U.S. patent application number 10/204427 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-12 for golf club carriers.
Invention is credited to Buckley, David Leonard.
Application Number | 20030106817 10/204427 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3709033 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030106817 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Buckley, David Leonard |
June 12, 2003 |
Golf club carriers
Abstract
A golf club carrier (10) including an outer elongated
cylindrical shell (11), a storage unit (20) having storage
compartements (21) supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis
within the shell (11) and means (24) for supporting a plurality of
golf clubs (23) at spaced circumferential positions around the
storage unit (20). The cylindrical shell (11) has a side opening
(12) and the unit may be rotated to align the compartments (21)
with the opening (12) to allow acess thereto or rotated to allow
access to clubs (23) supported around the storage unit (20).
Inventors: |
Buckley, David Leonard;
(Townsville, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOFFMAN WASSON & GITLER
2361 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
SUITE 522
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Family ID: |
3709033 |
Appl. No.: |
10/204427 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
March 1, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU01/00210 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/315.6 ;
206/315.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 55/404 20151001;
A63B 55/40 20151001; A63B 2055/403 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/315.6 ;
206/315.3 |
International
Class: |
A63B 055/00; A63B
055/04; A63B 055/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2000 |
AU |
19545/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club carrier comprising a hollow elongated container,
said container having a longitudinally extending side opening,
elongated storage means supported in said container for rotatable
movement about a longitudinal axis, said storage means including at
least one storage compartment, means for supporting a plurality of
golf clubs to said storage means at spaced positions partially
around the periphery thereof, and means for selectively rotating
said storage means to align said at least one storage compartment,
or a said club supporting means, respectively, with said side
opening to allow access to said at least one storage compartment or
allow removal of golf clubs from, or placement of golf clubs into,
said container.
2. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 and including closure
means for said at least one compartment, said closure means
substantially closing said side opening when said at least one
compartment is aligned with said side opening.
3. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said
container is closed at opposite ends such that clubs supported on
said storage means are enclosed within said container and wherein
said storage means is rotatably supported in said container by
pivot or axle means at opposite ends.
4. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 wherein said means for
supporting said golf clubs includes means for releasably gripping
the shafts of said clubs adjacent the heads thereof.
5. A golf club carrier according to claim 4 wherein said means for
gripping said shafts comprise a fixed clamping member and a movable
clamping member biased towards said fixed clamping member such that
said clamping members may grip said shaft therebetween.
6. A golf club carrier according to claim 4 wherein said means for
gripping said shafts comprise reentrant recesses in which said
shafts may be gripped.
7. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 wherein said means for
supporting said golf clubs includes means for supporting and
gripping the handles of said golf clubs
8. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 and including a channel
at the lower end of said storage means for receiving said club
handles.
9. A golf club carrier according to claim 8 and including rib means
on opposite sides of said channel for engaging opposite sides of
said club handle.
10. A golf club carrier according to claim 9 wherein said means for
supporting said golf clubs includes means for positioning the heads
of said golf clubs.
11. A golf club carrier according to claim 10 wherein said means
for positioning the heads of said golf clubs a club support
provided with a plurality of spaced grooves or slots for receiving
said heads.
12. A golf club carrier according to claim 10 wherein said means
for positioning the heads of said golf clubs includes a plurality
of saddles or channels for receiving said golf club heads.
13. A golf club carrier according to claim 12 wherein said saddles
or channels are mounted so as to be rotatably adjustable to suit
club heads of different angles.
14. A golf club carrier according to claim 13 wherein said saddles
or channels are secured to pinions cooperable with toothed racks to
enable rotatable adjustment of said saddles or channels.
15. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 and including
indicator means for alerting a player that a particular club is
properly secured within said carrier.
16. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 wherein said container
is of a cylindrical form.
17. A golf club carrier according to claim 16 wherein said storage
compartment or compartments comprise drawers or cupboards.
18. A golf club carrier according to claim 17 wherein said drawers
or cupboards have fronts defining the compartment closure means
which are of a curved configuration on a radius slightly less than
the radius of said container.
19. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 wherein said means for
rotating said storage means comprises drive motor means.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to golf club carriers.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventional golf bags have a number of faults. For example,
clubs supported in the bags are exposed to the weather and are
unrestrained in the bag leading to loss, theft and damage. Clubs
and equipment are unsecured, especially in transit by planes or
other transport. Further the clubs are unprotected from impact
damage and are difficult to extract or replace. Clubs not replaced
in bag can be inadvertently left behind. Storage for ancillary
equipment is usually external to the bag and in the form of pouches
or pockets in which articles stored therein are usually in a
jumbled and chaotic form. In addition access to the storage pouches
or pockets when used with hand and power carts is often difficult
if not impossible. Bags used with hand carts are inevitably top
heavy, especially when used with sand buckets, leading to tipping
and spillages. Conventional bags are unsuited to use with power
carts because club and equipment access is difficult.
[0003] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,322 to Lombardo et al and 5,988,379 to
Yearous show golf bags having lateral compartmental storage. When
however, the storage compartments are provided externally to the
golf bag itself as in these patents, the problems of weight and
volume become significant, and this solution to storage problems
does nothing to alleviate the other problems pertaining to the golf
clubs which arise from the open ended golf bag.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,221 to Spangler provides for a golf bag
with a front access door through which golf clubs supported on a
rotary dispenser can be accessed. The rotary dispenser however has
a central inner shaft which occupies the interior of the bag so
that the interior of the bag cannot be used for any other purpose.
Further storage compartments for other equipment are also arranged
externally of the bag. Of practical significance is that this
design requires the front door of the bag to be as long as the
longest club, therefore with the base and top of the bag added, the
overall length of the bag is considerably in excess of the longest
club. This makes the bag difficult, if not impossible to carry or
place in a vehicle boot. Similarly, the extensive construction
brings with it a weight penalty which is far from desirable. In
addition, the bag of this patent contains a number of hinged and
folding parts which complicate manufacture, add to cost and offer a
source of potential maintenance problems.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No 4,319,616 to Light discloses a golf bag in
which the clubs are placed in a horseshoe shaped arrangement around
the perimeter of the back with the free inner space of the bag
providing discrete storage compartments for ancillary equipment.
However in this bag golf clubs are held and stored in a
conventional manner which does nothing to resolve any of the
problems relating to clubs. Clubs are required to be removed from
the top of the bag in a conventional manner. Further in this golf
bag, the storage compartments are fixed.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,082 to Hemme also discloses a rotatable
container for the peripheral storage of clubs, but also uses a
central shaft upon which the rotating section is carried. This
arrangement not only precludes the use of the interior of the bag
for storage but the bag is also open ended which appears to defeat
the purpose of having a lateral dispensation of clubs. Very minimal
storage compartments are provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention aims to provide a golf club carrier
which overcomes or alleviates one or more of the above
disadvantages or at least provides an alternative to golf bags of
the above described type. Other objects and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from the following description.
[0008] The present invention thus provides a golf club carrier
comprising a hollow elongated container, said container having a
longitudinally extending side opening, elongated storage means
supported in said container for rotatable movement about a
longitudinal axis, said storage means including at least one
storage compartment, means for supporting a plurality of golf clubs
to said storage means at spaced positions partially around the
periphery thereof, and means for selectively rotating said storage
means to align said at least one storage compartment, or a said
club supporting means, respectively, with said side opening to
allow access to said at least one storage compartment or allow
removal of golf clubs from, or placement of golf clubs into, said
container.
[0009] When the golf clubs supported on the support means are
aligned with the side opening, clubs may be laterally withdrawn
through the opening whilst when the compartment/s of the storage
means is/are aligned with the side opening, access can be had to
the compartment/s to allow removal of the contents thereof or
placement of articles into the compartment. Suitably closure means
are provided for the at least one compartment, the closure means
substantially closing the side opening when the at least one
compartment is aligned with the side opening.
[0010] Preferably the container is closed at opposite ends to
enclose golf clubs therein and the storage means is rotatably
supported at opposite ends by suitably pivot or axle means.
Preferably, the storage means includes a carousel rotatably mounted
within the container for movement about the longitudinal axis, and
a storage unit incorporating the storage compartment/s is supported
by the carousel.
