Supports: racks – Special article – Article includes elongated portion
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-10-30
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Article includes elongated portion
C135S016000, C206S315200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308840
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to mounting devices for releasably securing a golf club to an umbrella to keep the club grip dry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,718 discloses a golf club hanger which suspends golf clubs beneath an umbrella from the umbrella struts. This is to keep the golf club grip dry during rain. An elongated body is suspended to and beneath the struts, the golf club being attached to the end of the body distal the struts. This is not believed satisfactory as the struts are relatively weak and typically fail during normal extended use of an umbrella Hanging a golf club from the umbrella struts may further weaken the struts and may cause premature failure thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,896 discloses an umbrella for use with a golf cart golf equipment carrier. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,014,595, 5,417,334, 5,820,479, 2,887,137, 5,669,514 and 5,474,191 all disclose various arrangements for holding a cluster of golf clubs and do not relate to the general problem of keeping the clubs dry as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,852,896 and 5,673,718 ('718) discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present inventors recognize a need for a umbrella golf club holder for portable use with an umbrella carried by the golfer to keep the clubs dry during use, is relatively durable and will not shorten the life of an umbrella as may occur with the hanger device disclosed in the '718 patent.
A golf club holder according to the present invention is for use with an umbrella having a shank, a handle at one shank end and an umbrella sheet member attached to the shank adjacent to the other shank end. The holder comprises a first body having a shank receiving first receptacle for attachment to the umbrella shank and a golf club securing device secured to the body including means for releasably receiving, securing and suspending a golf club shaft to the device to thereby releasably attach the golf club to the umbrella shank.
In one embodiment the device includes means for releasably receiving and attaching a plurality of club shafts thereto. Preferably the device is integral one piece with the body. In a further embodiment the club shaft has a longitudinal axis, the device comprising a second body having a second receptacle and a slot in the second body in communication with the second receptacle for receiving the golf club shaft transversely the shaft longitudinal axis through the slot into the second receptacle.
In a still further embodiment, the umbrella shank has a longitudinal axis, the first body having a slot in communication with the receptacle for receiving the umbrella shank transversely the shank longitudinal axis through the slot into the receptacle. In a still further embodiment, means are included for movably securing the device to the first body and preferably comprising a hinge.
The device in a further embodiment, has an operative first position and an idle folded second position, the device in a further embodiment further including a hook for releasably securing the device to the body in the first position. A plurality of the devices in a further embodiment are included secured to the first body.
In a still further embodiment, the device and body comprise a first section having the receptacle and including the means for releasably securing the club shaft to the device and a second elongated section for securing the umbrella shank to the body, the first and second sections cooperating to secure the umbrella shank thereto. The means for releasably securing may the shaft comprise a resilient clamping member for securing the club shaft thereto.
In a further embodiment, the club shaft and umbrella shank each has a longitudinal axis, the device means for releasable securing comprising a second body with a second receptacle for receiving the club shaft, the first and second receptacles each being coupled to a corresponding separate slot in the first body and in the second body for resiliently receiving the respective umbrella shank and golf club shaft transversely the longitudinal axes thereof through the slots into the receptacles.
Preferably friction means are in the first and second receptacles for frictionally engaging and clamping the respective umbrella shank and golf club shafts thereto against the force of gravity while the club and the shank are vertical.
In a further embodiment, resilient means are provided for resiliently slidably engaging the club shaft and umbrella shank for holding the shank and club to the body and device in a given axial shank position while the club and shank are vertical.
In a further embodiment, the umbrella sheet material has a folded collapsed state and an open deployed state, the umbrella including a plurality of struts for movably positioning the sheet material to the deployed and collapsed states, the body including means for movably securing the struts thereto distal the sheet material such that axial displacement of the body along the umbrella shank positions the sheet material in the deployed and collapsed states.
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Dattolo Vincent
Mulholland Kevin
Carella Byrne Bain Gilfillan et al
Gilfillan John G.
Squire William
Stodola Daniel P.
Tran Khoa
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