Golf Accessory Carrier

Abstract

A golf accessory carrier comprising a resiliently compressible core having a cavity therein and a case substantially completely enclosing the core. The case is constructed of flexible material and the case has an aperture in registry with the cavity of the core. The aperture and cavity are sized to partially receive a golf tee and the core is adapted to resiliently grip the portion of the golf tee in the cavity. One or more pockets for carrying various other golf accessories are provided on the case.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a golf accessory carrier of the type which can be mounted on a golf bag or on the clothing of the golfer. Devices of this general nature are known.

One such prior art device includes cartridge loops for carrying golf tees. The cartridge loops are breakable and oftentimes it is difficult to insert the tee into the loop. Moreover, when a tee is inserted into one of the loops, its sharp end is exposed and is potentially dangerous to the user particularly if the device is carried on the clothing.

Another prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,627,145. This device includes a sponge rubber pad held in a rigid metal blank. The rigid metal blank does not encase the pad so that the pad quickly becomes dirty. In addition, the forces exerted on the pad during normal usage may be sufficient to separate the pad from the open metal blank. The metal blank is hard and for this reason is uncomfortable to carry. In addition, this device is only usable for carrying golf tees and no other golf accessory can be carried with it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved golf accessory carrier which generally overcomes all of the disadvantages noted above. The golf accessory carrier includes a core of soft, resiliently compressible material. The core is substantially completely enclosed by a case. This prevents the core from becoming dirty or moisture ladened. In addition, the resulting device is virtually nondestructible due to separation of the case and core in that the core can be separated from the case only by cutting or tearing of the case sufficiently to allow removal of the core.

The case is constructed in substantial part of wall means of flexible sheet material. Accordingly, the case and core form a lightweight, resiliently deformable body. The flexible case provides no sharp edges or corners which might injure the user even if the carrier is carried on the clothing of the golfer.

To form means for carrying golf tees, the core includes one or more cavities and the case includes a corresponding number of apertures in registry with the cavities. The apertures are sized to receive at least a portion of a golf tee and the core is adapted to resiliently grip the portion of the golf tee in the cavity. In use, the sharp end of the golf tee is embedded in the core and cannot cause injury while the head of the golf tee remains exposed and can be grasped to remove the tee from the core.

The case preferably includes grommets which define the apertures. Each of the grommets is constructed of material which is harder than the wall means. This protects the wall means and serves to assist in guiding the tees into the cavities of the core.

Although the core can be constructed of a variety of compressible materials, foam plastic is desirable because it is inexpensive, lightweight and releasably grips the tees. The foam plastic is preferably closed cell so that there is an enhanced suction effect when the tee is being withdrawn. Foam polyethylene has a waxy characteristic and is preferred because it does not provide excessive forces on the tee and because it is not easily torn.

Although the golf accessory carrier can take various shapes, a thin flat packet shape is preferred. This facilitates carrying of the golf accessory carrier. The golf accessory carrier preferably includes a front face, a rear face and a relatively narrow peripheral wall with the apertures being formed in the peripheral wall.

One or more pockets are preferably formed on the front wall of the case. These pockets adapt the carrier for carrying other golf accessories such as ball markers, a green repairing tool, a pencil, coins, etc.

In a preferred construction, a layer of relatively flexible material is attached to the front face to define, along with the front face, at least one pocket. If desired, the layer can be attached along several lines to define, with the front face, several pockets. Additional pockets can be added by superimposing one or more other layers of material on the first mentioned layer.

Ball markers typically include a disc with a short centrally located pin attached to the center of the disc. Ball markers because of their configuration are not readily adapted for carrying by a golf accessory carrier. According to the present invention, the first mentioned layer cooperates with the front face to define an elongated pocket adapted to receive one or more ball markers. The layer has a slit so that the disc can be retained between the layer and the front face, and the pin of the ball marker can project outwardly through the slit. In this fashion, a plurality of ball markers can be carried by the pocket.