[0011] Preferably the means for supporting the golf clubs includes
means for releasably gripping the shafts of the clubs adjacent the
heads thereof. The means for supporting the golf clubs may also
include means for supporting the heads of the golf clubs. Suitably,
the clubs are mounted head up on an organiser formed in
approximately two thirds of the periphery or circumference of the
carousel. The other third may be protected by a hood which acts as
a protective `door` when club access is not required. The external
side of the hood may be used for storage of tees, pencils, divot
repairers, etc. The clubs however may be stored with club heads
lowermost if desired. The shape of the heads of the clubs readily
allows a variety of options to restrain the clubs in the correct
position.
[0012] Where the clubs are held in an inverted position, each iron
club is suitably seated in a matching section of the organiser and
held firmly in place by the gripping means which may comprise
cooperating clamping members. The woods may be similarly fastened.
Preferably, the heads of the clubs are supported either in a
locating grooves or slots in a club support or alternatively
supported in suitably shaped saddles, channel or seats. In one
arrangement, the carousel may support an annular member provided
with a series of spaced apart V-shaped grooves or slots to receive
the heads of the clubs. In another form, the saddles, channels or
seats for the club heads may be adjustable in rotational attitude
to suit the angle of the club head. For this purpose, the saddles,
channels or seats may be mounted on pinions which are arranged to
cooperate with toothed racks to set the rotational attitude of the
saddles, channels or seats.
[0013] The cooperable clamping members for the clubs are preferably
arranged to releasably clamp around the club shafts. The clamping
members may comprise a fixed clamping member and a movable clamping
member which is biased towards the fixed clamping member.
Preferably the clamping members are of part tubular form to locate
neatly about the shafts of the clubs. The movable clamping member
may be supported on an arm which is biased towards the fixed
clamping member either through the inherent nature of the arm or by
means of a separate biasing means. The above fastening methods
prevent the clubs from moving or from inadvertently falling from
the bag.
[0014] Once a selected club has been rotated into alignment with
the side opening, the club can be removed by simply lifting the
club head up from the seat in the organiser and pulling gently
forwards. The shape of the biased arm will automatically move the
club away from the fixed clamping member and free the club shaft.
When the club is removed, the biased arm is urged into contact with
the fixed clamping member.
[0015] Preferably, means are provided to alert a player that a club
is not within the carrier or not properly secured in the carrier.
For this purpose, the clamping members may include or define
contacts on both sections which may engage, activating an
electrical switch which will light an indicator on the top of the
carrier, alerting the player to the fact that the club is either
not in the carrier or not properly secured. When the club is
replaced, the contact is broken and the light extinguished.
[0016] In a further form the shafts of the clubs adjacent the heads
thereof may be simply located in recesses on the carousel which
capture the shaft. Preferably the recesses are formed so as to
positively grip the shafts. Most preferably, the recesses are of
reentrant form. Passages for the club shafts may lead into the
recesses from the exterior of the carousel, the passages suitably
being of spiral form. The handles or grips of the clubs may also be
clamped by clamping means which cooperate with the handles or grips
when the shafts of the clubs are held in the recesses at their
upper ends. Suitably, the clamping means comprise spaced ribs on
opposite sides of the handles or grips, the ribs suitably being
spaced apart a radial distance less than the diameter of the golf
club grips or handles.
[0017] The container is preferably of cylindrical form and the
storage means may be in many different sizes and configurations but
suitably includes a plurality of drawers or cupboards defining the
storage compartments which may be withdrawn or opened when aligned
with the side opening. The fronts of the drawers or cupboards
defining the compartment closure means preferably are of a curved
configuration on a radius slightly less than the radius of the
container.
[0018] When the storage means is rotated to the compartment access
position, all clubs are contained within the hollow container and
so protected from weather, abrasion and impact damage. With the
storage means in this position, the player can now access any
ancillary equipment stored within the compartment/s. Means may be
provided for releasably locking the carousel or storage means in
this position say for transport purposes. Means may also be
provided for releasably locking access to the compartments for
example releasable locks on the drawers.
[0019] The golf club carrier can be carried by a shoulder sling,
handles, hand cart or by cart. When used with a hand cart, the
carrier may include a mount bracket and guide slot with a bottom
hook and ball pivot which are mounted on the cart shaft. The ball
pivot may be fitted into the gate aperture in the guide slot then
slid along to the end of the guide slot. Simultaneously, the bottom
hook slides into the mount bracket.
