WO1995021658A1

WO1995021658A1 - Golf club restraining device

Info

Publication number: WO1995021658A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000052
Authority: WO
Inventors: James F. Clerkin
Original assignee: Clerkin James F
Priority date: 1994-02-08
Filing date: 1995-02-06
Publication date: 1995-08-17

Abstract

A golf club restraining device (10) which holds the grip (12) of the club immobile and which can be manipulated to eject the grip to a position for ready access. A cradle (22) for the head of the club and a transportation container fitted with the restraining device and cradle for a plurality of clubs, is also provided.

Description

GOLF CLUB RESTRAINING DEVICE

Background of the invention

This invention relates to a device for use in restraining the movement of a golf club during transportation, storage or display to thereby prevent damage to the golf club. The invention is also concerned with ensuring that the golf club can be readily accessed from the restraining device without the need for excessive or fiddly manipulation. A further aspect of the invention is concerned with a transportation container for golf clubs incorporating a plurality of these restraining devices.

Although the restraining device has been devised particularly for use with golf clubs, and will be so described in the following description, it is also equally useful for restraining the movement of other types of sporting and like equipment which is characterised by a long shaft, such as for instance billiard cues, arrows, ski poles, javelins, and so on. It is thus to be understood that the invention is by no means restricted to devices and transportation containers for golf clubs, and that the following description is provided with reference to golf clubs primarily for the ready facilitation of an understanding of the inventive principals by the skilled addressee.

Golf clubs are typically stored and transported in a golf bag in which the clubs are oriented with the grip end resting on the bottom of the bag and the head projecting out of the top of the bag. There is often nothing to restrain the relative movement of individual clubs within the bag during transportation.

Such golf bags have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, the freedom for relative movement of the golf clubs gives rise to wear and damage due to contact with each other, and the bag. Secondly, the bags tend to be top heavy due to the club heads projecting out of the top, and therefore subject to toppling. Thirdly, it is cumbersome to remove the golf clubs as they must be withdrawn longitudinally in an inclined upward direction using two hands. The club once withdrawn must then be rotated into a useable position. Fourthly, foreign matter which accumulates in the bottom of the bag over time tends to grind into the end of the grip resulting in a dirty hand piece of reduced life. Other minor disadvantages are known to golf players.

Description of the Prior Art

In order to address these and other disadvantages, a wide range of alternative golf bags and containers have been proposed. U.S. Patent No. 2,726,874 dated 13 November 1955 describes a convertible golf club case and cart combination which comprises a flat rectangular case which can be opened into a triangular configuration for wheeling. The case is adapted to support golf clubs in a restrained side-by-side orientation with the heads of the clubs resting on a common ledge and the shafts restrained by spring clips. The problem with this arrangement is that the spring clips tend to scratch the club shafts and because of their tension, require an appreciable force to open. Since they are opened by the action of the club shaft itself, such a force tends to push the shaft grip hard against the support wall with attendant continual wear. Furthermore, the golf clubs are not easily accessible as one must grip the shaft on both sides and wrench it outwards against the restraining force of the spring clip. This is difficult when there are adjacent golf clubs in place.

U.S. Patent 2,911,228 dated 3 November 1959 is concerned with a golf cart having two hinged compartments which pivot outwardly from one another at a base pivot point to expose the golf clubs. The golf clubs are oriented with the club heads resting on a platform at the bottom of each compartment, and are held just below their grips by frictional retention within a block of rubber. Once again, however, such an arrangement does not enable the golf clubs to be easily accessed. The frictional retention requires a considerable force to insert or remove each golf club and frequently the use of two hands simultaneously - the one holding the head end of the club while the other inserts the shaft into the block of rubber - and the arrangement is such that some dexterity is required to ensure that the club is not contacted with another club or the cart itself during such an operation. Furthermore, the Indian rubber block tends to wear with the result that the shafts of the golf clubs become coated with unsightly rubber and the receiving notches becoming bigger so that eventually the golf clubs can move around and then, eventually, fall out of the block.

U.K. Patent Application No. 2,096,546 filed 10 April 1981 relates to a combination golf club container and trolley. The container comprises a rigid casing having a plurality of tubular club receiving members extending lengthwise of the casing with their axes in a common plane. The only advantage this provides over the previously mentioned typical golf bag is that the golf clubs are kept separated from one another. All the other attendant problems still exist. European Patent Application No. 0071 115 filed

16 July 1982 discloses a full service golf bag in which the golf clubs are arranged in tubes in a similar manner to the previous U.K. Patent Application. The same sorts of problems as found in the U.K. arrangement, and in existing golf bags, are consequently present here also.