The invention can best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing .

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a golf accessory carrier constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the golf accessory carrier taken from the righthand side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the golf accessory carrier.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a golf accessory carrier 11 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. Generally, the golf accessory carrier 11 includes a core 13 (FIG. 4), a case 15 substantially completely enclosing the core 13 and three sheets 17, 19 and 21 (FIG. 1) forming pockets on the case 15. Although other materials could be utilized, in the embodiment illustrated the core 13 is constructed of closed cell polyethylene foam. Although other configurations could be utilized, in the embodiment illustrated the core 13 is generally in the form of a rectangular solid. The core 13 has a plurality of cavities 23 therein opening at the longitudinal edges of the core. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 the cavities 23 are formed in two rows which extend along the opposite longitudinal edges of the core. Each of the rows contains four of the cavities 23; however, obviously, any number of the cavities 23 may be utilized.

The case 15 includes wall means 24 which can be constructed of any flexible material such as plastic, leather, cloth, rubber, etc. The wall means 24 may also be constructed of a laminate if desired. The wall means 24 substantially completely encloses the core 13, and it may be constructed from several different sheets of material appropriately folded and/or stitched and/or heat sealed or otherwise secured together to substantially completely enclose the core 13. In the embodiment illustrated, the wall means 24 includes a front wall or face 25, a rear wall or face 27 and a peripheral wall 29 which completely surrounds the core 13. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention each of the walls 25, 27 and 29 is constructed from a separate sheet of flexible plastic material. The wall 25 is connected to the peripheral wall 29 by stitching 31 and the peripheral wall is joined to the rear wall 27 by stitching 33.

The case 15 has a plurality of apertures 35 therein. The number of apertures 35 corresponds with the number of cavities 23 and the apertures are in registry with the cavities, respectively. The case 15 preferably includes relatively hard grommets 37 which define the apertures 35, respectively, and which may be constructed of, for example, metal or rigid plastic. As shown in FIG. 4, the grommets 37 are attached to the peripheral wall 29 by annular clamping flanges 39 which clampingly engage an annular region of the peripheral wall 29 immediately surrounding the aperture 35. The grommets 37 protect the flexible material of the peripheral wall 29.

The cavities 23 and the apertures 35 are sized to receive a golf tee 41. As shown in FIG. 4, in the relaxed condition of the cavity 23, the cavity is smaller than the tee 41. However, when a tee 41 is inserted into the cavity 23, the material of the core 13 surrounding the cavity is resiliently deformed so that the tee is resiliently gripped by the core. In this manner, the tee 41 is releasably retained by the core 13. The cavities 23 may be preformed or may be formed by the user by forcing a golf tee into the core 13.

The aperture 35 preferably has a diameter which is smaller than the head 43 of the tee 41. This prevents the tee 41 from being inserted too far into the core 23 and requires that a portion of the tee be exposed to facilitate removal of the tee from the carrier 11. If the grommet 37 were not used, the user might inadvertently jam the tee too far into the core 13. This could result in tearing of the flexible material of the peripheral wall and in making it difficult to withdraw the tee. In addition, the grommet 37 guides the tee into the cavity 23.

The sheet 17 is attached to the front wall 25 along the lower edge and the opposite longitudinal edges as by stitching 45. Two intermediate parallel rows of stitching 47 and 49 cause the sheet 17 to define, along with the front wall 25, three pockets 51, 53 and 55. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the pockets 51, 53 and 55 are adapted to carry a pencil 57, a green repairing tool 59 and a plurality of ball markers 61, respectively. The sheet 17 has a circular cut out 63 and a slit 65 extending downwardly from the cut out 63. Each of the ball markers 61 includes a circular disc 67 and a pin 69 projecting axially from the center of the disc. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the disc 67 is clamped between the sheet 17 and the front wall 25 with the pin 69 projecting outwardly through the slit 65.