[0020] Because the ball on the mounting pivot is too large to pass
through the guide slots, the carrier is firmly attached to the
handcart by gravity. When not in motion, the carrier is placed in
the upright position, allowing the player to access and operate the
rotating handle to obtain access to equipment as required. The
problems of imbalance are thus eliminated.
[0021] The internal storage compartments provide a substantial
storage volume without extending the overall volume of the carrier,
and at the same time provide a number of discrete storage spaces
within which items can be organised and accessed without the
jumbled chaos experienced with external pouches. The entire storage
unit may be detachable from the carousel and thus the golf club
carrier. This brings a number of benefits such as reduction of
weight to facilitate loading the carrier and storage unit into a
car boot for instance. It allows ancillary equipment to checked,
cleaned, replaced etc, at home without the need to carry the entire
golf club carrier inside and further allows for security of
contents.
[0022] A drive motor such as an electric motor may be provided to
activate the carousel or storage unit, in conjunction with
electronic remote controls to effect rotation of the carousel or
unit.
[0023] The container suitably is formed as an outer shell which is
of substantially circular in cross section but which covers only
approximately two thirds of the outer circumference to define the
side opening by means of which items carried on storage means can
be accessed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] In order that the invention may be more readily understood
and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the
accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of
the invention and wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view the golf club carrier
of an embodiment of the invention showing the carousel rotated to
allow access to the storage compartments;
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective view the golf club carrier
of the invention rotated to allow access to selected golf
clubs;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the golf club
carrier showing a single golf club supported on the carousel;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a front view of the golf club carrier in the FIG.
1 attitude;
[0029] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view along line A-A of FIG.
3 with all golf clubs supported on the carousel;
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates the manner in which a golf club is
supported;
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates in elevational view the lower end of the
golf club carrier with an alternative arrangement for supporting
the grip or handle of gold clubs;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 7 showing
the manner in which the grip or handle of golf clubs are
positioned;
[0033] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative manner in which the shaft
of the golf clubs may be secured in position; and
[0034] FIG. 10 illustrates a preferred blade holder arrangement for
the clubs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Referring to the drawings and firstly to FIGS. 1 to 4, there
is illustrated a golf club carrier 10 according to an embodiment of
the invention including an outer hollow shell 11 which typically
may be formed of moulded polycarbonate or any other materials and
which is substantially circular in cross section. A longitudinal
extending access opening 12 is provided in the outer shell 11 to
give lateral access to golf clubs held within the golf club carrier
10 or to storage compartments therein in the manner described
below.
[0036] Mounted within the outer shell 11 is a rotatable carousel 13
which is supported by a central shaft 14 extending downwardly from
the fixed top plate 15 of the carrier 10. A further shaft 16
aligned with the shaft 14 is provided at the lower end of the
carrier and extends upwardly from the bottom plate 17 of the
carrier 10. Bearings or bushes may be provided between the shaft 14
and the top plate 15 and/or the carousel 13 which facilitates
rotation of the carousel 13 within the outer shell 11. A handle 18
is fixed to the shaft 14 on the upper side of the top plate 15 to
enable the carousel 13 to be rotated by hand. The handle 18
includes at its outer end a hand grip 19 which may be pivoted
upwardly to the operative position of FIGS. 2 to 4 or downwardly to
the position of FIG. 1 when not in use.
[0037] Suspended detachably from the carousel 13 is a storage unit
20 which is rotatably connected at its lower end to the shaft 16
suitably via a bearing arrangement. The storage unit 20 includes in
this embodiment a series of drawers 21 arranged one above each
other, the drawers 21 having a curved front face of a radius
slightly less than the radius of the shell 10. The carousel 13 may
thus be rotated to the position of FIG. 1 where the front of the
storage unit 20 is aligned with the opening 12 which allows drawers
21 to be slid outwardly as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1. The
storage unit 20 may also include compartments 22 for storage of
balls. The drawers 21 may be replaced by cupboards if desired or
there may be provided combinations of cupboards and drawers and of
course the storage unit 20 may be used for storage of any equipment
such as wet weather gear. The storage unit 20 is preferably formed
so as to be detachable as a unit from the carousel 13 to allow
cleaning or transport or replacement by a further storage unit of a
different design. As shown more clearly in FIG. 5 the storage unit
20 in cross sectional converges from the front to the rear to allow
its withdrawal through the opening 12. The opening 12 and thus the
front of the storage unit 20 which is of a curved configuration may
occupy approximately one third of the circumferential space around
the carousel 13 and shell 11.