U.S. Patent No. 4,836,565 dated 6 June 1989 is concerned with a suitcase for golf clubs which is transformable into a cart by the addition of wheels and a handle. The golf clubs are supported in parallel spaced relationship in the case on an intermediate band of semi¬ rigid material which is provided with notches and a similarly notched lower internal wall. This arrangement has the disadvantages that the shafts of the golf clubs can be marked by the intermediate band and internal wall, and the difficulty in readily accessing the clubs due to their retention in the notched band and the need to apply excessive force. PCT Patent Application No. PCT/AU91/00012 filed

14 January 1991 describes a golf club restraining apparatus which includes locating means for locating the club head in a selected orientation and supporting means for supporting the club head at a selected level. The locating means is essentially a shaped element which corresponds with the shape of the club head against which the club head is urged for retention. The supporting means is an abutment against which the club head rests. This apparatus comes the closest of all the mentioned prior art to addressing the previously recited problems. However it does have the disadvantages of being overly complicated in structure, of requiring the club to be withdrawn longitudinally in an inclined upward direction, and not generally being user friendly. U.S. Patent No. 5,168,992 dated 8 December

1992, describes a golf case with club retainers comprising a pair of notched dividers extending transversely across the case. Such a case has the same sort of problems as the notched divider arrangements described in the aforementioned U.S. 4,836,565 and U.S. 2,911,228.

It can be seen from the above, that the closest prior art does not address all of the problems found in conventional golf bag arrangements.

Objects of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a restraining device for golf clubs which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a restraining device which enables the golf clubs to be readily accessed. A still further object of the invention is to provide a transportation container for golf clubs incorporating a plurality of such restraining devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for use in a golf club storage compartment, said device comprising a manipulable component adapted to co-act with the end of a golf club grip to hold the golf club immobile, and an ejector element for simultaneously moving the golf club grip to a position for easy access when the manipulable component is raised.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Preferably, the ejector element comprises an arm, integrally formed with the manipulable component, which is arranged to extend substantially at right angles thereto in the same direction as the golf club shaft. The arm is suitably adapted to rotate about a support axis which is common with the manipulable component. In operation, upward rotary movement of the manipulable component by hand causes the associated ejector element to be simultaneously urged against the golf club shaft and to push the top end of the shaft away from the manipulable component and its storage location. The golf club thereby adopts a second position in which the golf club grip is slightly angled away from its original restrained position, where it can now be easily accessed without any effort.

The support axis on which the manipulable component and ejector element commonly rotate, can be a rod, pin or like hinge arrangement. Such an axis is suitably also the common axis on which other adjacent identical restraining devices are supported for an entire set of golf clubs. Most preferably alternate or second alternate restraining devices are arranged to face mutually opposed directions so that the golf clubs can be accessed from opposite sides as, for instance, when the restraining devices are supported in a transportation case which has oppositely openable panels.

Preferably, the positions between which the restraining device can be moved are constituted by two fixed and held locations. That is, the restraining device is held immovable at either one of two locations which are fixed to provide either a restrained location for the end of the golf club grip, or an unrestrained and accessible location for the golf club grip. One particularly preferred manner of achieving the fixed and held locations is by way of a cam arrangement. This can comprise a collar fixed to the support axis at the position where the restraining device is supported for rotation; such a collar providing a camming surface which co-acts with a surface formed on the rear of the manipulable component. Suitably, the collar is fitted between two vertical axis supporting flanges extending in parallel alignment from the rear of the manipulable component, and is fixed to the axis by means of a screw of like restrainer. The outer surface of the collar is formed with two scouped recesses which are complimentary to a shaped surface portion on the rear of the manipulable component. Normally, this shaped surface portion will be restrained from movement out of an associated scouped recess until the restraining device is rotated by hand to take the device to it's alternative orientation where it is once more restrained from movement.

Preferably, a golf grip/shaft alignment member is associated with the ejector element. The purpose of this is to ensure that the golf club assumes a pre-set location upon retention. Such a pre-set location can be achieved without the alignment member by careful placement of the golf club grip under the manipulable component. However, the alignment member is preferred as it means that less care need be taken as may, indeed, be welcomed during a game.

