Case For Golf Tool

Abstract

A golf tool case retains both a pointed golf tool and at least magnetizable golf ball markers by comprising a pair of sheets of flexible material having a third permanent magnet-type sheet of flexible material sandwiched between them. The first and third sheets of flexible material form the pocket for the golf tool, while the second sheet remains contiguous the permanent magnet third sheet and has one or more holes therein to hold golf ball markers to be retained by the permanent magnetic properties of the third sheet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to golfing equipment and more particularly, to golf tools which are used to repair putting greens.

Golfers are generally aware that they can cause small amounts of damage to putting greens when a golf ball is chipped or driven toward a green and drops onto the green from a relatively high altitude. For this reason, golfers often carry golf tools with them to repair indentations in the greens caused by the balls.

These golf tools generally comprise flat metallic strips which are slotted on at least one end to provide a fork. By holding the other end of this tool, the fork may be used to pry up the indentations in putting greens referred to above. Additionally, a pair of detends may be provided at another position on these golf tools for the purpose of tightening the cleats of golf shoes. All in all, a golfer may end up carrying, in his pocket, a golf tool having either one or two pairs of relatively pointy pieces of metal sticking from it.

Needless to say, when a gOlf tool of this type is carried in a golfer's pocket, it tends to cut and tear and wear the material of the pocket as the golfer bends, stretches, and kneels while playing a round of golf or while sitting either before or after he has played his round.

Furthermore, while playing golf, a golfer continuously uses golf ball markers for the purpose of marking the location of a ball on a green during play. These golf ball markers are normally relatively small in size, about the size of a dime, and therefore, are easily lost or misplaced by the golfer. It has long been desirable to provide means for readily retaining these golf ball markers in some convenient place where the markers will not be lost or misplaced.

It is, thus, an object of this invention to provide a unique golf tool case which conveniently allows a golfer to carry both a golf tool and one or more golf ball markers in a single package which prevents the golf tool from damaging the golfer's pockets and inhibits the golf ball marker from being lost or misplaced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combined golf tool, golf ball marker, and case therefor which allows the golf ball marker to be retained in a position for ready removal and use and protects the golfer from pointed portions of the golf tool.

Briefly stated, and in accordance with one aspect of this invention, a golf tool case is adapted to retain both a golf tool and one or more golf ball markers. The golf tool case itself comprises first and second sheets of flexible material which are cut in a size and shape desired as a receptacle for a golf tool. A third sheet of flexible material is cut in a size and shape such that it can be sandwiched between a portion of the first and second sheets to remain contiguous the second sheet while the golf tool is in the golf tool case. A pocket is formed between the first and third sheet of flexible material to receive the golf tool. The second sheet of material has a hole in it adjacent the third sheet of material for each of the golf ball markers so that the magnetic force of the third sheet of material can be used to retain the golf ball markers on the golf tool case.

The specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter of this invention. The organization and manner and process of making and using this invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a golf tool case made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of the golf tool case shown in FIG.1 as taken on the line 1--1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a golf tool which may be used in accordance with this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings show a golf tool case which forms a receptacle for a golf tool and retains golf ball markers in accordance with this invention. The sectional, exploded view shown in FIG. 2 most clearly shows the structure of the golf tool case and the manner in which it retains the golf tool and golf ball markers.

The golf tool case itself basically comprises a first sheet of flexible material 10 and a second sheet of flexible material 12 which form the exterior of the case itself. The flexible material may comprise leather or plastic material having a thickness which is sufficient to protect the carrier of the case from pointed metal projections which extend from golf tools, such as that shown in FIG. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first sheet of flexible material has a cover portion 14 which folds over the top of the golf tool case to totally enclose a golf tool 16 which is shown therein. A portion of a snap 18 is mounted both on the cover 14 and the second sheet of flexible material 12 to allow the cover to be fastened in place when the golf tool 16 is not being removed from the golf tool case or being replaced back into the case. However, golf tool cases made in accordance with this invention need not have the cover 14 as is shown in the preferred embodiment, but may remain open at the top.

A third sheet of flexible material 20 is mounted within the golf tool case so that it is sandwiched between the first and second sheets 10 and 12. The third sheet 20 comprises a flexible, permanent magnet which is mounted so as to continuously remain contiguous the first sheet 12 while the golf tool 16 is retained in the golf tool case. Thus, when the golf tool case is assembled a pocket is formed between the first sheet 10 and the third sheet 20 to receive the golf tool 16.