[0038] Golf clubs 23 are supported peripherally around the storage
unit 20 as shown in FIG. 5 whilst leaving the front of the storage
unit 20 free for access. At their upper ends, the clubs 23 are
supported by a club organiser 24 which as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6
includes an annular ring 25 of tapering height which is provided
with a series of V-shaped grooves 26 which receive and support the
top edge of the head of a club 23 (shown in dotted outline in FIG.
6) which is the lower edge when the club 23 is inverted, and carry
the weight of the club 23. The shaft 27 of the club is gripped
between two fingers 28 and 29, each of which is in the form of half
of a tube of sufficient diameter to snugly fit the shaft 27 of the
club 23 at the hosel but without the two fingers 28 and 29
contacting each other when the shaft 27 is in place.
[0039] The outer finger 29 of part tubular form is fixed to a top
rim 30 of the carousel 13 whilst the inner finger 28 is carried on
a curved arm 31 attached to the ring 25 or other portion of the
carousel 13, which acts as a spring, urging the finger 28 towards
the finger 29. A cut out section 32 in the rim 30 of the carousel
13 allows the shaft 27 of the club 23 to sit inside the two fingers
28 and 29 and so be securely held therebetween. The weight of the
club 23 being supported by the V-sections 26 ensures that the club
23 cannot move without positive action by the player. This is
sufficient to prevent abrasion damage or loss, yet the club can be
instantly released by lifting and pushing the club slightly
inwardly. Pressure from the shaft 27 will force the spring arm 31
back in an arc, automatically moving the club 23 away from the
fixed outer finger 29 and allowing easy removal by the player.
[0040] To locate the handles 33 (or shafts 27) of the clubs 23, a
part ring 34 may be provided towards the lower end of the carousel,
the ring 34 having a series of part circular locating grooves 35 in
its periphery which are of substantially the same diameter as the
diameter of the handles 33. The handles 33 will be firmly located
in the grooves 35 due to the gripping force provided by the
cooperating fingers 28 and 29.
[0041] To enable the storage unit 20 to be removed through the
access opening 12, the ring 34 is formed with a pair of opposite
wings 36 which are pivotally mounted at opposite pivot points 37
for movement between an outer position where the wings 36 are in
the position shown in FIG. 5 and extend along the same
circumference with the remainder of the ring 34 and the inner
position shown in dotted outline. In this position, it will be
apparent that the width of the storage unit 20 is less than the
width of the opening 12 so that the storage unit 20 can be removed
through the opening 12. The wings 36 are arranged to pivot into a
small compartment 38 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) to which the user has
access. The compartment 38 may be opened by a hinged door so that
the user can either pivot the wings 36 outwardly to the operative
position of FIG. 5 where they are suitably clipped or latched into
position or inwardly to the dotted outline position.
[0042] Without a club shaft 27 in place, the two fingers 28 and 29
contact each other due to the spring force of the arm 31. The
fingers 28 and 29 may be provided with electrical contacts which
close when the fingers are urged towards each other in the absence
of a club shaft 27. The contacts may be provided by separate
electrical contacts 39 or electrically conductive portions of the
fingers 28 and 29. The contacts 39 thus act as a switch and wires
40 connect the contacts 39 with a battery and one of a series of
indicator lights 41 provided on the top of the carrier 10. The
indicator lights 41 are marked with the club number so that the
user is aware of which club 23 has been removed and not replaced.
Connection between the wires 40 and lights 41 may be provided by
means of a slip ring arrangement to take into account the rotation
of the carousel 13. Alternatively, the shaft 14 may be hollow to
allow the placement of the necessary wiring harness
[0043] For removal of clubs 23 from the carrier 10, the golfer uses
the handle 18 to rotate the carousel 13 to a position to align the
selected club with the front access opening 12 as shown in FIG. 2.