The golf grip/shaft alignment member suitably has a curved or recessed portion which partially surrounds the golf club grip and, in the case where the ejector element consists of an arm, is preferably formed on the very end of the arm. A preferred configuration has a partially flattened, or open, C-shape, cross- section. It is important that this section does not, in any way, impede the movement of the golf club into or out of its restraining position and to this end the C-section preferably extends no more than about one third the circumference of the club grip.

The manipulable component preferably consists of a cap element for fitting over the end of the golf club grip, and a finger extension for raising the cap by hand. A concave depression may be formed in the lower surface of the cap so that the very end of the golf club grip can extend therein for a good frictional fit. Suitably, the manipulable component is fabricated from a plastics material such as NYLON 66®, LURAN "S", polyurethane, high density polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, or the like. Composite materials, metals and other materials can, of course, also be used. The restraining device thus described will support a golf club without movement and enable the club to be readily accessed when desired without any undue force being required and without any potential for damage to the club occurring. The restraining device is preferably used in association with an appropriate club head support. The club head support can be resilient or rigid. A resilient support can be constructed from deformable plastics material or sheet cloth which is designed to cradle the club head, and hold it separate from adjacent club heads and the base or case in which the club is located. A preferred resilient support consists of a material sling which is supported between a pair of parallel brackets extending perpendicularly with respect to the golf club shaft. The brackets, in turn, may be restrained by a vertically extending support panel having vertical slots through which the brackets partially extend for retention by light bolts or the like. The purpose of the slots is to enable the brackets, and thus cradle, to be raised or lowered to a position commensurate with the length of the golf club. Once the position has been determined, it will be set. The vertically extending support panel can comprise a planar panel extending in front of or behind the club heads. In the case where the support panel extends behind the club heads, it can project upwardly by a sufficient distance to provide a support region for a plurality of restraining devices. In a further arrangement, the support panel can comprise a circular or semi-circular panel which extends either around or behind the club heads which are arranged radially about a central axis. A rigid club head support can take the form of a housing having a top opening into which the club head extends, and one or more cushioned portions on which the club head rests. The housing can be supported on brackets in a similar manner to the previously mentioned material sling and provision can be made to enable rotation of the housing to properly support large angle clubs. An alternative housing support can comprise an adjustable height screw fitted to the base of the housing and which is rotatable into and out of a block extending vertically from a bottom wall of the container or a fixed panel on the central rotating stem.

As previously mentioned, the invention also extends to a transportation container for golf clubs incorporating a plurality of the aforementioned restraining devices on a common support axis. The transportation container may be in the form of a golf bag or buggy and will also include a plurality of appropriate golf club head supports, preferably of the type as hereinbefore described.

A particularly preferred form of transportation container comprises an essentially cuboidal shape having a lower section, first and second opposed fixed side panels, first and second openable front panels, and first and second openable rear panels. Preferably, the transportation container further includes first and second top openable panels. The first top openable panel is suitably arranged adjacent the first fixed side panel and the second top openable panel is suitably arranged adjacent the second fixed side panel.

Storage means can be mounted on the inside of any one or more of the panels for the purpose of stowing accessories such as golf balls, golf tees, shoes, wet weather gear, cleaning gear and the like.

The golf clubs are arranged within the transportation container so that some can be accessed from one side of the container, by way of the first and second openable front panels, and the remainder can be accessed from the other side of the container, by way of the first and second openable rear panels. Such an arrangement preferably includes a pair of planar support panels for the golf club heads, fitted in the lower section of the container on the opposing walls thereof. The transportation container is suitably fitted with a handle at its upper, in use, end and wheels at its lower end. The handle can be designed to be folded into the container, preferably directly beneath the top openable panels, when the container is not required to be moved such as during stowage. The wheels are preferably detachable from the container and stowable within the container. Preferably, the wheels are designed such as to be adjustable to maintain the longitudinal axis of the transportation container in a substantially vertical orientation irrespective of the ground contours when the container is in the resting position.

