown iii Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2, the support device I in use provides underlying support to a golf club 21 so that (i the handle part need not touch the ground, and (ii it is easier for a player to grab the club without having to bend down. The support device I can be clipped at various places on the club shaft which wiLl vary the height of the club grip as required by the individual. The support device 1 is easily transported in or attached to a golf bag by means of a holder (not shown) which is preferably formed of a lightweight material, such as aluminium or a non-metallic composite. In order to use the support device 1, the player applies inwards force on each leg 3, 5 below the pivot 11 to overcome the biasing of the spring member.

This moves the opposed head portions 15 apart and opens the channel 17 into which the shaft can be introduced. The club head and feet 13 are then placed on the ground and the combined arrangement is self-standing in the manner of a tripod as shown.

Figure 3 shows the support device 1 from the front. The flat spring 25 is indicated b the dotted line and is located within an interior U-shaped channel of the interior surface 9 and hidden from view. The lower free-ends of the flat spring 25 locate within rebates 27 formed within the legs 3, 5 and the uppermost portion of the spring locates underneath the pivot pin 11; the rebates 27 and the pivot pin II and the preload serve to retain the spring 25. The spring arrangement is therefore relatively simple and inexpensive as compared with using, for example, a coil spring, and the fact that the spring does not surround the pivot pin 11 makes assembly more straightforward.

As noted above, the pair of flanges 23 on each leg 3, 5 are interleaved, as shown in Figure 5. One of said flanges 23 of each pair is formed with a recessed surface 29 which permits the interleaving to be made in an efficient and compact way. As indicated in FigureS, the pin 11 passes through both pairs of flanges 23.

Returning to Figure 3, the shape of the channel 17 is clearly shown as an elongate "0" shape clue to the abutment of the C-shaped head portions 15 biased together by the spring 25. The lower surface of this channel 17 provides a sLipport surface 16 on \vhich the club shaft will rest stably. In other embodiments, the interior shape of the head portions 15 can be different.

1-vich foot 13 of the legs 3, 5 extends slightly outwards to provide a wider cross-sectional area which avoids damaging any underlying grass surface by spreading the supported weight. Optionally, each foot 13 may be configured to permit connection of a detachable base member, as will be explained later on.

Figure 4 shows the support device 1 from one side. A substantially flat area 33 is made available on each leg 3, 5 for the application of an insignia or name, e.g. relating to personallsation, sponsorship or advertising. Indeed, the lateral surfaces are also substantially planar and similar personalisation can be applied to these surfaces also. The foot 13 is shown with a socket 31 which facilitates attachment of a detachable base member, but in other embodiments can be closed.

Figure 6(a) and 6(b) shows a second embodiment in which the support device I is fitted with a pair of detachable base members 40 connected into the socket 31 of each leg 3, 5. In this case, the base members 40 are wheels which may or may not rotate. Their primary purpose is to spread the supported weight more evenly to avoid damaging the ground underneath. The attachment between each base member 40 and the socket 31 may be a simple plug-in friction fit or a screw-thread fit.

Figure 7 shows a third embodiment in which the support device 1 is fitted with an alternative pair of detachable base members 50, in this case in the form of generally hemispherical members resembling golf balls. Again, the attachment may be a fixed one or the hemispherical members 50 may rotate.

The aforementioned support device 1 is particularly advantageous in that it is straightforward to manufacture and assemble. Kach leg 3, 5 is identical and can be produced from a single mould, or an identical mould, which reduces both pre and post-product costs, and timescales. Manufacturing involves simply moulding in the particular material a batch of legs, which are then joined in the opposed relationship shown in Figures 1 and 3 with the interior surface flanges 11 interleaved as shown in Figure 5. The pivot pin 11 passes through the flanges where it is secured using any known means. The flat spring 25 is then located in the interior channel between the legs. The spring 25 is therafter held in place. The spring 25 is uncomplicated and no elaborate machining or tooling is required to manufacture it or position it in the finished article. It is also easily replaced.

Because of the way the support device I is designed, the whole unit can be assembled so that the pin 11 is inserted through the flanges without the spring 25 in place, making the assembly process easy. The spring 25 is inserted last of all.

The design includes the facility to add a corporate logo on each leg, making is a suitable and novel item for the corporate promotional goods market, being a novelty golf gift that would attract attention and thereby promote the client logo.

It wifi be appreciated that the above described embodiments are purely ifiustrative and arc not limiting on the scope of the invention. Other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application.

Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and dLlring the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features.

Claims

Claims 1. A golf club support, comprising: a pair of substantially identical elongate legs having an inner and outer surface, each leg comprising: a distal foot, a proximal head portion that is shaped at its inner surface to define part of a support surface, and below the head portion, one or more flanges extending from, or forming part of the inner surface, wherein the legs are pivotally connected by their flanges in an opposed configuration with a spring member being connected between the legs to biases the feet outwards and the head portions inwards.
2. A support according to claim 1, wherein the legs are identically formed from a single or identical tool, e.g. a mould.
3. A support according to claim I or claim 2, wherein each leg comprises a pair of flanges which pivotally connect together in an interleaved manner.
4. A support according to claim 3, wherein the pivotal connection is by means of a pin that passes through holes in the pairs of flanges.
3. A support according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each leg has a lateral face between the inner and outer surfaces part of which is recessed at the flanges to permit the interleaved connection.
6. A support according to any preceding claim, wherein each head portion is substantially C-shaped so that a closed support area is formed due to the biasing of the spring member, which support area can be opened in use by use by bringing the feet together.
7. A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the spring member comprises a substantially V or U -shaped piece of metal that extends upwards from one leg towards the pivotal connection and downwards to the other leg.
8. A support according to claim 7, wherein the spring member passes beneath the pivotal connection and not around it.
9. A support according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the spring member is held in place on each leg within a channel of the leg and beneath the pivotal connection.
10. A support according to any preceding claim, wherein each foot can be connected to a detachable wheel or other ground -engaging member for delivering a large surface area in touch with the ground, which provides stability when in use
11. A method of manufacturing a golf club support according to any preceding claim, comprising: producing from a single or identical mould the first and second legs; pivotally connecting the first and second legs in an opposed configuration at the flanges with a spring member connected between the legs which biases the feet outwards and the head portions inwards to define at the head portion a support surface.
12. A method according to claim II, wherein the pivotal connection is by means of a pin passing through a flange on each leg, and wherein the spring is connected between the legs after said pivotal connection is made.
13. A method for corporate branding of a support according to any of claims I to 10, Wherelfl the support includes the facility to add a corporate logo on each leg, making it suitable for the corporate promotional goods market.