GOLF CLUB RETAINER

GOLF CLUB RETAINER

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a retainer used for carrying golf clubs.

It is not uncommon for golf bags to be equipped with dividing means to provide separation of the clubs such as bars or plates across the top of the bag or by orifices created by holes in a top plate or by the fitment of a separate tube for each of the fouπeen clubs intended to be carried in the bag.

The common disadvantage of most existing bags is that the clubs can strike each other when being returned to the bag or when the bag is bounced about during the course of a round at which time the bag is normally carried on a golf trolley. Also club selection can be a lengthy process because clubs become mixed with others and identification of the desired club is time consuming.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a golf club retainer to be associated with or attached to a golf club carrier or bag, the retainer comprising: a bendable strip member adapted to reside in a substantially curved configuration at the opening of the carrier or bag, the bendable strip member comprising a plurality of golf club shaft and/or club head suppoπ means positioned thereon, the bendable strip member being adapted to support the golf clubs within the carrier or bag in a substantially curved array without contacting one another.

Preferably, said support means comprises a plurality of ferrules projecting outwardly from the bendable strip member, each comprising a mouth through which the golf club shaft passes.

Preferably, the holder further comprises a plurality of ramps each having an associated buttress adapted to support the weight of the respective golf clubs.

Preferably, the respective ramp/buttress combinations are aligned substantially above the respective ferrules. Preferably, each ferrule comprises respective opposed guides at each side of the mouth to facilitate entry of the golf club shaft through the mouth.

Preferably, the mouth is dimensioned to prohibit exit of a club Hosel under the force of gravity.

Preferably, the holder further comprises an adjustable hook securable thereto and by which the bendable strip member can be affixed to the golf carrier or bag.

Preferably, the retainer further comprises a flexible strap adapted to be secured to remote distal ends of the bendable strip and adapted to draw those ends toward one another so as to maintain said bendable strip in said substantially curved configuration. This strap can define a partition, which, in cooperation with the golf club carrier or bag defines a receiving space for woods.

Definition As used herein, the term "bendable strip" is intended to encompass both a unitary member formed of resilient material, or a strip formed from a plurality of hingedly connected articulated sub-segments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a golf club carrier, Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the golf club carrier, with some golf clubs shown in position,

Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of the golf club carrier, Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the clip which locates the "Hosel" of the golf club, the Hosel being that part of the head which is extended towards the handle and is hollowed out to accept the shaft of the golf club,

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of an bendable strip member in an out-folded configuration, prior to insertion into a golf bag, Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the bendable strip member,

Figure 7A is a schematic plan view of a hook adapted to be secured to the bendable strip member,

Figure 7B is a schematic front elevational view of the hook of Figure 7A, and Figure 7C is a schematic cross-sectional end elevational view of the hook of 5 Figs. 7 A and 7B taken at C-C in Figure 7B.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

With reference to the drawings, a bendable strip member 2 is shown which mounts onto the top of a golf club carrier or bag 1 and is held in place by means of external tabs 5 which extend over the top of the bag 1. The bendable strip member 2 is o typically fabricated from flexible plastics material or other flexible material such as stainless steel. The bendable strip member 2 is secured to the bag 1 by two straps 4 which passes over the tabs 5 and through apertures in the bag 1. The bendable strip member is generally arcuate in use and comprises elongate slots 14 and 16 at respective ends thereof through which a strap 3 is passed. The strap can be of variable length to 5 accommodate differing diameters of golf bag tops and to enable it to be adjusted to maintain the two ends of the bendable strip member 2 in correct alignment. Strap 3 also provides a means of support and defines a compartment for the longer shafted driving and fairway clubs which are normally protected by covers of some flexible material. Strap 3 is preferably constructed with a cushioned surface, where it comes into contact with the shafts of the longer clubs so as to avoid damage to the surfaces of the shafts. The strap 3 is typically constructed of a plastics material with soft loops on the side exposed to the club shafts and hooks moulded on the other side. This allows for fastening at various lengths to suit different bag sizes.