Another useful form of transportation container comprises an essentially cylindrically shaped golf bag incorporating a circular array of golf clubs. A plurality of restraining devices are fitted to a ring shaped bar in the upper region of the bag, and a plurality of cradles are located in the lower region of the bag and extend from collars fitted to a central shaft. Golf clubs extend between aligned restraining devices and cradles, and are accessed individually through a slotted opening formed along the side of the bag when they are rotated on the central shaft into correspondence with the slotted opening.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a restraining device according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side view of the restraining device of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the restraining device of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the restraining device of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cradle for a golf club head according to a further aspect of the invention,

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional top view of the cradle of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the cradle of Figure 5, but supported at shank end and with a golf club head shown in phantom,

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the cradle support arm shown in Figure 5, Figure 9 is a front elevational view of a further golf club head cradle arrangement according to the present invention,

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further golf club head cradle arrangement according to the present invention,

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the cradle of Figure 10 with a golf club head shown in phantom,

Figure 12 is an obverse perspective view of a fitting on the cradle of Figure 10,

Figure 13 is a reverse perspective view of the fitting of Figure 12, Figure 14 is a perspective view of a still further golf club head cradle arrangement according to the present invention,

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional side view of the cradle of Figure 14 with a golf club head shown in phantom,

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a yet further golf club head cradle arrangement according to the present invention,

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional side view of the cradle of Figure 16 with two wood club heads shown in phantom,

Figures 18-21 show side views of various cradle arrangements in a transportation container according to further aspects of the invention, Figures 22-26 show perspective views of a restraining device in combination with various club head supports,

Figure 27 is a perspective view of a golf bag according to the invention, and Figure 28 is a perspective view of a golf bag and buggy according to the present invention.

In all the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Reference is made to Figures 1-4. These figures show various views of a preferred form of restraining device. The device comprises a manipulable component 10 which has a recess 11 to enable it to snugly fit over the end of a golf club grip 12 and retain the grip from lateral movement. The manipulable component is contoured to enable easy rotational movement as shown by the arrows in Figure 2 when a thumb or finger is placed under the protruding lip 13 and it is pushed upwardly. A recess 14 is formed in the upper surface of the manipulable component to enable indicia to be inserted therein for the purpose of indicating the number of the golf club.

An ejector element 15 is formed integrally with the manipulable component and extends at right angles thereto substantially in the direction of the golf club shaft. The ejector element has a partially flattened C- shaped portion 16 for maintaining the grip of the golf club in an essentially vertical orientation when the grip is ejected to an accessible position as shown in Figure 2.

An axle 17 extends through two apertures in the apex 18 of the manipulable component and the ejector element. Mounted on this axle and fixed thereto between the two apertures is a cam arrangement which controls and limits the movement of the manipulable component and ejector element between two fixed and held locations, namely the respective locations depicted in Figures 1 and 2. A fixing screw 19 extends into the cam arrangement and the axle 17. The cam surfaces I, II correspond with the curved section III at the rear of the manipulable component.

Figures 5 to 17 illustrate various forms of cradles for golf club heads. The cradle shown in Figures 5 to 8 comprises a pair of parallel arms 20, 21 and a material sling 22 supported therebetween. The sling is formed from mesh stock 23 with a cushioned material base 24 and is held in place by piping 25, 26 extending in a recess on the bottom edge of each parallel arm (see detail in Figure 8). The parallel arms 20, 21 consist of rigid aluminium extrusions 27, 29 with rubber buffers 28, 30 fitted to their upper surfaces. The aluminium extrusions are retained by screws 31, 32 extending through slots 33, 34 in a vertically extending support panel 35. The slots enable the cradle to move vertically to accommodate golf shafts of varying lengths.

Figure 9 shows how irons 36, 37 and a wood driver 38 can be supported in cradles 39, 40, 41 constructed similarly to the cradles of Figures 5-8.

The cradles shown in Figures 10-17 are of rigid construction. Figures 10 and 11 show a housing 43 having an open top and bottom. The housing is adapted to be supported on a single threaded stem (not shown) which is threaded into recess 44. The threaded stem in turn is connected to a panel or like frame member which extends vertically in a spaced location from the shaft of the golf club. The housing can be pivoted about its bracket to accommodate golf clubs having different angle heads by virtue of the disc shaped indent 45. The face of this indent (see Figure 12) has a lug 46 which slots into a vertical slit in the support panel, and the obverse side (see Figure 13) is formed with a multiplicity of radial indents 47 which mesh with a correspondingly formed portion on the exterior of the housing. The housing includes a cut away side 48 having an upper edge which is cushioned with a resilient beading 49 so as to provide a non-damaging surface for the golf club head 50 to rest on.