The golfer then simply grasps the head of the club 23 as he would
with a conventional bag. Lifting and slightly moving the club
towards the centre of the carrier 10 against the bias of the arm 31
will free it from the fingers 28 and 29. The removal of the club 23
through the opening 12 merely requires the user to move the club 23
towards him or her.
[0044] To place the club 23 in the carrier, if necessary the
carousel 13 is rotated to the appropriate position relative to the
opening 12. The club shaft 23 is placed in the cut-out section 32
and against the spring arm 31 and pressed forward. The shape of the
arm 31 will force the shaft 27 to slide into place between the two
fingers 28 and 29 and the head of the club 23 is then placed into a
V-slot 26. The club 23 is now firmly held in place and the
indicator warning light 41 is extinguished.
[0045] Should an indicator light 41 remain lit, the player
immediately knows that club is either not in the carrier or
improperly secured. On those occasions where the player takes more
than one club from the carrier, such as when he is in a bunker by
the green, this will help prevent him inadvertently leaving a club
on the course.
[0046] When club access is not required, the clubs are moved within
the protective shelter of the carrier, aligning the front of the
storage unit 20 with the access opening 12 where the curved faces
of the drawers 21 substantially close the opening to act as a
protective screen or door.
[0047] The hand grip 19 may be spring loaded to either the upright
position necessary to turn the carousel or it can be turned through
180 degrees to lock the carousel in any desired position by mating
with indentations on the top cover plate 15 or simply align with
markings in the top plate. Alternatively, other means such as a
locking pin engageable with the carousel may be provided to lock
the carousel 13 in position for transport purposes, normally in the
FIG. 4 position. Similarly, locking means may be provided to lock
the drawers 21 in the closed position of FIG. 4 to prevent them
from inadvertently opening during transport. Again the locking
means may be provided in the form of a locking pin associated with
each drawer 21 or all drawers 21 as a unit.
[0048] The outer shell 11 can be covered with fabric or leather as
is a conventional carrier, but it is preferred that the area (two
thirds of the circumference) occupied by the club heads on the
carousel will be transparent to allow the player visual access to
this section. Most other components are preferably moulded from a
plastic such as nylon.
[0049] The main structural member of the carrier preferably
comprise the outer shell 11, top plate 15, bottom plate 17 and a
main elongated stem 42. An upper Y-shaped arm 43 radiates from the
top of the main stem 42 to carry side support rods 44 on opposite
sides of the opening and the carousel shaft 14. The main stem 42
may carry a mount bracket 45 and guide slot 46 by means of which
the carrier 10 can be attached to a pullcart or powered golf cart.
Seals may be provided on opposite sides of the opening 12 adjacent
the rods 44 to seal against the storage unit to fully seal the
space within the shell 11 at least in the FIG. 5 position.
[0050] The one third of the carousel arc not utilised for carrying
clubs is fitted with a hood 47 aligned with the front of the
storage unit 20 to screen the inside when the storage unit 20 is in
the access position. The outside of the hood 47 is recessed at 48
so as to permit the storage of tees, pencils, divot repairers, etc,
placing them conveniently to hand.
[0051] As an alternative to the handle 18, the carousel 13 may be
driven by an electric motor 49 (shown in dotted outline) which may
be operated by a press button or by a remote control.
[0052] The drawers 21 of the storage unit 20 are suitably formed of
a moulded plastic and have suitable latches and handles for access
purposes.
[0053] The arms 31 which support the part tubular fingers 28 may be
spring arms or alternatively separate biasing means such as a
spring may be provided to bias the arms 31 and fingers 28 towards
the fixed arms 29.
[0054] To enable the lower end of the storage unit 20 to be
supported by the shaft 16, the lower end thereof may be provided
with a radial extending groove 50 leading to a mushroom shaped
recess 51 in which the upper end of the shaft 16 may seat. Thus as
the storage unit 20 is removed, the shaft 16 will move along the
groove 50 until the storage unit 20 becomes detached. It will be
appreciated however that the storage unit 20 may be formed
integrally with or permanently connected to the carousel 13 so as
to be non removable through the opening 12. In yet a further
arrangement, the unit 20 and carousel 13 may be removed endwise
from the shell 11 by removing the top plate 15 or bottom plate
17.