The purpose of the flexible magnetic sheet 20 is to provide means for retaining golf ball markers, such as the markers 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the golf tool case itself. The sheet 20 is flexible so that it aids in providing an overall flexible golf tool case which protects a golfer's pocket from being damaged while the golf tool is being carried. The use of this flexible magnetic sheet 20 aids in providing an easily manufactured golf tool case since material of this type can readily be sewn or glued or subjected to heat treatment otherwise fastened to the sheets 10 and 12 in the same manner as these sheets would be fastened together. The preferred embodiment shows that the sheets of material 10, 12, and 20 are sewn or stitched together, as seen in FIG. 1. But those skilled in the art will recognize that other convenient means can be used for fastening these sheets together to form a case due to the ease with which the flexible permanent magnet can be assembled into the case.

The third sheet of material 20 may comprise any type of material which is flexible, is a permanent magnet, and lends itself to being fastened between the other two sheets 10 and 12. Material of this type is marketed by the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company as "Plastiform" permanent magnets, and is also marketed by the H. O. Canfield Co., Inc., as "Magnetized Plastic."

The golf ball markers 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, should be made of a magnetizable material and should be of such a size that they can be retained in the holes 24 and 26 in the second sheet of material 12. It is preferable to have the thickness of the golf ball markers 22 no greater than the thickness of the second sheet of material 12 so that the golf ball markers 22 cannot be brushed out of the holes 24 and 26.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a golf tool which is meant to be carried in the golf tool case made in accordance with this invention. This golf tool 16 is slotted at one end to provide a pair of prongs 28 which comprise a fork that may be used to pry up indentations in putting greens, such as those made by golf balls which are chipped or driven onto a green from relatively high altitudes. The other end of the golf tool 16 is gripped between the golfer's thumb and index finger and the prongs 28 are used to pry up the indentation so that it does not interfere with the putting surface.

At the end of the golf tool 16 opposite the prongs 28, a pair of detents 30 are porvided for the purpose of tightening the cleats on golf shoes. These detents fit in slots which are normally provided in each golf cleat, and the thicker portion of the golf tool is gripped between the thumb and index finger of the golfer and is twisted to allow the cleats to be tightened. It can readily be seen that both the detents 30 and the prongs 28 comprise pointed pieces of metal which can easily cut, tear, and wear the material of a pants pocket as a golfer bends, stretches, and kneels while playing a round of golf or while a golfer sits down either before or after he has played his round. The flexible golf tool case of this invention not only protects the golfer's pocket from this damage, but also provides handy means for carrying the golf ball markers 22. Thus, the golf tool 16 and the golf ball markers 22, both of which are used on putting greens, are carried in a single handy package for the convenience of the golfer.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the several novel features of the invention described above can be embodied in structures other than those illustrated and described above, as described in the claims below. It is contemplated that the golf tool can be manufactured out of hard materials other than metal, such as various nylon-type materials.

Claims

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A golf tool case comprising, in combination:

a. First and second sheets of flexible material cut in a size and shape sufficient to form a receptacle for a golf tool;

b. A third sheet of flexible material cut in a size and shape which can be sandwiched between a portion of said first and second sheets, said third sheet comprising a permanent magnet;

c. Means fastening said first, second and third sheets together "along a portion of the peripheries of said sheets" with said third sheet sandwiched between said first and second sheets thereby forming a pocket between said first and third sheets to receive a golf tool, said third sheet continuously remaining contiguous with said second sheet, said sheets having a length such that they extend substantially the length of the golf tool when the golf tool is within said pocket, said second sheet having at least one opening therein adjacent said third sheet, said opening being of a size sufficient to receive a magnetizable golf ball marker therein.

2. A golf tool case of the type described in claim 1 wherein said second sheet is at least as thick as a golf ball marker and said means for fastening said first, second, and third sheets together comprise stitches which pass through each of said sheets.

3. The combination comprising a magnetic golf tool having one or more pointy pieces of metal extending therefrom, at least one magnetizable golf ball marker, and a golf tool case wherein said golf tool case comprises:

a. First and second sheets of flexible material cut in a size and shape sufficient to form a receptacle for a golf tool;

b. A third sheet of flexible material cut in a size and shape which can be sandwiched between a portion of said first and second sheets, said third sheet comprising a permanent magnet;

c. Means fastening said first, second, and third sheets together "along a portion of the peripheries of said sheets" with said third sheet sandwiched between said first and second sheets thereby forming a pocket between said first and third sheets, said golf tool being disposed within said pocket said third sheet continuously remaining contiguous with said second sheet, said sheets having a length such that they extend substantially the length of the golf tool, said second sheet having at least one opening therein adjacent said third sheet said magnetizable golf ball marker being disposed within said opening.

4. The combination described in claim 3 wherein said second sheet is at least as thick as the golf ball marker and said means for fastening said first, second, and third sheets together comprise stitches which pass through each of said sheets.

5. A golf tool case of the type described in claim 1 wherein said second sheet is at least as thick as a golfball marker and said first, second, and third sheets are fastened together by means of heat treatment.

6. The combination described in claim 3 wherein said second sheet is at least as thick as the golfball marker and said first, second, and third sheets are fastened together by means of heat treatment.