Figures 14 and 15 show a housing 51 adapted to be supported on two threaded stems which extend into recesses 52, 53 located in opposing walls. The housing includes two opposed cut away walls 54, 55 whose upper edges have resilient beading 56, 57 for providing a cushioned surface on which a golf club head 58 can rest.

Figures 16 and 17 show a housing 60 which is adapted to accommodate a wood driver head in either of two orientations 61a, 61b. The housing is securable to a support panel by screw fittings extending into shanks 62, 63 and has an open, truncated circular configuration with an intermediate support piece 64 extending between opposed walls. As in the previous instances, this support piece is covered with a resiliently deformable cushion of suitable beading 65.

Figures 18-21 show various ways of arranging the previously described cradles in a transportation container such as a golf bag or buggy.

In Figure 18, the cradles 66, 67 are fitted by adjustable height screw connections or the like to opposing side walls 68, 69.

In Figure 19, the cradles 70, 71 are supported on pedestals 72, 73 which have screw threaded inserts to enable the cradles to be raised or lowered depending upon the length of the golf club. The pedestals are fixed to a plate fixed to the central stem or the base 74 of the transportation container. In Figure 20, the cradles 75, 76 are supported by brackets 77, 78 extending from a central axle 79 located on the base 80 of the transportation container.

In Figure 21, the cradles 81, 82 are supported by brackets 83, 84 extending from a common support panel 85 bisecting the transportation container.

Figures 22 to 26 show various combinations of golf club restraining devices and head supports. Such arrangements can be used in combination with transportation containers or for storage or display purposes, that is, in cupboards, retail outlets or in club houses.

The Figure 22 embodiment is a cylindrical arrangement which is completely rotatable about a central axis 87. The rigid panel 88 is designed to support the golf club heads, eg. 89, 90 at differing heights through the agency of the cradles 91, 92 being supported through slotted recesses therein. The grips are restrained from movement by restraining devices 93 fitted to a common ring-shaped band 94. The Figure 23 embodiment is likewise cylindrical and rotatable about an axis 95. The golf club heads 96, 97 are supported in cradles extending outwardly from spaced collars 98 which are fixed to the axis. The axis 95 is rotatable on bearings located in both the top and bottom thereof. Restraining devices are arranged similar to that of Figure 22.

The Figures 24-26 embodiments show similarly arranged restraining devices 100 on a common linear shaft 101 fitted to the upper region of a planar support panel 102. The golf clubs 103 are all aligned in a parallel fashion but have different head support arrangements. In Figure 24, the head supports 105 extend from a slotted panel 104 spaced from the golf clubs. In Figure 25 the head supports extend from the planar support panel 102 which is slotted at it's lower end. In Figure 26 the head supports 107 are located on ^'pedestal supports extending from the base of the container. Figure 27 shows a golf bag which incorporates a combination arrangement of the type illustrated in Figure 23. The bag includes a slotted opening 110 extending from the top of the bag to a location which is slightly spaced from the bottom. The top 111 of the slot is flared to enable easy access to the club grip. Rotation of the arrangement is achieved by rotating a knurled knob 112 on the top of the bag so as to expose the required golf club in the slotted opening. The golf bag can be used in a vertical or off-vertical position, and includes side pockets 113, 114 for accessories.

Figure 28 shows a bag and buggy combination which incorporates a restraining system similar to that illustrated in Figures 24-26 but with clubs mounted back to back. The buggy consists of a rigid casing formed from plastic panels, consisting of a base section 115, side walls 118, 119, front and rear sets of doors 120, 121, 122, 123 and a pair of opening lid sections 124, 125. The doors and lids are hinged to the side walls and when in the closed position protect the contents of the bag, and when in the fully open position, are sandwiched into a recess in the side panels exposing storage pockets 128 mounted on the front doors 120, 121. The lid sections 124, 125 likewise open down and sandwich against the doors and help restrain them in the recess. The buggy is fitted with a set of small wheels 126 to facilitate movement of the bag as a piece of luggage. Mounted on the base section 115 are the main wheels 116. These full bearing wheels are attached to spacer arms 140 which connect with a full length axle in the base section. The spacer arms adjust vertically with a small amount of rotation of the axle, to allow for differing ground orientation and for maintaining the apparatus in an upright position when it is stationary. This rotation is controlled and restricted by intermeshing of two sets of cogged wheels, one fixed to the axle, the other to the side wall of the base section. This second cog wheel is restrained against the first by the action of a spring, and has vertical movement against the spring controlled by a cable connected to a lever (not shown) mounted on the handle 117. The handle is rotatable for storage within the bag.