Bendable strip member 2 is fitted with ferrules 6, the preferred number being eleven, as shown in Fig. 4. The ferrules are typically constructed of a smooth, moulded plastics material with entry guides 7 to facilitate the entry of the golf club shaft 9 through the mouth 8 of the ferrule 6, the mouth 8 being of sufficiently small dimension as to prohibit the exit of club Hosel 11 under the force of gravity on the club head, whilst still being large enough to allow clear entry of club shaft 9.

Referring to Fig. 3, each ferrule 6 is positioned adjacent to respective ramp 13 and buttress 12 so as to orientate its associated club head 10, 15, 18, etc., in a substantially radial direction with respect to the axis of the golf bag 1. In each case, ramp 13 supports the face of the club head whilst the buttress 12 restrains and positions the back of the club head. Dimension "Y" in Fig. 3 is typically kept to a practical minimum for each ferrule respectively, so as to ensure that only the hosel 11 of each club head is supported by its respective ferrule 6 to ensure that contact is avoided between the ferrule and club shaft 9, except during the placing or removal process of the club in or from the bag respectively.

Typically, each ferrule 6 and its associated buttress 12 and ramp 13 are located progressively lower on the bendable strip member 2 by a distance approximating the difference in length between each of the clubs, from the longest 15 to the shortest 10 referring to Fig. 2, a distance commonly of between 10 and 12mm. Whilst it is possible to maintain all of the club heads on the same level, the preferred configuration provides increased separation between adjacent club heads for improved access and also minimises the height of the centre of gravity of the set, which is advantageous with respect to the balance of the assembly on a golf trolley.

The bendable strip member 2 is typically moulded from a plastics material in a substantially flat form and is then bent into the curved shape necessary to fit most common golf bags. This enables the device to fit bags of varying sizes and shapes from 20cm diameter to 29cm diameter, and it can even be fitted on rectangular bags. As an alternative to the above arrangement the bendable strip member may be constructed as an integral part of the structure of the golf bag, in which case tabs 5 as well as strap 4 would not be required. Shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is the bendable strip member 2 in its out-stretched configuration prior to bending into the curved configuration for fitment into the golf club carrier or bag.

For the purpose of stabilising the bendable strip member 2 upon the carrier or bag, an adjustable hook 19 is provided. Like tabs 5, the hook 19 fits over the upper edge or lip of the carrier or bag 1. Figure 1 shows the position of hook 19 essentially midway between the two tabs 5. As shown in Fig. 6, at this position upon the bendable strip, a number of positioning slots 20 are provided, one above another. These positioning slots interact with the hook 19. With reference to Figs. 7A, 7B and 7C, the hook 19 comprises a base portion 24 to reside against the outwardly exposed surface of the strip member 2. At the upper region of base 24, there is provided an up-turned lip 21 , which is to be received through one of the slots 20. At the lower region of the base 24, there is provided an up-turned lip 21 which is to be received through one of the slots 20. At the lower region of the base 24, there is provided another lip 22 which s extends through another one of the slots 20. An aperture 26 is provided alongside the up-lip 21 and an aperture 27 is provided in the lip 22.

The hook 19 also comprises an attaching lug 23 which fits over the upper lip of the golf bag or receptacle in a manner similar to each of the tabs 5. A groove 25 passes over the lug 23. An adjustable tie not shown passes through the aperture 26 and o along the groove 25 and continues through an aperture passing through the golf bag and then through aperture 27 to be tied off with its other end. As the upper lip of most golf bags or receptacles comprises a recessed portion, and this recess is of varying depth depending upon the design of the golf bag, it is necessary to provide for vertical adjustment of the hook 19 with respect to the tabs 5. This is the reason for providing a 5 number of slots 20 to provide for vertical adjustment of hook 19 such that the bendable strip member 2 can be levelled.