To insert a ball marker 61, the user grasps the pin 69 and inserts the disc 67 into the circular cutout 63 and then pulls downwardly on the pin 69 to move the marker to one of the positions shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.

The sheets 19 and 21 are attached to the sheet 17 along their opposed longitudinal edges by the stitching 47 and 49. In addition, the sheet 19 is attached to the sheet 17 along its bottom edge by the stitching 45. The sheet 21 is attached along its bottom edge to the sheet 17 by stitching 71. The sheets 19 and 21 cooperate with the sheet 17 to define pockets 73 and 75, respectively. The pockets 73 and 75 are adapted to carry relatively small items such as coins. The sheets 19 and 21 have arcuate cutout regions along their upper edges to facilitate removal of the item carried thereby. Similarly the sheet 19 has an arcuate cutout along the upper edge of the pocket 53 to facilitate removal and insertion of the green repairing tool 59.

A clip 77 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is suitably mounted on the rear wall 27 as by stitching 79. The clip 77 is useful in removably attaching the carrier 11 to an article of clothing or other device such as a golf bag or golf cart. Alternatively, the carrier 11 can be permanently mounted to another article such as a golf bag.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, many changes, modifications and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A golf accessory carrier comprising:

a resilient compressible core having a plurality of regions, each of said regions being adapted to receive a portion of a golf tee;

a case substantially completely enclosing said core, said case being constructed at least in substantial part of at least somewhat flexible sheet material whereby said case and said core form a deformable body;

said case having apertures therein in registry, respectively, with said regions of said core, each of said apertures being sized to at least partially receive a golf tee therein and said regions being adapted to receive a portion of the golf tee whereby a segment of the golf tee can be within said body and another segment of said golf tee can lie outside of said body;

said case includes relatively hard means defining said apertures, said hard means being harder then said flexible sheet material and said compressible core, at least one of said relatively hard means and said core releasably retaining the golf tee in said region; and

means including at least one layer of flexible sheet material on said case defining at least one pocket.

2. A golf accessory carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said one pocket is elongated and adapted to carry a ball marker of the type having a disc and a pin, said layer of relatively flexible sheet material having an elongated slit through which the pin of the ball marker can project and an aperture of sufficient size to receive said disc whereby said disc can be carried in said one pocket with the pin projecting through said slit.

3. A golf accessory carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said body includes a forward face, a rear face, and a peripheral wall, said apertures being in said peripheral wall and said pocket being on said front wall.

4. A golf accessory carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said one layer of sheet material is attached to said case and defines said one pocket therewith, said last mentioned means including a second layer of sheet material attached to said one layer and defining a second pocket therewith.

5. A golf accessory carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein each of at least some of said regions includes a cavity.

6. A golf accessory carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein each of at least some of said regions includes a cavity.

7. A golf accessory carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said core is constructed of a foam plastic material.

8. A golf accessory carrier as defined in claim 7 wherein said foam plastic is foam polyethylene.

9. A golf accessory carrier comprising:

a resilient compressible core having a plurality of regions, each of said regions being adapted to receive a portion of a golf tee;

a case substantially completely enclosing said core, said case being constructed at least in substantial part of at least somewhat flexible sheet material whereby said case and said core form a deformable body;

said case having apertures therein in registry, respectively, with said regions of said core, each of said apertures being sized to at least partially receive a golf tee therein and said regions being adapted to resiliently grip a portion of the golf tee whereby a segment of the golf tee can be releasably held within said body and another segment of said golf tee can lie outside of said body; and

a layer of relatively flexible material attached to said case, said case and said layer defining at least one pocket, said pocket being elongated and adapted to carry a ball marker of the type having a disc and a pin, said layer of relatively flexible material having an elongated slit through which the pin of the ball marker can project and an aperture sized to allow the disc to pass therethrough into said pocket whereby the disc can be carried by said pocket with the pin extending into said slot.