Mounted between the side walls 118, 119 of the bag are stabilising struts 127. Contained in one of these struts are apertures 145 to receive the stub axles of the spacer arms which allow the wheels to be mounted and stored within the bag.

The described embodiment of the invention is particularly advantageous because it prevents damage to the clubs, makes the clubs readily available for play with easy individual access and provides storage for the various accessories required for the game. The described buggy expands from a "storage bag" or "case" to a buggy by simply opening the panels, extending the handle and fitting the wheels which are stored within. The buggy also provides security housing for the clubs and contents in transit both on and off the course.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment, said device comprising a manipulable component adapted to co-act with the end of a golf club grip to hold the golf club immobile, and an ejector element for simultaneously moving the golf club grip to a position for easy access when the manipulable component is raised.

2. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ejector element comprises an arm extending substantially at right angles to the manipulable component, in the same direction as the golf club shaft.

3. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said arm is formed integrally with the manipulable component and is adapted to rotate about a support axis which is common with the said manipulable component.

4. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 3, and wherein a cam arrangement is provided to enable the device to move between the position at which the golf club is held immobile and the position at which the golf club is accessible, said positions being fixed and held.

5. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cam arrangement comprises a collar fixed to the support axis at the position where the restraining device is supported for rotation; such a collar providing a camming surface which co-acts with a surface formed on the rear of the manipulable component.

6. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the collar is fitted between two vertical axis supporting flanges extending in parallel alignment from the rear of the manipulable component, and is fixed to the axis by means of a screw.

7. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the outer surface of the collar is formed with two scouped recesses which are complementary to a shaped surface portion on the rear of the manipulable component.

8. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 3, wherein said ejector element includes a golf club shaft alignment member.

9. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the golf club shaft alignment member is formed on the terminal end of the ejector element and has a partially flattened C- shaped cross-sectional configuration for extending part¬ way around the golf club grip.

10. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manipulable component includes a cap element for fitting over the end of the golf club grip, and a finger extension for raising the cap by hand.

11. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cap element has a concave depression on its lower surface into which the end of the golf club grip extends.

12. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 1, which is moulded as a single element from plastics material.

13. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a golf club head support, said head support comprising a cradle which is adapted to hold the golf club head in such a manner as to prevent damage thereto.

14. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cradle comprises a material sling supported between a pair of parallel brackets which extend substantially perpendicular with respect to the golf club shaft.

15. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 14, wherein the brackets are fitted to a vertically extending support panel and are adapted for vertical movement relative thereto.

16. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cradle comprises a rigid housing having a top opening into which the club head extends, and one or more cushioned portions on which the club head rests.

17. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 16, wherein the housing is supported on brackets extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the golf club shaft, from a support panel or column.

18. A device for use in a golf club storage compartment as claimed in claim 16, wherein the housing is supported on an adjustable height screw fitted to the base of the housing and which is rotatable into and out of a block extending vertically from a bottom wall of the storage compartment or a fixed panel on the central rotating stem.

19. A transportation container for golf clubs incorporating a plurality of devices as claimed in claim

13.

20. A transportation container for golf clubs as claimed in claim 19 comprising first and second opposed fixed side panels, first and second openable front panels, and first and second openable rear panels.

21. A transportation container for golf clubs as claimed in claim 20 and including first and second openable top panels.

22. A transportation container for golf clubs as claimed in claim 20, wherein storage means are mounted on any one or more of the panels.

23. A transportation container for golf clubs as claimed in claim 20 and including a handle at one end and wheels at the other.

24. A transportation container for golf clubs as claimed in claim 23 wherein the wheels are detachable from the container and are designed so as to be adjustable to maintain the longitudinal axis of the transportation container in a substantially vertical orientation irrespective of the ground contours when the container is stationary.

25. A transportation container for golf clubs as claimed in claim 19 which comprises a golf bag incorporating a circular array of clubs which are accessed through a slot in the bag, said array of clubs being rotatable to bring them into individual correspondence with the slot when required.

26. A device for restraining the movement of a golf club during transportation or storage, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A cradle for supporting a golf club during transportation or storage, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 5-9 or 10-17 of the accompanying drawings.

28. A transportation container for golf clubs substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 27 or Figure 28 of the accompanying drawings.