[0055] Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 10 there is illustrated a
further arrangement for supporting golf clubs around the storage
unit 20. The storage unit 20 in this embodiment is provided at its
lower end with an annular channel 51 in which the handles 33 of the
clubs 23 may be placed and supported. A compression rib 52 is
formed on the inner surface of the outer wall 53 of the channel 51
and a further compression rib 54 is formed around the outer wall of
the storage unit 20 and spaced upwardly from the rib 52. The
handles or grips 33 of the golf clubs 23 are placed into the
channel 51 at an angle as shown in FIG. 8 and then moved to an
upright position towards the storage unit 20 where the ribs 52 and
54 engage opposite sides of the handle or grip 33 whilst the shafts
27 of the golf clubs 23 are secured at their upper ends. The radial
distance between the ribs 52 and 54 is less than the diameter of
the club handles or grips 33 such that the handle or grip 33 is
jammed between the ribs 52 and 54 reacting against the grip on the
shafts 27 as described below.
[0056] The top rim 30 of the carousel 13 is provided with a series
of shaft grips 55 (see FIG. 9) which are in the form of a spiral
shaped slot 56 which terminates in a reentrant clamp recess 57, the
width of entry of which is less than the diameter of the shaft 27
of the club 23. Thus as the clubs 23 are moved inwardly after the
grips 33 are located as described with reference to FIG. 7, they
are moved into the spiral slot 56 and then snapped into position
within the clamp recess 57. The clubs 23 are thus clamped at their
upper ends and held at their lower ends by the opposing ribs 52 and
54. Removal of the clubs simply requires the club shafts 27 to be
detached from the clamp recesses 57 and moved anti-clockwise out of
the slots 56 and then simply lifted from the carrier 10.
[0057] To hold the blades or heads of the clubs 23 in position, a
blade holding assembly 58 is provided in place of the club
organizer 24. The blade holding assembly 58 includes a plurality of
blade holders 59 corresponding in number to the number of iron
clubs to be supported. Each blade holder 59 is in the form of a
channel 60 which is mounted by a stem 61 on a pinion 62. The pinion
62 is arranged to cooperate with a plurality of sets of toothed
upper and lower racks 63 and 64 on the carousel 13, each set
extending generally along a helix relative to the axis of rotation
of the storage unit 20 as shown in dotted outline so as to be of
increasing distance from the club handle or grip holders for
supporting clubs of different lengths. The sets of racks 63 and 64
can be adjusted in height above the carousel 13. The angle of an
iron club face varies between 8 and 60 degrees and each blade
holder 59 can be adjusted relative to the racks 62 and 63 to a
required angle to match a particular iron. For positioning the
blade holder 59 at the correct angle, the pinions 62 are detached
from the racks 63 and 64, rotated to the angle of the club head or
blade and then reinserted between the racks 63 and 64 in that
position. If clubs held in the carrier are varied, the pinions 62
insert can be simply removed from engagement with the racks 63 and
64 rotated to match the club head and then reengaged with the racks
63 and 64. For left handed clubs the sets of racks 63 and 64 are
removed and inverted and secured back in position. The blade
holders are then reversed in angulation forming a mirror image of
the right handed version suitable for left handed clubs. This
eliminates the need for special moulds for left handed clubs. If
necessary suitable retention means may be provided for holding the
pinions 62 between the racks 63 and 64 in a desired angular
position. The blade holders 59 are positioned such that the club
heads enter the channels 60 as the club shafts 27 are moved towards
the spiral passage 56 for location in the recesses 57. Woods
including metal woods being of increased length relative to iron
clubs may are simply held by the handle and shaft holders of FIGS.
7 to 9.
[0058] To accommodate variations in club height, the blade holders
are set an the maximum height and the adjustments made at the
channel 51 by making the channel 51 are separate member which can
be moved longitudinally along the unit 20 or by placing inserts
within the base of the channel 51.
[0059] Of course many different arrangements may be provided for
supported the golf clubs around the storage unit 20 and the club
shaft gripping arrangement may be of many configurations other than
that described and illustrated in the embodiments. Similarly many
different arrangements may be provided for supporting the heads of
the golf clubs so as to prevent them impacting against each other
either when the golf club carrier is in use or when the carrier is
being transported with the clubs supported therein.
[0060] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative
embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications
thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are
deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as
herein defined in the appended claims.
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